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Cycling

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Why cycle?

  • It is low cost – no fuel or parking costs.
  • It keeps you fit as you get from A to B. Regular cycling reduces the risk of life-threatening conditions such as cancer, type 2 diabetes, heart disease and obesity (Source: Cycling UK - The case for cycling: health).
  • To save time – it is often the quickest way for shorter journeys.
  • To enjoy the open spaces and countryside.
  • Good for your mental health.
  • Improves connections with your local community, say hello as you cycle past.
  • More likely to stop and support small local shops.

Cycling skills

Being a confident cyclist comes with experience. Whilst you build your skills think about using quieter routes around the network.

Cambridgeshire County Council, in collaboration with Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority and Peterborough City Council, is currently offering free cycle training sessions at locations across the county. Visit the Grafham Water Centre website to book a funded cycle session.

Cycle training is available from Outspoken Training. They deliver Bikeability training through schools. They can also provide private lessons for individuals or families. It is a safe way to build your confidence or get some refresher training.

Cycling UK has lots of advice for new cyclists including tips on road positioning.

Camcycle has produced a useful video guide to safe cycling.

Top tips:

  • Ride assertively – cycle well out from the kerb so that you are visible to motorists. This will discourage them from overtaking too closely.
  • Watch out for car doors opening and make eye contact with drivers waiting to pull out.
  • Don’t pass lorries or buses on the left at junctions as they have a blind spot, and the driver may not know you are there.
  • Master the backwards look – practice looking back over your right shoulder so you can turn right or overtake without wobbling.
  • Be considerate to people walking and wheeling - they should be given priority. Reduce your speed to reflect the type of route you are using. Consider using a bell to alert others of your approach.
  • Be aware of more vulnerable users, especially if you are riding a heavier or bigger cycle. This could be young or inexperienced cyclists.
  • Don’t cycle on the pavement unless there are blue signs indicating that they are designated cycle routes.
  • Use lights at night – reflective clothing is also a good idea.
  • Know your traffic signs, they apply to all road users. Cyclescheme have produced a guide to cycle road signs.

What to wear

You can cycle in any weather if you are wearing the right clothes – a good waterproof is essential, and layers are handy.

Make sure clothing is not going to catch in your chain or wheels. This can be as simple as tucking trousers into socks. Chain guards and wheel guards can help too.

Gloves in the winter help keep your fingers moving. There are plenty of places to buy specialist clothing, but you can also use any outdoor clothing. Be aware that too much around your head can make it harder for you to turn and see others behind you. In cold or wet weather make sure you can still see hazards in front and behind.

Light-coloured or fluorescent clothing can help other road users to see you in daylight and poor light, while reflective clothing and can increase your visibility in the dark.

Also, at night your cycle must have white front and red rear lights lit. Visit the Camcycle website for more advice on cycle lights.

Maintenance

Keeping your cycle running smoothly helps to make your ride enjoyable. It may seem intimidating, but some simple things can make a difference.

  • Pump up your tyres so they are firm. The correct pressure (PSI) will likely be marked on the wall of the tyres. This makes it easier to cycle and reduces your chance of a puncture.
  • Oil your chain if it starts to look dry or rusty to keep all the parts moving.
  • Check you have two working brakes. Small adjustments can help to keep them effective.

The Walk Wheel Cycle Trust has produced a guide showing how to perform an M check on your cycle. This is a simple way to make sure your cycle is safe to ride.

If you find problems, get them fixed. Find a cycle shop that can help you out if you do not yet have the skills. If you want to do it yourself, try a cycle maintenance course or find some videos online for guidance.

Cycling groups

If you are looking for a longer group ride, try one of the following cycling groups.

Accessible cycling

There are a wide range of different cycles that help to make cycling accessible to more people. Cycling can be easier than walking for many who are less mobile. Cycles are available in a variety of styles to support different users. Tricycles, tandems, recumbents and hand cycles are a few examples.

Here are 10 adapted cycles reviewed by Cyclescheme.

You Can Bike Too run sessions with different adapted cycles. You can try them out in Milton Country Park on Sunday mornings or the first Saturday of the month.

The Wheels for All programme operate a try out session for different adapted cycles. These run in Hinchingbrooke Country Park on a Wednesday afternoon.

E-Bikes

E-bikes can give that extra boost needed to allow you to make longer journeys. They can help with heavier loads of cargo or children.

You can cycle with or without the electric assist. Having a motor and battery makes e-bikes heavier than other cycles but they can increase how far you can travel. They are more valuable so do make sure you invest in good quality locks. See our Trading Standards pages for more information about e-bike safety.

To be legal as an e-bike it must meet certain criteria. They are classed as an electrically assisted pedal cycle (EPAC). There must be a pedal assist motor with a maximum continuous output of 250 watts. Electric assistance must cut out at 15.5mph/25 kph. The rider must be at least 14 years old.

If you meet these criteria the e-bike can use cycle infrastructure and the roads. If your electric bike has higher power or does not have pedal assist it is an electric motorbike. It needs to be registered as a vehicle. Vehicle tax, insurance, and a driving licence would also be required to use the vehicle on the road. Electric motorbikes must not use cycle infrastructure or pavements.

E-Scooters

It is currently illegal to use an e-scooter on public roads or pavements. The only exception to this is the special dispensation to hire Voi scooters. Some Councils have arrangements with other providers. All other e-scooters, segways or Onewheel electric skateboards on the road are currently illegal. Using these on the road risks a £300 fine, six penalty points on your licence, and the vehicle being seized.

Bike hire

Cambridge

Oxbykes run a service offering reasonably priced second-hand cycles to rent or buy. They can be found at a variety of locations around the city.

City Cycle Hire, based on Lammas Land has cycles available for short- or long-term hire.

Grounds Café in Milton Country Park has bikes to hire.

Kingsway Cycles on City Road has cycles available for short- and long-term loan.

Outspoken Cycles (pool bikes) works with businesses to arrange pool and fleet bikes for companies. They are also able to arrange rental of cargo bikes.

Primo Cycles arranges hire from their Grand Arcade and Jesus Lane shops.

Rentospoke operates from the The Bike Station off Brookgat. Pre-booking required.

The School Run Centre on Gwydir Street has a range of cargo bikes for hire.

Voi has e-bikes and e-scooters for hire across Cambridge and some of the surrounding villages. Access and exact e-bike/e-scooter locations are available through the app. You must be at least 18 years old to use the Voi scheme (and hold a current driving licence to rent e-scooters). Users should ensure they park without blocking the pavement. Road safety training is available via the app.

Other

BizBike provides community cycle hire to some South Cambridgeshire communities. These include Northstowe, The Abingtons and Teversham. Access is via an app.

Family cycling

As your family grows and changes there are plenty of different options to keep you moving. Cycles can be expensive. If you are using them for only a few years investigate second hand and rental options too.

Bike seat

For small children a bike seat can be the easiest and cheapest option. A child needs to be able to sit with good neck support to manage the bumps of the ride. Ages 9 months to 4 years old tend to work well but can vary for individuals. They can be front or rear mounted. A child in a seat adds extra weight to the cycle and can alter the balance and steering. This is more noticeable as they get heavier.

Bicycle being ridden by adult rider with two child passengers, in front and rear child seats.

Trailer

A trailer towed by your cycle enables you to carry more as well as your child. It offers some protection from the weather for the child. It is more effort to tow a trailer than carry a child seat. Trailers can be easily removed and transferred from one cycle to another, making them more adaptable. They can be handy for collecting the shopping or other larger items. The handling of a cycle isn’t altered very much by towing a trailer.

Cargo bike

These useful cargo bikes are growing in popularity. Although a substantial investment, they can replace a family’s need for a car. They then become an affordable set of wheels. There are a variety of styles with two or three wheels, boxes at the front or back. All with lots of carrying capacity. It is worth trying different types before you make any investment. They can carry a heavy load and can carry babies supported in car seats so definitely have a longer range of use.

In Cambridge The School Run Centre, Outspoken Cycles (cargo bikes) and Electric Bike Sales can arrange trials, hire and sales of cargo bikes.

