Bits and Tips

  • Try Before You Bike Hire Discounts

    Current hire discounts available for Try Before You Bike (use the code at the cart stage of ordering).

    ealingcargo - 1 month free trial of any cargo bike that costs up to £300 per month for any one who lives, works or studies in Ealing.

    togethertowardszero24 - 6 months free trial of any non-electric pedal bike that costs up to £30 per month for any Brent resident in the St Raphael’s, South Kilburn, Kingsbury and Church End and Roundwood Green neighbourhoods.

    HounslowPedal25 - 3 months free trial of any non-electric pedal bike that costs up to £30 per month for any one who lives, works or studies in Hounslow.

    IslingtonCargo - 2 months free trial of any cargo bike that costs up to £300 per month for any one who lives, works or studies in Islington.

    NineElms - 3 months free trial of any non-electric pedal bike that costs £30 per month for any resident of the Nine Elms area.

    TBYBManualBike - pay only £8 per month for two full months for any non-electric pedal bike that would normally cost £30 per month! Only available to those who live, work, or study in the London Borough of Camden.

    TBYBCargoBike - pay only £15 per month for two full months for any electric cargo bike that would normally cost £300 per month! Only available to those who live, work, or study in the London Borough of Camden.

    WestminsterFreeTrial - 3 months free trial of any non-electric pedal bike that costs £30 per month for any resident of these wards: Queens Park, Westbourne, Harrow Road and Church Street.

  • Security and Insurance

    Use the D-Lock on your frame, not just the wheels

    If you have a cable lock this is only for the wheels, please don't use it to lock the bike by using the D-lock as a padlock - this is one of the most common errors that leads to theft

    Keep your bike indoors overnight if you can. Most insurers will insist on this although our partner, Laka, allows outside overnight storage but the bike must always be locked to an immovable object and not left for more than 24 hours

    If you leave your bike in a secure unit, e.g. work bike storage, make sure you still lock it with your D-Lock to an immovable object

    Never leave your bike unattended and unlocked even for a few seconds - remember bikes are also a great getaway vehicle

    Do not leave the bike overnight somewhere where thieves will know you will not be able to see it, e.g. outside a station

    Bike security advice video

    We have teamed up with LAKA Insurance

    30 days FREE cover

    Flexible insurance - cancel anytime after a month

    No excess fees

    Limit on how much you pay and if claims are down you actually pay less!

    If you do not have insurance we recommend you get cover here - LAKA

  • Cycle to Work Scheme

    We accept the following Cycle to Work schemes. Please click on the link to see how they work:

    Green Commute Initiative

    Cyclescheme

    Bike2Work

    Vivup

    Cycle Solutions

    Enjoy Benefits

    My Benefits

    Halfords

     

  • Cycling and bike maintenance for beginners

    These are just a few general tips but we would recommend using one of our partners for work on your bike and getting your bike serviced every six months.

    Setting up your bike

    Our favourite cycling journey planner

    A basic safety check of your bike

    Cycling in the dark

    How to fix a slipped bike chain

    Repair a puncture

    Choosing a pump and pumping up tyres

  • Route Guidance

    Finding the route when cycling makes a huge difference to your experience. Here are some tips on how to do this:

    Use a phone holder. We recommend something simple like this: Decathlon

    Download a route planning app. We love City Mapper. When you opt for the cycling mode it gives you three route choices: Quiet, Medium and Fast. 'Quiet' will find the best cycling routes using cycle lanes, quietways, LTNs, parks, canal paths etc. One tip, if riding in the dark and alone we suggest you consider a more direct, less isolated route by selecting Medium or Fast

    Other mapping services include Google maps which from 2023 will be improving its cycle routes

    Tips: don't use a route guidance tool to 'beat your time' on your journey - it's not a race!

    Tips: you do not have to use a phone holder. Instead you can have the sound on and use ear buds to listen to the route instead. The important point is that whichever method you use your primary focus needs to be on the road not on the phone or sounds from it

  • Battery charging risk and safety tips

    Government advice

    Charging must be done indoors or under a pent roof, as the charger is only splashproof

    Preferably at a temperature of 18-20°

    You can either leave the battery on the bicycle or remove it for charging

    Battery must not be left unattended (e.g. charging at night out of office hours)

    To prevent overheating, the battery must not be charged for more than four hours at one time

    Unplug the charger after use

    Never use a different charger to the one supplied

  • Safe Cycling and Learning to Ride

    Whether a total beginner or regular commuter we recommend cycle training to keep you safe on your bike.

    You can book a cycle skills session with your local council or use their online course to get some safety tips.Click here for more details - Cycling Skills

    Why not hook up with a more experienced cyclist if you want some help getting familiar with your commute or just to go on a recreational ride with someone - Bike Buddies

    Learning to cycle - how to teach your kids to cycle without stabilisers

  • Cargo bikes

    Choosing a cargo bike

    Riding a cargo bike

    How to ride a 3 wheeler video

    Anti-theft tips

    DIY general maintenance

    Dutch bike tyres - how to pump up

     

  • Newsletters

    For all the latest offers, tips and news sign up to our two newsletters:

    Peddle My Wheels Newsletter

    OurBike Newsletter