Category: Bike Gear

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),…

If you’ve decided to commute to work by bicycle, you might well be considering using a folding bike. As the name suggests, these are collapsible bikes that are compact and easy to transport, perfect for tucking away when you get to the office or if you don’t have much space to store a bike in your home. However, as folding bikes tend to have smaller frames and wheels than regular bikes, they are often stiffer and less shock-absorbent. They’re often considered less comfortable on bumpy surfaces and potentially more difficult to ride. This is why you should consider a folding bike with suspension, for better ease of cycling and improved comfort. At Discerning Cyclist, we’re here to help with our…

When you think of folding bikes, it’s likely that Brompton is the brand that first comes to mind. It was back in 1975 that the company’s founder, Andrew Ritchie, invented a bike with a three-part fold – a bike that could be transported anywhere and everywhere with ease. The rest is history. However, decades of premium precision engineering and innovation means the end product can cost a fair few bob, with Brompton bikes ranging from £850 to over £3,750, depending on the model. If you’re looking to invest in a high-quality folding bike, it’s likely you’re considering a Brompton: the brand is universally recognised, the bikes are all built in the UK, and the design is now all but synonymous…

Bicycle tyres (or tires) are one of the most important parts of your ride. They are the only bit that touches the surface you travel along. They provide grip, comfort, puncture-resistance, and a certainty that you should be able to stay the right way up. How Often Do Bike Tyres Need to Be Replaced? Tyres need to be a reliable and hard-wearing component. Along with most other forms of transportation, the part which makes contact with the road surface is going to need to be replaced. An average bicycle tyre ridden on smooth surfaces, and kept correctly inflated, should last around 3,000 miles. Cycling is a very sustainable form of transportation, and even though parts like tyres need replacing there…