Sod the tubes get on yer bike...

Have you been um-ing and ah-ing about whether or not to start cycling to work? Well, this week's Tube strike could be the perfect chance for you to strike out on the bike. From 9pm on Tuesday (4th Feb) to the morning of 7th Feb, there are MAJOR disruptions on the Tube lines and although there are still some services running I think it's fair to say getting about by Tube is going to be a pain in the ass. Check TFL's websites for details.

But let's try and look on this as a positive... maybe what looks to be a right royal pain in the ass, could be the kick up the ass that you need to get on your bike! So here's a little bit of advice if you are thinking of joining the burgeoning bike community this week but are not quite sure where to begin...

Get your bike sorted
If you have a bike but it's not had much TLC for a while, dust it off and do a quick A, B, C, D check.

A = air (check wheels are pumped); B = bakes (check they still work); C = chain (check it doesn't make any weird noises when the pedals are turning); D = direction (check the handlebars are straight).

If you don't have a bike, or your bike is beyond repair, give the Boris Bikes a go. Although I prefer to use my own bike when I can, I often use a Boris bike when I am in town. They are easy to ride and so blinkin handy. You don't need to sign up for membership, you can simply put your credit card in the terminal and get a bike released, and if you use the bike for 30 mins or less you don't get charged at all!

Pace yourself
If you've not been in the saddle for a while I would not advise taking on a 10-mile commute into Central London. A good idea is to cycle part of the way. Devise a route where you can start with a gentle ride of a couple of miles and pick up public transport the rest of the way. As someone who lives in Chiswick and works in Shoreditch (and doesn't always fancy a 11-mile commute, taking on the Old Street Roundabout) I've been doing this for years and swear by it.

Plan your route
Make sure you plan your route, don't just set off and hope for the best. Getting lost on your way to work can be really stressful. Have a look at the cycling directions on Google Maps the night before and use your GPS on your phone while en route. Just be sure to use an Incredible Bike Band so you can keep both hands firmly on the handlebars while you're cycling.

If you want to find a bike buddy, someone who does the same route as you, check out I Bike London's "Bike the Strike" campaign. Mark is hooking up ride leaders with newbie cyclists through twitter. A brilliant idea!

Safety first
If you are nervous about cycling on the roads, maybe think about having a lesson. A lot of London boroughs offer free or subsided training. Fill out this form to see what your borough offers (Ealing, Hackney and Lewisham are three I know do). I have done two of these training sessions, one when I very first started cycling in London, and a more advanced session when I started writing my book. Both were invaluable. A few key things to remember are: keep a metre between you and parked cars to avoids getting hit by car doors; do not go on the inside of a bus or HGV; if you feel unsure about a junction or situation, stop at a safe point in the road, get off your bike and push on the pavement. Don't get yourself in a panic. Also swat up on your highway code, especially if you don't drive.

Want more advice?
I spent a lot of last year writing a book to help women overcome the common barriers that cycling presents. The book is called The Girls Bicycle Handbook and comes out on 3rd April 2014. I delve quite deeply into cycle safety and the logistics of cycling to work, along with maintenance and, of course, what to wear on your bike! The book is available to pre-order and I will be featuring snippets of advice from the book on my blog over the next two months. So keep checking in and follow me on Facebook and Twitter for more updates.

Fancy folding? I certainly do...

Following on from Jude's blog post about the wonderful Brompton folding bikes I have found myself surrounded by all things folding this past week.
The first folding product that  caught my eye is the rather clever Carrera Foldable helmet. Now, it doesn't so much fold as sort of scrunch together. This was actually a relief for me as I cant be arsed with complex folding mechanisms. I like foldable products to be easy and practical so if the folding process is tricky and takes more than a few seconds, my interest wanes.

The Carrera foldable helmet is a simple design. It consists of strips of helmet that are linked by evenly spaces straps so you can pull it apart to wear and push it together to store away in your bag - its a concertina effect of sorts (the concertina being invented by my Great, Great Grandad, Sir Charles Wheatstone... just thought I'd throw that one in there).

