In my ongoing series of videos trying to learn something about bike friendliness from other cities, today I'm in London for the first time. But rather than just floundering around on the wrong side of the road, I enlisted some help to see how London has made some great strides toward bike-friendliness in the past five years.

Big thanks to Katy Rodda from the London Cycling Campaign for showing me around. For those of you who live in London and want to support the great work of London Cycling Campaign in improving the city, here's a discount code for joining: membership.lcc.org.uk/civicrm/…

0:00 Introduction
0:57 Cycling superhighway
2:35 Bicycle junctions
3:11 Pilot projects and consultations
3:46 Cycle gate
4:32 Crossing London Bridge
4:52 Quiet Streets
5:25 Quick changes
6:20 Is London now a bike city?
6:40 My impressions of London's progress

#cycling #bike #commuting

Buy my book Frostbike: The Joy, Pain and Numbness of Winter Cycling: rmbooks.com/book/frostbike/

I don’t really do proper product reviews, but here are some products that I’ve tried on this channel that I like. (Of course you don’t need anything fancy to ride a bike, other than a bike, but these are Amazon affiliate links, and I get paid a small commission if you buy them 😉)

• Here's the winter bike I'm riding these days: bit.ly/2PhqUqF
• Cliq Smart Bike Light (nice rear brake light): amzn.to/39lfqwo
• RedShift Acrlight Smart LED Pedals (clever lights for your pedals): amzn.to/3NL1Npg
• Aftershokz Titanium bone-conducting headphones (if you want to listen while you ride): amzn.to/3e9Tofa
• JBL CLip 4 Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker (for your party-pace group rides): amzn.to/3pcMLPm
• Crane Bicycle Bell (the ding is sublime): amzn.to/3OwfZCu
• Ibex Merino Wool clothing (good for summer and winter): bit.ly/3xXkbEd
• Bicycle Cargo Net (why did it take so long for me to buy one of these?): amzn.to/31s1Ovu
• Vaude Cover II Rain Poncho (for higher-end, try Cleverhood or People’s Poncho): amzn.to/3jLkift
• Kryptonite U-Lock (your bike is going to get stolen eventually, sigh, but at least make it hard): amzn.to/3tPWcGi
• Peak Design phone case (the one I use, paired with the Peak Design phone mount): amzn.to/3HGM0FU

Follow me!
Twitter: twitter.com/tombabin
TikTok: tiktok.com/@tom_babin
Instagram: instagram.com/tombabin

I started this channel to help more people make the bike a bigger part of their lives. But it can be difficult to start bike commuting, especially in those cities that have yet to see the benefits of a proper network of safe bike routes. There can be barriers, both internal and external, to bicycle commuting.

This video is my attempt to help overcome those barriers. I’ve collected a list of barriers and I’m sharing the tips I’ve picked up over the year to overcome those barriers. I suffered so you don’t have to.

0:00 Introduction
0:55 Barrier 1: I don't have the right kind of bike
1:29 Things to look for in a good commuter bike
2:00 My bike recommendation for a short commute
2:26 My bike recommendation for a medium-length commute
2:50 My bike recommendation for a longer commute
3:30 Barrier 2: I don't know what to wear on my bike commute
4:39 Barrier 3: I don't want to get sweaty on the way to work
6:25 Barrier 4: I have too much stuff to carry
7:44 Barrier 5: My commute is too long/too hilly
9:30 Barrier 6: The weather is too bad in my city
10:37 Barrier 7: My city's automobile traffic is too dangerous
12:45 Final tip: Don't forget that bike commuting is amazing

#cycling #bike #commuting

Buy my book Frostbike: The Joy, Pain and Numbness of Winter Cycling: rmbooks.com/book/frostbike/

The pannier mentioned in this video: twowheelgear.com

I don’t really do proper product reviews, but here are some products that I’ve tried on this channel that I like. (Of course you don’t need anything fancy to ride a bike, other than a bike, but these are Amazon affiliate links, and I get paid a small commission if you buy them 😉)

• Here's the winter bike I'm riding these days: bit.ly/2PhqUqF
• Cliq Smart Bike Light (nice rear brake light): amzn.to/39lfqwo
• RedShift Acrlight Smart LED Pedals (clever lights for your pedals): amzn.to/3NL1Npg
• Aftershokz Titanium bone-conducting headphones (if you want to listen while you ride): amzn.to/3e9Tofa
• JBL CLip 4 Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker (for your party-pace group rides): amzn.to/3pcMLPm
• Crane Bicycle Bell (the ding is sublime): amzn.to/3OwfZCu
• Ibex Merino Wool clothing (good for summer and winter): bit.ly/3xXkbEd
• Bicycle Cargo Net (why did it take so long for me to buy one of these?): amzn.to/31s1Ovu
• Vaude Cover II Rain Poncho (for higher-end, try Cleverhood or People’s Poncho): amzn.to/3jLkift
• Kryptonite U-Lock (your bike is going to get stolen eventually, sigh, but at least make it hard): amzn.to/3tPWcGi
• Peak Design phone case (the one I use, paired with the Peak Design phone mount): amzn.to/3HGM0FU

Follow me!
Twitter: twitter.com/tombabin
TikTok: tiktok.com/@tom_babin
Instagram: instagram.com/tombabin

Sometimes a peaceful ride without the distraction of a phone is a beautiful thing. But down here in the real world, it's nice to have our phones attached to our bikes for navigation, information or just to stay connected.

So after asking you (amazing community) for advice, I'm testing out four different types of phone mounts for your bike, with some recommendations for the urban cyclist. Here's what you'll see:

0:00 Intro
1:36 Clamp-style mount
4:24 Handlebar bag-style mount
6:45 Elastic-style mount
9:51 Phone case locking-style mount
12:48 The results
14:09 My recommendation

Here are the mounts I cover in the video. Please support your local bike shop, but if you can't, the links below are affiliate links, which means I get a portion any resulting sales

Dollar-store clamp-style mount (don't buy this, I'm not even putting the link)
Rockbros Bike Handlebar Bag: amzn.to/309HzPi
Nite Ize Handleband: amzn.to/2S5xI8I
Nite Ize Wraptor: amzn.to/2S4xoam
Quad Lock Bike Mount Pro: amzn.to/2EHL7Rs (You also need to buy a case specific to your style of phone, such as this: amzn.to/348kbmF)

Thanks to Nite Ize and Quad Lock for providing products for me to test.

#bikes #bikecommuting #cycling

Follow Shifter: shifter.info

Facebook: facebook.com/shifter.info/
Medium: medium.com/shifter

Follow Tom Babin on:
Twitter: twitter.com/tombabin
Facebook: facebook.com/tom.babin
Medium: medium.com/@tbabin

Tom Babin is the author of Frostbike: The Joy, Pain and Numbness of Winter Cycling: amzn.to/2EH7EOg

I've long complained that we, as a society, aren't doing enough to prevent or deal with the underappreciated consequences of bike theft. But could that finally be changing? In this video, I look at new ideas for preventing bike theft.

Bonus: A professor of criminology weighs in on each idea from an empirical standpoint. Big thanks to Maddy Novich, also known as Cargo Bike Momma on Instagram: instagram.com/cargobikemomma/

Check out our sponsor Velosurance, America's Best Bike Insurance. Learn more here: velosurance.com/

For bonus content, insider goodies and to help support the future of this channel: patreon.com/Shifter632?utm_med…

A huge thanks to my ongoing sponsors this year. They support this channel, so please support them. They also make amazing products that I use every day and endorse without hesitation.

Priority Bikes: I happily rode Priority for years before they signed on as a sponsor this year.
I’m currently riding the zippy and fun new Priority Eight: alnk.to/1XWoxFO
I’ve ridden the Priority Continuum Onyx through many Canadian winters: bit.ly/3tzXTee.

Two Wheel Gear: My favourite bike bags and panniers, and the best convertible backpack-pannier that I’ve ever used: twowheelgear.com/?utm_source=y…

Buy my book Frostbike: The Joy, Pain and Numbness of Winter Cycling: rmbooks.com/book/frostbike/

I don’t really do proper product reviews, but here are some products that I’ve tried on this channel that I like. (Of course, you don’t need anything fancy to ride a bike, other than a bike, but these are Amazon affiliate links, and I get paid a small commission if you buy them 😉)

• If you ride a bike in the city, you need a good lock. Litelok is a good option: us.litelok.com/SHIFTER
• If you wear a helmet and like to be well-lit, consider the Lumos: ridelumos.com/shifter
• Hindsight sunglasses have mirrors so you can see behind you while you ride. Plus, they look good: collabs.shop/f9hvof
• Love these RedShift Acrlight Smart LED Pedals: redshiftsports.com/collections…

#cycling #bikelane #bikecommuting
• Crane Bicycle Bell (the ding is sublime): amzn.to/48gsHQ2
• Bicycle Cargo Net (why did it take so long for me to buy one of these?): amzn.to/31s1Ovu
• Vaude Cover II Rain Poncho (for higher-end, try Cleverhood or People’s Poncho): amzn.to/3jLkift
• Peak Design phone case (the one I use, paired with the Peak Design phone mount): amzn.to/48giWS6

Follow me!
Instagram: instagram.com/tombabin
Twitter: twitter.com/tombabin
Threads: threads.net/@tombabin (@tombabin@threads.net)
TikTok: tiktok.com/@tom_babin

#cycling #bike #commuting

0:00 Introduction
0: 33 Meet Maddy
1:04 Bike Valet Parking
3:12 Sponsor Message: Velosurance: America's Best Bike Insurance
4:56 Voluntary Bike Registration
8:20 Public Locking Bike Racks
10:01 Loaner-Lock Programs
11:44 GPS Integration
16:28 Empirical Guidance for Keeping Your Bike Safe

There are easy things that every community can do to help prevent bike theft, despite a lingering attitude that sky-high rates of theft are just part of living in a city.
Exploring these ideas with me is Rob Brunt, the former Vancouver police detective who now works for Project 529, and has done more work around preventing bike theft than almost anybody else. Together, we take a walk around Vancouver, which was once the worst city for bike theft in North America, but has seen an amazing 52 per cent reduction in reported thefts over the past seven years. Part of this reduction is due to simple measures that any community can do.

0:00 Introduction
2:14 Tactic 1: Place bike racks in prominent locations.
4:20 Tactic 2: A loaner-lock program.
5:37 Tactic 3: A valet bike-parking program.
7:27 Tactic 4: Education.
8:45 Interlude
9:00 Tactic 5: Repurposing car parking.
10:10 Next Steps: Scaling the program.

