London Cyclist

We all like to think we are the fastest cyclist around town. Especially those who like to play the silly commuter race. You know who you are!

But how rare is it to get a chance to actually prove it in a 250 metre sprint challenge?

Well, in steps the Deloitte Ride Across Britain City 250 Challenge and Olympic Gold medal winner James Cracknell.

On Wednesday the 8th of February at Finsbury Avenue Square the challenge begins and you are invited to take part and pit yourself against all comers including James Cracknell, Rebecca Romero and Paralympic flag bearer Danny Crates.

The fastest man and woman will be rewarded with one of the few remaining places on this year’s Deloitte RAB ride worth £1,740. There is also a prize for the fastest company team.

A Boardman Carbon Pro racing bike worth £2k will also be up for grabs in a prize draw.

The challenge will benefit the British Paralympic Association.

For more information and to sign up for this September’s Deloitte Ride Across Britain event, visit www.rideacrossbritain.com

In my adventures in trying to dress up as Lala from the Teletubbies I’ve found the ATC Mini Helmet Camera to be an irreplaceable accessory.

Teletubby impersonations aside, what does the ATC Mini Helmet Camera by Oregon Scientific offer cyclists?

• High quality HD video (sample video included at the end of the post)
• A wide range of mounting options (again see video!)
• Competitive price point at £119 (read on for 20% exclusive discount for LC readers!)
• Easy to use (just 3 buttons and a great mounting design)
• Waterproof up to 20 metres!

High quality HD video

In tests with the ATC Mini helmet camera for cyclists, I’ve found the video quality to be excellent. The camera doesn’t suffer from curved recording edges, you can see licence plates and there haven’t been any issues where the recording has been too dark. Although, it’s not quite the level of the more expensive HD Hero helmet camera, it should be enough for most uses.

However, there is a downside to this high quality of video. For every one minute of video you are looking at around a 100mb file. On a 25 minute commute, you’d therefore have 2.5 gigs of data. You can buy 32GB Micro SD cards which costs around £30 and that should prevent you from running out of juice. The battery lasts for approximately 1.5 hours.

There is one further consideration. If you’ve got an older laptop then it may struggle to edit the HD video. You’ll find that converting the video to MP4 format will dramatically reduce the file size while maintaining the quality.

Wide Range of mounting options

The ATC Mini Helmet Camera has an excellent range of mounting options. Especially, when coupled with the ATC Mini Handlebar Mount. Thanks to the low weight of the unit it shouldn’t be a problem to place it on the helmet. I found the helmet mount provides the most clear angle for bike rides.

What really stood in my review of the ATC Mini is that you can make some excellent micro adjustments to get the recording angle just right. This is thanks to the design of the mount. Out of all the helmet cameras I’ve tested, I’ve found the mounting system in the ATC Mini the most useful.

Despite the lack of an LCD monitor it wasn’t too hard to guess where the camera was pointed. I found that from the first ride my guesses were pretty accurate.

(The video at the end of this post demonstrates the benefit of multiple mounting angles)

Easy to use

The ATC Mini helmet camera is designed to make life simple:

• To upload video you just plug it in to your computer without needing any additional software.
• There are just three buttons on the unit (On/Off, Camera, Video) all of them easy to press even with gloves
• Mounting is quick and painless (just don’t forget to tighten the screw that holds the camera in place!)

Waterproof

With water resistance of up to 20 metres you’ll have to seek out a pretty deep pothole to be in any difficulty. It’s great that this is something included straight out of the box with the ATC Mini, rather than having to invest in additional accessories.

Video Review

Review of the ATC Mini Helmet Camera

Overall, there’s a lot to love about the Oregon Scientific ATC Mini. Waterproof, competitively priced, high quality video and excellent mounting. Any let downs? 1.5 hour battery life may not offer enough juice for all purposes and when mounted to your helmet you do look a little silly!

Oregon Scientific have given London Cyclist readers a generous 20% off the ATC Mini Helmet Camera until the end of February 2012. Simply visit the Oregon Scientific Website and use the code “LONCYCLE” to get 20% off!

ATC Mini Helmet Camera Review

This entry level helmet camera by ATC provides impressive video quality and a very well designed mounting system. The only thing that prevent us giving it 5 stars was the battery life of 1.5 hours which won’t be enough for everyone. Written by: London Cyclist Oregon Scientific ATC Mini Date published: 02/02/2012 4.5 / 5 stars
 

Three months ago Times Reporter Mary Bowers was hit by a lorry as she made her way to her office. She remains in critical condition in hospital. Today, her colleagues have launched a campaign to call for safer measures to be put in place to protect cyclists.

The campaign has a front page position in the Times newspaper and is calling for people to visit this page to pledge their support:

http://thetim.es/cyclecampaign

Additionally, people on Twitter are asked to use the #cyclesafe to see if it can become a trending topic.

