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This page will provide you with every thing you need to get on your bike!
Choosing a bike
- Hybrid Bikes:听Generally hybrid bikes are good for new cyclists, they are comfy and upright so that you can easily see traffic, and you are unlikely to get a puncture.听 They also allow you to have听a rack on the back or a basket on the front听for your bag. This听type of bike is good for cycling听in your work clothes.
- Racing Bikes: Racing bikes听are also popular for London commutes. They are lighter听and so allow you to go faster.听
- Electric Bikes:听Typically electric bikes听are more expensive, but if you鈥檝e got a hilly听辞谤 long听commute,听you might find they are a good option.听These bikes have batteries that last from 30 miles all the way up 100 miles, meaning they are a viable option for commutes over 15 miles.听
- Specialist Bikes:听There are many bikes available for people with disabilities. Check out on听adapted cycles for inclusive cycling.
- A bike shop can advise you on the correct frame size and help you select a bike to suit your budget and the type of cycling听clothes you may want to wear.听听
Buying a bike
- Sustainable 果冻影院 Bike Sales: Check our event pages for second-hand bike sales throughout the academic year.听
- Bike to Work Scheme: Staff听can purchase a bike听at a discount through听果冻影院鈥檚 cycle scheme.听Staff can spend up to 拢5,000 on a bicycle/electric bicycle听and benefit from a tax-free salary sacrifice听in听monthly payments resulting in 20-40% reduced costs.
- Buy Second-hand: Second-hand听bike cost in the听range听of 拢70-拢200. Your smaller independent bike shops are best; you鈥檒l get to know your local maintenance team and they may even give a few discounts down the line.听For tips on听buying a听second hand听bike see听听辞谤
Test before you buy
If you鈥檇 like to try out cycling before听purchasing听a bike,听you can听loan听one from Camden Council or your local council.听, but you can also check with your local authority听if they have a similar scheme,听so that you can collect a bike nearer to your home. The greatest advantage of this scheme, is if you don鈥檛 like the bike you can take it back, and if you do like it, you can buy it from the council at a cheaper rate.听
Bike hire: Pay as you go
- 听Operated听by听Transport for听London, this bike听loan scheme听allows you to claim and return your bike from docking stations across London.
- hire adaptive bikes to people living in South London.
,听听补苍诲听听offer听electric听dock-less听bike loan听schemes,听and听听is a non-electric version.听Like听Santander听cycles, users听pay for distance/time used.听 However, in most areas you do not need to dock them at听a听station -听make sure you park them听carefully on the pavement听to avoid听creating听obstacles for pedestrians.
Get kitted out
Some cyclists may want to don the full racing gear, whilst others will not. However one things for certain, you will need some essential items such as a helmet, lights and lock.
贬别濒尘别迟蝉听
贬别濒尘别迟蝉听cost听as little as听拢20听补苍诲听should always be worn as they are crucial for safey. They come in a variety of styles, sizes, purposes and features and听can be gender specific.听They also have the additional benefit of protecting you from the rain and sun, and are quite the urban assessory.听However it听is important you choose the right one for you, so that you are protected whilst riding.
- '奥颈驳驳濒别'蝉'听,听explains what to look for听in a helmet听and how to measure your head for听sizing听so you know what size to buy.听听
- If you want to be better seen on the roads, you can choose a helmet that features听fluorescent听colouring听and/or听reflective tape details to improve visibility in dark听conditions.
- For some of you looking good will be important, so ensure you get a helmet that you like otherwise you'll find you won't wear one!
- View .
尝颈驳丑迟蝉听
If听you are cycling after dark, legally you need front and rear lights.听Lights are not something you want to scrimp on, they're essential听for you to听to see as well as听be seen.听Get some听quality听rechargeable听lights, and听charge them听at your desk.听 It鈥檚 also a good idea to keep a cheaper spare pair in your bag/pannier just in case you forget your main set.听Read this .听
尝辞肠办听
Get a quality bicycle听lock, and听spend at least 10% of the value of your bike on the lock. Buy a Sold Silver or听Gold听Secure听rated lock.听听is an independent, non-profit organisation based in the UK. They test and certify locks to make it easier to compare the security levels between different types and brands. D locks are the most secure.听听
As well as a quality听D听lock,听buy a secondary听lock听to enable you to secure the frame and both wheels. Read听this guide听on 听听听
惭耻诲驳耻补谤诲蝉听
惭耻诲驳耻补谤诲蝉听will protect you from being sprayed by standing water and muck. If you plan听to get听changed听at听work,听simple听small mudguards on the front and back may do. However, if you plan to cycle in your work clothes, then full mudguards听will protect your clothes.听
叠补肠办辫补肠办听/听辫补苍苍颈别谤听
If your commute isn鈥檛 too long or hilly, you can cycle to 果冻影院 in your normal clothes.听 This is particularly useful if you are more on the forgetful side, and risk leaving your socks at home!听听Purchasing panniers or a basket to hold your bag will help keep you feeling fresh along your commute.听
If you don't have a rack for a pannier or basket, a simple听backpack can听be fine for cycling to work. But ensure you have one that is compfortable for your back, especially if you are carrying a laptop. A听waterproof backpack will听protect you from the rain, and you can get one with flurocent detail so that you can be seen in the dark.听
奥补迟别谤辫谤辞辞蹿蝉听
A waterproof jacket is a must. There are听many听cycling specific jackets听which are fitted, breatheable, hi-viz and allow movement for cycling听without听flapping听in the wind. These听jackets are useful on longer commutes, however on shorter rides听you don鈥檛 need to听get a cycling听specific听jacket, any waterproof layer will be fine.听If you are听committed听to cycling throughout winter it might be听worth听considering waterproof over trousers too.听听
骋濒辞惫别蝉听
If you want to commute in听winter you听will want to protect your hands.听Again, you can get cycling specific gloves, which have grips and hi-vis details. However on dry days any gloves which are听warm will听be fine. If it rains,听waterproof听hiking or听skiing听gloves are听suitable.听听
笔耻尘辫听听
Every commuter should carry a small portable pump, which will be invaluable if you have a puncture.听These are small enough to fit into your bag or听strapped听to your frame.听You don鈥檛 need to spend a fortune on a pump,听as long as听it fits your valve听type,听it will be fine for an听emergency. Read听this guide听on. However听if you forget听your pump and听get听a puncture,听usually cyclists will stop to help.听 You can also use the bicyle pump in Foster Court at 果冻影院.
