I was pleased to see at the Tokyo Cycle Mode, Yoko Aoki presenting the latest from London’s cycling culture. If you look closely, the picture on the screen is the Blackfriars Bridge protest. It’s great to see the influence of the protest spreading this far across the world.

Aside from that nod towards London, there was plenty of interesting products. As London Cyclist mostly focuses on bicycle accessories that’s what I’ve picked out here.

The first quirky idea that at first I laughed at but then took a closer look was the Valve Light. It’s a bike light that fits on top of the tyre valve. As the tyre spins it creates a circle of light. This is a clever little way to improve side visibility. A quick look on Amazon turned up the same product available for sale in the UK.

The other product was this smartphone bike mount by Ibera. It has a similar design to the Topeak iPhone Drybag but with three alternative mounting styles. The first is the standard attachment to the handlebars. The second has an additional bar behind the mount that creates more room to attach a bike light. This is a clever addition for anyone lacking in handlebar space. Finally, there’s the version shown in the image above that attaches to the top cap. The Ibera mount isn’t currently available in the UK but I’m going to look into it and see if we could add it to the London Cyclist Shop.

Sticking to smartphones there’s also an interesting app available in Japan called Navitime. It is similar to Bike Hub and offers 5 different routes. Including avoiding major roads, avoiding hills and including as many hills as possible. The app is currently only available in Tokyo and it doesn’t yet make proper use of cycle pathways so there’s still improvements to be made.

See also:

• What’s interesting at the cycle show

During our cycling trip along the Rhine in Germany my cycling buddy borrowed my OverBoard Panniers. I had two reasons to be jealous.

The first was that he had packed way less than me and thus could fit everything in the two 16 litre panniers. The other was that the panniers were completely waterproof and looked great.

The OverBoard panniers are rated as 100% Waterproof cycling panniers (Class 3). True to their word, they kept the clothing inside completely sealed. This is thanks to the folding mechanism at the top, which OverBoard use in many of their bags.

The mechanism also means that the bags could potentially be filled above capacity. As when it is unfolded it provides a much wider storage area. However, this would likely compromise the waterproofing from the top of the bag.

The panniers fitted quickly to the rack (a Topeak Super Tourist). During the ride on a couple of occasions when the back of the bike shoes made contact with the panniers one of the clips came loose. However, this problem could have been resolved had my friend used the velcro strap that more firmly fastened the panniers to the rack. Being the friend that I am, I neglected to tell him this until after 5 days of cycling.

The panniers also have a small pocket at the front for any items that require quick access. These largely remained unused as their capacity is very small. However, for any quick documents or small tools that needed reaching, they would have been useful.

When unclipped, the bags were easy to carry around thanks to the big strap at the top. This also made things easier at the airport as the straps could be threaded through each other to check the item in as one piece of luggage.

In terms of capacity, the 32 litres seemed just about enough for 5 days of cycling along with four more days of holidaying if you pack light. However, if you wanted to go camping or take more clothes with you, then you would need a couple more panniers at the front or a backpack attached to a rack (my DIY solution).

OverBoard panniers overall review

The OverBoard panniers cost £72.99. This is a fairly average price for panniers of 32 litre capacity (combined) and you get full waterproofing and a sturdy design that won’t move on bumpy cycling paths. We couldn’t find anything at fault with the OverBoard bags and during our cycling trip they served us well.

