Love it or loathe it, Rapha is arguably the biggest clothing brand in cycling. 

What started as an antidote to the garish lycra of the early 2000s is now a major player in almost every sphere of cycling. From professional road cycling and bikepacking to commuting, mountain biking and cycling lifestyle, Rapha has a finger in every pie.

That’s by no means a criticism, merely a testament to their success. Although naysayers may disagree, in our book it’s fair to say that the brand has transcended the world of cycling and cycle sport and entered a space no other cycling apparel has been before.

So, how well do you know Rapha? Is your wardrobe rail stacked with offerings from the British brand? Even if it isn’t and you have a passing interest in Rapha, you might not have come across our 6 facts. Let’s have a look-see, shall we?

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1. Rapha Was Founded in 2004

Think back to 2004. What were you up to? Spinning some tracks on your portable CD player? Watching Lance Armstrong storm to a sixth Tour de France victory? Perhaps logging in and sharing a status update on TheFacebook for the first time? Maybe you weren’t even born yet – god we’re old! But yes, Rapha has (at the time of writing) turned 20.

Simon Mottram, Rapha’s founder (he took a step back from running the company in 2023 – though he still maintains a seat on the Rapha board) should really be seen as a trailblazer.

As he has alluded to in many interviews over the years, he struggled to attract investment for Rapha in the early days. E-commerce was just in its infancy and no one in their right mind was starting what would be a men’s only direct-to-consumer offering. Then there was the cycling fashion of the time – all bright colours and garish logos.

Mottram managed to see the wood from the trees and get Rapha off the ground – chapeau! 

2. From 1 Jersey to Over 150 Different Products

In the heady days of the early noughties, Rapha hung its hat on one product—the Classic Jersey. Back then, it was called the Sportwool jersey, but the performance and design of today’s Rapha Classic Jersey aren’t a far cry from that first Rapha production run. 

The functionality (and quality) remains, as do the simple block colors and identifying asymmetric striped sleeves.

From humble beginnings, the Rapha catalog now includes over 150 different products—well, that’s how many we tallied up when we visited their website one evening. A staggering figure, really, when you think about it. From shoes to sunglasses, gloves to gilets, these days, there is far more to Rapha than plain cycling jerseys.

In their 20-year history, the number of releases, collections, collaborations, special editions, and limited runs must take the number of Rapha products into the thousands. 

While some bike riders say the quality of Rapha products has deteriorated over time, it’s not unusual for riders to be heading out in products that are nearly over 10 years old. Our 8-year-old Hardshell jacket is still going strong – well worth the £270 investment we’d say.

3. For the Past Six Years, Rapha Hasn’t Turned a Profit 

Yes, that’s right – for six whole years – over 2000 days of trading, Rapha hasn’t been able to squeeze a profit out of selling cycling clothing and accessories – that’s when retailing their bestselling classic jersey for £140/$170.

Whether you think that says more about today’s complex world of outsourced manufacturing, supply chains, pre-ordering, seasons, discounting, dropshipping—yadda, yadda, yadda—or you simply think it’s bad management, it’s certainly interesting to consider. 

With its marmite reputation amongst consumers and growth that went hand-in-hand with an increase in cycling popularity in the UK, Rapha has always remained excellent fodder for the general press and more run-of-the-mill cycling titles, so perhaps it’s a little unfair to criticize its financial performance. Indeed, not every company soars to over £130million worth of sales in under 20 years! 

In 2017, Rapha underwent a major change in ownership after a private equity company swooped in to buy the company for a cool £200 million. What followed was a splurge on making the Rapha business much more than an apparel brand—much more. The number of Rapha Clubhouses (dedicated shops selling Rapha) expanded rapidly, as did other parts of the business, including its dedicated cycling holidays.

All that admirable stuff being said, the most recent accounts released covering the year ending January 2023 stated that the holding company running Rapha ran up to a loss of £12 million – wowzers!

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4. Palace, Brain Dead, Snow Peak: Collaborations Are Big Business at Rapha

Collaborations are big business in many industries today, and Rapha is no exception. Rapha has always looked beyond the cycling norm, and by partnering with other brands outside the straight-laced world of cycling, it has earned legions of new fans.

Skate brand, Palace, creative grouping Brain Dead, Japanese outdoor brand, Snow Peak – companies which you’d have bet your mortgage on having no link with cycling until Rapha came calling.

The success of these collaborations (sold-out collections sell for many times their RRP on websites like eBay) is another testament to the forward-thinking bods that have run over the years. Sponsorship of Team Sky and EF Pro Cycling (amongst other deals) have undoubtedly furthered Rapha’s appeal.

5. It Wasn’t Until 2021 that Rapha Produced Mountain Bike Clothing

Yikes, not until 2021! For 17 long years, Rapha held off those wearing baggy shorts and knee pads. 

Perhaps it was the mountain bikers who swore blind that they’d never be seen in anything with a Rapha logo on it, or it was simply Rapha who didn’t know their backside from their elbow when it came to manufacturing an MTB garment – who knows?

6. Working at Rapha Means Riding Your Bike Every Wednesday Morning

Rapha’s staff rides have become legendary in cycling industry circles. Whether it’s merely a ploy to attract top talent or a tangible piece of their ‘internal culture’ (someone pass us the HR sick bucket, please) it certainly gets our vote. More bike riding on any day of the week can only be a good thing for employers and employees.

Cheers Rapha, here’s to the next 20 years. 

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Coexistence. That’s what this is about. We’d like cyclists and motorists to use a space designed for them both safely. 

This isn’t about driving a wedge between cyclists and motorists. Heck, most cyclists are also motorists themselves—they’ve got a foot in both camps.

But as cyclists, let’s show motorists what this riding malarkey is all about. Let’s shine a light on what riding a bike is really like. As a motorist, you’ll probably have thought of the first one on our list and the second too, but the last one, well… that’s controversial. 

1. We’re People Too

This is important, really important. It’s far too easy these days to dehumanize anyone, let alone cyclists. Cyclists are people, too, and we deserve to be treated with respect and consideration by everyone, not just drivers. 

