Articles

Bike shops are a time-honored business that can thrive in most local markets. Most cycling enthusiasts invest in their own bike shops, inevitably seeing it as the best way to monetize their passion. However, being enthusiastic about cycling and bikes won’t turn your bike shop into a success story. While knowing about cycling and bike […]

People buy bikes for different purposes: For racing, road-biking, mountain-biking, touring or commuting. Whatever the reason you have for spending your hard-earned money on purchasing a bicycle, it is very important that you get the perfect bike for yourself. Or else, you would be throwing away your money. In this article, you will discover the […]

Now this is an article I was born to write. Finding a good cheap mountain bike is one of my personal strengths. I firmly believe that within reason nothing, not even a tight budget, should hold anyone back from getting their hands on a really good cheap mountain bike. The world is full of great […]

When talking of Giant Bikes, there are many reasons Giant bikes are popular among cyclists; some of these reasons include their comparative comfort, durability and stability. Giant bikes’ standover, convenience and performance are the primary qualities bikers look for when purchasing them. The Giant bikes are made for almost every type of rider and ride […]

Buying second hand or used bicycle wheelsets may seem like a really good option for anyone trying to upgrade their metal steed on a budget, but is it? There are bargains to be had out there on Ebay and the like. But before you start crawling the interbike for used bicycle wheelsets, make sure you […]

Where to Start Now you may not actually race or you might be regionally ranked in your class, but regardless of how good you are, your equipment might be holding you back. That is one of the real drawbacks to a sport like cycling, with good bikes starting around $2000 and quality wheelsets at $500, […]

Whatever your biking purpose, whether to climb a mountain, travel cross-country, race or coast to work or school, your bike needs a good pair of tires to accomplish this interesting mission. Several cyclists have found themselves in a really dangerous situation whereby their tires suddenly explode. The main reason for this kind of life-threatening accident […]

It is every biker’s dream to enjoy a smooth ride to wherever he/she wants to go, whether heading to work, school, or on a cross-country run. A good road bike needs a good, new set of wheels (front and rear) to sail effortlessly on the road. This complete guide will take you through the processes […]

How do you like to ride? Do you like to just eat up miles by yourself; or just get stuck cranking in the Peloton? Do you just ride to work or to the next town over every weekend with your riding buddies? When you are ready to commit to getting better for your own sake […]

This New Year, it’s probably time to upgrade the factory wheelset on your bike. Just about any wheelset will offer huge perks over the existing aging wheels on your bike. You can improve performance and durability of your bike with a new wheelset. If you are a cyclist short on cash, don’t worry, this year […]

Want to go faster for longer? Don’t buy a new road bike, change the wheels. It could be single best upgrade you make to your bike, and will show results when you ride, straight away. Investing in a new bike in the hope you will be able to increase your average speed might work, but […]

There are certain undeniable facts when it comes to carbon fiber. Since 2000, carbon fiber bikes have won every major event. And like most introductions of new materials and designs, the later iterations have only gotten better. Carbon fiber wheelsets are light, aero, and considerably much more expensive than their aluminum counterparts. They look great […]

There are numerous road bike wheelset manufacturing brands out there. Sometimes it can be confusing to know which is best and which is not. Each brand offers unique features, such as stability, reliability or affordability. Here is a list of the top 20 road bike wheel brands currently in the market, in ranking order: 1. […]

Most people are satisfied with the stock set of wheels that come with bikes. But if you are a serious cyclist, you might consider upgrading your road bike wheels depending on your needs. A new wheelset can add extra capabilities to your bike. For example, if you have a road bike, you can buy a […]

For one reason or another, you may want to use indoor bike trainer stand. This normally happens when the weather is not good for cycling outside, most especially when it is raining or snowing heavily. Other bikers resort to using indoor bike trainer stands when they are warming up for outside biking, training for a […]

For me, there are 5 different types of bikes you should know. I left off a few from this list because they might be a subcategory of one of these others or they may just not be super important. For example, beach cruisers may be a fun way to ride on Saturdays down at the […]

We’ve talked a lot about Electric bikes before, in the context of commuting to and from work and using them to ride on the streets, but how do E-bikes fit in the big wide world of sports? Are electric bikes welcome in mountain biking? Are they looked down on? The answer is an anti-climactic “both”. […]

If you are a bicycle aficionado, you can probably list out all of the ways that cycling is better than almost any form of transport. There are certain departments in which this lean machine could considered to be lacking, nonetheless. This namely is in the lack of space that is available. If you want to […]

Face it. Urban cycling can suck harder than a Dyson vacuum. Magazines sell a happy-go-lucky version in which the sun is always shining, floral dresses are a fun fashion statement, and traffic doesn’t exist. But we all know it’s nonsense. The realities of city riding are typically more lackluster, if not decisively grim. Forget any […]

If you have read any of my other articles you would know I am pretty adamant about bikes being a utilitarian machine. The reason I say that so much and why I believe is because I believe anyone is capable of maintaining their own bicycles and I am going to give you a few tips […]

Bicycle touring has a rich and unique history. From working class travel in late 19th century Europe, to US soldier brigades traveling entirely by bike in the early 1900’s history has seen its share of people who supported and got the most out of bike travel. However, prior to 1976, bicycle touring was really seen […]

Are Walmart bikes really only for kids? Surely, they can’t all be that bad, right? I mean it’s the whole stack ‘em high, sell ‘em cheap mentality. Places like Walmart have an awful lot of buying power. Certainly they have a shedload more than your average bike shop, and even the larger bike shop chains. […]

Everyone hates cyclists. Even Cyclists hate cyclists. Of course this is a problem on a website about, and for bikes. There’s a real possibility the list could end up with nothing more than why cyclists rule the world, and people in cars are all morons. But nothing could be further than the truth. Because when […]

Disease, war, poverty and genocide have riddled Africa for decades. Unfortunately movies and television shows have brought more awareness to this problem than the best documented news story ever could. For the devastated continent, any help and awareness is needed. A few years ago a German based bicycle club of 600 members, Bike Aid, decided […]

One of my favorite cycling books is New York Bike Style by Sam Polcer. No other book cover the diverse cyclist population as well as Polcer’s book, so I’m happy that we recently had a chance to talk with him and ask a few questions. Why did you decide to photograph cyclists and their bikes? […]

Do you feel that burn in your thighs while riding your bike every day? This is a guarantee when you are a cyclist. You’re always going to get a great work out in the process of enjoying your favorite hobby. Everyone knows how good cycling is for your health. However a lot of people who […]

Before I give you suggestions about trailer bikes, I wanted to answer the question of “Why Trailer Bikes?” So this is clearly a website for people who like riding and reading about bikes, and you might even say that we think so highly about bikes that we want to share these beautiful machines with other […]

Bikepacking is a relatively new thing on the scene. Although touring and other forms of bike travel have been around for quite some time, it really hasn’t been until now that folks are starting to make gear and bikes specific to bikepacking. Obviously we can’t explore everything but what I can do is give you […]

I still have the beautiful Italian made rollers that I saved up for in my 20s, and also a wind trainer (a rear wheel stabilized in a truss). But more regarding equipment later. I live in an area that has on average 4 meters of snowfall each winter and temperatures routinely get down below -18 […]

Alice Goffart and Andoni Rodelgo biked around the world for 7 years. They started shortly after their first child Maïa was born, kept going through their second pregnancy and gave birth to Unai on the road! In this exclusive interview they share why they decided to bike around the world, how it affected the children, […]

Having the right tires on your bike is important for good performance and comfortable ride but you may end up sabotaging your cycling experience by having the wrong air pressure in your tires. What is then the correct pressure a tire must have? Outlined below are ten strategic things you must know about road bike […]

I am going to start this article off with a bold statement; “wearing padded cycling shorts will boost your comfort and health while riding your bicycle”. In my opinion padded bike shorts add as much to your biking experience as do clip in shoes. Now I know it maybe hard to initially wear a pair […]

The question most amateur and some professional bikers often ask is this: What is the difference between the “regular” Specialized bikes and the Specialized S-works bikes? This is an important question, so we have decided to highlight all the things you must know about the best Specialized S-works bikes: Special Dealers Specialized S-works bikes are […]

If you are like most touring cyclists, you’re in perpetual search of the next new and exciting destination. If you are looking, we have a suggestion for you: Asheville and Western North Carolina in the southeast United States. We are biased since we are locals and provide bicycle tours in the area, but we know […]

Car crashes or traffic crashes are among the 10 biggest killers in the world. Human life is a fragile thing indeed, and there are simply way too many crashes happening right now. In the time that it takes you to make breakfast every morning, hundreds of people are killed in crashes around the world. This […]

Are helmets safe? Are they really? I know what your knee-jerk reaction will be. “Yes, you moron, wearing a helmet protects your head while riding a bike, therefore helmets are safe”. And you would be right. But there’s just one factor that we have tactfully ignored when looking at helmet safety data. That is the […]

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, there was a planet called Earth. On this planet full of water and green prickly things, there was a very strange race of creatures indeed, called people. They were rather primitive at first, but soon began to develop. They dreamed of flying among the stars. […]

It was Bill Gates that said: “I choose a lazy person to do a hard job. Because a lazy person will find an easy way to do it.” That right there is the very essence of what it means to Slacker bike commute. Is this the really the ultimate Slackers guide to bikes and bike […]

Every once in a while, you come across something that is so out there in terms of awesomeness that you just can’t believe your own senses. This is exactly the feeling that you get when you see the video of the Trisled concept 4-seater velomobile on its first test run. Shrouded in mystery, the custom-made […]

Just give me some food Some of us have been there, (I know I have) just finished with a long ride, raiding the pantry, refrigerator, anything to satisfy that deep hunger caused from an extended stretch in the saddle. While it is no doubt important to refuel our bodies after a long ride, some foods […]

For a long time I thought that all bike shops and all bike mechanics were pretty much the same wherever you went. I thought we were all supposed to be part of this one world bike community. A place where we could all live happily and peacefully. A place where when we saw a fellow […]

Even if you are brand new to mountain biking or cycling in general there’s no need to go out there and show yourself up like one. Maybe you’ve decided that mountain biking is your new passion. Maybe you’re just interested in doing some riding that isn’t boring as Hell like road biking is. Whatever your […]

We have just finished this infographic that will show you the top 30 bike lanes in cities and countries all around the world. All of them have their perks, and they are known for being some of the most bike-friendly places anywhere. Share This Image So why should cities and countries around the world follow […]

It is no secret that exercise has health benefits too numerous to recount. Aerobic exercise can extend your life, help you lose weight and fight depression all at the same time. There is something about raising your heart rate and sweating a bit that works to heal a person’s body and ward off physical and […]

