Blog

One thing that all cyclists usually agree on is the joy that can be found enjoying a lovely cake and cuppa after (or during) a challenging bike ride. The combination of sugar and caffeine is a super fuel for the cyclist! With this in mind, we thought we’d share some of our favourite cake-serving spots that cater for cyclists.

Do let us know over on our Bike Expo Facebook page or Twitter @TheBikeExpo your favourite places to stop for a brew.

1. One of the highlights of Manchester’s cycling community is Popup Bikes – a coffee shop and bike repair shop in one, with indoor parking for up to 100 bikes. The toastie menu looks very appealing, or you might want to try a danish pastry or pain au chocolat.

2. Velocity in Inverness is so much more than just a coffee shop and bike workshop. The team also teach bike repair and work hard to inspire others to get into cycling. The cake selection includes chocolate, lemon and carrot – and they also serve lighter options such as salad and home-made soup.

3. Newcastle’s The Cycle Hub boasts river views and has the simple (but brilliant) motto ‘Eat cake, drink coffee and ride your bike’. It hires out bikes (as well as helping you fix or service your own) and holds regular social events. The vegan-friendly Oreo and chocolate muffins look incredible!

4. Gorilla Coffee in Birmingham serves cake, coffee and beer – what’s not to love?! It also services bikes and hosts an informal bike ride every Sunday morning.

5. Jay Jay’s at the Beach in Gorleston, Norfolk, is a popular spot for cyclists to stop and with gorgeous views of the sea, it’s easy to see why. Jay Jay’s serves breakfasts and lunches, as well as cakes and cookies. And there is plenty of bike parking available along the promenade. Our pick of the cakes is the peanut butter stack – simply delicious.

The (rather irritating) advert used to say ‘there’s an app for that’ and these days there really does seem to be an app for everything. And apps are not just about finding a date or booking a hotel, there are so many out there that cyclists can make use of. Here is Bike Expo’s pick of the most useful apps for cyclists, but we’d love to hear your suggestions. Let us know on Twitter @TheBikeExpo or over on  our Facebook page.

1.    Strava – described as the social network for athletes, this app lets you track your running, swimming and cycling, join challenges and follow friends/other athletes. And we’ve recently launched our own Strava group, so do join us.

2.    Training Peaks – this app lets you find training plans, write your own training plans, track workouts and analyse your workouts. There is also a version for coaches which looks amazing (there is a free seven-day trial available).

3.    Train Xhale – this gathers training and racing data, set goals and allows users to train smarter with guidance from coaches. Again, there is a version for coaches as well as athletes, and Train Xhale is compatible with Garmin.

4.    Trainer Road – a really useful indoor cycling app with different training plans (for triathletes, road cyclists and more). The training is tailored to your own fitness level and will help you achieve your cycling goals.

5.    MyFitnessPal – this is the ultimate food and fitness tracker, complete with barcode scanner and recipe function, so you can count every calorie consumed. There is a free and a premium version and MyFitnessPal is compatible with lots of other kit including Fitbit, Garmin and Training Peaks.

6.    HeyGreenGo – an app to help you find friends with similar interests. Great if you’re looking for training buddies for a particular cycling challenge or event, or you just want someone to cycle with locally.

The team here at Bike Expo decided to put together our picks for must-attend cycling events in the UK (based on our own experiences). Do you agree with our choices? Let us know over on Twitter @TheBikeExpo or on our Facebook page.

1.       Ride London
A fabulous event for anyone wanting to take on a 100-mile bike challenge. Riding on closed roads through the streets of the capital city is a pretty special experience. Ride London is incredibly popular and there’s a really great atmosphere.

2.       Velothon Wales
There is some incredible scenery through the South Wales valleys on this ride. The closed roads offer some really challenging climbs – and the event starts and finishes in the centre of Cardiff.

3.       Etape Caledonia
Join over 5,000 other cyclists and enjoy the exhilarating views of the Scottish Highlands over a challenging 81 miles.

4.       Tour of Cambridgeshire
Fast, flat course on closed roads around Cambridgeshire- perfect if hills aren’t your thing (or you’re aiming for a speedy race).

5.       Fred Whitton
This is an insane event, only for the hardcore! It features a 112-mile route over all the major passes in the Lake District.

6.       Tour de Yorkshire Sportive
This event takes in 100km of Yorkshire’s finest roads and you get the chance to ride the route ahead of the pros, including the pro finish line and amazing support from the waiting crowds.

7.       Gran Fondo Conwy
Set in the beautiful heart of North Wales with fantastic organisation and support from local crowds – run by Always Aim High Events.