Cambridge Bicycles

Cambridge bicycles

What would Cambridge be like without a bicycle? Well I couldn’t imagine. Although there are many who get around exclusively by car the bicycle should be the preferred option. Cambridge is full of bikes; sometimes at lunchtime, when students rush from one lecture to another, swarming around like an angry bee colony, you could be forgiven if you believed you were witness to a bike festival or a really important bike race - one even to rival the Tour of France!

Bikes are a bare necessity of life in Cambridge, fact; and any self respecting person should not be seen without one!!!! Cambridge is well catered for bikes with numerous purpose built bikeways, and car drivers are taught to respect them, albeit reluctantly at times. A word of warning however, Cambridge has narrow streets, most are simply not designed for such density of traffic or the needs for protection that a bike rider requires. If you are fortunate to have eyes in the back of your head, damn well use them, as often you need them. Without painting a too grizzly picture of reality here, there are every year or so it seems some fatalities when the innocent first time bike rider comes in contact with harsh reality on the streets. Falling off your bike can become a routine matter. I new a Peruvian girl who managed to have three quite serious bitchumen sniffing experiences in three months. Passing parked cars is the cause of many, as drivers often suddenly and without warning open their car doors, much to the distaste of the person flying through the air! It has happened to me before and I always keep a watchful eye on the movements of seated drivers in parked cars as I overtake. I was also the cause of an accident when calling out hello to a student friend many years ago, she turned to return my salutation just as the car in front decided to break and she went flying into its boot. An intense round of apologizing ensued.

To rent or not to rent, that is the question? If you are only around for a few days, renting is the best option, but if you intend to stay for a few weeks or more then you should seriously think about buying one. There are many old style bikes to be snapped up from 15 pounds upward. Below I list places you can get a puncture repaired, or buy the tools to do it yourself. Every one of them has second hand bikes for sale.

bicycle shops cambridge

There are healthy numbers of bikes stolen all the time, and there are indeed probably many individuals steeling to order. My secret for ownership longevity, and it has worked so far, is you have a bike that no-one would be seen dead on and it seems to have kept me alive so far!

Being seen at night is a good survival technique, and not one I picked up from my army training! The police do regular stop checks on cyclists without lights and will issue an on-the-spot fine. I spent years jumping of my bike and wheeling it along the pavement whistling to myself and attempting to look as innocent as possible having spotted the police in the distance.

Cycling on the pavement is often necessary, although probably illegal. Its more fear of embarrassment in coming across certain well known characters that stops me from doing it more often. There is a rather large character who prowls the streets, I don’t know his name nor wish to know it, but I have seen him in action many times. He has the habit of screaming at the top of his voice "get of the pavement" and probably will even chase you along the rd.

I have avoided that treatment so far, but have been confronted by other eager amateur guardians of conformity before, but needless to say I would stick to the roads unless you see an obviously marked cycle lane.

Bike repairs and sale shops

cambridge bike shop

From Tuesday to Thursday there is a bike repair stall on the market, so any flat tire can be speedily repaired there. If you can plan your itinerary in advance you might wish to hire a bike on arrival at the Train station. On leaving the station building and turning right into the car park you will find a bike shop. There are several other bike shops dotted around the city, one in Kings Street (not to be confused with Kings Parade), there is one towards the end of Kings Parade and there is one in Paradise street and about four on Mill Rd. If you do decide to buy a cheap second-hand bike, make sure you buy a sturdy lock and set of lights.