Cycling benefits
This summer more Londoners than ever are getting on their collective bike. They’re ambling down leafy west-side canals, zipping through East End back streets, pedalling up south London hills and giving way responsibly on the roundabouts of the north.
Over £100 million of mayoral investment in cycling, rising petrol costs, tighter pockets, greener living, great weather and sheer hipness have combined to put London in the middle of a chain reaction. If buying a bike sounds too much like hard work, you could always try winning one instead - TfL has six Pinnacle bikes worth up to £400 each up for grabs in their competition.
Cycling is the way to get around this summer. And if last summer's Olympics are anything to go by, Britain is brilliant at it. Get on yer bike!
FreedomAs a regular commuter - whether in a tube, bus or car - you are a slave to the transport system. Make the move to two wheels, and the city is yours. Stressing about traffic, running for a train or missing the last tube becomes a thing of the past.
Fitness Cycling is one of the best cardio-vascular workouts around. That’s why people do it in gyms, even though they’re not going anywhere. If you try a 15-minute bike ride to and from work just five times a week, you could burn off the equivalent of 11lbs of fat in a year. Need further convincing? Read our cycling fitness facts.
CostPesky transport costs become an irrelevance. The cost of buying a bike will quickly be made up once you start using it. Wherever you plan to go at whatever time of day or night, it’s all free.
SpeedIt’s not until you travel overground that you realise the centre of London is not actually that big. In the capital, particularly Zones 1 and 2, cycling is the quickest form of transport. You can bike most Zone 1 trips in the time it takes you to battle up and down a tube escalator - even London’s outer fringes become instantly more accessible.
Eco-friendlinessThe average Londoner is responsible for 6.5 tonnes of CO2 emissions every year. Now multiply that by around eight million. So, start cycling and be smug - a large bulk of those emissions come from transport, but none of it from cycling.
Exploring the city and beyondSometimes, it takes a moonlit cycle over Waterloo Bridge, a cruise through an unfamiliar inner-city side street or a ride out to the furthest fringes of Tottenham to remind you that the city we live in is beautiful. On the tube, everywhere looks the same. Try some of our great London bike rides and see for yourself. The fun, accessible, traffic-free Greenways wind their way from the centre of town out to the capital’s countryside fringes.
ReliabilityAlways embarrassingly late? Or frustratingly early? With a bike, there’s no need to 'plan for delays' or 'leave just enough time and hope for the best' (depending on your approach to punctuality). This means you can plan your next social rendezvous to the minute.
NostalgiaFor many Londoners, our most recent cycling experience involves a Raleigh Chopper and our mum calling us in for dinner. As kids, we cycled purely for pleasure - and nothing needs to change. There’s an element of rediscovering your childhood in getting back on your bike. It feels natural, liberating and fun... cherish it!
Getting started
Choosing a bike
Hybrid bike - more practical than a racing bike but lighter than a mountain bike.
Folding bike - ultra-practical for public transport and for those who don't have parking at home or work.
Racing bike - light and fast but you’ll feel it when the roads gets bumpy, where thin tyres mean more punctures.
Mountain bike - you’ll appreciate its suspension and robustness on speed bumps and kerbs, but it may feel heavy and slow on the road.
Retro bikes - you’ll be the coolest cat in the cycle lane, except for when all the other bikes whizz past you.
Size mattersAlways test-ride a bike before you buy it. Riding the wrong-sized bike is often uncomfortable and may be unsafe. Make sure the seat is not too low or it will slow you down.
CostYou can pick up a decent, cheap bike for around £150. As long as you’re not planning very long or arduous journeys, this should more than do the job. But you do get what you pay for, and you’ll notice the wear and tear on a bottom-of-the-range bike quicker than on more expensive models. Second-hand bikes can be a steal - but be careful it’s not literally ‘a steal’.
A figure of £400 will get you comfort as well as reliability. Anything higher (and you can go much higher) should guarantee longevity, while the improvement in comfort will be noticeable.
TrainingBefore you cycle, people will tell you it’s scary. They’ll say you’re putting your life at risk. But anyone who’s spent time cycling on London’s busy streets will tell you different. With the right preparation, it’s no more dangerous than crossing the road. If you want to build your confidence, you can find out about training in your local borough at TfL - they also have some useful tips on staying safe on the capital’s streets
SecurityUltimately, the best way to keep a bike secure is to have a bike that no one wants to steal. It’s worth bearing in mind that for every extra penny you spend on your bike the more attractive it is to thieves. That aside, you’ll greatly reduce the risk of robbery by investing in a decent lock or locks. Read TfL’s useful tips on avoiding theft.
MaintenanceIf you already have a lonely-looking bike sitting in a shed somewhere, it may just need some TLC and a bit of an MOT. Once you start cycling, London’s sometimes unrefined terrain can take its toll on the sturdiest of bikes. The more you ride the more you’ll notice little things coming loose or, if you leave it too long, falling off. You can sort the vast majority of problems easily. Either head to your local and (normally) helpful bike shop, or try a bit of basic DIY. TfL has a ten-point checklist to help you get back on your bicycle.
by Kevin Darling