Well I'm half way through sharing the exploits of our recent cycle tour in Bavaria. You'll know it was my first cycling holiday and that I was a little wary beforehand; but I hinted at it when I came back and it's true I'm more than a little bit hooked.

Today I thought I'd share why I've found cycling on holiday to be such good fun.

1. It's a great way to sightsee

Yes it's a little harder to take pictures along the way and I wouldn't recommend taking pictures on the move, but the advantage of cycling is you can cover so much more ground than if you were on foot, so you get to see more of the place you're holidaying in. We've done walking holidays too and believe me 25km on a bike is much easier than 25km on foot!

2. It builds a healthy appetite

Well I'm known for having a healthy appetite anyway but on this holiday we ate very well. The German cuisine features a lot of pork and of course the sausages or the wurst. Not only does cycling build a healthy appetite but you're also burning calories too. It's a win win situation.

3. It helps you sleep well

I'm attributing the good sleep I had on holiday to the exercise I'd taken during the day. After a full day of cycling, new experiences and a hearty evening meal I was ready for my bed and not only that my sleep quality was better too. So much so that I was ready to do it all again the next day!

4. It gives a sense of accomplishment

Whether it's the distance, going up or down hills or mastering the gears on your bike, when you've done what you've set out to achieve it's brilliant - there really is no better feeling. When I started cycling again earlier this year there was no way I thought I'd be able to take my hands off the handlebars while I'm cycling. But I do - well not both at once - as I'm a lot more relaxed and confident on my bike (and on my German hire bike)

5. It's fun!

Honestly it is, it's not like running that sounds fun until you, well until you start running! You're in charge of how fast you go and there's nothing like the feeling of going downhill with the wind in your hair. It's doubly nice if you're somewhere warm as it's a great way to cool down - but don't forget your suntan lotion as cycling is also a great way to catch the sun!

The people at James Villas also think holiday cycling is a good thing and they've put together some cycling guides for five of their destinations. So if you're in or going to the Algarve, Cyprus, Lanzarote, Mallorca or Menorca then take a look; for each destination there's an infographic showing a beginner, intermediate and advanced route so you can choose which one suits you best. Three are available now and the others will be available throughout this month.

Cycling in the Algarve - the Nature Lover's choice
Cycling in Cypress - the Family-Friendly choice
Cycling in Mallorca - the Enthusiast's choice

And don't just take it from me, Olympic Gold Medallist Nicole Cooke has also been talking to James Villas and sharing her top tips for cycling on holiday, so what are you waiting for? Get on your bike and do some holiday cycling!

Disclosure: this is a collaborative post. Although this post is sponsored, all opinions are my own.