Cyclists aren’t there to ruin your day. We’re your neighbors, friends, and fellow citizens who just happen to prefer two wheels to four.

2. Being Passed Close Sucks

Being passed too closely by a car or truck is one of the most dangerous and frustrating experiences for cyclists – it does suck. 

Many motorists are unaware of how much wind and turbulence their vehicle creates as they pass by, which can cause a cyclist to lose control or be pushed into traffic. 

But it’s not just the physical effects of a close pass – it’s the mental side of a close pass that starts to wear you down as a cyclist.

Giving cyclists at least 3 feet of clearance when passing and slowing down if necessary to ensure their safety will do the world of good to cyclists out there.

3. The Wind Can Affect Us

Unlike putting pedal to the metal, the wind can significantly impact us while cycling. When the wind is against us, it feels like we’re pedaling uphill, even on flat ground.

When the wind is behind us, it can push us faster than we intended. Perhaps, most importantly, when the wind is at our side, it can push us somewhere we don’t want to go—into the center of traffic! 

4. We Ride Faster Than You Think

Many motorists assume that all cyclists are slow – bimbling from A to B at a snail’s pace. However, that’s not always the case. In reality, many cyclists can ride faster than the speed limit on some roads, especially when there’s no traffic. 

So, if you’re a motorist, don’t assume you can overtake a cyclist. Spend time to ensure there is no oncoming traffic that could put all three parties in danger.

5. Stopping is a Pain

Driving a car is a breeze—a squeeze of the brake pedal, a dab of the gearshift, a flick of the steering wheel. Arguably, as cars have developed, they’ve actually reduced the connection between the driver and the huge metal box on wheels in which they operate.

On the other hand, a bicycle is arguably the closest connection a human can make to a machine. A complete symbiosis. Two things, working as one.

But that’s the thing: unfortunately, bringing a bike to a stop is an unavoidably frustrating part of riding a bike. It sucks to pull up traffic lights, it’s a pain to stop at an intersection, and that’s why cyclists will do almost anything to keep the pedals turning. 

Cyclists will track stand, hold onto railings, and come close to your bumper—not just for the heck of it but to stop themselves from coming to… well, a stop!

And yes, let’s not hide away here. This phenomenon does mean cyclists run red lights—something we wholeheartedly condemn. 

6. Bike Lanes Can Be Rubbish

Bike lanes are intended to be safe for cyclists to ride, but they’re not always the greatest places to ride a bike.

Some bike lanes are poorly designed or poorly maintained, with potholes, debris, or parked cars blocking the way. Others are too narrow or too close to traffic to provide adequate protection. 

That’s why, sometimes, cyclists choose the regular roadway and not the cycle lane.

Bear this in mind before you hoot or shake a fist, if you see a cyclist riding on the road and not the adjacent bike line, there’s probably a very good reason why. We’re riding away from the curb for a reason

Riding too close to the curb can put cyclists in danger of hitting potholes, debris, or parked cars. It can also make it harder for cyclists to see and be seen by other motorists. 

That’s why cyclists ride about a meter away from the curb, or even further out, to stay safe and visible.

7. We Cycle Two-Abreast For Safety, Not Just For The Heck of It

This one’s tricky to get into ardent motorists’ heads. Riding two-abreast can be a safer option. 

Think of it like this. You’re passing a group of 10 cyclists riding in single file along a road. Those cyclists are taking up one meter each – 10 meters in total. Overtake them in a car, and the distance (and time) you take to pass them will be 10 meters.

If those riders switch to riding two abreast, the length they take up on the road will be halved—five meters. Now, as a motorist, overtaking the group of cyclists effectively halved the time you’re on the other side. See, it’s not just for cyclists to have a casual chit-chat.

Riding two-abreast is safer for cyclists and motorists.

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Cargo bikes are cool—really cool. Longtails, box bikes, or compacts—whatever you’re riding, we’re into it. And with various bike industry bods calling the 2020s the ‘decade of cargo bikes,’ are we on the cusp of seeing more of these bikes on our streets?

There are so many uses for cargo bikes, and we hope that detailing them here will inspire you to own one in the future. And if you already own a cargo bike (you lucky thing!), maybe you’ve never thought of some of the uses we’ve included here.

Yes, yes—don’t let us stop using cargo bikes for everyday use—commuting, nursery drop-offs, weekly shops, and the like—but these uses will make your life easier. 

But that’s only the half of it. Riding and using your cargo bike will make your life much more interesting, and for many uses on our list, especially the last one – much more fun, too.

1. Jumping The Queues – Wherever They Are

Let’s face it: driving a car in towns and cities worldwide isn’t fun. It’s slow, boring, and ultimately a waste of your time. That’s where cargo bikes come in. When was the last time you saw a cargo bike traffic jam? In fact, when was the last time you saw a traffic jam of bikes? 

Well, there’s the odd time at rush hour on bike lanes up and down the land, but in reality, riding a cargo bike means you can jump the queues. Sail past cars bumper to bumper. Whizz past grumpy drivers stuck at an intersection. Wave past passengers nodding off in their seats.

2. Avoiding Carmageddon at School Drop-off

As we’ve already mentioned, cargo bikes are brilliant at helping you avoid queues, but for the parents amongst us, another use ticks the boxes: the school drop-off.

Picture the scene, the bedlam of the school drop-off. More cars than parking spaces. More angst than calm. More time wasted than saved. That’s where cargo bikes for the school run come in. Pop the kids in, ride to school, and pedal to the front gate. There’s no messing around finding a parking space and no moaning kids complaining about walking to the school gate when it’s cold and raining. Another plus for the cargo bike people! 

3. Starting a Business

Becoming self-employed or starting your own business can be expensive. One of the largest expenses can be transport. Getting from A to B, from office to home, or even to your customers is an unavoidable cost, but it can be reduced easily.

Enter the cargo bike—a tool that can make short business travel more efficient and cheaper. Its cargo capability means tools for the job can come along for the ride, too. 