The times is calling for the below measures:

1. Trucks entering a city centre should be required by law to fit sensors, audible truck-turning alarms, extra mirrors and safety bars to stop cyclists being thrown under the wheels.
2. The 500 most dangerous road junctions must be identified, redesigned or fitted with priority traffic lights for cyclists and Trixi mirrors that allow lorry drivers to see cyclists on their near-side.
3. A national audit of cycling to find out how many people cycle in Britain and how cyclists are killed or injured should be held to underpin effective cycle safety.
4. Two per cent of the Highways Agency budget should be earmarked for next generation cycle routes, providing £100 million a year towards world-class cycling infrastructure. Each year cities should be graded on the quality of cycling provision.
5. The training of cyclists and drivers must improve and cycle safety should become a core part of the driving test.
6. 20mph should become the default speed limit in residential areas where there are no cycle lanes.
7. Businesses should be invited to sponsor cycleways and cycling super-highways, mirroring the Barclays-backed bicycle hire scheme in London.
8. Every city, even those without an elected mayor, should appoint a cycling commissioner to push home reforms.

It’s good to see a big newspaper getting behind the campaign for safer cycling conditions. A front page feature helps get the message across to an audience that perhaps is less aware of the issues. Hopefully they’ll be a few copies of the Times floating around parliament today.

If you’ve ever stood, ridden or driven through Euston Circus you’ll know it is a nightmare. An area infested with fumes, ear piercing screeches of buses coming to a halt and sirens every 20 seconds. This is a part of London that you can’t wait to get away from as soon as possible. Yet, in one of the worst examples of urban planning, lies the greatest potential for improvement. In amongst this chaos also exists one of my favourite cycling facilities in London that I use on an almost daily basis.

TfL’s 11m makeover plans for Euston Circus

TfL today announced their 11m makeover plan that they are currently accepting public consultation on.

In their press release they recognise that this is “a traffic dominated area which acts as a significant barrier for pedestrians and cyclists.”

The new design has been a collaboration between TfL, Camden Council, Design for London and British Land. It aims to make things a lot easier for pedestrians with fewer crossings and more pavement space.

TfL also state that it provides a safer journey for cyclists with plans to enhance the contraflow (against traffic) cycle lane along the Euston Road.

Camden Cyclists plans for Euston Circus

Whilst the design upgrades look set to improve things for pedestrians with wider pavements, trees and easier crossings, the improvements for cyclists appear severely limited.

Here’s an example of a typical ride currently using the contraflow lane:

The video shows how there is plenty of room from improvement through re-allocation of under used space. However, I see little in the plans that would serve cyclists better.

Instead, cyclists will now have to take a less direct route and will continue to face many of the difficulties shown in the video above.

The main point of contention, is that once again, cyclists are having to mix with heavy moving traffic. Whilst it is something that experienced cyclists are able to grin and bear, new cyclists will continue to be put off switching to a more effective mode of transport.

However, there is an alternative. The below is the proposal by Camden Cyclists:

The proposals make it far easier for cyclists to travel from Camden and the Euston Road down towards central London through a contraflow cycle lane. The space does exist to make this happen. This is a facility I would personally use on an almost daily basis.

They also call for phased traffic signals, similar to the ones that will be installed at Bow Roundabout. This would give cyclists time to move across multiple lanes of traffic without having to battle for road space. The plans do not compromise on the amount of road space available for vehicular traffic.

If the original TfL plans go ahead unchanged, then it is unlikely they’ll be any further major improvements for another 10 years.

Information on the public consultation can be found here.

I was giving a mini tour around London to my friend Lucy recently (Showing those Brummies a bit of London!). We were in Covent Garden at the time, when she told me she was looking for a pair of gloves that allow you to use your touch screen phone without taking them off. I was stumped. I’d never heard of these magical gloves before and personally thought they sounded a little bit silly.

However, the idea stuck with me. I couldn’t help thinking that I’d been a little too quick to judge and actually they would be pretty useful. In particular, if you need to tap your iPhone or mobile phone screen when it is in a bike mount. As I often do when I’m following a new route somewhere.

I looked around at a couple of different companies that sell these types of gloves and came across the eGlove eXtreme (it’s all about capital letters in strange places). I was impressed by the quality and the price seemed about right so I’ve added them to our London Cyclist eShop.

With the cold weather we are mid way through at the moment I thought it would be a good time to announce their addition.

If you are looking for a pair then have a look at the size chart at the bottom of this page because they are designed to have a very snug fit (time to ask around for a tape measure or ruler!) I’ll end this post with this random fact: I have a 19cm hand.

Checkout the eGlove now

 

Question: Is it legal or technically illegal to “scoot” your bike on a pavement? Scooting is what you can see the adorable granny doing in the video above (thanks @yvessalmon for sharing!)

• Totally fine! I do it all the time
• Illegal! I know I may be fined for this

This was the question posed to me by Cas via email. Cas was stopped by two PCSO’s after scooting through Smithfield Market.

