Advantages: Fun
Disadvantages: Not many

...There wasn't a category for Triathlon as such, so hopefully here will do. Triathlon isn't one of the most popular sports in exsitence, but it is becoming more and more popular and is a well established Olympic Sport. Triathlon, as the name suggests, consists of three sports which are swimming, cycling and running. Each racer must compete each discipline whilst trying to be faster than their competitors. The first leg of the triathlon consists of a 1500m swim. Now that might not seem like a long distance when you consider how far people run in races, but I can imagine having to swim that far would be pretty difficult!! The swim normally takes place in a natural river, which adds to the difficulty. Luckily the competitors wear wetsuits so they aren't going to freeze to death!! It takes the runners around 20 minutes to do the swim... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: A compelling read that really dreew my attention and kept me hooked
Disadvantages: That anyone has to go through what Lance went through.

...completed 4 years cancer free and completed in and won his 2nd Tour De France. The book covers Lance's life from childhood to the diagnosis and then onto the 2 Tour victories and the birth of his first child. It was one of the first autobiographies I've picked up and really struggled to put down for any length of time. His life story was quite amazing even before he was diagnosed with Cancer. His mother was 17 when he was born and his father walked out when he was around 2 years old. So from the start his mother had to struggle to bring him up, with help from her family. When she remarried Lance tells how his new father in law abused him with a paddle and cheated on his mother. That was how he got started on a bike and it meant he was competeting in triathlons by the age of 16, making over $20000 a year. He talks about his childhood in a very... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: great customer service, great quality
Disadvantages: Matching accessories not available

...On Tuesday 27 March, my son turned three making him officially a "big boy" as he reminds us on at least an hourly basis. His dad and I thought it only appropriate to celebrate this graduation into "big-boyhood" by buying him his first "big boy" bike. Kyle is an extremely active and strong boy and the level of destruction he can cause is extraordinary to say the least so it was vital that we found a bike that could withstand the endurance test that is hurricane Kyle and unfortunately, it was doubtful that the Spiderman bike from Argos he had his eye on was going to do the trick. With this in mind I started to do some research online into different options. One brand in particular kept popping up in reviews and newspaper/magazine articles. That brand was Isla Bikes. Now, I am not particularly knowledgeable when it comes... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Cheap, does the job
Disadvantages: Extra features are unreliable

...I bought this bike for around £20 (brand new) from a popular catalogue store's clearance warehouse. My initial advice regarding this product is this: If you see it at a clearance warehouse retailing at around £20, and you really want an exercise bike and don't have the free cash to get anything more flash: get it. If, however, you see this bike retailing at it's RRP (that's somewhere around the £80 mark), then walk on by, because it's really not worth it. This is one of those products that is a bargain in the right circumstances. I'll tell you why, in a little while. First, the good bits. It's a cheap exercise bike. It comes 'flat-packed' in three main parts- the main body, the seat and seat support, and the handlebar support. The handlebar, pedals and stand are all included, and have to be attached once the main sections are put... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Great Friendly Serrvice, Good Aftersales Service
Disadvantages: Expensive For 2nd Hand Bikes

...I bought a 2nd hand Peugeot Speedfight 2 Silver Sport from here about 2 months ago. Jonahthan (the tall guy with long hair) is always very helpful and does his best to find the most suitable bike for you and your wallet. Paid £1000 for 50cc 2stroke the bike which was the same price that i could have got a 100cc 4 stroke honda for, at webbs, which is just a few doors away but it sold just before i went to buy it. Anyway, they have a selection of bikes from 50cc to 1000cc and from £1000 to £10000+ The one stop shop will sort out your Gloves, Helmet, Jacket, Bike, Insurance & anything else you need to get on the road. If you are looking for a first or second bike or need a small bike (50 - 125cc) for town running then this really is the ultimate shop to go to. The shop is more like a showroom and less like a garage... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: VFM, Light, good components, nice seating position
Disadvantages: Not a mountain bike

...I already owned an ageing Raleigh racing bike, and I always felt that I would enjoy cycling more if I was not battling against the bike so much. So this year, I bought myself a San Rafael City Bike, by Marin. I am suprised to see that Marin were not already in the ciao headings. I don't know a great deal about bikes, but I know enough to know I like this bike! It has front suspension, and a mountain bike look, but with nice road tyres. It is lovely and light, and has excellent push/pull gear changers - bit like my old grifter! I like the upright seating position. I am using the bike to go to work, and leisure cycling at the weekends. I wont be doing much off roading, but I know I could go off-road if necessary. Not mountain climbing, but honestly - how many people with mountain bikes actually use them for that purpose... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: helpful staff
Disadvantages: not a huge selection

...I bought a 2nd hand Peugeot Speedfight 2 Silver Sport from here about 2 months ago. Jonahthan (the tall guy with long hair) is always very helpful and does his best to find the most suitable bike for you and your wallet. Paid £1000 for 50cc 2stroke the bike which was the same price that i could have got a 100cc 4 stroke honda for, at webbs, which is just a few doors away but it sold just before i went to buy it. Anyway, they have a selection of bikes from 50cc to 1000cc and from £1000 to £10000+ The one stop shop will sort out your Gloves, Helmet, Jacket, Bike, Insurance & anything else you need to get on the road. If you are looking for a first or second bike or need a small bike (50 - 125cc) for town running then this really is the ultimate shop to go to. The shop is more like a showroom and less like a garage... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Very helpful & knowledgable - probably the best in the area
Disadvantages: Not always the cheapest.....

...I have lived within 6 miles of Bromley Bike co for most of my life, it is by far the best bike shop in the area, indeed a friend from Sunderland who's mountain bike nuts even knew where Bromley was just because of the bike shop! They stock Specialized & Marin mainly along with some Orange, the new Prst-1, & Ridgeback as well as being the importer of Yeti frames for the UK. Their accessories side is very good & much better than going mail order - if your not 110% sure what you want! (again the only down side is price..) They do stock all the good kit like Chris King, Race Face etc as well as lots of other bike "jewellery". They run some good sales on end of line stuff, but you have to be quick to catch it! The staff in this shop are good & if you've ever read one of those "how to spot a good shop" guides in MBR or MBUK... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: cheap to run, healthy way to get about, environmentally healthy
Disadvantages: heavy even with battery removed, not suitable for long distances

...We bought the bike from cedirecteast.co.uk and they delivered promptly. On the first day however my husband had a puncture and it was quite awkward to remove the back wheel to repair it and even more awkward to put it back on. However I am sure that it will get easier with practice. The wheel size is 12.5in and these are fairly easy to buy, as they are also sold for prams. The bike is quite heavy, 27k and even with the battery removed, it seems heavier than other bikes. However the up-side is that it is quite robust. It takes around 4 to 6 hours to charge up and it says on the website that you can get around 14 miles to each charge. I would say that this is very much dependent on the terrain. My husband cycles a fairly flat route to work with one big hill at the end and he reckons that he gets around 12 miles, so it... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: very detailed and individual specific information
Disadvantages: does include many technical terms

...The discipline of triathlon includes the three events of cycling, swimming and running in continuum. Whilst at university I attempted one and was amazed how hard I found it to be. You really have to pace yourself as you go, especially on the swimming stage. The idea is that you save energy on the swim and use good technique during the cycling phase to leave you with a good finish on the run. Different athletes have differing strengths and weaknesses though, some are better runners than cyclists and vice versa, therefore they target different stages during the race to make an impact on there overall race time. Triathlon training is completely unique and unlike any other sport; it is therefore a bit of a mystery on the types of training that a novice triathlete should do in the build up to a race. Obviously practising swimming, cycling... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful