Today I’m celebrating my birthday!
I’m currently a fair distance away from London in the Middle East exploring Jordan for a week. I wrote this post before I left and I imagine as you read this I’m probably starving to death as it is Ramadan so it won’t be easy to find food!
I was wondering if you could give me a small gift for my Birthday. All I want you to do is share one specific thing that London Cyclist has helped you to do.
I’m really excited about returning to London or getting some time while I’m travelling to read through what you say.
Perhaps its a cool bike cafe you’ve fallen in love with, or a cycling event you felt inspired to take part in or a tip you use every day in your cycling.
Just use the comment form at the bottom of this post. Share a story, a lesson or something you enjoy about the blog.
Can’t wait to read what you have to say and thank you so much for taking the time to comment!
Andreas
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Happy Birthday Andreas – I hope you are enjoying Jordan.
I’ve always enjoyed exploring my local area and further afield by bike. However, your 25 London Rides e-book has given me quite a few new rides to try (and I was secretly chuffed to know that I’d found about 5 for myself which were very similar to those you recommend
.
I did most of the 35 mile Olypics/south bank ride the other day and really enjoyed it. The Greenway was very impressive and I’d never made use of the Thames Path before as I so rarely travel South of the River – but I will in future!!
Have a fabulous birthday, Andreas! It’s almost impossible to share just one thing London Cyclist has done for me; there’s been so much! I guess it would have to be recommending the cycling course which gave me confidence to cycle in London traffic. The Elephant and Castle roundabout (my home territory) always daunted me, but now I cycle around it like I own it. Many thanks and many happy returns!
Just making me feel a bit more clued up about cycling in London!
Really great blog style as well.
Happy birthday Andreas, I’m sure you’ll have a fab time in Jordan as everyone I’ve taked to loves it there!
Only subscribed to your blog a couple of weeks ago as I just bought a bike, have found your site to be full of useful tips and information particularly about riding safely in London.
Cheers,
Tim
Happy Birthday Andreas, your blog has given me excellent tips on both cycling and accessories – for instance I bought the Abus 1000 lock after reading a post about it.
Thank you!
Andrew
Happy birthday mate. Seriously considering taking on all the routes in your book. they look brill.
Hello Andreas and a happy birthday to you. Your column has inspired me to try cycling in London. I live outside London but this year I have been coming into London on the train with my bike to sample some of your routes. I have also discovered cycling from Central London back out on Routes 1 & 4 to Windsor and Waltham. Have also cycled right across London using the towpath from Wembley to Limehouse. Would never have even thought of this until I read your column. So thanks for that.
Happy Birthday Andreas
I throughly enjoy all aspects of “London Cyclist” though I live across the Atlantic on a small island (Presidential Vacation Spot) off the East coast of the United States.
Perhaps a Jordanian birthday cake is in order, after the sun sets that is.
David
Have a great time but don’t drink and peddle !!
Webby
Happy Birthday Andreas! Your blog has helped me – IS helping me – to plan a city cycling trip. I live an hour & a half from London on the train. There’s a problem though. I’m really struggling to find a B & B where I can lock my bike up overnight. Best offer so far is ‘you can lock your bike to the railings outide the hotel’. Don’t think I’d get much sleep! Any suggestions? Oh, and your site is great with suggestions about good gear too. I hope you don’t mind non-Londoners. Think of us as country cousins!
Phil
Hope you have a great day!
Your site has been a great place just to read sensible comments from yourself and other members on everyday cycling tips, We all have our own Ideas on times and sometimes we are right and its nice to hear from other guys that they use the same techniques and sometimes you get pointed out the error of your ways no matter how long we have been getting away with it!
Also on Twitter it has been very informative just looking at some of the sites you follow for some good and interesting reading.
John.
Happy Birthday, Andreas! I’ve only just started reading and using your site, but I’m very grateful for your clearly-written, informative, and fun-to-read posts and ebooks. I’m traveling to London soon and can’t wait to put your London-specific advice to use.
Have a beautiful day!
Happy Birthday Andreas.
I do not live in London, nor did I even ever have been there. I just love London, because London means to me “psychedelic”, “pop”, “the sixties” and everything related.
You and your blog made me buy a bicycle and jump up again to cycle a little bit. The last time I did cycle before is some 30 years ago.
So I thank you so much for the hard work you do to bring all the informative stuff to me and that I do appreciate so much. It is always so interesting to learn about repairing, securing, riding a bicycle. All the guides and tipps and routes are just so precious.
With kind regards,
Philippe
Happy Birthday Andreas!
Keeps me up-to-date and connects me to all things cycling – events, reviews, routes and news. This has fuelled my love of cycling, made me feel part of the cycle community, and encouraged me to cycle to work regularly.
Many thanks… and keep up the fantastic work!
Happy Birthday! Your guide has helped me prepare for our trip to London. We Brompton bike owners will enjoy the World Championship at Blenheim Palace and then explore London for a few days with the help of your guide.
Thanks!
Not a Londoner but I took up cycling a few months ago and have used your guides to learn how to a) fix a puncture and b) clean/maintain my bike. So, for that, thank you.