The world of cycling is a vast one indeed. In china alone, there are over 450 million cyclists, making it one of the most popular forms of self-powered transport in the world. There is a huge range of jobs that you can take up if you are a cyclists, or if you are into cycling […]

Bike fitting and sizing is something we have all had trouble with. Even the best fitters in the world who work with all the best triathletes and professional racers at one time did not know their saddle was too high or their frame too small. Now they use laser levels and special electronics to determine […]

Boo! Halloween is just around the corner, and everyone is already getting their popcorn and costumes ready. If you haven’t started yet, you definitely should before it’s too late! As a cycling enthusiast, there are some pretty innovative costumes out there for you. You won’t have to give up the bike for this Halloween, that’s […]

“Shrink and pink”. This is a common phrase among bike companies when it comes to building bikes for women. The phrase in itself is very demeaning indeed. However, it cannot be denied that this is the mentality the cycling community has towards women. Bikes aside, it is the mentality most of the world has towards […]

Shopping for a new mountain bike is an exciting prospect to be sure. But how does one know what size frame to ride? It can be a daunting task to say the least to find that perfect fit. There are more options than ever for a mountain biker today, when he or she begins to […]

First Step – is YOU Well, before either a trike or a balance bike, your toddler needs to come along with you often in a kid seat on your bike so he knows what it’s like to feel the wind in his hair and on his face; how it feels to be propelled on a […]

There are so many bike rack options out there that I put together this quick guide to understanding your needs and to inform you about some of your best options on the market today. But before we get into the nitty gritty let’s talk about why you might need a bike rack. Why don’t you […]

The rise of dedicated bicycling infrastructure in cities and towns around the globe has compelled more fossil fuel refugees to pick up the healthy habit of commuting to work and making small trips across town by bicycle. In fact, since 2000, bicycle commuting has proven to be the fastest growing commuting method in the United […]

As cycling becomes a more popular form of urban transportation every day in the U.S. and other countries around the world, local governments have begun to help us cyclists by drawing out bike lanes for us to cycle safely in. This is a very welcome addition to any city street. In many suburbs or small […]

There are a ton of bad drivers out there. Some of them don’t even intend to be bad, but they are excellent at doing it anyway. These people can be from all walks of life. It doesn’t matter what color you are or what language you speak, you are always going to have to deal […]

Patrick Jones and Meg Ulman spend a year cycling up and down the east coast of Australia with their two boys. Great idea – and what really made their trip unique was that they aimed to live of foraging, roadkill and other free food! By doing so, they showed just how much free food there […]

So in this article I want to begin with the “how” part. If you have read any of my other articles you will know that I truly believe the bike is a utilitarian machine. It is easy to work on, fun to customize, and even more fun to ride around. Sure there are plenty of […]

For some reason, despite their convenience, folding bikes have never really been the most popular type of bike out there. In fact, I can count the number of times I’ve seen on in person on my fingers. I can’t imagine why they haven’t picked up, especially for road riders. It’s probably a style thing; like […]

The Transcontinental is one of the most extreme races in the world. 4000+ km (2485+ miles) from Geraardsbergen, Flanders in Belgium to Istanbul in Turkey. The whole race is unsupported, so there are no team cars and no fresh bikes if your bike breaks down. You are on your own and have to fix all […]

We love cargo bikes, so a few weeks ago we took a look at why cargo bikes are better than delivery trucks. After reading the article, one of our readers told us about what is probably the biggest cargo bike in the world: The 8rad which is 5 meters long, 2 meters wide and supported […]

Just when you thought things couldn’t get any better than this, you find out that car manufacturers have begun to branch out into bikes. In reality, carmakers have been producing and branding bikes for over 15 years. Mercedes-Benz started this trend by branding an AMP mountain bike. The bike could be folded into a suitcase […]

Pets are the most amazing things ever. We have all had pets, or wanted to at some point in our lives. Every now and then, animals tend to do the funniest things ever. For example, they ride bikes, they get in the way of bikers at races, etc. They do all sorts of things that […]

The United States is famous for indulging in nearly anything that happens in the world. For example, when you say bike race, they have so many fun events that it is hard to tear your eyes away once you’ve started looking. In fact, every day there are bigger and better races and events being thought […]

Each year, about 1,300,000 people are killed in road accidents. This is a mind-numbing number of deaths for the worst reason in the world. This means that over 3,000 people die every single day due to collisions on the road. With numbers like that, you start to wonder how the world is still on the […]

When you are in the market for a new bike, you need to stop and think a minute. Is it really worth spending nearly $4000 on a brand new road bike? It doesn’t make sense, when all you want to use the bike for is your daily commute. Getting from point A to point B […]

If you are a parent and you are worried about finding the best bike helmets for your toddler or young kid, this comprehensive guide contains all the necessary information you need before making that sensitive decision concerning which helmet to buy. These twelve attributes of good helmets for kids are essential and they must be […]

Cycling is fast becoming one of the most popular ways to travel again. More people are cycling to and from work every day. In fact, urban cycling is becoming far trendier than it used to be. As more people realize the effects of vehicles on the environment, they begin to look for greener alternatives. When […]

Donkey Republic has the potential to revolutionize bike sharing everywhere and become the Uber of cycling. From humble beginnings, the company has developed their own cell phone controlled locks and a bike sharing system that isn’t dependent on stations where the bikes have to be picked up and returned. Instead, Donkey Republic’s bikes can be […]

