I panic-bought a bike the day before lockdown. Here’s what I wish I’d known then.
By the time I moved to London five years ago from the Essex coast, I hadn’t ridden a bike since I was in primary school. Whilst I had ample experience riding round my sleepy village in a batman costume (my most trusty cycling gear at the time) I felt ill-prepared for London’s busy streets.
So, whilst most of my colleagues at Possible whizzed into the office every day, I had a less efficient commute. My daily trip on the overground was often longer than theirs due to delays, and the cost added up - setting me back over £100 per month. That’s enough for 2 or 3 holidays over the course of a year! Plus, my glutes were getting approximately zero workout whilst I sat scrolling through instagram.
But whilst I was envious of my colleagues, I was just too nervous to take the leap. The roads looked intimidating, and I didn’t know where to start.
Nevertheless, back in March, with a city-wide lockdown looming and the fear of getting stuck inside with public transport not an option, I found myself running down to the local refurbished bike shop with my housemate. 20 minutes later I was leaving with my soon-to-be best friend - a Specialized Sirrus bike.
4 months later and I can say that it’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I’ve felt liberated, healthier, and I’ve saved enough cash to kit out my flat with sufficient plants to replace human contact.
Still, I could have done things even better. Here’s what I know now, that I wish I’d known then:
1) Tons of employers offer a ‘cycle to work’ scheme
Want to save up to 40% on a new bike? Cycle to work schemes are essentially a tax-break as a reward for choosing low carbon transport. Instead of forking out all the cash for a bike up front, you’re issued with a voucher to buy your bike and accessories (up to £1000 for a normal bike, and £2000 for an electric bike). You then pay off the voucher over 12 months - but here’s the good bit - this is deducted from your monthly pay packet before tax. So you cover some of the cost with money you would never have seen in the first place. Ask your employer if they offer a cycle to work scheme to find out more. If they don’t ask them to join one (and get your colleagues to ask too).
2) Most local councils offer free cycling courses to get you road-ready - plus it’s important to make sure you know how to signal to drivers. Just search ‘bikeability’ + the name of your local council to find them.
3) You can get yourself a bike buddy!
If you’re hitting the road on two wheels for the first time then it can feel a little intimidating, but riding with an experienced cyclist will make you feel so much safer! Try asking any nearby friends/colleagues who already cycle (they’re likely to be enthusiastic!) or find a bike buddy here (London only, but it’s worth checking for schemes in your local area). You can also have a search for local cycling groups in your area online who are often up for supporting new cyclists.
4) You can often hop on a hire bike to try before you buyIf you’re city-based then you might have clocked docked or dockless bikes popping up on your streets in the last couple of years, such as the bright green Lime bikes, hot red JUMP bikes or the various docked bikes run by local authorities. These are a great way to have a go without committing to your own bike. Check out BikeSharp for all the latest news on available UK bike sharing schemes.
5) Try second-hand first
Tight budget? Like to get more for your money? Me too. Second hand is the way to go. Check out Cycling UK’s guide to buying second hand. Cycling Weekly also has this great guide which covers particular faults to look out for. I’d strongly recommend bringing along a pal who’s into bikes - they’ll be able to offer the best advice!
6) Get your accessories!
Here’s what you’re going to need to keep you and your bike safe: bike lights, a lock, a hi-vis, and of course - a helmet. I took Cycling Weekly’s advice on this one. You’re likely to get the best deals online, but chat to someone in-store if you still feel unsure. If you’re getting a new bike through a bike to work scheme, remember that the voucher can cover the cost of accessories too! Oh, and don’t forget to get a phone holder if you’re going to use your phone to follow a route - this is the one I use.
7) Bike insurance doesn’t have to be horrible
If you live in an urban area and your bike is a bit shiny then I’m afraid there is a risk that someone might take it off your hands without your permission. Luckily, cycle insurance is pretty cheap - and often also covers you in case you injure someone else by mistake while cycling. I went via Laka, which uses a clever model to keep costs down, but you should check out other providers too.
8) Everything you wanted to know about bikes and getting on them but never asked If we haven’t covered it sufficiently here, then head on over to Bike is Best and scroll down for their super comprehensive FAQs.
Finally, If you’re a new/aspiring cyclist, pledge to take 5 low carbon journeys in 2 weeks with our Stride and Ride campaign. If you’re feeling more ambitious, why not jump straight in and challenge yourself to 100km in a month? See you in the cycling lane.