 Anyway back to the helmet... The fact that this helmet is both lightweight and scrunch-downable is a big bonus for those of us who get fed up carrying helmets around when off the bike. Do you ever leave your bike at the station and commute the rest of the way by tube and struggle with laptop and helmet? Or stop at the shops and have to carry your helmet around while picking up various bits and bobs and find you soon run out of space and hands? Okay, so you will still have to carry the Carrera but it can be stuffed easily in a bag or you can put the belt over it and attach it to a strap on your bag.

 Its not just the helmets fold-ability that is a plus point, it's also very comfy to wear. Its unique concertina design ensures it clings to your head comfortably and is so lightweight you hardly notice its there. It would be a good option for those who get neck ache from cycling with a heavier helmet. It also has a very user-friendly elastic strap at the back that attaches to the helmet with velcro so can be adjusted to make sure the helmet fits you just right.

 So impressed by the Carrera helmets we have ordered stock and have them up on cyclechic.co.uk. We have currently got the Gloss white and Gloss Black helmets both at £59.99. They do a really nice array of colours so watch this space and will have some of the brighter colours soon. Email us if there is a specific colour that you want to get hold of. Take a look at the Carrera website so see the range. And have a look at this video for more more product details.

 So what else in my life is folding I hear you ask... Well, I have recently had the pleasure of testing out a Bordo Folding lock from stalwarts on the industry Abus and I have been very much impressed with it. It passes the easy to fold test, only taking a few seconds and it's Gold standard so super secure. The folding mechanism makes it easy to store when you are cycling and the lock comes with a pouch that you can Velcro to your frame or you can simply pop it in your basket as it's a much less awkward shape than a large D lock. The  added plus of the shape is that you have more flexibility when trying to get it around things so the whole process of locking your bike is easier.

 And finally a completely non cycling related item but I hope you don't mind me sharing it with you... its a rather stunning foldable 1930's Walnut dressing table. I spotted it yesterday during one of my regular auction room snoops but alas have no space for it at home (despite it being foldable).

Its a gem though and goes on sale at Chiswick Auction rooms today (Tues 13th Aug) so if you have a penchant for art deco and all things folding get down there or I believe you can bid online. 
 Perhaps one day I will be looking at myself in the mirror of my very own foldable art-deco dressing table but for my now I am happy enough cycling along in my foldable helmet and keeping my bike safe and happy with my foldable lock.

One girl, many helmets...

Please welcome the lovely Jude Brosnan to London Cycle Chic. Jude has been cycling since she was a nipper, is the blogger behind I Speak Bike and also writes for the fashion and lifestyle blog Le Blow. Jude is not only bike obsessed but helmet obsessed and has so far cycled into the office in a different helmet everyday. Jude, and her many helmets, have joined the Cyclechic team this summer to champion our Hot in a Helmet campaign and spread the Cyclechic word. Over to you Jude...

Hi, my name is Jude and I'm a helmet-holic. I have over time, amassed quite a collection. In my defence, I do spend most of my time on my bike wearing helmets. You wouldn't wear the same pair of shoes everyday would you? I like to match my helmets to my outfits and customise them for different events. Let me show you:

  This pink number is my current favourite. I pimped it up with disco mirror squares to create a tetras inspired design. It makes a really cool glittery reflection on cars. If they must share our roads they may as well look pretty. This picture is from when I celebrated by Birthday by riding through the night to Brighton with my friends. We wore party hats over our helmets so our shadows looked like unicorns.

  For the Jubilee, my sister and I took the tandem out for a ride around London. That weekend was all about the red, white and blue so naturally we rose to the challenge by customising our helmets with Union Jack scarves. Reckon I'll get a whole summers use of this look what with the Olympics around the corner. This picture was taken near Buckingham Palace during the Jubilee concert. I'm propping up my sister who was standing on the tandem trying to get a better view of Tom Jones.

  As I cycle everywhere if I have a fancy dress party I try and incorporate my helmet into my costume as it means I won't have to carry it around all night. Here I am at a 'Superhero' party dressed as 'Cycle Superhero Girl'. Yes those are fairy lights in my helmet.

  Here I am dressed as a shark in my chrome helmet for a friend's Birthday at London Zoo. Although, I have been known to wear it since, just because. I get a lot of people commenting on this chrome number when I'm out and about on it. I think they might just be checking out their reflections. It is handy as a mirror for making sure I don't have helmet hair after long rides.