In May 2010, Google implemented the first self-driven cars. For those of you who don’t know about this, try reading the news sometime. These cars seemed to be straight out of a science fiction movie. They used a complex system of lasers, sensors and computer programs to predict the behavior of other vehicles. They could […]

Historically, in 2008, a German named Gunter Mai surprised the entire cycling world by manufacturing the lightest road bike ever, weighed at just under 3.2 kg. In his succeeding model, he brought its weight down to roughly 2.8kg. And Mai reportedly logged over 20,000km on the bike in its first two years. Since then, lightest […]

A lot of people may be surprised to know that folding recumbent bicycles have actually been around for a very long time. On records, some folding recumbent bikes had already been manufactured in 1892 and were known to the general public. The users of old folding recumbent bikes then were nobility and people of incomparable […]

Everyone goes through a stressful period in their lives at some point. In a world where everyone is rushing to get their work done, it is a given that you will be stressed out. It is hard to vent out this pressure that can come on you. It can be for a number of reasons, […]

The bicycle is a utilitarian machine. It is easy and fun to ride, low cost to operate, and relatively easy to repair. Are you tired of paying for what seems like something you could do yourself? Interested in giving it a go? Well then let’s start right here and I’ll help you on your way […]

If you’re like me, then the first time you heard the term “motorized bicycle” you might have thought the person saying it was crazy, because it doesn’t sound like a million dollar idea at first glance. A motorized bicycle? At that point you might as well just get a motorcycle, right? Oh, how wrong you […]

Congratulations on preparing to purchase your first road bicycle! While you may not be able to afford the likes of Chris Froome or Marianne Vos’ rides, you can definitely identify a number of affordable and high performance bicycles well within your budget. In fact, with the right combination of training and quality bike components, you […]

The world of cycling is very diverse. There are many resources, both online and in print, that deal with cycling and everything associated with it. However, different cyclists have very different opinions on what the content of such resources should be. It has always been about print media. Cycling magazines impart a sense of class […]

These days it is very hard to find anything that is unique. Everyone wears the same clothes. The cars people drive all look the same and even more depressing is that all the houses that people live in all seem similar. Especially if you live in a condominium where the housing association tells you how […]

The beach cruiser bike, or simply the cruiser bike, is a close relative of the lowrider bike. They are one of the simpler bikes to use, maintain and ride. You’ve probably heard of all the cruiser bikes available nowadays, and know them for being heavy, durable bicycles. The bikes are becoming more popular, and have […]

Disc brakes are a feature that has existed for decades for vehicles, but has only recently popped up in the world of cycling. In 1997, Hayes created the first bicycle disc brake, intended for mountain bikes. It didn’t hold. Nobody wanted an overpowered new brake, when V-brakes were working perfectly well. Hayes kept on pushing […]

BMX bikes are known all over the world of cycling as off-road bikes that are used mainly for racing and tricks. The very name BMX means “Bicycle Motocross”. There are many kinds of BMX bikes in the world, each with their own particular use. Each type has a different quality of build, and is intended […]

For a long time, bicycles have used a very traditional type of brakes. These are known as the rim brakes, and nearly every road bike (see all our reviews) and mountain bike (see all our reviews) has had them (and still does). They work by means of a rubber brake pad that is just over the rim […]

So, right off the bat, if you don’t know what a bike-share is, it’s a program in which many bicycle stations are set up, and people can rent a bike to use for a certain time frame and return it at a different station. It’s seen in many cities where cycling infrastructure is growing, and […]

Bikes are simultaneously the coolest thing about being human and at times the most frustrating. Did you remember your lock, your lights…your rain gear? These are things cyclists are constantly forgetting or worrying about. In this article I am going to give you the best ideas for protecting your bike from all the would be […]

Ouch! Who knew two wheels and a metal frame could cost so much money? I mean, compared to a car, bicycles cost peanuts but still, sometimes when you’re on a budget, you can’t afford a $5000 bike. Even if you can, you’d probably like to see if there’s similarly good quality bikes at a better […]

So you have decided to treat yourself to a new road bicycle. First of all congratulations, your heart and legs are going to thank you. Maybe not after the first few rides but definitely within the first few months. Whether this is your first road bike or your 101st you still have to make sure […]

If you want to enjoy riding your road bikes and derive maximum comfort doing so, the first important thing you must do is to choose the most appropriate tires and rims. You may want to concentrate on some great features like the tires’ rolling resistance, aerodynamics, widths (inch widths), types, whether they should be tubeless […]

In today’s world, the price of fuel is rocketing higher. Fossil fuels are running out. As this happens, more and more people are turning towards bicycles as their preferred mode of transport. This is a fact that cannot be ignored. However, it should also be noted that most of you bike owners haven’t even considered […]

What is a Recumbent Bicycle? To begin, let’s talk about what a recumbent bike actually is. Many cyclists have encountered them either out on the roads or in their local shop but haven’t actually taken the time to get to know them. Recumbent bikes at the most basic level are bikes which place the rider […]

Our climate is changing, and time is running out to take thoughtful action. If you’re like me, you may feel powerless in defending yourself and those that you love from the negative impacts of climate change. Despite our fears, the Union of Concerned Scientists suggests that at the most individual level we can positively impact […]

To successfully enjoy biking, you need to equip yourself with at least some of the following items. A lot of bikers make it compulsory for themselves to carry most of these items while enjoying their local rides. You should do the same if you want to enjoy similar experiences. If you are missing some of […]