So, who could give it a go? Plumbers, carpenters, electricians, and gardeners—the list of roles is endless! And that’s even before you consider how handy cargo bikes are for companies that deliver their goods to people! Flowers, coffee, ice cream, chocolates—beer even—consumable goods sustainably delivered to customers and often quicker, too—what more can you ask for?

4. Taking Bits to The Dump

What is it about the dump? There’s always a queue of cars, no matter what time of day you choose to go. Take stuff there on a cargo bike and don’t queue—simple. That is if the jobsworths at your local dump will allow you to! There’s always someone to ruin your day, right?!

Cargo bikes, with their high-carrying potential, mean that most things that need to go can… well, go. The old fridge that’s finally gone pop, oodles of cardboard that the new one came in, even the prunings from the garden – get these on the cargo bike and down to the dump.

5. Ride Your Kids to Places That Are Fun to Ride

This one is another for all the parents out there. Unfortunately, in today’s world, it’s not as easy as kicking your kids out of the door and telling them to burn off some energy by riding their bikes.

A park, a quiet country lane—any haven to ride a bike is worth getting to let your kids ride their bikes in peace. That’s where cargo bikes will make life easier. They can transport little bikes and little riders to that very place.

Although it’s tricky for box-type cargo bikes, this kind of activity has been dubbed ‘bag and drag.’ Although this is specifically for longtail cargo bikes fitted with panniers, it’s a neat way of taking bikes and little people places. And the great thing? The journey there and back becomes part of the fun!

6. Ride The Dog to The Park

We’ve had something for the parents, and now it’s time for something for the dog parents. You guys know how much Big Monty likes a sniff in a new place, so take him there by cargo bike—he’ll love you for it, promise.

7. Take Your Bike to The Bike Shop

Is this some inception nonsense? No – just a fantastic (car-free) method of taking a stricken, unrideable bike to a bike shop for repair. 

Plenty of longtail cargo bike owners even use the ‘bag and drag’ method we discussed above for full-sized adult bikes. If the setup works and it’s secure, then why not?!

8. The Best Way to Take a Christmas Tree Home

And now, it is time for the biggie, the one cargo bike that tops off the owner’s year – bringing your Christmas tree home by bike. Tie it, lash it, bungee it – however you fix it to your cargo bike, nothing will put you in the festive mood more than doing this!

For some, bringing home their Christmas tree on their cargo bike has become as much part of Christmas as presents or turkey. This use has even spawned a small (but growing) hashtag on social media. Search #treebybike to get excited about the possibilities of bringing your festive foliage home by bike.

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For many cyclists, coffee is more than just a drink to fuel their rides. It’s a ritual, a social activity, and a way of life. 

There’s something about the combination of caffeine and cycling that just works. But what are the reasons why coffee and cycling are so intertwined?

Sip, down, and chug your way through our litany of cycling and coffee-related chit-chat – just be sure to make it near to the end, as we discuss the latest no-no in coffee and cycling-related etiquette. 

Coffee Offers a Performance Benefit

Whether you’re using it to get through the day – like Ben, who was out late last night and can’t face another eight hours of work, or it’s simply the first thing you do when you start your day – coffee, thanks to its generous hit of caffeine is something that gets us all, not just cyclists, up and moving.

Of course, there are practical reasons why coffee is such a popular drink among cyclists. It’s a low-calorie beverage that provides a quick energy boost without weighing riders down. It’s also a diuretic that can help to prevent dehydration, which is especially important on longer rides. 

The Tadej Pogačar’s and Wout Van Aert’s of this world are sipping a cup of coffee before a ride to help sharpen the senses and give them the edge they need to perform at their best – us? Not so much. Just something of a pre-ride ritual. Something that gives us a boost to head out of the door, even if it is cold and raining – because getting out for a bike ride is never, never a bad idea.

Coffee – The Bike Rider’s Social Lubricant

But coffee is more than just a performance booster. It’s also a social lubricant that brings people together. Coffee shops are places where cyclists tend to congregate. Whether after their rides to chat, swap stories, and connect with like-minded individuals – during a long bike ride when extra energy is required, or even before the ride has even begun – the coffee shop is the bike ride’s social lubricant. 

There’s a sense of community that comes from sharing a love of cycling and coffee, and it’s something that can be hard to find elsewhere – weirdly, no other place seems to have the same effect.

Coffee Shop or Bike Shop?

As we’ve seen, coffee shops have become a hub for cycling culture, with many establishments catering specifically to cyclists. Outside sit bike racks ready and waiting to take the next arrivals. Repair kits or bike pumps are available to a cyclist’s aid. Sometimes, there’s even cycling-themed decor to create a welcoming environment for riders. 

But these days, it can be tricky to discern the difference between a coffee shop welcoming cyclists and a bike shop with a coffee machine! Right? As some coffee shops start hosting group rides and events, they are just one bike stand and a pegboard full of bike tools away from becoming an actual bike shop!

Coffee on The Go

But it’s not just about the coffee shops. Coffee – fuelled by the rise of bikepacking and adventure cycling – has become a staple of the actual cycling experience, with many riders carrying their portable coffee makers stowed in their bottle cages, ready to brew up a fresh cup on the road at a moment’s notice. 

With products like the Aeropress Go, cyclists can make a damn good coffee wherever they find themselves.

If you haven’t done it yourself, there’s something special about sipping a hot cup of coffee while taking in the scenery.

The Etiquette and Rules

Cycling and coffee also share something else. Something that some coffee lovers and cyclists may scoff at, but something that’s irrefutably part of both of their circles. It’s a love (and/or) respect for etiquette and rules to which they are linked. Here are some examples:

Cyclists: never wear bike shorts that aren’t black. Coffee aficionados: cappuccino’s can only be drunk before 11 am. Cyclists: eyewear should be placed over the straps over your helmet, not under. Coffee aficionados: water with coffee, always.

These so-called rules that govern both coffee and cycling have perhaps drawn the two tribes closer together.

The Lifestyle

But beyond the material (and sometimes rule-questioning) relationship between cyclists and coffee, there’s something much, much deeper at play. Coffee and cycling are both rituals that have been passed down through generations of riders. The weighing of the beans, the grinding, the temperature of the water – all these facets of coffee drinking could be seen to play out in aspects of cycling, too. The pumping of tires, the squeezing of your bike’s brake levers, the gentle pedal down your street before heading out onto the main road. 

