Semantic Coherence: BikeCare.co.uk – Signal Evidence & AI Readability

Commuting by Bicycle – Which Cities are best?
Britain’s Olympic Cycling Legacy
Cornwall by Bicycle
Cycling Holidays in the UK
Cycling in London – Stay Safe!
Epic UK Bike Rides
Le Tour de Yorkshire
Tour the UK Coast on a Bicycle
Where to Go with your Bike this Summer
Which Cities are best for Bikes in the UK?
Yorkshire – a Cycling Paradise

[IMG: Cities best for Bikes]

[H3] Which Cities are best for...

We Brits love cycling, but the cycling experience can vary a great deal from city to city. Some, like London, have brilliant areas for cycling and dangerous areas →

April 22, 2020

[IMG: Commuting by Bicycle]

[H3] Commuting by Bicycle –...

Are you thinking of coming to live in the UK and want to know which cities are best for commuting by bicycle? Or are here with work? Just coming to explore and see →

February 15, 2020

[IMG: Cycling Holidays in the UK]

[H3] Cycling Holidays in the UK

It took a long time, but the UK is finally being recognised as one of Europe’s premier cycling destinations. With some of the world’s safest roads, an increasingly →

January 17, 2020

[IMG: Cycling in London]

[H3] Cycling in London – Stay...

London is the cycling capital of the UK. In the last 20 years, the numbers of Londoners commuting by bike has exploded and communities of cyclists have sprung up →

December 4, 2019

[IMG: Britain]

[H3] Britain’s Olympic Cycling...

The 2012 Olympics in London were an amazing success. Never mind that the Army had to be called in to provide security and some of the venues weren’t completed →

