TFL’s much lauded bike scheme is nearly a month old. Affectionately dubbed Boris Bikes, these chunky two-wheeled delights are certainly making ripples around town. There were many detractors to the scheme believing that they would get nicked, defaced or left neglected whilst London continued to bus, tube and car it around town – however, there are more and more people connecting and using the scheme.
Yes there are reports of the system taking huge amounts of money and you having to climb the customer service equivalent of the Himalayas to retrieve it, but I’m assured that the initial teething problems have now been ironed out. Can’t find a bike? Check out the many bike apps or the very cool interactive bike status map from Oobr.
It makes me smile knowing that many people are finally getting off their butts and taking these babies for a ride. I’ve been cycling around London for over five years and I love it. Its such an easy way to get around town, much quicker and cheaper than public transport, but the entry barriers are pretty high. Not only do you need to shell out on a bike there are the accessories and storage to consider. So you’re down the best part of £500 before you even decide that you want to cycle again. And there is road confidence. Cycling in London can be a really pleasant and fun experience but there is no way that cycling in the shires as a kid gives you any experience to sharing the roads with taxi’s, ten-tonne trucks and double decker buses. The Boris Bike means that you can try before you buy and start to build your confidence without fear.
The bikes design to me, look like a cross between a disabled mobility cart and a fold-up bike. However, even with the rumoured £18,000 price tag, I bet that they will hailed a design classic sometime soon. And there is no mistaking them, so there’ll be no chance of them being sold down Brick Lane incognito. But they are practical; they have lights, three gears, a stand and even a bag holder at the front. The bikes are ridiculously heavy, you’d not be wanting to carry them up any stairs with a bad back, but in a way the design is quintessentially English – a frame that you can easily step over, a chain cover so you don’t have to roll up your trouser leg and a plodding sensibility that oughtn’t get you into too much trouble.
The closest I have come to one was taking a cheeky perch on a seat one evening – the seat seemed pretty cushioned, so no saddle sores for the initiated. These bikes are geared at your everyday Joe, who hasn’t been on a bike since the age of 12 and would probably benefit from stabilisers if they weren’t just for kids. But the weight is important, in this case. We may not have too many hills but the wind does whip around you at times creating instability. If these bikes were carbon fibre, I would guarantee that there would be more than a few spills. And wobbling in traffic is not a good look.
It can be tricky getting back in the saddle after a decade or so of neglect. Having a cycling lesson is a good way to learn from the experts. If you check the TfL website then you might even get it free or subsidised from your local council. I was re-taught by an ex-road racer and cycling with him gave me so much confidence. But it is getting yourself out there that is the important thing. If you have a scrape, get back on. You’ll learn from it. I did.
Cycling is really an exercise no-brainer, especially to work. It gets you set up for the day and then relieves the work pressures on the way back. The biggest hurdle I have is pre-work preparation. You can’t go out in your finest, so packing becomes an art but it doesn’t always work so I strongly advise keeping a selection of shoes, spare underwear, a bag, basic make-up & in the winter a coat. Just in case. The last thing you need when you have that important client meeting is to have forgotten your make-up, best bra and heels.
My Top Cycling Tips
1) Do not wear an ipod. I repeat DO NOT WEAR AN IPOD. You need your wits about you when you cycle. Whether it is anticipating traffic, pedestrians or potholes. If you have music blaring in your ears your senses are dulled and your brain will be concentrating on the music rather than the cycle.
2) Ride with confidence: Own the road when you ride, by this I don’t mean cycling in the middle but cycle with presence. Square your shoulders, make yourself look big. Cars will notice you more and therefore avoid you.
3) Overtaking: ALWAYS OVERTAKE ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE. Just like with driving, the driver cannot see you if you sneak yourself in between the wheel and curb. And stay away from lorries and buses, they are bigger than you and have limited peripheral vision.
Image via Charlotte Gilhooly's Flickr