For more info and to buy: Overboard Bike Panniers

See also:

• Beer, beautiful scenery and occasional cycling along the Rhine in Germany
• Making the switch to bike panniers
• Want to look stylish? Here’s 6 panniers you’ll like
• Keep your key tools nearby – Here’s a select of the best saddle bags

Hi there,
First of all, amazing blog, I read it almost every day, and I love
all the comments from other cyclist as well.
Very well done, and well presented.
I have recently started cycling for my daily commuting (even though
at the moment, I am more trying to find a good route to use everyday,
because, so far my 12 miles commuting ends more into 20 miles
commuting because I didn’t turn at the correct section, etc….) 12
miles each way from Bromley to London Soho.
I just bought for my birthday, last month, the bike I always wanted
to have, but it came with some clipped pedals, which I never used
before. So here we go, I buy a cheap pair of clipped shoes and I start
riding… first evening, I fell twice, came back home with blood from
both knees. So not such a good experience.
Here is my question:
What pedals do you recommend for commuting?
Thank you
Damien

Your experience Damien is one shared by many. The pedals you refer to are actually called “Clipless”. (I know a weird name considering you do clip-in). They are the most efficient pedals as they provide forward motion as you lift your leg up and also they keep your foot in the optimal position. However, they do take a while to get used to.

What I tend to opt for is flat pedals coupled with Power Grips. I would tend to stay away from all plastic pedals that come with cheap bikes as they are not very durable and provide very little grip.

I prefer having Power Grips because it means I can wear any shoes I want and I can slide in and out of them pretty fast.

Many commuters choose to stick with clipless pedals (what you have now) and take the tough learning curve. Though I’d recommend figuring them out first on quieter roads.

In terms of pedal recommendations I’ll open that up to London Cyclist readers..

See also:

• What is your uphill cycling strategy?
• What cyclists can be fined for

These cycling bags are designed to keep the valuables as dry as when you first shoved them in your bag. They also come with cleverly designed straps to prevent the cycling bag sliding around on your back and breathable backs to stop that horrible sweaty back syndrome. Additionally, with cyclists in mind, they have quick access pockets and reflective strips for cars to see you. A good bag for cycling is one of the most worthy upgrades you can make.

Here I’ll roundup a couple of good waterproof cycling bag options that are well recommended by fellow cyclists and I’d be happy to use. Feel free to pass on your waterproof cycling bag wisdom in the comments below.

Ortlieb Zip City waterproof courier bag

The Ortlieb is one of the most trusted brands when it comes to cycling bags and panniers. Fortunately, despite the tough design that will last ages, it isn’t too costly compared to other options.

The cycling bag comes with a 23 Litre capacity which is adequate for most scenarios. It is also as waterproof as money can buy. As long as your laptop is not of a mammoth size you’ll be able to fit it in. Inside the bag is one large pocket and a smaller one for fitting your wallet and phone. What you’ll most enjoy about the Ortlieb Zip City is the comfortable feel on your back thanks to the well designed strap that prevents the waterproof cycling bag from sliding around.

£60.30	£129.99

Deuter Compact EXP 12 Waterproof Bag

This excellent waterproof cycling bag has more well-placed pockets than you could need. In fact, it will probably end up being one of those scenarios where you’ll end up looking for your keys for ages in all the pockets. It includes a rain cover you pull out as the heavens open. It has space to place a hydration pack and the straps are designed to keep the bag in place. On the back there is also great breathability to prevent sweatiness. The 12 litre version should be enough to carry your things to work though there are different sizes of Deuter cycling bags that can be bought. It is a popular choice for someone looking for a waterproof cycling bag.

£49.99	£49.99	£59.95

Chrome Citizen Cycling Bag

This 26 litre cycling bag is expensive but provides an excellent amount of storage space and waterproofing. It is highly durable and comfortable. The only thing that lets the Chrome cycling bag down is the belt buckle strap that could do with improvement. There is also a large version for if you are carrying a serious amount of personal belongings to work.

£116.99	£116.99	£59.95

More useful cycling accessory roundups:

• Bike lock guide
• Waterproof cycling jacket
• Cycling socks and overshoes
• Bike lights guide

Everyone I spoke to about it told me that changing my tyres would make a huge difference to the efficiency of my bike. It made sense, but how could I be sure until I tried it for myself?

And so when I rode to work this morning on my transformed bike I was interested to see just how it felt. Okay, so it’s not exactly a representative training ride, as I was only on the road for seven and a half minutes, but boy what a difference. It just feels so much better:  smoother, swifter, swooshier. (Swooshier? Is that a word?) I notched up an average speed of 14.2 mph without really putting any effort at all. Now that may not be my best average, but the difference in feel is well worth it even if I find that it doesn’t translate to an increased speed.  Seriously, if you have a mountain bike but only ever ride it on the road, you’ll do yourself a huge favour by ditching the knobbly tyres.

I’m also feeling pretty chuffed that I did all the work myself. I fitted a pair of Continental City Contact tyres:

[Ed: Just £16 each]

And a set of mudguards. Not just silly clip-on mountain bike jobs, either, but a proper set of full mudguards. These ones, to be precise:

And managed to adjust my gears so they’re not slipping like they were before, which feels like a real achievement for me. I’m not especially mechanically minded, and I don’t like getting my hands greasy, but the thought of paying someone else to do this work was just a bit too much and so I pulled my sleeves up, got my hands greasy, and jolly well did it myself.

And I must mention Chain Reaction Cycles, the site where I bought the tyres and mudguards, whose service was second to none, prices excellent, and free delivery. Top marks.

See also:

• What is the best cycling accessory you’ve bought in the past 12 months?
• Barclays cycle hire arrives on the Android
• DHB Amberley cycling jacket – can you get a good cycling jacket for £50?
• Bike lock guide

Whilst I’m very thankful for my iPhone bike mount because it helped me find my way before I knew London more like the back of my hand it can’t win because it was more than 12 months ago. Recently acquiring a Topeak Joe Blow pump has made a huge difference. I’ve always favoured a hand pump to save space but reaching the required pressure in the tyre was a very tough task. It meant I was frequently riding around on a tyre not at at the recommended pressure which was slowing me down and causing more punctures. Whilst the pump takes up a lot of space it is definitely a great purchase and one I should have made ages ago.

If you think about the cycling accessories for your bike you’ve bought in the past 12 months is there one (cheap or expensive) that stands out for you? Share in the comments below and it may be useful for others.

Update with some suggestions from my Twitterers:

danceralamode My portable pump with hose…Morph…finally stopped ripping presta valves on the go…

DWAkin I love my Halo II headband under my helmet. Keeps most of the sweat out of my eyes.

joeharling Chrome Corsair messenger bag. #beautiful

See also:

• 3 new initiatives that make cycling in London safe – will they work?
• Who are the least courteous drivers in London?
• Would you like a fine or a safety course for jumping that red light?
• What’s in your bike bag?

A couple of weeks ago I got a knock on the door, signed the parcel and opened it up. What I saw inside shocked me. I didn’t know if someone had by mistake sent me Rambo’s knife or a bike lock. I mean, look at this thing!

Once the initial shock was over I thought about the two most important factors with a bike lock. Price and safety.

Before I tell you the price can I just check you’re sitting down. Okay, good. The price of this bike lock (The Abus Bordo Granit XPlus 85 CM Folding Bike Lock) is… £100. Yep.

The reason for this high price tag may be why it’s not carried in a lot of the mainstream bike shops (I couldn’t find it on Evans Cycles, Wiggle or Amazon). In comparison the Kryptonite and the Steel O Flex each cost around £55.

The second most important factor is safety. This comes with the maximum rating of 15 from the Abus team. It also has a Sold Secure rating of Silver. Therefore, it ranks mid-to-high in terms of security. In comparison both the Kryptonite and Steel O Flex both have the highest rank of Gold.

While other folding rivet style locks by Abus around the £50 mark have been known to be possible to break through in under a minute this one doesn’t mess around with your bikes security. In tests it was proven very difficult to break into this lock without the use of some seriously heavy machinery. Therefore, the Abus Bordo Granit Xplus can be used as your main lock.

The main benefit from this lock comes from the portability. It can fold down into a small size. The carrying case is also easy to attach to any bike frame with its Velcro straps. However, don’t expect it to be lighter than the other locks. It weighs roughly the same as the Kryptonite if not slightly more.

