Vello: Bike Series

Vello have designed a beautifully simple looking bicycle, which can be folded into a tiny package in seconds. Options include a titanium or chronology steel frame, a rack on the front, single speed, 10x speed, Schlumpf Drive, belt drive and a Zehus motor/battery combo integrated completely within the rear hub. The front fork, handlebars and rear swingarm can all fold independently to an astonishing 57cm x 79cm x 29cm too, so you can pop Vello into a taxi or tube, under the stairs at home or your desk at work (with or without the cover bag). Elastomer suspension features on… Read more →

Ortlieb: Backroller

This pair of Ortlieb Panniers are built from a sturdy polyester fabric to be your long lasting touring companion. The rolling closure is safe and waterproof for storage of both food and equipment. Simple and effective. Includes the QL2.1 fixture for rapid mounting/dismounting, with the shoulder strap for carrying around as well. SPECIFICATIONS: + 3M Scotchlite reflectors 
+ integrated inner pocket COLOUR: White, Black, Orange, Red, Sun Yellow, Asphalt, Petrol, Yellow Hi-Vis, Asphalt Hi-Vis MATERIAL: PD620, PS490 BAG TYPE: pair MOUNTING SYSTEM: Quick-Lock2.1 WEIGHT: 2x 950 g | 2x 33.5 oz HEIGHT: 42 cm | 16 inch DEPTH: 17 cm… Read more →

Hiplok: High-Vis

Hiplok’s Solid Secure Gold rated wearable chain lock is as dependable as it is visible, two values which keep both you and your bike as safe as possible. You can wear it just like a belt and then lock your bike up in seconds. Tucked inside the reflective sleeve is a hefty chain. The dual closure mechanism ensures that you are snug when riding, as you use a velcro strap to adjust it to fit your wait (not the padlock). Features & Benefit: Sold Secure GOLD rated for maximum security 10mm hardened chain, 12mm hardened shackle 85cm locking circumference fitting… Read more →

Chike: e-Kids and Kids

Streamlining the wheelbase of this glorious Family Cargo Bike to less than a width of a regular door opens up near unlimited possibilities! Add to that the tilting mechanism for slaloming around town and the covered compartment is the icing on the cake! You’ll quickly find yourself going everywhere with your kiddos just for the fun of it. The journey rapidly becomes the best bit when the old rigmarole of loading and parking are both sorted in seconds. Choose the Shimano motor/battery combo and you’ll go further and faster with more onboard than before, including up once-daunting hills. The two… Read more →

Hiplok: Lite

‘Wearable technologies’ are getting a lot of positive press lately and we agree, they can be great! The Hiplok Lite is a perfect example of the natural progression from low-tech to high-tech: for years people have struggled to balance their locks around their waists as they ride. Afterall, a chain slopping about on your bike is bound to either damage your frame or snag a wheel, jam the fork, or worse. So how does the Hiplok Lite differ? Simply put, it adds a velcro strap around the length of the chain. Instead of ‘jiggling about’ on the off-chance that your… Read more →

Hiplok: POP

Minimalism never looked so good! Quite possibly the lightest and most portable temporary lock ever released, the Hiplok POP is amongst the smartest lightweight solutions available. Paired with the Hiplok D, the POP adds additional security for short stops, or to tie-in saddles and/or helmets/bags/jackets to your bike. If you use a Hiplok Lite or Hiplok V.150, then this is a great way to extend your security beyond the frame and rear wheel. The POP won’t replace your overnight lock or act as a long term solution, however if you plan to spend your day in the park and would… Read more →

Bike The Strike!

