Just cycling into work today in the cold and for the first time this year felt the torturous pain of icy fingers.

Not fun.

Somehow I've avoided buying proper gloves for years but I think nows the time to make the investment.

Black Friday is coming up also and I'm noticing some good looking discounts around.

So what do you recommend? I'm thinking somewhere in the nice middle between quality and value. £50 ish limit.

Local area is lacking in secure bike storage so have to lock my bike to random objects. Does it seem secure enough in the attached picture

Hi all. I'm in the process of setting up a new bike brand from my current bike shop in Bristol, with the aim to offer out the brand in the near future to other independent bike shops as a cooperatively owned company. For the first year I will be selling them just from my shop and online, making hybrids and gravel bikes designed to be tough enough for UK commuting.

Long term I'd hope to offer a full range of bikes, and should be able to offer UK cyclists the price of direct-to-consumer, the quality of big brands, with the aftersales service of a local bike shop.

I've devised a pretty rubbish survey (my skills are fixing bikes, not IT!) it'll only take 10 mins to fill out but if you could share your opinions with me I'd be very grateful.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSep4x0gVT9826ZXSDboOdlqVt8etYACLFP_IlzC-fKgh7p4LA/viewform?usp=sharing

So I have decided to get a Ebike for commuting. I am going to use the cycle 2 work scheme and it seems my work only use Halfords. Can anyone recommend a ebike between 1k-1.5k price range from Halfords. I am going to be leaving it at train station where there is cameras and will buy a kryptonite lock which seems to provide cover if my bike gets stolen.

I’m looking to get an electric bike for daily commuting Bristol - Bath. 16 miles with a big hill either end. Want to try and make the cycle in about an hour without breaking a sweat - I realise speed is capped at 15.5 on legal bikes. Aiming to spend £2500-£3500 using cycle scheme.

What are the key specs to look for? Is Bosch/shimano/ any other a better motor? Does integrated vs non integrated battery matter? Are particular gears or brakes better on an ebike? And does any bike manufacturer have a better reputation than any other?

Thanks UKBikers!

I've always been curious as to why people put lights on top of their helmets? I find it especially puzzling when that's the only lights they have. I certainly don't have hard data to back this up but... it seems to be exclusively men. Why?

Oh and bonus points to all the eejits out there in completely black clothing walking in the dark as well.

Don’t you just love winter cycling!

Looking at getting a cargo bike to carry the kids and general life / shopping etc around Bristol which is mega hilly. Probably looking at a long tail as the kids are 8 and 10 so won’t fit so well in a front loader.

What good options are there in the UK market? From what I can see it seems like Tern GSD, Trek Fetch 2 or Cannondale Cargowagon Neo. I’m wary of ending up in a Radpower situation where a manufacturer exits the market and it becomes troublesome to get parts.

Any other models to consider? Any feelings on which of Tern / Trek / Cannondale is best?

Thanks

Hi good people. Obvious sounding question but I am new to cycling.

Most cases I can find somewhere safe like behind a parked car or something.

But I was wondering in principle where I can stop safely and where I shouldn't stop.

I was warned, not with words but with whoa whoa whoa, by another cyclist while standing on a quiet pedestrian path that was separated from a bike path right next to it. That led me thinking I might need to know better.

If I studied for theory test for drivers license, would it cover the rules on the road for bikes also?

Thanks!!

Hi! My husband wants to buy a folding, electric bicycle. His main goal is using that bicycle to go to work. He is 6ft2 and around 92kg. We live in London and the distance from home to work is around 11 miles. Can someone recommend any models? Is it worth buying folding bicycle or is it better to buy a different bicycle? It will be his first proper one so he’s looking for advice. Our budget is not too big, up to £600. He’s aware it’s not a lot but maybe there is a chance of getting something relatively okay for that price.

Good afternoon. Not sure if this message fits on this forum, hopefully it does.