Modern life is hectic, confusing, all-consuming and sometimes downright scary. But both cycling and coffee can encourage us to take time over something, take time to enjoy the process, and take time to do the simple things – well. 

Whether that’s warming your cup whilst watching a cafetière brew with inky black goodness or frothing some milk to the perfect consistency. It could be indexing your gears so they shift seamlessly or cleaning your bike after a long bike ride. Coffee and cycling: an exercise in, dare we say it, mindfulness.

Ultimately, coffee and cycling are more than just a drink and a hobby. They’re a way of life that brings people together, creates a sense of community, and provides a connection to the past. For many cyclists, coffee is an essential part of the riding experience, and it’s hard to imagine one without the other. 

Coffee and cycling are traditions that have stood the test of time, and they’re a reminder of the simple pleasures in life. There’s a sense of comfort that comes from sipping an espresso, a cortado, a flat white, a cappuccino; or any coffee before a ride – something that can’t be replicated by any other drink. Likewise, the feeling of riding a bike – is there any other simple activity that can bring you freedom, fun, and fitness all in just a few short pedal strokes?

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From downright no-nos to social faux pas, these are the things to avoid when riding a bike to work.

But aren’t you just putting people off riding a bike to work? Yeah, yeah, we hear you. This isn’t about putting newbie commuters down. Far from it, in fact. This is just sage advice from someone who spent a good few years commuting by bike, in all weathers, at all times of the year, and during almost every hour of the day. We made these mistakes, so you don’t have to.

It’s funny, those bike commuters who are already out there pedaling the streets, will probably understand at least some of the mistakes in this list. But there are perhaps one or two they may disagree with – let’s see, shall we?

1. Trusting the Weather Forecast

Here’s what seasoned bike commuters never tell you… it rains, it’s cold, it’s windy – more often than you damn well know. And even more frustratingly the weather forecast can (AND WILL) be wrong. Don’t trust it, never trust it – in fact, maybe don’t even bother looking at it in the first place!

Okay, okay, okay it might be wise to have a glance at it to get a rough idea, but don’t be surprised if wall-to-wall sunshine quickly evaporates into a torrential downpour.

But here’s our key takeaway on this one, people of the internet. Modern life is great in many ways (precisely 1 billion things to watch on Netflix and 1 million takeaway options delivered to your door), but has made us less attuned to the world around us. Getting outside, even as the rain lashes at your every orifice is great for mind, body, and soul. Just be kind to your body and pack a jacket!

2. Choosing to Ride Without Fenders

Hunkered down in a car, squirreled away on a bus – no other commuter feels the effects of the weather as much as a bike commuter. So do yourself a favor, bike commuters worldwide – FIT FENDERS TO YOUR BICYCLE. Oh, and P.S. Don’t take them off in summer, will you?

3. Leaving the House Without Some EDC

Listen up, kids. EDC is “everyday carry,” and that means, you carry it EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. The bike commuter’s version of EDC looks a little like this: spare inner tube, pump, inner tube patches, multitool, spare lights. 

4. Riding with a Backpack

This could be controversial. Riding with a backpack is uncomfortable, sweat-inducing, and generally not fun at all. Amateur bike commuters worldwide, please buy yourself a pair of pannier bags or, at the very least, a handlebar bag, basket, or frame bag.

5. Looking Like a Bike Ninja

Have you seen these bike ninjas? We have. Sloshing down a busy road in the twilight, only illuminated by the beam of lights from cars, passing a mere sliver away from their handlebars.

New bike commuters should never ride in all black but always ride with a set of bike lights suitable for the environment they’re riding in.

As a further piece of general advice, even when commuting by bike during the day, a touch of reflectivity or a dash of high visibility can go some way to improving your whereabouts to other road users.

6. Taking the Most Direct Route

Thinks about riding to work. Automatically chooses to ride the very road you’ve been driving for the last five years.

Just because the distance between A and B is the quickest by car definitely does not mean it’s the best route to take by bike. While we’re not suggesting going via Aunty Irene’s house, taking the quiet route through the park and down past the warehouses just for the sake of it. A zig-zag route may well be friendlier for you and your bike.

Fewer cars blasting by at precisely one thousand miles an hour. Fewer stop lights to waste your time at. And, heaven’s alive, maybe even a dedicated bike line to roll on with glee.

Heed this piece of advice, cycle commuters, and you’ll stick at it for much, much longer.

7. Rush, Rush, Rush

Let’s face it, when all is said and done, commuting by bike should be enjoyable and it won’t be if you leave late and have to ride fast to be on time.

Ease back. Settle in. Ride easy. Pedaling to work shouldn’t be about winning the Tour de France; it’s about getting some gentle exercise and freeing your mind. You never know, it might stop you shouting at Jackie from accounts when she asks you about Invoice 223 for precisely the four hundredth time. 

8. Not Taking a Chill Pill

On a related note, it’s easy – very easy in fact – to be riled up when riding to work. Maybe it’s the bus that always cuts you up or the stop light that always brings you to a halt. First-time cycle commuters should always take a chill pill before lowering themselves into the saddle.

9. Sticking to the Bike Lanes

Yes, you read that right. Don’t stick to the bike lanes. For every well-designed, well-signposted, and segregated from traffic bike lane out there, there are maybe two poorly thought-out, downright dangerous ‘bike lanes’. As such, it’s our opinion that cyclists should never ride in the bike lane just because it’s there.

10. Having to Go Barefoot

“Tom, why haven’t you got shoes on?” “Well, Simon – I rode my bicycle to work and forgot to put my shoes in my bag.” ‘Nuff said.

11. Not Fuelling ‘The Engine’

Start commuting by bike – even short distances – and you’ll soon generate the appetite of a 14,000-pound African Elephant. Eat, eat, eat, and then eat again. Or else, new commuter cyclist, you might never find your way home again!

