Christmas bike theft

Theft increases during the Christmas period, because thieves know people tend to have more items of value stored in their homes ready to give away as gifts. It’s not just homes that are vulnerable to theft at Christmas, garages and sheds are also targets of theft. It is well known that people tend to hide Christmas gifts in these places and thieves could raid them for any valuables.

If you store your bike in a shed or garage, you will be putting your bike at risk of theft, unless it is secure. Bike security is always important, but this importance increases at this time of year. Thieves are trying to make extra money during the Christmas season and your bike could make the perfect gift for someone else.

What can you do?

Record it

Write down any bike frame numbers and mark your bike so that it can be identified and register your bike details at bikeregister.com

Lock it

Get yourself a good strong bike lock, just because your bike is at home doesn’t mean that you don’t need to lock it up. If you have your bike stored in your garage or shed try and secure it inside to something that doesn’t move, to make your bike as difficult to steal as possible. 

Secure it  

If your bike is stored in your home or your shed/garage isn’t very secure, it might be worth investing in a secure bike storage unit designed specifically with bike security in mind. Asgard has a wide variety of bike storage units designed to keep bike thieves out and your bikes secure. With bike storage that fits up to 6 bikes, you are sure to find the right bike storage shed for you. See the Asgard website for more details. 

Making a Christmas decoration out of your old bike

Christmas is almost here. Why not try something different and make your own decorations. If you happen to have an old bike lying around, this will make a great Christmas decoration!

Here are a couple of simple ideas.

Lights

Make your old bike light up! This is easily done by stringing lights around the entire bike frame to make it light it. Battery powered lights would be the best to use, as you will be able to place the bike, wherever you choose without having to worry about plugging the lights in anywhere.

Reindeer bike

If you’re feeling adventurous, why not try turning your bike into a reindeer? This project will take a little longer than just stringing up some lights, but the end result will be well worth it and it will provide you with a fun project to do alone or with your kids. See these instructions on how to make your very own reindeer bike.

Cycling Christmas Gifts

If you don’t know where to start or are just spoilt for choice, here’s a quick list of gift ideas for the cycling fanatic in your life.

Bike Lights

Bike lights are practical but they can also add something extra to a bike. There are so many different kinds available, it can make a bike look unique and stand out from the crowd when darkness falls. 

Cycling books

If your cycling fanatic loves to read, one of the latest cycling books will make a well appreciated Christmas gift. 

Tickets

Tickets to the next big cycling event would make a great Christmas gift! There’s always something on to see and usually in a wide price range to suit all budgets. The good thing about getting someone tickets to events is that they have something to look forward to, once the excitement of Christmas has passed.

Bike Security

An Asgard bike storage unit would make a wonderful Christmas present! What’s better than the gift of bike security? These cycle storage units offer the best in bike security. Unfortunately, if you haven’t gotten your order in by now, you've missed out on pre- Christmas delivery.  If you want to get your loved one something special and are sure that they won’t mind waiting a few extra weeks, this could be the perfect gift. Take a look at the full range on the Asgard website. 

Cleaning your bike

With the wetter weather your mountain bike rides on off road and on trails are becoming muddier than ever. Cleaning your bike, just for it to get muddy again may not make a lot of sense but it’s certainly the best thing to do, if you want your mountain bike to stay in a good condition and run smoothly.

Get prepared for a dirty job with the correct cleaning supplies

To clean your bike, there are a few supplies that you will need:

·         1 bucket
·         Hot water
·         Washing up liquid
·         Sponges, brushes and cloths
·         Chain scrubber
·         toothbrush
·         Chain lubricant
·         Degreasing solvent
·         Repair stand (if you have one, makes cleaning the bike much easier)

Clean

Remove items such as leaves that may have gotten caught in your bike. Wipe down the entire bike with soapy water and apply a degreaser to the drivetrain  Gently use your sponges, brushes and cloths to get rid of any mud and grit. Scrubbing too hard could damage your bikes paintwork. If you have a repair stand, use this to remove the wheels and clean these separately.

