Category: Bike Gear

Bamboo is a plant, or more specifically a grass. You’ve likely seen in in gardens, or used to construct products such as floors, or furniture. You can also use it to make smaller products like cups, face cloths, and gloves.  However, you can also find bamboo in bike form! What Is a Bamboo Bike?  A bamboo bike is one that has a frame made predominantly out of bamboo. This does not include the lugs holding the tubes of bamboo together to create the frame.  How Are Bamboo Bikes Made?  Bamboo bikes are made from carefully sourced bamboo (the strongest species). The bamboo is cut to size, then bonded together using lugs. The lugs are made from strong, mouldable materials.  The…

With its winding countryside paths, clifftop panoramas, and sweeping coastal vistas, the UK isn’t short of cycling routes. The UK government is also planning to invest heavily in cycling infrastructure, with an eye on a greener future. Cycling is certainly popular. But exactly how many bicycles are there in the UK, and how does this compare with the rest of the world? Is Cycling “Big” in the UK? The UK is in the middle of a cycling boom. Recreational and weekend cycling is up by 60% over the last two years. This is partly due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, investment in infrastructure shows a strong government commitment to making cycling even bigger. Sales of bicycles increased dramatically during the…

Consistently found up there with the very best cycle manufacturers, Cannondale has a rich and enduring history in both mountain and road bike sectors. Cannondale is a name synonymous with innovation, having long been at the vanguard of cycling technology. It’s is a universally recognised name in the bike world. The burning question, however, is ‘are Cannondale bikes good?’ Is Cannondale a Good Brand? Of course, all cyclists will agree that Cannondale bikes are good. And they may agree that they’re definitely worth the (sometimes hefty) price tags. Some of the models at the upper end of the brands’s road and MTB ranges are well into the thousands. However, like a lot of things in life, you tend to get…

Bikes, though wonderful, can sometimes be a little confusing to use. This is especially true when considering how to use bicycle gears. There are a number of variations with gear components, and things can seem complicated – especially for beginners! Sometimes, we just need a little helping hand. This includes learning how to get the most out of the gears on our own bike, as well as knowing when to change gear, or even which gear we should be in.  Understanding Bike Gears Understanding how to use bicycle gears can be tricky, especially when you’re new to cycling, or haven’t ridden in a while.  However, getting the most out of your gears, and understanding when it’s best to change gear,…

There are moments in a cyclist’s life that fill all of the senses. The excitement and speed of a long straight downhill. The dread when you scan the horizon, knowing the road you’re on is the only one around, and it’s going up and up. Seeing the lights of an open café, when you really need a break, or some food.  These moments are a response to how you might be feeling on a ride, and often catch you unawares. However, there are ways you can plot and plan a way to find the places that inspire these feelings. Or avoid them! It’s a little bit old-school these days to set off for a ride without knowing your route in…

You may be on your way to work, a night out, or just to hang out with friends on a sunny afternoon. Whatever the occasion, if you want to wear a dress or a skirt, there’s no reason for this to stop you from hopping on your bike. It can be perfectly practical to cycle in a dress – either through choice, or necessity. When looking for cycling clothing for our bottom half, we’re bombarded with options for trousers or shorts – no matter what kind of ride we’re undertaking. There are trousers, including jeans and chinos, to suit every kind of cycling journey. However, it’s fair to say that dresses and skirts are barely included within the huge range…

Whether you’re cycling to work every day of the week, or intermittently, there are few things worse than getting soaked on your journey. Rain tends to make you cold, even in the summer. But on a winter’s day it’s a miserable experience to be wet and freezing, knowing you still have miles ahead of you. Unfortunately, as a regular bike commuter there’s no avoiding wet days in the UK, where it rains around 170 days of the year. But happily, there are plenty of waterproof clothing options to keep you dry and warm, even on the foulest of days. In this guide, we’ll cover the different types of waterproof gear you may need. How to Stay Dry While Cycling in…

In terms of your bottom half, there used to be pretty much two clothing options when riding a bike. One was Lycra, the other was being uncomfortable. And commuting by bike would inevitably mean taking a change of trousers. For those without decent changing facilities at work, this can be difficult. It can also be off-putting for people thinking about commuting. Mercifully, things have changed since then. There’s now such a range of cycling-specific trousers (or trousers suitable for cycling), that we’re literally spoilt for choice. Why is this? Put simply, because there’s a demand for them. It’s a great feeling to arrive at work in a pair of trousers that are comfy and look good. It’s an even better…