It was time to refer to my wonderful Twitterers for answers.

They pointed me to the ultimate website for answers to the questions that begin with “Is it legal to….” – the UK Cycle Rules blog.

Inside the blog was this post on riding on footpaths which says:

“freewheeling or standing on one pedal still counts as riding. (DPP v Selby [1994] RTR 157, 162; Crank v Brooks [1980] RTR 441, 442-3)”

The judgement stated:

"In my judgment a person who is walking across a pedestrian crossing pushing a bicycle, having started on the pavement on one side on her feet and not on the bicycle, and going across pushing the bicycle with both feet on the ground so to speak is clearly a ‘foot passenger’. If for example she had been using it as a scooter by having one foot on the pedal and pushing herself along, she would not have been a ‘foot passenger’. But the fact that she had the bicycle in her hand and was walking does not create any difference from a case where she is walking without a bicycle in her hand. I regard it as unarguable the finding that she was not a foot passenger "

A couple of readers also talked about friends who had received a fine.

Definitely illegal then. I imagine however, you’d have to be caught by a fairly grumpy or “by the book” policeman to receive the fine.

See also:

• Ever been doored? It is actually illegal
• What cyclists can be fined for

Just when you think you’ve seen everything in the big wide world of bicycle accessories, along come the folding mudguards.

Full Windsor QuickFix Folding Mudguard review

This British Made Full Windsor Folding Mudguard is a lazy (wo)mans mudguard. As there’s not actually that many days of the year that we are caught cycling in the rain it can be a useful accessory to have to hand. Especially as installation takes seconds as shown in the dodgy home made movie below:

My awful pre-conception of the mudguard would be that it would be flimsy and a pain to install. I was very much proven wrong.

The Full Windsor QuickFix comes in two editions. You can have the zip tie edition or the clip edition. I much preferred the clip edition which makes things quicker and easier to install and remove, and doesn’t waste precious zip ties.

You also have a choice of colours. For testing I was sent the white and yellow edition but I’d probably prefer the slightly less conspicuous black edition. Although, whichever edition you choose, you are going to stand out a little. If that’s in a good way or a bad way I leave to your own sense of reality to decide.

On my test ride in yesterdays petrol soaked London roads I was impressed. The folding mudguard kept my back dry and free of horrible road spray.

When we arrived at the destination (Lock Tavern!) I was a little confused as to whether I should be taking the mudguards off or leaving them on. I chose to leave them on and they were there when we returned after 5 pints a quick non-alcoholic beverage. However, priced at £14.99 on Wiggle I probably wouldn’t leave them on the bike for an extended period. This creates the problem of folding them up and putting them in your bag. Something that isn’t too desirable when they are covered in road muck.

I really like these origami style mudguards. I think they are a clever idea that has been well designed and manufactured. If you always ride your bike with mudguards then you really don’t have any use for them. However, if you want a mudguard that can be installed and removed in seconds for rain related emergencies then these get the big thumbs up from me!

Buy the Full Windsor Folding Mudguard

The good:

• Easy to install and remove
• Keeps your back dry

The bad:

• Easy to steal
• You don’t particularly want to put them in your bag when covered in muck (bring carrier bag!)

Full Windsor QuickFix Folding Mudguard

These folding origamy mudguards are perfect for the lazy cyclist. They are quick and easy to install and keep your back dry. Written by: Andreas Kambanis Full Windsor QuickFix Folding Mudguard Date published: 01/25/2012 5 / 5 stars

 

Around this time of the year, it’s unavoidable to take a look at your belly, reminisce about the many big, delicious meals and think about how you are going to lose that Christmas weight.

The answer is of course cycling! However, take a look at the window and you’ll soon have those gloomy January feelings.

Fortunately – we know better weather conditions for cycling are to come! So here’s a great event to add to your cycling calendar.

The 2012 Breakthrough Breast Cancer London to Cambridge Bike Ride. The ride involves 5,000 cyclists sweating their way along the 96km route to Cambridge. It’s a gorgeous ride that quite a few of my friends have done in the past. You’ll cover beautiful Essex, Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire with rest stops on the way. Which are good for catching up with friends and meeting fellow cyclists.

The event takes place on Sunday the 22nd of July and sets off from Pickets Lock in North East London. Registration is only £19.50 per person or if you go as a team of 6 or more then £18.50 per person. This registration cost goes to cover the cost of the event, and so Breakthrough asks that each cyclist aims to raise £100 to support Breakthrough’s life-saving breast cancer work. Which shouldn’t have you pestering too many people at work!

Click here to visit the ride website for more details and get registered

This morning I took a ride to see the Trafalgar Sun. Other than providing a nice bit of publicity for Tropicana, I thought it would also be a good chance to test out to ATC-Mini Helmet Camera.

The ATC-Mini Helmet camera costs £123. Which is a bit of bargain considering the high video quality. However, the price does hop up a little when you throw in the handlebar mount at £25 and a £5 micro SD memory card.

