Bikes and Bits

Bespoked 2013

By Chris Juden on 22 May 2013

The UK Handmade Bicycle Show has quickly grown to become a fixture on Britain's cycling calendar, so I thought it was time I took a look at it.

View of Bespoked Show through frame of Condor Fratello bike

We had hoped to publish a brief report of Bespoked in Cycle, the CTC magazine, but no space for that in this month's issue, so here are even more pictures (and words) of lovely bikes and bits than we would ever have found room to print.

In August it’ll be 100 years since Harry Brearley discovered stainless steel in Sheffield, whilst looking for a higher melting-point material for gun barrels. Coincidentally, the latest, strongest steels for frame tubes, Reynolds 953 and Columbus XCR, are also stainless.

RoadHawk Ride HD Bullet Camera review

By Anna Cipullo on 22 February 2013

The RoadHawk Ride seems to have something of a cult following amongst cyclists, especially after extensive use in the BBC’s documentary, the 'War on Britain’s Roads'. After two weeks’ use, this is what I thought...

Review of the RoadHawk Ride Bullet HD Camera

The Accessories

The Ride camera comes very neatly packed into a nice little box filled to the brim with adapters, power cables and varying mounts. It is clearly designed to accompany any mode of transport offering an array of flat stick-on mounts and Velcro grips.

An Electric Bike Network for the Chilterns

By Anna Cipullo on 18 February 2013

The Chilterns are soon to be the latest tourist area to host an Electric Bike Network so, as a local, I decided to give their electric bicycles a spin.

I am a small lady cyclist, and I had turned up for my taster in jeans, so I wasn’t giving the Electric Bike Network (EBN) an easy job of satisfying my needs from the outset, and when they presented me with a medium-sized male-oriented mountain bike complete with full saddle bags, I looked at them sceptically.

A guide to buying the best cycling presents

By Victoria Hazael on 29 November 2012

What Christmas present do you buy for the cyclist who has almost everything? Editor of CTC's magazine 'Cycle' Dan Joyce has some suggestions for amazing cycling gifts.

Cycling gifts for children are easy to choose: it’s a straightforward progression from balance bikes onwards, with bikes and kit regularly outgrown. It’s harder with adults who have been cycling for years. Anything they desperately need they will have bought already.

The trick is to find something that they wouldn’t necessarily have – or at least, not yet – but that they will appreciate and will still find useful.

Reading girl returns to restore a classic

By Laura Brooks on 29 November 2012

Laura Brooks wanted a new bike, but couldn't afford to buy one, so with the help of a CTC project in Reading she learnt the skills to help her tranform an old racing bike into a beautiful classic.

CTC Cycling Development Officer Javed Saddique has launched a new project in my home town of Reading. The scheme, which is based at Reading University helps to teach people basic bike maintenance and renovation skills to fix up a second-hand bikes.

Charity, Jole Rider, raises money with bike jumbles

By Anna Cipullo on 7 November 2012

Jole Rider is an education organisation and registered charity, making positive changes by directly affecting the lives of children through education programmes and bike maintenance projects.

Jole Rider’s flagship programme, Bikes4Africa, delivers bikes to schools making the journey to education possible for thousands of children. Their latest venture will involve a British worker and volunteer going to Gambia to set up a workshop and teach bike maintenance skills to locals to ensure a sustainable project abroad as well.

Anna tours Bath on vintage bikes and grabs designer cycle bargains!

By Anna Cipullo on 7 November 2012

Jole Rider (pronounced Jolly Rider) is a charity that targets Africa to improve education and wellbeing in young people. This is mainly done by fixing up donated bikes and shipping them to Africa for kids to use for cycling to school. So to find out more, I met their lead mechanic for a bike ride.

David with his vintage Raleigh in 'cafe racer' style

The charity receives old bikes from the police and recycling companies, some of which are absolute vintage gems. Thanks to in-house know-it-all mechanic, David McKinven, these are often pulled out for refurbishment and sold to shops and individuals in England.

I had the privilege of borrowing a classic Malborough in 'café racer' style and touring around Bath in Somerset with David to find out more about the charity.

A guide to child bike seats

By Victoria Hazael on 24 August 2012

If you want to cycle with one child aged 6 months - 4 years one of the best things you can buy is a child seat for your bike. This cycle child seat guide will help you choose the right child seat and enable your little one to be happy, safe and comfortable on your bike.

CTC Vice President Josie Dew and her daughters

Most child seats are suitable for children between the ages of about nine months and four years. The lower limit is dependent on the ability of your child to sit up unsupported – that is, on the floor rather than propped up with cushions.

Some seats recline and children as young as six months – those who can sit up when propped up – can go in those. A reclining seat is better anyway because it allows your little one to drift off to sleep without slumping sideways or forwards.

CTC members' mobile phone apps survey results

By John Storms on 27 June 2012

CTC asked its members what cycling related mobile phone apps they use.

A survey completed in June has shown what cycling related mobile phone apps CTC members use.

The top 5 apps used by CTC members from the iTunes top selling cycling apps were:

CTC web chat - your questions answered

By Therese Bjorn on 21 June 2012

CTC’s Chief Exec, Gordon Seabright, and other staff responded to your questions during a live web chat on 21 June. Questions were sent in through Twitter, Facebook and emails. Answers can be found below.

Thanks to all those who sent in questions. In some cases we've responded to you directly.

Among those answering your questions were: