This year, Cycle King & Hawk Cycles launched our first ever TV advert, which was featured on SkyTV. It’s all about getting out on a cycling adventure with your “mini me” or family member this summer. Watch below:
Is your child your ‘mini me’ ?
Do you think of your kids like a little version of you? Do they copy your every move? Dress the same and constantly look up to you? Take a look at our recent ad for #minime inspiration.
We would love to see what you and your #minime get up to this summer, so be sure to tag @cyclekinguk in your Facebook and Instagram posts and use the hashtag #minime.
Take a look at some of our matching kids and adult bikes to get Mini-me ready:
This bike comes in a variety of sizes (from 16 inch to 23-inch frames) which makes it a great mini me bike. In the ad, our cool mountain biking Grandad and Granddaughter were having all the fun in the world, covered in mud, and so could your family. For a similar kid’s bike,
This fabulous Mum and daughter duo were riding this bike with style. A Classique bike is perfect for a leisurely ride through the park and has a convenient front basket, perfect for putting a picnic in if you fancy it. Available in an 16″ or 19″ frame, suitable for teenagers and adults.
Summer Cycling Adventures
Summer is officially here, and we’re all for going outdoors with the family. Whether you’ve managed to get lots of plans booked in or still doing your ‘fun activities to do during the summer holidays’ research, we’ve got you covered. At Cycle King & Hawk Cycles, we’ve got a few points to cover on why you should enjoy a summer adventure – so let’s delve straight into it.
Children love the outdoors
Cast your mind back to when you were little; all the fun times you had on your bike. Whilst children of this generation have a lot more screen time, they still love to cycle around and breathe fresh air. Especially since lockdown, we’ve come to appreciate the freedom of going out, and so have the kids. Instead of another summer of being cooped up, a fantastic change of pace may consist of taking the family on a bike ride adventure this summer.
Benefits of a family bike ride
With the lovely weather we are fortunate to have had recently, it’s always worth stepping outdoors to enjoy it. Taking the family out on an epic bike adventure is sure to be a day to remember (and maybe even a highlight of the kids’ summer holiday). Not only is it really fun, but a big family bike ride is also great for a whole host of health reasons.
Go somewhere new and experience something different
A switch of scenery from what your children are used to can be highly beneficial to understand the world around them. And for adults, it’s also nice to go out and experience something out of the ordinary.
Quality time spent together
Whilst cycling through muddy paths or picturesque countryside, the time you all spend having fun is sure to make you grow stronger bonds. Having a bit more quality time is sure to put a smile on the children’s’ faces and ultimately give them some good times to remember.
Build up your child’s confidence
Finally, whether they’ve just come off training wheels or are getting the hang of it, taking your kids out on a ride is a definite way of improving their abilities. The more time spent riding the better, as their experiences of cycling will help them evolve into well-traversed cyclists.
If you and your kids are daredevils, then perhaps some time at the skatepark is more your thing. If you’re anything like our Grandma and Grandson on their BMXs, then you’ll need some extra protection. These helmets and pads are a great way of reducing the chances of bumps and bruises.
To celebrate the Queen’s 70 years on the throne and in memory of this special Jubilee weekend, we have compiled 70 great cycling routes from your suggestions. We would love to see your photos of your cycling adventures on social media, so don’t forget to tag us! (@cyclekinguk)
As we’re sure you know, it’s the Queen’s Jubilee, celebrating 70 years on the throne. She has seen so many changes in the world, and bikes are no exception.
The Cruiser – a classic of the 50’s and 60’s
The Cruiser was developed way back in 1930’s USA but gained its popularity in the 50’s and 60’s. The bicycle had a stable steel frame, single speed mechanicals and balloon tires. It was a product unlike any other, being an adaption of the cruiser motorbikes from WW2. The product came with a faux petrol tank and a battery powered headlight that defined the look of this classic. However, as time progressed, bikes started to become far lighter, meaning that the market shifted to cyclists preferring the European inspired racing bikes. This unfortunately led to the cruisers eventual decline in sales.
Choppers, BMX and Mountain Bikes, the thrills of the 70s & 80s
As new build techniques improved, the demand for a new bike interpretation of a classic motorcycle, the Chopper arose. Created as a kid’s bike, the most notable features of the bike were its banana seat (that made carrying passengers and doing wheelies easier) and the ape hanger handlebars. The Raleigh Chopper was one of the best-selling children’s bikes in the UK and the model is considered a classic amongst collectors and in the childhood memories of many.