My playlist about bike theft prevention: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9V…

A big thanks to Rob Brunt of Project 529 for sharing his time and expertise.

Project 529: project529.com/garage

#cycling #bike #commuting

My bag, backpack and pannier sponsor is Two Wheel Gear — the best bags I've used for urban cycling and bike commuting: bit.ly/3MRtdfA

Buy my book Frostbike: The Joy, Pain and Numbness of Winter Cycling: rmbooks.com/book/frostbike/

I don’t really do proper product reviews, but here are some products that I’ve tried on this channel that I like. (Of course you don’t need anything fancy to ride a bike, other than a bike, but these are Amazon affiliate links, and I get paid a small commission if you buy them 😉)

• Here's the winter bike I'm riding these days: bit.ly/2PhqUqF
• Cliq Smart Bike Light (nice rear brake light): amzn.to/39lfqwo
• RedShift Acrlight Smart LED Pedals (clever lights for your pedals): amzn.to/3NL1Npg
• Aftershokz Titanium bone-conducting headphones (if you want to listen while you ride): amzn.to/3e9Tofa
• JBL CLip 4 Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker (for your party-pace group rides): amzn.to/3pcMLPm
• Crane Bicycle Bell (the ding is sublime): amzn.to/3OwfZCu
• Ibex Merino Wool clothing (good for summer and winter): bit.ly/3xXkbEd
• Bicycle Cargo Net (why did it take so long for me to buy one of these?): amzn.to/31s1Ovu
• Vaude Cover II Rain Poncho (for higher-end, try Cleverhood or People’s Poncho): amzn.to/3jLkift
• Kryptonite U-Lock (your bike is going to get stolen eventually, sigh, but at least make it hard): amzn.to/3tPWcGi
• Peak Design phone case (the one I use, paired with the Peak Design phone mount): amzn.to/3HGM0FU

Follow me!
Twitter: twitter.com/tombabin
TikTok: tiktok.com/@tom_babin
Instagram: instagram.com/tombabin

We know cargo bikes are great for carrying stuff. But how are they as, you know, regular bikes?

After my last video, in which I tested an e-cargo bike's hauling capabilities, I thought it would be useful to see if you can use a cargo bike for regular, everyday bike things to see if it can function as your main transportation option.

Big thanks to Riese & Muller for loaning me this bike (and thanks to local bike shop Power in Motion for their support as well), and for sponsoring bike month here on Shifter. Their unconditional support – they had no say in the content of these videos — helps keep this channel going, so please check them out. This isn't intended to be a review of this bike, but if you're curious, I’m riding the Riese & Muller Load 75: r-m.de

Thanks also to Maddy Novich, also known as Cargo Bike Momma on Instagram: @cargobikemomma

0:00 Introduction
1:04 Challenge 1: Long commute
3:12 Challenge 2: Pleasure ride
3:56 Challenge 3: Busy Roads
7:15 Challenge 4: Off-road
8:47 Challenge 5: Ice-cream ride
9:22 Challenge 6: Pub
9:59 Challenge 7: Parking and storage
11:22 Challenge 8: Everyday errands
12:31 Challenge 9: Fitness
14:18 Challenge 10: Making your life better, with special guest Maddy Novich

#cycling #bike #commuting

Big thanks to Two Wheel Gear for being Shifter’s bag and pannier sponsor. Not only are their products great, but they are also amazing people who care deeply about urban cycling. They support me, so please support them: twowheelgear.com/

Buy my book Frostbike: The Joy, Pain and Numbness of Winter Cycling: rmbooks.com/book/frostbike/

I don’t really do proper product reviews, but here are some products that I’ve tried on this channel that I like. (Of course you don’t need anything fancy to ride a bike, other than a bike, but these are Amazon affiliate links, and I get paid a small commission if you buy them 😉)

• Here's the winter bike I'm riding these days: bit.ly/2PhqUqF
• Cliq Smart Bike Light (nice rear brake light): amzn.to/39lfqwo
• RedShift Acrlight Smart LED Pedals (clever lights for your pedals): amzn.to/3NL1Npg
• Aftershokz Titanium bone-conducting headphones (if you want to listen while you ride): amzn.to/3e9Tofa
• JBL CLip 4 Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker (for your party-pace group rides): amzn.to/3pcMLPm
• Crane Bicycle Bell (the ding is sublime): amzn.to/3OwfZCu
• Ibex Merino Wool clothing (good for summer and winter): bit.ly/3xXkbEd
• Bicycle Cargo Net (why did it take so long for me to buy one of these?): amzn.to/31s1Ovu
• Vaude Cover II Rain Poncho (for higher-end, try Cleverhood or People’s Poncho): amzn.to/3jLkift
• Kryptonite U-Lock (your bike is going to get stolen eventually, sigh, but at least make it hard): amzn.to/3tPWcGi
• Peak Design phone case (the one I use, paired with the Peak Design phone mount): amzn.to/3HGM0FU

Follow me!
Instagram: instagram.com/tombabin
Twitter: twitter.com/tombabin
Threads: threads.net/@tombabin (@tombabin@threads.net)
TikTok: tiktok.com/@tom_babin

Winter can be hard on both bikes and wallets, so I've broken down some recommendations for the perfect winter commuter bike into four budget categories, from no-budget to big-budget.

0:00 Introduction
0:21 The No-Budget Winter Bike
3:04 The Low-Budget Winter Bike
5:41 The Mid-Range Winter Bike
8:23 The Big-Budget Winter Bike
10:02 Bonus Tip!

#cycling #bike #commuting

A huge thanks to my sponsors this year. They support this channel, so please support them. They also make amazing products that I use every day and endorse without hesitation.

Priority Bikes: I happily rode the Priority Continuum Onyx through many Canadian winters before they signed on as a sponsor: bit.ly/3tzXTee

Two Wheel Gear: My favourite bike bags and panniers, and the best convertible backpack-pannier that I’ve ever used: twowheelgear.com/?utm_source=y…

Buy my book Frostbike: The Joy, Pain and Numbness of Winter Cycling: rmbooks.com/book/frostbike/

I don’t really do proper product reviews, but here are some products that I’ve tried on this channel that I like. (Of course, you don’t need anything fancy to ride a bike, other than a bike, but these are Amazon affiliate links, and I get paid a small commission if you buy them 😉)

• If you ride a bike in the city, you need a good lock. Litelok is a good option: us.litelok.com/SHIFTER
• If you wear a helmet and like to be well-lit, consider the Lumos: ridelumos.com/shifter
• Hindsight sunglasses have mirrors so you can see behind you while you ride. Plus, they look good: collabs.shop/f9hvof
• Love these RedShift Acrlight Smart LED Pedals: redshiftsports.com/collections…
• Crane Bicycle Bell (the ding is sublime): amzn.to/48gsHQ2
• Bicycle Cargo Net (why did it take so long for me to buy one of these?): amzn.to/31s1Ovu
• Vaude Cover II Rain Poncho (for higher-end, try Cleverhood or People’s Poncho): amzn.to/3jLkift
• Peak Design phone case (the one I use, paired with the Peak Design phone mount): amzn.to/48giWS6

Follow me!
Instagram: instagram.com/tombabin
Twitter: twitter.com/tombabin
Threads: threads.net/@tombabin (@tombabin@threads.net)
TikTok: tiktok.com/@tom_babin

Cycling has, for a long time, been divided by some imaginary barriers. Barriers that separate road cyclists and mountain bikers and BMXers and wheelie kids and cargo bike moms. But in his new book Live to Ride, longtime cycling journalist Peter Flax makes the case that it's time we move past these imaginary divides and together embrace the things we all love about cycling.

Live to Ride by Peter Flax: amzn.to/3Yy9g3s

0:00 Introduction
0:43 Peter Flax talks about his cycling identity
1:20 How ascending a bike pyramid can be great, unless...
2:33 How divisions between cyclists grew
3:32 How Peter's cycling life changed
5:32 "Everyone who rides is on your team"
6:16 The beauty in cycling's diversity

Please consider becoming a Shifter member on Patreon. Not only will you be supporting this channel, you’ll get some bonus content too. patreon.com/Shifter632?utm_med…

A huge thanks to my sponsors this year. They support this channel, so please support them. They also make amazing products that I use every day and endorse without hesitation.

Priority Bikes: I happily rode Priority for years before they signed on as a sponsor this year.
I’m currently riding the zippy and fun new Priority Eight: alnk.to/1XWoxFO
I’ve ridden the Priority Continuum Onyx through many Canadian winters: bit.ly/3tzXTee.

Two Wheel Gear: My favourite bike bags and panniers, and the best convertible backpack-pannier that I’ve ever used: twowheelgear.com/?utm_source=y…

Buy my book Frostbike: The Joy, Pain and Numbness of Winter Cycling: rmbooks.com/book/frostbike/

I don’t really do proper product reviews, but here are some products that I’ve tried on this channel that I like. (Of course, you don’t need anything fancy to ride a bike, other than a bike, but these are Amazon affiliate links, and I get paid a small commission if you buy them 😉)

• If you ride a bike in the city, you need a good lock. Litelok is a good option: us.litelok.com/SHIFTER
• If you wear a helmet and like to be well-lit, consider the Lumos: ridelumos.com/shifter
• Hindsight sunglasses have mirrors so you can see behind you while you ride. Plus, they look good: collabs.shop/f9hvof
• Love these RedShift Acrlight Smart LED Pedals: redshiftsports.com/collections…
• Crane Bicycle Bell (the ding is sublime): amzn.to/48gsHQ2
• Bicycle Cargo Net (why did it take so long for me to buy one of these?): amzn.to/31s1Ovu
• Vaude Cover II Rain Poncho (for higher-end, try Cleverhood or People’s Poncho): amzn.to/3jLkift
• Peak Design phone case (the one I use, paired with the Peak Design phone mount): amzn.to/48giWS6

Follow me!
Instagram: instagram.com/tombabin
Twitter: twitter.com/tombabin
Threads: threads.net/@tombabin (@tombabin@threads.net)
TikTok: tiktok.com/@tom_babin

#cycling #bike #commuting

In its most recent rankings of bike-friendly cities, People for Bikes placed Honolulu, Hawaii in 81st place out of 85 big cities. I found myself in the city recently and, after experiencing the warm weather, the laid-back vibe, and the urban density, I thought, 'Nah, that can't be right."

Then I went for a bike ride.

Thanks to Travis Counsell of the Hawaii Bicycle League for showing me around the city.