November 10, 2019

[H1] Stay Safe Cycling on UK Roads

The roads in the UK are amongst the safest in the world. People generally drive on the right side of the road (even if it is on the left) and stick to the rules. Brits love cycling and the whole country is currently undergoing a cycling renaissance, there has never been a better time to head to the UK for some cycling. However, thousands of people die in road traffic accidents on UK roads every year, so it pays to be safe.
[H2] Brits Drive on the Left Side of the Road!
Unless you come from many of the commonwealth countries, you will have almost certainly have grown up with driving and cycling on the right-hand side of the road. Brits however drive on the left-hand side, so you may have to spend some time adjusting to our roads before you can be confident on them. If you haven’t the time or funds to spend on some cycle training, spending an hour or two cycling on some quiet roads in a residential area will help you feel good about the strange turnings and rules.
The Highway Code is too complex to go into in this short article, but we strongly advise you read it thoroughly and highlight differences to your home nation’s rules. The Brits are a law abiding bunch and take road safety very seriously, so if you are not obeying the laws of the road, you can expect to be stopped by the traffic police, or at least shouted at by a guy in a white van.
Many accidents happen in the UK because a cyclist is trapped on the inside of a vehicle that is turning left. Never assume a vehicle will go straight, they do not always indicate. If there’s a turning, stay visible and behind the vehicle until it has passed. This happens mostly at junctions. Be aware that larger vehicles turn right before turning left, giving you a false sense of security.
[H2] Watch the Road
For whatever reason, a lot of access covers (the metal plates in the road) are placed right in the middle of the road, especially on turns. This seems to be a particularly British thing. When you’re cornering, keep an eye out for the panels when it is wet, you might find yourself in a ditch at the side of the road otherwise.
[H2] Get fit before you arrive
Being unfit does not just spoil a holiday because you can’t keep up, it is dangerous. You do not want any part of your body to fail when you are in thick traffic, or heading down a winding path at 50 miles per hour. Nobody is asking you to be Olympic level fit, but you should have any existing medical issues resolved or being effectively treated before you embark on a cycle trip anywhere. You keep yourself and everyone else safe by being in good condition.
Accidents happen. If you do get injured, you can go to any UK hospital and receive immediate treatment whether you have insurance or not (see below).
[H2] Get Some Insurance
Although the UK is a relatively safe place to cycle, there is a lot of traffic and the conditions of the roads are not as high as we might like. If you’re from abroad, having insurance coverage is a must. While UK residents can enjoy the services of the NHS for free, it costs money to access NHS services for non-residents. You will not be turned away from a hospital because of a lack of insurance but the bill might be large when it arrives in a few months’ time.
There’s also the issue of personal injury. If you have a road traffic accident and injure another person you may find they file an RTA claim against you to compensate them financially for pain and suffering and potential costs and expenses. Talk to your insurer, ask for full accident coverage.
[H2] Have a Plan and Plan Ahead
If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Keeping everyone safe requires everyone to know what the plan is, what the destinations are, timings, and what to do if someone gets lost or gets injured.
If you and your team have a plan and a destination, you can avoid heavy traffic and risky areas for cyclists. This will not only make your trip much more pleasant but it will also help you to keep safe. Avoiding the Manchester rush hour or London’s morning gridlock will reduce your chance of accidents and ensure you see the nice parts of the UK, not just the bumpers of endless fume-belching cars.
[H2] Maintain your Bike
The UK has no shortage of excellent bike supply and repair shops. In London alone, there are over 300. You have a legal obligation to make sure your bicycle is in road-worthy state, so make sure your brakes work, your tyres are pumped up, and you have lights for night and heavy weather riding. A quick internet search will show you the local bike repair shops if you need supplies or to fix something. Prices are reasonable, the service is usually excellent, and you can save yourself a lot of trouble by keeping your bike in top condition.
[H2] Be Visible
The great nations of the British Isles are northerly, so it gets dark in winter early. Even if you are only cycling during the day, ensure you have a reflective jacket or reflective stripes on your clothes. You NEED lights on your bike, like everywhere else.
When you’re cycling on roads, make sure you are visible to motorists. Stay out of blind spots and keep your distance from large vehicles. A good tip is to make eye contact with motorists when you are stopped at a junction so you know they have seen you. The last thing any cyclist wants is to be a cyclist injured in an RTA.
[H2] Wear a Helmet
If you don’t wear a helmet because you don’t think it looks cool, get over it. All the local cyclists will look at you if like you’ve gone mad if you don’t wear one. Pick one up at a local bike shop for around £25.
[H2] Buy a Bell
A bell can save you a lot of trouble. It will alert pedestrians and motorists to your approach and allow them to get out of the way if you’re going fast. They cost very little and can save a lot of money and pain.
[H2] Talk to the Locals
Cycling communities are very friendly in the UK and we love people coming from abroad to enjoy our lovely little island, so don’t be afraid of introducing yourself to fellow cyclists. They will help you find the best cycling around their area and help you stay safe by avoiding certain areas. Local knowledge is essential.
[H2] Tell People where and when you are going
The UK can be surprisingly remote for an island with so many people on it. It is easy to get lost, even though there are so many signs everywhere, and solo riders could find themselves in a lot of trouble in a variety of ways. Just to be safe, tell someone when and where you are going and check in with them when you have arrived. The UK has low levels of crime compared to many countries but it is better to be safe than sorry, as we say.
For groups, it is easy to get lost on the thousands of winding roads and paths in the UK. Make sure everyone knows what the rally point is and has a way of communicating with everyone else should they get lost or have an accident. If someone does not turn up and you cannot get hold of them, you can call the emergency services on 999.
In an Emergency, Call 999
The number for the emergency services in the UK is 999.
For Non-Emergencies, Call 111
The NHS helpline number is 111. For all non-emergencies and for advice, call this number. The help is very high quality, if in doubt, call them.