Another disappointment with the lock was also the fairly limited radius it covers. This was only slightly wider than a typical D-lock. In tests I also found it a little fiddly to use. By the time you had folded it out, messed around with the key and struggled to lock your bike you find yourself wishing you’d just brought your £50 cheaper D-lock with you.

Overall this is the first ever product by Abus I haven’t been too impressed with. The only person I can see that would find it useful is someone who is very keen on their portability and doesn’t want to carry their bike lock in a bag or around their waist.

eTredz carry the lock for £89.99

See also:

• Abus Granit Steel O Flex review
• Kryptonite New York Standard review
• Best bike lock
• Safe locking tips

Carrying around a load of tools on the bike is a pain. I often find myself thinking “I’ll just risk it, what are the odds of getting a puncture”. With my Marathon Schwalbe tyres pretty slim. However, it is still best practise to have the multi-tool with you in case you need to make adjustments. This is one of those bike purchases that you only have to make once in your life so it is worth considering your decision.

What things to look for in a multi-tool

Features – work out what things you actually need. Take a look at your bike or bikes and see what bolts and nuts are on there so you can decide what features the multi-tool will need to include.

Weight/size – this is something you should carry around with you on bike journeys so smaller and lighter is always better

Quality – spending a tiny bit more can often make a major difference in quality. Cheaper tools are likely to break or be pretty much useless when needed which adds massively to the frustration of an on the road repair.

Some of the best multi-tools

Here are some highly recommended multi-tools for your consideration.

Crank Brothers Multi 10

Available in 5, 17 and 19. The 10 is a good mid range to go for most cyclists. It weighs 124g and has a fairly compact design. The price is excellent and the only extra you will possibly need is a spoke key. The multi-tool comes with a lifetime guarantee.

Amazon: £16.49 | Wiggle: £13.50

Lezyne Stainless 12

One of the most compact multi-tools you can get. This can be seen as both an advantage and a disadvantage. The advantage is obviously for carrying the thing around however if you need to use it then the short length of the tools will make your job a little tougher. Also includes a surprisingly effective spoke key. Weighs 115g.

Costs £27.99 everywhere: Amazon | Chain Reaction Cycles

Your multi-tool recommendations

Can you recommend any multi-tools that you use or have used?

See also:

• Bike computer guide
• Bike lock guide
• Kryptonite New York 3000 lock review
• DHB Amberley Cycling Jacket review

Plus it’s a lot of fun to keep beating your highest speed!

As with all our other guides I’ll take you through what things to look for in a good bike computer and then I’ll pick out some of the latest and greatest bike computers that are well regarded.

What to look for

Ease of use – many come with just one button but often that can make it tougher to use. Other things to look for include well sized and designed buttons so you can quickly tap them while you are cycling. Keep in mind that if you are wearing cycling gloves the buttons will be harder to press.

Setup process – Often where bike computers stumble is in the setup process when you need to input your wheel size for accurate calculations.

Wired vs. wireless – a lot of the newer bike computers are now wireless. This makes them slightly more expensive but is usually worth it for simplicity. Avoid the cheapest wireless ones as the accuracy is likely to not be very good.

Mount – It should be possible to very quickly remove the bike computer when you reach your destination. Also the mount should be easy to fit and not wobble whilst cycling.

Display – You want a clear display so you can check stats without taking your eyes off the road for too long. The larger screens usually mean you can fit in more statistics which is a bonus.

Functions – Checkout the list of functions to see if it provides you with the statistics you need. Ask yourself which ones you are genuinely interested in.

Well recommended bike computers

Sigma BC 906 (Under £20)

At the entry level there is a lot of competition but the Sigma BC wins out thanks to its clear display, accuracy and good range of basic functions. It is wired so you will need to securely strap down the wire so it doesn’t cause problems. On the plus side this means there isn’t any interference with other similar devices. The only problem that really plagues this device is the difficult instructions that make the initial programming tough. Once you manage to battle through that though this is a reliable little device that will serve you well.

