Category: Bike Gear

Electric bikes are pretty smart in general. They help you get up hills. A lot of them have lights connected to the battery. Some even have a kickstand. The Urtopia Carbon One doesn’t come with a kickstand as standard. But it does have a built-in GPS tracker. You can unlock it with your thumb. It alerts you if someone tries to steal it. It has indicators. It has a carbon-fibre frame. It looks a bit like a lightning bolt. You can talk to it. It even has built-in speakers! It’s the all-singing, all dancing, e-bike of the future. But should you actually buy one? Urtopia Carbon One E-Bike Range Terrain Style Value Quality 3.9 Summary A truly beautiful electric bike…

Electric bikes are an excellent and practical mode of transportation, but you may have some questions about their power consumption and charging requirements. To determine how much power your e-bike uses, you need to consider a few factors. Additionally, it’s important to think about the battery’s replacement cost since it’s a significant expense. As an e-bike rider, you’re probably familiar with the idea of power. It’s a measure of how much work you can do, and having more of it means you can accelerate quickly or climb hills faster without losing speed. In cars and bikes, we use horsepower to measure power, so it’s easy to understand the difference between vehicles with different horsepower. A kilowatt is a different unit…

Bicycles come in many shapes and sizes, and for good reasons. A featherweight, carbon-framed wonder is no good for riding to the shops for a pint of milk and some bread. Similarly, a commuter-orientated bike won’t be the best choice for riding some local off-road trails. ‘Comfort’ is a relatively new term in the cycling sphere and one some use to classify this type of bike. Searching the internet for a comfort bike might make you think other bikes are uncomfortable. Whilst that’s not strictly true, comfort bikes prioritise how riders feel when riding. Comfort is key. So much so in fact, that other bicycle attributes like speed, utility or versatility may fall by the wayside.  This Discerning Cyclist guide…

Bicycles are a popular mode of transportation in the UK, but navigating the roads can be a challenge. Many riders are unsure about their rights and responsibilities when it comes to riding on the road, leading to confusion and potential conflicts with other road users. In this article, we will explore the UK laws that govern cycling on the road, including where bicycles are allowed to ride, the rules of the road for cyclists, and the responsibilities of motorists when sharing the road. By understanding these laws, cyclists can stay safe and confident on the road and motorists can better respect and accommodate their two-wheeled counterparts. Can Bikes Ride on the Road? In the UK, bicycles are considered vehicles under…

Cycling in urban environments can be one of life’s greatest joys. Feeling the wind in your hair, seeing a city in a beautiful new way, and exploring the nooks and crannies beyond well-trodden paths are all things that city cyclists love about travelling on two wheels. In this piece, we’ll explore some of the best cities in the world for cyclists – from infrastructure to environment to culture, these are the best spots across the globe to take your bike on an urban adventure.  What Makes a “Bike-Friendly City”? When we’re deciding what makes a ‘bike friendly city’, we’re looking for the following things: Great cycling infrastructure, including protected lanes Deprioritisation of cars in favour of bicycles Popularity of cycling…

Cycling, especially in its sporting form, is inherently related to numbers. Every man and his dog loves to quantify their bike, their bike ride even their next accessory purchase. Total bike weight, average speed or the waterproof rating of a waterproof jacket – the industry is littered with ratings and figures.  Furthermore, as cycling grows in popularity, particularly as a clean, green and healthy means of transport, so does the appetite for cycling and bicycle data. The rise of electric bikes has only served to add fuel to this fire. For stat lovers, policymakers, cycling fans and those who work in the industry, our list of the top bike industry statistics in 2023 compiles a wide variety of figures that…

While riding your bike it’s a good idea to protect yourself by using a helmet. Your head is obviously a very important part of your body to protect, to prevent brain injuries and death from occurring upon impact.  As more people globally turn to bikes, in some countries (as well as cities), such as Australia, it’s a legal requirement to wear a helmet while riding a bike. Not only that, but the helmets have to be approved by the government and fastened up properly. Elsewhere, helmets should be marked with the safety standard EN 1078 for adults or EN 1080 for children, to show they’ve passed safety regulations. But are helmets really needed? In many countries such as the Netherlands…

Cycling to work has become an increasingly popular form of transportation, with more people opting for a healthy and environmentally friendly mode of travel. With the rise of bike commuting, it’s important to understand the impact it has on cities and communities.  This post presents 75 key statistics on bike commuting, providing insights on the number of people cycling to work, the benefits of cycling, and the challenges faced by cyclists. From the average distance cycled by commuters to the reasons why people choose to cycle, these stats paint a picture of the current state of bike commuting and its future potential. Let’s dive in. Bike Commuting Statistics There are around 1 billion bikes in the world. (Statista) In some…