News

Impossible: World's smallest electric bike

December 5, 2014

Impossible is the aptly named electric scooter that folds to half the size of a shoe box. The tiny scooter weighs less than 5 kg and is so small that, when folded, it fits inside a standard-sized rucksack alongside a laptop. [quote type="cycle_insurance"] Built from carbon fibre and steel, the tiny vehicle is capable of carrying an adult at...

General News

Sound Racer: Turn your car into a Lamborghini, or string quartet

November 28, 2014

The Sound Racer plugs into your car's stereo to make it sound like a powerful sports car. However, unlike the snarling of an Italian sport car, the sound remains inside the cabin. As cars get quieter, so does life for motorists and pedestrians alike, but the accessory promises to shatter the tranquility of your next journey by allowing even...

General News

Bamboobee - world's first build-it-yourself bicycle

November 28, 2014

It's a present that can be endlessly shaken without revealing its identity, will keep the family occupied well beyond Boxing Day and is useful all year round - Bamboobee is the world's first build-it-yourself bicycle kit. [quote type="cycle_insurance"] http://youtu.be/32XN347pyBM Singapore-based engineer Sunny Chuah's fondest memory is of...

General News

Black Friday Bicycle Bonanza - 20% off Aura LED lights

November 28, 2014

The Aura is a nylon webbing belt with a flexible LED and fibre optic lighting system embedded within. It emits a constant glow, slow pulse or strobing flash and makes an ideal stocking filler. To celebrate Black Friday, snap up an Aura belt for £19.99 (usual price £24.99). Simply visit the Aura website and use the promo code ETA01 at the...

Cycling

Van Gogh-inspired glow-in-the-dark cycle path

November 21, 2014

Dutch designer Daan Roosegaarde has designed a glow-in-the-dark cycle path based on Vincent Van Gogh's painting The Starry Night, which opened to the public this week. [quote type="cycle_insurance"] http://youtu.be/wEe8firurCY The glow-in-the-dark cycle path absorbs energy from the sun during the day and releases it at night, causing the...

General News

Winter driving tips 2014

November 21, 2014

Turning the ignition key first thing on a damp November morning was once a gamble, with little guarantee the car would stir itself into life. Thankfully, cars today are more than capable of dealing with the British winter and a few simple precautions can help avoid an unnecessary breakdown. Antifreeze During the winter you use more...

Breakdown

Knitted socks for Sheffield stands? We can do better

November 20, 2014

There is a brutal efficiency about the Sheffield stand – the steel hoop that has become the bread and butter of cycle racks – but surely it could be improved. Legend has it that the racks were born in Sheffield after canny locals upcycled some old gas piping had to decide what to do with some old gas piping. While there is no doubt that the...

Cycling

Just another Ferrari-beating bicycle

November 14, 2014

The last time you felt your ride needed a boost, you probably stopped for a snack. François Gissy strapped a rocket to the back of his bicycle and clocked over 200mph. So fast was Gissy’s run, and so impressive his...

Cycling

The forever-dry bench (and other reasons to walk)

November 14, 2014

It is the most environmentally-friendly way to get about, great exercise, sociable and free, and yet almost two thirds of us walk for less than one hour a week. When asked why we walk so little, most cite lack of time, incorrect footwear and rain - concerns addressed by designers in a variety of novel ways. Making a stand on behalf of...

General News

The value of your car may go up as well as down

November 14, 2014

According to the HAGI index, the value of the classic car market is up by as much as 35 per cent this year. For the average motorist who buys from new, however, depreciation is likely to wipe as much as 50 per cent from the value of a family car after three years. Canny drivers choose their car carefully and, increasingly, take advantage of...

Driving