Older posts

The UK has an almost embarrassing number of amazing places to cycle. It is like everything in the UK is... Read more →

Yorkshire, the biggest county in the UK, hosted the initial stage of the Tour de France in 2014. Something about... Read more →

When the Tour de France came to Yorkshire in 2014, nobody could have expected how much of an impact it... Read more →

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Cornwall is a beautiful place to cycle. Sumptuous, deserted beaches, picturesque villages, ancient harbours, and truly ancient Celtic ruins meander... Read more →

Commuting by Bicycle – Which Cities are best?
Britain’s Olympic Cycling Legacy
Cornwall by Bicycle
Cycling Holidays in the UK
Cycling in London – Stay Safe!
Epic UK Bike Rides
Le Tour de Yorkshire
Tour the UK Coast on a Bicycle
Where to Go with your Bike this Summer
Which Cities are best for Bikes in the UK?
Yorkshire – a Cycling Paradise

[H1] Commuting by Bicycle – Which Cities are best?

February 15, 2020

[IMG: Commuting by Bicycle]
Are you thinking of coming to live in the UK and want to know which cities are best for commuting by bicycle? Or are here with work? Just coming to explore and see what happens?
The UK is a great place to be a cyclist. The roads are relatively safe, the cities are much more bike-friendly than they used to be, and Brits increasingly love cycling. Then there is the high quality of life, good infrastructure, and the sense of humour. Not a bad place to come to live. But where is best?
It would be disingenuous to have a top 10 – there are so many factors to take into account that this short article couldn’t possibly do it justice. The only real way to know if a UK city is the best for you to commute is to go there and try it out. So this is a guide to direct you to those ones we think are the best.
[H2] London
In the past 15 years, London has become such a safer place to cycle and live. Unless you have some serious cash, you won’t be able to live in the centre of London, so commuting by bike is often the best option. It is definitely the cheapest. Commuting by rail or car can cost thousands of pounds a year. Put that cash into some bike gear and you’ll have 10 years of keeping fit on the way to work.
Bike for hire services are available across the capital, including the famous “Boris Bikes”. Loads of cycle routes are available, and as more and more Londoners commute by bike, it’s only getting better. Plus, the city is basically flat, a major advantage on a bike!
[H2] Leeds
One of the cities in the “Northern Powerhouse”, Leeds is a top cycling destination. It isn’t too hilly, the city centre is amazingly compact, and the towns and villages people commute from are very beautiful. The Yorkshire Dales National Park is 20 miles away too. One of the best cities for commuting but the air quality is not as high as some other cities (although the UK has poor air quality in general).
[H2] Bristol
Liberally strewn with cycle paths and with an elegant city with lots of suburbs, Bristol is a top city for cycling. The UK’s first “cycling city”, Bristol has traffic free areas, excellent bike support, and more bike shops than anywhere outside of London. It is close to a lot of amazing countryside too.
[H2] Cambridge
Cambridge has a lot of two things: money and history. Now a third thing has come along: loads of bicycles. Cambridge has some of the best roads for commuting by bike in the UK, and the only way to properly navigate the huge university campus is to do it by bike. The neighbouring city of Oxford is a similar place. The air quality is quite good for the south of England. Lots of traffic jams to enjoy.
[H2] Edinburgh
Scotland’s capital is a very attractive place to live: it’s got a castle on an extinct volcano for starters. With a brilliant university, lots of technology based jobs, and more comedy clubs than anywhere else. Commuting by bike in Edinburgh is relatively easy – there are lots of cycle lanes and off-road routes. It’s quite hilly, but around 12 per cent of the population cycle to and from work, so there’s already a good community to get in with. Air quality isn’t great.
[H2] Cardiff
Wales’ biggest city is an excellent cycling destination. It’s basically flat, isn’t too crowded, and has a lot of cycling infrastructure. Many people head out from Cardiff on their bikes, it’s a very good starting point for expeditions into the heart of Wales. Commuting by bike and rail is a common choice. The air quality is not too bad.
[H2] Nottingham
Nottingham is making big attempts to get its population cycling and it is having some success. One of the best cities in the UK to commute to by bike, Nottingham offers safe roads, relatively good air quality, and a wide variety of jobs. It’s quite cheap compared to the South too.
[H2] York
It might be ancient and venerable, but York is a modern city with excellent cycle access. The city is flat and covered in bike routes, on and off roads. York is one of the best places to live and work in the UK, a small part of that is the ease of access.
[H2] Stoke-on-Trent
Stoke is a true industrial town that has reinvented itself beautifully. Criss crossed by canals, the city is ideal for cycling to work as a lot of it can be done off-road by taking the canal network routes. One of England’s up-and-coming cities, Stoke is an exciting place to be.