The BMX was also inspired by a motorbike. Developed from motocross bikes, they began their life in the 70’s but really exploded into popularity, especially in the UK, in the 80’s where they became the must have for all kids and teenagers. They’re still rather popular today, with riders of all ages choosing this classic bike.
Next up came the Mountain Bike, born from the realisation that off-road cycling was a struggle, especially for riding down rugged hillsides. A hybrid of the BMX and a road bike was needed. Old Cruisers were modified by riders for off-road terrains as their balloon tires were readily available and could endure a lot, and their heavy and sturdy steel frame came in use for slamming against rocks and but were too heavy in mud. So, through the 70’s and 80’s companies started to develop bikes that were fit for the off-road experience. These bikes were far lighter and used durable materials like aluminium. Much like the BMX,Mountain Bikes are a popular choice for both children and adults and have definitely stood the test of time.
The concept of electric bikes dates back to the late 19th century but it wasn’t until the now that battery technology has been sufficiently advanced to really enable these bikes to take off. Bikes have come on leaps and bounds and there are now many model types and battery sizes suitable for any type of rider, this bike is a fantastic way to get around and makes cycling accessible to a wider age range. To round off our 70 years of bikes all together, take a look at this electric Cruiser-style bike, now that faux tank isn’t so faux anymore!
If you’re interested in any of our BMX’s, Mountain Bikes or Electric Bikes, take a look at our huge range and even save yourself some money on our selected Jubilee offers.
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Enter our Jubilee competition!
We’re celebrating in style! Be in with the chance of winning a stylish new bike or a £70 giftcard. Head to our Instagram or Facebook to enter today!
Terms and Conditions:
The competition will end on Wednesday 1st June at 2pm. The winners for each weekly prize will be announced on Saturday 4th June 2022 on our Instagram and Facebook pages.
Eligibility: Employees of Cycle King or those associated with the operation or promotion of the competition are ineligible to enter. Any such entries are invalid. For delivery of the prize, you will be required to be available at a specified time and place.
Entry: Entrants must like, comment and follow @cyclekinguk on the associated social media platform (Instagram or Facebook). Entrants may enter as many times as they wish by tagging multiple accounts.
The prize: Each entrant is limited to winning one prize per competition. The prize is subject to availability and to winner confirmation. The Promoter will not deliver the prize to any address outside of mainland UK.
The first selected winner will win a Snob Halo. The second will win a Bridgford bike. The third selected will win an Ammaco Axis and then fourth will win a £70 giftcard. No cash alternative will be provided and any prizes are non-transferable and non-exchangeable.
If for any reason the winner chooses not to take up the prize or any part of the prize, the promoter reserves the right to ask the winner to confirm this in writing and, whether or not such confirmation is received, the promoter will be able to retain or dispose of the prize (or part of the prize) at its own discretion.
The Promoter will endravour to deliver the prize to the winner within fourteen (14) working days from the date of winner confirmation. The prize will only be posted to a UK mainland address directly associated with the winner, the Promoter does not accept liability in the instance that the address given by the winner is incorrect or changed.
Winner selection:
Unless stated otherwise in the interaction information, the winner will be randomly selected, and subject to eligibility and winner confirmation (and, for competitions where entrants are required to provide information, providing such information correctly).
The winners will be contacted as soon as practicable on or after the competition date. The winners will be contacted by the Promoter either via direct message or a reply to their post on social media, depending on which platform they entered on. Once the winner has been contacted, they must send a direct message to The Promoter to receive their prize. The Promoter will try to contact the winner over a 4-week period.
If the winners cannot be contacted or successful contact is not made within the time periods set out this may result in forfeiture of the prize and the Promoter reserves the right to disqualify that entrant (without further liability to that entrant) and offer the prize to the next eligible entrant and thereafter until a winner is found.
Contact Details and Further Information:
If you have a comment, query or complaint about the Promotion you may register it by phone on 01223 214999. You will need to provide some or all of the following information:
(a) Your name
(b) Your email address
(c) The IP address of your computer
(d) If possible, your internet service provider
(e) The date(s) and time(s) when you experienced problems
(f) The nature of the problem you experienced
(g) A contact telephone number you can be reached on, if necessary
Queries will be addressed as soon as possible.