Also, I have probably taken stuff from your tips on how to handle the roads. Generally, your blog has had some interesting posts.
Many happy returns Andreas
Although I have not used the Cycle Hire Scheme yet I hope to do so tomorrow, Tuesday. Since retiring three years ago I have been up to London regularly on National Express (cheap!) and used ‘walkit.com’ to walk to museums and galleries etc from Victoria Coach Station. Tomorrow I hope to use the Cycle Hire Scheme for the ‘boring’ bits, on less busy roads, and walk in between. I have taken on board your many useful hints and will let you know how I get on as a tourist.
Not “do” per se, but this San Franciscan subscribes to London Cyclists’ RSS feed as a way of acquiring a perspective on bicycling outside o0f the U.S.
London Cyclists has helped me get back into cycling 3-4 years away from riding. Plus the info on the phone apps that you’ve published, and the cycle hire info is very good as well. Well written and very helpful!
Wishing you a very Happy Birthday Andreas
Only found your Blog last night, but used guide to help me adjust my vee brakes on my cheap Mountain bike so a big thank you
Enjoy the rest of your holiday
First, happy birthday! I hope you’re finding Jordan fascinating; it’s hard to imagine a place less like London.
So beyond boundless daily entertainment and general information, you did a review of cycle cafes once upon a time. One of them was near my work; I wandered over to check them out. Lo and behold, I got along brilliantly with them, and am now building a new bike with the lovely people. Thank you!
Hi Andreas,
Just to say this is a useful site to find out a good perspective on cycling in London and generally what’s available out there for cyclist.
Happy birthday ! And keep up the good work.
Regards,
Ramab
Happy Birthday!
I love reading the stories about everyday London cycling and the great discussions and debates that can arise from some posts
As someone who has recently returned to cycling after a 20 year hiatus, your articles have been helpful in making me feel that I am not insane to do this (like a number of non-cycling friends have suggested) and your tips on cycling in the capital have been very instructive.
Many happy returns of the day!
Well done Andreas – a great blog to talk about the joys/frustrations of cycling every day in London.
Happy Birthday!
The one thing that the site has helped me with is knowing how much to pay for a bike service and (I know this is technically 2 things but they are related) realise that there are such things as mobile bike mechanics-genius!
Happy Birthday!!
OK a few things … discovering Wiggle…finding your recommendations for good waterproof jackets…Micycle workshops….bike cleaning ….. buying a floor stand pump (thanks- brilliant!)….bike marking schemes with local police (my local plod emailed me the next day)…the low-down on overtaking and waiting-at-lights etiquette …and also I like your style of writing about bikes so makes me feel good about cycling in London.
Hope youve found some food…!
ClaireF
Happy Birthday…21 again?? I think it’s a great site – lots of interesting bits and bobs. I particularly like the reviews of products etc and the tips about routes and keeping your bike safe have been particularly useful (I bought my first Brompton and despite having good locks and ETA bike insurance have still not managed to leave it out of site….it just looks too vulnerable and cute!!) Have fun on your hols. M
Happy Birthday.
Inspired to take part in critial mass. Saw the RT of date for the last one but couldn’t make it. Did see CM heading down Regent Street tho’ and had to laugh to see folks on BorisBikes.
Will def be at the next one
Halt Birthday Andreas!! Love love love your site! I commute in Edinburgh and enjoy comparing experiences! Especially like all hints and tips!
Cycle safely and post soon!
Hey, Andreas – thanks for your regular and very helpful notes about cycling.
I have moved from London – now living on the Lincolnshire coast – where I am trying to instill some of the good work that you yourself are doing – we are bereft of cycle lanes for a good example – and even though we are on a long promenade (about 8 miles between Chapel St Leonards to Skegness) bikes are disallowed! Understandable – too many dogs and overweight people hobbling along gazing at the beach like zombies……
However a good cycle route that I can recommend for you and all of the readers – is in the Lincolnshire Wolds – good steep hills and quiet lanes – with much off road possibilities. Just check out the local OS Map for ideas – I recommend basing yourself at Louth or Woodhall Spa for a long weekend – about 3 hours drive from London, strap your bikes on the back, then just leave the car at your B&B and enjoy a few days of excellent cycling in outstandingly beautiful countryside.
Hope to hear from any other readers who have visited this area
Mark (Specialized Globe with a rusty chain) – but without any other rust as it is Aluminium framed….
Happy birthday Andreas ! Thanks for all the helpful info. My daughter lives and works in London and reading your blog actually makes me worry less about her cycling in the Capital !
First off,happy belated birthday.
I don’t live in london myself but i find you site very informative and made a trip to ‘look mum no hands’ when in town a while ago and very much enjoyed the experience.
i look forward to trying the cycle hire scheme when in london next time…keep up the good work.
Several friends and I tried one of your “London Cycle Routes” – the Jubilee Greenway. It was great fun and it took us to parts of London we had not visited before.
Thanks and many happy returns.
happy birthday and holiday,
you have given me the courage and conviction to take up primary position – there’s a difference between knowing you’re allowed to be there and actually taking up the space on the road!
Jules