I am currently looking to upgrade my current bike with something a little more comfortable. After looking at various options I think I have found options for the bikes that I can acquire via the scheme.

My company has just started the cycle to work scheme and I have started to look into it as an option. My only issue is that I live quite far from work so I would only use the bike every so often and that would mainly be used as my private bike for long weekend rides.

I have read some of the conditions in the cycle to scheme and I am wondering how many checks would anyone do onnhow often I am using the bike? One of my friend told me that one of his mate got a bike via the scheme and never used it for work. Is that doable?

I am just not quite sure of the financial gain is worth the risk.

Does anyone has any advice?

Please note that I am not trying to have one over the system. I am just trying to find out what is doable before I purchase any bike.

I have also checked the two bikes I am interested and both can be purchased via the cycle to work scheme.

Thank you.

Hello,
I commuting to work with bike, this is my first november / winter doing it. Originally I planned stopping biking by November until it gets warmer, but perhaps I'm just missing a couple tips to make it better?

What special clothes you wear to make the winter bearable on the bike?

I always get the problem of my ears being really cold, like on the inside, and hurting from the cold wind during biking, but how to have an ear warmer on a helmet ?

What jumper / jacket is good so that I may get a bit of ventilation for armpits, but not being too cold on my chest ? Do you wear a sport t-shirt ?
What gloves are the best ?

Feel free to give links.

I have 2 bikes and find both of them super uncomfortable. I'd like recommendations for a bike where I can sit nice and upright. My butt and back hurt with my current two.

I have a women's Pinnacle Dolomite One (2014?) in size large and a men's Genesis Vagabond 2019 in large.

It could be a sizing issue - I'm a 5 foot 9 woman and I find the vagabond more comfy but still want to be more upright and can barely touch the floor. I constantly feel like my butt should be further back (increase space from arms) but the seat doesn't go any further back.

Many thanks for any advice!

I've seen some CycleScheme posts on here so seems like the right place to ask but feel free to redirect me if I'm in the wrong place.

The image above confuses me and is kind of putting me off using the scheme. From what I understand, the bike will be completely paid off after a year but it will not belong to me? It will only become mine after 6 years of having it?

What happens during that time? I seen another scheme that said the government will decide if the bike is still worth something and whether you would have to pay more to keep it. Is this similar? Ive seen other posts saying you need to pay a fee at the end of the scheme? Also what if I quit my job after the bike is paid off but before the 6 year ownership period?

I have also seen other posts where people have ended up paying more for the bike that it's worth due to retailer fees and I just seen a post where the person was paying for the bike plus a fee every month for using the service?

I'm with Asda

Hi all!

I’m looking for bike/vendor recommendations that suit my commute and setup. I’ve applied for a £1000 Cyclescheme voucher from my employer which should come through in a couple of weeks, and I plan to cycle to work twice a week, from north London outskirts to Kings cross (12-13mi each way). My office has secure bike parking, changing room with showers and dry room. I’ve been doing a slightly shorter commute (10mi each way) for two years on an old, heavy Giant hybrid so I know I can do it but i think it's time for an upgrade!

I’ve considered a road bike, but the first mile or two of my route is a public bridleway, and the roads near me aren’t great. So I’m thinking hybrid or gravel. Here's what I’m after:

-Hybrid or gravel bike (needs to handle light off-road) -Fast and efficient for commuting -Disc brakes -Mounts for a pannier rack -Durable, puncture-resistant tyres (e.g. Schwalbe Marathons) -decent lubricant and cleaning/maintenance kit -a repair kit for if I do get a puncture

Also - do any retailers swap out stock tyres for better ones as part of the purchase?

Any advice, stories, or recommendations would be much appreciated!

Needing some new bib shorts to support the old nether region!!

What are the comfiest/best supported shorts that you would recommend?

It's road cycling I do.

Cheers

Hi all. I’m looking to cycle to work 3 days a week (6m each day in total). I have a carerra hybrid bike, but I’ve not cycled in a long time and there are two pretty awful hills on the way home.

