This is a guest post by Julian Bell, a teacher and writer living in South West London. He blogs at www.lifelonglondoner.blogspot.com. Note: Unless you've got one of those bikes that can doubles up as a submarine, I'd probably save this ride and ...
Archives for February 2014
Maggie’s Monster Bike + Hike
If you’re looking for a way to challenge yourself physically while also taking up a good cause, you have to check out Maggie’s Monster Bike + Hike. There are tons of ways to give to charity; some of us donate money or goods while the rest of us get ...
Review: Ladies Cassandra coat – a compliment magnet
Review by Jude from Cycling with Heels. My friend casts an admiring glance at me as she opens the front door. “Ooh, nice coat. Very smart.” It’s not often I get compliments for a cycling jacket – but then the Cassandra coat is no ordinary ...
Hackney’s cycling boss interviewed: 15 new things we learned about the future of cycling in the borough
Continuing our series of interviews with the people in charge of cycling in London's boroughs, I spoke to Feryal Demirci, Hackney's Cabinet member for Neighbourhoods - a brief that includes cycling and other transport. I've picked out fifteen new ...
Blink/Steady Bike Light Review
When I arrive at work, I lock my bike up safely with all the other happy looking bikes in a big storage unit. On multiple occasions, I’ve stopped on my way out to switch off a rear light that somebody has accidentally left on. It’s very easy to ...
11 days in Antarctica
I dug a hole, put down the sleeping bag and settled in for one of the most memorable nights of my life. There was a stillness than hung in the air. It was only interrupted by the occasional cracking in the distance. The sound was made by the ice, as ...
The new Specialized Allez bikes are now at Evans Cycles
If you sat on Southwark Bridge during rush hour, with a cup of tea and clipboard and counted the number of Specialized Allez bikes rolling by, you'd be amazed. They are probably one of the most popular bikes in London. That's because they have ...
The best and worst bridges for crossing the Thames on a bike
Whether you like it or not, the River Thames is there, cutting through the centre of the Capital. But what happens when you have to cross it? On the Tube, you might not even notice; but on a bike, it can be a real pain. Here's London Cyclist's ...
Getting to France’s endless car free cycle routes – to ferry or to fly?
Why do we Brits love France so much? The cuisine? The unspoilt small villages? A chance to practise what little French we know? Je ne sais quoi - but for cyclists, it's a mixture of all of those, and their rather well developed cycle network. Take ...
Using GPS Cycle Routes on Your Android or IPhone
Most of us have cycle around daily with powerful GPS devices in our pockets: our iPhone and Android devices. A few of us even have a Garmin GPS. However, few people have used the GPS functionality beyond basic route planning apps such as Bike Hub and ...
Last minute Valentine’s day gifts for cyclists
Is it that time of the year already? The 14th of February comes around quickly and a few of us might have been caught out! But that's fine, if the woman or man of your dreams is a cyclist. Buying a small thoughtful, or a big extravagant gift ...
Jeremy Clarkson’s journey to becoming a cycling evangelist
Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson is not the first person you'd think of as an advocate for mass-cycling. Recently though, he's had his moments. In 2012 ‘Jezza’ shocked the cycling world by endorsing Danish-style segregated cycle lanes. Of ...
How to give your bike a winter clean
Over winter, crud and grime can build up on your bike and components. It’s easy to wipe the frame, whip a rag over the chain, and call it clean - but though the bike might look more presentable, doing so this won’t protect the components or make your ...
Are you a Nightrider?
Join Team Shelter for this incredible 100km moonlit ride past London’s most iconic landmarks. You’ll ride over Tower Bridge, through the deserted City of London, round Canary Wharf, past the sleeping beasts in London Zoo and so much more! Limited ...