Filed Under
Cycling

Tagged With
commuting

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Older posts

The UK has an almost embarrassing number of amazing places to cycle. It is like everything in the UK is... Read more →

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Commuting by Bicycle – Which Cities are best?
Britain’s Olympic Cycling Legacy
Cornwall by Bicycle
Cycling Holidays in the UK
Cycling in London – Stay Safe!
Epic UK Bike Rides
Le Tour de Yorkshire
Tour the UK Coast on a Bicycle
Where to Go with your Bike this Summer
Which Cities are best for Bikes in the UK?
Yorkshire – a Cycling Paradise

[H1] Britain’s Olympic Cycling Legacy

November 10, 2019

[IMG: Britain]
The 2012 Olympics in London were an amazing success. Never mind that the Army had to be called in to provide security and some of the venues weren’t completed until days before the events were held, but in general, it was seen as one of the most successful Olympics in history.
Cycling was a huge part of that. With riders like Mark Cavendish, Bradley Wiggins, Chris Froome, Lizzie Armitstead, and Chris Hoy bringing home an impressive haul of medals, newspapers, and pundits across the country hailed the “Olympic Cycling Legacy” that was sure to follow the amazing successes our team made.
But how much of that legacy was actually realised?
[H2] What Happened to the Olympic Cycling Venues?
The BBC quoted a campaign group describing the London Olympic park as a “world-class embarrassment” in 2014. Idiotic decisions like putting cobbles on cycle paths, having a staircase up to the entrance to the Olympic velodrome, and confusing layouts meant the conversion from Olympic venue to public venue did not go well.
It took a full 5 years for the Herne Hill Velodrome to be converted to public use, opening its doors in March of 2017. Now it has plenty of visitors and appears to be a success. The Lee Valley Velopark has been open since 2014 and is a popular site for local and international cyclists to train. Conversions after the Olympics cost a lot of money and attracted a lot of criticism, but they were done effectively and are now hubs for sports training.
[H2] Are Brits Still Cycling Crazy?
The summer of 2012 was a halcyon era for British sport. The whole nation came together to support our team and so many pledges to “continue the legacy of the Olympics” were made, but the effects might have been short lived. Some studies have shown that the Olympics did not increase sporting participation much in the couple of years after the event. Others have shown more long-term positive effects.
However, cycling is an exception to all that. The numbers of people, especially kids, getting on their bikes has increased year on year since the Olympics. A big part of that was Yorkshire hosting the initial stage of the Tour de France in 2014 and then the Tour de Yorkshire taking place every year since. There, the number of riders increased 15 percent in a year and have continued to rise.
Now the Olympics are a distant memory, we are looking for the effects of the Games. Through tough economic times, the Brits got on their bikes more than they have in decades, perhaps since the popularisation of the motor car. The infrastructure left behind by the Olympics provides space for the next generation of talented cyclists to train in world-class facilities. The cycling team of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has never been stronger, with lots of wins at events like the Tour de France (Chris Froome) and La Vuelta España prove that our current teams are amongst the best in the world.
But will the next generation follow suit?
Britain is fighting an obesity crisis. A third of British children are overweight, half in some places, and kids are less physically active than they have ever been in the history of humanity. Cycling is playing an important role in combating this. In the wake of the 2012 Olympics, many schools got into cycling because it is a very enjoyable way of exploring the world and keeping fit. With so many cycling heroes to inspire them, kids have so many opportunities to get on their bikes and get fit. Unfortunately, the obesity crisis is growing. A lot of kids and parents are not getting the message, or cannot afford to. Cycling can be an expensive hobby and the economic disaster of the last 10 years has squeezed households so much that bicycles can seem like expensive luxuries instead of a normal method of transport. There has been a lot of hot air from government about capitalising on the “legacy” of the Olympics but not much actual investment. Schools have sold off their sports fields at an unprecedented rate. The Olympic cycling venues are concentrated in London, leaving other cities without the infrastructure to really get kids into professional cycling.
[H2] The Real Legacy
The legacy of the Olympics is one of a missed opportunity. If the government and local councils had had the money and impetus, they could have made cycling much more accessible for the public. However, the opportunity was wasted and austerity cuts meant that there was little or no investment to follow up the (incredibly expensive) London Olympics.
This is a desperate shame. So many people were inspired by the Olympics at the time but found it difficult to translate into real life changes. There was a lot of good coming out of the Olympics, but not enough.

