My book!

Without wanting to blow my own trumpet, this post is to officially announce that my book, The Girls Bicycle Handbook - Everything you need to know about life on two wheels,  is out on 3rd April 2014!

My aim was to make the book as USEFUL and as PRETTY as possible, to give the reader (discerning, stylish women) the best of both worlds when it comes to practical information and style inspiration.

The book both celebrates the benefits of cycling and tackles the barriers that put many women off cycling. I talked to lots of women while researching my book and found it hugely interesting to find out about peoples individual benefits and barriers. So in the run up to the release we are casting the net out even wider and want to find out what YOUR benefits and barriers are? Take a look at The benefits and barriers survey here to get involved.

The Survey is very short and will only take you a minute or two. We want anyone and everyone to get involved, you can be an experienced cyclist who can't go a day without your bike or you might not have been on a bike since you were 12 but are thinking you'd like to give it a go. Whatever your circumstances we would LOVE to get your feedback.

‘I finally concluded that all failure

was from a wobbling will rather

than a wobbling wheel.’

Frances E. Willard, Wheel Within a Wheel:

How I learned to Ride the Bicycle, 1895

More snippets and advice from the book coming soon, watch this space or follow us on Facebook , Twitter and Pin interest.

If you are a blogger, writer or someone who likes to spread the word when it comes to all tings bikes, books or fashion and would like to review the book, pls get in contact to request a press copy. Caz@cyclechic.co.uk.

Velove is in the air

In case you’ve been cycling around with your eyes closed, Valentine’s Day is a week today.

Cycle away from the clichés and go on a romantic ride. It’s cheap and you can even boycott all the hearts and go with friends. If you really want to go for it, most bike hire companies provide tandem hire and it’s a well known fact that on an adorable scale of one to kittens, a tandem is a nine. A couple of places you can hire from in London are hiremytandem.co.uk, londonbicycle.com. 

Here are some things to remember when riding in tandem:

• The person on the front is called the pilot, the stoker is on the back and under no circumstances should either of you start singing “Daisy Daisy” it will never leave your head. EVER. 


• Work on your stage whisper. You aren’t in a car, people can hear what you say to each other.
• When people say ‘they aren’t peddling’ about your stoker, always smile and laugh in a patronising way so they realise they are not the first.
• If you see another tandem hold hands with them and ask if they have any good come backs to the ‘they aren’t peddling’ heckle.

• Don’t get punctures. A whole ‘it’s your fault’ back and forth will begin.
• Gear changes can come as a surprise to the stoker. As pilot you must either warn your stoker in advance or revel in the power.
• The pilot should remember that they are what the stoker will be staring at A LOT. Keep your hair tidy, your helmet shiny (it can act as a mirror) and try to make your back as interesting as possible. One idea is to tape a map to your back so the stoker can navigate/ feel important.

• You are always going to look adorable on a tandem but match outfits to look EVEN MORE fricken adorable.

Whatever you feel about Valentine's, we think it’s a perfect time to show your bike (and maybe your partner if they deserve it) some good loving. A few gifts ideas...

SpotMe Valentine's card with reflective heart badge £5.50

Wear your heart on your sleeve or anywhere you like. Write the card to your bike.

I Love My Bike bell £5.99

 Ding ding. This will show your bike how much you heart it. 

Bike Love poster £25

...but not as much as I love mine.

Heart Spoke Reflector £5.99

Reflect on the times you've shared.

Oopsmark Bicycle Wine Rack £34.99

BYOB? Bring your own....bike? Perfect for that romantic meal for two.

Knog Blinder LED light £23

Because we all know what is the light of our lives.

Jude Brosnan

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.

Vintage Velo Advice

Pic of Sandra Dee with vintage bike from wonderful blog Rides A Bike

As a big fan of second hand bikes I am delighted to have Going Going Bike write a guest post for us imparting their knowledge on buying a vintage ladies bicycle.

Buying a second hand bicycle is really satisfying. Such a bicycle gives so much better value than a new bike. A new bicycle can lose as much as 50% of their value the moment they leave the shop.

Buying a used bike also appeals because it is sustainable and, if you choose a vintage bike, results in you getting a bike with some classic, retro appeal. It is worth noting that buying a vintage bicycle is also often a better idea than buying a new low-cost modern bicycle.

