News

Brompton ready to capitalise on everyday cycling boost

November 30, 2022

Brompton managing director, William Butler-Adams believes the current economic downturn offers his company an opportunity for growth. Speaking on Radio 4 last week, Butler-Adams explained how the financial crash of 2008 resulted in an increase in everyday cycling that boosted sales of the ubiquitous folder. The famous small-wheeled folding...

Cycling

E-bike subsidy to counter cost of living crisis

November 28, 2022

France has introduced generous subsidies to boost cycling and help counter the cost of living crisis. The grants are weighted towards utility e-bikes and folk who need the most help. The so-called 'ecological bonus' ranges from €300 for those whose taxable income is less than €13,489 to a maximum of €400 for those who earn less than €6,300....

Cycling

Is this the best value e-cargo bike on the market today?

November 25, 2022

The family-friendly Tern GSD is the cargo bike on everyone's lips - not least because it's enabling some to cut household running costs by ditching their car, but at over £5,000, it remains too much of a financial stretch for many. Snapping at the heels of the GSD this autumn is Decathlon's new e-cargo bike. Boasting many of the same...

Cycling

Cycle insurance: Broken locks & broken promises

November 25, 2022

Far be it from us to impugn our competitors - we just wish some of them were more upfront about the cycle insurance they sell. For example, some providers boast about replacing stolen bicycles on a new-for-old basis, but read the small print and you soon discover the promise falls short - if your bike is a few years old when stolen, you...

Cycling

Grab your winter cycle commute by the horns

November 23, 2022

Cycle commuting at this time of year means running the gauntlet of bad drivers, slippery roads and dark evenings so it pays to be well equipped. As well as the basics like mudguards and a good set of lights, a loud bike horn can be invaluable. The Air Zound bike horn might not make anywhere as much noise as our own Guinness World...

Cycling

Pedestrians: Next time you get honked at, use this

November 23, 2022

Pedestrians trying to negotiate city streets get so little respect from motorists that many may welcome a new design of portable air horn that can blast an ear-splitting 150dB warning to inattentive drivers. No more worrying that drivers haven't noticed you're crossing a side street - the horn produces a sound claimed to be as loud as a jet...

Cycling

Design your dream mobility scooter

November 16, 2022

An estimated 300,000 people in the UK rely on a mobility scooter to lead an independent life, but are they all they could be? We know for instance that many people would like to carry a passenger, but for some unknown reason tandem seat mobility scooters remain illegal in this country. Likewise, manufacturers seem unwilling to provide...

General News

The eyes have it: Bike thieves hate an audience

November 16, 2022

Bicycle thieves don't like an audience - even if the eyes staring at them aren't real. Research by Newcastle University found cycle theft can be significantly reduced by placing large photos of eyes above bike racks. The two-year experiment on campus grounds resulted in a reduction in theft of 62%. In areas of the university grounds without...

Cycling

Don't say accident, say collision or crash

November 16, 2022

When you accidentally spill coffee on your trousers, that’s one thing, but if a driver's speeding car slams into a bus stop, killing a child in the process, it’s clearly different...so why does the language we use rarely distinguish between the two? While one can be dismissed as an accident, the other deserves to be described more carefully...

Cycling

How can I tell if my e-bike is legal for UK roads?

November 14, 2022

There are so many different types of e-bike on the market today that it can be tricky to know which are legal to use on the road. While e-bikes sold on the high street are likely to conform the British law, models bought secondhand or online may originate from countries with different regulations. For example, many European countries...

General News