0:00 Introduction
2:03 The state of cycling in Honolulu
2:48 The spine of a network, and the meaning of 'mauka to makai'
4:09 The beginnings of a network
5:20 Gaps that, sadly, make me feel at home
6:35 Affordability: A problem and an opportunity
8:06 Tourism, horrific traffic congestion, and cycling
10:44 A bike city just waiting to be nurtured

#cycling #bike #commuting

Sponsor
Two Wheel Gear: My favourite bike bags for commuters and urban cyclists (I used the Commute Backpack on this trip and realized it's a great travel backpack): twowheelgear.com/

Buy my book Frostbike: The Joy, Pain and Numbness of Winter Cycling: rmbooks.com/book/frostbike/

I don’t really do proper product reviews, but here are some products that I’ve tried on this channel that I like. (Of course you don’t need anything fancy to ride a bike, other than a bike, but these are Amazon affiliate links, and I get paid a small commission if you buy them 😉)

• Here's the winter bike I'm riding these days: bit.ly/2PhqUqF
• Cliq Smart Bike Light (nice rear brake light): amzn.to/39lfqwo
• RedShift Acrlight Smart LED Pedals (clever lights for your pedals): amzn.to/3NL1Npg
• Aftershokz Titanium bone-conducting headphones (if you want to listen while you ride): amzn.to/3e9Tofa
• JBL CLip 4 Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker (for your party-pace group rides): amzn.to/3pcMLPm
• Crane Bicycle Bell (the ding is sublime): amzn.to/3OwfZCu
• Ibex Merino Wool clothing (good for summer and winter): bit.ly/3xXkbEd
• Bicycle Cargo Net (why did it take so long for me to buy one of these?): amzn.to/31s1Ovu
• Vaude Cover II Rain Poncho (for higher-end, try Cleverhood or People’s Poncho): amzn.to/3jLkift
• Kryptonite U-Lock (your bike is going to get stolen eventually, sigh, but at least make it hard): amzn.to/3tPWcGi
• Peak Design phone case (the one I use, paired with the Peak Design phone mount): amzn.to/3HGM0FU

Follow me!
Twitter: twitter.com/tombabin
Instagram: instagram.com/tombabin

This is the video I didn't want to make. For a long time, I've chosen not to wear a bike helmet on my daily bike commute because I didn't feel I needed one. But people ask me about it so often that I started to doubt myself. So I decided to take a deep dive into that decision. And to do so, I enlisted some help to explore the big questions around bike safety and helmets. This is our conversation.

Big thanks to Cailynn Klingbeil for exploring this issue with me. You can find her on Twitter at twitter.com/cailynnk

0:00 Introduction
2:42 How helmets became so ingrained — the roots of helmet fundamentalism
12:14 How effective are bike helmets anyway?
16:13 What do we miss when we focus only on helmets?
21:51 How do we properly assess the risks of riding a bike?
25:49 How can I make a better decision about wearing a helmet?
30:27 My personal re-assessment: Am I an idiot or not?

If you're looking for some of the sources that Cailynn cited in this video, here are some links: youtube.com/post/Ugkx9yGzMZ7bY…

#cycling #bike #commuting

Buy my book Frostbike: The Joy, Pain and Numbness of Winter Cycling: rmbooks.com/book/frostbike/

I don’t really do proper product reviews, but here are some products that I’ve tried on this channel that I like. (Of course you don’t need anything fancy to ride a bike, other than a bike, but these are Amazon affiliate links, and I get paid a small commission if you buy them 😉)

• Here's the winter bike I'm riding these days: bit.ly/2PhqUqF
• Cliq Smart Bike Light (nice rear brake light): amzn.to/39lfqwo
• RedShift Acrlight Smart LED Pedals (clever lights for your pedals): amzn.to/3NL1Npg
• Aftershokz Titanium bone-conducting headphones (if you want to listen while you ride): amzn.to/3e9Tofa
• JBL CLip 4 Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker (for your party-pace group rides): amzn.to/3pcMLPm
• Crane Bicycle Bell (the ding is sublime): amzn.to/3OwfZCu
• Ibex Merino Wool clothing (good for summer and winter): bit.ly/3xXkbEd
• Bicycle Cargo Net (why did it take so long for me to buy one of these?): amzn.to/31s1Ovu
• Vaude Cover II Rain Poncho (for higher-end, try Cleverhood or People’s Poncho): amzn.to/3jLkift
• Kryptonite U-Lock (your bike is going to get stolen eventually, sigh, but at least make it hard): amzn.to/3tPWcGi
• Peak Design phone case (the one I use, paired with the Peak Design phone mount): amzn.to/3HGM0FU

Follow me!
Twitter: twitter.com/tombabin
TikTok: tiktok.com/@tom_babin
Instagram: instagram.com/tombabin

This video isn’t just about the most awkward modelling poses in history, courtesy of yours truly. Cycling clothing has, in the past, meant Lycra and padded shorts. That, however, isn't the kind of thing you can wear while going about your day, so I’ve advocated on this channel that you forget all that and just wear your regular clothes when urban cycling and bike commuting.

But I’ve been pitched recently by reps from a few clothing brands who say their clothes look good off the bike, but also have properties that make them easy and comfortable while riding. So I thought I would test it out.

