Bike Easy: Useful links

We’ve tried to make this the most comprehensive, the most up-to-date and the most useful set of cycle-related web-links anywhere! They’re grouped under the following headings:

Cycling generally
Cycling holidays
Cycling campaign groups
Cycle training
Cycle security
Cycle maintenance courses
Maintenance on-line
Weird, wonderful, bizarre, fun!

Please let us know if any of the links don’t work. If your organisation would like to be listed here (reciprocal web-links) please get in touch.

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Cycling generally

Helpful websites packed with information, advice and encouragement. All are aimed at the “everyday” cyclist rather than sporty types or techies.

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http://www.atob.org.uk/

Lots of info about folding bikes and electric bikes.

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http://www.bikebelles.org.uk/

Information and advice aimed at female cyclists.

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http://www.bikeforall.net/

A gateway to lots more cycling web links.

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http://www.bikeradar.com/

News and product reviews.

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http://www.ctc.org.uk/

CTC (formerly the Cyclists’ Touring Club). National cycling organisation. Provides a comprehensive range of services and benefits for its many members.

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http://www.everydaycycling.com/

Useful info aimed at ordinary cyclists.

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http://www.lifecycleuk.org.uk/

Life Cycle UK: Free cycle maps, cycle skills training, bike maintenance courses and other services from this Bristol-based cycling organisation.

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http://www.sustrans.org.uk/

Sustrans: The charity that designed the UK’s National Cycle Network and other bike-related projects.

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http://www.tandem-club.org.uk/

The Tandem Club: A mine of information about bicycles made for two (or more!) and all kinds of tandem-related events.

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http://www.velovision.com/

Velovision: a quarterly magazine devoted to folding bikes, recumbents and other out-of-the-ordinary cycles.

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Cycling holidays are brilliant! The organiser does most of the planning and the hard work leaving you to enjoy the scenery and the cycling. Holiday companies and ride organisers are listed below in alphabetical order with an indication of the areas they cover.

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http://www.bicycle-beano.co.uk/

Bicycle Beano: England and Wales – with great organic veggie food!

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http://www.bike-breaks.co.uk/

Bike Breaks: Devon.

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http://www.bike-events.com/

Bike Events: Organises sponsored rides and fundraisers UK-wide.

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http://www.byways-breaks.co.uk/

Byways Breaks: Cheshire, Wales and Welsh border country.

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http://www.carefreecyclingtours.co.uk/

Carefree Cycling Tours: West of England.

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http://www.celtictrails.com/

Celtic Trails: West of Ireland.

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http://www.cycledorset.com/

Cycle Dorset: Dorset and south Somerset.

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http://www.eoscycling.com/

EOS Cycling Holidays: South of England.

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http://www.gocampinguk.co.uk/

Go Camping UK: Camping and cycling hols in East Anglia.

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http://www.cyclingholidays4u.co.uk/

HF Holidays: UK and Europe

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http://www.irishcycletours.com/

Irish Cycle Tours: Ireland.

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http://www.pedalabikeaway.co.uk/

Pedalabikeaway: Hire centre in the beautiful Forest of Dean. Guided tours available too.

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http://www.pedalandseaadventures.com/

Pedal & Sea Adventures: Adventure holidays worldwide.

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http://www.skedaddle.co.uk/

Saddle Skedaddle: UK and worldwide.

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http://www.scotcycle.co.uk/

Scottish Cycling Holidays: Scotland and abroad.

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http://www.storybikes.co.uk/

Story Bikes: Scotland, Fife and Hadrian’s Wall – with storytelling as you go!

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http://www.tandeming.co.uk/

Tandem Experience: UK and abroad – a chance to try a tandem.
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http://www.trailbrakes.co.uk/output/home.asp

Trailbrakes: Mountain biking in Scotland and Morocco.

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http://www.ukcycleholidays.co.uk/

UK Cycle Holidays: Norfolk and Suffolk.

