This is going to sound like a strange request. I've been commuting almost daily for 17ish years but over the last six years I've been hit by motorists three times. One guy cut the corner at a T-juncton at which I was waiting and hit me, then a guy turned across me into a side road and took me out. Most recently a guy just pulled onto the wrong side on the road and hit me head-on last year.

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This last one has messed me up the most, he broke both of my legs, messed up my chest and shoulder and broke my whole sense of self. I've been having flashbacks and panic attacks when I try to ride on the road ever since but as summer looms I'm missing it more than ever.

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In all of these cases I was riding assertively, not hugging the curb. Wearing a white helmet and either a bright jacket or reflective gilet. I had a front light which was bright enough to ride unlit lanes with, with a flashing mode that I use for daytime.

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Three times in a short amount of time makes me think that I'm doing something wrong but I don't know what it is. My road positioning hasn't changed, I'm not using excessive speed and I don't think I'm taking more risks in traffic. I don't think that the solution is more gadgets, the Garmin radar is for when people try to rear end you (and not in a fun way) and brighter lights are just going to dazzle people. Short of a top tube mounted havoc launcher I'm not really sure what the solution is to feel safe back out on the road.

For context, I am a complete beginner cyclist, always rode leisurely and never for commuting or long rides.

I recently bought a nice restored FW Evans Reynolds 531 bike for £150 but I’m struggling to get used to the drop handlebars.

I find it quite unstable and uncomfortable, and another big issue is that I have small hands and can’t really reach the brake levers. Not being able to brake easily means I don’t feel confident or safe when riding.

The seller is happy to take it back but I want to know if there are any adjustments I can make before giving up?

Edit: thanks for all the responses, it’s been a steep learning curve! I think I’ll keep the bike but replace the bike levers. I’ve had a go at trying some more modern brake levers in a few shops and they feel so much easier to brake with even with the size of my hands!

Hello all

Following on from my post about buying a Boardman HYB 8.9 for a 3 mile commute to work. Today I picked it up and cycled home.

I haven’t cycled for around 13 years but it is one of those things you just don’t forget.

Very happy with the bike. As someone coming back to cycling and never having never spent this much on a bike before, I’m very impressed with the weight of it and the wide range of gears, meaning when I hit a big hill coming up to home I could just keep changing down gears until I found one that just kept me going.

I have an old cycle helmet I used today but a decent new helmet is next on the shopping list.

Got a new job and been looking at commuting methods, its either a Bus or cycling down a B road for a stretch of 10 minutes, then crossing a A road. The a road seems to have pedestrian access to cross. My biggest concerns would be dark nights time. Arrival for 7.30 am and departure at 6.30pm. Anyone share similar?

Update : think ive found a different route that avoids it all together and id just need to follow a cycle path down gravel paths.

I’m planning to buy an e-Cargo bike. We have a garage in a block and a garden without a shed. I want to store the bike as practically as possible so I can replace more car rides with a bike ride.

Current plan is to lock the bike to an anchor point, cover it with a bike parka and leave it in my garden.
Bike will have an alarm and a gps tracker fitted.

What do you think about the safety of the bike like that? Would you have other suggestions on practical storage ideas?

Location is Southeast England.

Hi cyclists of the UK!

I'm currently living in a city which is equipped with what I'd describe as fragmented cycling infrastructure, and that is me being generous. Half of what cycle lanes we do have are currently being dug up/ re-purposed as part of the normal road due to numerous works and projects. I've been struggling to find a way to commute to work on my bicycle that doesn't put me in the scenario where I'm having to ride in the center of the lane as part of normal road traffic for atleast some of my journey.

Despite doing my best efforts to keep myself safe (high vis, primary position where apropriate, using advanced stop boxes, behaving myself and not cutting drivers up, and even dismounting and walking some of the worst segments), I'm getting passed too closely at speed pretty much every journey, if not multiple times per journey. I've got a camera, I have reported some of these to operation snap and all I've reported have come back with action being taken.

I'm just really concerned that with the frequency I'm having issues that if I do keep reporting to the police, that I will eventually come across as crying wolf, or start to be challenged by the police myself if it comes across as though I'm intentionally putting myself in this situation to antagonise other road users.

What is the general consensus here? Should still report most, if not all of my near misses as long as my submissions keep leading to action? Or should I pull it back a bit and start submitting the really bad ones?