Big thanks to Lori Andrews for being a creative and cycling inspiration, and for being good-natured all day while working with a rank amateur model. Check her out on Instagram: instagram.com/theoriginal10cen…

Here are the brands in the video:

Ministry of Supply. I’m wearing their Kinetic Pants (a line that includes a blazer): ministryofsupply.com/products/…

Ornot: I’m wearing their Mission pants: bit.ly/4bnibJ4

Duer: I’m wearing their NuStretch: duer.ca/collections/mens-stret…

Kit & Ace: Thanks for letting us take up space in the store while shooting this.
Uplift Merino Sweater: kitandace.com/products/uplift-…
City Tech Shirt Slim: kitandace.com/products/city-te…

Navigator Essential Blazer: kitandace.com/products/navigat…
Navigator Commute Pants: kitandace.com/products/navigat…

Classic Flannel Shirt: kitandace.com/products/classic…

Every Day Quilted Vest: kitandace.com/products/every-d…

0:00 Intro
1:47 Meet stylist Lori Andrews
5:00 An easy upgrade with stretchy pants
6:37 A fall casual look
8:54 Plaid over a vest
10:34 Office wear
11:58 What we learned about looking good on a bike

#cycling #bike #commuting

A huge thanks to my sponsors this year. They support this channel, so please support them. They also make amazing products that I use every day and endorse without hesitation.

Priority Bikes: I happily rode the Priority Continuum Onyx through many Canadian winters before they signed on as a sponsor: bit.ly/3tzXTee

Two Wheel Gear: My favourite bike bags and panniers, and the best convertible backpack-pannier that I’ve ever used: twowheelgear.com/?utm_source=y…

Buy my book Frostbike: The Joy, Pain and Numbness of Winter Cycling: rmbooks.com/book/frostbike/

I don’t really do proper product reviews, but here are some products that I’ve tried on this channel that I like. (Of course, you don’t need anything fancy to ride a bike, other than a bike, but these are Amazon affiliate links, and I get paid a small commission if you buy them 😉)

• If you ride a bike in the city, you need a good lock. Litelok is a good option: us.litelok.com/SHIFTER
• If you wear a helmet and like to be well-lit, consider the Lumos: ridelumos.com/shifter
• Hindsight sunglasses have mirrors so you can see behind you while you ride. Plus, they look good: collabs.shop/f9hvof
• Love these RedShift Acrlight Smart LED Pedals: redshiftsports.com/collections…
• Crane Bicycle Bell (the ding is sublime): amzn.to/48gsHQ2
• Bicycle Cargo Net (why did it take so long for me to buy one of these?): amzn.to/31s1Ovu
• Vaude Cover II Rain Poncho (for higher-end, try Cleverhood or People’s Poncho): amzn.to/3jLkift
• Peak Design phone case (the one I use, paired with the Peak Design phone mount): amzn.to/48giWS6

Follow me!
Instagram: instagram.com/tombabin
Twitter: twitter.com/tombabin
Threads: threads.net/@tombabin (@tombabin@threads.net)
TikTok: tiktok.com/@tom_babin

Ho ho ho. 'Tis the season for buying gifts for those urban cyclists and bike commuters in your life. And to help out, I have some recommendations. More accurately, you have recommendations. A few weeks ago, I asked for suggestions for bike gifts, and got dozens of ideas on the community tab of this channel, so I thought I'd make a video of those that stood out to me. Thanks to everyone who submitted ideas. youtube.com/c/Shifter_Cycling/…

0:00 Introduction
1: 29 The GoBagg (thanks for the sample bag, Oopsmark): oopsmark.ca/products/bicycle-f…
2:50 The Bicycle 4-Pack Saddle Bag (thanks for the sample bag, To Go Cycles): togocycles.ca/
3:37 The Mundo Air Pannier (thanks for the sample, Mundo Music Gear!): mundomusicgear.co.uk/collectio…
4:18 Universal Pannier (thanks for the sample Kyle!): pannierhooks.com/
5:11 Handlebar Jack (thanks for the sample, Jack!): handlebarjack.com/
5:58 Crane Bicycle Bell. Check your local bike shop, or this: amzn.to/3xUAulm (affiliate link). More info here: cranebellco.com/
7:04 Ibex Merino Wool (thanks for the sample, Ibex!). bit.ly/3xXkbEd (affiliate link)
8:00 Bicycle Cargo Net: amzn.to/31s1Ovu (affiliate link)
8:28 Wraparound bicycle lights. These Kryptonite ones will do the trick: amzn.to/3DpyaUF (affiliate link)

#cycling #bike #commuting

To support this channel, please subscribe, share this video and check out the links below.
• Buy my book Frostbike: The Joy, Pain and Numbness of Winter Cycling: amzn.to/3lxJiHT
• Here's the winter bike I'm riding these days: bit.ly/2PhqUqF
• Epidemic Sound for music. It's great for my YouTube needs: bit.ly/3v2Bl05

#cycling #bikecommuting #bikes

Follow me!
Blog: shifter.info
Twitter: twitter.com/tombabin
Instagram: instagram.com/tombabin/

If your city is like mine, there have been many initiatives over the years to improve its bike-friendliness, from painted bike lanes to pathways to separated bike lanes. But if you're city is really like mine then many of those routes remain islands unto themselves, disconnected from each other and untethered to a more comprehensive plan intended to help cyclists really get around the city.

