Capital Cycles
Suit your Commute with your Capital Companion

The Daily Mail Femail magazine today gave a massive full page article talking about the benefits of dropping 4 wheels for 2: help the environment, save on travel costs and drop a dress size.

They recommend a number of Dutch bikes, including: – Carolina (best all rounder @ £449.00) and the Azor bike (the best for vintage charm @ £836.00). They discuss the wonderful virtues of owning a Dutch bicycle with its high, swept back handlebars meaning you sit up straight with your tummy tucked in and your head held high.

Well, the good news is that we can sell you a similar bicycle for a fraction of the price. We have stunning Dutch bicycles to suit every size shape and requirement, starting at just £154.95

To see our bicycles – click here

We all know what sort of winter we have had – a long, slow and rather depressing one. Well, it seems that our wonderfully stoic British patience is going to be rewarded.

The weather this week and next is expected to peak 25 celsius and the summer is set to be one of the warmest on record.

If you want to get the most out of it, get fit for the summer and save money then why not get a bicycle?

To see our fantastic range of beautiful bicycles – click here and you could be on the road in under 24 hours.

Honestly, which would you rather be doing?

THIS:

OR THIS:

You choose. One will cost you over £1200.00 a year and have you at the mercy of delays, disease and strikes. The other can cost you nothing (except the bike (from under £200)) and allow you to arrive where you want, when you want.

Think about it

With spring upon as and more people getting onto a bicycle, we have responded to demand and are proud to introduce the brand new 2010 Modern Dutch Hybrid Bicycle.

Very simply it is a beautiful, reliable and multi-purpose 18 speed Dutch style bicycle. It offers you variety as well as comfort and aesthetics as well as functionality.

For only £199.95, this bicycle comes complete with: Shimano TZ50 18 speed gears, dwept back handlebars for a comfortable upright ride, dynamo lights, full length mudguards, rear carry rack, side stand and much more…

Whether or not you should wear a helmet is a big issue in the world of cycling. At Capital Cycles, our view  is while it is certainly a very good idea, there are other things that you can do to make  yourself safer on the road. Here are a few ideas:

• Always wear a reflective top, even during the day. It is not only useful in the dark when light reflects, but it is also a single, large block colour which catches the eye during the day.
• Keep your lights on, day and night.
• Avoid listening to your mp3 player when you are cycling. Hearing is one of only a few senses you have and it is worth keeping on high alert.
• Assume that every car around you is unaware of your existence. How often do you see a car going down the road with the wing mirrors folded in? If the driver doesn’t even notice that, how would they EVER notice you? Assume they are all useless.
• When at traffic lights, get in front of the traffic but do NOT jump the lights.
• Before you turn off the road, position yourself so that you are clear to see.
• Keep your tyres well inflated and your brakeswell adjusted.

Well, these are some of our top ideas. We cycle EVERYWHERE and these are the things which we see to be totally paramount.

Finally, the spring is upon us, the perfect time of year to get on your bicycle:

1. The days are getting longer
2. The sun is starting to shine down on us
3. The temperature is much warmer
4. Summer is on the way and we all want to look good for that holiday on the beach

Cycling is the PERFECT way to get fit. Whether it is cycling to work, to the pub or just down to the shops, just 30 minutes on your bicycle every day will be en onough to get you on your way to the fit, healthy and happy body that everybody wants for the summer.

As well as all of this, you are also saving money!

Get on your bicycle today – click here

Arriving this summer 2010, will be London’s first comprehensive cycle hire scheme. Following on the success of the bicycle hire concept in Paris, Londoners will be able to hire bicycles for a fee. You will be able to pick up a bicycle from any one of 400 stations across London, use it, then drop it off at any station you want.

 There are two different fees which every user will have to pay:

1) ACCESS FEE
1 day = £1
7 days = £5
Annual pass = £45 (+ one-off payment of £3 for membership key)

2) USAGE FEE
up to 30 minutes = free
up to 1 hour = £1
up to 1 and a half hours = £4
up to 2 hours = £6
up to 2 and a half hours = £10
up to 3 hours = £15
up to 6 hours = £35
up to 24 hours = £50

PENALTIES
late return = £150
damage = up to £300
non-return = £300

Well, while we are thrilled to see more of an effort to get people on a bicycle, here are our concerns:

• It is only really economical if you are a cycle hire member (£45/year) and use a bicycle for less than 30 minutes each time. Use it any other way and it will be no cheaper than an Oyster card.
• What if you use a bicycle for a 30 minute journey and there are no spaces in the docking station at your destination? You will have to find another station, pay for the extra time, park away from your intended destination and probably miss your meeting.
• London, sadly, is awash with vandalism and theft. What if someone (a non-member) either damages or steals a cycle hire bicycle which you have just used? You will have been the last registered user and you will receive the penalty.

It will be a great way for people to see if cycling is ‘for them’ and if it is, then I strongly recommend you buy your own bicycle.

People are often under the impression that cycling at this time of year is a bad idea. Well, we want to help dispell that idea and give you a few simple reasons why cycling at this time of year is so great

• whilst it may be cold, it almost never rains and it is rain which is unpleasant. Plus, with the cold, once you are exercising you will not feel it. Instead, what you have is the feel of pure, fresh, clean air.
• cycling/exercising in the winter time is more rewarding and productive than in the summer time. Your body is using more enegry and is developing a stronger immune system as well.
• By being on your own form of transport, you are avoiding anyone who might have a cold or flu.

Basically, it is healthy, rewarding, perfectly comfortable and indeed more pleasant than the alternatives. Do not let the season put you off.

Provided you are wearing decent protection, a warm top, nice gloves and reflective gear, we guarantee that you will have a more pleasant journey compared to if you use the train or bus.

Give it a go.

The following top tips have been brought to you courtesy of the London Cycling Campaign:

1. Be aware of lorries beside, behind and in front of you
2. Stay alert – even if you think you are out of anybody’s way
3. Watch your position on the road
4. Wait ahead of traffic lights
5. Take care in bus lanes – they can still be dangerous
6. Make sure you are safe and seen
7. Make eye contact with other people around you – let them know you are there
8. Ride with confidence. Confidence in your own ability is important

As the days start to get shorter and your journey to work darker, we strongly recommend that you invest just a small amount in making sure you remain visible to those around you.

We currently sell two very simple and affordable items, which in our opinion are vital for autumn and winter cycling:

1) BRIGHT REFLECTIVE BELT - £18.99

Reflectvie Cycling Belt

2) REFLECTIVE TROUSER CLIPS - £3.99

Reflective Trouser Clips

All it takes is a glimpse of yellow out of the corner of a driver’s eye, for him to spot you and for you to be safe.