Filed Under
Cycling

Tagged With
olympics

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Older posts

The UK has an almost embarrassing number of amazing places to cycle. It is like everything in the UK is... Read more →

Yorkshire, the biggest county in the UK, hosted the initial stage of the Tour de France in 2014. Something about... Read more →

When the Tour de France came to Yorkshire in 2014, nobody could have expected how much of an impact it... Read more →

The coast of Britain is famous for a few things, including the impossible puzzle of how long it is exactly.... Read more →

The UK has no shortage of epic bike rides. From the gentle rolling hills of the South Downs to the... Read more →

Cornwall is a beautiful place to cycle. Sumptuous, deserted beaches, picturesque villages, ancient harbours, and truly ancient Celtic ruins meander... Read more →

Commuting by Bicycle – Which Cities are best?
Britain’s Olympic Cycling Legacy
Cornwall by Bicycle
Cycling Holidays in the UK
Cycling in London – Stay Safe!
Epic UK Bike Rides
Le Tour de Yorkshire
Tour the UK Coast on a Bicycle
Where to Go with your Bike this Summer
Which Cities are best for Bikes in the UK?
Yorkshire – a Cycling Paradise

[H1] Cycling Holidays in the UK

January 17, 2020

[IMG: Cycling Holidays in the UK]
It took a long time, but the UK is finally being recognised as one of Europe’s premier cycling destinations. With some of the world’s safest roads, an increasingly cycle-obsessed population, and an incredible variety of activities, the UK looks like a top cycling holiday choice this year.
[H2] What’s good?
There is so much to do in the UK on a bike, it’s hard to know what to start with.
[H2] Coastal Trips
The UK is blessed with some incredible coastline to cycle. From the White Cliffs of Dover to the secluded smuggler’s caves of Devon and Cornwall, from vast beaches so flat they race rocket cars on them to the picturesque fishing villages of the Yorkshire coast, you are in for a treat.
Recently, the UK coastal path was completed. It is now possible to go on foot or bike the entirety of the length of the UK coast. What is more, every few miles there is a town or city you can stop off to eat, get repairs, enjoy the scenery, and rest in. Pick a coastal town or village, pick another somewhere down the coast, join the dots on the map and you have a holiday! Particularly beautiful are the South Devonshire, Cornish, Sussex, Yorkshire, all of Scotland, and North Wales coasts.
[H2] Head Inland
The UK has a lot of surprisingly easy to navigate cities. They are crowded and bustling but recently local governments have invested in extensive cycling infrastructure, including dedicated cycle lanes and improved junctions.
Great cities to explore on your bike start with London, of course. A huge metropolis, it can be difficult to get around, especially when you are on a budget. A great deal of the best attractions in London are within a few miles of each other and since they improved the cycling conditions, it is much easier to get there on a bike than by car. You can look at the river and Tower Bridge, see Buckingham Palace, and cycle around Greenwich in a day, even with young children. A more sedate pace is recommended, there’s a lot of London to see but it pays to see it properly.
Other amazing cities to do on a bike include Manchester, Leeds, Bristol, Edinburgh, and Cardiff. All of them offer easy access to the surrounding countryside, which is one of the best things about a cycling holiday in the UK. Stay in metropolitan comfort and get out for some incredible scenery and terrain with easy.