So after exploring these disconnections, I have a theory that there are four different types of disconnections that can be easily fixed to make our cities more bike-friendly. Here they are:

0:00 Introduction
1:15 Roads (pathways) to nowhere
2:30 It was too hard so we gave up
4:29 C'mon cyclists, get real
6:10 WTF Gaps
7:20 The magic that happens when gaps are filled

#cycling #bike #bikecommute

Sponsor
Two Wheel Gear: My favourite bike bags for commuters and urban cyclists twowheelgear.com/

Buy my book Frostbike: The Joy, Pain and Numbness of Winter Cycling: rmbooks.com/book/frostbike/

I don’t really do proper product reviews, but here are some products that I’ve tried on this channel that I like. (Of course, you don’t need anything fancy to ride a bike, other than a bike, but these are Amazon affiliate links, and I get paid a small commission if you buy them 😉)

• Here's the winter bike I'm riding these days: bit.ly/2PhqUqF
• Cliq Smart Bike Light (nice rear brake light): amzn.to/39lfqwo
• RedShift Acrlight Smart LED Pedals (clever lights for your pedals): amzn.to/3NL1Npg
• Aftershokz Titanium bone-conducting headphones (if you want to listen while you ride): amzn.to/3e9Tofa
• JBL CLip 4 Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker (for your party-pace group rides): amzn.to/3pcMLPm
• Crane Bicycle Bell (the ding is sublime): amzn.to/3OwfZCu
• Ibex Merino Wool clothing (good for summer and winter): bit.ly/3xXkbEd
• Bicycle Cargo Net (why did it take so long for me to buy one of these?): amzn.to/31s1Ovu
• Vaude Cover II Rain Poncho (for higher-end, try Cleverhood or People’s Poncho): amzn.to/3jLkift
• Kryptonite U-Lock (your bike is going to get stolen eventually, sigh, but at least make it difficult on the thief): amzn.to/3tPWcGi
• Peak Design phone case (the one I use, paired with the Peak Design phone mount): amzn.to/3HGM0FU

Follow me!
Twitter: twitter.com/tombabin
Instagram: instagram.com/tombabin

Forget electric cars: The real global EV success story is electric bikes. But in some jurisdictions, a lack of regulation and enforcement of some pretty basic rules around classifications and batteries is threatening to undo that much progress. In the current environment, is there any hope of ironing this out?

Shifter Memberships are here! If you'd like some bonus content while also supporting this channel, please consider becoming a member.
Patreon: patreon.com/Shifter632
YouTube memberships: youtube.com/@Shifter_Cycling/m…

A huge thanks to my sponsors this year. They support this channel, so please support them. They also make amazing products that I use every day and endorse without hesitation.

I’ve been riding Priority bikes for a number of years. I love their low-maintenance, belt-drive design, and they offer good quality at a decent price. They signed on as a sponsor for my YouTube channel several years after I started riding them.

My daily summertime bike is the zippy and fun Priority Eight: alnk.to/1XWoxFO
With its fenders, hub dynamo lights and durable if not exactly speedy Enviolo internal hub gearing system, I’ve happily ridden the Priority Continuum Onyx through many Canadian winters: alnk.to/gKS5Jlw

Abus Bike Locks. If you’re riding in a city, you need a good-quality bike lock, and you can’t do much better than Abus and their diverse lineup of locks: abus.com/

My book Frostbike: The Joy, Pain and Numbness of Winter Cycling: amzn.to/42EBzO6

Here is some of the gear I’m currently using. Some of these are affiliate links.

Bike Lights: I love dynamo lights that are built into a bike and powered by your pedalling or the wheel’s movement, but if you need aftermarket lights, Lumos offers a number of great options. Their Firefly lights are simple and bright: collabs.shop/3uodbz

Helmet: If I’m riding for sports, such as mountain biking or road bike, I like Lumos helmets because they are comfortable and well-built, and you can also easily attach lights to stay as visible as possible on roads: collabs.shop/prkigy

Bell: I love the sound and quality of the Japanese-made Crane Bells: cranebellusa.com/

Saddle: Yes, they can be pricey, but I’ve joined the ranks of people who think the extra cost for the quality of a Brooks Saddle is worth it, in both durability and comfort: brooksengland.com/

Panniers: My everyday workhorse pannier is Two Wheel Gear’s Pannier Backpack Convertible 2.0: twowheelgear.com/collections/p…

Pedals: I’ve not experienced high-performance pedals adding much extra value to my daily riding experience, but these light-up pedals from Redshift are bright, keep me visible at night and grab lots of attention: redshiftsports.com?aff=40

Phone mount: I use Peak Design’s mobile system, including the Universal Bar Mount on my handlebars every day, which I also bring it with me when I travel for bike rentals and bike-share bicycles: peak-design.pxf.io/c/5749368/1…

Buff: Keeps your face, neck and head warm in the winter, and keeps the sun off in the summer: peak-design.pxf.io/c/5749368/1…

Sunglasses: If you’re going to wear sunglasses, why not use a pair that has built-in mirrors so you can see behind you while you ride?: collabs.shop/f9hvof
Don’t forget to register your bike with an online database.
My favourite is 529 Garage project529.com/garage
Bike Index is also good: bikeindex.org/

Follow me!
Instagram: instagram.com/tombabin
Twitter: twitter.com/tombabin
Bluesky: tombabin.bsky.social
Threads: threads.net/@tombabin (@tombabin@threads.net)

#cycling #bike #commuting

0:00 Introduction
1:59 Classifying ebikes
2:55 People for Bikes recommendations
5:23 The battery problem
7:08 Battery certifications
8:15 Cost vs certification
9:40 What's a consumer to do?