  I usually wear skater style helmets but I have this little number for when I want to look a bit fancy. It's a sportier style that I have covered with a turban and added a broach to. I love the vintage touch it adds to my outfits. Below is a picture of me in my turbanised helmet with my sister after the British Heart Foundation's London to Brighton which we nailed on our tandem. Note how we have not only matched our outfits to each other, but also to the finish line.

So those are just some of my helmets, I'm always lusting after new ones, I need to find some kind of storage solution, or just move somewhere bigger. Do you customise your helmet/s? If so we'd love to see some pictures. Tweet them to @Cyclechic

Wardrobe tips for cycling in the rain.

1. A Helmet is your friend

If like me you HATE getting wet hair go for a helmets with fewer ventilation holes. The Bern helmets, Sawako Furuno's and Yakkay Paris are all great for keeping your hair dry and the peak at the front prevents rain from going in your eyes. If you have a regular cycle helmet with large ventilation holes, you could try wearing a skull cap underneath. Although it might be tempting to wear a jacket with a large hood and pull it over your head to block out the miserable rainy world, don't do it. Hoods (the bigger and fluffier the worse) can seriously affect your peripheral vision and can cause you to miss traffic to your left and right.

2. Caped Crusader

A regular raincoat, might not always be right for cycling as it may get too hot once you're pedaling away. Light and breathable is the way to go with layers for warmth on underneath. We love Water of a Ducks Back cycling specific Mac £129.99 or go for a rain cape or poncho that folds away neatly into its own pouch once you get to your destination. Check out our NEW Festival Floral Poncho £23.99. All these options are designed to keep your legs dry as well as your upper body so you don't end up with soggy jeans for the rest of the day.


3. Say No to soggy feet

If like me you HATE getting wet feet almost as much as getting wet hair, you need to go for waterproof footwear. Wellies, if they fit properly and you're not in too much of a hurry can work well but can be awkward once you get to the office. A great option, that we are loving at Cyclechic, are The Georgia in Dublin Leggits £49.99. You simply pop them over your regular shoes or boots and they keep your foot & lower leg completely dry and they look like a pair of funky snow boots. You can also get a matching Georgia in Dublin Dorothy Cover £19.99 for your basket.

Safety Tip
It goes without saying that when it's raining you need to be extra alert and take extra care on the roads. The roads can be slippy so be very careful on corners, take it slow and keep as much weight as possible on the outside pedal to ensure you are balanced. Resist the childish urge to plough through puddles, submerged potholes can catch you out.

And finally here's my all time favourite rain/dance sequences, this will be sure to put a smile on your face on a rainy Wednesday.

Love London, Go Dutch

 

I've just signed the petition to support LCC's Love London, Go Dutch Campaign. The general idea, as the name suggests,  is to make our streets as safe and as inviting for cyclists as they are in the Netherlands, where 47% of the population cycle regularly.

When I first started writing London Cycle Chic. I did a lot of research into the barriers that prevent people from cycling. Safety fears were by far the main barrier. And although the image of cycling has seen a vast improvement in recent years and there are more bikes on the London streets, is it really any safer than it was 5 years ago?

I cant speak for the whole of London but I haven't seen many changes to the routes I do regularly. And especially as most of my journeys are now done with my 3 years old daughter in tow, I am highly aware of any possible dangers or risky roads.

On our regular journey to the swimming pool, I opt for as almost entirely non-road route, through a business park , along a very wide pavement (cus it just seems silly not too when faced with the busy A315). This is by no means a cycle specific route but as a lot of cyclists do you make up your own route in preference to busy, vehicle orientated roads.

As cycling becomes more and more popular and everyone seems to agree it a jolly good solution for London's transport problems, surely more radical changes need to be taken. The unnecessarily wide pavement on my way to the swimming pool has very few pedestrian's using it. I have often thought it would accommodate a segregated cycle lane rather nicely and then perhaps we would see more Mums and Dads cycling there kids to the swimming pool rather than driving.

There are however quite a few journeys where I can not find a sneaky alternative route and the main road is the only way to go. These are often a no no with the little one and we both end up glum on the bus.

