Park Tool Big Blue Book of Bicycle Repair 01/12/2009

What with the build-up to Christmas, Ian's had a bit of a re-think on our book department and there is a much rider range than you will have seen before in John's Bikes. This is just a selection and pride of place must go to Park Tool's Big Blue Book of Bicycle Repair £23.99.

Sign up for 10:10 this week 30/11/2009

You won't be surprised to hear that John's Bikes is keen on reducing car emissions - we sell bicycles after all. But suppose instead of smugly assuming that by cycling everywhere we've done our bit, we look to our own emissions at the shop and at home? How our heating and lights contribute to the big picture. We've now signed up to the 10:10 campaign and urge you to do the same. On Thursday 9pm at the Komedia theatre on Westgate St, you will have the opportunity to do just that and after seeing "The Age of Stupid" you will never be more motivated. Starring Pete Postlethwaite, the film carries the subheading "Human Beings: the first life form to wipe itself out... and to do it knowingly - stupid or what?" See you there? You can book here.

Review of 2010 Trek 1.9 WSD 25/11/2009

Thanks to reviewer Penny Comins on Cycling Weekly, we now have great comments on the Women's Specific Design (WSD) version of the Trek 1.9. Her summary? "An all-round bike, this will take you round a sportive, a road race and all your training at a great price."  We've been behind these Trek women's models from the outset and are delighted to see that the sometimes rather conservative bike magazines are coming around to the idea that half their readers (and our customers) are or could be women and are actively recruiting female reviewers. She certainly didn't like the saddle on the 1.9 but we can always change that. You should see our clever Bontrager gauge for checking saddle width to suit your pelvis. 

"I Pay Road Tax" campaign 21/11/2009

Petrol price increases, traffic congestion and financial hard times mean that drive-at-all-costs motorists are feeling more pressure than ever. Throw into the mix an increasing number of cyclists getting in the way and its no surprise that the most visible and vulnerable symptom is going to get yelled at. Us cyclists have all heard the "Get out of my way, you don't even pay road tax" abuse but now a new campaign is gathering speed to argue the point that roads are actually paid for out of general taxation and that the so-called "road tax" (more accurately Vehicle Excise Duty) is really a levy on motor vehicles based on the pollution they produce. The new website ipayroadtax.com is organised by cycling journalist and author Carlton Reid and started in response to a Twitter exchange with one of his followers. In a short week, it's gathered momentum and we don't for a second doubt that within another week there's going to be a media firestorm as the Daily Mail takes up the cause for beleagured motorists. It's a shame that our beautiful cause is going to become the subject of opposing pedants arguing exactly what government department pays how much for what but it beats an alternative method of bringing cycling into the spotlight. Nice everyday cyclists like us are daily casualties but somewhere soon a famous person could become the first bicycle martyr when an angry or careless driver loses the plot; after all it wasn't long ago that Boris Johnson nearly got taken out by a hurrying truck driver. It would be nice if no-one had to die for such an inherently harmless pursuit. Why can't we just be nice to each other?

"I am happy with the buttocks which are congenial to Brooks" 20/11/2009

Toddle off to the Brooks saddles website here and click through the "Hall of Fame" pictures and stories which will undoubtedly inspire you to cycle into the sunrise. On a Brooks saddle, of course. Along with this beautiful photograph of his bicycle, Mr Rui Yanai wrote to Brooks, "I am happy with the buttocks which are congenial to Brooks." to which Brooks wrote back, "We like to think that Brooks is congenial to your and anybody else's buttocks! Remember, a Brooks saddle shapes to your contours, not vice versa." There's also the Brooks Bugle, full of good stuff about natural leather saddles hand made by lovely Brummies in Smethwick, West Midlands.

Dealing with those cycling sceptics 19/11/2009

Have you ever been in that social situation when you're flummoxed by a cycling sceptic? You know the one; the subject of your latest cycling exploit or shiny new bike comes up and someone chips in with, "Well, I think all cyclists are psychopaths who jump red lights and get in my way when I'm trying to cross Pulteney Bridge." Happens all the time to us and we're supposed to be experts. There's never any shortage of irrational responses ( f*** off! ) but they never win any friends; the trouble is we just don't tend to have the rational ammunition at our fingertips when we need it. So we're pleased to see that the Cyclists' Touring Club have come up with a great idea on the CTC website.  Set in the form of a quiz, it covers all the points and how to deal with them. Did you know, for example, "from 2000-2004, in all of Great Britain there were 9 people killed by cyclists on the pavement and 3,885 people killed by motorists driving on the pavement." That's still 9 deaths too many in our book but highlights the fact that it's general behaviour and tolerence on the roads that needs to be improved.

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The Secret Life of John Potter III 17/11/2009

    John Potter is a grandfather! Meet Charlie

Life is good at the bike shop 16/11/2009

Clear blue sky Sunday, reflected along with a view of The Paragon that you'd otherwise never notice in Ian's new window display. With more than a little help from our excellent neighbour Mr Martin Tracey from the Framing Workshop.


Busy, busy, busy with Endura clothing absolutely flying out. Parents looking at children's bikes for Christmas and it was a day for punctures with at least three customers on their way home complaining about the annual hedge trimming carnage where our lanes are covered with evil tyre-eating thorns. Be careful out there, people.


The recent departure of our popular manager Will Spurgeon after seven years of sterling service has given us plenty to think about. A bit of a re-evaluation of what we're about and where we're going at a very exciting time for cycling.  Heaven forbid that we'd call it a mission statement but we've written something down as a truthful aspiration.  Do you think we live up to it?

Remedy 1st ride on bikeradar.com 13/11/2009

If you only buy one book this year..... 12/11/2009

...make it this one. Zinn and the Art of Mountain  Bike Maintenance by Lennard Zinn £17.99. There's a version for roadies, too. Reassuringly heavy and bang up to date with all the latest forks, shocks and discs from the  Velonews  undisputed champion of technical writing.