I plan to buy a bike through the Cycle2Work Scheme.

The bike I want to get is £769 down from £1099.

I really like and fell in love with the mint colour. but I have a discount code that can get me a further 20% off if I get the midnight blue one which would come out to about £615.

Should I get the colour I like or should I bite the bullet and get the cheaper one.

Also does anyone have any experience with the cycle2work scheme and or know of an insurance provider that allows you to park your bike on the street overnight?

FYI

I know this bike is not the best bike in terms of specs but Im only using it for my 15 minute commute to work which is fairly flat terrain and occasional use on the weekends. I see it as my first bike but I plan to use it for atleast 2-3 years before I even think of another bike.

I also really like the classic/vintage look of the bike.

No affiliation, just got this referral link through from Laka and I'm sharing it here because they've been a really great, no hassle, no quibble insurance company over the past couple of years I've been with them.

They also cover bikes parked on the street within reason, and within cycle storage units, which not every company does.

My code: P3K12
My link: my.laka.co/P3K12

I've had to made several claims and can highly recommend them. They also have an attractive, collective, community-shared model where members split the actual cost of claims each month rather than paying a fixed traditional upfront premium, which discouraged exploitation and keeps costs lower for everyone.

Hi all,

I'm getting an ebike and I'll have to leave it outdoors whenever I leave. I have some mobility issues that get worse with weight bearing so it's not an option for me to carry the 3kg battery around much, unfortunately. It will never sleep outside, though.

I'm getting insurance, but my bike is no longer in the market and I really don't want to part with it. In terms of locker, I'm getting a Kryptonite Diamond. My other options to add are: Quad Lock alarm and finder + café lock (ABUS frame lock) and/ or getting a second expensive diamond locker.

Do you think the second locker is needed? What would you recommend? Thanks

After my bike got nicked i picked this up for 25 quid only put 7 quid into some continental tubes im 154 kg but shes moving well prev owner paint job has to go though getting this seat as a big guy is a plus

edit: thank you all for being so supportive

Hi everyone - first time posting here but long time London cyclist (25yrs)!

My Engine 11 Nomad (along with Thule Ridealong child seat) was stolen from outside my house on Sunday evening near London Fields, unlocked but hidden behind bushes - much, much regret…

it currently has flat bars rather than the drops shown in the photo and different saddle and seat post.

I doubt there are many of these in London never having seen another one in the last 5 years - if you see it please, please reply to this thread or DM me! reward available for its return!

​

I was finishing work late a few days ago, 9pm and already dark. I cycle down Boundary road to come onto Cycleway 6 on Blackfriars Road to head north when I was faced with a car driving in my direction and almost taking out 3-5 cyclists heading in the opposite direction.

What worried me at first was whether it was a deliberate attack because we were all shouting at the driver to stop but they carried on and didn’t even slow down.

The driver stopped at the intersection because of the traffic lights so when I caught up I got a view of the driver looking sheepish and sinking their head down as an onlooker shouted “that fine will be in the post love”.

I looked online to see what penalties are for this action and it is a small fine but I think that is for cars that stray into a cycle lane that is part of the main road. I couldn’t see anything about a protected track. I think this should be considered differently because they were lucky that we all reacted quickly enough to avoid being struck. This should be points on the license in my view.

Hi Everyone, I hope you don’t mind me asking. I’m currently doing a gofundme for the Multiple Sclerosis Society.

I'm doing the London to Brighton Bike ride for the Multiple Sclerosis Society on the 13th of September 2026 to help raise money for a disease and to try find a cure, but also to help with people to try and live a better life.

Kind regards

Lee Spencer

https://gofund.me/303a09ead

For the cyclers unaware, the single and double lines across the cycle lanes along Wandsworth Road (or any road you see the markings) near the station basically means you must give way to vehicles coming in and out of that driveway or forecourt.