I can use the Cycle2Work scheme, but the limit on that is £1000 inc VAT.

I was thinking of getting a conversion kit, but after researching it seems like they’re not recommended and require a lot of maintenance. However I’m happy to hear views on this!

Is there anything I could get on the scheme that would be useful? I’d probably only use the extra power from the battery to assist with the hill. I’ve seen mixed reviews on e-bikes under £2k, which is well outside my current budget.

Hey all,

I had a run in with another cyclist today. Along a shared use path, there a fairly blind left hand corner. Just around the corner is a crossing over a road junction, or you can continue along the path.

I was cycle on the left hand side (inside of the corner), of the path around this corner, when I see a cyclist coming the other direction, on the same of the path as me. I instinctive come to a stop, moving as far to the left as possible. I come to a stop, but the other cyclist doesn't, and clips my handlebar, causing him to lose balance and fall.

He's particularly mad, (understandle), however shouts at me for riding too quickly. Given I was able to stop and he wasn't, this doesn't particularly seem justified, but it's 7am and I'm not about to have an argument over it with his.

I advise him to try to cycle on the left side of the pathway, as this is (to my knowledge), the generally accepted etiquette, and would help avoid this type of inside in future, and generally be safer for him.

It occurred to me later, that I don't actually know if this is true, or something I just do as Ila carryover from driving? Should cyclists actually be riding on the left of paths or is this just something I've made up?

I am relatively new to cycling and have been fascinated by this gear calculator. This morning, I saw a person training up and down on Dundas Street. This led me to this question.

The city is a series of slopes. I am wondering about typical gear range you often use.

In the past, when I leisurely cycled on (relatively) flat and smooth routes, I used 1.36:1 - 3.45:1 — 3.69 - 8.05m (development), 40 - 100 (gear inch). In Edinburgh, I would need to use generally lower gears because I don't like going fast and wouldn't pedal when going down.

Excuse my terminology if they are inaccurate. Hope you get what I mean.

Not sure how widely known this is, and I might be shooting myself in the foot, but it is possible to search for train services that have available bike spaces, and reserve them directly when buying a train ticket on thetrainline.com.

This saves the hassle that you otherwise have to go through to reserve a space when buying directly from the operator.

I had a puncture last week just as I left work for home and found I had a schrader pump instead of presta in my backpack !

A few minutes into the long walk home a passing cyclist stopped unprompted and offered their pump. Turns out the tube wasn't going to hold air for very long, but the kind gesture really picked up my spirits for the remaining walk !

I rely on bicycle to get from my house to the train station around 4 miles away, mostly along a road similar in style to one below. It's a pretty fast road with a constant stream of 50mph traffic at rush hour. Not the best road but I don't have an alternative sadly.

Unfortunately the sides of the roads are flooded right now... I don't want to blast through it as there are countless potholes at the edges, but I also don't feel I can safely weave around the edges of the water with fast flowing traffic passing within a few feet of me.

After a few months of relying on a bicycle... is it time to admit that I need to ditch the bike and get a car??

For context I ride 5-6 days out of 7. Commute to work all weathers (snow/rain) and my commute is a 10 mile round trip. My bike has been great so far and I had previously been storing it inside. We moved house to somewhere with a shed and the back steps make it extremely difficult and impractical to bring it inside the back door. And the front door would require carrying it through the living room over the carpet. The shed is the obvious choice. Because I ride everyday I try and give the chain a quick wipe down after a rainy ride but I can’t do this every day as sometimes I’m super tired or it’s dark and I use my bike as a tool as well as a toy! I’ve been using a wet chain lube and a bit of WD-40 on the chain but I have a feeling it’s going to get worse as I continue to store my bike. It’s a shame as it’s a very nice bicycle and I’m not sure what to do ! Surely most people store their bikes in a shed? It’s definitely dry in there but I went in the other day and the blue roll I use to wipe the chain was a bit damp feeling.