Tag: Bike

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…

Demand for folding bikes has boomed over the last couple of decades. Although they still make up a relatively small part of the UK market (around 4% of bikes sold), global sales are predicted to exceed 1.6 billion US dollars by 2028. There was a time in the not-so-distant past when a folding bike was a curiosity. Now, they are commonplace, particularly in cities where they’re a clear winner among many urban commuters. But although they seem like a recent phenomenon, folding bikes have actually been around for over a century – the first models being used by the military. But the first significant modern folding bike was the Stowaway, introduced by Raleigh in 1971. Fast forward to the 80s,…

Commuting into a place of work or study is becoming more appealing, and also necessary. City officials recognise the needs of those of us who travel by bicycle more closely than ever, and promotion of the health benefits associated with riding are now seen and shared everywhere. Traffic infrastructure is being specifically designed with urban riding and commuting in mind. The global pandemic forced a boom in cycling as a form of public transportation. There have been signs of this slowing, but the uptick in people getting on their bike for the first time is gaining momentum. Safe passage and a secure feeling created by improved (and linked) riding networks for people commuting by bicycle has never been better, and…

When it comes to bike accessories, there’s stuff you use and stuff you don’t. Every now and then a new invention pops up that seems really cool – and it usually is – but the truth is, after a couple of rides, you just stop using it. Life tends to follow the path of least resistance and cycling is no different. If you can ride without it, you will. Bicycle indicators, I’m looking at you. Handlebar cup holders, you too. Welcome to the graveyard of cycling novelty items. Are Bike Cup Holders Pointless? But with regards to my latter example, why is that so? Probably the thing that has prevented bike cup holders from being common place is that most…

Whatever your beverage of choice, be it a delicious steaming hot coffee, a refreshing juice or something fizzy, a drink can be a lovely addition to your journey to work, or any other cycling trip. We seem to do a lot of activities as we cycle to work nowadays that we never used to, many of which involve using a smartphone. And as it’s become perfectly acceptable to multi-task as you cycle, why not have a drink on the go, too? That said, the last thing you want is your cappuccino spilling all over your legs, or having to navigate traffic and junctions with one hand. This is why, if you are taking a drink on your bike, you’ll need…

Although cycling is a fantastic pastime, a way to keep fit and mode of transport many people will find at some point, they develop pain in their nether regions due to their saddle and the many issues they can unfortunately cause you. Butt (apologies I just couldn’t help myself) we no longer live in the olden times when saddles were just made from leather and metal without much variation: these days there’s a lot on the market regarding saddles and other products to help ease any issues that may arise.  Saddle Soreness: Bike Seat Hurts Butt Many of you, if not all reading this, will at some point have experienced soreness from being on a bike saddle. This soreness can…

Bicycle frames are hollow thanks to the genius of design, the intelligence of science and the power of engineering. The iconic ‘double diamond’ frame shape hasn’t really changed in over 125 years. However, the components and materials used to manufacture frames have altered over time. A key principle, however, is that a frame should retain as much of its original shape under load (frame stiffness) when you turn the pedals, corner, or brake. Different materials of frame design achieve this to differing degrees. Other design principles are the frame’s ability to withstand crashes, and the frame’s resistance to repeated strain over time (frame fatigue). Designers, of course, also consider how the frame materials affect the comfort of your ride.  What…

Cycling in the Netherlands is, quite simply, part of the culture. But it hasn’t always been so. There was a time when cars dominated Dutch streets, and by the early 1970s there were thousands of deaths each year from traffic accidents. But the Dutch fought for change, and they won. For decades now, the Netherlands has been a forerunner in the cycling revolution. Amsterdam has long been known around the world as the “Cycling Capital”. This shows in the statistics. Although Copenhagen is the city with the most actual cyclists (closely followed by Amsterdam), the Netherlands as a whole still has the highest numbers of cyclists per capita in the world. What Bikes Do Dutch People Use? The distinctive bikes…