Use a toothbrush to scrub the chain and rear cassette, use a rag to wipe the chain clean and remove any excess dirt. Once you have done this backpedal the chain through a rag covered in degreaser.

Wash the rest of your bike with a soap and water mix and rinse it down with an ordinary garden hose. Do not use a high pressure hose or power washer on your bike, as water may push itself past the bearing seal and this may cause corrosion.

Lubricate

When your bike has dried, you will need to lubricate the chain, cables, levers, shifters etc. and never use an ordinary household lubricant on your bike. Make sure any excess lubricant is wiped off the bike as this can attract dirt.

While you are cleaning your bike, check for signs of damage and give your bike a general inspection, feel free to give the bike frame a good buff, to get it shining. 

You will need to have a decent amount of outdoor space to clean your bike and doing this inside obviously isn’t an option. Having somewhere to store all of these bike cleaning and maintenance items is also a good idea. A garage is a good place to store all of your bike maintenance equipment, accessories and of course your bikes. If you don’t have a garage, there are a variety of garden bike sheds and cycle storage units available on the market. The bike maintenance garage by Asgard has been designed to do just that! This is a large cycle garage that can hold up to 6 bikes. Having all of your bike items stored under one roof is a lot less hassle than traipsing in and out of the house every other minute for items you've forgotten.

                                           

Could Britain become a cycling nation?

Boris bikes marked their two year anniversary this august. This cycle hire scheme from Barclays, nicknamed after the London mayor, has been a major success.  The cycle hire scheme was launched with 5,000 bikes and 315 docking stations back in 2010.  These were distributed across the city of London and in 8 different boroughs. Since the scheme began the number of cycles has increased to 8,000 and there are now 570 docking stations.The cycle hire scheme allows users to quickly hire a cycle at any of the docking stations and ride away. They can then be returned at any of the docking stations near to your destination. These stations have been generally well received, with an average monthly hire of 600,000.

Boris Bike Scheme

These bikes are perfect for short journeys and have been proven to be great for manoeuvring around a busy city. So why not roll out bike schemes, like this one, in all of the major cities in Britain. It has been announced that a similar bike scheme will be launched in Belfast, within the next 3 years. The city will invest in 300 bikes and 30 docking stations. Manchester has also been drawing up plans to become England’s number 1 cycling city, after research showed that there are more than 20,000 people in the city who want to cycle.

Manchester currently has 40 bikes available to hire at a cycle scheme at Piccadilly station, but the council will be hoping to rapidly expand on this. With the success of the scheme in London and the huge amount of publicity cycling has seen over the last few weeks with the Tour De France and Olympic successes, these cycle schemes could possibly be seen popping up in every major UK city.

Could Britain become the a cycling nation?

No one can deny the huge amount of positives that these schemes provide and if Britain's new found love with cycling continues, Britain could become one of the biggest cycling nations.

Choosing the right bike

When deciding to buy bikes there are a few things that need to be considered before purchasing.

One of the first things you need to think about is, what will you be using the bike for? There are three basic types of bikes to choose from: Road, mountain and the hybrid.

 

Road

These bikes are designed for cycling on paved streets and travelling at speed. Features of road bikes include skinny tyres and a lightweight frame. The riding position puts the cyclist bent over the handlebars, this position cuts wind resistance and because of this position a good fit is important. Choose a road bike if you will be cycling mainly as a form of transport.

Mountain

In comparison to a road bike, a mountain bike has wide tyres and a heavier frame. These bikes are designed specifically for going off-road. The mountain bike offers a more comfortable riding position, which is popular with those who find the road bike uncomfortable. If you are thinking of purchasing a mountain bike, make sure that you will be doing a lot of off-road cycling, otherwise another type of bike might be better suited.

Hybrid

A hybrid bike, as you have probably already guessed, is the combination of a road and a mountain bike offering the best features of both. These bikes are great for city cycling and offer comfort and durability. Hybrid bikes are good if you are planning on using your bike for only short trips.

