Is Cycling to Work ‘Enough’ Exercise?
During the peak of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, I dusted off my bike and running shoes and lost a good amount of weight, which you can read about here. Of course, when I was cycling...
Author: Matthew Chandler
Is Rapha Worth It (and Why Do Some Cyclists Hate Them)?
In a way, perhaps they’re the Apple of cycling. Formed in 2004 after founder Simon Mottram spotted a gap in the market for stylish cycling attire, Rapha are renowned for making beautiful, cutting-edge, high-quality gear. But many remain deterred by...
Has Cycling Increased in the UK? [The Pandemic Legacy Question]
If the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 left us all mentally, emotionally drained, it felt almost impossible to find any silver lining in these dark clouds. But there was at least one positive from a cycling perspective: it...
Adidas Velosamba: The Most Beautiful Urban Cycling Shoe Ever?
When you’re “surfing” the web, sometimes you come across something simply beautiful. And that’s what happened to me last week when I discovered Adidas’ reinvention of the classic Samba shoe, reimagined for urban cyclists: the Adidas Velosamba. Behold: At the...
Cycling Hand Signals for Turning, Stopping and More [DIAGRAM]
When cycling, if you prefer the old-fashioned method of arm-waving to indicator rather than buying state-of-the-art LEDs, that’s fine. But just remember: keeping it simple with bike turning signals is best. Sure, there are lots of more complex cyclist signals,...
How Can a Jacket Be Waterproof AND Breathable?
Because many waterproof jackets tend to get drenched with sweat on the inside, there’s a belief that a waterproof material can’t also be breathable. But how true really is this? Is it possible for a jacket to be waterproof and...
21 Reasons to Cycle to Work in 2021
Out with the old, in with new – calendar year, that is. The worst of the nightmare that was 2020 is behind us, and it’s time to usher in 2021 with a revitalised, positive attitude. What that in mind, why...
Can You Cycle on… the Pavement? Dual Carriageways? Motorways?
Whether you’re in a new country or state or just want to know a little bit more about what your cycling rights are in your area, we’ve compiled a summary of where you can and can’t ride your bike in...
The 2020 Bike Boom: How Much Did Cycling Numbers Increase + Will it Continue?
It might have been an absolutely pretty rubbish year with regards to pretty much everything else, but it’s hard to look past the idea that, because of COVID-19, 2020 has been a pretty successful year in the cycling world, at...
Swapfiets: The Blue-Wheeled Bike Leasing Trend Taking Over Europe
Described as the ‘Netflix of bikes’, Dutch company Swapfiets offer a rental style service to cyclists in some of the world’s busiest cycling hotspots. And having cornered the rent-a-bike market in much of Holland and Germany already, it might not...
Cycling to Work: Calories Calculator
Ever wanted to know exactly how much good making your commute by bike is doing to your body? Well, thanks to this cycling weight loss calculator below, you can see just how many calories you’ve burnt while riding: Calories Burned...
How Strava Changed Bike Infrastructure Planning Forever
Urban planners everywhere can breathe a sigh of relief. Gone are the days of bike lane planning largely through guesswork or antiquated studies. No more counting how many cars and bikes go by at certain points in the day. Thanks...
Why is Cycling so Addictive?
There’s a drug-like quality to cycling. For many, myself included, that first spin of the wheels on a long stretch of road can be the gateway to a lifetime addiction. Take my word for it – I upped my cycling...
A Chat with Rehook Founder Wayne Taylor: What’s Life Like After Dragons’ Den Success?
Earlier this year, we took a look at the oily-finger-saver that is the Rehook cycling tool, a plastic device weighing just 20 grams which can ‘re-hook’ your chain back on to your bike in seconds and leave the days of...
STUDY: 82% of Cyclists Don’t Want to Cycle Among Traffic
Our 2020 Cycling Lifestyle Survey found that over 82% of cyclists asked said they would rather not ride among traffic. The survey, which had 3,467 responses – most of whom were active cyclists in the UK – asked several questions...