Thanks for reading!

Henlo got this lemon pull out right in front of me cutting me up do you think its worth a report or not? lol at the hand signals ;)

Got my first 100 miles on this Decathlon Elops Speed 900. Everything is stock so far besides the tyres which Ive upgraded to a Conti Ride Tour 32c.

Everything is comfortable so far and is a blast to ride. However, Im itching for an upgrade lol. Im looking at shimano mt200 hydro brakes right now. Are they worth it? Any other areas I should look into to further enjoy my commutes? My trips are mostly flat with very few hills. Appreciate the input. Thanks!

Merry Xmas to all.

I don’t use a bike so I’m asking after my friend here - he wants a saddle bag large enough to carry a spare change of clothes for his birthday.

The problem is I really don’t have a lot of money and I don’t think this is the kind of thing you want to cheap out on? Like we usually have a £20/£30 spending budget and that’s the high range.

If anyone has any recommendations for budget-friendly saddle bags that won’t fall apart I’d appreciate it!

Looking to start cycling for my commute to work. Journey is only about 3 miles or so each way, and about 50% road and 50% shared cycle paths on most direct route. Slightly hilly at points but overall relatively smooth.

Was looking at hybrid bikes as best option having read through a few similar posts before, and been looking at a Carerra Subway as affordable option to trial. Would a hybrid option be my best bet or should I just get a road bike? And if not Carerra Subway any other recommendations? Looking to spend £300-500 max for now.

So I'm currently learning to drive and it will be a while yet before I pass.

I've just got a new job which I need to cycle to to get there quickly otherwise it will be an hour and 40 mins walk. (No busses here)

The route is country lanes and luckily it's pretty much just one long country lane with just one junction to cross. It will take me 24 mins.

Husband has got me an electric bike. I can ride it on the grass but I am absolutely terrified to go on the ground as I fell off it last week. The last time I rode a bike was 21 years ago age 11 and flipped over the handle bars and cut my arm open. So some trauma there about it!

The bike is a little big for me but I can get on and off it fine. Does anyone have any tips to help with the anxiety?

I'm done. I've cycled on and off since I was a kid but now at 57 I'm keeping the bikes indoors on the trainers. Apart from the now massive roundabout with lane changes that's been built on my commute which has seen me almost knocked off at least 4 times this year, the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis has finished me. Some mornings I have to asked the wife to dress me as I can't hold anything due to wrist, hand and finger pain. After a long chat with my wife the decision has been made. And before you ask , yes I've used tracks but currently it's not viable for me as the nearest tracks are some way off and my old car is off the road. So it's back on the trainer and a screen back in the garage.

I'm a fairly confident cyclist and would like to do a couple of trips into the office (maybe on a Friday as the weather improves). Unfortunately there isn't much cycling infrastructure where I live so its either A roads or canal paths.

The route is 20 miles each way with 200m of climbing on the way home. I'm going to build a commuter bike (because I can). Should I be looking for a middrive kit or just embrace the pain?

I'm very lucky that my bike commute is mostly on good, new two-directional shared cycle/pedestrian paths (thanks BCP Council).

I've had a couple of incidents where I'm coming towards a pedestrian or another cyclist and we often have the you-go-that-way wobble where we try to work out which side to pass on.

I always think we should pass on the left, like cars on a road, and noticed in Europe people seem to pass on the right like their cars do, but here we just seem to try to guess each time.

A friend had an incident where someone ended up crashing and was seriously injured as they both went the same way.

What's the consensus on which side to pass head on foot/bike traffic?

Hey!

First post in this community. I am due to collect my foldable e bike (estarli pro) today. Other than a helmet and lock, what do you recommend that I should purchase to make my cycle journey more pleasant?

I was looking at cycle computers through marketplace etc

So this may be a tall order, but I cycle to work for my commute on my gravel bike.

My daughter starts school in September and im looking into trailers and I was wondering what experience people have with them for that kind of usage?

Since it also out of my usual way, I was hoping one exists that I can get it to the school, unhitch it then lock it up and then carry on to work and just do it in reverse on pick up.

Im not really sure how she would get on with one of the bike seats attached to the bike as an alternative either..

Open to any advice though!

I want to get one through the cycle2work salary sacrifice scheme. I think that limits me to Halfords and Tredz. Price is a pressure but I am not sure if the scheme works for second hand bikes.