What immediately does stand out is the quality of the mount. This gives a good range of mounting options and allows you to adjust the position to perfection. It is also very easy to use, although you can’t really make adjustments while you are riding.

On first inspection the 720p video is clear enough to see licence plates and doesn’t suffer too much from road vibrations. This should make the camera great for recording mountain bike rides as well as for safety during commutes.

The video below shows the ATC-Mini Helmet camera during the night and daytime. I’ll have a full review on London Cyclist in the next few weeks.

Also, if you are interested in the Trafalgar Sun then I’ve upload some pictures to the London Cyclist Flickr. If you’d like to go and see it for yourself, then it should be there until the end of today.

Here are 7 of my favourite tips from last weeks Zalando Competition where people submitted their tips for new cyclists. I’ve included the winning entry at the end.

Ben Broomfield

Don’t ride without protection! Always carry a puncture repair kit and pump.

- I was wondering how this post was going to end and I was pleased with a great and simple suggestion that is so often ignored.

mick allan

It feels counter-intuitive at first but spinning the pedals fast in a low gear promotes excellent cardiovascular health, reduces strain on your joints and on your bike, allows you to accelerate quicker and you get quicker gear changes. But the bottom line really is a bottom line, spinning gives you a well defined rear-end and lovely lean legs.

- Love this suggestion by Mick! An excellent entry – who doesn’t like having a well defined rear – a great side benefit of cycling.

ramblor

Scope out your cycle route when it’s quiet, say on a Sunday afternoon. This way you’re not navigating around unfamiliar junctions in rush hour. And also don’t always look for the gap – I see so many cyclists who seem oblivious of danger because they’ve seen a gap they can cycle through. If you’re unsure just slow down and assess your options in exactly the same way as if you were driving.

- I’ve given this tip many a time after I’ve my bad first experience of commuting into work. A great tip!

Lizzy

My tip is to take a cycle training course, regardless of how good you already think you are! A lot of local councils will offer free training, so make the most of it! I took level 2 and 3 Bikeability (just a hour or two each) and learnt things I would never have thought of, including many of the tips people have already given here.

- A few people recommended cycle training and I couldn’t agree more about how useful it is. Yet, still most people will read this and keep riding without ever contacting them!

Hannah

My advice would be – persist! It’s bloomin’ cold out today, your bum will hurt for the first week or so (mine hurt the week before last just after having not ridden for a few weeks over Christmas) and you will forget your towel/a change of pants/your shirt [delete as appropriate] a few times. I have worn a hot pink sports bra under a white blouse for a complete working day, so I feel your pain.

Soon the bum pain will be in the past, you will have a finely-tuned routine and will be thankful you persisted. You will get to work for free, get your exercise for free and in otherwise-redundant time you would spend commuting anyway. Plus you will see and get to know so much more of the city by cycling.

Persist!!

- Well summed up! I’m sure many new cyclists go through the exact same experience.

Jon

Keep £20 in your bike bag. If you get a flat at night, in the cold, in the dark, when late or in somewhere unsafe, black taxis are surprisingly friendly about picking up cyclists in distress.

Learn to change flats at a time and place of your choosing. And if you get kevlar belts in your tyres, you may not even get a flat.

- I’ve heard lots of great stories of black cabs stopping for cyclists and allowing them to put their bike in the taxi. Keep that emergency £20 with you!

Our winning entry

I loved all the tips but Julie’s stood out for me:

Julie

Hold a confident, consistent line in traffic. I got back on my bike to start cycling to work last year through Central London traffic, and that was the thing that made the biggest difference to me. My instinct had been to hug the curb, or dip back into spaces where there weren’t any parked cars, but holding a firm line a sensible distance out from the curb, and staying out if there’s anything less than a good long gap in parked cars, makes it much easier for other traffic to see you and to know what you’re going to do next. Oh, and enjoy it! Even if it’s chilly or windy or drizzly, it’s still better than being stuck on public transport.

Thanks everyone and keep your eyes open for future competitions!

See also: 10 lessons learned from cycle commuting for a year

I’ve only ever met one “celebrity” in my life. The guy from Maroon 5. If I ever mention this to someone I normally shrug nonchalantly. However, if I met the author behind the popular Bike Snob NYC blog, things would be a little different.

Embarrassingly different.

You see, I’m a bit of a fan boy of his dry humour. The likes of which you mostly find in British comedy.

As such, I’d probably gush out far too much praise and come across as quite creepy.

Fortunately, the odds of bumping into each other are slim and thus I can deliver a more dignified review of his new book via my blog now.

“Omg!! It’s so unbelievably awesome!! Most hilarious thing I’ve read in my life!!”

I’m pretty sure that was dignified.

The Enlightened Cyclist is one of the best introductions to cycling culture you can read. Which is quite a statement, considering the sheer number of books released recently vying for the attention of cyclists.