Whatever bike you choose make sure that it’s the correct size, this is important for your own comfort and enjoyment. This can be confusing, but bike stores will be happy to help you with this. Take a look at this bike sizing chart.

Budget

Set yourself a budget, but remember when it comes to buying a bike, you get what you pay for. Aim to get the best bike that you can afford, without breaking the bank and leaving yourself out of pocket. The price of a bike will reflect the quality of its components, durability and features.  Be sure to shop around and see what’s out there, buying a bike is exciting, but don’t jump in and buy the first bike you see.

Does Britain need a better cycling infrastructure?

With Great Britain winning so many medals in the cycling events, the big topic of the moment is will this spur the government to invest into a better cycling infrastructure. Wouldn’t that be a fantastic legacy to leave behind after London 2012? Currently on Britain’s roads bikes and cyclists are seen as guests, they are seen by the majority of drivers as a bit of a nuisance, getting in the way and slowing down the flow of traffic. Isn’t it time that Britain’s roads became ‘home’ for cyclists.

Cyclists should feel at home on Britain's roads

Many cycling accidents could be avoided and the motorist and cyclist would finally be at peace with one another.…we hope.  A better cycling infrastructure would also encourage more people to take up cycling, especially as a form of transport, due to the increased safety it would provide. Drivers would also receive benefits from this, no more worrying about the cyclist in front of you that is quickly approaching. The list of benefits for this could go on and on…but I won’t!

It is understandable why many people don’t like to cycle on main roads and busy traffic routes, roads can be scary and daunting for everyone from the novice cyclist to those with handfuls of experience and with Lorries and buses whizzing past, who wouldn’t be slightly afraid.  If a better cycling infrastructure was implemented into the UKs busiest cities, the roads would be a happier and safer place for everyone and more people would be likely to start cycling.

Copenhagen cycle lane

Many cyclists are hoping to have something similar to the cycle infrastructure of Copenhagen, with its cycle paths, super bikeways, cycle parking and integration. Their network of cycle paths is made up of around 350km of path, some with their own signal systems. The super bikeways are currently being developed, to create a network with surround municipalities. Britain can take ideas from Copenhagen’s cycling culture and adapt it to suit our own. Our current cycle lanes are not adequate,  sufficient  or safe enough and need to be improved if we want to get more people on their bikes.

Here are Shedforce we love cycling, so we are all for anything that would make cycling more comfortable for everyone. Let’s hope that London 2012 will trigger the big investment that cycling on Britain’s road’s needs. 

Essential kit to have when cycling

  

The country has become obsessed with cycling and you want to join in the fun too? No clue where to start? Well there are a few pieces of kit that you’ll need to get you started, as well as a bike, essential to keep you safe.

Helmet

A helmet is an essential piece of kit and the only thing that will protect your head if you are unfortunate enough to fall off, or get knocked off your bike. There is always an on-going debate about whether helmets should be mandatory for cyclists, but it is definitely an item worth getting.

Repair kit

A must have item in case of a break down, a puncture or need to make any adjustments. These are available at most bike shops and are great for carrying out any minor repairs and adjustments while out on the road.

Spare tube

It’s always a good idea to have a spare tube as part of your repair kit, as the most likely problem that you will have is a flat tyre.

Bike lock

A good strong bike lock will be needed when you’re out and about. Bike thieves are out in force at the moment, so the stronger the lock the better. When choosing a lock, look for; ease of use, weatherproofing and carrying. Is it easy to use? Is it weatherproof? Is it easy to carry?  The answer should be yes to all of these. Take a look at this review to help you find your perfect lock.

Eye wear

Keep your eyes protected while riding, otherwise there’s nothing to stop dust and debris flying into your eyes. They also provide protection from the sun those pesky insects and tree branches.

Reflective vest

A reflective vest will help you to be seen by motorists, the brighter the better.

Lighting

A must for riding in the dark, fog or anytime where there is reduced visibility.  You will need a good light for the front of your bike, this should be white with a steady or flashing beam. The rear of your bike should be fitted with a red light. When purchasing lights make sure you check: the battery type, if they are rechargeable or not and how many hours of running time it has. Lights are for your own safety as well as that of the people around you.

