While the Narrabundah resident used to predominantly cycle to work, the impact of COVID has meant she has been cycling more for recreation during the past year.

"The rides are shorter but they are more frequent, and if you're only able to get out and exercise for an hour or two, cycling is perfect for that," Ms Todd said.

"I'm more likely to ride about seven days a week, rather than doing it for just five days."

Ms Todd's normal cycling commute took her from her home in the inner south into the city, a journey which would take about 30 minutes.

In between the first lockdown early last year and the current set of restrictions, Ms Todd has retired, but it hasn't stopped her getting out and about on the bike.

"The only thing that has changed recently is that I'm riding around my local areas more," she said.

The Narrabundah resident is far from the only Canberran who has been pedalling around the capital more, a new report shows.

The 2021 National Walking and Cycling Participation Survey revealed an uptick in the number of Canberrans riding bikes for recreation in the wake of the pandemic.

The survey found 81 per cent of Canberrans regularly ride for sport and leisure, up from 67 per cent reported in 2019.

The findings also showed almost 100,000 Canberrans, or more than 23 per cent of the territory's population, ride their bike at least once per week.

That's compared with the overall national average of 18 per cent.

Ms Todd was hardly surprised by the survey's findings, given the number of fellow cyclists she encountered during her rides.

"There have been a lot more young families out and about on bikes, and there have been a lot more of those riders out on local streets," she said.

"People have been looking for something to do to supplement their time spent indoors, and many don't like running or using a home gym, and cycling is a perfect alternative."

The survey also found COVID impacted on the number of people using a bike to commute to work.

The number of cyclists using a bike as their main form of transport to get to work fell by almost one-third compared to the last survey, dropping from 58 per cent to 42 per cent.

However, the survey said more than two-thirds of ACT households reported having at least one working bike in their home, up from the national rate of 59 per cent.

The start of the pandemic in 2020 led to a surge in demand at bike shops across the ACT, as Canberrans looked to get back into cycling.

Some stores at the time reported wait times of several months for more stock to arrive from overseas.

Chief executive of Pedal Power Ian Ross said while the survey did not take in the time period where Delta variant outbreaks have led to further lockdowns, there had been sustained interest in cycling post-2020.

"People have been out and about on bikes in droves, and that is fantastic to see," he said.

"We've seen this out on bike paths and enjoying all that the city has to offer, as well as the mountain-bike trails.

"My observation has been is that trend has continued, and there has been an upswing in the cycling community."

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Mr Ross said the current trends seen in cycling across Canberra had the potential to carry over, well after restrictions from the second lockdown eventually ease.

"The more that we can invest in cycling now, the more we can do when we step out of the pandemic and support cyclists and also sustain that behaviour, and that is good for the community," Mr Ross said.

"If we can capitalise on this now, it is a golden opportunity for the government, because it is beneficial."

While there may currently be time limits on the amount of exercise that can be done per day, Ms Todd isn't looking at stopping her cycling any time soon and said she was looking to make the most of her two hours.

"They don't always have to be particularly long rides, sometimes I try and ride up hills to get the heart rate up and have a good exercise," she said.

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