The LCC  campaign is  focused on putting a stop to car-centric planning and making a dedicated space for cyclists on these larger roads
" That’s why our 'Go Dutch' campaign calls for clear space, Dutch-style, for cycling along major roads in every London borough."

So please if you cycle and Love London, show your support and sign up to Go Dutch.

Windy blows and Rosy cheeks

Surviving the wind and the rain? Why not cheer yourself up with our top pick from the Cyclechic Sale. The lovely Rosy Cheek Red Bensimon Rucksack is now only £44.25. Having this cheery little rucksack on your back will put a smile on your face and a spring in your pedal.

A few tips for cycling in windy conditions
1. Keep both hands firmly on the handlebars, this is no time to be doing 'look Mum no hands' tricks
2. Avoid flowing dresses & skirts and hats that could blow off (I once lost my favourite tribly cycling in windy conditions)
3. Get your head down and bring your elbows in so you have a smaller surface area facing the wind.
4. Bit cheeky but try cycling behind someone. Or cycle with a friend and take it in turns to lead the way and face the gales!

Shine on... Reflective gifts from £5

TwonFro Ankle Claqs come in Yellow, Pink, Silver and Neon yellow. Snap, shine and go, only £5 each.

Ding Dong indeed...SpotMe Reflective badges, £9.99 for a set.

TwonFro Reflective Sash for the Beauty Queen in your life, only £19.99

 Dashing Tweeds Reflective woolen legwarmers £40. Quite simply the most stylish way to reflect.

TieCycle £22.50. It's not often that vintage and reflective come together but they do with these fabulous customised reflective tie sashes.

Georgia in Dublin Basket cover, £ 19.99. Keep both you and your belongings safe on the road. A great pressie for the beloved basket-case in your life.

 TwonFro Reflective Vest £44.99. Our best selling Reflective item is sure be hit under the tree.

Reflective Spokies. Reflective tubes that slot onto your spokes. Your whizzing wheels will glow like a Catherine Wheel. £5 for a pack of 5. (great for the kids)

Po Campo spare pocket with Swallow reflective detail £23.99. It attaches to your ankle with a lovely leather strap and is the perfect size, for your cash, cards and keys.

New in! SpotMe Badges

In our ongoing battle against ugly and offensive Hi Viz gear we are pleased to announce a new reflective product that is as cute as a button, quite literally.

The SpotMe Badges £9.99 are made of reflective fabric and have beautifully embrioded designs on them. They come in sets of 2 or 3 our faves are the Hearts, Stripes and the 'Ding Dongs'. They can be pinned onto your bag, coat, shoe to give you a sublte but effective reflective element when cycling at night.

These lovely little buttons are made by designer Kate Barton who when cycling to her central London studio soon felt the need to be noticed and began to make reflective accessories for her and her friends.

I have pinned 3 of the lovely heart shaped badges on my Bensimon Rucksack, they look totally sweet and they really do reflect well.



Gift Idea - The SpotMe Badges are an ideal Christmas gift and affordable too at £9.99 for a set. A perfect stocking filler.

Heads up Mum

This poster was designed by  husband and wife team Britt and Wayne Hanson who together write the blog Fantastic Family Fun. Wayne was knocked off his bike by a van and wearing a helmet saved his life so the couple are understandably passionate and spreading the pro helmet word. The couple have noticed they often see adults carrying children on their bike and whilst the wee ones are safely helmeted up, the adult is not.
So why is this? I think sometime as parents we are so consumed with our child's well-being and all the associated bits and bobs that we spend less time thinking of our own. But of course the safety of our own heads is just as important to our little ones....

Free Delivery on all Bike Lights!

 

If your bicycle lights seem to have grown legs and done a runner over the summer do not fear, we have some cracking light options to suit all bikes and budgets. And to top it all off we're offering FREE DELIVERY on all Bike Lights from Today, 13th October until end of the day Sunday, 16th October. Simply enter the discount code: therewillbelight when you check out online.

New in: Boom Boom, Boom shake the room with Knog's new BOOMERS. You'll hardly notice its dark with the Boomer front light (above), £19.99. lighting up your path ahead.

