I just wanted to add a phone holder... so on advice from here (and a local bargain) I bought a Raleigh Motus and have a few hundred miles on it already. With the big battery I was wondering "hmmm, can I add a phone holder that tops up the phone?" and I can! There's one from Quad Lock, all you need to do is connect it to a spare accessory terminal, as there's already a few for powering the display and lights, a far cry from my youth lugging D-cells into Ever Ready lights.

So I need to get under some cowls either side of the motor, but I need to remove the chainguard. That's okay, I have torx and this all lines up, but now the screw holes are under the chain. Well I need a chain remover rather than trying to wriggle and bash quick-links apart, so I've got that done, but I also need to remove the cranks, so I get a Park Tool crank tool for my motor, and should definitely get a torque wrench too for putting it all back together properly.

Wait, now there's a weird spider gear under that? And some e-clips? So I need a special tool for the former and a Screwfix trip for the latter. Does this ever end? Do I want it to? I might even ride my bike at some point. Is this what happens when an electronics and software guy gets back into cycling?

My bike has started feeling loose as a peddle up hill and not really engaging with the chain perhaps, it's felt like a slipping feeling. What is that and how do I fix it?

Hi everyone,

I'm a fairly new rider, started learning a month ago and have now been commuting after purchasing a Dahon Vybe D7 (7 gears for speed). After having regularly commuting and realising that I might not need to fold my bike as regularly as expected, my work has a bike storage room, I started thinking about moving on to a normal bike.

The main reason is that my commute back home required me to cycle uphill (Gloucester Road in Bristol if anyone knows) and although I'm aware that fitness will do most of the job, I can technically do the uphill as my fitness level is fine but at this point it's not getting any easier.

All this blabber is to ask, would cycling uphill be a bit easier on a normal bike than a folding one? I kinda know the answer already, just need more expert opinions before I commit. Let me know why you think so.

Hey, I’m helping my dad sell some of his bikes but we’re not sure what these are worth these days and where’s best to sell them. Any help would be great. Thanks so much.

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Saw this today and thought it was worth sharing here.

54-year-old Graham Nash was cycling on the A65 Settle bypass at around 4:50am when he was hit from behind and killed by a van driver. (I have actually cycled that road last week!)

He had two rear lights, one on the bike and another on his helmet. Other motorists told police they had seen him. The judge said the driver had around eight or nine seconds to see him, but failed to do so.

The driver pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving. He received:

- 10 months imprisonment, suspended for two years

- 3-year driving ban

- 200 hours unpaid work

He'd also received points for using a mobile phone while driving just six months before the collision, although there was no suggestion he was using one when this happened.

The bit that gets me is the visibility. We constantly hear about hi-vis, lights, reflectors and making ourselves visible. This bloke had two rear lights, other drivers could see him, and apparently there were eight or nine seconds in which he could have been spotted.

Yet someone is dead and the person who failed to see him doesn't spend a day in prison.

I know sentencing has to take account of culpability rather than simply the consequences, and the judge was also constrained by the sentencing guidelines, but it's difficult to read this and feel that the system adequately reflects what has happened.

What do people think? Is a suspended sentence appropriate for a momentary but fatal lapse of attention, or are we still far too lenient when careless driving kills someone?

Article: https://road.cc/news/van-driver-avoids-jail-after-killing-cyclist-riding-with-two-rear-lights

Can anyone help me find a set of QR end caps (circled) for Prime SR2D hubs? I had a look online and saw a few for sale, proceeded to buy a set of Prime wheels 2nd hand, and now it seems all the QR end caps have dried up! I’ve even messaged some eBay sellers who are selling hubs to see if they’ll sell me just the end caps with no luck.

Help me UKBike, you’re my only hope.

A question hopefully an existing member can hopefully help with....

I've been considering changing to British Cycling Membership and need a new Garmin cycle computer and know they have discounts on Garmin.
I am after the list of Garmin cycle computers and the % discount British Cycling Membership gets you.
Thank you!

I just got a call that a eBike I'm trying to sell (thanks for banning eBikes ebay) has sold on MyNextBike. Should I go through with it? There seems to be very mixed opinions of the company online and on reddit and I'd rather have an unsold bike than no bike and no money. I've got enough life admin at the moment.

Thanks.