It starts off with a brilliant description of a short bike ride around New York. The experience will have all cyclists nodding along, as we recognise everything described. For example, the race by car drivers to overtake you, only to catch up with them at the next set of red lights. The beauty of the authors writing, is in capturing these often mundane daily cycling experience and turning them into writing that will have you sniggering to yourself every few pages. I believe anyone that has the ability to do that, is worthy of your attention.

However, the authors hilarious writing is only half of what I’m enjoying so much about this book. The light hearted writing is also interweaved with interesting insights into how things got to where they are today. There’s plenty in The Enlightened Cyclist that makes you stop and think for a moment. An example of this, is the personal story of the authors experiences of 9/11. Also, an interesting take on why drivers have such anger for cyclists.

Whilst I’m thoroughly enjoying the book (I’m 70% of the way through by my book estimation skills), not everything is gripping me and I have found myself skipping a paragraph here and there. However, I’m an impatient reader and I generally read to unwind at the end of the day, so my concentration levels are not the best.

If you are looking for a light hearted read on the sheer hilarity of cycle commuting and the culture around it then I’d recommend picking up a copy when it lands in the UK. You can also pre-order from Amazon now.

Once you’ve read it – leave a comment with any parts of the book that stood out for you below! (Think of it as a mini book club).

If you are the type of person who likes to read things then I’d also recommend our list of cycling books for the kindle and 10 books for a cyclist at Christmas.

Please note: Competition provided by Zalando

Please note this competition is now closed! Julie is our winning entry!

To celebrate the first year of Zalando in the UK, they have a £75 voucher up for grabs for one lucky London Cyclist reader. Read on for details on how to enter.

Zalando sell a selection of sports wear for men and women including kit for cyclists. To find all the cycling gear on offer, simply hover over Sports and choose all sports. Then, choose bike in the left sidebar.

Whilst the site specialises in sports shoes, they also sell other cycling gear such as gloves, helmets and great looking waterproof jackets. The last one being an essential item for this time of the year! The company offers free returns and have a free support line if there are any issues.

Competition

Entering the competition is easy. Simply add a comment in the section below with one tip you’d give a new cyclist who’s just started cycling in 2012. Anything that you’ve learnt from your experiences that you feel would be useful to someone else. We’ll pick our favourite answer and then contact the winner to send them the £75 voucher that can be spent on anything they want on Zalando.

Please note that this competition is only open to UK residents. It will run from today until 8 p.m. on Wednesday 18th of January 2012 at which point it will be closed to any further entries. The winner will be announced on this post. One entry per person.

If the winner doesn’t respond within a reasonable amount of time then the person in second place will be contacted.

For a free £5 voucher to spend on Zalando you can also sign up to their newsletter. This is located at the bottom of the Zalando website.

Good luck with your entry!

The big news reverberating today around the London cycling blogosphere and reaching the mouths of cyclists sipping their morning cup of Joe in Look Mum No Hands, is about the planned changes to Bow Roundabout.

Nothing if finalised yet. However, it looks as though we will soon be seeing the first ever phased traffic lights in the UK. Cyclists will be given a separate set of lights, 12 metres ahead of general traffic. The lights will go green for cyclists first, giving them enough time to safely navigate and clear Bow Roundabout without fearing fast moving left turning traffic.

These changes will likely be seen in time for the Olympics. Visitors attending the games will be able to marvel at how forward thinking we are with our cycling infrastructure. “Them Brits really know what they’re doing over there on the other side of the pond!”

Over 500 junctions up for review

Unfortunately, it has taken a number of tragic deaths and protests before the Mayor ordered an urgent review of the most dangerous junctions in London. With over 500 junctions in the queue, Bow was pushed up the line to first position. The priority of getting this right is high enough that TfL will likely be breaking their rule of no new major road works in the run up to the Olympics.

The other major change is to the Bow flyover. According to the press release 60% of cyclists choose to use the flyover to navigate across from Bow road to Stratford High Street. A new compulsory lane just for cyclists would improve safety.

Is this a sign of bigger things to come?

The changes will have cycle campaigners wondering whether it’s time to pop open the champagne and celebrate better things to come or whether they are counting their chickens too early.

According to a phone interview with Ben Plowden, the Director of Better Routes and Places at TfL, it absolutely" and unequivocally is. The priority will be to review the junctions that are the largest in scale and public interest.

As you read this you’ll be thinking: Kings Cross. The scene of many of the recent protests.

(See also: Pictures from the Christmas Vigil held by cyclists at Kings Cross)

This was the next question I put to Ben Plowden. The original improvement works that have been planned for a while at Kings Cross, will still be going ahead. These plans have been criticised by campaign groups of not doing anywhere near enough to protect cyclists.

However, and this is where things get confusing, TfL will still be including Kings Cross junction in their wider review program. It seems counterproductive to go ahead with changes that have been planned for a while, with a view to changing them down the line.

