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...
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,...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Nothing since arguably the Second World War has brought the entire planet, or certainly Europe, to such a standstill. At the time of writing, COVID-19 / coronavirus has claimed the lives of almost 9,000, with more than 200,000 cases discovered...
Even with provision and facilities for bike riders growing all the time in the UK, it is still lagging behind the likes of the Netherlands, Germany and Denmark as a cycling hotbed. For instance, only in 2018, it was reported...
It affects an estimated seven to ten million people worldwide. It can cause tremors in your body, loss of movement, and changes in your speech and writing, among countless other devastating symptoms. And it can’t be cured. Living with Parkinson’s...
It’s the second-biggest country in England after London, with more than 1 million residents. So surely there’s enough space in Birmingham for plenty of great cycle paths, bike shops and places to store your bicycle when not riding? Let’s explore…...
It’s already garnered a reputation as a cycling hotbed, with the number of bikes (23 million) outweighing its inhabitants (17 million), who make a higher proportion of trips by bicycle (25 per cent) than any other nation. But now, the...
Thanks to its radical ‘superblocks’ scheme, cycling in Barcelona is becoming a whole lot more eco-friendly. But what are they, where did the idea come from, what has it achieved, and would benefits could it go on to bring to...
If you ever feel like embarking on an enormous, country-to-country cycle, Europe is well-equipped for that thanks to its 14 EuroVelo routes. Encompassing almost the entire continent, there are no other cycling trails quite like them. But just what is...
With excellent cycling facilities and almost everywhere in the region within reach in no more than half an hour, Exeter is great place to go out on your bike. But just what is it that makes the Devonshire city so...
Perhaps not state of the art anymore but still clearly a more advanced product than most alternatives, you’d do well to find a good electric bike without shelling figures well beyond the £500 mark. But, with Christmas drawing ever closer,...
Find out the answer to what size bike you need by using the easy calculator below (it may take a few seconds to load). Simply select whether you want an adult or child bike, which type of bike, your height...
One of the most popular cities for cycling in the UK, there are few, if any, places better in the country than Oxford to take the bike out for a spin. But what is it about Oxford that makes it...
As an innovative alternative to the traditional model, Swedish company Hövding created their world’s first “inflatable helmet” with an airbag in November 2011 after years of researching. But just what is a Hövding “helmet”? How does it work? And what...
Electric bikes are the latest craze in cycling, giving you the same fitness benefits as regular bikes yet demanding less physical effort on your part. If you’re new to concept of them, or just want to know the answers to...
Another hotspot in the UK for cycling, there are few better places to be out on two wheels than Edinburgh. But just what makes the Scottish capital such a popular destination for cyclists? Edinburgh Cycling Statistics Certainly, it’s undeniable that...
Although it’s a hotly-debated and highly-sensitive topic, the short answer is that UK law does not require people to wear a helmet on a bicycle. The Highway Code recommends wearing a helmet while cycling, but that is a far cry...
Back in 2008, Bristol was named the UK’s first ‘cycling city’, pledging to double the number of people on their bikes in the city within three years. So, how far has it come in the 11 years since then, and...
We’ve already looked at the pluses and minuses of Leicester as a city in which to cycle. So, how does its East Midlands neighbour, Nottingham, compare? Nottingham Cycling Statistics Well, in Toothpick‘s study showing the amount of people in each...
Remember buying things? Remember actually parting with your money to take full ownership of a possession? Ask anyone younger than about 25 and they probably won’t. We are now living in the so-called millennial age of ‘Generation Rent’, where more...
For any regular cyclist, a good waterproof bike cover should be an essential. Primarily, it will protect your bicycle from rust which will continually wear it down until it is no longer usable, but even if you normally leave your...
We all know the many reasons why cycling is great for your health. To name only a few positives, it keeps you fit, improves your mental wellbeing, increases your stamina and strength. But getting out on the bike on a...
With hundreds of millions of pounds being put into improving cycling infrastructure in Manchester, one of Britain’s best and most beloved cities is becoming an increasingly bike-friendly region. So, just what is it like to go cycling through the city,...
When it comes to investing in a bike, value for money is everything. If you’re a commuter looking to cycle to work, for example, it’s important that you’re sure you’re making the right choice before parting with your money. Don’t...
Having spent much of the last three years living there as a student, it’s probably about time I wrote a ‘cycling in…’ posts about Leicester; if nothing else, to prove there’s more to it than curry houses, Walkers crisps and...
They’re the latest creation in the cycling world which can keep you just as fit but requires less effort than regular bikes. And, with five per cent of UK adults (2.5 million) saying they are ‘likely’ to invest in them...
