News

The Ford Focus, a vehicle that was Britain’s best-selling new car for 10 successive years, will soon be available to buy as a fully electric version. The Focus BEV has already been tested on British roads and whilst it is not currently listed as eligible for the government’s £5,000 electric car grant, there is little doubt that it...

The cold weather in the run up to Christmas prompted parents to buy popular indoor games and toys such as Buzz Lightyear for their children over bicycles, according Britain’s largest bicycle retailer. Halfords holds an estimated 14 per cent of the cycle market in Britain and sells over 1m bikes a year, but sales of bicycles suffered a 16...

A new design of kayak features an entirely see-through shell and the ability to fold up small enough to fit in a rucksack. At 11kg, the STC folding kayak is light enough to carry on a bicycle and launch from areas inaccessible by car. The kayak’s carbon Kevlar frame and military-grade urethane hull give it a weight capacity of 135kg. The...

A new book, Electric Bicycles, is an invaluable guide for prospective buyers and enthusiasts alike, according to the Environmental Transport Association (ETA). Sales of 24 million and growing With worldwide sales in 2010 estimated to have reached 24 million, the electric bicycle market is continuing to gain momentum. The latest battery...

Can’t afford decent weather-proof cycle shoes? Why not make your own with some Tesco’s bags and duct tape, as sported by my colleague today. Sadly his feet still got wet – not exactly Tesco’s finest! Cycling is the perfect way to avoid parking charges, fuel bills, road tax and gym membership fees but it does not stop cyclists from...

Imaginative cyclists are adapting their bikes for use on icy roads by fitting their bicycle tyres with cables ties. The cable ties take only a few minutes to fit and provide impressive traction on the most slippery of surfaces. The cable ties are inexpensive to buy, and can be fitted without tools in very little time. Ice tyres for 45p each...

By my own admission I am a fair-weather cyclist; my daily commute has returned to the car as I am not brave enough to attempt my 16-mile ride in England’s winter months. I still use my bikes for the odd short trip, but over all my cycling has stooped to an all time low! But that is about to change. As part of my New Year health kick I am...

The German-designed Blacktrail carbon fibre electric bicycle last summer stole headlines with its 60mph top speed and eye-watering £50,000 price tag, but a new design of retro-fit electric motor will give a similar performance for a fraction of the price. The EGO Boost aims to make downhill mountain bikes a practical option for cyclists...

A machine capable of printing small bicycle components has gone on sale for £847. Reminiscent of the ‘replicator’, a machine in the fictional television series Star Trek that was capable of instantly creating almost anything from scratch, the Thing-O-Matic 3-D printer builds up objects using layers of the same plastic used to manufacture...

One of the most notable aspects of the Nissan Leaf electric car, which goes on sale in March in this country, is that in appearance it is every inch the modern family car; the world’s first mass-produced electric car deliberately distinguishes itself from the many weird and wonderful electric vehicles that have come before it. Here we...