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http://www.wildcat-bike-tours.co.uk/

Wildcat Adventures: Scotland and Morocco.

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Cycling campaign groups

Almost every town and city in the UK has a cycling campaign group. They lobby their local council for more investment in cycling and better facilities. In addition, they organise events and run bike rides – ideal for beginners. Find your local campaign (they’re listed below alphabetically by town/city), join up and add your voice!

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http://www.bucksinfo.net/aylesburycyclingcampaign/

Aylesbury Cycling Campaign

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http://www.bathcyclingcampaign.org.uk/

Bath Cycling Campaign

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http://www.ccnb.org.uk/

Bedford: Cycling Campaign for North Bedfordshire

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http://www.nici.org.uk/

Belfast: Northern Ireland Cycling Initiative

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http://www.pushbikes.org.uk/

Birmingham Push Bikes

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http://www.bricycles.org.uk

Brighton: Bricycles Brighton

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http://www.bristolcyclingcampaign.org.uk/

Bristol Cycling Campaign

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http://www.camcycle.org.uk/

Cambridge Cycling Campaign

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http://www.cardiffcyclingcampaign.org.uk/

Cardiff Cycling Campaign

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http://www.carlislecycle.co.uk/

Carlisle Cycle Campaign

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http://www.essexinfo.net/chelm-cycling-action/

Chelmsford Cycling Action Group

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http://www.cyclecheltenham.org.uk/

Cheltenham & Tewkesbury Cycling Campaign

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http://www.chestercycling.co.uk/

Chester Cycling Campaign

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http://www.chesterfieldcc.org.uk/

Chesterfield Cycle Campaign

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http://www.colchester-cycling.org.uk/

Colchester Cycling Campaign

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http://www.congletoncycling.co.uk/

Congleton Cycling Campaign

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http://www.coventrycyclist.org.uk/

Coventry: Cyclic

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http://bikedarlington.blogspot.com/

Darlington Cycling Campaign

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http://www.derbycyclinggroup.org.uk/

Derby Cycling Group

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http://www.dcn.org.uk/

Dorset Cyclists’ Network

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http://www.gobike.org/

Glasgow and Strathclyde: Go Bike (Strathclyde Cycle Campaign)

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http://www.bagg.org.uk/

Gloucester: Bicycle Action Group of Gloucester

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http://www.godalmingcycle.org.uk/

Godalming Cycle Campaign

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http://www.gmcc.org.uk/

Greater Manchester Cycle Campaign

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http://www.hastingsurbanbikes.com/

Hastings Urban Bikes

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http://www.cyclehereford.com/

Hereford: Cycle Hereford

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http://www.highlandcyclecampaign.org.uk/

Inverness Highland Cycling Campaign

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http://www.cycle-ipswich.org.uk/

Ipswich: Cycle Ipswich

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http://www.cyclewight.org.uk/

Isle of Wight: CycleWight

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http://www.spokeseastkent.org.uk/

Kent: Spokes East Kent Cycle Campaign

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http://uk.geocities.com/dynamocyclecampaign/

Lancaster: Lancaster Dynamo

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http://www.leedscyclists.org.uk/

Leeds Cycling Action Group

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http://www.lcag.co.uk/

Littlehampton Cycle Action Group

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http://www.merseyworld.com/mcc/

Liverpool: Merseyside Cycling Campaign

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http://www.lcc.org.uk/

London Cycling Campaign

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http://www.spokes.org.uk/

Lothian: LothianSpokes

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http://www.ldcuc.org.uk/

Loughborough & District Cycle Users’ Campaign

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http://www.westberkshirespokes.org/

Newbury: West Berkshire Spokes

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http://www.norwichcyclingcampaign.org/

Norwich Cycling Campaign

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http://www.pedals.org.uk/

Nottingham: Pedals

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http://www.cyclox.org/

Oxford: Cyclox

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http://www.readingcyclecampaign.org.uk/