If you require any information to be provided in an alternative format for accessibility reasons, we will be happy to discuss your requirements and endeavour to provide a suitable alternative.
E-bikes are a good way of keeping in shape and are really good fun. At Cycle King, we understand our large variety to choose from can be a bit daunting for a first-time buyer – but fear not, we have compiled a quick guide to help you get the right one for your needs. Take a look at what your shiny new E-bike could look like today.
Benefits of an E-bike Longer rides
A fully charged battery enables you to ride on far longer, thanks to motor assistance. The added assistance makes a huge difference to those who don’t have as much mobility today as the days they were on training wheels.
Alternative transport
Instead of going out in the car, taking your E-bike means not only a saving in cost but also a way to reduce your impact on the environment. We find that people enjoy taking in the scenery on their way to the shop on an E-bike, something that’s quite hard to appreciate on a cramped bus or train.
Which Electric Bike is suitable for you?
First thing you should know is that there isn’t just one kind of E-bike. Here are several brands and models we recommend.
Lectro
Lectro offer a few variations of E-bikes that suit any rider.The Suburban, fantastic for commuting, the Adventurer, perfect for exploring country roads, and the Summit, designed with mountain biking in mind. With their lower price point, they make very good entry level E-bike.
Ampere and Wisper
Perhaps your busy commuter life means that you need a bike that compacts down. A folding bike would be great, and even better if it was electric. The Wisper 806 20” Folding Electric Bike and Ampere Mode FoldingElectric Bike are some models that we recommend for the busiest of workers that need some help after a long day in the office.
Battery is just as important
You have the bike, now you need to know how large a battery you need. Before buying, take a look at what options are available for the bike you like. Understand their mileages on a full-charge in the product description and go from there.
Of course, spending £1000+ on a new E-bike is quite the investment but it’s one we’re sure you won’t regret making. For more advice, why not visit your local store and explore the E-bikes we offer.
The Cycle to Work Scheme is a great way to get all the gear you need for your commute and save money! Fuel costs are rising and Ultra Low Emissions Zone charges are making commuting increasingly expensive so many people are swapping to a greener, healthier commute by bike.
The Cycle to Work scheme is designed to give you great savings on bikes and cycling equipment. This includes E-bikes and cycling accessories, simply anything that you need to commute by bike for you and your family. And at Cycle King and Hawk Cycles there amazing deals available every day on bikes and accessories for commuting, everything in-store and online is covered by the Cycle to Work Scheme!
Your employer will cover the upfront cost of the bikes and accessories that you want, so you don’t have to pay any money upfront. WOW, what a great way to start your commute and it will be greener and cheaper too. Now that’s what we call a result!
Each month an agreed amount will be deducted from your salary, before taxes, as you pay your employer back for the bikes and accessories that you bought via the scheme. This is called salary sacrifice. This monthly payment is deducted before tax and National Insurance which means you don’t have to pay tax on this amount which saves you money! That’s a saving of at least 32% on the purchase price of your bikes and accessories. Depending on how much you earn it could be up to 42% of savings. Plus, you’ll also be spreading the cost over an agreed period of time making cycling really affordable.
If you leave the company before you have paid all of the instalments then your employer will either keep the bike or you can pay the remainder due to your employer. Schemes vary, so please do check with your employer before you join, just to be sure.
Your employer can participate in the scheme through one of these organisations.
Can I buy more than one bike?
Subject to the value of the voucher, in the majority of cases you can use the money available to buy both your bike for commuting and for other family members too. The only limit is the value of the voucher which varies depending on how the scheme has been set up by your employer.
Are E-bikes included in the scheme?
Yes, don’t sweat E-bikes are included in the scheme, making it easier for you to make cycling a part of your commute.
Do I have to use my bike for all my commuting?
No. Buying a bike through the scheme does not mean you have to commute every day by bike but you should use the bike and/or accessories mainly for commuting to and, if relevant, between workplaces.
At least 50% of the bike and/or accessories use should be for work purposes. For example, if you used the bike 10 times in a year, at least 5 of those journeys must be work-related. The bike and accessories can also be used for pleasure, so riding out with the family or joining your mates for a trail ride is definitely allowed; lots of fun awaits you!
Can I buy accessories only?
Yes. Whatever you need to get cycling to work is included so you can save money on everything you need through the scheme. So, whether you are just buying a bike, a bike and accessories, or just accessories, go for it – the choice is yours!
