Image source: Flickr zUgan

I received an e-mail recently from Deb suggesting a cyclist lost and found site.

When Deb was riding along… “On Friday 16th May at 7pm a passing cyclist lost her beautiful scarf while peddling down the Harrow Road. The scarf flew under the number 18 bus, but I rescued it & waved it
in the air shouting “stop that cyclist” but no-one bothered.”

If this is you then get in touch and your scalf will be returned! Its great to see such an honest Londoner still exists amongst us!

I don’t think there are any lost and found sites for items such as this one - maybe someone has come across one? A site similar along this theme is www.talkonthetube.com which tries to connect you with people you randomly meet on the tube. Otherwise you could always send your message into one of the London newspapers and they display it the next day. Maybe a social networking site for cyclists in London could be an idea that would catch on?

The cyclist is Mike Bentham who has some cool videos and photos on his blog.

In other news:

Cycle Surgery stores based in London planning to expand with a further 7 stores outside the capital.
Ban on Cycling by the Tate Modern on the Thames unless you “have a valid reason” - does running over pedestrians count?

Coming soon to London Cyclist:

- Getting fined by the police - how I was fined by the police and how badly they handled it all.
- Beginners guide to bicycle lube
- Best cycling podcasts

Whilst I don’t have a speedometer on my new bicycle, due to the stop start nature of commuting in London back when I was at college I managed to get up to 26 mph, admittedly whilst going down a hill.

What is the highest speed you have ever travelled at on your bicycle?

Bike chain christmas card

Originally uploaded by richardmasoner

I have returned home from Christmas and I am sat smuggly at home with a glass of wine and home cooked food, I hope you are experiencing something similar! Have a great Christmas and perhaps a break from cycling for a while? If you wished for some new cycling gear for Christmas then I hope your wish comes true!

It’s pretty difficult to explain this so here’s a little gif animation of how it works:

Basically you pull up to this weird structure, swipe a card, put your bike onto it, get off your bike (don’t forget that part) and then it pulls the bike up into this tree like structure. What an amazing idea. Stupid, but amazing!

I wonder if Ken is considering this around the city of London? I have sent him an e-mail with the link and am waiting to hear back!

VideoJug: How To Stop Your Bike Being Stolen

If I know I will be leaving my bicycle somewhere potentially unsafe I use both my D-lock and my chain lock. Often it’s a compromise between having to carry heavy locks and safety. I did look into bicycle insurance but as my bike was second hand I didn’t have a receipt to prove it was mine.

Tip Top Safety Tip: When you lock your bike make sure the key-lock is facing down so that thieves can’t fill it with corrosive fluid.Do you guys have any safety tips?

Having to get presents at Christmas is a pain, how to find the time to get something more meaningful that just a gift voucher? If you have a mate (or relative) who cycles then your in luck because buying for cyclists is easy. Here are my top 5 recommendations of what to buy a cyclist for Christmas:

1) Cycling Gloves - damn it gets cold this time of year in London so why not splash out on some cycle gloves such as these ones. That’s not the only thing they do but they also act as shock absorbers which is useful when you don’t spot that pothole in the road because its filled with rain water! Spend around: £15

2) Computer - bit more expensive but pretty damn cool - especially if its wireless!
Spend around: £35

3) Cycle Jacket - I splashed out on this one which keeps you warm when it’s cold and cool when it’s hot. I don’t know how but it works! Spend around: £70

4) If you are buying for someone that has just started cycling then buy them an ultimate guide to bicycles. This will help them keep their bike in top condition and make it last. Spend around: £10

5) Bicycle lights - there’s far too many to choose from so head on over to amazon.co.uk or ebay or wherever you like to shop and pick some up. Spend around: £15-£20

Hope you have a Merry Christmas!

“The idea is no matter what level of cyclist you are you can turn up, ride a route that is suitable for you and have a great day in the saddle with other riders.”

I think this is a very good idea that will promote people using their bikes more often and discovering what they can do with those bikes.

What some people might find very interesting is that they are recruiting staff to help out in the events.

“This is a great role for the right people” says Dean Stacey, Evans Cycles Event Manager, “We need people that love cycling and want to see others enjoying the sport as much as they do. Dependability, a friendly character and an outgoing personality are all prerequisites.”

“With a lot of time on the bikes marking out and taking down both road and mountain bike courses candidates need to enjoy both road and off-road cycling and be able to ride reasonable distances.”

To find out more follow the link: Evans Cycles