Capital Cycles
Suit your Commute with your Capital Companion

Roll up, roll up - it’s time again for the World Naked Bike Ride UK. 

“On June 8th and 9th 2007, around 1,500 UK cyclists and skaters in five cities participated in the fourth worldwide naked protest against oil dependency. On all the rides, full nudity was permitted by the police. There were no arrests.

The ride draws attention to the elegant simplicity of the bicycle, highlights the vulnerability of riders in traffic and celebrates the power and individuality of our bodies. It’s as ‘bare as you dare’, so full nudity is not required.

On Saturday 14 June 2008 the ride will return to the streets of London allowing riders to see the many sights of this remarkable city from the comfort of their own bikes/skates. The ride is easy and upbeat, and riders decorate their bodies and bikes with messages of protest against oil dependency and car culture. The 3pm assembly at Hyde Park Corner (to be confirmed) and traditional city centre route are again planned.  The assembly location is north of the statue of Achilles. Please assemble in the open meadow area bound by trees (north of the Achilles statue and beyond the horse riding trail - but between the Lovers Walk and the Broad Walk). A map illustrating the start location can be found here. DO NOT RIDE YOUR BIKE ON THE GRASS OR PATHS AT THE ASSEMBLY AREA. Keep all paths clear. There are loos within easy walking distance of the ride start and finish.”

http://www.worldnakedbikeride.org/uk/

Why Cycle? Here’s a few good reasons, just in case you weren’t yet sold into the idea.  This list has been created with the help of the fantastic book ‘Cycling to Work’ by Rory McMullen:

1) People who cycle have to take fewer days off and are also more productive at work.

2) People who ride to work add on average over 2 years to their life expectancy!

3) They are also 50% less likely to experience work related depression.

4) Research has shown that car users are exposed to 2-3 times the level of pollution that a cyclist is. Cyclists ride ABOVE the most polluted air. The ventilation system inside the car can suck in the poisons, making them more concentrated.

5) Cycling will help you lose weight. Cycling at a moderate pace of about 10mph burns on average 400 caleries per hour. That is about the same as an aerobics work out. In fact, look at it this way too.  If you cycle 2 miles each way to work, 5 days a week, you will cycle around 1000 miles per year. That is taking into account holidays, the odd sick day and rain-offs.

6) Cycling save you money. The AA estimates that the average car costs about 41p per mile to run. You then have rising fuel prices, congestion charge, parking charges, insurance,  MOT and servicing.  Now imagine that a really decent bike, such as the Capital City will cost you £140, FULLY equipped and delivered to your door.

7) You are doing your bit to help combat climate change. As much as it is easy to say that it’s everyone else who is at fault, we can all try. Transport accounts for 20% of all CO2 emissions.

Think about your blood pressure.  When you are being cattle herded onto a train or through a traffic jam and see someone riding quietly and blissfully next to you, aren’t you envious?  The stress is gone and NO ONE can dictate your journey to you.

9) Feel-good factor.  Arrive at work without the conscience that you are about to spend the next 8 hours sitting down.  Chill out, you’ve already done your exercise!

10) There is nothing like stopping and sitting on a park bench for 5 minutes while you go in to work.  It is your moment.

While we respect and support the need for all individuals to have a voice and exercise their rights, we would also like to bring to mind the fact that it does make the daily commute seriously stressful.  Knowing that your entire schedule is in someone else’s hands, to me feels rather depressing.  It makes me feel like a sheep.  Is it fair that the control over your day can be taken away from you on such a fundamental level?  It’s bad enough having to leave the safety and comfort of your own home because you have to go to work, but how much worse does it make you feel, knowing that your commute is going to be a nightmare?  Well, if you ride to work, then then the only person who can control your day is you.  Another great argument to support the value of cycling.

Capital Cycles has very proudly set the wheels in motion in an brave effort to become the official suppliers of the London 2012 Olympic Village Bicycles. 

Company founder Freddie Bourne explained, “Being one of the most forward thinking bicycles companies in the country, we see the value in finding new and interesting ways of getting people onto bikes.  What better than having a thousand 2012 branded bicycles kept across the Olympic Village?”

The main reason why Capital Cycles exists is because we want to make it possible for more people to be able to cycle.  At present, only 2% of our working population cycles to work.  Why?  Because up until now, the only bicycles available have been either worryingly cheap and under-equipped (meaning extra cost on accessories), or heavily over-priced and as a result, very stealable.  And why can’t people just sell you what you REALLY NEED, instead of making you pay to have more gears than an Italian tank, smarter suspension than a rally car and a frame made out of the same material as a space ship?  Why can’t someone just sell you what you actually need and sell it fully equipped so you don’t need to spend any more, and do it for a price you can afford?  Furthermore, with time being such a luxury, why not save time by buying online?  But saying that - when you shop online, do you know the seller? Can you trust them? Will the bike fit you? And, just when you think you have a bargain, you are slapped with a delivery charge that equates to around a fifth of the cost!  Capital Cycles was built around fixing this problems. Our bicycles are:

1) Custom designed to meet your needs as a commuter, student or cycling enthusiast.  We have focused on spending where we need to spend, and saving where you do not need to be paying.  What i am saying here is that every single component on the bike has been chosen for it suitability, necessity and most importantly, its build quality.

2) Our cycles are sold fully equipped as standard, with full length mudguards, semi-chain guard, 3/6 speed gears with classic thumb shifter, full dynamo light set, steel rear carry rack, stand, pump, bell and for you ladies out there, a skirt guard too.

3) Each bike is sold with a 7 day peace of mind promise and a 12 month factory warranty.

4) Delivery within mainland UK is absolutely free. And this doesn’t mean that we send it by donkey. Orders placed by 12pm we will try to despatch the same day by Parcel Force 24 hour courier - so no waiting either. The longest you might need to wait is 5 working days.

5) When it comes to frame size, we have been very careful to choose a frame size that will fit most customers.  A 20.5″ frame will suit both a small chap and a tall one.  The bikes are all green as well.  As Henry Ford once said, “You can have a car any colour you want, as long as it is black”.  We chose a smart, easy, natural colour, nothing garish or over the top.

We are a fully contactable company.  You can phone us, email us, ask us to phone you and we also run the Capital Community forum. 

As far as payment goes, you can pay over the phone, by cheque or online.  Our online payment processing is guarded and guaranteed by Protx and the transactions are coordinated and controlled by Natwest Streamline. 

Our company number is: 6472521 and we are also VAT registered, no: 925 4309 28

If there is anything else you want to know about us, just contact us!

Thanks

Team CC - ‘Suit your commute with your Capital Companion’