12. Waiving the Need For a Shower

Mmm. Yes. A generally sweaty aroma. Even a leisurely pedal to work can, for some people, work up a sweat. Do everyone a favor, bike commuters – please? Take a shower once you arrive! If there is one, of course.

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Runners think their activity is harmonious – striding out down the sidewalk and into the park – arms pumping, tasty beats coursing through their eardrums. But the truth is that we cyclists know the true feeling of harmony – bike and rider together as one.

That said, the days of simple bike setups and plain-clothes bike riding are long, long gone. Cycling gadgets have gone well and truly mainstream. Bike gadgets have weeded into bicycle components, helmets, and even bicycle apparel.

Are you a gadget evangelist? Yeah, you’ll recognize these six signs on our list. But the funny thing is, even if you’re a gadget dodger, you might find yourself nodding along with our last point.

1. Your Smartphone’s Bluetooth Device List Is as Long as Your Arm

Most cycling gadgets these days are ‘smart’ – connecting with the smartphone in your pocket. The method these gadgets use to connect to a phone is Bluetooth. That funny little triangular logo that is now so, so familiar to all of us – not just cyclists with fancy widgets hiding in their backpacks.

If you find yourself in absolute dire straits, you may find that your favorite cycling gadget appears not once but twice in your phone’s Bluetooth list. In our experience, that’s a sign that you’ve really gone deep on cycling gadgets. 

2. You’d Never Consider Not Recording a Bike Ride

In the past, riding a bike was a simple activity that didn’t require any fancy devices. However, nowadays, the proliferation of smart devices has made us addicted to data, even if, arguably, we don’t need it. And so for the gadget-obsessed cyclist, they’d never, ever consider not recording one of their bike rides.

That means you’ll find the gadget-obsessed cyclist sliding their smartphone out of their pocket and tapping start before a pedal is turned. Or if the cyclist runs a GPS bike computer, you’ll spot them faffing with buttons or swiping and jabbing at the device’s screen before the off.

But the question does need to be asked. Do we really need all this data? Probably not – though tracking the mileage you put on certain pieces of kit can be useful to manage wear and tear. Is it necessary? Not really, but for those who manually track this stuff, it could be useful. Ultimately, in our book, there’s a point of diminishing returns – the right amount of data adds something to a ride. Too much, and the data could take away the joy from the simple act that is cycling.

3. Near a Plug Sits a Tangled Web of Charging Cables

With all these cycling gadgets in your armory, you’re most definitely going to need some charging cables to power these things. Luckily these days, most gadgets are moving to a standard USB-C charging cable, meaning all manner of gadgets can be juiced up from just one lead, and just one plug.

That said, for the long-time bike rider, they’ll probably still own a few bits that are charged via Micro USB and, hell, something even charged by Mini USB! These things still exist!

The enemy of the gadget-obsessed cyclist? The proprietary charging cable – Du Du Duuuuuu. Why did these little blighters ever come into existence with their funky cable ends? It is frustrating to head for a bike ride only to find your favorite device is low or out of battery.

4. Has it Got a Light on it? Great, I’ll Have One

Arguably, there’s a direct correlation between how gadget-obsessed cyclists are and how long they’ve been riding a bike. More miles in the legs; more gadgets in the garage. As such, most long-time riders will fit in a bike ride any way they can, even if that means riding at night. 

Riding a bike at night can be a different kettle of fish to riding during the day, but ultimately, for techy riders, this opens the window to a world of buying opportunities. Lights, lights, and more lights, please. 

After they’ve bought a good set of lights and, inevitably, a backup pair, it’s all about embellishing your bike (and you) for riding at night. We’ve seen lights on bags, lights on helmets, and lights on cycling shoe covers. If something has a light on it, the gadget-obsessed rider has probably bought it!

With the rise of electric bikes, standalone bike lights may well become redundant in the future, but for now, extra visibility is something any gadget-loving cyclist won’t mind paying for.

5. Your Favorite Cycling Website is Bookmarked

“So you visit said website with the sole intention of learning about the latest bike product to hit the market?” “Yeah, that’s right – is that okay with you?”

Oh, yes, every cyclist who likes a gadget spends a good portion of their daily waking hours perusing websites to unearth the latest new item that everyone is talking about. From the latest bike release from one of the biggest cycling brands on planet earth to a niche product from a boutique manufacturer, gadget-loving cyclists – and we put ourselves in this camp – love to digest this kind of thing.

Just promise us one thing, would-be gadget-loving cyclist. That website is discerningcyclist.com, though, yes?

6. Weight, Waterproof Rating, Battery Life – This Is the Language of the Gadget-Obsessed Cyclist

Cyclists’ love of all things techy extends to their bikes, components, and even the clothes they wear to ride said bike.

Now, here’s the thing. Not all cycling gadgets are electronic. Not all gadgets need an onboard battery. Gizmos in cycling extend way, way beyond electronics and into many, many other realms of cycling-related products.

These products need attributes, ratings, or specifications, and these words have passed into the language of obsessive cyclists up and down the land.

It’s no surprise then that online bike and accessory retailers are spitting out web pages as long as your arm with sections like “technical information,” “features,” and “specification.”

“Is that jacket rated 10K waterproof?” “What’s the carbon weave on your road bike?” These are two questions to ask your cycling-obsessed buddy the next time you see them!

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When you really get into something, and we mean really into it, it’s easy for it to dominate your everyday life. Cycling can be like this. For diehard cyclists, everything can be distilled into things like riding time or component suitability. 

Has it altered your psyche? Has it altered your DNA? We’re not 100% sure, but what we do know is that these eight tell-tale signs will help you spot an experienced rider a mile off.

Yes, yes, we’ve included the inevitable Strava one and the one about the bad tan lines, but have you considered the last one? No? Didn’t think so!

1. Eating, Always Eating

Cake, pastries, sandwiches, fruit – whatever’s in front of them, cyclists are hoovering up. While all physical activity can leave you gnawing the hind leg off a donkey, there’s nothing like the all-consuming hunger that comes knocking after a long bike ride.