To that Mr Plowden added that the original changes needs to be done in time for the Olympic games, due to the huge increases in pedestrian traffic in the area.

Big changes are coming, but after the Olympic games

It’s likely therefore, any further big changes such as the ones seen at Bow Roundabout, will only bring safety to cyclists after the Olympics. The job of campaign groups will be to keep the pressure on TfL and the Mayor, to press ahead with any recommendations that come out of the review of all the junctions.

The positive change, is that it finally seems the TfL wheels have begun spinning in a good direction for cyclists. Whilst 2012 won’t be the year we stop opening the newspaper to stories of cyclists hit by vehicles, the Bow Roundabout should stand as an example of what can be achieved when the Mayor acts on people’s concerns.

See also:

• Kings Cross Christmas Vigil for cyclists who lost their lives in 2011
• Blackfriars Bridge protest

Guest post by Chris Bean

They call it London-on-Sea, so it definitely fits on this blog. Right? Good. Biking in Brighton is, well, not that different from biking in London – there are potholes, buses, taxis and gormless pedestrians to keep you amused. The whole experience is however, distinctly provincial compared to riding around London, and it does have some lovely highs – riding along the coast with the sea to one side and gorgeous Hove buildings on t’other has a certain glorious buzz to it.

What’s it like down here for bikers, then? Pretty good! The weather’s surprisingly dry (this Kiwi can’t believe how little it rains down here – NZ’s green for a reason!) and bus drivers are trained to look out for us – let them out of a bus stop and you’ll get a thumbs-up. Taxis will pull impossible U-turns, just like anywhere, but they’re mostly modern vehicles, so at least they won’t gas you.

We’ve got a few segregated bike lanes, including one the Tory council tried to remove, and the country’s only Green MP! Yes indeed! Caroline Lucas hails from here, and she’s really keen on cycling. It’s a University town – students, being cheap, are keen riders.

Beware the biker that goes to the town centre: pedestrians in the Lanes are oblivious to all forms of traffic. I’ve had people carrying children step in front of me without a care in the world. How’s this different from normal pedestrians, you ask? Well, they do it to cars and buses too – walkers rule the Lanes, and that’s how it should be. I generally get off and walk if it’s busy. If you can’t beat’em, join’em.

If you fancy getting out of town, that’s easy too – there’s the Devil’s Dyke look-out, 40 minutes or so from Brighton Station up a gradual incline. From there, you can admire the view and explore the South Downs. Or you can tootle along the sea-front in either direction – east is best though, it’s more picturesque and there’s a cycle lane for miles.

As for bike shops, there’s Sydney Street bikes in the Centre, and the ‘golden tip’ is G-whizz cycles, open on Thursday, Friday, Saturday – he operates out of a garage and he’s a committed bike nut!

Finally, if you get stuck around Kemptown on a Friday or Saturday, the DIY guys at Cranks will be happy to help you out.

Cycling is basically the only way to get around Brighton and Hove – bring your bike next time you come down and get away from the centre’s crowds! Any of you Brightonians out there got some good tips or stories?

Image via raysto Flickr

We started off the year with some rather dramatic wind speeds sweeping across the UK and London. For some cyclists, this meant brushing the dust off the Oyster card and braving the public transport system. Undoubtedly, as soon as the aggressive fare rises were noticed, promises were made to get back on the bike.

So with no option of public transport how do you cycle into headwind?

• Reduce your resistance: This is the time when bikes with drop handlebars come into their element. Get down low over the handlebars to reduce the amount of wind resistance your body creates. If your bike doesn’t have drop handlebars then you may be able to fit aero bars. Remember to keep your elbows in. For an extreme solution – get on a recumbent bike!
• Avoid loose fitting clothes: They’ll flap wildly in the wind and slow you down. Think lycra.
• Gear down: Cycling into headwind feels similar to riding uphill. With someone having a huge fan at full speed in front of your face. You should gear down just as you would when hill climbing. This will help prevent any knee problems.
• Slipstream: If you are riding with someone or near a fellow commuter there is the option of slipstreaming. This can improve your performance by around 30%. Of course some bike commuters don’t particularly want you slipstreaming them.
• Pack light: This is the right time to be very strict with what you’ve packed on your bike – aim to reduce it and you’ll feel the benefit more than ever when cycling into a headwind.

Did you brave cycling into the headwind? How did you find it? Any tips for fellow commuters?

Whilst there’s no shortage of great rides to do in London, in 2012 we can add a new one to the list. The London Revolution is certain to make its way onto many cyclists calendars.

The ride takes place over the course of a weekend and covers 180 miles. It will be open to 2,500 riders and will take you all around the most scenic parts of London.

But I’ve only just started cycling..

The bike ride is meant to be open to all, so if you are new to cycling and looking for a good way to take your cycling one step further then it will appeal. The organisers will be providing training plans and guidance to help you complete the ride. Along the route they’ll also be teams to help with any mechanical problems.

