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| uksmallbusinessdirectory.co.uk UK Small Business Directory provides Free Advertising to UK based small businesses. Cheap Advertising We also provide a range of enhanced options starting from just £30 per year, please visit our Cost Effective Advertising page for further information. http://www.uksmallbusinessdirectory.co.uk |
| Bikehub Bike Hub is an industry wide initiative developed by The Bicycle Association of Great Britain and the Association of Cycle Traders. The objective of Bike Hub is to generate funds from within the cycle industry to support the future of cycling in the UK. http://www.bikehub.co.uk/ |
| Cyclo-cross It's cross country cycling, usually on a road racing style bike. The cyclo-cross community is very keen on racing in the autumn (fall) and winter months around parkland in fantastic spectator friendly events. The bikes developed for this racing have started to catch on for leisure and commuting use as they are fast but robust and can handle mixed terrain. Most of that racing cyclo-cross community occupy their competitive natures during the spring and summer with Mountain Bike racing or road racing. Every time the cyclo-cross season starts again those riders come back and bring innovations from those two branches of cycling into cyclo-cross. Cyclo-cross often looks like a cross between MTB and road racing, but it also has it's own character. Key differences to those other cycling disciplines are the short laps that the races are held on and the race lengths. The laps are typically about 1.5 miles and elite riders race for just 1 hour - this makes for intense racing which can be seen every few minutes by supporters as the action happens. The classic image of cyclo-cross are the 'hike you bike' sections, where riders sling their bikes on their shoulders to climb a slippy bank or leap obstacles. These are actually quite rare in racing, but the bikes are light and can easily be carried in all situations - when it happens in a race the photographers love it! http://www.cyclo-cross.com/ |
| GOV.uk cycling Discover Shropshire by bike It's great to get out and about on a bike in Shropshire. Discover hundreds of miles of National Cycle Network routes along quiet lanes, explore traffic-free trails along old railways and waterways, follow the cycle rides from historic towns and get muddy on mountain bike tracks in wood and forests. http://www.shropshire.gov.uk/cycling.nsf/open/072649BE3AA32F55802570210035D15A |
| GOV.uk cycling What are they? Electric cycles (also called electric-assist) have a small electric motor powered by a rechargeable battery to help propel machine and rider. They can be good for hills, for hurrying to work without arriving hot and sweaty, and for carrying a lot of luggage. The motors are intended to assist pedalling, not to replace it. Since June 2003, only the pedelec type of electric bike benefits from being classified as a pedal cycle; throttle-controlled electric bikes (e-bikes) are now considered mopeds1. With pedelecs, the amount of assistance you get from the motor reduces as go faster, and cuts out altogether once you reach 25kph. The motor also cuts out if you stop pedalling. This ensures an intuitive bicycle-like ride. It is also possible to retrofit electric motors onto pretty much any pedal cycle. Kits range from cheap and cheerful friction drives of questionable merit, up to some very snazzy and quite expensive German electric front wheel hubs (N.B. some of which exceed the maximum legal wattage for a pedal cycle). At present most models have a power-assisted range of about 20 miles. Many models feature removable batteries that can be easily recharged during the working day - assuming your workplace can provide a spare power socket. 1Like most laws this is not retrospective: e-bikes bought before 17th June 2003 retain their original classification. Why are they good? We like electric-assist cycles for 5 good reasons: Social need: There are many people who may want and need a bit of electric assistance, whether through inclination, age or physical frailty, or a need to ride quickly to work without needing to shower and change. Environmentally responsible: Electric bicycles consume a tiny amount of energy compared to mopeds, motorcycles or cars; and the only consumables over-and-above a standard cycle are the batteries, which can normally be recycled when they have expired. Typical power consumption is 100 to 150 watts, compared with about 15000 watts for a car. If you wish to be even greener you can switch to a non-polluting eco-friendly electricity supplier. Socially responsible: Electric cycles, like pedal-only cycles, are relatively light and slow-moving vehicles that (unlike cars, motorcycles and lorries) pose little danger to pedestrians and other vulnerable road users. Under EU law, electric cycles cannot provide power over 25kph (or 16mph). Effective: Electric cycles tend to get used often, rather than left gathering cobwebs in the garage like many standard bicycles. Combined with a cycle trailer, they can easily help tow the weekly shop for a large family. Genuine cycles!: Electric cycles are true pedal cycles under the law, with all the everyday ease-of-use advantages this implies: (a) right to ride, i.e. no tests, licensing, taxes or other hassles; (b) no need for helmets or special clothing; (c) train operators carry bicycles, enabling effective mixed mode travel; (d) right to use cycle and bus lanes. Disadvantages The main downside to electric bikes is additional weight. Towards the top end, machines tend to be only a little heavier than many standard cycles, and can be used as practical non-assisted bikes without the battery. For example the Giant Lafree Twist Lite weighs in at 21 kilograms, no more than this writer's once "lightweight" tourer (now similarly equiped for town use, i.e. with racks, mudguards, prop stand, dynamo, integral lock etc.). However, many makes are much heavier, imposing a significant penalty if you ever have to cycle on a flat battery. It is also worth remembering that most non-cyclists greatly over-estimate the amount of effort it takes to cycle. Leisurely cycling allows you to go about three times walking pace, for only about half the energy. So most people are unlikely to need electric assistance. Even more so than standard bicycles, good electric cycles are not cheap. At the cheaper end, full machines start from about £550, but you should consider paying more - £800 upwards for a better model. So long as your purchase helps you realise the full benefits of cycling, you should recoup the outlay quickly. http://www.croydon-lcc.org.uk/info/electric.htm |
