Barclays, sponsors of the London cycle hire scheme known as Boris Bikes, are to donate £1 to the 2011 Royal British Legion Poppy Campaign for each ride made on the bikes on Thursday 3rd November. In addition, selected bikes will have the poppy emblem fixed to the handlebar basket for two weeks to create further awareness of the campaign.

Christine Bleakley, said: “I’m delighted to lend my support to London Poppy Day and would urge people to take to Barclays Cycle Hire on 3 November. The cycles have transformed London and will provide a perfect way to raise money and awareness of the appeal.”

Christine Bleakley promotes Boris Bike poppy campaign is a post from: biketastic

A visitor to the Taipei Fine Art Museum studies the work entitled ‘Forever Bicycles’ by Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei.

The installation is one of the latest works from Ai Weiwie who recently filled a floor of Tate Modern with millions of handmade ceramic sunflower seeds. The world-famous artist was earlier this year arrested and then released by the Chinese authorities.

The more you study the above photo, the more bikes you see. Hence the title ‘Forever Bicycles’!

Forever Bicycles: AI Weiwei art is a post from: biketastic

Get an extra 10% off the following categories using the code EXT10-SPECIALS:

• Cycling Apparel
• Running Apparel
• Running Shoes
• Swim & Triathlon apparel (Inc Wetsuits)
• Bags, shoes & Helmets
• Nutrition
• Lights
• Cycle accessories & Maintenance
• Tyres & Tubes
• Seating & Steering components

Wiggle Discount Code: October 2011 promo is a post from: biketastic

At checkout use this code: TENUK

Expires soon – be quick!

Chain Reaction Cycles: October 10% off discount code is a post from: biketastic

At checkout use this code: UK10%

Expires soon!

Chain Reaction Cycles: 10% off promo is a post from: biketastic

The new Evans bike shop, scheduled to open on Monday 3rd October 2011, will be located at 37-39 Hanover Street, L1 3DN which is around the junction with Seel Street. That’s a pretty central location though maybe not ideal for a quick road test on a Saturday afternoon with all the traffic about!

Evans are inviting applications for staff, although when you visit their jobs page, you can’t currently see any Liverpool jobs listed for some reason.

Of course, you can also shop for bikes and accessories at the Evans Cycles website:

Evans Cycles: Liverpool store is a post from: biketastic

And for the last summer deals from Chain Reaction Cycles hit the button:

Summer deals and pannier bag & racks offers is a post from: biketastic

In a recent newspaper article it is reported that SERCO, the company managing the cycle hire system, must improve the service offered. Since the launch of the “Boris Bikes” last July almost 15,000 refunds for incorrect hire charges have been issued.

SERCO has been issued with a “critical improvement plan” by Transport for London, who have also withheld a £5m payment to the services company. SERCO was awarded a six year management contract, worth more than £140m.

London Cycle Hire: Improvements needed is a post from: biketastic

The first H2 Club is being built by construction firm William Dixon Interiors at Dufours Place, Soho. The new centre will include 230 parking bays for bikes along with lockers and 40 showers for cyclists and runners who join the club. H2 Clubs believe that there is a rising market for commuters who are spurning public transport and travel to work either by bike or running/walking and who need changing and storage facilities in the city centre.

H2 Clubs will also offer gym classes, fitness clubs, drying cleaning and a retail offering. Developers Reef Estates consider there is sufficient demand for approximately 20 clubs across London.

First H2 club coming to Soho, London is a post from: biketastic

The man named Leszek has been charged after he was found fast asleep beside his bike in the town of Minsk Mazowiecki. The man is reported to have said “Gentlemen, would you like some fudge as an act of kindness and can you let me go because I live right next door?”.

The drunken cyclist now faces a jail term 10 times longer than the 12 months he would have probably received for drunk cycling.

Police won’t budge for fudge is a post from: biketastic