How do I get a voucher?
Each employer can choose their own scheme provider, so just ask your HR department for details of which provider they use. Then go online to the scheme provider and apply for a voucher.
You will be able to choose which retailer you want to get your bike from and you’ll need a quote for the bikes and accessories that you want. Once this quote has been approved then the voucher will be issued so you can complete the purchase.
How do I get a bike using the Cycle to Work scheme?
Once your voucher is issued then simply come in-store or choose your bikes and accessories online. We accept vouchers from all of the schemes no matter which retailer is specified on voucher.
If you haven’t applied for your voucher yet, then we can give you a quote which you can upload to your scheme provider portal to get a voucher. Once approved just let us know and we’ll get your bikes ready for collection or home delivery.
Can I change retailers?
Yes, we can request for your voucher to be transferred to Cycle King and Hawk Cycles, it is simple, so don’t worry if you nominated a different retailer. We accept vouchers from all the suppliers and also vouchers issued with other retailers.
How much can I spend using my voucher?
Bikes and cycling equipment up to any value can be covered by the scheme, the limits are set by your employer.
Can I add more money to the voucher?
Top-ups aren’t allowed, the purchase must be up to the maximum value of the voucher.
Any more questions?
If you have any questions about the Cycle to Work Scheme, just pop in to your local store, call or email us. We are here to help you go green and commute in style! From folding bikes and road bikes to E-bikes and more, it your choice!
Traditionally, children’s bikes are measured by wheel size and categorised by age range. However, if your child is smaller or larger than the average size for their age, this system may be misleading and not applicable. It is, however, important that your child’s bike fits well. Getting a bike too small for your child could mean that they outgrow it quickly. Too big and it may be dangerous and difficult to ride.
As a general rule of thumb, the bigger the wheels on a child’s bike, the bigger the bike. This is because, with larger wheels, the saddle will be further from the ground. If the bike is too big, your child might struggle to reach the floor or even mount the bike. A larger bike will also be longer in order to accommodate for the bigger wheels. Again, when too big, your child might struggle to reach the handlebars.
If your child looks between sizes, and both bikes are safe and comfortable, we would recommend settling for the larger one. As they’re continuing to grow, they will fit the new bike perfectly in little time at all and riding a larger bike will improve their confidence.
Buying online or measuring from home
If the bike for your child is a surprise, perhaps a gift from Santa or something for their birthday, you may need to choose one without them present. If this is the case, the most accurate way to achieve the correct bike size is by measuring them, particularly their height and inseam.
For their height, simply measure the distance from the floor to the top of their head while they’re standing. For their inseam or inside leg length, measure the distance from the floor to their crotch. Once you’ve got these measurements, take a look at our handy table below. This gives an estimation of the bike size appropriate for your child. Again, if your child appears to be in-between sizes, we would recommend going for the larger one.
If you’re unable to measure them, using their age as an indicator of the bike size they’ll need is an alternative method. As this is a little less reliable, therefore we’d strongly recommend popping into one of our stores to view the bike for yourself. Our highly trained staff will be more than happy to help select the perfect bike for your little one.
Buying in-store
If you are able to bring your child into a store, this is the most reliable way to find the best fitting bike and they’ll even be able to pick their favourite colour and style! Our staff are fully trained to measure and fit your child to their new bike. To find your local Cycle King & Hawk Cycles, use our handy store finder.
When measuring your child for a bike, there are a few essential things to ensure. Firstly, ask your child to stand over the bike’s top tube. There should be a clearance gap, it is essential that this is present for their safety while on the bike. If there is no gap, the bike is too big and dangerous to ride.
It is important to also check that the bike is not too small, this can be achieved through the heel-on-pedal method. Ask your child to sit on the bike and put their heel on the pedal. If the seat is at its maximum extension and their leg is bent, then the bike is too small.
Generally, children are more comfortable sitting upright than adults. Therefore, you should ensure that they can comfortably reach the handlebars and apply the brakes with ease. If installed within the bike, check that they can also change gears easily, if they’re struggling to reach, the bike is too big.
Finally, before you buy any boys’ or girls’ bike, confirm that it is of a manageable weight for your child. Surprisingly, many children’s bikes tend to weigh the same or more than adult bikes. Pick up the bike and make certain that it isn’t too heavy for your little one to ride and manoeuvre.
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