Golden age of bikes

The golden era for vintage women’s bikes is from the late 1950s onwards. Such bikes are still very rideable and still provide much of the basic design elements used in modern versions of women’s bikes. As a rule any bike that was built from the late-1950s to mid-1980s is considered as being very collectable. With most bikes from that period you are still able to find suitable components if you need to make repairs or restore them.

Bike types

Women’s bikes on the vintage scene are split into two types. More commonly seen is the Mixtie frame bike. The Mixtie is essentially a light utility road bike for women with some even coming with dropdown handlebars. Mixtie frames can be easily converted to single speeds making them very sought after particularly with the single speed/fixed gear craze. 70s and 80s Raleigh and Peugeot bikes are good brands to look out for if you purchase a Mixtie due to the ease of finding suitable component replacements or adding newer more modern components.

Town/Dutch/utility vintage bikes are much the modern vogue and there is a clutch of manufacturers offering new bikes in this market. Sadly many of the old UK brands such as BSA no long exist as do bikes from this period. Pashley still operates in this market with its modern interpretations of its classic bikes of the past but finding a classic vintage model is hard to find. More prevalent are brands from the Netherlands, Germany and Sweden.

Where to buy

The women’s second hand market is seeing a bit of a renaissance with more women now cycling. Apart from sources such as Going Going Bike (click here for our vintage category), there are the usual places such as eBay and Gumtree. Markets are also a good idea. A new business, The Bike Spoke, which specialises in Vintage bikes, recently sold all its vintage ladies bikes stock at the Hackney Homemade market. In each case, given the nature of it being an old bike, it is actually going to inspect the bike before you buy. Pricing can be very difficult to determine but you generally get a feel for what a bike is worth by looking online or going to bike markets.

Once you had decided on a bike, we have some basic guidelines on buying a second hand bike.

Check the bike’s condition

Second-hand bikes come in all sorts of conditions and it is worth noting specific things to look out for when it comes to vintage bikes.

Always inspect the state of the brakes, derailleur system, headset, wheel spokes, hubs and whether the frame itself is structurally sound. Superficial marks or scratches on a frame shouldn’t be a problem, but avoid a frame or fork that is bent, dented or cracked. Similarly if there is rust on the frame, scratch with a finger nail to see how deep it is. Also look out for rusty worn chains and cogs.

Be prepared to pay for certain repairs or updates to a vintage bike. It is important to factor this into the purchasing price when buying.

Size is key

When it comes to a vintage bike, the actual size of the bike is of less of an importance given the step through nature of the bike frame. What is important to note though is that the feel rider has a comfortable upright riding position, whereby they can reach the handlebars without stretching unduly. Best fit should therefore be determined by arm reach Women have shorter arms but longer legs relative to men so bear this in mind when choosing the right sizes bike. Typically vintage frames are measured in inches as opposed to centimetres with sizes going up from 17.5 inches to 22 inches typically.  For a good fit, measure your inside leg measurement and as a general guide compare this against the following measurements:

A 17.5 inches frame will fit a lady with a 24,5"-28,5" inside leg measurement

A 20 inch frame will fit a lady with a 27"-31,5" inside leg measurement

A 22 inch frame will fit a lady with a 30,5"-38 inside leg measurement

Ask questions of the seller

Find out how long the seller owned the bike or if the bike has any problems in the past. Has the bike been stored indoors in the dry, or outside in the damp? If you’re buying the bike from a second-hand bike store you may be able to get a warranty for any problems the bike may develop in the first few months.

  Going Going Bike, is the UK's leading online marketplace for buying and selling bikes. However it's not just about trading.  They also keep their rapidly growing community of cyclists amused with blogs, news and useful features.

Cyclechic's tips for Shopping & Cycling

• Park your bike in one place and walk from shop to shop: If you are visiting a few different shops don't be tempted to take your bike from shop to shop, park it somewhere in the middle so you only have to lock and unlock once.
  
• Panniers, Panniers, Panniers: Using panniers will make your life so much easier, balancing Sainsbury's bags off your handlebars is neither safe nor a good look! Our Kitsch Kitchen pannier shoppers are ideal and are on sale this summer, now only £29.59! They hook on and off the bike in seconds so you can take them into the supermarket and load your groceries up straight from the till.
  
