The 5 things to look for in a bike pump

1. Head: Your bike has either a Presta or a Schrader valve. Choose a bike pump that will fit your valve type or one that can fit both.
2. Pressure: The best bike pumps can reach higher pressure levels. You can find out what kind of pressures you need by looking at the maximum levels on your tyres. Road bike tyres can have pressures exceeding 100 PSI where as mountain bikes are around 50 PSI.
3. Gauge: You should keep your bike at the pressure levels indicated on the tyres. A gauge will help you measure the PSI (Pounds per Square Inch). Ideally look for a bike pump that includes one.
4. One for on the road, one for at home: Whilst the small bike pumps are great for carrying around with you at all times, the track bike pumps can reach higher pressure levels with far less effort.
5. Durability – generally speaking the smaller bike pumps wear out faster than the track pumps

Track/Floor Bike Pump

The bike pump for road/hybrid cyclists who are not big fans of spending hours pumping up the tyres.

Topeak Joe Blow Sport

I’ve previously reviewed the Topeak Joe Blow Sport bike pump for London Cyclist and absolutely loved it. It’s a firm favourite amongst cyclists and bike shops. Luckily it is also within most budgets at under £30. The Topeak comes with a pressure gauge so you know what PSI your bike tyres are at. It fits both valve types.

Prices: The best price I’ve found is at Chain Reaction Cycles for £28.99 delivered. Evans sell it for £32.99 and Amazon for £29.49 but you have to pay an extra £2.50 for shipping.

Handheld bike pump

For on the go you’ll need a mini bike pump. These easily fit into bags, pockets or can even be strapped to the bike. Better mini pumps can reach high PSI levels although they’ll require closer to 180 pumps as opposed to around 20 for a floor pump.

Topeak Race Rocket

This is the bike pump I use and I rarely leave the house without it. The Topeak is definitely on the smaller end of the handheld bike pump market at just 19cm. It can reach PSI levels of up to 140 and is pretty light. The only downside to it is that it doesn’t have a pressure gauge so you’ll have to guess by pressing your thumb on the tyre. I’ve previously reviewed the Topeak Race Rocket bike pump on London Cyclist. It fits both valve types.

Prices: The cheapest price I’ve found is on Wiggle for £22.49. It is also available at Chain Reaction Cycles at £22.99.

Lezyne Road Drive

If you’re willing to spend a little more then the Lezyne Road Drive bike pump will get you to you’re required tyre pressure faster thanks to its unique design. It is also very lightweight at just 90g for the medium version. There is a carbon model for those who are truly weight conscious.

Prices: The carbon version will set you back a staggering £79.99 where as the standard version is available for £29.69.

CO2 bike pump

The big advantage of CO2 bike pumps is the sheer speed in which they pump the tyre. On the downside if you run out of cartridges you cannot pump up your tyres. The Innovations Microflate Nano Pump is a good one to try.

See also:

• Topeak race rocket bike pump review
• Topeak Joe Blow Sport review

Here’s a quick run down of what to look for and some of the models I would highly recommend.

3 things to look for when buying a bicycle helmet

When choosing a bicycle helmet you mainly want to look at three things. Price, fit and keeping cool. Okay, and a forth thing, looking cool. Starting with price. This can go up to around £150 and as low as £25. The truth helmet manufacturers don’t want you to know is you will receive most of the benefit with a cheaper helmet as you will with a more expensive one. At least when it comes to protection. However, spending more money should keep your head cooler and provide more comfort.

Fitting a bicycle helmet

You will want to fit the helmet correctly because it will provide far better protection and it will feel more comfortable. A properly fitted bicycle helmet will reach about halfway down your forehead and will cover a good part of the back of your head. The more it covers the better.

The strap should fit closely under the chin and should form a v-shape around the ears. Not all bicycle helmets are born the same and some will fit better than others. After you have tried one and tightened it make sure it does not wobble.

The best bet is to go into a bike shop and try the helmet first. One will fit more comfortably than others. Ideally ask an assistant in the shop to fit the helmet for you. Alternatively, if buying online, make sure you measure your head correctly as instructed by the manufacturer.

(View all the cycling accessory guides such as this one)

Light colours

Lighter colours can be seen by other road users so go for brighter colours (one of the ones I have recommended below even has lights behind the straps). You should aim to buy a helmet with a rounded outer shell so there is nowhere for the helmet to get caught in a fall.

Keeping cool

In terms of keeping cool as you would expect more air vents equal more cooling of the head. However, more air vents also means that there is less of the padding to protect your head. You should pick a trade-off between the two.