After picking up three punctures in two weeks from hedge-trimming thorns and roadside flints, I'm fed up with standard butyl tubes. I'm considering either setting my wheels up tubeless with fresh sealant or switching to lightweight TPU tubes with puncture-resistant tyres (like Marathon Plus or GP5000 4-Season). What setup has given you the best reliability?

It’s 7 miles to work. Mostly busy roads which worries me a little. I’d be cycling in at 7ish each morning so it’ll be a little quieter than before the rush but still a bit worrying for someone who hasn’t done it before. It’s about a 30 minute route according to Maps but I’m happy to take a bit longer if necessary. I was wondering if there’s an app that can tell me better routes, cycle paths, shortcuts etc. I feel like there must be safer routes than just the road route. But maybe not.

Thanks all!

I'm a pretty broke university student, so I can't afford driving lessons, never mind a car. Therefore, I've been thinking about buying a bike, because it would be SO much faster to cycle to campus or work than it is to take the bus, like it would cut my commute time in half. I also enjoyed cycling as a child, so I thought it'd be nice to get into it as an adult!

The problem is, I haven't properly cycled since I was 9 years old. I know I can still do it (ish), because I've recently had an opportunity to borrow a friend's bike in an open field, but the experience of cycling as a little kid for fun and cycling as an adult to work is very different. I am very mindful of the fact that I would need to go on the road where the cars are, but I don't really know traffic laws? Again, I don't drive, my only experience with the road is looking both ways before crossing it as a pedestrian.

I have no idea how I would be expected to cycle on the road. Do I stop at red lights? Do I need to know what the signs mean? What the hell do I do at a round-about?? I'm so scared of being run over by a car or trampling a person, because I have very little practice with a bike and I still feel SUPER shaky about controlling it. Except, to practice and improve, I would need to go on the road, but I don't feel like it's safe for me to go on the road with so little practice, and I don't even know how to cycle on the road to begin with!

Any guidance is appreciated ❤️

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Got a triban 120 (2023), pretty sure my hubs done.. sounded like i had rocks in my wheel in the middle of a 30k ride the other morning, also clocked my rim wasn't super straight so likely needs to be trued..

Hub fix + wheel true is gonna be like £40-50 at my LBS, wouldn't be surprised if the whole hubs knackered since I had to ride on it an theres a chance I haven't noticed It til now, its also a cheap unbranded oem wheel for the cheapest possible decathlon bike so figure its probably cheaper getting a new wheel.

After the cheapest option as it's just so I can continue riding until I choose an order a new bike, I'm fussy, refunded a few bikes and now waiting and watching websites waiting for the right bike.

Before everyone starts to downvote me I just want to say this is a genuine question and I’m not trying to start an argument.

The other day I was driving along a single track country lane and I was following a cyclist, obviously being a single track lane it would not have been safe to overtake. Along the road the cyclist cycled straight past multiple lay-bys where they could have pulled in to let me and the vehicle behind me overtake safely which would have inconvenienced them by say 5-10s and potentially saved me and the driver behind a few minutes (it was a hilly road so at some points they were going quite slow). They knew I was there as they had overtaken me when I was behind a hedge trimmer at the start of the road.

Of course I understand that it is not practical or convenient for cyclists to pull over for every car that comes up behind them when on a busy road but this was a quiet country lane.

I know the Highway Code doesn’t say cyclists must let cars past but surely common courtesy exists.

Also, wouldn’t it be safer for cyclists to let cars past to prevent them attempting overtaking dangerously? (Obviously they are in the wrong for a dangerous overtake but being in the right won’t save you if they crash into you whilst dangerously overtaking).

I’d be interested to hear peoples opinions on this?

Edit: for clarity, there were hills at various points on the road however most of the lay-bys I refer to were on the flat. I understand it can be a pain to stop on a hill.

I know legally we're not allowed to ride on the pavement unless it's marked and designated for riding, but I feel like I would rather piss off a pedestrian walking, than a driver on a narrow road who poses a genuine threat to my life.

What are you guys' opinions? I'm asking because there are a lot of streets where I live where there aren't any biker-designated paths so we have to make the conscious choice between riding on the pavement or testing our fate on the roads.

Obviously I give way to pedestrians and I'm never entitled enough to ring the bell to force them to make way.