Reading Cycle Campaign

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http://www.stacc.org.uk/

Saint Albans Cycle Campaign

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http://www.cogsbike.org.uk/

Salisbury COGS (Cycling Opportunities Group)

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http://www.merseyworld.com/mcc/

Sefton: Merseyside Cycling Campaign

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http://www.cyclesheffield.org.uk

Sheffield: CycleSheffield

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http://www.stourbug.org.uk/

Stoubridge: StourBUG – the Stourbridge Bicycle User Group

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http://www.shakespokes.org.uk/

Stratford (upon Avon) Cycling Campaign

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http://www.merseyworld.com/mcc/

Southport: Merseyside Cycling Campaign

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http://www.stroudvalleyscyclecampaign.org.uk/

Stroud Valleys Cycling Campaign

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http://www.wheelrights.org.uk/

Swansea: Wheelrights Swansea

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http://www.cyclesomerset.org.uk/

Taunton: Cycle Somerset

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http://www.cyclecheltenham.org.uk/

Tewkesbury: Cheltenham & Tewkesbury Cycling Campaign

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http://www.tbcc.org.uk/

Tring & Berkhamsted Cycling Campaign

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http://www.warminsterwobble.co.uk/

Warminster Cycle Group

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http://www.warringtoncyclecampaign.co.uk/

Warrington Cycle Campaign

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http://www.spokesgroup.com/

Watford: SW Herts Cycling Group

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http://www.getwendovercycling.org/

Wendover: Get Wendover Cycling

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http://www.wolvesonwheels.co.uk/

Wolverhampton: Wolves On Wheels Cycle Campaign

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http://www.wokingcycle.org.uk/

Woking Cycle Users’ Group

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http://www.yorkcyclecampaign.org.uk/

York Cycle Campaign

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Cycle training

The old fashioned Cycling Proficiency test has been replaced by a modern, dynamic form of cycle skills training called Bikeability. Your local council’s road safety team probably runs Bikeability courses for school children, and they sometimes train adults too. And check out the groups listed below (alphabetically according to the areas they cover). They’re social enterprises with a passion for cycling and a wealth of expertise.

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http://www.cycling.org.uk

Warrington area: Cycling Project for the North West

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http://www.pedalready.co.uk/

Rotherham area: Pedal Ready

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http://www.cycleexperience.com/

St Albans (and other areas): Cycle Experience

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http://www.bikeright.co.uk/

Manchester: Bike Right

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http://www.choosecycling.co.uk/

Derby area: Choose Cycling

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http://www.cyclingsolutions.co.uk/

Liverpool (and other areas): Cycling Solutions

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http://www.lifecycleuk.org.uk/

Bristol and Bath: Life Cycle UK. Peter Andrews, the author of Bike Easy, founded this organisation and he thinks it’s pretty good!

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http://www.cyclinginstructor.com/

London: Cycling Instructor

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http://www.londonschoolofcycling.co.uk/

London School of Cycling

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http://www.cycletraining.co.uk/

London: Cycle Training UK

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http://www.pedalintherightplace.co.uk/

London: Pedal in the Right Place

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http://www.bikeforlife.org.uk/

Brighton & Hove: Bike for Life

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http://www.thebikestation.org.uk/

Edinburgh: The Bike Station

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http://www.ridewise.org.uk/

Nottingham: RideWise

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Cycle security

Bike Easy has a whole chapter on cycle security. Here are some websites that may help you keep your bike, or get it back if (gulp!) the worst happens.

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http://www.bikeregister.com/

The Bike Register. Online registration scheme. Log your bike’s details and if your bike is stolen and later recovered it can be returned to you.

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http://www.crimereduction.homeoffice.gov.uk/vehiclecrime/vehiclecrime063.htm

Advice from the Home Office.

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http://www.datatag.co.uk/

Datatag. A tiny transponder containing your contact details is hidden in your bike’s frame. If your bike is stolen and later recovered it can be returned to you.

