5 Things Cyclists Never Do

Mark Pawlak    Adventure Sports & Travel Thoughts, Cycling     Bike lights, cycling, Cycling Holidays, cycling safety, Cycling Tips, Safety tips for cycling

To say that there’s a tension on the road between cyclists and other road users is an understatement – at times it feels like Mad Max out there! For us cyclists the roads can be an intimidating place. It often feels as if it’s only a matter of time before someone drives too close, cuts us up, squeezes us in or vents some violence in our direction.

But to be fair, an equal amount of the blame lies on the cyclist. There will be plenty of whinges about this post, but as a cyclist trained to teach others to ride in the city, I can assure you cyclists need to wise up!

Here’s 5 things cyclists never do:

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Buying cheap bike lights: Knog Frog Strobe Reviewed

Paul McWilliams    Cycling     adventure holidays, bike gear, Bike lights, Buying cheap bike lights, cycling, cycling equipment, cycling gear, Cycling Holidays, Frog Strobe, Knog, Knog Blinder, Knog Blinder Reviewed, Knog Frog Strobe, review, Silicone Lights

Long gone are the days of the old torpedo-style bike lights working off a dynamo (apart from the odd retro hipster type you see on their rusting old Dutch bikes). In one way it’s a shame because try buying cheap bike lights and you’ll soon find massess of brittle plastic and boring designs.

The Frog Strobe twinpacks can be mounted almost anywhere.

Those old chrome lights did have a lot of charm. The charm usually lasted about three weeks before the rust set in.

Then there was the fact the light they cast was about as bright as the combined casts of TOWIE and Made in Chelsea. And if it rained, you could forget all about it working at all.

So, what is there that will light your way and fit in your pocket without emptying your wallet? Hello Knog Frog Strobe, time you got reviewed!

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Buying Bike Lights: Knog Blinder Reviewed

Mark Pawlak    Cycling     bike gear, Bike lights, Buying Bike Lights, cycling gear, Safety tips for cycling

If you are out buying bike lights you’ll soon spot Knog products. Having reviewed the Knog Blinder, I’d liken a pair of Knog lights to a Mac: A PC might be cheaper and do the job just as well, but you’ll want to own the Mac.

New 'Blinder' by Knog

So far, design and innovation have set Knog apart in a field of very ‘samey’ bike lights. Out went cheap plastic clips; in came gummi bear silicone wraparounds.

Earlier products have inspired, yet the company’s new Blinder is still a rare sight – and may remain so if its styling is not to cyclists’ liking.

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Buying bike lights and using them in the day

Mark Pawlak    Cycling     Bike lights, cycling, Cycling Holidays, Evolving Cyclist Project, Road Cycling, Safety tips for cycling

Cyclists who don’t fit lights to their bikes are idiots. Buying bike lights is easy: they are cheap, easy to fit and – if you didn’t know – a legal requirement. Of my 5 cycle safety tips for commuters, being seen is arguably the most important.

Light up every night, no excuse. Photo: Flickr/ CJ Isherwood

Personally, I think we should use daylights. But while many cyclists I’ve spoken to agree, others pass me and say, in a patronizing voice, “you’ve got your lights on”.

Ask yourself: why do motorcyclists have lights on during the day? Well, it’s because they are vulnerable in traffic and it gets them seen.

So why don’t cyclists do it? I’d say we are more vunerable as we end up in and out of the traffic flow. So what lights are out there, and which are best for your type of cycling?

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