The Boomer wearable £19.99 rear light is not only ridiculously bright but has a magnetic clip that allows you to attach it to your clothes. Woo hoo!

Budget: The Classic Knog Strobe is only £9.99, comes in array of delightful colours and is plenty bright enough to get an 80's disco going on your bike.

Pretty and Practical: The Bicygnal twin lights (£32.99 for set) not only look sleek and sophisticated but they magnetically clip together make rather nifty hand held torch.

Road sense Sally: Know your route

To sail through the streets with confidence and style it's important to know where your going. There is nothing glamorous about getting lost, stressed out and finding yourself in a dodgy industrial estate in Wandsworth.
If you are just starting out stick to routes you know to begin with. When you feel ready to venture further a field arm yourself with the relevant maps.

If you go to TFL's website you can order printed maps of various areas in London with suggested routes for cycling... and they're completely FREE of charge.

Also try TFL's online journey planner. Enter your starting point and your destination and it will mark out a route on either cycle routes or quieter roads.

If your not in London try Sustrans interactive mapping for details of your nearest cycle route anywhere in the UK.

Road Sense Sally - Road Positioning

Worries about safety are the main factor that put woman off cycling, a lot of ladies I know think they are immediately going to get flattened by a bus. Cycling is a bad advert for itself, to onlookers it looks terribly scary but it does not have to be dangerous or risky. One major factor that will considerably improve your safety is the correct road positioning, approx 1 meter from the curb. The 3 main reasons why..

Contrary to popular belief motor vehicles do not want to hit cyclist, it’s only when they don’t see them that accidents happen. If you have the correct road positioning you will be much more visible and will significantly reduce any risks.

Be aware that drivers will give you the same amount of space you give yourself so if you give yourself a meter they will be inclined to give you the same.

A lot of cycling accidents happen by cyclist riding too close to parked cars and getting hit when the door opens, so if you give yourself a car door width when passing them (or if this is tricky slow down) you will vastly improve your safety

Safety advice courtesy of Cycle Training UK

Let me know the safety tips that help you??

Road Sense Sally - Useful exercises

If are just getting back in the saddle this spring and haven’t cycled for a few years here’s a few exercises to do off road to get you ready for the city streets.

Exercise 1) High 5
You will need to Indicate clearly to turn left and right so need to be confident cycling one handed. A good way to get used to this movement is the hi5 exercise pictured above. Entice a friend or boyfriend along to be your high five partner and practice on both hands until you feel full comfortable taking each had off the handle bars while still moving.

Exercise 2) Do look back
Checking traffic behind is an essential part of cycling on the roads. To perfect this skill practice twisting round and looking behind you first keeping both hands on the handlebars and when you feel confident taking one hand off and twisting round a little further. Try this at varying speeds until you feel fully comfortable and balanced.

Exercise 3) Emergency stop
Practice cycling at a reasonable speed and then stopping abruptly at a chosen spot. Use both brakes and push your weight down on the bike whilst stretching your arms out. once you have come to a stop keep your hand on the breaks to secure the bike until you are ready to get going again

All exercises courtesy of Cycle Training UK. Lessons are all one to one and in some London boroughs are completely free!

Road Sense Sally - Have a lesson

Last weekend I embarked on a spot of cycle training and what a thoroughly enjoyable and fruitful experience it was. Liz, my local instructor, arranged to meet me at a park a stones throw from my house. She talked to me about my level of cycling and what I wanted to get out of the lesson and proceeded to tailor the 2 hour session to my needs. We started off with some bike control exercises (pictured above the Hi-5) and thanks to Liz, I finally understood how my gears work! (in the past I have been a bit of a girl and just moved them up and down hoping for the best)
As I cycled away after the lesson to meet a friend for coffee I felt noticeably empowered about my right as a cyclist and felt entitled to take more space on the road. It was both an eye opener and a confidence booster and the bill was kindly picked up by Hammersmith and Fulham, who fund all the cycle training in the borough.
I would recommend a cycling lesson to both those starting out and those who have cycled for a while but do still have a few questions. Contact Cycle Training UK for more details and to find out if you are eligible for funding.
More advice on road safety coming soon to cyclechic.co.uk