Reviews & Guides
-
July 22, 2022
A huge brown box on your doorstep can mean only one thing: NEW BIKE DAY! But how do you turn the contents of that box into a rideable bike? All of the bikes we sell are given a Pre-delivery Inspection (PDI) by our workshop team, so all you need to do is follow a few quick steps and you’re good to go. With the help of our Bike Expert Tom, here’s our quick setup guide for how to build a bike and get it ready to ride!
What you’ll need:
-
July 14, 2022
Going tubeless is one of the biggest upgrades you can make to your bike. You’ll have better puncture protection, more grip, more comfort and improved rolling resistance - that’s a whole lot of wins for a minimal amount of fuss! It can still be intimidating however the first time you go to do a ‘DIY tubeless’ setup, so with the help of our Bike Expert Tom, here’s our guide to setting up your tyres tubeless!
Step 1: Make sure you have everything you need
-
June 21, 2022
Got a Cycle to Work scheme voucher burning a hole in your pocket and don’t know what to spend it on? With the amount of choice available, it is all too easy to be paralysed by indecision!
Or maybe not… after some office discussion, we’ve come up with a theory backed by years of extensive research*
* and a lot of phrases like “I reckon” and “chances are”
If you want to buy a new bike on the Cycle to Work Scheme but don’t have a specific need or leaning towards what you get then… quite simply… buy a hardtail mountain bike.
There. We said it, a straight to the point answer! And now, we’re going to dig into why we think they are THE best choice for splashing your voucher on.
-
June 10, 2022
We all know we should wear a helmet whenever we go for a ride, even if it’s just a gentle spin around the block. What’s just as important as wearing any old helmet though, is making sure you have the right one for you; it needs to fit properly and offer the right amount of protection for your needs. No point wearing a full-face helmet on the road for example, and you don’t see the folks dropping in at Red Bull Rampage with roadie lids either! Here’s the definitive cycling helmet guide to help you get the right helmet for your riding!
Road & Urban
-
June 01, 2022
What do you do if you want to buy a new bike in a world where there is a bike-shortage? You build one of course! Ahhh, but there’s a parts shortage too… With some creative searching and extra patience it is still possible and the results speak for themselves. A truly unique dream build which you can really call your own.
Our bike guru Tom was looking for his first proper gravel bike to hit his commute and weekend exploration adventures (on something a little more suitable than his Transition Spur). With gravel bikes THE bike to have at the moment and supply issues still biting hard, sourcing one proved easier said than done! Tom’s no stranger to a custom build (by his reckoning, this latest creation is his 6th!) and he pulled out all the stops to build this stunning Cotic Escapade!
-
May 12, 2022
Oval chainrings are without question, one of the most hotly debated topics in cycling.
Do they work? Do they make you faster? Is it just ‘marketing’?
Surely if they were better than normal round chainrings, every bike would have them… right?
It’s a debate that will likely rage forever more, but a quick informal poll in the office, a look at some footage of Wiggins at the 2012 Tour de France and some of our own real world testing means we have some conclusive opinions for battling Internet forumites.
Here’s why we use them and why you should give them a go too!
-
April 21, 2022
Mountain bike upgrades or road bike upgrades can feel a constant itch that needs to be scratched. Splashing the cash on changes can feel great but are you getting your money's worth from your spending?
There are certain areas on your bike where it’s more prudent to spend your money than others, so while it might be tempting to drop your coin on a fancy drivetrain or carbon accessories, spending it elsewhere on the bike will net you a bigger performance gain and help you have more fun on the trail, even if that means you have less blingy-gear bragging rights on the road or trail!
Using our vastly experienced team of upgrade fanatics and addicts, we’ve picked out the best places to upgrade your bike, so you can feel the biggest benefit on your next ride!
Wheels
-
March 17, 2022
As simple a creation, the bicycle is, modern bikes can be packed with incredible, cutting-edge technology. One such example is wireless electronic drivetrains. SRAM introduced their first eTap wireless road bike groupset back in 2015 and since then they’ve expanded it to their MTB line with Eagle AXS and even down to midrange GX Eagle MTB and Rival road options.
Do those extra units of currency add tangible performance benefits? Is it just another gimmick to make us part with our cash? Seven years since its inception the technology still costs a pretty penny and there are many who argue that it just isn’t worth the extra outlay for just decluttering the front of your bike.
-
December 15, 2021
Since its inception in 2007, the Scott Spark has been at the cutting edge of technology. With super-light carbon frames, custom shocks and the very best components, it’s no wonder why the Spark is the most successful cross country race bike of all time. For 2022 the all-new Spark RC looks to reset the rulebook again…
We got the chance for an exclusive first look and ride review with legendary racer and Scott Ambassador Nick Craig to see if the new one really is a worthy successor!
-
November 12, 2021
Whether you're a mountain bike trails specialist or clock up your competitive cycling miles on the road, an essential part of any night rider's kit is a set of high quality, ultra-reliable lights.
But when it comes to winter bike lighting the needs of MTB and road cyclists differ as much as the types of terrain they cover.
Here, Tweeks Cycling specialist Tom Law examines how British brand Exposure Lights uses cutting-edge technology to meet the needs of on and off-road riders wishing to test themselves after dark.
All cycle lights in the Exposure range use built-in batteries, which means you don’t have to worry about wires or cables. This avoids the problem of having to route cables around the stem and top tube while also trying