[H2] National Parks
The UK was one of the earliest adopters of the idea of a National Parks and now we have loads of them. The Lake District is probably the best for cycling because it has so much varied terrain, from hardcore mountain bike trails to gentle rides around a lake. Also, it is astoundingly beautiful.
The Yorkshire Dales is another top destination. If you go in late April / early May, you can catch the Tour de Yorkshire, one of the best cycling events in Europe. Hugely varied terrain and astounding vistas make the Dales a definite top 3.
Have you heard of the New Forest? Actually about 500 years old, it was planted to provide oak for the British Navy. Now it’s one of the most beautiful forests in the country and packed with incredible cycling.  It’s especially suited to children and campers.
The Cairngorns in Scotland have some of the best cycling on the Island. It can be windswept and a bit cold but it is utterly beautiful. There are loads of different difficulty routes to take and plenty for kids to do apart from cycling.
Maybe the Brecon Beacons appeals? Or the Killarney National Park? There is so much to choose from.
[H2] Before you arrive
You need to check a few things before you arrive in the UK for a cycling holiday. The first is insurance: are you insured? The NHS will treat you regardless of insurance but it could cost you a lot of money if you’re knocked off your bike.
The second thing to check is your bike’s maintenance. Are your tyres in good condition? Do your brakes work? Have you got working lights? It is your duty to have a roadworthy vehicle when you are in the UK, the consequences can be severe if your bike is not properly maintained and you are in an accident.
The third thing you need to know about is the Highway Code. Rules for riding in the UK are similar to the rest of Europe or the USA, but ignorance of the law is no defence. Know your signs and signals, and especially you need to know that the Brits drive on the left, not the right. Most foreign riders’ accidents happen at junctions turning left, so drill it into your brain the right things to do.

Filed Under
Cycling

Tagged With
holiday

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Older posts

The UK has an almost embarrassing number of amazing places to cycle. It is like everything in the UK is... Read more →

Yorkshire, the biggest county in the UK, hosted the initial stage of the Tour de France in 2014. Something about... Read more →

When the Tour de France came to Yorkshire in 2014, nobody could have expected how much of an impact it... Read more →

The coast of Britain is famous for a few things, including the impossible puzzle of how long it is exactly.... Read more →

The UK has no shortage of epic bike rides. From the gentle rolling hills of the South Downs to the... Read more →

Cornwall is a beautiful place to cycle. Sumptuous, deserted beaches, picturesque villages, ancient harbours, and truly ancient Celtic ruins meander... Read more →

Commuting by Bicycle – Which Cities are best?
Britain’s Olympic Cycling Legacy
Cornwall by Bicycle
Cycling Holidays in the UK
Cycling in London – Stay Safe!
Epic UK Bike Rides
Le Tour de Yorkshire
Tour the UK Coast on a Bicycle
Where to Go with your Bike this Summer
Which Cities are best for Bikes in the UK?
Yorkshire – a Cycling Paradise

[H1] Cycling in London – Stay Safe!

