Bike retail Archives - Page 3 of 8 -

When should I replace my bicycle helmet?

March 28, 2017 Nicola Bicycle helmet, Bike retail, Women cycling

A question I often get asked by customers who come to the bike shop where I work is, “When should I replace my bicycle helmet?” And the answer is often fairly long. In Australia we are required by law to wear an Australian-approved bicycle helmet while riding, but many people use very old helmets, or ones that are very worn or even compromised by an impact. So here’s a few tips to help you decide when you need to upgrade your helmet. Excuse the pun, but it’s a no brainer to replace a helmet once it’s been involved in an

Connecting with female cyclists around the world – meet Josie from Iowa

January 10, 2017 Nicola Bike retail, Women cycling

One of the many privileges that comes with writing a women’s cycling blog is connecting with female cyclists all around the world. This week I’m highlighting a fantastic woman called Josie who lives in a town called Decorah in Iowa in the US, and like me she writes a cycling blog, she works in a bike shop and riding a bike has changed her life. I was enchanted by her story which I’ve included here. Over to you Josie…… June of 2012, I woke up on a Monday morning and had a dialogue with myself probably similar to this. “Hey,

Great Christmas gift ideas for female road cyclists

December 6, 2016 Nicola Bike retail, Lycra cycle clothing, Women cycling

Every year I put together a list of great Christmas gift ideas for female road cyclists, and when I first started my list there weren’t many others around. Now it seems everyone is getting on the band wagon. Check out other gift lists at Total Women’s Cycling, Bike Radar and Bicycling. Here’s my 2016 ideas: Bianchi cup & saucer set This lovely limited edition, espresso cup and saucer is made by German porcelain manufacturer Villeroy & Boch. It even comes in a gorgeous celeste-coloured presentation box. Wheel Women bicycle scarf My great friend Tina McCarthy of Wheel Women

Tips for buying a bike for a woman

November 29, 2016 Nicola Bike retail, Women cycling, women's bikes

Thinking about buying a bike for a woman as a Christmas present? Buying a bike for another person is always a bit tricky, so if you’re buying a bike for your partner, sister, mum, auntie, niece or friend here’s a few tips to keep you on the right track. Riding desires Only consider buying a bike for a woman if you know that she has some interest in riding. Just because you would like her to ride alongside you, doesn’t mean she’ll be keen if you buy her a bike as a surprise gift. Even if you think you know

Women can find fulfilling jobs in the cycling industry

November 22, 2016 Nicola Bike retail, Cycling Club, Women cycling

Women can find fulfilling jobs in the cycling industry and Laura Wilson, Business Development Manager with US bike company Specialized is proof of that. I’ve been lucky enough to know and work with Laura in her various roles at Specialized in Australia, over a number of years. She’s always impressed me with her professionalism, her warmth, and her willingness to help. I caught up with her via email recently. Q: How do you come to be working in such a male dominated industry like cycling? What industries did you previously work in? My career path has followed quite an interesting

How to find the right bike saddle for women who cycle

October 18, 2016 Nicola Bike fitting, Bike retail, Women cycling, women specific bike

In my role as a female cycling advocate I’m often asked about how to find the right bike saddle for women. The saddle is the key contact area of the bike. It takes most of your weight and therefore it is crucially important to having a comfortable seat. If you buy a women’s specific bike then chances are it will already be fitted with a women’s specific saddle, but it’s not necessarily the right one for you. My recommendation when you buy a new bike is to try the supplied saddle first, but be prepared to change it, if it proves to

Buying the right bike for a female rider

August 16, 2016 Nicola Bike retail, Women cycling, women specific bike, women's bikes

If you’re ready to step up to the next level in cycling and take up racing, participate in a major event or start a training program then you are going to need the right bike for a female rider. Up until about 10 years ago, female cyclists had to settle for men’s cycling gear, or unisex as it is often called, so that bikes were not quite the right size and the apparel definitely wasn’t. Thankfully during the last decade there has been a number of companies like Trek, Specialized, Cannondale and Giant who have spent plenty of time and

All female cyclists need a bike computer

August 2, 2016 Nicola Bike retail, Women cycling

When I bought my first road bike nearly eight years ago, I rode with a bike computer from day one, so I believe all female cyclists need a bike computer. My first computer was a just a simple one, that told me my basic statistics like speed, average speed, distance traveled, time, maximum speed and more, but it really helped me focus on making improvements. If you’re just riding down to the local shops and back, then a bike computer is probably a bit over the top, but if you’re riding your bike to get fit and want to improve

A guide to buying women’s clip-in cycling shoes

July 5, 2016 Nicola Bike retail, Commuting by bike, Women cycling

I meet a lot of women who are reluctant to try women’s clip-in cycling shoes on their bike. They are nervous about falling off their bike if they forget to unclip, or in some cases believe that clip-in shoes are just for super serious cyclists. But I think they are for anyone who plans to do some significant kilometres on their bike. And there are some good reasons why you might want to become more attached to your pedals. Clipping in can stop your foot slipping off when applying power, help align your foot to ensure maximum efficiency, and potentially

Indoor bike trainer – a great way to beat cold and wet weather

June 14, 2016 Nicola Bike retail, Indoor trainers, Interval training, training, Women cycling

Right now in my home town of Sydney it’s starting to get a little cold in the early mornings, and we’ve also had a fair bit of rain, but all you need is an indoor bike trainer to keep in shape. I also heard an interview with a weather expert a few weeks ago, who said we are probably heading for a La Nina weather pattern which means we’ll be getting plenty of rain in the near future. But I’ll be ready for it, with my indoor trainer. My preference is to ride outdoors and I’m lucky enough to live