News

A gold standard bicycle lock that's a breeze to carry

February 18, 2021

Hiplok is the creation of two British industrial designers and keen cyclists frustrated at having to carry their bike locks in a cumbersome bag or unsightly frame-mounted bracket. John Abrahams and Ben Smith took inspiration from bicycle couriers, who have long worn chains and cable locks around their waists or slung across their shoulders....

Cycling

Driving tips for winter conditions

February 9, 2021

Turning the ignition key first thing on a damp December 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...

Driving

Cycling in the snow

February 9, 2021

Bicycles perform excellently in the kind of conditions that have paralysed many roads this week. It's easy to assume that a bicycle is the worst possible option in snow, but this is not the case. Although riding on ice can prove tricky, a light covering of snow should not present any difficulties for an experienced rider. Keep your weight...

General News

Looking to a brighter future: Win a pair of cycling sunglasses

February 4, 2021

It might not feel like it now, but brighter times are ahead. To help you look forward to a spring and summer spent outdoors, we have a pair of dhb sunglasses and three interchangeable lenses to give away. The sunglasses provide 100 per cent protection against UVA and UVB rays and rubber grippers on rounded arms promise a secure fit whether...

Cycling

Bicycle roof rack damage: The peril of height restriction bars

February 2, 2021

Carrying a bicycle on a roof rack can be a risky business. As a provider of cycle insurance that covers against accidental damage we know all about the perils of car park height restriction bars when you've forgotten your bike is on top. But what if you don't have a friendly insurance company to put everything right? Raacked is an...

General News

The economics of biodiversity

February 2, 2021

The Covid pandemic may yet leave a positive legacy. Amidst the human tragedy is a growing realisation that we are abusing and depleting the natural resources of our planet. So says Partha Dasgupta, Professor at Cambridge and author of The Dasgupta Review, a major report on the economics of biodiversity commissioned by the UK Treasury....

Environment

Lockdown DIY: Build your own caravan

January 29, 2021

If you’re a fan of self-sufficient holidays, DIY, and have a bit of spare time over lockdown, how about about building your own caravan? No special materials or skills are needed to build a Slidavan, but you will need to dedicate around 200 hours to the project. If you buy all new parts to build your Slidavan, it may cost around £3000 which...

Travel

Tool Monster Air - Taking the puff out of punctures

January 29, 2021

You can ride 1,000 uneventful miles only for the puncture fairy to strike with a vengeance. Nobody knows why, but punctures, like buses, tend to turn up in twos and threes. But however unwelcome an interruption your next puncture will be, you can ensure your roadside pit-stop runs smoothly by carrying the correct tools. Promising to make...

Cycling

Is this the end of foreign holiday travel as we know it?

January 29, 2021

They say it can take anywhere from 18 to 254 days for a person to form a new habit and an average of 66 days for a new behaviour to become automatic, so could the current travel ban be about to change holiday habits forever? For years now it's been possible to fly from London to Prague for less money than it costs to take a train to the...

General News

What's heaviest load you've carried by bicycle?

January 22, 2021

What’s the heaviest thing you’ve carried on a bicycle? With the exception of child seats, few people here in Britain use bicycles as a way of carrying stuff. And that's a real opportunity lost because elsewhere in the world, cyclists have become expert at balancing or lashing all manner of cargo to a standard bike. Of course, once you start...

Cycling