Click the pic & print the .pdf! bikethestrike.co.uk #bikethestrike Bike The Strike London! Who needs the Tube anyway? Know someone who’s facing another nightmare day ‘off’ the Tube on Thursday? Well, you could give them a little nudge: print-off the picture here and leave it on their desk! Have a picture of you or a fellow commuter with the picture? Send it to us, it may even be included in our next circular! Well, I Didn’t Know That: • There are more cyclists in London with 3rd Party Insurance # than there are taxis in London • The average journey… Read more →

Accessories

Biking Essentials Action Cameras, Ass Saver, Bud Brake, Chilli Air, FoldnFix, Hope, ISM Seat, Muckynutz, QuickFix Once you’re kitted-out with a new bike, it’s time to accessorise. Add bone-conducting headphones to listen safely, a light-weight HD camera to share the ride when you get home… and some nifty mudguard options to stay clean! On-Bike Clothing Half Baked Brand (HBB), Hope, Intrepid Apparel, Visijax, Whackjob Few things can increase overall comfort on a ride than the appropriate clothing. Whilst some see specialist kit as one step aside from dressing like a Power Ranger, there’s little doubt that it helps. Having somewhere… Read more →

Components

It’s all in the details Deity, DT Swiss, Hope, ISM Seat, KCNC, Magura, Velocite Choosing the very best components is one of life’s greatest pleasures. It’s all about the bike you’ll look forward to riding and will never leave unattended, dirty or un-serviced. These exquisite components will help you to ride faster for longer and you’ll enjoy every last mile. Selecting component upgrades has never been easier: we’ve placed each area of the bike into groups. Pick the relevant area, choose your preferred supplier, pick a bundle (and it’s colour). That’s it! Most devotees prefer to assign one brand across… Read more →

Bespoke

Designed to go faster DT Swiss, ISM Seat, KCNC, Velocite Serious cyclists can describe their dream bicycle in exacting detail. A select few commission it. At Leftfield Bikes we offer the custom tubing, geometry, hand built wheels and individual components you’ve come to expect. Whatever you are looking for, contact us and we will schedule an appointment to discuss your bicycle further.

City Cycling: Health Versus Hazard? Cities Compared Internationally.

© Sarah Maycock/Handsome Frank http://mosaicscience.com/story/city-cycling-health-versus-hazard Are the fitness benefits of riding your bike worth the risk of an accident? Lesley Evans Ogden takes a tour of seven cities on two wheels to find out. It was just another morning commute. That is, until a bus driver ran a red light, turned right, and drove straight into Ann-Doerthe Hass Jensen. The bus knocked the social worker off her bike, trapping her underneath, a wheel pinning down and crushing her left foot. It was a school bus heading to a Copenhagen kindergarten, and the children aboard were screaming. Ann was rushed to… Read more →

Freakonomics: Hey Baby, Is That a Prius You’re Driving?

http://freakonomics.com/ In this podcast, a panel of environmentalists, economists, researchers and journalists discuss why the Toyota Prius has become the style statement for hybrids, as well as why projecting a positive image through both design and function is so important for early adopters. Why people choose certain vehicles offers some interesting insights in to eco-consumerism. Whilst plenty of people are happy to pay a premium for one specific hybrid vehicle over all others, it’s also possible to draw parallels with the electric bicycle marketplace. Some people still persist in viewing electric bikes as ‘cheating’. Yet, growing numbers are choosing them… Read more →

Credit Suisse, Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH), London to Paris Charity Bike Ride

Ismet Huseyin‘s KTM Strada 800 Speed. When it comes to Sporting Triumphs we have had more than our fair share in the last 12 months. Gold and Olympic glory for Mo, Jess, Sir Chris et al, British Lions roaring Down Under, Victory for GB and sideburns with Sir Brad in the Tour de France and of course we’ll never forget that Wimbledon win for Andy – 77 years after Fred – expect to see a new T shirt range shortly !! But none of these remarkable achievements come remotely close to the impending triumphs of the Credit Suisse CRES Team,… Read more →

Barclays Charity Event: Richard House & Wooden Spoon

Electric Bikes: It’s not Cheating, it’s Transport.

Steve McQueen owned the predecessor of our 2012 Pininfarina-designed Velosolex. Before the tyres were even pumped-up on our new ‘pedelec‘, two road racers appeared. One observed that it was electric and the other, that it was cheating… and so began the debate: are electric bicycles ‘cheating’? For those unfamiliar with the term, a pedelec is a bicycle with regular pedals plus a battery and motor. As you pedal, the motor adds a little assistance. When you stop pedalling, the assistance stops. It won’t drive on battery power alone: you have to make the effort to reap the rewards. They don’t… Read more →