Rain gear

Essential for the regular commuter, unless you like getting wet!

Water bottle/ Hydration pack

It’s important to keep hydrated while you ride, especially on those long journeys. You can attach a water bottle onto your bike with a bottle cage, or you can use a hydration pack. A hydration pack is a backpack with a water filled bladder and a drinking tube.

Luggage rack

A luggage rack is a great way for you to carry all of your necessities. Racks are easy to attach to your bike and are great for carrying panniers and other accessories.

Time for more women to get cycling!

Cycling is a great sport that has recently dominated the news headlines, thanks to Team Sky and Bradley Wiggins winning the Tour De France but let’s not forget about the great women in the sport. Women like Victoria Pendleton and Lizzie Armitstead are great British female cyclists and are expected to do great things in the London 2012 Olympics, this sport isn’t just for men.

Victoria Pendleton is a British Olympic medallist, with a gold medal in the women’s individual sprint. She also has numerous medals as a world champion cyclist, with medals gained from the World Track Championships, European Track Championships and the British National Track Championships.

Lizzie Armitstead has already created a buzz at the Olympics this year, winning a silver medal in the women’s road race at her first ever Olympic Games. Before the Olympics, Lizzie competed in a number of top level road races including the British National Road Race Championships, the Commonwealth Games road race and the UCI Road World championships.

We will all be looking forward to seeing how these two ladies do throughout the Olympic games and with female cyclists Danielle King, Joanna Rowswell, Jessica Varnish, Laura Trott, Wendy Houvenaghel, Lucy Martin, Emma Pooley, Annie Last and Shanaze Reade, hopefully Team GB women’s cycling will bring home more medals for Britain!

With the press full of cycling, the nation is falling in love with the sport. People are being encouraged to hop on their bikes and give it a go, but women seem to be far more reluctant. In 2009 it was found that 79% of British women never cycle and this number has only improved slightly. A survey carried out by the mind charity on 1,450 women found that 9 in 10 women were scared to take part in outdoor exercise and It was found that one of the reasons for this is that 2 out of 3 feel body conscious. British Cycling has announced a new project, in which they aim to get 80,000 women cycling, thanks £1million in funding from the national lottery. This project will hopefully help many women get over their cycling fears.  Read more here>

Skyride by Sky is currently trying to get more women cycling by organising women’s only cycling events nationwide, which has been a success. As well as this, local cycling clubs such as the Ilkley cycling club have been planning special events to attract female riders, with women only weekend rides.

With so many great events available for women to join, there are no excuses for not giving cycling a go. So go on ladies…on your bike!

Get the most out of your bike this summer

The weather may have been glum and summer has well and truly begun, but there are till a few weeks left ahead of us so make the most of it on your bike!

1.       Do a Sky ride

Sky has teamed up with British Cycling and Bradley Wiggins and Team sky have recently won the Tour de France, which is an amazing achievement. Sky ride is all about getting people of all abilities cycling. With city rides, local rides, women’s only and social cycling groups, there’s a Sky ride to suit everyone and with rides all the way until December, you will be able to find a date to suit you.

2.       Cycle for charity 

Cycling for charity is always a great thing to do. Put your passion for cycling into helping others, there’s nothing more satisfying than doing something for a good cause. There are plenty of charity cycling events all year round, check do it for charity for your local charity cycling events.

3.       Check events with your local council

Check with your local council for summer cycling events. There are usually a few to choose from. Council websites also have a good choice of cycling trails and routes to download, so be sure to check those out as well.

4.       Attend a cycling festival 

Cycling Festivals are a big thing! They are currently going on all over the country this summer. Take a look at the Isle of Wight cycling festival this September or the Castle Combe cycling festival this August.

5.       Give bike polo a go

Bike polo was popular back in the 1930s, but it’s set to make a big come back. Get a few of your cycling friends together and give this a go.

