About bikes, cycling and cycle to work - Tredz Blog

Tredz menu

  • about Tredz | online cycle shop
    e: info@tredzblog

Search Tredzblog

  • Lijit Search

Test Bike Dates 2009!

  • Come ride with us:

    Afan Argoed: April 26 & July 26

    Cwm Carn: March 15, June 28 & September 27

    Brechfa: May 24 & August 23

Test bike days 2009

  • Testride full sus MTBs in Afan or Cwmcarn

Recent Posts

  • Join the revolution
  • Commencal 2010 carbon line-up revealed
  • Trail essentials
  • 2010 Specialized Deviant
  • Czech Xterra report
  • Follow the Tour
  • 2010 Specialized Langster
  • Even more 2010 bikes
  • Trek District
  • Tredz Tour predictions

Categories

  • (New) product alerts
  • Beginners' guides
  • Bike industry goss
  • Bike reviews
  • Book reviews
  • Cardiff bike shop
  • Case studies
  • Current Affairs
  • Customer feedback
  • Cycle accessory reviews
  • Cycle to School
  • Cycle to Work
  • Cycle to work gear
  • Cycling events
  • Cycling loses weight
  • Dangerous Dave high scores
  • Fix your bike
  • One-2-One
  • Other stuff we like
  • Riding technique
  • Sponsored bits
  • Sports
  • Take a bike not a bikini
  • Television
  • Test bike days
  • Things we do
  • Trail reviews
  • Training
  • Tredz news
  • Videos
  • Web/Tech
  • Weblogs
My Photo

Photo Albums

  • Blazing Trails
  • 2007_1009greatdivide20080075
    Chris in action
  • Index_004
    dirt jump
  • Dragon Ride - mechanical support
    Dragon Ride 2007
  • Edd_jumping_a_bench
    Edd in action
  • World_champs_kilo009
    Jody at Worlds
  • Simon_local_trails_again
    Simon in action
  • 27 Apr 2006 - Race Day 6
    The Cape Epic
  • Dsc01092
    Xterra Event

Receive email updates

  • Enter your email address:

    Delivered by FeedBurner

..

Join the revolution

...The weather is drier (honest!) and the roads are getting quieter; now might be the best time to start cycling to work. It's fun (honestly), cheaper (certainly) and healthy (definitely)
Burn cash and save calories - get a car!
The schools break up for summer imminently and the difference this makes to traffic volume during the rush hour is shocking, it's like the roads are deserted.

Ok, maybe not quite, but it's certainly much nicer. Combine this with the weather (dry and bright obviously!) and there's never been a better time to join the revolution.

To help you along we've put together a short cycle commuting guide to help get you started.

Most importantly, you just have to get on your bike. Any problems you think you'll encounter are either no problem at all when you're riding, or easily overcome with a little bit of advice.

Tuesday, July 14, 2009 in Beginners' guides | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Technorati Tags: commuting, cycle commuting, cycling

Trail essentials

Sadly some of us give more thought about what to take to the pub than what to carry whilst out on the bike at a trail centre.

DSCF2511

What’s listed here is by no means a definitive list but rather a suggested minimum for a couple of hour ride around a trail centre, obviously if you intend to spend 8 hours in the mountains then you would want to supplement this with items like first aid kits, emergency shelter, spare food and clothes etc. But this is a good place to start. Be a hero and be able to help out a rider in need and not one of those people who are always looking to borrow a pump or tube on the trail.

Continue reading "Trail essentials" »

Monday, July 13, 2009 in Beginners' guides | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Technorati Tags: bike maintainence, camelbak, mountain biking, trail centres

The holidays approach!

Family cyclingThe summer holidays will soon be upon us. This doesn't mean much to those of us that don't have children (except quieter roads in the morning), but to those who do then now may be the time when you start to think of activities that will

be fun and involve the whole family, irrespective of age or abilities.

One of the answers is cycling; not convinced, check out our guide to cycling with children for some advice and hopefully inpiration.

Tuesday, June 30, 2009 in Beginners' guides | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Technorati Tags: child seat, commuting, cycling, kids bikes, tag along

How not to get your bike stolen

15259_1_large Obviously this article in the Guardian yesterday has come too late to help poor old Dave Cameron, but for the rest of us there's some decent info on how to prevent getting your bike nicked. Here's the gist:

Continue reading "How not to get your bike stolen" »

Tuesday, May 12, 2009 in Beginners' guides | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Technorati Tags: guide to locking your bike, locking your bike, the guardian cycling

The right clothing...

I'm trying to convince a female friend of mine to wear more appropriate cycling clothing. Almost every day she cycles in a normal jacket, jeans, no helmet etc. Every day of bad weather she complains about being cold and damp.

She resolutely refuses to wear any of the accessories that I don’t just take for granted but I couldn’t live without. A jacket that isn’t highly visible and waterproof and breathable? Getoutahear!

It’s a pretty hot topic at the moment. Should cyclists just be left to their own devices, making it ‘less intimidating’? Or would better, safer clothing make it more likely to keep the new cyclist cycling?

