If your bike is to small for you,  if it has been left to rust in the shed or perhaps you have never owned one it might be time to start shopping for a new bike.

Unless you are planning on tackling the Tour de France a new bike should not cost a fortune, and a bike between £200 and £300 should be adequate for a beginner, and you may be able to pick up a good quality second hand bike for much less through ebay.co.uk, gum tree or the free ads.

Before you buy a bike it is worth asking your employer if they have a salary sacrifice scheme for purchasing bikes and equipment. This will allow you to buy a new bike and accessories such as lights, helmets and clothing from your pre-tax earnings. This should save you between 20 and 30% on the list price.

If your employer has not got a scheme in place, tell them to look at websites like:

www.cyclescheme.co.uk

www.cycletowork.info

Employers benefit from reduced national insurance contributions and a healthier, happier workforce.

The nearest bike shop to Hillside Gardens is Richards Bikes on Pinhoe Road, approximately an 8 minute cycle away. Your residents welcome pack includes a £50.00 voucher to be spent here, which can go towards a new bike, or cycle accessories such as bike lights or a helmet.