True commuter cyclists are a similar breed. Their frequency of riding means they’re usually found at the office canteen enjoying a second breakfast or hovering over Peter’s chocolate cake, which he kindly brought in to celebrate his birthday.

Want one piece of advice from us? Never get between a hungry cyclist and their food. Because if there’s one kind of true cyclist you don’t want to experience, it’s a hangry one.

2. Weight: Durability. This Is a True Cyclist’s Ratio

This one might be for those with a penchant for lycra over leisurely cruising, but true cyclists tend to evaluate every bike, component, or clothing purchase by comparing its weight to its durability.

If there’s one sporting activity (we hate to use the term sporting because cycling really shouldn’t always be viewed as a sport) that obsesses over weight, then it’s cycling. 

Cycling up a hill weighed down with a rucksack full of hardback books. Wobbling home from the shop with two panniers worth of food shopping. It’s amazing how weight can quickly transform a bike ride from the sublime to the sad.

Perhaps that goes some way to explaining why true cyclists worry about the weight of things so much. While it could be said that there’s a direct correlation between the weight and durability of bikes and other cycling items, you’ll no doubt find true cyclists huddled in a corner discussing this to the cows come home.

3. Squeezing Brake Levers

What is just so irresistible about brake levers? We (whether we are a true cyclist, we’ll leave it up to you to decide) love giving them a quick squeeze. We’re just drawn to them like a moth to a flame: road bike, mountain bike, hybrid- electric even.

We’re not sure what we really get out of this, but those levers just aren’t going to squeeze themselves, are they?

4. Recording Every Ride on Strava

According to our internet sleuthing there are over 100 million users of the activity app, Strava. While downloading the app to their phone might already take a regular cyclist into the realm of true cyclist, it’s perhaps their frequency of use that takes them to that level.

Riding down the road to the bar. Yep, that’s getting recorded. Taking a child to nursery – oh, that’s getting tracked. Holiday e-bike ride in another country, well, why the hell not? A mile is a mile, and on Strava, it all adds up, right?

5. Shimano, Campagnolo, SRAM – Pick One

True cyclists are a tribal bunch and nothing gets them more excited than choosing (and sticking by) a component brand. They might change their tune if they own more than one type of bike (Shimano for the road bike, SRAM for the mountain bike, if you please), but they’re unlikely to have a change of heart when considering a new bike.

The great triumvirate of cycling component brands may be watered down as upstarts like FSA, Microshift, and L-TWoo attract riders’ attention, but they still dominate the market amongst the experienced riding fraternity.

6. Calculating Distances by Using Riding Time

True cyclists like to ride their bikes a lot. Whenever they can, multiple times a day, ideally. So when a quick trip to a mate’s house or a visit to an unknown shop is on the cards, don’t be surprised if you find said cyclist contemplating how long it would take them to ride there. 

After all, what’s the point of sitting in traffic or being crushed up on public transport when you can enjoy the freedom and fresh air by riding your bike from A to B and back again (hopefully!)?

7. Rocking Questionable Tan Lines

You’ve probably seen them. Cyclists with tan lines. Pasty white, sullen-looking skin peeking out from underneath a T-shirt or a pair of shorts – the length clearly different to the person’s usual attire. If there’s one outdoor activity that’s guaranteed to help you take on a tan, it’s cycling. 

Only a true cyclist would be proud of these tan lines. In our experience, a beginner cyclist would be embarrassed by clearly defined sock tan lines, but it’s funny what a few thousand miles can do to your outlook!

8. Choosing to Drink From a Bottle, Not a Glass

It’s a familiar scene – the weekly (perhaps daily – ugh!) video call with your co-workers. After exchanging pleasantries with everyone and telling Simon that he’s on mute for the ONE-MILLIONTH time, out of the corner of your eye you spot Sophie reaching for a drink. Is it a cup of coffee? Is it a good old-fashioned glass of water? 

No, of course, it’s not because Sophie is a cyclist, and true cyclists only drink from bottles of bidons. Glasses tend not to have the capacities of bottles. Plus, why bother using a glass from the cupboard when you’ve already used a bottle to quench your first on your early morning ride to the office?

Bonus points if Sophie drinks in a manner akin to drinking while riding a bike!

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Lots of people say e-bikes burn people’s houses down.

Yes, this has happened, but equally, some people win the lottery, and some get struck by lightning. It doesn’t mean necessarily mean it’s likely to happen.

Therefore, in this article, we want to analyze the real risk of it happening to you, what the actual odds are, and what you can do to minimize the chance of it happening. 

Are e-bike fires a real risk or just the media pedaling fear?

What Is An E-Bike Fire?

Let’s dive in and briefly explain why electric bike fires happen in the first place.

Electric bike fires are really bad news because the cause is a reaction called “Thermal Runaway.” This technical term means that one messed up cell in the lithium-ion battery starts a fire and then spreads to other cells. Since there are lots of cells in these batteries, the fire is made up of many smaller ‘fires’, which causes the overall blaze to be highly unpredictable.

But it gets worse. During an e-bike fire, dangerous stuff like hydrofluoric acid is also released. To ‘fuel to the fire’, the oxygen released during the fire makes it even harder to put out. It’s definitely not something you want to mess with.

This means that should (and that’s a big SHOULD) an electric bike fire break out, it can cause considerable damage.

How Likely Are E-Bike Fires?

So, yes, we all should be paying attention when it comes to discussing and preventing e-bike fires.

But is there a bigger risk of an e-bike fire happening than any other kind of fire? Using data from the London Fire Brigade, let’s decide. In 2023, the crews had to deal with e-bike fires once every two days, which equates to around 180 fires in total during the year. 

London firefighters attended over 16,000 fires in the capital during the year, meaning that e-bike fires accounted for just over 1% of the total. As the crew says themselves, cooking and smoking continue to be the most common cause of fires.

Right, so far, we’ve established that e-bike fires can be terrible and that the likelihood of electric bike fires is marginal compared to other household fires. Now for the most important question, ‘Will it happen to your electric bike?’

