Commuter & Urban Bikes

Essentials for trouble free commute include; helmet, gloves, sturdy footwear (or cycling shoes / pedals) lights and a good lock. Optional accessories such as; paniers / rack, mudguards and bell can all make the journey much easier. If you have bike parking / shower / change facilities at work, it makes the daily bike commute much easier. Leaving a bag of work clothing & deodorant stuffed under your desk is a good idea, rather than carrying them daily.

If you cannot lock up you bike somewhere inside your destination, it is really important to find somewhere, ideally visible from where you are. If you have to lock your bike outside in public, try to find somewhere which has people passing by to deter thieves and make sure your bike lock is up to the job. Lock your bike to something which is immovable, put the lock through the wheels and frame, if your lock isn’t big enough to get through both wheels and the frame, consider getting an extra lock for your front wheel. Hide the key opening away from passers-by and try to make your bike less steal-able to the potential thief, stickers and tape over expensive bike brand names can help.

Electric bikes need a little extra care when cleaning to make sure critical electric components don’t get damp. Try to follow manufacturer recommended instructions for battery charging and discharging to maximize battery life. As with regular bikes, keeping it clean will maximize how long it lasts, mid-drive ebikes can wear transmission components quicker, reduce this with regular cleaning and lubrication.

Possibly, to some extent, but you will likely be restricted in movement and not feel quite as toasty as wearing clothing designed for winter cycling, utilising winter specific wamer fabrics. Bike riding is very uncomfortable in cold weather with unprotected extremities; hands, toes and the head, really need to be kept warm on cold winter rides..

Bike riding in winter is more comfortable if you can keep drier. Mudguards can help you stay drier and avoid getting covered in spray from the roads and trails.

Lights are important in darker winter months, both so that other road users can see you, and so that you can see the road / trail ahead, when riding in unlit terrain. Also, riding in daylight with daytime riding lights in winter months makes riders more visable, particularly on gloomy days.

During winter, your bike attracts more filth and dirt than in summer months. Minimise winter's impact on your bike through keeping your bike clean and lubricated.

Bells are a great way to let other people know that you are there. If you ride on shared paths they are very worthwhile, they seem more polite than a shout, which can be taken the wrong way.

If you ride your bike between dusk and dawn, then you need front and rear bike lights to be legal. However, the hour before dusk and after dawn, can be dangerous for bike riders - statistically, many accidents happen at these times. If you regularly ride your bike in winter, visibility can drop hugely on murky, grey days - lights can help draw attention to you.

Yes and no. Most bikes use 'core tools' such as allen / hex keys, torx wrenchs, cable, cassette and chain tools. Some bikes vary depending on components fitted, variations include some bottom brackets, chainsets and hydraulic brake bleed tools. 

A good entry level road bike is likely to feature an aluminium frameset, components from a known groupset manufacturer and branded wheels & tyres.

Mid-range road bikes feature a carbon or aluminium frameset, a mid-range groupset (for example Shimano 105 / Ultegra, Campagnolo Potenza / Chorus, Sram Rival /Force)

High-end road bikes feature a premium carbon frame, a top tier groupset and a high quality wheelset. Finishing kit components, (bars, stem, seatpost, saddle etc) will be branded and hi spec.

Checking online reviews can reveal what owners think of their bike far more accurately than manufacturers marketing words. A broad cross section of reviews should provide a general consensus of opinion.  

While you are legally allowed to ride on most roads, some are better than others in terms of safety. This is very dependent on where you live. As a general rule, many riders would try to avoid busy main roads where there is high traffic volume, lots of junctions and no provision in terms of cycling infrastructure. Quieter roads or off-road shared use paths or bike lanes are generally better in terms of safety.

Keep the bike clean! There are parts on your bike which will wear out through normal use (cassette, chain and brake pads), keep your bike clean and lubricated to maximize the lifespan. It is also easier to check the bike over when it is clean. If the bike is kept clean and lubricated it shouldn’t need much attention mechanically. Most routine maintenance jobs are pretty easy to do, see our blogs here, alternatively seek a reputable, skilled bicycle mechanic.

Yes they do! You, your ride mates and your bike will keep cleaner on filthy rides if you fit mudguards. The extent to which they work depends on your bike and the type of mudguards fitted. Fitting full mudguards and mudflaps gives the best coverage, if your road bike will fit them. Even short mudguards on MTB's can do a decent job of reducing the amount of mud and gloop spraying up.

Watch out for anything in the road which could cause damage to your wheels. Avoiding holes, rough patches, grates and traffic debris can also prevent damage to your bike and yourself. However! Always check traffic around you iif you are pulling out to avoid something. Using slightly lower tyre pressures on rougher roads and gravel tracks can help smooth the pathway for your wheels and give them (and you) an easier ride.

Usually yes, imperfections can be trued out using a spoke key tool – get a mechanic to true them if you are unsure. More serious damage to the rim can be too bad to straighten out.

Stick to recommended tyre pressures and avoid speeding up the wearing process by skidding and regularly loosing grip (although it can be fun...). Nice smooth roads tend to wear road tyres less