Riley Nicholas cycling headshot

Riley Nicholas

Features Writer at BikeTips

One of BikeTips’ experienced cycling writers, Riley spends most of his time in the saddle of a sturdy old Genesis Croix De Fer 20, battling the hills of the Chilterns or winds of North Cornwall. Off the bike, you’re likely to find him with his nose in a book.

Riley’s latest articles:

Graphic showing a bicycle on a blue background with a clock to illustrate how long bikes last.

Bicycle Lifespans: How Long Do Bikes Last (And Do Electric Bikes Die Faster?)

Any proud bike owner should be concerned with its health and longevity. A bike’s lifespan …

cyclists commuting by bike

How To Start Commuting By Bike: 14 Bike To Work Tips

To start bike commuting: pick a route with bike lanes or quiet streets (not your …

Ineos 2024 Kit Edited

WorldTour Cycling Team Kits for 2024 Rated: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

New year, new cycling kits – but not all created equal. In this list, we’ll be rounding up every confirmed new 2024 UCI WorldTour team kit, evaluating the good, the bad, and the ugly.

My Peloton Bike in my garage, ready for a demo of how to move a Peloton Bike.

How To Move A Peloton Bike or Treadmill Safely

Peloton equipment may be awesome for keeping fit at home, but they’re also weighty and have lots of delicate components such as touchscreens – so it’s no surprise that plenty of our readers come to us with questions about how to move a Peloton Bike or Tread safely.

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Essential Guide to British Bike Brands (Vintage & Modern)

British bike brands may not have the same name recognition as their continental counterparts, especially those from Italy, but vintage enthusiasts and modern riders know that there are exceptional British bikes to be found across all disciplines. So, here’s our A-Z guide to the best British bike brands. Some of these you’ll know about already, and some are less well-known.

Can You Use Peloton Without A Subscription? (Title Image)

Can You Use Peloton Without A Subscription – And Is There Any Point?

For Peloton users looking to scale back their spending on the app, there’s a burning question that needs answering: Can you use Peloton without a subscription to their costly “All-Access” membership? It’s certainly a question I’ve found myself wondering in my years of using Peloton, and we have no shortage of readers asking us the same thing.

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What Is Peloton Roll Call? (And Peloton Roll Call Schedule)

Peloton Roll Call classes are strength-based sessions that used to take place bright and early every morning. However, the class has been tweaked a bit recently, and the daily 7:30 a.m. (ET) class isn’t quite as straightforward as it once was.

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Peloton Weight Limits Explained (Bike & Tread): What Are The Weight Limits, And Why Do They Exist?

So you’re thinking about entering the world of Peloton home fitness, but you’re worried about the weight limit for the Bike, Bike+ and Tread. Well, you’ve come to the right place! Our team of qualified cycling coaches have extensive hands-on experience with Peloton equipment, and in this article, we’re going to get into what the Peloton weight limits are, why they exist, and what they mean for you.

A woman cycles on an indoor bicycle with the words peloton vs nordictrack in the foreground.

Peloton Vs NordicTrack: Bike And Treadmill Comparison

If you’re looking to invest in some home workout apparatus, you may be weighing up Peloton vs NordicTrack, both of which make top-end exercise bikes and treadmills.

Suspension Seatposts Explained: Is Bike Seat Suspension Any Good?: Title Image

Suspension Seatposts Explained: Is Bike Seat Suspension Any Good?

Suspension seatposts are… controversial. Depending on who you ask seatpost suspension can be either a crafty solution for riding comfort or a waste of money which can cause you injury. Why is the humble bike seat suspension system so divisive?

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Is Peloton Going Out Of Business?

You may have noticed membership price hikes, seen Peloton Studios close down, read stories about product recalls, or generally got the impression that Peloton is in trouble. Is this a load of hot air, or is Peloton going out of business?

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How To Watch Tour de France 2023: Nation-by-Nation

In the era of online streaming, watching Le Tour can be something of a minefield of subscription plans, broadcasting rights, and workarounds. So we’ve put together a comprehensive guide to how to watch Tour de France 2023, so you can spend less time fiddling with the remote, and more time watching.

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What To Use On Your Bicycle: Wet Vs Dry Lube

When it comes to lubricating your chain, there’s a regular dilemma cyclists face for their bicycle: wet vs dry lube. Lubrication is essential for the health and longevity of your drivetrain, and with your chain, you want to get it right. Deciding between dry lube vs wet lube for your chain isn’t obvious for the uninitiated.

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Bike Steerer Tube Length: Everything You Need To Know

To cut or not to cut – that is often the question when we talk about the bicycle steerer tube. This humble but vital part found at the front of the bike, connecting the fork and the stem and handlebars, can cause some head-scratching. Fear not! We have you covered. We’re going to be getting into everything you need to know about steerer tubes.

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The 7 Best Cycling Movies Of All Time

The best cycling movies span documentary, drama, and comedy: A Sunday in Hell (1976, classic …

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How Long Does It Take To Bike 5 Miles?