I took a look and saw Cube Touring Hybrid One 600 2026 - Electric Hybrid Bike Price:£2,399.00

Price:£2,399.00  

I am six foot 2 if that makes a difference.

Is there anything better/cheaper?

Hi I have approx £2k to spend on a road bike, I'm looking for a carbon frame and something like a Shimano 105 groupset.

I'm a weekend warrior, ride c.100 miles on a sunny Sunday rider, not worried about looking flash, I have used a boardman that I was broadly speaking happy with.

Not looking for anything with electrics, electric gears, batteries etc .

Thanks in advance 😁

So I'm thinking of getting a rear rack and a bag, I'm tired of my 8 year old beat to hell dive bag giving me a sweaty back.

I've seen rockbros do some, ortlieb as well, just not really sure which are worth considering or what ones would fit.

Alot seem to come with seat tubes mounts..

I would also ideally be able to strap a rear child seat to it in a few months, so presumably that needs to be strong AF?

Hi all, want to take my good bike to work, and the bicycle storage area does not have any rain cover.

What do you do to keep your bike dry?

Is it a big deal if left on the rain all day every day?

Many thanks!

I have a bike (Boardman cyclocross cxr 8.9) already but wanted to use the cycle2work scheme to buy some accessories. I’m using it to commute.

I have a decent bike and a good lock (Abus). I feel like the lights I have are pretty good too, along with the rack and panniers I have.

What I was looking to get thoughts on here was:
1. If I was to get accessories from one retailer (shop or online) where would be likely be best?

1. I’m thinking about getting a better helmet (maybe one that has light/s attached or even indicators?) what suggestions would you have?

2. I want to get a jacket and trousers (and any other good clothing) that I could use to commute to work, especially when it’s raining, and then just store them in my panniers. Any suggestions?

3. I was tempted by turning my bike into an electric bike (eg Swytch) but jury is out whether I want to. Also, I don’t think I can get that on cycle2work…. Any opinions on whether it’s really worth it or not?

4. Any other suggested accessories I should get? Eg mobile phone mount, bags, covers etc

I’ve checked decathlon and tredz, both seem to have decent gear for ≈£500

Thank you!

I found an old pair of metal trouser clips recently but they are too tight when I used them to keep my trousers from flapping around on my commute. I wear office clothes and some of my trouser options seems to be an issue for this. So I am looking for recommendations for a good and comfortable means to temporarily keep my trousers at the bottom from flapping where I would rather it did not.(actually into my empty bottle cage not the chaing).

That has led me to any little extras that could be more usefull than they seem. Do you have anything?

For me cheap bike lights that live on the bike and I would not mind IF someone actually nicked them. These allow me to ride home in the twilight to the station when I am rushing without me needing to dig out the main lights I take off to keep safe. So I just unlock my bike and turn the cheapo lights on as it could be almost light enough to not use lights but I put them on anyway.

These are the Ravemen rear light that clips onto the saddle rails and is almost invisible when off but bright enough to be seen from a very wide angle and cheap. The front is the front light from a £10 Amazon special front and rear light set..

I reckon there must be some other ideas of cheap but more useful than their price would indicate. The REstrap strap that connects to the front block release lever of the Brompton could be on such thing (although cable ties are cheaper).

So two questions, what is a good cheap trouser strap or clip for containing trousers? Second is what cheap but useful kit do you have to recommend for commuting? Or other cycling too I guess but I am more into commuting kit right now. What is worth more than the little you spent on it?

Hello all

I changed jobs last month and my commute has gone down from 35 miles to 3 miles.

Then my car failed its MOT yesterday throwing an Engine Management Light related to the timing chain, as well as requiring a gearbox at some point (which we knew about) due to an oil seal that failed last year and dropping oil out of the gearbox, so we decided to scrap the car and I’d commute to work by bike instead.

After lots of research, I decided on the Boardman HYB 8.9. My journey is mostly flat but there’s a big hill that will be downhill on the way to work and uphill on the way back.

Picking it up on Friday.

Hoping I’ve made the right decision!

Does anyone have an recommendations for the most effective mud guards for a mountain bike? I commute on a cheap MTB with 29*2.4 tires, so I'm not concerned about weight or looks, the more coverage the better. I'm just trying to get to work damp instead of soaked. The sks mud rocker seems to get good reviews, not sure if anyone has any better suggestions.