Welcome to Cyclescheme 'Round ups' - this is our repository for bike reviews, info on new product innovations and topical overviews of seasonal cycling gear and trends.
Round Up: 10 of the best e-bikes for commuters
E-bikes flatten hills, shrink distances and take the ‘sport’ out of transport. Here are 10 of the best options for...
Round Up: 5 of the best child trailers
Heading into September means back to school for many parents. With a child trailer, you can drop off your little...
Round Up: 10 of the best trekking bikes
A hybrid that’s designed for everyday transport and leisure riding might be the only bike you need. Here are 10 are...
Round Up: 10 of the best saddles for commuting
Sitting comfortably is the key to enjoying any sort of cycling, including commuting. You need a saddle that suits...
Round up: 10 of the best folding bikes
A bike that folds to the size of suitcase is easy to transport by train, bus or car – or store indoors at home or...
Round up: 10 of the best gilets
A gilet is a zipped vest that will keep the wind off your chest or disappear into a pocket when you don’t need it....
Round up: 10 cycle commuting tips
Longer spring days are an ideal time to start cycle commuting – or to begin riding more often. Here’s how to get...
Round up: 10 of the best front lights for commuters
Good lights are essential for seeing and being seen when you’re cycling at night. Here are ten that you can rely on.
Round up: 10 of the best backpacks and messenger bags
Carrying your commuting essentials on your back works well for shorter journeys and lighter loads. Here are some of...
Round Up: Top 10 everyday cycling shorts
Skin-tight Lycra isn’t the only option for cycling shorts. Here are 10 of the best baggy alternatives for commuters
Round Up: Top 10 road bikes for everyday riding
Racing bikes belong in races. For day-to-day cycling, such as commuting and recreational riding, an endurance road...
Round Up: Top 5 options for school-run cycling
A car isn’t essential to ferry children around for local journeys. With the right bike or accessories you can easily...
Round up: 10 of the best commuting bikes for £500 or less
Bike prices have surged in recent years but it’s still possible to get a good quality commuter on a tight budget....
Round Up: 10 of the best laptop bags for cycle commuters
Cycling with a laptop is straightforward, so long as it’s protected from rain and from accidental knocks. It pays to...
Round Up: 10 home workshop tools you really need - and why
You don’t need to be an expert to look after your bike. Most problems are straightforward to fix with a little...
Round Up: Top 8 things you need to know about waterproof jackets
A waterproof jacket is essential for year-round cycle commuting. Here’s what you need to know before you buy one.
Round Up: 5 of the Best Longtail e-bikes
E-bikes are great for personal mobility. With a long, strong, integral rear rack they’ll also carry two children,...
Round Up: Ten of the best panniers for commuters
Panniers are a practical and comfortable way to carry your cycle to work essentials. Here are ten of best.
Round Up: your winter cycling clothing essentials by Bikmo
As cyclists at Bikmo, we know winter is a tough time of year to ride a bike. That’s why we have put together our...
Round Up: Top Five Folding Bikes
Whether you need a bike you can take by train or one you can easily store indoors, a folding bike like one of these...
Round Up: 10 of the best saddles
To be comfy on a bike you need a saddle that suits your bum and the way you ride. One of these could be what you’re...
Round Up: Love to Ride July update
We take a look at the stats from the previous month for the Cyclescheme Love to Ride community - did you log your rides?
Round Up: 10 of the best top-tier bikes right now
You don’t have to be a lottery winner to afford a top quality bike. Even now, during an economic downturn, premium...
Round Up: Five accessories every cyclist needs
Don’t spend all of your cycle to work budget on your bike – save some for these essential accessories.
Round Up: Top ten adaptive bikes
Whatever your physical abilities, there’s a bicycle or tricycle out there to suit you. Here’s a cross section of ten...
Round Up: Everything you need to know about cycling glasses
Glasses can be a fashion statement if you want but on a bike their number one role is to prevent your vision being...
Round Up: A million reasons to ride
Cyclescheme has become the first Cycle to Work provider to fulfil one million requests. That’s a million...
Round Up: Best bike D locks for 2022
Check out this guide from our cycle insurance partner Bikmo on what D locks you should buy.
Round Up: Top 10 budget bikes of 2022
Prices have rocketed recently but you still don’t have to break the bank to get a bike that you can happily use day...
Round Up: 15 of the best bike lights for commuting
If you cycle to work year round, you need lights that you can rely on. Here are 15 of the best for commuters.
Round Up: Cycling Etiquette
Your fellow cycle commuters are your companions, not your competitors. Good cycling manners make the journey to work...
Round Up: The best ways to alert other road users
What’s the best way to alert other road users to your presence while cycling – bell, horn, whistle, voice? Here’s...
Round Up: 15 things to buy for the cyclist in your life
Christmas is coming. What will you buy that special cyclist in your life? Here are some suggestions.
Round Up: An A-Z of cycling accessories
Twenty-six suggestions to make your cycling journeys more reliable, more practical, and more comfortable.
Round Up: The physical health effects of cycling
Riding a bike regularly does you the world of good, helping you lose or maintain weight, get toned muscles, and even...
Round Up: Everything you need to know about cycling shoes and pedals
When you’re cycling, your feet push the pedals around in circles thousands of times per hour. So it’s worth finding...
Round Up: What’s the difference between a budget bike and a market leader?
Why pay £500 or £1,000 for a bike when you can buy one for £99? Glad you asked…
Round Up: Everything you need to know about buying a new helmet
To work as intended, a cycle helmet must fit properly and be replaced when necessary. Here’s what to consider before...
Round Up: Bikmo’s 5 tips to getting winter ready
Here are Bikmo’s five top tips to keep you pedalling all year round.
Round Up: Cycling Jargon
If you’re just getting acquainted with the world of cycling, check out our cycling glossary.
Round Up: Road markings made simple
White lines provide instructions which are sometimes misunderstood or ignored. Here’s a guide to what they mean and...
Round Up: Budget e-bikes
Electric assistance lets any cyclist cruise up hills or ride alongside fitter companions. Here are five decent...
Round Up: Defining the 7 main bike types
Identify the differences between bike types and find which type of two-wheeler you might be best suited to.
Round Up: Saddles
Cycling shouldn’t make you sore. Here are some suggestions to help you sit comfortably on your journey to work.
Round Up: Puncture Resistant Tyres
A tougher tyre that won't puncture as often is a no-brainer for commuting. But just how tough do you want it?
Round Up: Bikes for shorter riders
Find the perfect bike for shorter riders, with the help of this expert guide from Cyclescheme - the UK's leading...
Round Up: 7 non-technical 'get you home' tips
You don’t have to be able to repair your bike to enjoy worry-free commuting. Most roadside problems can either be...
Round Up: Reasons why you should be cycling to work
If you aren't already enjoying the benefits of cycling to work, or need a little convincing, you've come to the...
Round Up: What lights do I need for my commute?
The best choice of lights for seeing and being seen while cycling at night will depend on the route that you’re taking.
Round Up: Bikes for those with mobility issues
A large range of bikes for disabled people means few should have to give up the idea of a two- or three-wheel commute.
Round Up: Bikes over £1,000
You can now get bikes worth more than £1,000 through Cyclescheme. How about one of these super commuters?
Round Up: 10 Ways to upgrade your commute
Cyclescheme isn’t only a great way to get a new bike. It can also be used for accessories – and to improve the bike...
Round Up: Folding e-bikes
An e-bike that folds provides sweat-free cycling wherever you’re going and however you’re getting there.
Round Up: The best bikes under £250
Cheap doesn’t have to mean nasty. Choose wisely and you can buy a decent new commuter bike for £250 or less.
Round Up: Making the most of your folding bike
When your bike folds to the size of a suitcase, your cycle-to-work strategies will be different. Here are some tips.
Round Up: Cube’s best road bikes for commuters
If you want to get a fast, lightweight bike with your Cyclescheme certificate, this German giant has plenty of options.
Round Up: Everything you need to know about bicycle tyres
Tyres come in a bewildering range of sizes and tread patterns for every conceivable usage. Here's how to choose the...
Round Up: Tips for riding in the dark
As well as lights and reflectors, cycle commuting at night requires some adjustments to the way that you ride.
Round Up: E-bikes and the law
With an e-bike there are a few things to consider with regards to the law.
Round Up: How much does an e-bike cost?
Looking for your first e-bike? Here's what you can expect to pay.
Round Up: E-bikes and your options
There's an e-bike for you, no matter what riding you do.
Round Up: The right lights for your riding
What lights should you use? That depends on where you'll be using them: urban, rural, or off-road.
Round Up: Autumn Cycling Essentials
Prepare yourself and your bike for the changing seasons with a Cyclescheme accessories-only package.
Round Up: Chain drive vs. belt drive
Most bikes use a chain to transmit pedal power to the rear wheel but there is a viable alternative: belt drive. So...
Round Up: How belt drives bikes work
An oily chain isn't the only way to transfer power from your pedals to your rear wheel. A toothed belt drive is...
Cyclist Essentials: Tools, Tips and Accessories for Making Cycle Maintenance Easy
Maintaining and repairing your own bike is fairly straightforward with the right tools. Follow these tips to save...
Round Up: 5 of the best rear lights
A good rear light forces other road users to notice you and encourages them to treat you like traffic. Here are five...
Round Up: 5 of the best waterproof jackets
A waterproof jacket is your first line of defence against bad weather, a barrier not just to rain but cold wind.
Round Up: Top Bike Hacks
Bodges and dodges that will get you home or simply save you money. Here’s ten of our favourites.
Your Guide to Cyclocross and the Best Cyclocross Bikes
Designed for racing around muddy fields, most cyclocross bikes make decent drop-bar commuters. Just add mudguards...
Round Up: Your Cycle to Work Day checklist
Give cycle commuting a go on Wednesday 13th September. It could transform your health, wealth, and happiness. Here’s...
Round Up: 5 of The Best Commuters From Boardman
Best known as a racer, Chris Boardman is a strong advocate for recreational and utility cycling too. His bike range...
Round Up: 5 of The best Touring Bikes
Designed to go the distance while carrying luggage, a tourer is well equipped for commuting too. Here are five good...
Round Up: 5 of the best Folding bikes
A bike that folds to the size of a suitcase can go anywhere with you: on the train, in the car, into the office or...
Round Up: 5 of the best 2017 adventure road bikes
With wider tyres, disc brakes, and the facility to fit mudguards and a rack, a ‘gravel bike’ is a much better bet...
Round Up: Buying a budget commuter
The less you’ve got to spend on a new bike, the smaller your choice of good ones. But they’re there. Here’s how to...
Round Up: 5 of the best road bikes for commuters
For commuters who want to travel faster or further, a road bike is hard to beat. But it needs to be practical too –...
Round Up: The Folding Stuff
For mixed-mode commuting and indoor parking, it's hard to beat a folder. Here's what to consider before investing in...
Round Up: Step-through hybrids
Often marketed as women’s bikes, these bikes are also suitable for anyone who finds it difficult to get on and off a...
Round Up: Belt drive bikes
An oily chain isn't the only way to transfer power from your pedals. A belt drive is cleaner, quieter, and needs...
Round Up: Flat-bar road bikes 3
Flat-bar road bikes are lightweight sporty hybrids that put the 'rush' in rush hour.
Round Up: Rechargeable Lights
Lights are a legal and practical necessity for cycling in the dark, and rechargeables are the best option when it...
Bags for Commuting by Bike
Rain jacket, shoes, lock, laptop, lunch… cycle commuters have plenty to carry. The two most popular ways to do it...
Round Up: Four seasons cycling
Cycle commuting year-round is easier than you think – so long as you and your bike are prepared…
The Best Cycling Jackets: Round Up
Whether it’s a full-on waterproof for winter storms or a lightweight showerproof you can roll up in your pannier for...
Round-up: Gravel bikes
Also known as an adventure road bike, a gravel bikes is one of the better options for drop-bar commuting.
Round-up: Town bikes
With practical touches and an upright riding position, a typical town bike is the perfect commuter choice.
Round-up: Disc-brake road bikes
For the ride to work, road bikes with disc brakes have a number of advantages over their rim-brake stablemates.
Round-up: Entry-level pedelecs
Need a little extra energy for your ride to work? An electrically-assisted bike doesn't have to be super expensive.
Round-Up: Essentials for April showers
Don't get caught out by sudden spring downpours. Here's what you need to keep comfortable and dry.
Round-up: Top 5 overshoes
Overshoes keep your feet warm and dry and your shoes clean. Here's what to look for, plus five of the best pairs.
Round-up: Top 5 winter gloves
Cold hands make cycling a misery. Here's how to keep them snug and warm in even the worst weather conditions.
Round-up: Top 5 rear lights
Winter days are short and often gloomy. A brighter rear light will get you noticed more easily in the twilight and...
Round up: Folding bikes 2
On the train, bus or tube, in the boot of a car, up (or down) in a lift, under the desk… the benefits of a folding...
Round up: Budget hybrid bikes
A cheaper bike with less-costly-to-replace components could be just the ticket for your daily commute.
Cycling shoes and cleats
In just an hour of cycling, you could be performing well over 5000 pedal strokes so it’s essential to get this key...
Round-up: Top 5 front lights
Even if you work nine to five, longer autumn nights mean that you'll soon need lights for your commute – but which?
Round-up: Bike Frame Materials Explained
What will your next bike be made out of? Steel, aluminium, carbon fibre, and titanium each have their pros and cons.
Round-up: Top 3 roadsters
The opposite of the lightweight race bike, a roadster is supremely practical for shorter-distance commuting in...
Summer Cycling Checklist
As spring turns to summer, it is hopefully time to shed your arm and leg warmers and to enjoy the feeling of the sun...
Round-up: Road Bikes
A drop-bar race bike is ideal for fitness training and summer weekend rides, and it can be used as a quick commuter.
Round-up: Electric Bikes
Even if an electric bike costs over £1,000, you can get one through Cyclescheme. Here's how – and why you might want to.
Round-up: Casual Shorts
Don't feel like striding into the office in skintight Lycra? There are comfortable summer shorts for cycling that...
Round-up: D-Locks
When your bike's out of sight, it needs to be locked. A D-lock is portable and tough.
Round-up: Mountain bike essentials
Got a mountain bike? Take a second bite of the Cyclescheme cherry and get the commuting equipment and accessories...
Round Up: Top 5 commuter bikes for beginners
If you haven't cycled for a long time, don't be swayed by fashion or sport: get a bike that's comfortable, practical...
Everything You Need for a Long Bike Ride
Most regular cycle commuters can comfortably complete a sportive, charity ride, or other long day ride – given the...
Round-up: Best e-bikes for cycling to work
An electrically-assisted bike is the no-sweat solution for the cycling commute that's longer or harder than you'd like.
Round Up: Women's Hybrids
Let's get one thing straight: unless you want to ride in a skirt or dress, a step-through frame is strictly...
Round Up: Hub-gear hybrids
As transport cycling becomes more popular, hub gears are appearing on more bikes. Internal gears make sense for an...
Round Up: Compact Folding Bikes
A folding bike lets you combine a train's town-to-town speed with the across-town efficiency of the bicycle. Ride to...
Round Up: Mountain Bikes 2
Mountain bikes are all-terrain bikes: they'll go anywhere. That includes urban journeys. It's harder to equip them...
Round Up: Cycling jerseys
You don't need a cycling jersey if your journey to work is the cycling equivalent of a stroll; normal clothes will...
Round Up: Women's Road Bikes
Women's road cycling is finally starting to attract the attention it deserves. There's was a women's tour in May...
Round Up: Bike Bag Essentials
A pre-packed commuter bag makes cycling to work faff-free. Some things you might pack the night before; others can...
Round Up: Sportive Road Bikes
Sportive road bikes are designed for enjoying rather than enduring long, hilly road rides. They're still lightweight...
Round Up: Gilets
If you ride to work in cycling gear, get a gilet. Its role is to keep the wind off your body without the weight,...
Round Up: Handlebars
As well as steering your bike, the handlebar affects your riding position and your comfort. A new one could cure...
Round Up: Flat-bar road bikes 2
Flat-bar road bikes are the opposite of go-anywhere multi-use hybrids. They're designed, like their drop-bar...
Round Up: Multi-use hybrids
Hybrids are a blend of different bike types, as the name suggests. Some are flat-bar road bikes, trekking bikes are...
The Best Bike Locks: Round Up
Whenever your bike is out of your sight, it needs protecting by a lock – either a locked door or a good bike lock....
Round Up: Singlespeeds 2
One-geared bikes aren't just for cycle couriers and fashion-focused hipsters, they suit sportier commuting too.
Round Up: Four Season Road Bikes
Most road bikes aren't meant to take mudguards. That's because they are – ostensibly, at least – designed for...
Round Up: Waterproof overtrousers
Even with mudguards fitted, your legs can get very wet while cycling. As you pedal your legs come close to...
Round Up: Fully-equipped hybrids
When you buy a bike for commuting in the UK, you usually need to add mudguards, a pannier rack, and lights, because...
Round Up: Road bikes with disc brakes
Sporty road bikes with drop handlebars traditionally use sidepull calliper brakes, which operate on the rim. These...
Round Up: Pumps
You'll need a pump any time you puncture or change a tyre. That won't be very often. More commonly, you'll use a...
Round Up: Carbon road bikes
Every bike you'll see in the Tour de France this year is made of carbon fibre. It's the material of choice for...
Round Up: Bikes for women
Bikes and their components are designed with Mr Average in mind. Ms Average is shorter and lighter. Designing a bike...
Round Up: Alternatives to lycra shorts
Whether your bum does indeed look big in those lycra shorts, and whether that bothers you, are questions only you...
Round Up: Touring Bikes 2
A touring bike is designed to carry luggage easily and its rider comfortably. It's an obvious choice for cycling...
Round Up: Folding Bikes
What folding bikes do best is mixed-mode commuting: you can take the train or car part way to work, then cycle the...
Round Up: Mudguards
The constant spray of dirty water from a mudguardless bike on a wet road is worse than being rained on. Unless you...
Round Up: Road bikes
A road bike is one of the fastest ways to get to work under your own steam. It's tempting to turn every commute into...
Round Up: Bicycle Luggage Racks
For anything other than short trips with light loads, you'll sweat and ache less if your luggage goes on your bike...
Round Up: High-end Hybrids
By definition, hybrids are not one-trick ponies; they're a blend of other bike types. Even a multipurpose bike is...
Round Up: Battery Lights
Quite how bright your lights need to be depends on whether you'll be cycling under streetlamps or on unlit lanes....
Round Up: Dynamo Lights
Dynamo lighting is green energy. A generator in or on the wheel siphons off a little pedalling energy to power your...
Round Up: Trekking Bikes
The trekking bike is the northern European equivalent of the British tourer, only with a flat handlebar and a more...
Round Up: Shorts
Cycling shorts come in two types: skin-tight Lycra shorts, originally designed for road racing; and baggy shorts,...
Round Up: Eyewear for Cycling
After the wettest April to June on record, you might think that any talk of sunglasses is a bit rose tinted. But in...
Round Up: Road Race Bikes
Television footage of the Tour de France and the Olympic road race should see the strong sales of road race bikes...
Round Up: Helmets
Cycling is not a dangerous activity. Per hour, you are more likely to suffer an injury requiring medical attention...
Round Up: Mountain Bikes
Mountain bikes are built for riding over rough ground, more often on trails through forests and moorland rather than...
Round Up: Touring Bikes
Touring bikes are designed to carry you and your luggage comfortably and efficiently as far as you want to go. That...
Round Up: Waterproof panniers
Rain is a fact of life for UK cycle commuters. As well as wet weather gear to keep you dry, you’ll want rain...
Round Up: Grips and bar ends
Riding a bike can cause your hands to ache, tingle or even go numb. Don’t panic. It’s caused by the compression of...
Round Up: Flat-bar road bikes
You’ll hear this kind of hybrid called different names depending on the manufacturer. Some call them fitness bikes,...
Round Up: Singlespeeds
The singlespeed bicycle is the most popular in the world, mostly because it's cheaper to have one gear. Yet in the...
Round Up: Cycling shoes
On the right bike and right commute, normal street shoes are ideal. They enable you to switch instantly from cycling...
Round Up: Commuter-ready road bikes
If you want to get to work in a hurry, you can’t beat a road bike. Speed and efficiency on tarmac is what these...
Round Up: Winter tyres
Murphy’s law says that you get more punctures in winter. And when you do get one, it’s a pain to replace an...
Round Up: Do-it-all hybrids
If you just want ‘a bike’, you probably want a hybrid. It’s the jack-of-all-trades machine, with features borrowed...
Round Up: Compact folding bikes 2
If you live too far from work to cycle, or you just don’t fancy riding all the way in winter, you can still get your...
Round Up: Commuter Lights
When the clocks go back, daylight scarcely exists outside of the working day. If you’re cycling anywhere, you’ll...
Round Up: Town Bikes
The traditional sit-up-and-beg roadster is an ideal bike for riding a few miles around town in normal clothes.
Essentials: Lights
We give you the lowdown on the bike kit you just can't do without...