The Bicycle Club

I’ve got a confession: I’ve fallen in love with e-bikes over the past 18 months. It’s like cycling within an endless tailwind. I understand some people enjoy the grind of cycling. The ups and downs. The hard and the easy. But when I’m cycling to my office, I enjoy not arriving in a sweaty mess. I enjoy not having to worry about how hot the weather is. Or if I’ll be pedalling into a strong wind. I enjoy the unadulterated leisure. With that in mind, I’ve been testing out various urban e-bikes in the pursuit of finding the perfect electric bike for commuters. And when I discovered the Honbike Uni4 I got very excited. IMAGE CREDIT: HONBIKE The Honbike is…

There’s no denying that electric bikes are very exciting. They give cyclists a way to go further and faster without having to work harder, resulting in a more enjoyable ride that doesn’t leave you drenched in sweat. However, people still have a lot of questions about electric bikes, which is understandable seeing as their popularity is still relatively new. There are many cyclists who are intrigued by the concept of an e-bike, but are wary of shelling out a lot of money for something that might just be a gimmick, or that they feel they might not use as much as a regular bike. Here, we’ve created a one-stop-shop of electric bike statistics and facts to help you understand e-bikes…

A saucepan, a garden spade or a backpack. Three utilitarian items that, when well designed, perform their job without even so much as a modicum of fuss. So well in fact that you may never notice their intricacies or foibles. Bike tires (or tyres) can and will fit into this narrative, barring one chin-scratching, angst-inducing event – a puncture. Punctures can, at best, ruin a glorious sunny ride or make you late for work. At worst, a punctured bike tire can quickly render a bike dangerous to ride. For most cyclists, including us here at Discerning Cyclist, a riding life is never truly puncture-free. But, with a little bit of care and attention, some steps can be taken to reduce…

Commuting by bike is made more comfortable by riding with the optimal tire pressure. Beginners will need to know where on the tire to find the manufacturer’s recommended amount of inflation. From there, they can work towards finding a sweet spot which could change based on different surfaces and riding conditions. What Pressure Should My Bike Tires Be? Bicycle tire pressure is measured in PSI (pounds per square inch) or in bar (from the ancient Greek word for weight). Bike tire pressure should be within a measured range noted on the side of each tire. Manufacturers set this to prolong tire life and acknowledge different rider characteristics. It’s not unreasonable to start with a tire pressure in the mid-range of…

Ignore the sceptics – electric bikes are the business. Power over hills, get one over on local traffic, wave goodbye to public transport, and have fun doing it! For electric bike converts like ourselves, e-bike wattage is one of the first topics would-be buyers hit upon. 500W e-bikes are a popular rating. But how fast can a 500W electric bike go? How far can it be ridden? In this article, Discerning Cyclist will aim to answer those questions (and much more besides). E-Bike Wattage [EXPLAINED] The wattage of an e-bike refers to the power output of its motor. This figure can be calculated as follows – bear with us here because this is important – multiply the voltage supplied by the battery…

Electric bikes are convenient in so many ways. They allow you to cycle with less effort thanks to assistance from a motor, and they give a boost of power when you need it most, like when you’re tackling a tough climb. As a bonus, they’re an environmentally-friendly way to get from A to B. However, there’s one thing that often puts prospective e-bike owners off, and that’s their size and weight. They are often significantly heavier than traditional bikes, making them tricky for commuters who have to use trains or buses on their journey, or for those who want to put them in the car for a weekend adventure. A standard e-bike weighs between 20 and 25kg, which is a…

Pedals are vital for stable and comfortable cycling. They’re one of the three contact points between rider and bike. Their purpose is to transfer the power created by the rider’s legs. Commuters and sports cyclists have different requirements from their pedals. Road racers and mountain bikers rely on being able to guarantee a fixed foot position, to stomp down consistent power. They also need quick release mechanisms. Commuters don’t need these features. How Do Bike Pedals Work? Bike pedals convert power to move the bicycle. You’d have to run with the bike underneath you if you didn’t have them. They’re fixed to one end of cranks, and work together with a chain and gearing to propel you. You place your…

Bike pedals help to convert the power of our legs into the effort needed to turn the wheels forward. They need to be comfortable for commuting and ideally, non-slip, so we can reliably step on and off as we go to and from work or study. Pedal variations owe much to the sportier side of cycling, but most of us will be happy with a standard flat pedal. What Are the Different Types of Bike Pedals? Commuters will be familiar with the flat, rectangular pedal from their first bike ridden as a kid. Sportier riders may have seen a stubbier version designed to house a special shoe with added cleats. Then there are smaller, almost round models designed to take…