Being a liberal sort of bike shop we don’t presume to tell any of our customers how to ride their bikes. Since I’m a fully paid orange jacketed, padded short wearing man, I might not be the most convincing voice anyway. I recently found this article by Zoe Williams revealing some important arguments for kitting yourself out appropriately. Being a woman who cycles I'm hoping she'll have more impact than me just repeating myself.

I’ve picked out my favourite quotes below:

Continue reading "The right clothing..." »

Thursday, October 23, 2008 in Beginners' guides | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)

Technorati Tags: beginners guides, cycling clothing, cycling guides

Cycling with children

Everything you need for a great day We're not going to bang on about the benefits of cycling for you or your kids (the freedom, the health gains, the exciteme... damn it we can't help ourselves), but we would like to stress how important many families find cycling together. Seeing the world and sharing an adventure collectively is something that both you and your children will treasure.

The range of options is pretty incredible now to help you cycle with your kids. From tag-a-longs to kids bikes to baby seats, no matter what age the child they can get involved. Involved is the right word too, as you'll find even the most restless of kids is happily occupied on a bike.

And when they start overtaking you, you've got the perfect excuse to upgrade your bike...

So, here's our how to cycle with children guide:

Continue reading "Cycling with children" »

Thursday, July 24, 2008 in Beginners' guides | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Technorati Tags: babyseats, childseats, cycling with kids, how to cycle with kids, kids bikes, tag alongs

Top ten summer cycling tips

Summers here. Yup, inbetween the bouts of rain, wind and Wimbledon, we’ll get some pretty perfect cycling conditions.

Occasionally.

So here’s our top tips to staying cool in the sun and making the most out of the great British summer on your bike.

Continue reading "Top ten summer cycling tips" »

Wednesday, June 25, 2008 in Beginners' guides | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Technorati Tags: cycling in the summer, cycling tips, summer riding. cycling accessories

Bicycle helmet law

We’ve had a few queries recently regarding the specifics of bicycle helmet law. Here’s the basic gist: It’s not compulsory. At the moment neither you nor your kids have to wear a bike helmet by law.

Not law. But a really, really good idea (not a close relation to law).

Continue reading "Bicycle helmet law" »

Tuesday, March 11, 2008 in Beginners' guides | Permalink | TrackBack (0)

Technorati Tags: bicycle helmet law, bicycle helmets, bike helmets, childrens bicycle helmets

Bicycle safety

Tools of the trade Although we prefer writing our own bike guides, we aren't going to shy away from pointing you in the direction of great advice on other sites. Quickrelease.tv has a fantastic article about bicycle safety, written by Brit cycling guru Carlton Reid. Honest, well written guidance on bike locks and not likely to be bettered by us, or anyone.

We've brazenly robbed some of the article below, but it's well worth reading in it's entirity for the whole picture.

Continue reading "Bicycle safety" »

Wednesday, February 20, 2008 in Beginners' guides | Permalink | TrackBack (0)

Technorati Tags: bicycle locks, bicycle safety, bike safety, how to keep your bicycle safe

How to attatch an onboard computer

As I mentioned in the last cycling for weight loss post, Gus is having problems with his on board computer, so he'€™s invested in a new Cateye Micro Wireless. A mid range on board computer that has all the features and functions Gus needs to keep tabs on his programme, whilst thanks to its wireless connections its not as susceptible to the omnipresent Welsh rain as his old wired one.
When he told us he was fitting a new computer we insisted on getting some pictures of him showing how simple it is, but the humble bike pro insisted on always staying out of shot whilst he worked. Spoilsport.

Anyhow here's our pictorial account of how to fit an onboard computer.

Continue reading "How to attatch an onboard computer" »

Wednesday, September 26, 2007 in Beginners' guides | Permalink | TrackBack (0)

Technorati Tags: Bike advice, bike help, fixing an onboard computer

Next »

Cycle to work

  • Cycle to work with Tredz
  • shop at tredz online

Tredz Newsletter Subscription

  • Tredz Newsletter

Cycle Insurance

  • Bicycle and cycle insurance from Cycleguard

Cycling holidays

  • mountain biking in southern Spain
    See some of the trails on offer at Blazingtrails

Some Tredz Contributors


  • Chris: Mountain bike - D/H, XC, Road bike and BMX

  • Jody: Olympic track

  • Phil: endurance racing and triathlon

Web sites we like

  • Boing Boing - a directory of wonderful things?
  • British Cycling - say no more
  • Cwmdown - Cwmcarn's uplift service
  • Go Clipless
  • IMBA staff blog
  • Lance Armstong - how could we not?
  • Live Strong - Lance's cancer charity
  • Pink Bike
  • quickrelease.tv
  • Real Buzz - health & fitness stuff
  • Two Wheels Whirled - ex Trek manager on tour
  • Vital BMX - tones of BMX Videos
  • Wales 1000 Things
Subscribe to this blog's feed

The Man

  • Play the Tredz online game
Add me to your TypePad People list

Archives

  • July 2009
  • June 2009
  • May 2009
  • April 2009
  • March 2009
  • February 2009
  • January 2009
  • December 2008
  • November 2008
  • October 2008