6.       Teach someone to cycle

Why not spare some of your time this summer to teach someone you know how to ride a bike, whether it is your friend who never learnt or a family member. Helping them to learn how to ride is a great thing to do this summer and once they have learnt you’ll have gained a new cycling buddy!

7.       Go on a cycling holiday 

Cycling holidays are great as you get to combine your passion for cycling with a trip abroad. Top cycle holiday destinations include: Burma, Morocco, Italy, Spain, South Africa and Sri Lanka. With exotic food, beautiful scenery and the sun to boot, who could resist?

8.       Cycle to the coast

If going abroad isn’t an option, why not try cycling to the coast. Remember Britain is an island, we are never too far away from beautiful coast line. Take a look at five great coastal cycle rides >

9.       Join a cycling club

Cycling clubs are great, as you’ll be able to meet people with the same passion as you. They are a great place to meet friends and there are always plenty of activities and social events taking place. Join one this summer and you will forget the meaning of the word bored!

10.   Have fun

Wherever you go and whatever you do, it’s all about having fun!! Enjoy your summer.

Keep your bike safe

Whatever you decide to do on your bike this summer, remember to keep it safe. Otherwise you’ll be facing a summer without your bike. When you’re at home make sure it is securely locked up. If it’s not in a shed or garage, don’t leave your bike outside, for storage to secure a bike look at Asgard bike storage units.  These metal security sheds are tough and strong, keeping your bike free from theft. Keeping your bike safe at home is just as important as when you are away. When out and about, make sure you have a heavy duty lock for your bike. Thieves are becoming smarter, so only the toughest will do.

The benefits of cycling

With Britain’s first Tour De France win, cycling is everywhere! Cycling is a greatly enjoyable sport and hobby that is now getting the recognition it deserves. Why not give cycling a try? Let’s look at some of the great benefits of cycling.

Lose weight

One of the biggest benefits of cycling is that it is a great way to lose weight. Just from cycling a few miles a week you will begin to notice a difference and this weight loss will increase as you become fitter and more experienced.

Make friends

Cycling is a great hobby to share with others. There are plenty of local cycling clubs out there. Sign up! You’ll soon make plenty of friends and be wondering why you never tried this before.

Help the environment

By cycling more and driving less means there will be less pollution pumped into the atmosphere and by cycling more you will also be reducing your carbon footprint. Think about cycling as doing your bit for the environment.

 Travel faster

If you’re commuting in a major city, travelling by bike will shave half the time off of your normal journey. A moderately fit cyclist will have no problem beating cars, buses and the underground on journey time.

Help others

Once you have begun cycling, it’s a great way to give back to others. There is plenty of charity cycling events available to sign up to, keep a look out for ones near you at doitforcharity.com

 Save money

 Think of all the money you will save if you invested in a bike and cycled everywhere. No more money spent on petrol or parking! It is estimated that leaving the car in the garage for the average commuter could save £74.14 per week (Source cycling weekly). Bikes are also very efficient, you can travel the equivalent of 2,924 miles to the gallon.

 Relieve stress

 Exercise is a great way to clear your mind and relieve stress. Vigorous exercise is an effective way to take your mind off problems and often once done you can see problems from a new perspective.

Most importantly, outdoor activities like cycling are great fun. So why not give it a go!

Cycle theft on the increase

Love cycling? Hate leaving your bike outside for thieves? Having somewhere safe to secure a bike can be tricky, especially if you are limited on space. We have all seen the recent articles in the news, on the rise of bike theft all over the country. It’s not safe to leave your bike out in plain sight, you’re just asking someone to steel it.

No room for a shed or a garage? Asgard has a storage solution for all proud bike owners, with limited space, that need somewhere secure to store their bikes. The twin bike locker is a metal storage unit,  a space saving bike locker that can hold up to 2 bikes. It’s perfect for small areas. If you only have a side passage, this locker will fit comfortably.

Specifically designed for these small areas, the Asgard twin bike locker can fit comfortably down the side of a house or flat. Unlike some of the other bike storage that is available, this unit is accessed from the end, so offers easy manoeuvring of the bike in and out of the unit. Don’t let the size of this unit fool you, it is just as tough and robust as the other Asgard products.