For the more seasoned cyclists amongst us, the sections up Box Hill that form part of the Olympic Road Race will be a highlight.

Box Hill…Windsor Castle… The Chilterns…

The route covers some of the most popular destinations for London’s cyclists. During the 102 miles (approximate 8-9 hours of riding) you’ll be seeing Epping Forest, Lee Valley and the Chilterns. You’ll then continue onto to Windsor Castle. For those completing the two day ride this is when you rest up, shower and enjoy the evenings entertainment. This will include a big meal (including pasta of course) and then later on a bar as well as Q&A session with various cycling experts.

After breakfast, there’s another 80 miles to be covered. Once again there are some fantastic locations to be seen along the route. Including Ranmore Common, the North Downs and Crystal Palace. The route ends at Tower Bridge. There’s plenty of hill climbing in this section so if you had a few too many drinks on the Saturday night you’ll regret it!

Sounds good?

The London Revolution looks set to be one of the most complete rides around London’s best cycling sights. The places included along the way should be enough to get most people tempted. The evenings entertainment should seal the deal.

If you like your organised rides with all their benefits of mechanical teams, camping, food, hot showers and someone to carry your gear then take a look at the London Revolution.

It’s that time of the year again when we all descent on the London Bike Show to take a look into what the bicycle companies have in store for us in 2012.

The show starts on Thursday the 12th of Jan at 10am and runs until Sunday the 15th. The busiest day is always the Saturday. However, this is also when most the attractions are on.

This year in particular the Training Hub looks to be of much interest. For £99 you get a full assessment of your cycling performance and you are given tips on how you can improve. Whilst that won’t appeal to the “just want to get from A to B” side of me it get’s my “I want to ride faster than my friends” competitive side tingling in anticipation. The £99 test includes “Fascial Stretch Therapy” and Postural Testing. If that makes you screw up your face wondering what on earth the sentence you’ve just read means, then there’s more on the website.

My recommendations from last year:

• Take cash – the few cash points inside are likely to be busy and you are after all visiting the world’s largest bike shop
• Use Cycle Superhighway 3 to get there – they’ll be cycle parking outside
• Factor in some time to wonder around the Boat Show and the Outdoor Show

For tickets click here.

Heading to the grocery store? Would you like a little extra boost up the hill on the way home?

The Ridekick gives you a top speed of 19mph and can ride a maximum of 12 miles. It has a throttle that gives you control of the speed.

At $699 (£454) the Ridekick isn’t cheap but it is far cheaper than buying an electric bike.

(Via DVice) – Ridekick.com

1. Why cycle? (Inspiration to keep you going)

• Money in the pocket: In the UK our train fares are up to 10 times higher than many of our European counterparts such as Italy and Greece. Season tickets can cost up to £4000. A high end bike plus accessories will set you back around £1000. The rest you can spend on anything you want.
• Stay healthy: Cycling is a good way of getting in your daily exercise.
• Feeling great: Cycling wakes you up in the morning giving you better alertness throughout the day to perform better. It also connects you with the world around you making you feel alive.
• Beating the crowds: Using overcrowded public transport systems doesn’t have to be your daily reality. The bike is one way to beat it.
• Embracing the inner tree hugger: Less emissions make everyone happier.
• More time in bed: You can often save time by going by bike. This means more time in bed!
• Started, loved it: During the last London underground strikes many people who took to their bikes, loved it and kept going. The same thing has been reported to me repeatedly by my friends who are just taking up cycling. It is a quiet revolution that is happening and you are welcome to join!

2. Your new bike (how to save 50% or more)

I’m not sure if anyone has told you this but you are going to need a bike. There is no shortage of different types of bikes: road bikes, hybrid, cross bikes, Dutch style bikes, electric, single speed, recumbent bikes, folding, touring bikes… the list goes on.

Your local bike shop will be able to advise on which will be most suitable to you.

If you cycle commute is fairly long (8+ miles) and road based then you’ll probably want to use a road bike. They are quick, efficient and comfortable over medium to long distances.

If your route involves a lot of urban cycling then an upright bike such as a hybrid may be more suitable. It has a more relaxed riding position and gives you better visibility on the road.

The one bike type I would avoid for most commutes is a mountain bike. They tend to be heavier with thick tyres and suspension. They are meant for off-road riding and will cause you to exert yourself more than is necessary.

There are many ways to save money when buying a new bike. You may be eligible for a cycle to work scheme whereby you only pay 50% of the cost of a new bike. Ask around at work if such a scheme is available to employees.

Another option is to buy second hand. The discounts on second hand bikes are steep and it can be a good way to get a bike that would normally be out of your price range. You can also buy your bike online. Larger retailers such as Evans Cycles can price match any offers online so it is worth looking around.

Assembling a flat pack bike is actually a very simple process but the advantage of being able to take your bike back to the local bike shop may be worth the higher price.

I’d highly recommend having a test ride on your new bike before buying. This will help you judge the bike sizing.