Livall BH60SE Helmet – Review: The Best Bluetooth Bike Helmet for Under £100?
Look, we all know there are loads of things flashier and more exciting to spend your hard-earned cash on than a bike helmet. But why settle for run-of-the-mill when you could be buying ‘smarter’? Smart bike helmets, many of which...
Why is Cycling Easier Than Running?
Given the coronavirus-enforced lockdown has left me with little else to do for the most part, back in April I thought, what better time to lose a little weight and boost my fitness than when the pubs are closed and...
Back in the Saddle: Why I Re-Started Cycling + What I Discovered Losing 2 Stone
Scouring for positives in a pandemic that has shattered every facet of life as we knew it, and taken life from more than 800,000, is rather akin to searching for that proverbial needle in a haystack. They may be there,...
29 Cycling to Work Statistics That May Surprise You
Have you ever wondered what the ‘commute by bike’ statistics are in Britain? Are you keen to know how these compare with America’s bike commuting stats, or the ‘cycling to work’ stats across cycling hotbeds in Europe? Or perhaps you’re...
The 66 Best Bicycle Quotes: Inspiration + Captions for Bike Rides
Are you struggling for motivation as you set off on that long slog of a commute to work, or the next bike ride in your fitness programme? Stuck thinking of a good Instagram caption for bike ride photos? Want to...
How to Claim Your £50 Bike Repair Voucher from the UK Government in 4 Steps
On Tuesday 28th July 2020, a new government scheme in England is being launched as part of plans to get more people out on their bikes again. These new ‘bike repair vouchers’ have come after a new obesity strategy was...
Where to Find a Cheap Bike During the Cycling Boom
The coronavirus pandemic has been a harrowing, devastating few months for so many people for so many reasons, but it has at least seen a sharp upturn in bikes being ridden regularly. Indeed, in England alone there’s been as many...
Cyclescheme Electric Bikes: How to Get a 39% Discount On an E-Bike
Looking for a bargain on a new electric bike? Well, look no further than Cyclescheme, a UK ‘cycling to work’ employee benefit which saves you 25 to 39 per cent on bicycles and accessories. Many cycling regulars may already know...
5 Cities That Proved Anywhere Can Become Bike-Friendly
The naysayers always have an excuse, don’t they? Cycling lanes wouldn’t work in the UK, they tell you. If it’s not because of the wind, it’s because of the rain. Or the hills. Or the old infrastructure. Or the narrow...
Is the Bike Boom Going to Continue?
Amid the sea of terrible stories that have emerged during the coronavirus pandemic so far this year, there is at least one positive potentially linked with the crisis: a boom in cycling. Indeed, in the UK alone, 1.3 million people...
8.9 Million People Cycling in England During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Shortly before we waved goodbye to the pre-lockdown, ‘normal’ world in mid-March, my bicycle was starting to gather dust in the garage. I enjoy cycling, of course, but it was becoming harder to justify setting time aside for a good,...
How to Get Bike Lanes in Your Town
Especially during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, with more people averse to using public transport, there can’t have been many better times in recent memory to demand segregated bike lanes in your area. Already, it feels as though the wheels are...
How COVID-19 Has Caused ‘Pop-Up’ Bike Lanes to Appear Overnight
All over the world, cities are using “tactical urbanism” to create temporary pop-up bike lanes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Almost overnight, the cycling infrastructure that people have campaigned years for has appeared at next to no cost. Indeed, of the few...
Why Electric Bikes are Key to Cycling Growth in Cities
If you’re finding your commute to and from work on your bicycle each day leaves you drained of energy and drenched in sweat, or that hill you have to scale feels a little steeper each time, electric bikes could offer...
The History of Bike Sharing Schemes (And What They’ll Look Like In the Future)
Visit virtually any city these days, and no matter where in the world it is, you’re bound to find its own public bike rental scheme. China, for what it’s worth, has about 60 of its own, while many of the...