December 4, 2019

[IMG: Cycling in London]
London is the cycling capital of the UK. In the last 20 years, the numbers of Londoners commuting by bike has exploded and communities of cyclists have sprung up wherever you look. With some of the best cycling roads in the country and lots of parks and green spaces to explore, London is a surprisingly cycle friendly place to be. 580,000 cyclists make the daily commute by bike.
Unfortunately, with 8 million people living there, it’s a bit crowded. Traffic is not as bad as it was, but that is not saying very much at all. Fumes, congestion, angry Londoners, it can all make cycling in London a dangerous prospect. When 6 cyclists died in a 2 week period in 2013, Londoners came together to demand better cycling safety. Since then, things have improved a lot, but it can still be dangerous, so how can you stay safe on London’s roads?
[H2] Keep your Bike in Good Condition
Losing a chain in the middle of a junction is not just jarring, it’s very dangerous. A flat tyre equally so. And don’t even think about going out on the roads of London without working brakes. Traffic can move fast, there are pedestrians everywhere, and the city is not on a grid, so it can be difficult to navigate if you don’t know your way around.
Maintaining your bike is vital. It is your duty to have your road vehicle in road-worthy condition, if you fail to do so and injure or kill someone, you could be in a lot of trouble.
The good news is that London has over 300 bike shops to help you. Many are independent and are cycling community hubs. Getting expert and friendly advice from a bike shop on how to maintain your bicycle could save your life. It can make you a lot of friends too.
Your tyres need to be pumped up. Your brakes need to work well. Keep your chain and gears lubricated with the right lubricant (3-in-1 oil does the trick). Any spots of rust or corrosion need to be monitored and treated if possible.
[H2] Wear a Helmet
Everyone wears helmets these days. You will look unusual without one, not wearing one. The congestion in London makes it almost inevitable that you will have a dangerous altercation with a motor vehicle at some point if you live there. Drivers don’t always look where they are going, and the thousands of bicyclists who get knocked off their bikes every year (about a dozen sadly die in London) will agree: wear a helmet.
Regulations mean any helmet on sale in the UK should conform to high standards. You do not need to cough up much cash to get a helmet that can keep your head safe. It can be the difference of life and death, literally. Accept that helmet hair is a thing and get over it. Wear a helmet. Wear a helmet.
[H2] Get some Lights
It is illegal to cycle on roads at night without lights. So you need some. It’s not just the law, it’s common sense. Cars and lorries are much bigger than you and will win in any fight. At night, they won’t see you and you will get squished flat if you don’t have lights. You need a front facing white light and a back facing red light. USB charged LED lights do not cost much from the internet and will almost certainly stop people running you over.
[H2] Be Visible
You don’t just need lights, you need reflective clothing. Even during the day, having reflective strips on your jacket and trousers can make you significantly more visible. At night, it will make you stand out like a sore thumb, which is what you want when you’re faced with several tonnes of speeding metal heading towards you in the form of a truck. Again, they are inexpensive and will save your life.
[H2] Know the Highway Code
The Highway Code is the law. Disobey it and you might go to prison or face a hefty fine. Disobey it and you might get run over. The laws are sensible and are there for your protection. Cyclists are the most vulnerable people on the road, the laws are designed to keep you as possible.
Most cycling deaths happen at junctions. Particularly when turning left. Know your right of way and never turn on the inside of a truck or other motor vehicle. Stay visible and know where vehicles’ blind spots are. This is vital knowledge that could save your life.
[H2] Wear a Mask
Although cyclists might look like they get the worst of road pollution, it is in fact motorists who get more pollution in their lungs. However, a breathing mask can stop a lot of horrible stuff getting into your lungs, so they are worth looking at.

Filed Under
Cycling

Tagged With
London

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Older posts

The UK has an almost embarrassing number of amazing places to cycle. It is like everything in the UK is... Read more →

Yorkshire, the biggest county in the UK, hosted the initial stage of the Tour de France in 2014. Something about... Read more →

When the Tour de France came to Yorkshire in 2014, nobody could have expected how much of an impact it... Read more →

The coast of Britain is famous for a few things, including the impossible puzzle of how long it is exactly.... Read more →

The UK has no shortage of epic bike rides. From the gentle rolling hills of the South Downs to the... Read more →

Cornwall is a beautiful place to cycle. Sumptuous, deserted beaches, picturesque villages, ancient harbours, and truly ancient Celtic ruins meander... Read more →

Commuting by Bicycle – Which Cities are best?
Britain’s Olympic Cycling Legacy
Cornwall by Bicycle
Cycling Holidays in the UK
Cycling in London – Stay Safe!
Epic UK Bike Rides
Le Tour de Yorkshire
Tour the UK Coast on a Bicycle
Where to Go with your Bike this Summer
Which Cities are best for Bikes in the UK?
Yorkshire – a Cycling Paradise

[H1] Which Cities are best for Bikes in the UK?