• Mount Lock to Frame: Finding space for your lock when you are loaded up with shopping can be a problem. So invest in a D Lock that comes with a Frame mount.
  
• Try a Waitrose Trailer: Selected Waitrose branches offer cycle specific trailers that you can attach to your bike to get your shopping back more easily.
  
• Order heavy stuff online: For those heavy or cumbersome items; cans, olive oil, kitchen roll, do an online shop to lighten the load.

We love our bikes! Insuring the love affair...

I’ve been shopping around for bike insurance and having just requested a quote from ETA (the Environmental Transport Agency) I was pleasantly surprised that the price for a years cover was less than the price of my D lock…

According to Transport for London over 80,000 bicycles were stolen in the capital last year, and nationally that figure rises to 440,000 according to the British Crime Survey. With fewer than 5% of bikes returned to their rightful owners, that’s 418,000 unhappy riders without their trusty steeds. Recently, even the leader of the opposition David Cameron fell foul to local bike thieves stating afterwards, a familiar sentiment that anyone who has been a victim of this kind of crime feels…

"It's priceless to me. I've done over a thousand miles on it … it's like an old friend.” (sic)

Like all cyclists I am very fond of my bike and would be very upset indeed if it got stolen. Along with the emotional upset of losing an old friend is the 'pain in the neck factor'; suddenly becoming bike-less can seriously disrupt your life and buying a new bike can leave you penniless for the rest of the month.

This is why Cycle insurance is a really good idea, ETA (the Environmental Transport Agency) fully understand the needs of commuting cyclists and offer a comprehensive policy that won’t cost a fortune.

Here’s a few key points of what ETA’s cycle insurance offers…

New for old replacement Cover for theft, vandalism and accidental damage for bikes up to £4000. Ease the emotional upset of losing your 2-wheeled friend by being able to get a new bike without it costing you. ETA will also pay for you to hire a bike while you are waiting for yours to be repaired or until you get a new one…. They really have thought of everything.

90 days European cover If you’re off on a cycling holiday this summer you’ll be fully covered while you’re away.

Third party insurance. Not many cyclists think about third party insurance but if you damage another person or their property whilst cycling you will be liable for the costs. This could be hugely expensive. ETA will cover up to £1million pounds in the event of you causing damage while you are cycling to property or to another person

Personal Accident cover which pays you compensation if you get into any nasty scrapes whilst on your bike.

Cycle Rescue Breaking down on your bike can be thoroughly annoying not to mention a little scary at nighttime. If you breakdown and find yourself stranded ETA will pay for a taxi to pick you and your bike up and take you home, to the nearest train station or to a bicycle repair shop.

The carbon off-setting of the entire insurance policy

If you request a quote on the ETA website from now until 21st October you will be entered into a Prize draw to win a rather beautiful 24 Ct Gold bike. Go to www.ilovemybike.co.uk for more details.

Tip 12: Locks and Locking

A lock is one of the of the first bike accessories you will need to buy, not the most exiting by any means but very neccessary

A few tips on locks and locking

• 'D' locks are said to be the most secure but they can be quite heavy and cumbersome so make sure you get one with a bracket so it can be attached to your frame when you are cycling like the Abus Sinero. Or a smaller one like the Kriptonite Mini
To check the security of a lock before buying go not for profit website sold secure.

• Try and lock your bike to specific bike parking stands where possble but it is sometime neccessary to improvise with Lamposts and railings etc. This is fine but always try and lock your frame and at least one wheel to the stand or post.

• Although you are fully entitled to stay out all night dont leave your poor little bike out on the streets to fend for itself. Always try and get your bike home or to secure parking overnight. Very few bicycles are stolen from outside houses but if left on the street the risk of theft is much higher.

• If your place of work doesn't supply any secure bike parking suggest the ‘Take a Stand’ scheme where your employer can apply for cycle parking for up to 40 bicycles. Contact TfL on 020 722 1234 or the LCC office on 020 7234 9310 for more information. To gently put the pressure on take your bicycle in the office with you until the parking is provided.

• When parking your bike on the street go for busy areas as oppose to quieter roads or alley ways, it will be less easy for thieves to steal your bike if there's lot's of people around.

• The more money you spend on your bike the more you should spend on your lock

• Park your bike next to a more expensive one... a bit cheeky I know!

