BARGAIN HUNT - 25

This one might seem slightly left of field, but I use Discount Supplements to order most of my energy drink, gels and energy food. They provide great service, free delivery and very competitive prices, and for today only they are offering an extra 12% off all orders. Simply add OCT12 as the code at checkout.


Hurry though - this offer ends at midnight tonight...


Wiggle are offering £10 off when you spend £75 - just quote UK10 at checkout to get the discount. 


And finally, worth a mention is the continuing sale at PBK - now there are some items discounted by 70% or 80%. A lot of this is summer stuff, but if you're organised enough to want to buy well in advance for next season, then this could be the sale for you.



Of course, having said that, it was touching 17 degrees Celsius when I was out on the bike earlier today, so maybe I could get some more wear out of that summer kit this year!

IT'S STILL A BUG'S LIFE...

So, last week I outlined how I wanted to change the world with BUGs, or if not the world the local community at least. It seemed outrageously ambitious, but within a week or two things have already moved on apace.


I had contacted the local council to see if I could lay my hands on a bunch of their city cycle route maps for our budding BUGs. Not only did the council actually send someone over in person to drop a stack off, on bike naturally, they have invited me to take part in a consultation on revised and new cycle routes in and around the city.


The council appear very serious in taking cycling forward in the city, and I have to say to be involved in the process, as a cyclist, it is very exciting indeed.


The consultation process is already in full swing, as part of the city's sustainable development plan, and the next step is to take part in a number of consultation rides along the proposed routes.


Can't wait!

BARGAIN HUNT - 24

Oh dear - where does the time go? Last time I looked it was Tuesday and now it's Friday evening... Still, at least it's the weekend!


Bargains are still coming at me thick and fast, so a quick update. Planet X are offering deals on Mavic Road wheelsets - Cosmic Elites are £279.99 down from £354.99 and the excellent Ksyrium Elites are £389.99 from £485.99. Ksyrium Equipes are £269.99 for black or £279.99 for white both down from £339.99. Why a tenner more for the white set I wonder? They do look rather nice mind...


Ribble cycles are running one of their many stock-take discounts - those boys really like to keep on top of their kit don't they? So, on top of their existing 20% off they are offering an additional 10% discount off all products (*not bikes or groupsets) - simply add SALE10 as the code at checkout.


Merlin Cycles are also offering 10% all their kit - this time the code is WINTER10 at checkout. Merlin's prices are always some of the keenest, to another 10% off their prices should make for some tempting purchases.


Tredz have got some good deals on their website at the moment - there are some pretty impressive discounts. There are savings of at least 30% on a lot of their kit...


Finally I will leave you with another Planet X special as they really know how to put an offer together. This time they would apparently have a job lot of LOOK 596 team replicas they need to dispose of, as they are offering this handsome machine not at it's RRP of £6,199 but for an mouth watering £3,799. That is a lot of bike for what is still a lot of money, but not nearly as much as it should be.


The catch, as of writing this blog they only had 6 available. So be quick.


If I had £3,799 I would be tempted. But I don't, so that's one offer I will leave for someone else to snap up...

BARGAIN HUNT - 23

The bargains are still coming thick and fast, which is just as well as I am struggling to keep my motivation going as the days get shorter, the temperatures cooler and the winds stronger.


I was out on the road yesterday morning after a weekend away and boy was it a struggle. Into a strong headwind for the better part of 30 miles, it was the first run along one of my usual winter routes since last year. I was even tempted to stop off and check for brake rub so leg-numbingly difficult was I finding it. I wish...


So, maybe a little retain therapy will ease the pain? Always Riding are offering 10% off for orders in excess of £100, not bad if you have a blue chip purchase planned. Simpy use OCTOBEROFFER at checkout before October 23. 


Wiggle, bless 'em, are also offering an extra 10% off site prices - use code EXT10-SPECIALS at checkout. They also have massive discounts on a whole bunch of kit they want to clear, including bikes. The never ending sale continues...


If you fancy glamming your bike up for winter on a budget, new bar tape is an easy and effective way. PBK are offering 50% off Deda tape at the moment - use DEDA50 at checkout.


Bikes You Like are offering 50% off Altura Night Vision gloves, both yellow and black, bringing them down to £19.99.


Finally, Parkers International are offloading Michelin Pro Race 3 tyres for a oh-so-tempting £20.95 - that's a saving of 38% off the usual £33.99.


Grab 'em whilst you can...

BARGAIN HUNT - 22

Would you believe it? I go away for a weekend and the cycling retail world goes bargain crazy!


Where to start? Well, in the words of Julie Andrews the beginning is a very good place usually.


ChainReactionCycles are offering 25% off Mavic wheels - the pick of the bunch, in my eyes anyway, are the Ksyrium Elites in silver at a tyre popping £165 - that's £55 off the usual retail price. And a very nice wheel - too good for winter really. Note, this is not for a set - no, CRC aren't that crazy - this is per wheel i.e. front and back...