As for weight? This doesn’t tend to be an issue as the majority of helmets weigh less than 300 grams.

(How to choose the best bike lock and not waste money)

Popular bicycle helmet models

Giro Indicator Bike Helmet

Well reviewed and fairly cheap bicycle helmet. Provides good ventilation and back-of-the-head adjustment. Great for anyone who is just getting started and would rather not spend too much.

Abus Urban Helmet

At around £45 this midrange bicycle helmet is perfect for commuting and riding in the city. It’s one of the best helmets for keeping your head cool and it also comes with reflective lights at the back of the straps. An all round excellent helmet that I could not recommend more.

Giro Atmos Bicycle Helmet

This top of the range helmet is good enough for Lance and its definitely more than good enough for everyday cyclists. It has received great reviews and I found it at a surprisingly good price at Wiggle.

More similar articles:

• Guide to buying bike lights
• Review of the DHB Amberley cycling jacket
• Bike lock guide

How to choose a good bike lock

• Security rating – in the UK there is the Sold Secure rating system. This classes bike locks as Gold, Silver or Bronze. The three different levels represent how long it will take a bike thief to breach the lock. If you have bicycle insurance then getting a Sold Secure lock is usually part of the terms and conditions.
• Size – a lock with a bigger locking diameter will mean you can secure it against a wider range of objects. The downside is this gives the thief more space to try and use a leveraging bar to break the lock.
• Weight – obviously this is something you need to carry around with you often and any additional weight on the bike means additional pedalling effort. Usually a better bike lock will also be heavier.
• Maintenance – you should use WD40 to keep the locking mechanism working well and not seizing up especially during cold weather.
• Spare keys – there is nothing worse than losing your keys just as you are about to set off to work. Most bike locks come with at least two spare keys but a third is often very useful.

Best bike locks

Abus Centuro 860mm

Cable locks have a bad reputation for security. They are far easier to cut through than D-Locks. As a secondary lock however they can be a good choice. The Abus Centuro is one of the best of the budget bike locks. The big advantage is that it has a convenient 110cm length allowing you to lock it against a big range of objects. It also comes with a frame mount making it easy to transport and quick to use. In terms of security it has multiple strands making it hard to cut through. Weight: 890g

• Wiggle £35.99 | Amazon £30

Abus Steel-O-Flex Granit 1000/800mm

Offering similar convenience to the Centuro but with additional protection. It comes with a gold rating from Sold Secure. This is a popular lock amongst couriers as it easy to secure around your waist. However, it must be noted that this still isn’t as secure as D-Locks. The locks weighs around 2kg.

• Wiggle £67.49 | Amazon.co.uk £61

Kryptonite New York Standard

If safety is your main concern then look no further than the Kryptonite New York Standard. I reviewed this lock recently and it is the one I use to keep my bike safe. It comes with 3 sets of keys and provides protection against all but the most determined bike thieves. The two downsides are the additional weight (1.9kg) and the limited number of objects you can secure it against due to its diameter.

• Amazon £59.99

Kryptonite Evolution Series 4

Provides similar protection to the New York Standard but with less weight (1.66kg). This is another lock that is well trusted and has a gold standard rating from Sold Secure.

• Amazon.co.uk £34.99
• Amazon.com $45.95

Your bike lock

I’m interested in hearing what bike lock you guys use and if you recommend it.

See also:

How to lock your bike

Kryptonite New York 3000 review

How to choose a good waterproof cycling jacket

Bicycle insurance

How to get your bike stolen

What my cousin wants to be able to do is to hop on and off public transport and then use his folding bike to go the rest of the way. This is probably the main reason most people choose this type of bike. The other huge advantage is that they are very easy to store as they take up so little space. All in all a pretty good solution to many city dwellers problems.

So I set about finding out which folding bike to suggest to my cousin. After all I have a reputation to keep as the cycling blogger of the family!

For my cousin I knew I wanted something that was not too expensive. I also knew it should be a bike that is quick and easy to fold and looks good (as he is a bit image conscious!). As a folding bike it should also be fairly lightweight to be possible to carry around easily. Finally I wanted a bike that has been well reviewed so I knew I was recommended something good.

Folding bike shortlist

After some research I shortlisted the following bikes:

• Dahon Speed D7 – the Dahon is amazingly good value for money and offers a comfortable ride. It doesn’t fold down quite as compact as a Brompton but at this price you can’t argue. The folding process is very easy and the build quality feels good.
• Mezzo D9 – Great handling and a very enjoyable bike to ride but unfortunately comes at a high price
• Brompton M3L – folds down incredibly small, is loved by many but again slightly out of the price bracket

The majority of the bikes I looked at where outside the price range and at the price point of around £270 to £350 there really was not much competition. None the less the Dahon Speed D7 was a clear winner and I have recommended it to my cousin. I have seen it listed for £349 at Evans Cycles but there are some better deals out there. I’ll let you know if he decides to buy it and what he thinks of it (Knowing my cousin he jumps from one obsession to the next every day so you never know!)