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http://www.immobilise.com/

Immobilise. Register your bike on this website. If your bike is stolen and then recovered by the police it can be returned to you.

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http://www.soldsecure.com/

Sold Secure. A national accreditation scheme for bike locks: the toughest models score bronze, silver or (best of all) gold. Scroll down to ‘bicycles.’

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http://www.thencr.co.uk/

Nationwide Cycle Registration. Pay a small fee to receive a registration document recording your cycle’s serial number, make and model, upgrades and ownership details.

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http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-stop-your-bike-being-stolen

Video that explains how to lock up properly.

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Cycle maintenance courses

It’s important to look after your bike and it’s easier than you might imagine. Several cycling organisations run courses that will give you a gentle introduction to the mysteries of bicycle maintenance. They’re listed below along with the town/city where they run their courses.

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http://www.bikeforlife.org.uk/

Basic maintenance courses. Brighton & Hove.

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http://www.bike-inn.co.uk/

Bike Inn. Respected courses for mechanics (and for the general public). Lincolnshire.

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http://www.bikeright.co.uk/

Basic maintenance courses. Manchester.

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http://www.cycleexperience.com/

Basic maintenance courses. St Albans (and other areas).

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http://www.cyclinginstructor.com/

Basic maintenance courses. London.

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http://www.cycletraining.co.uk/

Basic maintenance courses. London.

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http://www.cyclewales.net/

Mountain bike maintenance. Snowdonia.

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http://www.cyclingsolutions.co.uk/

Basic maintenance courses. Liverpool (and other areas).

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http://www.ctc.org.uk/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabID=4804

Courses run by CTC. Aylesbury area.

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http://www.lifecycleuk.org.uk/

Basic maintenance courses, plus special courses for owners of Brompton folding bikes. Bristol.

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http://www.londonschoolofcycling.co.uk/

Basic maintenance courses. London.

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http://www.pedalintherightplace.co.uk/

Basic maintenance courses. London.

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http://www.thebikestation.org.uk/

Basic maintenance courses. Edinburgh.

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Maintenance on-line

Your computer can help you fix your bike! The websites listed below are a rich source of advice with step-by-step instructions, tips and tricks, and video tutorials.

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http://www.act-bicycles.com/

Information about training for would-be bike mechanics.

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http://bicycletutor.com/

Video tutorials.

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http://www.cobr.co.uk/e-cobr_information/workshop/introduction.shtml

An on-line workshop manual covering a wide range of maintenance topics.

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http://www.howcast.com/categories/1355-Bike-Repair-and-Maintenance/

Wikis and video clips covering all sorts of topics e.g. punctures, brakes, gears.

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http://www.parktool.com/

Comprehensive maintenance advice and illustrated instructions.

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http://www.sheldonbrown.com/

American bike guru and authority on all things mechanical. Now, sadly, no longer with us, but his website is an eclectic repository of Sheldon’s wisdom on buying, maintaining, repairing and simply enjoying a bike.

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http://www.videojug.com/tag/bicycle-maintenance

Videos and articles on cycle maintenance.

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http://www.weldtite.co.uk/

Useful tutorials covering basic maintenance tasks.

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http://www.youtube.com/user/thebiketube

YouTube videos on a wide range of topics from oiling a bike chain to building a wheel.

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Weird, wonderful, bizarre, fun!

Bikes come in all shapes and sizes, so too do the riders! The cycling world is truly diverse and, at times, more than a little strange. Dip a toe in cycling culture by checking out these sites.

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http://www.bikereader.com/BikeReader.html

Loads of articles on bike-related topics.

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http://www.citycycling.co.uk/

Free on-line bike magazine.

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http://www.conferencebike.com

Conference bike: a bicycle made for seven!

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http://www.hungrycyclist.com

Website dedicated to one man’s inter-continental pursuit of the perfect meal — on a bicycle.