It takes a casual cyclist 25–30 minutes to bike 5 miles (8 km) on flat …

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How To Convert A Mountain Bike To A Gravel Bike In 10 Steps

So, you’re looking to do a mountain bike to gravel bike conversion. If you’re looking …

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Gravel Bike Vs Road Bike: Essential Differences Explained

Unlike mountain or cyclocross bikes, which are designed quite differently, gravel bikes and road bikes …

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Team Sky: A Story Of Cycling Dominance

Team Sky: British Cycling’s all-star supergroup, and the dominant cycling team in the world in …

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What Is The Parcours At The Tour de France?

Turn on your TV in July and you’re likely to hear about “the parcours” at …

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What Is A Drift Trike – And How Do They Work?

Who said messing around on three-wheelers was just for the kids? Adrenaline-pumping action might not …

A road racer dips into the puppy paws cycling position.

What Is The Puppy Paws Cycling Position – And Why Was It Banned?

“Puppy paws” is a cycling term for resting your forearms on the handlebar tops to …

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What Is A Switchback In Cycling – And How Should You Ride Them?

A switchback is a sharp 180-degree hairpin turn cut into the side of a steep …

Types of Bike Tires Explained: Clincher Vs Tubular Vs Tubeless (Title Image)

Types Of Bike Tires Explained: Clincher Vs Tubular Vs Tubeless Tires

Clincher tires use an inner tube; tubular tires are sewn around a tube and glued/taped …

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What Is A Bottom Bracket On A Bicycle – And How Do I Choose The Right One?

The bottom bracket is a key component in making your bike function. It contains a …

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Tour de France: Unchained – Everything We Know So Far About The Netflix Tour de France Documentary

That’s right, the Tour de France is getting the Drive To Survive treatment. Next year we can expect a double bill of the high-octane Netflix documentary on the 2022 Tour, and the real-time action of the 2023 Tour de France. But what do we know so far about the Netflix Tour de France: Unchained documentary? What are we expecting from the show? And when can we see it?

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What Is A Duathlon? Everything You Need To Know

A duathlon is a multi-sport race combining running and cycling — a typical sprint duathlon …

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Eddy Merckx: The Greatest Cyclist Of All Time

A certain few athletes dominate their sport so fully that they stand apart from their …

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Geraint Thomas: Profile of a Tour de France Champion

From country lanes outside Cardiff to Olympic Gold medalist and Tour de France champion, Geraint …

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Tour of Flanders: Ultimate Guide To “De Rond”

The Tour Of Flanders is one of cycling’s most ancient races, hurtling over Flemish hills …

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Marco Pantani: The Rise and Fall of Cycling’s Greatest Climber

Marco Pantani (1970–2004) was the last cyclist to win both the Tour de France and …

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Electronic Bike Shifters: The Complete Guide

Electronic bike shifters use a battery and motors to move the derailleurs instead of cables. …

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Milan-San Remo: Ultimate Guide To Cycling’s “Spring Classic”

Known in Italian as La Primavera (“The Spring”), Milan-San Remo is the first major race of the cycling season, …

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Ultimate Giro d’Italia Jersey Guide: The Maglia Rosa And More

As the peloton races around the Italian countryside, you’ll notice the riders’ Giro d’Italia jerseys …

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What is Madison Cycling? All You Need To Know

Madison cycling is a thrilling test of speed, endurance, teamwork, and racecraft in the velodrome. …

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The “Peltzman Effect” In Cycling: Could Helmets Really Encourage Cyclists To Take More Risks?

In February 2022, a London-based bike-taxi service called Pedal Me banned their cyclists from wearing …

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Major Taylor: The Story of a Cycling Icon

Major Taylor was the first African American Cycling World Champion, a formidable athlete and gentlemanly …

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Cross Country Bike: What Is An XC Mountain Bike?

A cross-country (XC) bike is a lightweight mountain bike built for speed and efficiency on …

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Women’s Tour de France: All You Need To Know About Le Tour de France Femmes

After a 33-year absence, the Women’s Tour de France – officially Le Tour de France …

Cycling Cleats Types Explained: Title Image

Cycling Cleats Types Explained

The four main cycling cleat types are: Look Keo (3-bolt road, the original road system, …

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Beryl Burton: The Greatest Female Cyclist of the 20th Century

Beryl Burton (1937-1996) was the most decorated British cyclist of all time — 7-time world …

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How To Make A Bike Seat More Comfortable: 8 Key Steps

To make a bike seat more comfortable, the fastest fixes are: get the saddle height …

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Omnium Cycling: The Ultimate Olympians’ Test

Known as the “Decathlon of Track Cycling”, omnium cycling is a thrilling test of endurance …


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BikeTips was founded in 2021 and is run by a small team of cycling-mad writers and coaches covering road, track, trail, and everything in between. Every article on the site is written by a named contributor and reviewed by an editor — read our full editorial process and standards, including how we research, fact-check, update content, and handle affiliate disclosures.

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