For more advice on security and insurance go to the LCC website

Tip 11: PlantLock it

Finding a suitable space to park and store your bike at home can be a bit of a problem for many Londoners. If you live in a flat and don't have a shed, garage or anything secure outside to lock your bike to, it may be, like me, the only answer is keeping your beloved bicycle in the lounge. This causes endless annoyance to my boyfriend who seems to be constantly walking into the pedals.
The PlantLock from The Front Yard Company could be a solution. They are classed as imovable weighing 75+kg when planted up and you can lock two bikes to the handles securely. They can brighten up a dead bit of space at the front or back of your building or can be kept indoors in a hallway or stairwell. They retail at £135.
We are moving (to another flat) next month and I have been given a 'no bikes in the lounge' rule so have been eyeing up the bit of space at the front of the flat. It's not big but I am thinking a Plantock will fit there quite nicely and I can perhaps get a little green fingered and start growing my own herbs...

Tip 10: Get involved

When you start cycling in London you have an immediate connection with your fellow cyclists becoming part of a blossoming subculture. Indulge in a little cycle flirting in your everyday riding and perhaps get involved in some of the following

Critical Mass meets at 6.30pm on the last Friday of every month on the South Bank under Waterloo Bridge, by the National Film Theatre. There is no planned route just a whole lot of cyclists cruising around the London streets.

Brick lane bike Polo You can take part yourself or just come and watch… lots of fun and a good chance to meet the right kind of cyclist.

Rolla Paluza... Bicycle racing, DJ’s and beer

After the huge success of last yeas event, Freewheel is back again for 2008. London roads will be closed off to cars and bicycles will reign the streets, put 21st September in your diary now and join the ride

Meandmybicycle.com The social networking site for cyclist.

Join my Cyclechic facebook group and upload photos of yourself looking wonderful on your bicycle.

Tip 9: How to stay fresh as a daisy...

A lot of people think cycling = getting hideously hot and sweaty and having to shower and change when you get to your destination. This need not be the case if you cycle at a leisurely pace and put a little thought in to what you wear.

A few clothing tips for avoiding cycle sweat and remaining fresh as a daisy with minimum hassle

• Use panniers or messenger style bags instead of rucksacks which can result in a rather unpleasant sweaty back. See stylish bags and panniers post

• Get yourself a pair of Green cycling knickers. They have a removable pad for comfort and are made from 70% Bamboo and 30% Organic Cotton ensuring they are breathable, antibacterial and absorbent.

• As summer approaches go for floaty dresses (pictured above), They are perfect for keeping cool on your bike and floral & floaty is very much en vogue this season

• Cycle in a loose fitting top and take a smarter top with you for a quick change when you get to work. Try a nice brightly coloured jersey from American Apparel they look great with skinny jeans.

• Treat yourself to a merino wool top ... "Merino wool is a naturally high performance material, absorbing perspiration and eliminating smells. It keeps your body warm if its cold but is breathable so in warm conditions it keeps you just right too" Designer Alexa Pearson

Lovely picture from The Sartorialist

Please let me know of other cycle friendly clothing that works for you…

Tip 8: Pace yourself

If you are thinking about taking to 2 wheels this spring be sure to ease your way in. You are then much more likely to enjoy it and stick with it, rather than ending up red faced, achey and frustrated.

A few tips…

• Cycle at a leisurely pace rather the racing along with the Lycra clan. You will look far more graceful and will arrive at your destination fully composed with out any unsightly sweat patches.

• If you have not cycled for a while start off by doing a few laps of your local park then graduate to short routes that you know, to the shops or local café.

• If your journey to work seems a little daunting start off by cycling to you’re nearest tube or train station, ensuring you lock your bike up securely.

• When you feel ready to cycle all the way to work check your route on TFL’s Journey Planner Select the cycling option and type in your starting point and destination and it will recommend a route on quieter, more cycle friendly roads.

• Armed with your map choose a nice sunny day at the weekend, when you have no time restraints, to explore your route. Do not cycle to work for the first time on a Monday morning if you are not entirely sure where you’re going. It could result in you getting lost and turning up at work late and flustered.

• When you have mastered your route just cycle in twice a week to start with to get your fitness levels up. Never force yourself to cycle when you don’t feel like.

Do not feel you have to cycle when….

• You have the mother of all hangovers

• It’s a blowing a gale or chucking it down with rain or both

• You are wearing a pencil skirt and 6 inch heels and have just spent an hour on your hair for a big meeting or date.