Outspoken Cycles and Electric Bike Sales are both operating “try before you buy” schemes for cargo bikes on behalf of the County Council. There are bikes for families and businesses to try. The Outspoken try before you buy scheme is centred on Cambridge. The Electric Bike Sales Try Before You Buy: eCargo Bike Hire Cambridgeshire is targeted at villages between Cambridge and St Ives.

Tagalong

When children are gaining the skills to cycle themselves a tagalong can be a good option. This can be a frame that supports the child’s own cycle behind the adult cycle. Helping them on difficult bits and allowing them to cycle unaided where appropriate. 

A tagalong attachment to an adult cycle that cannot operate as a separate cycle.

Some tagalongs are not able to operate as a separate cycle. They consist of a seat, pedals, handlebars, and a single wheel that tow behind an adult cycle. They are a good way for children to start to get the feel of cycling on the road.

Tandem

Tandems are easier to pedal and more manoeuvrable than trailers or cargo bikes. There are tandems where the adult sits at the front or at the rear. Some tandems have an extra seat for more passengers. They are a good option to help experience cycling on the road with young people who can pedal.

Independent cycling

When children have the right confidence and skills, they can ride on the road using their own cycles. When riding as a family, keep younger cyclists in front of you so you can keep an eye on them and shield them from behind with a wide position. Think about your route, take time to discuss hazards you encounter and how best to deal with them. Family cycle training is available from Outspoken Training.

Keep your cycle safe

If you’ve ever had your cycle stolen, you’ll know how upsetting it can be. These practical tips can help keep your cycle safe and out of the hands of thieves. There are tips on how to get it back if the worst happens.

The most important thing to remember is, double lock your cycle and register the frame number.

Bicycle locked to stand. Two locks secure front and rear wheels as well as frame.

Ten ways to protect your wheels

Follow these ten tips to ensure your cycle remains safe, secure and not a statistic.

Using two locks slows thieves down and makes your cycle less of a target. Use two quality locks, at least one of which is a D-lock. Thieves are less likely to carry lots of tools, so use two different types of lock if possible.

Lock the frame and both wheels to a secure cycle stand.

Secure your cycle as close to the stand as possible to give any thieves little or no room to manoeuvre.

Take parts that are easy to remove (such as lights) with you. Locking skewers or nuts can secure cycle components (such as wheels and saddle) to the frame.

Lock your cycle at recognised secure cycle parking. It should be well lit and covered by CCTV.

Register your frame number on BikeRegister, the national Cycle Database. The frame number is usually found underneath the cycle. Look between the pedals or where the back wheel slots in. If your cycle is ever stolen and recovered by the police, they can trace it back to you.

Get your cycle security marked. It is an effective, visible deterrent to thieves. Anyone found with a cycle that is on a cycle register and listed as stolen can face prosecution. Security marking products are available at BikeRegister, the national Cycle Database.

Take the same care to lock your cycle at home as you would on the street. Avoid advertising that you have a cycle at home. Remove car roof racks. Create ‘privacy zones’ on apps like Strava to avoid disclosing your location.

Ask for proof of ownership when buying a cycle. Check the cycle frame number on BikeRegister, the national Cycle Database.

If your cycle is missing, contact the police as soon as possible by calling 101 or by using the online Cambridgeshire Constabulary report a crime form. Give your frame number, cycle database number, a photo, and any other details. Make sure you update the status on the cycle database where you registered it. The sooner you report it missing, the sooner action can happen, which might stop someone selling it on.

What to do if your cycle is stolen

There are various courses of action open to you if your cycle goes missing. Whichever you take, make sure you do it as soon as possible. Time really is of the essence.

Adverts are usually placed within 24 hours of the theft. But do keep looking as they sometimes take a few months to pop up.

It might also be worth visiting and posting on the following forums:

Check if your home insurance policy covers your cycle. It is often worth taking out separate insurance for expensive cycles. To make a claim you will need some important details. Keep a copy of your receipt, photograph of your cycle and a record of the frame number.