April 22, 2020

[IMG: Cities best for Bikes]
We Brits love cycling, but the cycling experience can vary a great deal from city to city. Some, like London, have brilliant areas for cycling and dangerous areas for cycling. Most cities in the UK are good for bikes, but some are very good, so let us take you through which ones are the best.
[H2] Cambridge
With more than 100km (80 miles in Brit-speak) of dedicated cycle routes, Cambridge is very bike-friendly. Cambridge is a wealthy area and it is quite compact, so there is a lot of cycling culture there. A big advantage? It’s very flat. The local government is keen on getting more cyclists on the roads and gives cyclists priority on the road in certain areas. Oxford is close by and has a similar bike culture and infrastructure. Both cities are very beautiful and rich in history, well worth visiting!
[H2] Manchester
Manchester is known as the capital of the North. The industrial revolution started there and many great scientific discoveries have been made in this ancient and illustrious city. It has one of the best music scenes in Europe and some amazing galleries, not to mention the world famous university. It’s definitely worth visiting on your bike because it is quite flat and has a lot of cycle-friendly infrastructure.
One of the best things about Manchester is the easily available countryside. Cycle for half an hour in any direction and you’re in the Lancashire dales or the Peak District. Any time of the year, the terrain is incredibly beautiful and thousands of people head out on their bikes every day to explore and enjoy it. Join them.
Exeter
A small English city in the South West, Exeter has some incredible history and architecture, including a thousand year old market and an astounding cathedral. For a quintessential bit of southern Englishness, it is hard to beat. Exeter is one of the best cities in the UK for cycling because it is mostly flat, has relatively quiet roads, and the local government has invested in making it cycle friendly. It’s beautiful and a great spot to explore the amazing south western coastal areas.
Edinburgh
Scotland might not have the most cycle friendly cities but Edinburgh is an exception. Although the city itself is based on an extinct volcano and is therefore quite hilly, it is very bike friendly. The city is worth visiting, it’s stunningly beautiful and perhaps the funniest place on earth (although the Glaswegians would disagree!). Plenty of cycle paths and the incredible surrounding countryside make it the top city to visit by bike in Scotland.
Bristol
One of the safest places in the UK to cycle, Bristol is fast rising as a cycle hub. Easy access to Wales, Devon, and Somerset makes Bristol a top destination for the curious and the adventurous. The city has a good amount of cycle-friendly infrastructure and fills in pot holes well!
Cardiff
Cardiff is the largest city in Wales and has some of the best cycling roads. It is a leafy, cosmopolitan place you can easily navigate on a bike, and if you want to go north and explore the amazing Welsh countryside, it’s a brilliant place to start.
Leeds
Leeds hosted the inaugural stage of the Tour de France in 2014 and the whole city has gone bike mad since. The annual Tour de Yorkshire draws huge crowds and the city itself is very easy to navigate on a bicycle. The centre is very compact, so everything is within easy reach. The reason so many people go to Leeds to cycle is the Yorkshire Dales, an incredible area of natural beauty less than 20 miles from the centre of Leeds. The surrounding area is full of picturesque towns and amazing cycle routes – just watch the footage from the Tour de France to see!
London
Cycling in a huge city like London is many people’s idea of hell but large parts of it are actually very bike friendly. The traffic is always a concern but recently, dedicated cycle lanes have been installed across much of the capital, making it much easier to safely get around on a bike. It is not an ideal city to commute in, but if you are visiting, it can be worth exploring on a bicycle. Richmond Park and the many other parks in the capital are beautiful in any season, and the cycling communities are very strong in London. The air is quite polluted but not as bad as some capital cities. Well over 300 bike shops dot London, making it very easy to get repairs.

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