Proposals to turn back alley laneways into bike lanes rear up occasionally, which I've always dismissed as a backdoor way for motorists to dominate the streets completely. But a recent detour on my daily commute has me rethinking that position, so I went on a mission to test if there's a way that we can do better with those forgotten and neglected public spaces behind our buildings.

0:00 How I found myself riding a back alley
1:51 People already cycling in laneways
2:11 Mixed opinions
3:26 Laneways have a role, just maybe not as bike-lane alternatives
4:11 Potential laneway improvements
5:32 Laneways as public spaces
6:17 Visiting the city with the best laneways
7:39 Three other laneway projects that work

Shifter Memberships are here! If you'd like some bonus content while also supporting this channel, please consider becoming a member: patreon.com/Shifter632

A huge thanks to my sponsors.

Priority Bikes: I happily rode Priority for years before they signed on as a sponsor this year.
I’m currently riding the zippy and fun new Priority Eight: alnk.to/1XWoxFO
I’ve ridden the Priority Continuum Onyx through many Canadian winters: bit.ly/3tzXTee.

Two Wheel Gear: My favourite bike bags and panniers, and the best convertible backpack-pannier that I’ve ever used: twowheelgear.com/?utm_source=y…

Buy my book Frostbike: The Joy, Pain and Numbness of Winter Cycling: rmbooks.com/book/frostbike/

#cycling #bikecommuting #urbanplanning

I don’t really do proper product reviews, but here are some products that I’ve tried on this channel that I like. (Of course, you don’t need anything fancy to ride a bike, other than a bike, but these are Amazon affiliate links, and I get paid a small commission if you buy them 😉)

• If you ride a bike in the city, you need a good lock. Litelok is a good option: us.litelok.com/SHIFTER
• If you wear a helmet and like to be well-lit, consider the Lumos: ridelumos.com/shifter
• Hindsight sunglasses have mirrors so you can see behind you while you ride. Plus, they look good: collabs.shop/f9hvof
• Love these RedShift Acrlight Smart LED Pedals: redshiftsports.com/collections…
• Crane Bicycle Bell (the ding is sublime): amzn.to/48gsHQ2
• Bicycle Cargo Net (why did it take so long for me to buy one of these?): amzn.to/31s1Ovu
• Vaude Cover II Rain Poncho (for higher-end, try Cleverhood or People’s Poncho): amzn.to/3jLkift
• Peak Design phone case (the one I use, paired with the Peak Design phone mount): amzn.to/48giWS6

Follow me!
Instagram: instagram.com/tombabin
Twitter: twitter.com/tombabin
Threads: threads.net/@tombabin (@tombabin@threads.net)
TikTok: tiktok.com/@tom_babin

#cycling #bike #commuting

How far can a penny get you these days?

Out for a ride on the weekend, I passed this bike servicing pop-up right by the lake (and conveniently adjacent to a café).

My eye was immediately drawn to a pair of Penny Farthings leaning up against a tree next to the stall. Turns out this business is run by ‘Simon the Bike Guy‘ a local Canberra legend who, next month, is attempting to break the Penny Farthing record for the greatest distance travelled for one hour.

I remember many years ago on a road trip through New Zealand passing (in the middle of a storm) this guy wearing a pith helmet and a Union Jack waistcoat, busting his balls riding a penny-farthing amongst some pretty ferocious mountainous terrain. Remember, these things have no gears… and no brakes. Type 2 fun for sure.

Just in case you were wondering what that world record distance might be, I did a search. Turns out it is a little complicated, with several categories including:

• Male indoor and unpaced (34.547 km)
• Male paced (35.743 km)
• No hands (26 km)
• One leg only (20.294 km).
• No hands and one leg…..OK I made that one up. But Im sure it is only a matter of time. These Penny Farthing peeps are crazy.

#Australia #Bike #blackAndWhite #Canberra #photography

No gears. No brakes. One leg?!?

#photography #blackAndWhite #monochrome #canberra #australia #bike #bikeTooter

shojiwax.com/2026/03/24/how-fa…

shojiwax.com

2026-03-23 21:23:00

How far can a penny get you these days?

Out for a ride on the weekend, I passed this bike servicing pop-up right by the lake (and conveniently adjacent to a café).

My eye was immediately drawn to a pair of Penny Farthings leaning up against a tree next to the stall. Turns out this business is run by ‘Simon the Bike Guy‘ a local Canberra legend who, next month, is attempting to break the Penny Farthing record for the greatest distance travelled for one hour.

I remember many years ago on a road trip through New Zealand passing (in the middle of a storm) this guy wearing a pith helmet and a Union Jack waistcoat, busting his balls riding a penny-farthing amongst some pretty ferocious mountainous terrain. Remember, these things have no gears… and no brakes. Type 2 fun for sure.

Just in case you were wondering what that world record distance might be, I did a search. Turns out it is a little complicated, with several categories including:

• Male indoor and unpaced (34.547 km)
• Male paced (35.743 km)
• No hands (26 km)
• One leg only (20.294 km).
• No hands and one leg…..OK I made that one up. But Im sure it is only a matter of time. These Penny Farthing peeps are crazy.

#Australia #Bike #blackAndWhite #Canberra #photography

About Me0 | StBG

Mobile Bicycle workshop. We come to you for all your bike maintenance needs! We also have group lessons for bike maintenance.

^StBG