About bikes, cycling and cycle to work - Tredz Blog

Montane sale ends tomorrow!

Our stonking, week long Montane sale ends tomorrow!

Get your (stupidly) lightweight weatherproof gear sorted in time for winter commuting/trail riding - and get it at pretty much the same price we do.

Particular favourites with us would be the Montane Featherlite smock, which is tiny when packed down and resistant to all but the strongest shower when on. The Featherlite Trousers, which are a must for commuters in this country (you know, the kind of country which gives us sunny morning commutes and a torrential evening ride home), and most recently - the Montane Velocity DT waterproof jacket. Properly waterproof, still lighter than pretty much every other cycling jacket out there (lighter then a mini tool anyway) and not bad looking at all either.

Anyways. These are rock bottom prices for top quality items. Buy now, save money and don't regret it later on in the year. Or later this week if the weather forecast is right.

Cycle to work bags

One of the most important things to consider when you begin cycling to work, is how to get your stuff to work. Another important question is getting it there without destroying your lunch/shirt/vital documents.

On a good day, maybe all three.

On top of keeping your kit safe, you’ve also got to think about your comfort. That rucksack you’ve had since school isn’t going to cut it. No bike specific structure means it’ll be drenched in sweat in no time. No unique compartments means your lunch may well meet your shirt earlier than you expected. Buying something that is fit for purpose will keep you comfortable and your gear clean and safe.

There’s a two ways you can achieve this. Cycle specific bags are one. Created with individual compartments, often waterproof with a good airflow system. Another is something that’s attached to your bike, large saddle bags and of course panniers. 

Both have their advantages…

Cycle to work clothes

Last week, in our guide to essential cycle to work gear, we ran through your options for keeping your lower half comfortable. This week it’s the turn of your upper body.

While your legs are hard at work on the cranks, your upper body is relatively inactive. So it’s going to need a whole different approach to keeping you comfortable.

On top of that it’s your upper body that is going to bear the brunt of bad weather, so with these two points in mind here is our guide to how to keep your upper body as dry and comfortable as possible on your cycle to work:

Essential cycle to work kit

Don't know who said 'plan for the worst, hope for the best' but he/she could well have been a cyclist.

Most of us here at Tredz cycle to work most of the time. Some of us every day – and we’ve built up a pretty good collective knowledge of what you really must take on the commute with you. Stuff that you will use every day, stuff that you’ll need in an emergency and stuff that will make your ride a whole lot more comfortable.

If we asked each rider here what they need on they’re cycle to work we’d have a pretty disparate selection of answers. Despite what some of the people downstairs would say, full lycra isn’t one of life’s necessities (more than a few wouldn’t call it one of life’s luxuries either) – so we’ve gone with a group average of essential cycle to work kit.

Starting this week with tyre choice and maintenance:

Tredz Trumps: Gareth

	GARETH (DOWNHILLER)
Suitability: 4/10	He's riding a Charge Blender with Pike Forks, Singletrack Rims and Shimano DX pedals on mostly roads and a bike path...
Style: 7/10	His dirt lid, On Fire hoodie and Shimano MT51 cleats keep it real. Bro.
Desirability: 7/10	Yup, nice bike, nice bits attached to it. I'd nick it.
Lighting: 7/10	He isn't wearing any in the photo, but most of the time he's got a Cateye Compact Opticube and a Frog rear light.
Safety: 3/10	Well he is wearing his SixSixOne Dirt Helmet, but apart from his main lights road visibility is going to be poor.
Weatherproofing: 0/10	Que? Gareth is obviously confident that it isn't going to rain (this is outside our Swansea shop).
Speed: 2/10	I've seen Gaz ride down sets of steps on his bike stupidly quickly, but the Charge isn't going to set any records on the bike path or the road.