There's also 25% off a load of Mavic cyclo-cross wheels too, if that's your winter thing...


Moving on... Primera are offering 15% off anything and everything for one week only, excluding existing offers. Just use NL-OCT-15 as the code at checkout.


Those crazy guys over at Merlin cycles are offering VAT free bikes this weekend only - so be quick. Use the code NOVAT at checkout to get a 17% discount. Merlin obviously missed the memo putting VAT up to 20%, but hey let's not be too picky...


On top of this Merlin are also offering 10% off all Cateye computers and lights - it's the not-so-cryptic CATEYE10 as the checkout code this time.


Fancy spending £50 with Always Riding? If so, take a fiver off courtesy of the code SUB5LOYAL at checkout.


Tredz are offering 20% off Altura kit - especially useful for us cycle commuters. Ends Sunday night though, so again - be light on your feet for this one.


ProBikeKit are offering 15% off turbos - hate the things since using one for my broken hip rehab, but each to their own. After weeks of one-legged training sessions I vowed NEVER AGAIN!


And finally, cue drum-roll... PBK are also offering up to 60% - yes 60% people - off cycle clothing. Craft and Gore kit appear to have the best savings on offer, but there are lots of bargains hidden away on the site. 


I'll finish with a link to the Evans cycles competition to win a set of Exposure lights. How cool would that be? Top prize is a set of Exposure Six Pack with enough illumination to burn out your retina, plus 10 sets of the uber-cool Exposure Flash and Flare lights.


Good luck! But not too much...

A BUG'S LIFE

There are some exciting developments afoot at work as I attended the inaugral meeting of our new BUGs group earlier this week.

Nothing to do with the cult 1990s show of the same name, shown at teatime on BBC1 on Saturdays. Remember that? It starred, amongst other acting luminaries of the time, Craig McLachlan of Neighbours fame.

 

No, this is a BUG in the Bicycle User Group context and some innovative and potentially far-reaching ideas were discussed.

 

It will be exciting to be a part of the BUGs and I am intrigued to see where we take it and where it takes us.

Naturally we looked at implementing the usual BUGs activities including:

• Produce a regular newsletter.
• Set up a BUG website or intranet site.
• Organise a Doctor Bike event.
• Arrange regular lunchtime talks or presentations about cycling.
• Run a cyclists’ information service supplying free maps, leaflets and other advice.
• Organise an official ribbon cutting to mark the opening of new cycle facilities at our workplace. Invite the local media and win our organisation some valuable publicity.
• Operate a ‘bike buddy’ scheme. Novice cyclists are paired with a more experienced rider who will cycle to work with them.
• Produce a site map showing the location of cycle parking stands, showers, etc.
• Organise a cyclists’ breakfast during Bike Week.
• Provide volunteers who will help mend punctures and carry out emergency repairs for fellow members of staff.
• Conduct a quarterly ‘cycle census’ to count the number of bikes on-site and record any changes and progress.
• Get a local bike shop to set up a display of commuter bikes and equipment in the staff restaurant or a similar prominent place.

In addition to this we see our role as promoting the cause of the cyclist, and by cyclist I don't just mean the lycra-clad Sunday morning road-warriors (like me!), but also those who are new to cycling or only occassionally cycle but are looking to do more.

 

With this in mind I think it fair to assume we will, as a consequence, be campaigning for cyclists to be taken more seriously on the roads, to improve signage, to canvass local authorities for improved cycling facilities on the road and in the city and to ultimately fight for equality of rights with the motorists who use their cars to get to work.

Ambitious? Only time will tell...

 

BARGAIN HUNT - 21

Are you sitting comfortably? Then we'll begin.


If not, you might be interested to know that Rutland Cycles are offering 20% off selected saddles.


And there are some peachy saddles on offer too. I ride with a Selle Italia on my winter hack and Rutland are offering 20% off the excellent Flite Gel Flow taking it down to £87.99.


At the budget end the SL XC is down from £55 to £39.99 and at the top end of the market, Rutland are listing the SLR Kit Carbonio saddle for £131.99, a drop from £165.


There are also some healthy discounts on Ritchey saddles too, with the well reviewed Pro Streem saddle down to £40.99 from £52.00 and the desirable WCS Streem reduced from £85 to £67.99.  Very tempting.


Finally, if you want to add a bit of traditional English class to your steed, you could do worse than cap a Brooks saddle on the top of it. Rutland have a flat 20% off their whole Brooks saddle range. The Brooks Standard is now only £59.99 and the top end Swallow Titanium £190, down from £240.


Not cheap by any means, but you will be buying a little piece of leather cycling history and a saddle to last.


Go on take the plunge, your bum will thank you!