惭耻濒迟颈-迟辞辞濒听
A bicycle multitool contains most of the tools needed to do basic repairs on your bicycle. They are compact, taking up far less weight and听space than carrying around听individual听tools. They will be vital for any small听adjustment听辞谤 fixes. If this seems like too much there are many bike shops on route to 果冻影院 which you can pop in and ask for help. These small fixutres are usually free.
滨苍苍别谤迟耻产别听
A spare innertube is useful if you get a puncture, but again you can pop into a bike shop.听听
Fix your ride
If you're getting an old bike out of the garage, or just want to make sure your bike is in good shape, this page will provide you with the resources to fix your bike so you can start cycling.
Do the 'M' check
It's important to get in the habit of checking your bike regularly 鈥� simple checks and maintenance can help you enjoy hassle-free riding and avoid repairs. The M check is a simple way to make sure your bike is safe to ride,听on how to complete the M check.
Getting your bike fixed at the shop
It can be intimidating to enter a bike shop, however it is important to note that every one was a beginner cyclist once, and that听mechanics are听bike enthusiasts keen to get more people cycling.听
Some bike shops are booked up in advance due to the recent increase in cyclists, however ringing in advance will allow you to find out when they can see you. If it is a small fixture such as tightening your break pads, popping in towards the end of the day might mean that you can be seen immediately.听
听is a registry for bike shops that have confirmed they are open. Please note others may be open, so听it鈥檚听worth contacting other local shops.听
Free Bike Checks
Halfords offer free 32-point bike checks,听including听checking for wear, damage and ensuring your bike is safe to ride.听
Free Bike Maintenance
Dr. Bike offer free bike maintenance throughout the year. They have been temporarily postponed/cancelled due to Covid-19, however this is a useful resource once it is up and running.
Fixing your bike yourself
Fixing your bike can sound challenging, but with most things, there are lots of useful tips and tricks听on YouTube. See out top resources below:
- Download simple maintenance guides听from听听
- 听have step by step video guides for maintenance and repairs听on听.听
- 听list maintenance videos guides.
Cycle confidently
Cycling in London can听be daunting if you haven鈥檛 done it before听鈥� however it鈥檚 much safer than you think! Here are a few tips and resources for improving your confidence before commuting to 果冻影院.听
Practice makes perfect
If you're new to cycling, we reccomend testing out your bike听on an empty road听辞谤 in a local park;听somewhere free of cars听补苍诲听other cyclists.听
If you want to practice听your commute听when the roads are less busy, why not go at the听weekend?听Asking听a friend who is a confident cyclist to accompany you will help, as they will know the best cycle routes free from cars, and are usually keen to pass on their knowledge.
Learn your route
- New cycle lanes have been put in place since social distancing measures have been enforced, as well as in the last decade. View Sustran's webstite for听. For Camden specific chances, view the proposed changes听
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Get informed
Knowing the rules of the road and your rights听will听reassure you听that you are cycling correctly听鈥� and help you听to听feel confident.听For example, did you know that it is legal in the UK for two听bikes听to cycle side by side? Don鈥檛 be afraid to hold up the car behind you, go at your own pace and ensure you are seen, at the front of the traffic and indicate where you鈥檙e going.听 Always make sure to cycle a car door鈥檚 width away from any parked car to avoid any opening doors - and always have lights with you in case it gets dark.听 We recommend听wearing a helmet but this isn't a legal requirement.
For more guidance, see our top recommended resources:听
- , the UK's national cycle training programme provides you with听cycling guides, detailing key considerations and behaviours when cycling.听
- 听for a听full catalogue of traffic signs and road markings.
- 听have produced their top tips for cycling in traffic.听听
- British cycling also have a useful听听for cycling.
- 听have information on how to cycle safely in London.
Training
- 听is the UK's national cycle training programme. Normally, you can book free听cycle training courses in your borough for free, by visiting the TfL听website, or via your local authority听However due to social distancing, this is currently not running. It is worth checking this for when it does reopen however, as it is a very useful resource. You can attend if you are a beginnger, intermediate or advanced cyclist and learn 1 on 1 how to enhance your cycling skills on London roads. The trainer will meet you near your house and take you on any roads you find tricky.
- 听offer a range of riding skills sessions for people with different levels of experience.听
- and听听辞谤ganise inclusive cycling sessions for disabled people.听
- Camden Council offers听听for one participant at a time, in accordance with current government guidance to prevent the spread of Coronavirus.听Anyone who lives, works or studies in Camden can register on the following for free:听,听.