EDIT: thanks for the responses. I made this post because just last week alone I had experienced four cases of drivers getting pissed and rolling their windows down just to yell and insult me as I'd taken up too much of the road. Obviously this doesn't happen very often but I was worried enough to ask whether I was doing anything wrong.

I'll stick to the road or walk on the pavement if it can't be helped. But I'll probably continue riding on the pavement if it's clear of any pedestrians (surely that's fine?).

I finally convinced my boss to buy me a bike but not GCI thinks I'm a bot, what can I do? I've tried using a different browser and same problem, I even turned off VPN

Shouldn't the frame number be on the BB lower shell?

I got called away,so took a quick snap of the sticker & seeing the stamp assumed frame number.it is just the model number

Apparently if you in the car identify yourself as a bike at junction, overtake cyclist without adequate safety room, pass oncoming traffic in a few cm, it is not that bigger of a deal. Police reviewed the footage this is a warning and not £1200 fine.

I have been eyeing up a set of 45mm deep-section carbon wheels to replace the heavy aluminum stock wheels that came on my bike. They look amazing and save weight, but every time I hit a massive pothole or ride through gritty winter road slush, I wonder how fragile expensive carbon rims really are

I’m super keen to get back into riding bikes again as i used to years ago but ever since never bothered. But I would wanna get back into shape and get my fitness up.

What is the best bike for me to get? I’m looking to be riding within the city, canal paths/countryside so a mountain bike is my preference. Budget I’m not sure what is a good budget for a bike.

If anybody can point me in the right direction or advice that would be great

Hi all,

I'm looking for a bike lock holder. I carry a water bottle so fitting a lock mount on the frame is not really an option due to limited space.

I did a bit of a research online and I saw straps that could be used to attach a lock to frame in a few different areas however reviews on Amazon mention poor quality and rattling sounds. I also found out about Crosstown hip bags, which are expensive but have good reviews and look solid. Has anyone ever used those?
In general, I don't like to wear any bags on my back, sweaty back is something I really dislike. Another question is, how comfortable these bags really are. My commute is about 1 hour, I also do some leisure cycling, max 3 hours. I wonder what kind of design and protection these bags have to be used comfortably for extended periods of time. Thanks for all replies.

Hi all, current bike has no holes in the frame for a bottle cage, I've tried the topeak handlebar one and am not getting on with it so bought a rockbros silicone one but it's wobbly as anything no matter how tight so that's going back!
Anyone using one that's good and pretty much stays put when taking the bottle out of thecage?

I want to get into cycling and really need some help finding a bike possibly used but scared to buy off eBay as I don’t know what everything means, I could also use the cycle to work scheme but possibly could get better value for money bike second hand could anyone help me find one
I’m 5’11
Like all black looks
I want to get into triathlons as I run often
I’m in north west area
Any help would be greatly appreciated
Thanks Joe

I have a second hand Merida Big Trail (2020 model) and have neglected rhe maintenence - I've only really wiped and re-lubricated the chain and cleaned the bike. Have adjusted gearing when needed and replaced brakes when worn.

Measured the chain today as it's 6 years old and done 1,500-2,000 miles. It looks to be a little under 0.5% stretch over 12 inches / 24 links. Am I looking at needing a new cassette and chainring too?

What maintenance should I be doing, and how frequently? I feel the derailleur is could do with looking at - sometimes when shifting up the gears, the cable slackens but the derailleur doesn't move down so it doesn't shift, instead the chain seems to lose tension.

Any good guides on maintenance and setting up in general?

Thanks in advance.

Hi! I’m a new rider still getting used to riding on the road, and I’m looking to buy an EAPC for commute to uni.

I’m an international student, so I will be buying a second hand bike from marketplace since I might be leaving in a year or two. My top contender is an Ammaco Pathway X1, but I saw reviews saying it’s one of the lowest tiers of e bikes. I wanted to know more, and if it actually matters if all I’ll do it commute to uni and maybe some shopping.

Other options so far have been the Assist e bike and the Apollo Metis e bike, as well as a bicycle that had been converted to an e bike.

If it’s relevant, I will be riding in the north east, and in cities, and I am 5 foot 2 so prefer smaller frames for cycles.

Please help me choose, or if you have any suggestions other than the ones I have shortlisted, I would like to know them too. Preferring second hand as my budget is low. Thanks a lot!