I would really love to hear off you if you would consider switching to a folding bike or if you already have one what you think of it.

See also:

• Cyclist gift ideas
• Cycling books
• How to choose a waterproof cycling jacket

I had a very scary experience recently. I was visiting my family and was cycling from Birmingham Airport. The problem was it was very late at night and the route involved tiny, pitch black country lanes. Cars tend to decide to speed around these lanes and to make matters worse visibility was even poorer as the heavy rain had just started.

With my bike light I could barely see much more than a few metres ahead of me. Whenever a car passed by my lights were completely drowned out. At some point during the journey, out of nowhere, I found myself pedal deep in water. Continuing to pedal, I soon realised I was pedalling through a ford. This is basically when a river flows over a part of the road.

Upon reaching home soaked, amazed I managed to avoid the open manhole cover and glad to have not been hit by passing cars I decided to re-evaluate my completely inadequate bike light.

So I had to think about how to choose a suitable bike light, how much to spend and which one is actually worth spending my money on.

Cheap bike lights (less than £20)

This is the most common type of bike light and is what I was riding with that night. If you are cycling somewhere such as central London then these bike lights are generally good enough to be seen but tend to do little to light up the road ahead.

At this low price point the Raleigh LED at £17.95 for both front and back bike light provides excellent value for money and just look at all of these positive reviews.

Mid range bike lights (~£30)

The bike lights in this category up the ante. They are good for those rides along routes with less light. Especially cycle paths and country lanes. They also provide better visibility for drivers to see you.

Currently I ride around London with a bike light from this category and I’ve been hugely impressed by it. It’s called the Knog Boomer and it is chargeable by USB. That means less money wasted on replacing batteries. I love this bike light because it provides plenty of light and it’s very easy to install and remove. The best price I’ve found for the Knog Boomer Rechargeable bike light is here for £23.39.

There is also a rear bike light version of the Knog Boomer. Although, personally for the rear I prefer the Blackburn Flea. Looking at the size of the Flea you’d never believe it could output so much light. At only £20 (available from here) and with the ability to recharge via USB it truly is an excellent package.

Higher end bike lights (~£55)

These bike lights provide a much stronger beam and are suitable in areas when there is no street lighting. One bike light that I tested recently was the B&M Ixon IQ. I was highly impressed with the light that combines a lot of brightness with low battery usage.

Stepping things up to this price point you also get better waterproofing, durability and a more sturdy stand for the bike. Checkout my full review of the Ixon IQ.

Alternatively, at this price point the CatEye HL-EL610 is a very popular bike light that comes highly recommended.

It provides plenty of light, has a solid mounting and uses NiMH batteries. Cycling Plus gave it 9/10 and commended its high visibility angle and solid mounting unit.

Best bike lights (~£250)

At the highest end of the scale you get the brightest bike lights. These are good for blinding people and night time mountain biking. The price tag is extreme but then so is the light output. At this price point the Exposure MaXx-D Mk3 is very highly regarded and all the positive reviews you can see here are a testament to its long standing respect in the cycling community.

Helmet Bike Light

Generally very useful for mountain biking as helps with avoiding obstacles such as overhanging branches.

A popular model that I’ve also tested out is the Exposure Joystick which you can also buy with a helmet mount. It provides a ton of light and is incredible useful for night time mountain biking.

Dynamo bike lights

These are lights that are powered through the pedalling motion. Unfortunately I have little experience in this area as I don’t have a Hub generator so I can’t recommend a good light. If you have suggestions then please leave them in the comments.

Innovative bike lights

Fibre Flare – An alternative way to be seen is to grab one of these Fibre Flare lights. They are very bright and are designed so you can be seen from all directions. Also they are flexible so can be placed anywhere.

Reflective Spokes – These reflective spokes that we’ve reviewed previously on London Cyclist provide an additional layer of side visibility and fit easily to your bike.

Conclusion – what did I go for?

I ended up with a BlackBurn Flea as my rear light of choice. For the front light I’m currently using a Knog Boomer which I’m more than happy with and would highly recommend.

See also:

1. How to choose a bike helmet
2. How to choose a waterproof cycling jacket
3. More bike accessory guides

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