This is a world of fast cars and loud motorbikes. Nobody has time for the good old bicycle anymore. That reliable alloy steed has all but died out in this new Age. However, one cannot deny that the bicycle is the greenest mode of transportation out there. It requires nothing but old fashioned elbow grease […]

When you’re a new parent, you want to make sure that you are able to be with your child wherever you go. If this means taking your baby to work and letting him chill by the water cooler, sure. You’d do it. Anything to have the little tyke close to you. If you’re a bike […]

When people indulge themselves into having a hobby, they always find it interesting to be witnesses of the evolution of trends related to it. But just as it happens to anything in life, trends tend to attract both acceptance and rejection. Bike riding is no exception. One good example of such a trend is fat tire bikes. […]

The beauty of the age of consumerism is that there are so many options and styles and materials for saddles these days that finding the most comfortable saddle in the world ever isn’t as hard as it used to be. Finding the most comfortable saddle today is about knowing your anatomy, your limitations, and ultimately […]

Tubeless bike tires have come to stay, but the questions most cyclists are asking: will the tubeless bike tires become the norm for future bikers? It is fair to state that the tubeless technology is still in its infancy, there are plenty of updates and innovation tire makers can make on the existing types. With […]

Indoor Cycling or Spinning has been around for a long time now and it looks like it is going to be here for a lot longer. It is a good low impact way to raise your heart rate, burn some calories and increase your lung capacity. So if you haven’t given it a try yet, […]

Rebecca Rusch is a legend in mountain biking. 6 x world champion, 4 x Leadville 100 champion and a lot of other incredible achievements. In this interview she explains a lot about her background, how she train and how she keeps winning. How did you get into mountain biking? I got into cycling because I […]

Every rider I have talked to has reiterated one thing; the tire and wheel you ride depends entirely on what type of riding you will be doing. Now I am almost certain there is an overlap in effectiveness and only at the highest level of racing does the perfect tread, casing, weight, and wheel material […]

Politicians are just human like the rest of us. And sometimes humans say some really, really stupid things. There’s no end to the people who take a stand against cycling and want to prevent the spread of cycling infrastructure. There’s always been opponents to cycling. People don’t want cyclists on the road. They don’t want […]

Bikes: You see one you like, you buy it you ride it Maybe after a while, you add a water bottle holder. A little while after that, you buy a bell from the local store, and you add that too. You go back out, you ride, you like it, but you look just like everyone […]

Hipster’s and fixies go together like Donald Trump and being completely out of sync with the reality of everyday life. For anyone out there who thinks that Trump somehow has a clue about the real world, or is some sort of entrepreneurial tycoon behemoth, just remember this: When Donald Trump started out on his own […]

Fellow commuters, I want to tell you something that you will rarely hear from drivers, pedestrians, public transit passengers, and politicians; thank you. Your commitment to pedaling to work every day contributes in big ways to improving the health and well-being of our communities. As someone who recognizes the valuable contributions you are making every […]

Clarence Eckerson runs Streetfilms. Through Streetfilms, he has made more than 700 films about cycling and sustainable transportation. 700+ films that has been played more than 10 million times in total! In this interview Clarence talks about how Streetfilms started out, how he is making the films, his favorite films and what he think about […]

As electric cars get more and more popular, environmentalists are hailing the change, welcoming it with open arms. And yes, electric cars are great. They are a lot better than normal cars when it comes to pollution. However, they are not a perfect solution, and there are still a lot of problems; problems that can [...]

You’ve heard of getaway cars right? Well what about getaway bicycles? Like almost anything in society, if it exists, it’s been stolen or used to commit a crime at some point. Bicycles are no exception to the rule. Bike theft is a big deal just about everywhere were bikes are popular. But that’s not the […]

Managing a bike rental shop isn’t a whole lot different from managing anything else. It has its successes and shortfalls, it has tough customers and curious tourists, and there are always going to be good employees and bad employees. All in all it is pretty simple. As a manager I am basically given a budget […]

Thousands of cyclists are massacred and killed every year. More than 700 are massacred and killed in the United States alone and it sometimes seem like it’s never going to get better. The Ride of Silence honors the many cyclists who have been killed or injured while cycling. The ride started in 2003 after endurance […]

I teach a bicycle mechanics program to children and teens with developmental and mental disabilities. My knowledge of bicycle mechanics stems first from my love of riding bicycles. I began commuting by bike in college 8 years ago and I have been doing it ever since. While moving around the country I was constantly taking […]

If you don’t live in one of the world’s bike havens, then I guarantee all your deliveries go something like this: the post office receives your letters or packages. They load it in a big truck. And then that big truck drives to your mailbox and drops your stuff off. Wash, rinse, repeat. But there’s […]

Robert Crane runs Bobs bikes for needy kids. When I first heard about Robert, I was really touched because Robert’s life’s mission is to provide free bikes to needy children – and although he gets most of the bikes donated, he is also financing a lot of the expenses out of his own pocket. If […]

What is it with single speed mountain bikes? What’s the temptation, and why would you bother in the first place? I mean isn’t that why the God of Bikes invented gears, so we could all make it to the top of the hill without having a heart attack? Why would you want to go slower, […]

For me, trying to write an article about the best type of BMX is the best choice for you, is like trying to decide which of my children I like best… …It’s like trying to decide what movie to watch on Netflix on Friday night. Do you settle down to watch the latest release or […]