The twin bike locker has some key features which add to its strength and security:

Galvanised steel

This metal storage unit is made from thick galvanised steel which means it is weatherproof and wont rust. This is as with all Asgard products. At 99kg you know this unit is strong!

3 point locking system

The 3 point locking system is a tough mechanism that will secure your bike from theft. The lock is pick resistant. The locking system doesn’t use any padlocks, the unit is accessed by handle and key. Plus the handle surround is reinforced, adding to the security of the pushbike storage. This system makes it difficult for anyone to break in, as they don’t simply have to cut through a padlock.

Can be secured to the ground

The twin bike locker is unique in that it can be bolted to a concrete base, which adds to the security on the unit. Thieves will be unable to move the locker from its place. So any hope of taking the unit is dashed and attempting to open it later is dashed.

If you are looking for something discreet, this could be the pushbike storage unit for you. The unit is available in 3 colours: Ivory, brown and dark green. For more information and product details visit Asgard.

How to protect your cycle from theft

Cycle theft is a continuous growing crime, in all parts of the country. An ‘it won’t happen to me’ attitude won’t protect your bike from theft. In the UK a bike is stolen every minute and less than 5% of those are returned to their owners. Bike owners are more likely to have their cycles stolen than car owners their car. Westminster is the worst affected place in London for cycle theft with over 3,000 bikes stolen over the course of one year, followed closely by over 1,500 in Hackney. Over a two year period 45,000 bikes were stolen in London alone. In Oxford bike theft rates have soared to almost 3,000 in a one year period. The majority of bike theft goes unreported, in 2010 an estimated 533,000 bikes were stolen but only 115,147 were actually reported to the police, meaning that only 1 in 5 victims report bike theft to the police.

The top 10 police forces for bike theft in 2010:

Metropolitan police: 21,315

Thames Valley: 6,060

Greater Manchester: 5,185

Cambridgeshire: 4,477

Avon and Somerset: 3,895

West Midlands: 3,222

Leicestershire: 3,057

Lancashire: 2,727

Sussex: 2,668

Humberside: 2,440

With such high figures of theft, it should not be taken lightly. It is important to report your bike crime to the police if your bike has been stolen, to enable them to crack down on bike theft and gather representative figures.

Bikes aren't just stolen when you are out and about away from home. They are increasingly being targeted when left outside the home or attached to cars in driveways. There are a variety of different methods that you can use to help protect your bike from thieves.

Bicycle Insurance

Insurance is always good to have, to keep you protected in case your bike does get stolen. Bike insurance is available from many insurance companies with premiums starting from around £50. Bicycle insurance does require that you: Lock your bike securely at all time, use an approved lock and secure the bike to an immovable object. Bike insurance policies vary greatly, see more bike insurance details here>

Bike Locker

At home it can sometimes be difficult to store your bike out of public view. If you do not have a secure garage or leave your bike out on display, your bike will become an easy target for thieves. There are a range of bike sheds available on the market. For maximum security Asgard has a range of secure metal storage units, designed specifically to secure a bike. Asgard is the home of the UK’s bestselling bike storage unit. Asgard pushbike storage can hold from 1 to 4 bikes, dependant on the size. With recommendations from industry specialists there is no better way to keep your bike safe outside your home.

Bike Padlock

A good bike lock is great in deterring thieves from steeling your bike. Don’t go cheap, invest in something heavy duty that will stop a potential thief from coming anywhere near your bike and secure your bike. There are a variety of tough bike locks on the market. Asgard have a range of bike locks on offer, and other security locks such as the alarmed cycle disc lock, which activates when someone attempts to move your bike. See it in action>

Register Your Bike

Register your bike on Immobilise, which is the national property register. You can register many items on here from computers to phones. If a registered item is stolen, immobilise makes it easier to recover your property, it helps police to identify stolen goods and simplifies insurance claims.

Statistics from The Guardian, UK Crime Stats, Oxford Mail, Eastlondonlines