We did some quick math, and by our sums, there’s a 1 in 15,000 chance that your electric bike might catch fire. We got this estimate by looking at how many e-bikes are owned in the UK and the 200+ fires that were caused by them in 2022. If you base the rest of your thinking on that, then electric bikes are no more dangerous than any other gadget that runs on lithium-ion batteries.

And just to back up our claims, one bike insurance firm claims e-bike fires are not that common to have any significant effect on their claims.

How does a 1 in 15,000 chance of an electric bike catching fire compare to other drastic events like being struck by lightning or winning the lottery? Funnily enough, the chance of your electric bike bursting into flames is nearly the same as being struck by lightning. Data suggests that, in the US, your chances of being struck by a bolt from above is 1 in 15,300!

And what about the lottery? Unfortunately, you’re far likelier to be struck by lightning or experience an e-bike fire than win the lottery jackpot. Chances of winning the big bucks range depending on which lottery you play, but most players are deemed to have a 1-in-a-million (at least) chance of winning. And yet, we still keep playing, don’t we?!

Five Ways to Avoid E-Bike Fires

So, as our electric bike fire statistics have shown, not all electric bikes will combust before your eyes! But what steps can you take to ensure this doesn’t happen to you? Here are five simple things you can do.

1. Make Sure It’s Safety Accredited

Only buy an e-bike, battery, and charger that is safety accredited. If you’re a cyclist in the US, your electric bike has got to meet the UL2849 battery standard. And over in Europe, they’ve got the EN15194 certification for all e-bikes. Even after Brexit, the UK still sticks to that same standard. This sort of certification is not only for electric bikes but also for conversion kits that turn regular bikes into e-bikes.

2. Avoid Cheap Chargers

Always use the right charger to juice up your battery. While it may be tempting to buy a cheap replacement online, it can easily be of the wrong specification or not be manufactured to the same quality levels as the charger sold with your bike.

3. Always Unplug

Our third tip for preventing an e-bike fire? Always unplug the charger from the plug and the e-bike after it’s finished charging.

4. Check For Damage

Check your electric bike and charge over for damage fairly frequently. This simple step could help prevent a fire before it even occurs.

5. Not Too Hot, Not Too Cold

Our fifth and final tip? Store an electric bike at a regular temperature away from direct sunlight; this prevents the battery from heating.

In short, electric bikes shouldn’t be a fire hazard if they are used and stored correctly.

Cheaper Isn’t Better

E-bikes are like any other electric gadget – they can be a fire hazard if you don’t use them properly. However, our e-bike stats show that most safety-certified electric bikes won’t catch fire if you use, charge, and store them correctly.

So, if you’re worried about dealing with an e-bike fire, your best bet is to snag a safety-certified electric bike that meets your country’s standards. And even if your mate down the road has, don’t even think about messing with the battery, charger, or system of an electric bike.

Finally? The real issue here is one we didn’t want to leave without mentioning. The rules and control of electric bike sales, especially in the UK, haven’t kept up with their popularity. This has let some sketchy companies sell dangerous products to unsuspecting customers. So have your wits about you and be careful out there when you’re buying an e-bike.

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It’s not our job to ham up riding at night, but there are a few precautions that you can take to make cycling in the dark safer and ultimately more enjoyable.

It’s not all lights, lights, lights, and more lights, either. Okay, some of our tips mention lights, but the last one certainly doesn’t.

Choose the Right Sort of Lights When Cycling at Night

If you plan to ride a bike at night, just plumping for any old set of bike lights is not the answer. A bicycle light can mean the difference between life and death in the dark, so there’s no point in buying the first pair of lights you come across on an internet search, even if it saves you a few bucks.

Buying the right sort of lights is a “horses for courses” scenario. If you’re riding on unlit roads, then you’re going to need to buy some more powerful lights – especially the front.

Conversely, if you cycle in more built-up areas, those routes will likely have streetlights. This means that you won’t need to buy more powerful and therefore more expensive lights.

These days, most bike lights have multiple settings, from various brightness levels to different flashing options.

In our opinion, a set of lights with multiple flashing settings is more important in towns and cities, where multiple light sources are usually flashing here, there, and everywhere.

Think of it like this. Bike lights are either ‘to see’ or ‘to be seen’.

Have a Set of Backup Lights When Cycling at Night

Trust us on this one; we’ve been caught out before. Either having two sets of lights on your bike or even just a spare set in your rucksack or pannier bag, is a very, very sensible idea. It’s easy to forget to charge a set of bike lights, leaving you high and dry.

Sometimes, they fail you for no good reason at all. Ultimately, having a backup set of lights could be a life-saving tip for cycling at night.

Position Your Lights Correctly When Cycling at Night

Now that we’ve got the proper set of lights and a spare set should the worst happen, it’s time to make sure they’re fitted correctly.

What we mean by this is ensuring they are placed in a position that enables them to perform. Get the angle right so it shines in the correct direction. Mount the bike lights securely to ensure they don’t swing around.

Get Creative with Lights When Cycling at Night

Now, here’s a fun one. Getting creative with extra bike lights can aid bikers’ visibility when riding at night. Add extra lights to your bags, bike wheels, or even clip them to your body! These extra touches of light are designed to grab the attention of other riders as you ride along, so don’t consider them the sort of light ‘to see’ with.

While some people think adding extra novelty lights to your bike is, at best, unnecessary and, at worse, victim blaming, we think it is a handy tip.

Our favorite type of extra bike light is the helmet bike light. Some options have a forward-facing white light and a rearward-facing red light – two lights in one.

The real benefit of a helmet bike light is that it shines wherever your head is looking – great for busy intersections, when starting and stopping, as well as attracting the attention of pedestrians and other road users.

Reflective and Fluorescent is the Winning Recipe for Cycling at Night

With the lights out of the way, it’s time to look at the other element of visibility when riding at night – making yourself stand out. The recipe we like to use when riding at night is a combination of reflectivity and fluorescent items.

When riding just as it is going dark, fluro items, that’s, those that are brightly colored (usually bright yellow or orange), are great – it helps you be seen a mile off. But as street and car lights start to take effect, it’s the reflectivity on clothing that helps you be seen. These days there are loads of clothing choices out there, plenty that combine both fluro and reflectivity. There are even some more innovative options that, when in daylight, look like perfectly regular clothing.