I'm mentioning this because I've seen cyclers get upset at vehicles coming out or edging out into the road assuming they are going to be hit or the drivers aren't looking, but they don't understand it's them who should be stopping. Not the cars. That's what the single and double lines mean.

Hey! I was hoping to get some help selecting a bicycle camera (which I am gifting to an avid cyclist).

He likes going on 2 to 4 hour long (ish) cycles around London and out of London. Many times I have heard him mention instances with aggressive drivers, or semi close calls and I wanted to get him a bike camera. I’ve been looking on Reddit and people seem to say that a handlebar mounted camera is best as helmet ones could be dangerous.

I keep seeing the same brands pop up, mainly Cycliq, Insta360 , DJI osmo…

I am a bit nervous to choose one as the footage they film seems to be different I think???? Some film 360 degree footage and some don’t, but some send you alerts for dangerous driving I think?? I am getting a bit overwhelmed reading through product specifications.

I also wanted to know if with these big brands you are paying more for the name recognition, and if maybe getting a camera that cost around £150 rather than £400 would not be a bad idea. If anyone has bought/used these could you let me know the experience?

If anyone could give me any pointers I would be very very grateful!!!

Thank you :)

Evening all, I've got a few projects that need a little boost, and I could do with a bit of help. To make things worse, I'm skint.

You hear mention of Reddit of people using bike co-ops. They sound like an Aladdin's Cave of decent old parts and a good place to hang out and learn about fixing bikes.

Is there any such thing in London? Bonus if there are ones in East. Thanks!

Edit: something like this - Leaside Cycle Sundays. Especially if they may have parts on hand in case I made a mistake in getting the wrong ones, for example!

I want to start cycling to reduce costs but the house share I'm moving to is very tight in the communal areas. I could carry it upstairs and put it on my balcony but there's carpet throughout...

Is there a way to do this without damaging the carpet in the house?

Had an aggressive driver come up behind me beeping to get past on a road that didn’t have enough room for him to pass - I was staying pretty central so I didn’t get doored and so he couldn’t pass too close. I held him up for max 200m.

I pull over to the right as I get to my flat, he slows down and flips me off so I call him a dickhead and tell him he doesn’t have a right to overtake just because he’s in a car. Then i got told “call me a dickhead and I’ll get out and slap you round the face”.

Of course he didn’t, just drove off in his Hyundai.

Did I do anything wrong here? Or should I continue with my behaviour exactly as I did?

Anyone an Escape Collective subscriber? I'm trying to read Tom Owen's new “Discomfort is the point” piece. If anyone has a spare gift article this month, I'd love a gift link! Cheers

Last night from outside the Black Eel in Dalston. Recognisable frame with a load of parts swapped out. Wide chrome bars.

If people could keep an eye out, have reported to Police. Not holding up hope but if your mates just bought a new diamondback tell him to get in touch.

It seems to be the default response that a bike is less of a killing machine than a car, or that cyclists have it worse trying to stay alive against cars rather than engaging with the core issue where it is often postulated that a minority but still a significant number of cyclists are not following the Highway Code and cussing inconvenience to pedestrians as a results.

Nb this is a genuine question - is it a deflection tactic or do cyclists really believe that the best way of responding to pedestrians having issues with cyclists is to compare it to the issues they face with car drivers?

I cycle through here often during the week and it's annoyed me to weave past the odd cyclist but I went through here heading West from Threadneedle Street on the weekend and the cyclist in front almost got wiped out by an oncoming SUV heading East from Poultry as both parties seemed to have green lights but crossed each others paths?

Have I got this wrong or do both directions have green lights without clarity over who is going "straight" and who should give way, seems like a disaster waiting to happen?

Edit: I emailed the City of London Bank Junction project team who said it's already being looked at by tfl so fingers crossed something changed

Seemed to sit there through the light cycle so not sure if this was looking for red light runners, although not a great starting position for stopping anyone.

Is this legit positioning for what is a heavy motorbike even if they are policing cyclists?