Click here to check it out

Cateye Strada Wireless Cycle Computer (£40)

Towards the higher end of the bike computer scales is the CatEye Strada. You’ll fall in love with the nice slim design, the ease of use and the big clear screen. Rather than fiddly buttons you simply press the body of the computer towards the base of it. This ends up working really well, even with cycling gloves on. The setup process has been well thought out and is easy to do. On the downside the lack of backlight means in the dark it is tough to read the display. Whilst the list of functions will be perfect for most, more advanced riders may be looking for more.

Click here to check it out

Knog N.E.R.D 12 function wireless (£45)

This is likely to be the easiest bike computer you will ever use. The simplicity begins at the installation stage. Thanks to the silicon casing it takes no time whatsoever to attach to the handlebars. Setting the computer up involves a quick input of your wheel size and you are good to go. In terms of operation you simply press down on the entire unit to change to the next screen. There is a clear display and you even get a graph comparing your current and average speed. The Knog is a little on the pricey side but no doubt its simplicity will appeal to many.

Click here to check it out

In this post I will go through what to look for in a good pair of cycling shorts and show you some highly recommended ones that you may want to look at.

What to look for in casual cycling shorts

A good pair of cycling shorts is all about comfort. This comes from many areas. First from a good fit. Most cycling shorts will have adjustable straps and flexible fabric that will create that nice comfortable feeling. Secondly, padding in the cycling shorts helps to reduce the strain on your body from frequent riding. Also, the right fabrics and design provide a smooth, comfortable feel that prevents chafing on the more delicate parts of the body. In-fact the shorts you wear often make more of a difference to this than buying an expensive new saddle.

Ventilation is also important and good cycling shorts will provide for this. The shorts should cope with the harshness of everyday cycling such as the stretching caused by the constant pedalling motion and the occasional scrapes. Finally they should have plenty of pockets for storage. A good pair of cycling shorts is likely to cost you around £35.

Ultimately you should choose a pair that feels comfortable to you both when you are in the riding position and when you are out and about.

Recommended cycling shorts

The below cycling shorts are a great place to start. They all come highly recommended by users and are well reviewed.

Men’s cycling shorts

Madison Flux

These shorts have vents on the front and back, well positioned pockets and plenty of stretch panels for comfort (Read: they hide your bum!). They are designed with freedom of movement in mind. Although Madison Flux cycling shorts are normally priced at the higher end of the market, Chain Reaction Cycles have a good deal on them currently.

Endura Hummvee Baggy Shorts

The Endura Hummvvee’s have been very well reviewed and are a great mid-range choice for anyone looking for a pair of cycling shorts. They are light and have the all important stretch panels that are necessary for comfortable bike riding. You may want to consider buying one size up because a number of reviewers have reported that they come up small. They are available in men’s and women’s.

Women’s cycling shorts

Madison Tour

Madison comes up trumps for women as well as men with this fantastic pair of cycling shorts that offers good value for money. The shorts should fit well on most body shapes as they have plenty of elastic and Velcro fastenings for adjustments. With a grand total of 6 pockets you will forget which one you left your money in. They are available from Madison.co.uk.

Gore Freeride Lady

These more upmarket baggie shorts offer excellent quality. They are made with soft fabric and offer plenty of adjustment and comfort. They are available from Gorebikewear.co.uk

Swrve Soft Shell 3/4 lengths

Thanks to oh_pollo for sending through this recommendation for what appear to be a fashionable option whilst still providing cycling comfort. You can find them at alwaysriding.co.uk.

Good places to shop for cycling shorts:

• Wiggle
• Chain reaction cycles
• eBay

See also:

• How to choose a bicycle helmet
• More buying guides

Picture courtesy of: Richard Masoner