Look Other Road Users in the Eye

As your confidence in riding a bike at night increases, your senses become attuned to dangerous situations. That driver that perhaps hasn’t seen you coming, that driver that really shouldn’t be overtaking you from behind.

While there’s not much that you can do about the latter, there’s certainly something you can do about the former, but only in the case if the driver is stationary at an intersection or something similar. If it’s safe to do so and you feel confident, look directly at the driver and try to attract their attention. On more than one occasion, we’ve managed to prevent impending doom by catching the attention of a driver with a look.

Whether there’s any science in this kind of thing, we’re not sure. Perhaps it’s something deeply rooted inside us humans or something a little less prosaic; there’s no harm in giving it a go—anything really, to make cycling at night safer.

Know Your Route When Cycling at Night

This one is our last tip, but it might be the most important. Make sure you know the lighting situation on your route and be ready to switch up your usual commute or training ride to include more street lights if needed.

Also, don’t forget to adjust your position on the road. Ride a bit more towards the middle of the road than you normally would, so you’re in the driver’s line of sight, particularly if your ride involves routes in the country with hedges and trees obscuring things. Plus, this way, you can dodge potholes and obstacles better.

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You think you’re all that, you seasoned cyclist, you? Well, unfortunately for you, we’re here to tell you that you’re not. Sorry.

If you’re someone with a few thousand miles under your belt, being a beginner cyclist might feel like a long, long time ago, but like many things in life, there are always new things to learn.

In our book, there are a few blunders that even the most experienced riders make. We’ve put together five – although we could have added many more. 

There are a few classics in there, and perhaps one or two that you may have been guilty of. But hey, before you high mileage riders shoot us down, read the last one on our list – now that’s got you thinking, hasn’t it?!

1. Not Checking Tire Pressures Before a Ride

Okay, okay. Starting with something humdrum, something simple, something so downright basic that we’d wager most cyclists never do, even the seasoned ones.

Checking tire pressures is important before every ride, but it’s a step that many cyclists often skip. Low tire pressure can lead to a less efficient ride, increase the risk of a flat tire, and make it harder to control your bike. On the other hand, overinflated tires can lead to a rough ride and less traction on the road.

Invest in a good-quality pump – with a pressure gauge, of course – snap it onto those valves, and get checking. What’s thirty seconds of checking your bike when you’ve got a whole hour’s ride ahead of you?

2. Not Using Fenders in Winter

Yes, yes fenders (mudguards for our UK friends) aren’t cool, we get that but sometimes, just sometimes, practicality trumps aesthetics. Fenders keep road spray off your bike, off you, and even off your bags or riding mates. When the rain falls, it’s a satisfying feeling to watch the wash off your front fender as you ride along.

There’s really no excuse these days not to run fenders. There are any number of designs, from full-metal guards that deliver complete coverage and never, ever rattle to more discrete numbers that offer less protection but can be easily removed when summer returns. 

On that subject, even seasoned commuter cyclists should have mudguards on their bikes year-round. Even if the ride home is just a short pedal away, there’s a pretty good chance you’ll be afflicted by the odd shower or three, even in the warmer months.

Even if your bike lacks the necessary mounting points or eyelets, brands offer clip-on options. Tire width is no excuse either; brands like SKS offer most of the best-selling fenders in a variety of widths. 

3. Forgetting Riding Essentials

Another pre-ride faux pas now. We’d wager it’s mandatory for all cyclists to carry a small selection of maintenance tools, irrespective of their ability. We’re not advocating a full tool chest of supplies either, just a boutique selection of bits and bobs that could easily get you out of a tight squeeze.

The gear to change a flat tire and perhaps a multi-tool are things that, if packed correctly, won’t take up a huge amount of room. Really, it’s easy to pop these kinds of things in the bottom of a rucksack or stow them in a saddlebag or pannier and forget about them until you need them.

If you’re riding with mates, there’s nothing more embarrassing than asking for a spare tube, a pump, or a multi-tool.

4. Overconfident Riding

Although we’re reticent to put a figure on it, graduating from beginner to seasoned cyclist can take decades. Achieving that perfect harmony between bike and human is something honed over hundreds if not thousands of rides.

That said, even the most confident (and therefore seasoned) cyclist can be caught out when they start getting too lackadaisical with their riding. Maybe it’s riding too fast around a corner. Maybe it’s braking too late when you see the car up head start to slow. Maybe it’s trying to squeeze through a gap in traffic that you really should never have gone for.

After all, nothing takes seasoned riders back to reality more than a meeting with the unfriendly Mr. Tarmac.

5. Not Cleaning Your Bike When Getting Home

After a long ride, it’s tempting to park your bike and call it a day. We get that. The couch is calling, that laundry isn’t going to do itself, and those pesky kids are hungry again. Hear us out on this one seasoned rider – you should clean your bike every time you get home from a ride.

But let’s be clear here: we’re not talking about a full clean. We’re not suggesting you need to wack out the pressure washer, spin onto the foam setting, and clean every last inch of muck and grime from your bike. No, no, nobody has time for that, not even seasoned cyclists.

What we’re suggesting here is a simple wipe-down affair. Grab a clean cloth and wipe key areas of your bike that attract dirt. The chain (obviously), other parts of the drivetrain, your brakes, and the frame, too, of course. These are the key areas, and even the briefest of brief wipes isn’t going to take longer than a minute. What’s that in the grand scheme of things?

This kind of attention is especially important if it’s been raining during your ride. Removing moisture from your bike before popping into storage is a really good idea. It prevents things like rust from blossoming on your chain or paint on your bike’s frame from beginning to blemish.

Oh, and simply getting on your haunches to wipe down your bike also means you might end up catching something that could prevent you from riding in the future. Maybe it’s a thorn in the tire, a set of brake pads that are well overdue being replaced, or a loose derailleur jockey wheel. Spotting things like this can prevent panicked calls to your local bike shop or hurried browsing of internet bike stores.

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