Category: Bike Gear

Trying to buy a bicycle can be tricky. There are just so many options out there, so many stores to choose from, so many brands, components, styles and sizes — it can be difficult to know where to begin. While shopping for bikes in person can be a very rewarding experience, as you can chat to store assistants, see the bikes in real life, and even try them out before you buy, it can be time-consuming and tiring to traipse around multiple bike stores to find the perfect model for you. Well, we have some good news — shopping for a bike couldn’t be easier online. You’ll have access to hundreds of options at your fingertips, the opportunity to live…

If you’ve ever been pedalling away on a busy city cycle path, rushing to work using all the power your legs could muster only to arrive tired and sweaty, the thought of getting an electric bike has probably crossed your mind. Electric bikes, or e-bikes, make pedalling easier using a battery-powered assist. It generally comes through pedalling — i.e. when you pedal, a small motor engages and takes over some of the work — or, in some cases, with a throttle. When e-bikes are equipped with a throttle, it engages the motor at the press of a button, but this is a separate class of e-bike which is generally not suitable for road use. Electric bikes can go pretty fast…

There’s no two ways about it: wearing a bike helmet is absolutely essential, no matter where you ride, how far you ride, or where you’re riding to. However, helmets are infamous for ruining any hair styling efforts, even leaving an unsightly red sweaty mark across your forehead, and no-one wants to arrive at work or social event rocking that look. It can, therefore, feel like you’re stuck between a rock and a hard place. Either you put your safety first and wear a helmet but arrive at your destination looking a bit of a state, or you forgo the helmet to protect your hair and put yourself at risk of serious head injury, or worse, if you come off your…

Bike theft is a serious problem. Whether your ride costs a lot or a little, you’re going to need to protect it. You could be cycling for fun, exercise, or just going to work, but it’s important you bring a bike lock with you.  Your bike lock needs to be strong and secure. But you also need to be able to carry it when not in use. A bicycle doesn’t have a lot of storage. It’s meant to be lightweight. Anything that you bring has to be stored efficiently. So how do you carry a bike lock? Where to Put a Bike Lock While Riding There are many different types of bike locks. They can be large and heavy. They…

Two years ago I had my first ever bike stolen. But, as I explained at the time, it was my fault. In short, during a hasty locking of my bike, I simply attached my lock around the lamppost, but not my bike frame – which, as it turns out, is pretty important if you don’t want someone to walk off with your bike. The lamppost I safely locked to itself while someone easily walked off with my bike. The next day, I decided I needed to find the best cheap bike I could find. So, I went to Decathlon: the home of cheap bikes. I’d love to buy a fancy shiny bike with all the bells and whistles, but the…

If you think your workplace is too far away to cycle to, there’s a good chance you find the first or last part of your commute the most challenging – especially if you work in a city. In busy towns and cities, it can be difficult (and/or expensive) to park your car anywhere near your office. Or, if you commute by bus or train for the majority of your journey, then you’ve got to hope that both your home and workplace are nice and close to a station. Therefore, it can be useful to have an easily storable mode of transport to hand. And that is exactly why folding bikes have exploded in popularity in the past couple of decades….

Wireless earbuds, or earphones, are becoming increasingly popular for athletes and casual listeners on-the-go, and cyclists are turning toward them to enhance their rides.  The best earbuds for cycling are resistant to sweat and wet weather, stay comfortably in your ear as you move, and allow you to hear what is going on around you.  When searching for the best earbuds for you, consider what kind of riding you’ll be doing. If you commute through busy city streets, buds that bring in ambient noise or conduct sound through your bone and leave your ears open would be great options. If you cycle indoors on a stationary bike, good sound quality and noise cancelling might be the way to go. And…

Commuting by bicycle has many variants. City dwellers hop on a ride, avoiding underground systems or busy walkways. In the suburbs, new cycling infrastructure might open safer routes which include dropping kids off or stopping for a coffee. There is also a place for longer-distance commutes. Long-Distance Bike Commuting As many developed countries’ authorities begin to incorporate longer, safer and more connected routes that encourage cycling via segregated lanes or away from vehicles via shared ways, we can see an increased number of options to bring more riders out onto the roads from longer distances than ever before. Choosing a route for a longer distance commute needs to take in considerations such as the distance of a commute (covered here),…