About bikes, cycling and cycle to work - Tredz Blog

Cyclosportive novice - needs help!

Figuring I needed something to aim for and against all better judgement, I decided to enter my first cycling sportive this year.

And she's a beaut: The Devil Ride. Taking in some of the finest (I use the term in it’s most cyclespecific and masochistic sense obviously) riding available in this country. 100 miles of ridiculous gradients, on a sportive that’s quickly gained a reputation as the place to train for the likes of the Etape.

In fact it’s been said that the only place you can recreate not just the gradient, but the length the bloody thing lasts for, of the French Col, in the UK is deepest mid Wales.

So. A good place for a jolly, naïve and wobbly legged commuter like me to cut my teeth.

Whilst I start aiming at hitting my first century in preparation, I've got some advice for those in a similar boat. Don't wait for it, pick one and sign up now! Participation in cyclosportives has shot through the roof in the last few years, and as a result you will really need to get a move on. The best events are selling out in record time.

I've picked my event because it's close, because it'll likely make me much fitter/irretrievably break my will and because having something to aim for, whatever your level, can make cycling so much more fun. 

I am desperate for tips by the way, so if anybody has good advice (not the muffled giggles I've been getting so far from my roadie friends), get in touch!

Advice for women cyclists

My recent, completely unscientific study regarding why Specialized womens bikes are so great (using the: smiles ÷ hearsay - big frames = great bikes equation that male bike shop workers utilise when talking about womens bikes), neglected to offer any further resources for women cyclists.

Luckily, Bike Shop Girl (surely prime for a DC Comic adaptation?), has done the leg work for us. She's picked her favourite places to land for general girl shaped bicycle information, including some places where men just aren't welcome.

Thanks BSG! 

When you're there checkout my hypothesis that womens Specialized bikes are fantastic with people who've actually ridden them, rather than a theorising imposter.

(alternative) cycle insurance

Following straight on from our couldn't be any straighter, ever so slightly dull (short of using a CGI Meerkat, insurance is pretty dull) but ultimately sound bicycle insurance advice, we've got another slightly more colourful piece of advice.

Make your bike look less desirable. Yup. 'Ugly' your ride and not only will it looks less desirable to you, it'll also look a lot less desirable to potential thieves.

A tiny bit of reverse TLC and with any luck your bike might be forever ignored!

Disclaimer:

Think before you do anything to your bike. Making your bike look less valuable might be a great tool for making bike robbing scum ignore it, but it will also almost certainly void any warranty it might have!

Don't think an ugly bike isn't a target. It still needs to be locked!

Cycle insurance guide

You don't have to have insurance for your bike.  As it's not the law, the majority of people either don't consider it or just assume their house insurance will cover it.

If you fall into either category, or (like me), you have natural tendency to assume the best till the worst happens, it's really worth taking five minutes just to consider what might go wrong...

Top 5 cyclocross commuting bikes

Cyclocross bikes have to cope with pretty specific demands placed on them in their discipline. The dropped handlebars and 700c tyres means they're extremely fast, whilst the knobbly tyres, strong brakes and better frame clearance (preventing mud from stopping play), mean that they can maintain that speed over mixed terrain.

They can go where road bikes can't, and at a speed mountain bikes can only dream of.

Hardly surprising then that they've been picked up by many astute commuters as the perfect cycle to work bike. Able to cope with a daily battering far better than most road bikes and quicker than a mountain bike on all but the most technical terrain (sadly most commutes don't include any rock gardens or sudden drop offs), cyclocross bikes are probably the ideal jack of all trades bike that would suit most cyclists on their ride to work, most of the time.

So in the spirit of the season, we're picking our five favourite cyclocross commuters. Since we want our bikes to be suitable for cycling to work, we're keeping them underneath the magic thousand pound mark (making them available on most cycle to work schemes).

Cycling jersey guide

What to look for in a winter cycling jersey? How about high wicking, windproof, shower resistant, good insulation and ventilation for a start. Oh, and since they'll likely be a top layer a lot of the time they've got to look sharp too.

Cyclists are picky beasts and we're picky cyclists! We've scoured the cycling world to pick our favourite mountain bike and road winter jerseys. 

We've got it easy

The longest cold snap in over twenty years has really begun to take it's toll on cyclists now. Rain, wind and snow can all be a pain, but shouldn't stop you from riding. Ice however can be all but impassable.

Yesterday I thanked my lucky stars for my cyclocross tyres as my usual cycle to work buddy (wo)manfully struggled on with her woefully inappropriate ride.

Sure her 23c tyres are fast, but they're Bambi like qualities on ice meant that after hitting the deck for the fourth time we gave up and ended up walking.

Matt Seaton, Guardian cycling guru has some timely tips for cycling in these conditions. Before you give up completely till the temperature rise above zero, it's worth reminding ourselves that comparatively, we've got it easy... 

Top tips for winter maintenance

It's Britain, winter and you're a cyclist. We'll assume that you're already intimately familiar with rain, mud, salt, grit, wind and snow (or any unholy combination of the above). Not always fun, but always rewarding, always worth it and after a post-ride shower you're left feeling better than ever.

If you're feeling a bit battered, spare a thought for the bike you ride through winter. The contact point with the road/trail, it's bourne the brunt of whatever mother nature (and the council gritters) can throw at it. If you want to keep it rolling you're going to have show a little TLC. 

Choosing a kids bike for Christmas

Is there a better gift to find under the tree than a bike? Most people will never forget the sheer joy of receiving that first bike, but the quality the bike, the fit and the suitability of it will have a big impact. Whether you continue to love cycling into adulthood – or get put off for life by the memory of that steel BSO, picking the right bike is hugely important.

Buy the right bike and you’re not just giving the gift of a bike, but the gift of cycling. So pick good!

How to choose a turbo trainer

Before choosing a Turbo Trainer, it might be a good idea to explain just why you need one.

You can train all year round. Whether you’re training for a specific purpose, or just want to stay in shape, having a trainer means you can put in some hard miles – whatever the weather. You're not wet and cold, your bike doesn't get covered in all the joys of winter (otherwise know as salt, grime and grit).

Half the appeal of cycling, being able to have a great view of what you’re cycling past, is lost in winter. Sitting inside with a trainer, a DVD or your favourite turbo music (here’s a list to get you started!), and no weather constraints to worry about – you can train and push your self to your hearts content. A pure and simple workout. 

 

In some aspects, training indoors has actually got more training benefits than riding outdoors. Firstly you’ve got complete control over your workout. Hard or soft, short and intense or long and measured, your regime can be exactly tailored, unimpeded by weather, daylight or traffic. Second, with no breeze you’ll sweat more than you ever thought possible on a bike, there’s a reason why the bike thong becomes necessary for the bike when it’s sat inside. Turbo training is a great way to lose weight as a result.

Once you’ve decided to buy a trainer, the sheer choice open to you can be a little daunting. 

In truth it’s pretty easy to pick a trainer, as the central features you’re looking for – and price, will dictate which is the one for you. The brands we’ve hand picked to sell are leaders in their field, with Cycleops, Elite, TacX and Blackburn making (in our humble opinion) the best turbo trainers you can buy.

Below we’ve created a small guide to our favourite turbo trainers, to help you choose the trainer that would suit you best: