Author: Andy Ryland

The Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority is currently consulting on an Active Travel Plan and wants sugestions on improvements to the cycling and waking network which would encourage people to walk and cycle more. This could be an entirely new off road route such as a Skipton to Grassington cycle route or an off road path to Threshfield Primary School or between Long Ashes Leisure Club to Threshfield. What ever your idea is do complete the survey form. see https://www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/plan-your-visit/essential-information/travel-information/active-travel/...

Just Back from Bosch E Bike Update Course 2024 Each year Bosch E bike mechanics are expected to attend a one day update course.  This is always an enjoyable meeting the technical advisers from Bosch who are now like old fiends. As well as learning more about the new developments from Bosch. It is also good to catch up with colleagues from other shops such John and Jamie from JD Tandems of Gargrave.  ...

CHRISTMAS NEW YEAR OPENING 2033/2024 The shop will be open as usual on Friday Saturday the 22nd 23rd of December 2023  Closed on Friday Saturday the 29th and 30th of December 2023. We will be open again on Friday Saturday the 5th and 6th of January 2024 as usual. A very happy Christmas and new year from all at the Grassington Bike Shop: Andy, Peter, John and Richard...

PLANT BASED BIKE CLEANER LUBS AND OILS KINDER ON THE YORKSHIRE DALES We now have Cyclon plant based bike cleaner, lubs and oils in the Grassington bike shop. These are kinder on the environment and the beautiful Yorkshire Dales as they leave no residue Even when a product is biodegradable it can still leave toxic residue, behind but this does not happen with plant based products & the end product even has useful applications such as fertilisation. Although Cyclon has been producing biodegradable products since 1990, this new range of plant-based lubes and cleaners is another step forward. Cyclon’s new plant-based wax chain lube contains canola oil and this has been shown to give longer lubrication that petroleum-based oil, we’re told. Tests have also show a reduction in friction, resulting in significant wattage gain.  (Ref Cycling News)  At the Yorkshire Bike Company we are committed to promoting sustainable travel to and through the Yorkshire Dales National Park and these products help us in...

Bike Storage Hoist Would Make a Great Christmas Present We have the Bike Storage Hoists in the shop for £19.99.  Limited stock so message us if you would like one reserving for Christmas....

Buy a Real Bike For Christmas Not a Bike Shaped Object For a couple of years, I was a volunteer with a charity bike recycling project. Through our doors came hundreds of children's bikes. However, many of these were very heavy, manufactured from thick-walled steel tubing and with poor components, made from plastic or pressed steel.  We used to joke about these bikes and call them "Bike Shaped Objects". (BSOs) I.e., they had the shape or form of a bike but due to their poor quality couldn't really be described as a bike. The difficulty is that people will often see these "bike shaped objects" in the shops, they will have what appear attractive features such a design featuring cartoon characters such as princesses or super heroes. These make them attractive to children but often that is a far as their qualities go. Other “bike shaped objects” attempt to appeal to the adventurous young rider featuring front or even full suspension.  To be...

Replacement is better than a Spoilt Holiday Caused by a Broken Gear Cable O Several time during the summer of 2023 we had calls from cyclists with problems caused by snapped gear cables. Often the cyclists were shocked this had occurred, one even saying his bike had been serviced before his holidays. The problem seems to arise with Shimano shifter levers, where the cable goes around a sharp curve and with regular shifting of gears the cable starts to fray and then eventually snaps. Then the problems get worse as the frayed ends make it difficult to remove. So what might have been a quick replacement becomes more complex. With bikes with internally routed cables this can become a longer and more complex operation.  Fortunately in all cases this year we were able to get the cyclists back on the road and save the cyclists' holidays. For examples of how grateful people have been please see our Google Reviews. We do recommend, that if you are planning...

Prevention is Better than a Disaster on Holiday - With a Collapsed Wheel Rim As a bike shop in a popular cycle touring area, often get tourist cyclists coming in for emergency repairs; snapped cables, punctures and even collapsed wheel rims. This is a picture of collapsed wheel rim from a bike that came in during the summer. Fortunately we had a spare wheel in stock so were able to help the cyclist on their way and save his holiday. The collapsed rim was entirely preventable and was caused by the cyclist neglecting to check the wear on the bike rims caused by the rim brakes. The metal had worn so thin that when the day came the bike was loaded and the brakes applied the rim started to come apart. Fortunately the wheel didn't entirely collapse and the cyclist wasn't injured. If you are planning a cycle touring holiday, do make sure your get your bike professionally serviced by your local bike shop....

Ride out to Hubberholme Church to view a Remembrance Display of Poppies During this season of remembrance of the dead of two world wars and subsequent armed conflict, do plan a bike in Wharfedale to the Saint Michael's Church in Hubberholme. Here local people have knitted poppies as an act of remembrance. The display is very moving especially when you read about the local families who lost sons. It's well worth the ride out this autumn. We presume the poppies will be on display until at least the 11th of November.    ...

Is Purchasing a Bike online a Good Idea? Assembled Bike It might seem an attractive option to purchase a bike online, however in our experience this can not only end up being more expensive, it can also be a dangerous strategy. Recently we were approached by a lady who had purchased the above bike, which arrived partially assembled. However, she lacked the corrected tools, and it was left in bits until she brought it to the shop for us to put together. Once I came across a child’s bike belonging to one of my son’s friends. The bike’s brake and gear cables were incorrectly routed, the wheel on back to front and the handlebars so loose, they would turn around when the bike was ridden over rough ground. My son’s friend told me his dad had put it together and didn’t know what he was doing. When we get a new bike to assemble in the shop, not only do we make sure...