Will the next mayor of London ban private cars? Mayoral candidate Rosalind Readhead wants to ban private cars in central London, so the streets will be safer and there will be less damaging pollution. If all the private cars disappear, she has big plans for how all the space taken up by cars can be […]

pedaling two wheels to work Everyone should learn to ride a bike. It’s as easy as learning to ride…well, a bike. And the thing is once you have learned is not something you ever forget you can do. Almost all of us learned to ride as kids. Most people remember all too well their first […]

Tilmann Waldthaler has been cycling since October 1977! So far he has visited 143 countries and cycled 462,000 km (287,000 miles). His tours have been full of adventure, including crossing the Himalaya mountains, being shot at in Iran and meeting his wife in the middle of Sahara. In this interview he explains how he travels, […]

The situation? Children. You want to take them with you wherever you go. As much as you love them, and as much as you wouldn’t change them for anything else in the world, the advent of children coming into your life can seem to jam the metaphorical chain of your biking world; for years it […]

Not all MTB’s are created equal. That goes without saying. Or does it? Well, maybe if you’re really into it and you’ve been doing it for years and spend your weekends running up and down trails. But if mountain biking is something new to you that you want to get into then you might want […]

Summer might be over for us, but worry not. Come spring, the heat wave will begin again. Not every part of the country is lucky enough to have proper seasons though. Some parts, such as Texas, are going through a tough time with a lot of humidity and a full-blown heat wave sweeping across the […]

If Copenhagen is any indication, more cyclists and cycling infrastructure can only make things better in the big city. And yet, you often see a lot of indifference or opposition in cities that haven’t begun the switch to a bicycle city yet. It can be a huge obstacle for people all around the world who […]

Gary Sansom is running BMXmuseum.com where you can check out more than 50,000 classic BMX bikes. On top of that, he has hundreds of classic BMX bikes in his basement – and he used to be expert rider himself in the early 80’s. That’s not bad at all, so I arranged an interview with Gary: […]

Steven Abraham is biking 75,000+ miles this year (more than 120,000 km). If he manage to ride those 200+ miles/day, he is going to beat a world record that haven’t been beaten for more than 75 years and set a new UMCA Highest Annual Mileage Record! Here on Icebike.org we have talked with several randonneurs […]

If you love biking, and you also have a dog, then the chances are you will never get the 2 of then to mix well together. With all those moving parts, and dogs being what they are; trying to hold a leash with one hand, a handlebar with the other, and not being pulled off […]

You ride a bike because you want to do your bit for the environment, right? You’re aware of your carbon footprint, and although what secretly pushes you onward is the thrill of the thin layer of rubber between you and utter destruction, you’re smugly satisfied at the fact that you’re also doing good. But your […]

Not so long ago I got in contact with Kris Holm who is probably the world’s leading mountain unicyclist. He is famous for having cycled on a mountain unicycle all over the world and for having created his own bicycle brand. Given the chance, I had to ask him a few questions about unicycling: How […]

The class starts in minutes. You’re new at this type of thing. A crowd assembles at the door. Some of them seem to know each other. Wasn’t this supposed to be a beginner’s class? Why does everyone seem to be talking to each other like they already know what they’re doing? Why does everyone have […]

When he was 19, one of my friends biked everywhere. He biked to basketball practice, to class, to nights out, and to his part-time job. He even rode the 15 miles to the nearest decent mountain bike trail so he could spend the day going up and down the side of the hill trails all […]

Dave Sherry is being called ‘Britain’s most hated cyclist’ and ‘the most hated man on two wheels’. He is being called these things because he films drivers breaking road laws on his daily commute. Video from his three helmet cameras have secured convictions for 70 drivers so far – and more are sure to come […]

In a time of heroes…no hold on. In a time of legends…no that’s not right either. Ah, got it. In a time where over 300 hours of video are uploaded to YouTube every minute, it can sometimes be tough to find the exact action you’re after on the internet. The same can be said for […]

Welcome to Copenhagen, although if you’re a fan of two-wheeled transportation, you’ll probably come to know it as bicycle heaven. Copenhagen is the city with more bikes than people, at a rate of 5 bikes to 4 people. Many cities in Europe have taken steps to make cycling the dominant form of transportation in cities, […]

When we made our velomobile graphic, I emailed a bit with Carl Georg Rasmussen – the creator of the rather famous Leitra velomobiles. While emailing, I asked Carl Georg if he could tell us a bit about the background of the Leitras and how he started making them: Before the Leitras I have always been […]

What a lot of people don’t realize when it comes to recumbent bicycles is that they’ve been around for a very long time. In fact, even in 1892, recumbent bikes were being made and manufactured for the general public. The recumbent form of biking then, isn’t some new fad or quirky design that’s only come […]

A velomobile, for those who don’t know, is a human powered vehicle. Also known as a bicycle car, these things are based off of the recumbent bikes and tricycles, and have a full, aerodynamic outer shell that protects them from weather and crashes. Most of these devices are three or four wheeled, though two wheeled […]

While researching for a bicycle touring graphic we are making, I came across Iohan Gueorguiev who have done some very cold trips in Canada in the middle of the winter (unlike most people he actually seems to enjoy cold weather and icy roads). Prefering summer myself, I thought it was interesting to talk with Iohan […]

You do not need to buy a dedicated woman’s mountain bike if you are female. Seriously. It’s a myth that men and women need gender separate bicycles. If you take one fact from this entire article, or any article about buying mountain bikes, take this one. There is no anatomical reason why men and women […]