Enjoying this guide? Please share it with others on Facebook, Twitter or via email. They’ll thank you for helping them with their new years resolution!

3. What accessories will I need? (The bare essentials)

Put these accessories on your “to buy” list:

• Two bike locks: So that you can lock all of your components and beat the thieves.
• Bike lights: If it is winter or you’ll be riding home late.
• Repair kit: pump, spare inner tube, multi-tool, tyre levers.
• Mudguards

Many cyclists also choose to wear a bike helmet.

A worthy upgrade I’d recommend are puncture proof tyres. They should mean less time spent off the bike, fixing punctures and getting your hands oily. The bike shop should be able to throw a pair of these in for you.

4. Planning your route into work (The importance of the test ride)

The first day I cycled into work I ended up on Oxford Circus and completely lost. It turned out I was around 2 miles away from where I should be. I now advise my friends to do a test ride into work before their first cycle.

To plan your route there are some excellent tools such as Cycle Streets and RideTheCity. They can help you plan a route that utilises local cycling facilities.

The route you choose will depend on personal preferences. At first you may wish to use quieter back roads. As your confidence increases you may be just as happy on busy main roads.

5. Riding safely (Avoid these common errors)

There are three quick things you can change about your cycling technique that can make a big difference to your safety.

The first is avoiding heavy goods vehicles at all costs. When you see one, alarm bells should be ringing in your mind and reminding you they have very large blind spots. Choose to either stay behind a HGV or overtake on the right (in the same way a motorbike would).

The second is road positioning. Many people try this, but then give up on it because one day a driver gets annoyed at them. The rule is: A car will give you as much room as you give yourself on the left. Therefore, don’t cling to the pavement if you want cars screaming past you with inches to spare. Instead, ride further out which gives you an opportunity to move in if there is a danger. This also makes you far more visible.

The final one I’ll mention in this post, is to establish eye contact with drivers behind you. It’s a  little hard for me to explain why this works so instead I suggest you try it and see what happens. When you establish eye contact they’ll realise it is a person on that bike not just another “bloody cyclist” and they’ll give you more room.

These tips are great if you manage to implement them. However, there’s no substitute for doing a cycle training course. These are 2 hour, one-on-one sessions that can cost as little as £2 as they are subsidised by the government. Just search Google for cycle training UK.

6. Keeping your bike safe (Out the hands of thieves)

Do you want to know how to get your bike stolen? Use one, cheap, £20 lock and only lock it around the front wheel. The thief will walk up to your bike, undo the quick release in 5 seconds and walk away with the rest of your bike.

You should always use two locks and follow the correct locking technique:

• Never lock your bike to an object where the bike can be lifted over (this includes sign posts that could be unscrewed)
• Never leave your bike unattended even for “just one minute”
• Ideally lock the two wheels and the frame to the object
• Use two different types of lock as the thief is likely to only be equipped to attack one type
• Register your bike with Bike Shepherd (or equivalent service)

7. Looking after your bike (Losing your tyre puncture virginity..)

The are three things you need to know:

1. How to remove your wheel and repair a puncture – by far the most likely repair you’ll have to do.
2. How to clean your bike – this will save you a ton of money as dirt in your expensive components wears them out prematurely.
3. How to adjust and replace your brake pads – these will eventually wear out and it’s good to not rely on the bike shop to repair them.

The Bike Doctor app can show you how to do all of the above wherever you are.

8. Keeping your resolution (Burn your travel card!)

As anyone who’s tried to lose weight, learn Spanish or stop letting their cat into the house whenever it wants to – we know new habits are hard to keep. The 30 day rule is a good start.

Make it your aim to cycle into work daily without a break for 30 days. Use the website iDoneThis which will email you and ask what you’ve done today. Try not to break the chain!

In combination with this tell one or more friends about what you are doing and ask them to check in with you daily to see how you are doing. The pressure to not fail should help keep you on the straight and narrow.

You can also make it harder for you to cheat. Burn your Oyster card or, more sensibly, give it to a friend and tell them to not give it back to you until after the 30 days are up.

9. Taking things to the next level

I’d like to help you get started and keep cycling in London or wherever you are. Join the newsletter below for free and I’ll send you weekly tips on everything from getting a great deal on a new bike to overcoming the most common problems people face when getting started with cycling. I’ll also check in with you and see how you are coming along.

Enter your first name and email address in the box above and hit subscribe.

Hey – my name is Anna, writing to you from Denmark, I have a rookie
question you might be able to answer.

I don’t know anything about the bike culture in London or the
facilities on the roads and would like to ride in zone one. Do you
think it’s too dangerous when you’re first of all used to ride in the
right side of the road, and don’t know the roads in inner London?
And…. do a lot of people go by bike in inner London?

Thanks in advance

Do you tell a person who is visiting that it is safe to cycle in London or do you tell them that it can be very dangerous?

I’ll leave it open to the comments..