• You are reading a particularly good book and quite fancy a bus journey.

More advice on getting started coming soon on cyclechic.co.uk

Tip 7: Colour co-ordinate

Dawn Porter, TV presenter on Channel 4’s How to Look Good Naked, looks rather fabulous fully clothed on her baby pink Brompton

I caught up with Dawn after a busy day zipping around Soho for various meetings, "I am addicted to my bike! I would never be able to fit so much into the day with such little stress with out it’

Dawn gave London Cycle Chic her top tip for looking stylish on your bike….
‘Pick a colour and go with it, for me, it is all about pink! Dawn has a Cyclodelic bespoke front pannier to match her bicycle along with bright pink leather gloves and rather fetching cream earmuffs for the nippy winter weather.

See Dawn on 'Dawn gets Naked', the first in her series of documentaries coming soon to BBC3.

Tip 6: cycle yourself slim

Cycle your way to a slender figure and a healthy heart in 2008.

An average woman cycling on a flat road for an hour will burn off 555 Calories, running for the same amount of time will only burn off only 50 more, at 600 calories per hour. The difference being running hurts...cycling doesn't.

Cycling at least twenty miles a week reduces the risk of heart disease to less than half that for non-cyclists who take no other exercise. (Source: British Heart Foundation)

So if you want to get fit & healthy forget sweaty, expensive gyms or faddy diets that just make you hungry and pissed off …. get on your bike!

Picture from Copenhagen Girls on Bikes inspiration from the Danes.

Tip 5: Boyfriend's T shirt

When cycling to work go for 'the boyfreind fit' look and borrow one of your man's T-shirts. Loosefitting T-shirts look great with the right jeans and hide a mutitude of sins. They are also nice and cool to cycle in so you don't get too sweaty before the day begins. You can then change in to your nice clean top when you get to work..Viola - fresh as a daisy and image still well and truly in tact!

Tip 4: save money

Ok so you might not save millions but you could save £100's maybe even £1000's on travel in a year. What with constant Oyser top ups, congestion charge and overpriced Taxi's, getting about in London can cost you a small fortune. Cycling on the other hand is FREE!!!!! Leaving you to spend your money on the far more interesting things in life.

Even if you don't cycle everyday it is the perfect solution for those weeks just before pay day or the next installment of your student loan when you have the painful prediciment of choosing between a weeks bus pass or a Friday night out. Such dilemmas can be avoided by cycling for the week and spending the money on having a good time rather than the boring cost of getting from A to B.

Tip 3: Legwarmers are the new bicycle clips

Legwarmers are a modern day alternative to the bicycle clip. If you are wearing wide legged trousers or boot cut jeans just pop legwarmers on over them and you will avoid any unpleasant chain scuffing. (Long socks work just as well)

An extra safety tip is to wear bright 80’s style colours. Your ankles are moving as you cycle so they can catch a drivers eyes, alerting them to your presence, more successfully than bright colours on your upper body.

Both Topshop and American Apparel do great legwarmers in a wide range of colours from bright pink to more subtle autumnal shades. For a slightly more stylish warmer of the leg go to hosiery boutique Tabio

Tip 2: Indulge in some cycle flirting

As a cyclist in London you are part of a sub culture, giving you an automatic connection with other cyclists. This makes flirting easy. Quick nods, winks, and smiles to fellow passing cyclists are perfectly acceptable and should be actively encouraged. (Prolonged gazing whilst waiting at the traffic lights, not advised!)

It can also be a great conversation starter if you've spotted a boy on a bike that you like!

Tip 1: Like your bike!

It doesn't have to be bright pink but it's important that you like your bike. If you like riding it and like the way you look on it you'll ride it more often. So although you may be tempted to resurrect that mountain bike you got for your 12th birthday that's rusting away in the garage at your parents house, I wouldn’t advise it. Sell it on ebay and put the money towards a bike that you really like.

There are some great ladies bikes about and they don't have to break the bank.

My current favourites for style and value are CRUISERS. They are big in the States but have not had the recognition they deserve with us Brits..check out this green Schwinn Cruiser for only £159...bargain!

I also love Dutch Bikes, Pashleys, Bromptons, they all look great and come in all sorts of lovely colours...more details coming soon!