Since we’re approaching the 200 year anniversary of the first bicycle, we thought it would be a good time to get you all caught up with the last 2 centuries of two-wheeled history. Bicycles have been a big part of our society for a while now; almost everyone in the first world has learned to […]

A few weeks ago I heard about Shirine who is biking around the world. That is impressive by itself, but what is even more impressive is that she started when she was 20 years old, that she did it alone for the first 10 months and that she survives on just $5 per day! It […]

Kids love riding bikes. Remember the sheer thrill of riding your first bike? More likely than not, it is one of the presents you will never forget. As a bonus, it gets kids fit, gets them outside, offers them some independence, and most all of riding is fun. The great news is that kids can […]

Wherever you go with a beach cruiser you are going to turn heads in a good way! They look cool, they feel cool to ride, and they’re normally cheaper than an equivalent road or mountain bike. Beach cruisers stand out. Owning a Beach cruiser is like owning olden day class. They aren’t designed to race […]

Nancy Sathre-Vogel went on a trip that took her from Alaska to Argentina and lasted almost three years. And she was not alone. Together with her was her husband and their two 10 year old children. Here she tells us about the trip, how it is to do long distance biking as a family and […]

Having the knowledge of bike sizing can be quite helpful in selecting the right bike for your pleasurable and comfortable ride. If the right size is chosen, the bike can run faster and will be easier to handle. Categories and sizes Road bikes’ frames could be made from aluminium, steel, carbon fiber and titanium. The […]

So you want a new bike but you’re not sure whether you want a racer or a mountain bike and you’re confused by all the choice out there. Don’t worry. That’s why we’re here. First things first. Why would you even choose a hybrid bike? For me the real question, is why would you not? […]

A long time ago someone suggested I should buy a folding bike for my morning commute to the office. I laughed at them. Why would I try something that looked like it belonged in 1975? I’d had enough of being laughed at in school for just being me. I had never needed any one else’s […]

Looking in a newspaper one day, I saw a picture of a bike with a house on – sort of a bike-autocamper. I had never seen anything like that before, so after a bit of research I found out that the bike was a project made by the artist Keven Cyr. Very interesting, so I […]

Winter cycling offers the opportunity to retain, and even enhance, your cycling skills over the whole year. There are very few days during the winter in which cycling becomes impossible. If your able to cross-country ski, then your ready to cycle. The secret to successful winter cycling is when your able to stay warm and […]

Editors note: The Åland Islands group consists of nearly three hundred inhabitable islands, of which about eighty are inhabited, the remainder being desolate rocks. These islands form a continuation of Åbo skärgård (in Finnish, Turunmaan saaristo), the archipelago adjacent to the southeast coast of Finland. More info about the Åland Islands. Visibility   There were […]

“Hello, this is Richard Chin. I’m calling from…” ” Oh great, another telephone survey. It was Saturday morning and I was packing for an adventure. A telephone survey was not going to happen. I was about to hang up when he said “…ththe Pioneer Free Press in St Paul. I’m a reporter covering the Arrowhead […]

Before we get practical a little of the magic. Cruising through a white landscape while the sunlight makes the snow sparkle like millions of microscopic paparazzi popping off as you glide by. The light provided by a low sun making a fine layer of powder snow rising off your front tire glowingly reveal hypnotic changes […]

Legendary among racers and largely unknown elsewhere, the Iditasport Impossible is a human-powered winter journey tracing Alaska’s historic Iditarod Trail. It’s more of an expedition than a race; we navigate unmarked dogsled and snowmachine routes 1,100 miles from Knik to Nome, and support is limited to boxes of food and clothing sent to checkpoints prior […]

In March of 1998 I completed the Iditasport Extreme, an on-snow race which followed the Iditarod trail for about 350 miles, beginning at the roadhouse on Knik Lake and finishing in the village of McGrath, in interior Alaska. In the months prior to the race I drew on all of my wilderness and endurance racing […]

I am a long time Mountainbike Journalist from Austria. My friends and me have formed a progressive Mountainbike Freeride group years ago, Headquarters in Innsbruck, Tyrol/Austria. The Group is called the “VertRiders”. There’s also a web project which is planned to be updated in January. Believe me, the “Verts” are totally addicted to winter riding. […]

I have a very bad tendency to seek tough mountain bike events. The events where you compete against yourself, where finishing is an accomplishment. The ones that make your parents wake up at night in a cold sweat. It all started in 1994 when I registered our team of five for the 24 Hours of […]

Icebikers have special needs when it comes to the layers next to the skin. While normal outdoor winter activity may require a simple pair of cotton long johns under jeans, this simply won’t do for winter cycling. Cyclists produce great amounts of heat (and sweat) and the traditional approaches to warmth just don’t work. First, […]

Ice bike ride Saturday After last weekends hectic organization of Winnipeg’s inaugural Ice Bike Event this weekend was spent in more leisurely pursuits. On this Saturday the whole family rose late. After breakfast Josh and I headed off for a ride up the Red River. There was a strong South wind so we ended up […]

Icebikers sometimes think themselves unique or inventive, and almost always believe themselves to be resourceful. These beliefs are all true of course, and athletic, competitive, self reliant and macho suggest themselves frequently as well. Icebikers sometimes think that winter cycling is relatively new, an invention of the last 10 years or so, made possible by […]

There is frequently much discussion as to why we cycle slower in winter than in summer. There are several reasons put forward for this often observed phenomena, some of which are well reasoned and some of which are pure nonsense. Why Slower? Some of the reasons put forth for slowness in winter are as follows: […]

Note that bike speed into still air is the same as wind speed. Cyclists are often moving at 15mph even on very cold days. A quick glance at the chart below indicates that you loose heat at a rate that seems much colder than the outside temperature. 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 -5 […]

In the winter of 98/99 Icebike.org conducted a survey of winter cycling using an automated web page which tallied answers to the twenty questions printed below. The survey was first posted only on the Icebike mailing list. After the membership of that list responded, the survey was made available to the internet as a whole […]

A lot of people have ask me how I can possibly ride through a New England winter. Dressing properly for the weather certainly has a great deal to do with my enjoyment of it, but I have to admit that I also really get a kick out of the looks on people’s faces when I […]

There are certain common techniques that seem to be useful in many varieties of snow and ice. If you are new to icebiking you may find the collected experiences of dozens of other icebikers from all over the world useful in your first year. These tips were garnered from the mailing list topics. You will […]

Off road tires In many instances normal mountain bike tires work fairly well for winter riding. Trail riding (often following snowmobile tracks) can be done with normal tires if you let some air out so that you are running at the lowest pressure you can get by with. For normal tires, this might be pressures […]

Lights aren’t really a winter cycling issue, but since it is dark longer in winter, you tend to need bicycle lights in the winter. You want to be sure that your choice works in the cold. Remember, that if you ride the roads, you need brighter lights than on the trail, because roads tend to […]

Winterizing a freehub is simply overhauling it with the right lubricant. This piece should help you decide whether you need to winterize your freehub and get you through the procedure if you decide to try. Manufacturers assemble freehubs with varying amounts of fairly thick grease in the bearings and pawls. At temperatures below about 20 […]

Many icebikers end up being rain bikers or snow-melt bikers or in some other way attract a lot of dirty water to the backside of their biking togs. Sooner or later the original idea of fenders dawns on the soggy rider and then the search is on of a good pair, which weighs nothing, looks […]

Cycling mirrors are one of those subjects that bring on arguments almost as intense as the “Helmet Wars” found on any cycling discussion on the Internet. They come around once every 6 months or so, and usually leave a lot of acrimony hanging in the ether. Roadies think they are too sexy to use mirrors, […]

In winter everything becomes problematic. Even the simple bike computer. The problem is not the computers themselves, but trying to use them can be maddening when you have winter gloves, or worse, lobster claws or mittens on, and your fingers are an inch wide. Those little buttons are often hard to push. Since much winter […]

Last fall I noticed that my well used rain pants were no longer waterproof. They tended to cling when wet, and the nylon had worn thin in the seat. The zippers had long since failed, and been replaced with Velcro, and even that was failing. No matter how much ScotchGard Outdoor I used on them […]

What do you wear on your legs when it gets really cold out? Looking in all of the various bike catalogs you see that the super warm tights are good down to – get this, 45 Degrees (F). Well, that takes care of October, but what about Winter? The availability of cold weather tights has […]

What to wear in the winds of winter? How to keep from freezing? This is what keeps a lot of folks from icebiking, fear of the cold. But as we have stated elsewhere, fear of overheating is more warranted. This is not to say that you can’t get cold out there. However, as long as […]

You loose a lot of heat through your head. The old ice-fisherman’s adage is that if your feet get cold put a hat on. When icebiking, the heat loss through your head can be a blessing if you are working up a sweat. However, most of the time you are fighting wind-chill of the face […]

Eyewear may be necessary, or simply desirable, or something you never even consider. Icebikers have more reasons to wear glasses than most cyclists, and more problems with them too. In addition to prescription lenses, other reasons to wear glasses include howling winds and blowing snow. When riding on broad expanses of snow, such as a […]

Beside the fact that they are out in the cold and the wind-chill, your hands are also locked in the same position on the bike for your entire ride. This can reduce circulation and you can get really cold hands, perhaps frost bitten in short order. During the early fall or late spring a set […]

Here we cover the type of equipment you can use for icebiking. You will find a wide variety of opinions on the topic of equipment. So diverse, that you eventually come to the conclusion that they can’t all be wrong. There must be multiple “right” solutions. I rather suspect that, in the end, almost any […]

What to wear on your feet is a big question and the source of much discussion among icebikers. There are basically two schools of thought one the subject. Use shoes designed for cycling, making additions or changes to accommodate the cold, such as adding neoprene booties over the shoes or Gore-Tex socks to retain the […]

Each climate requires different clothes. Being somewhat more stubborn than others, it took me two years to figure out combinations that worked well in all conditions. With an aim toward shortening the learning curve we present the following discussions on clothing options. Now, just because you don’t see it here doesn’t mean it won’t work. […]

Why do we ride in the winter? I’m frequently asked as I walk into a pub or movie theater, “aren’t you cold?”. I just smile warmly and say “nope”. Nearly every day coworkers used to ask if I had taken my bike, thinking “its worse weather than yesterday, there’s no way he rode his bike” […]

Are you looking to get your first BMX? Well, entering the world of bike stunts or simply buying one for aesthetics isn’t a bad idea at all. If you are on a budget, there are plenty of cheap bikes out there that you can use well for a while. Department store BMX bikes and road […]

Sometimes you may need to fly from one location to another with your bike in tow. Don’t worry: you will gain two approaches to flying your bike without any hassles here. There are some preparations you will have to make if you don’t want to experience any difficulties in achieving this aim. At the end […]