Cycling

Cycling at FlipBuy UK — mountain bikes, electric mountain bikes, children's bikes and tricycles, and a bike repair stand. From £47.99 workshop kit to £872.99 electric bikes.

Electric bikes — what makes one road legal in the UK

Unlike e-scooters, electric bikes are legal on UK roads and cycle paths — provided they meet the EAPC rules. An electrically assisted pedal cycle must:

Have a motor of 250 watts or less
Provide assistance only while you are pedalling
Stop assisting at 15.5mph (25km/h)
Show the power output and either the manufacturer or the battery voltage and maximum speed

You must be 14 or over to ride one. No licence, tax, insurance or registration is needed if it meets these rules.

A bike exceeding any of these — more than 250W, a throttle that works without pedalling, or assistance beyond 15.5mph — is legally a motor vehicle. It would require registration, insurance, tax and a licence to use on a public road, and in practice cannot be registered. Check the specification of any electric bike carefully against the EAPC rules before buying, and see the GOV.UK guidance on electric bikes if you're unsure.

How to choose a bike size

Frame size, not wheel size, determines whether an adult bike fits.

Stand over the frame: you want 2-5cm of clearance between you and the top tube on a mountain bike.
Frame size follows height roughly — but inside leg matters more than overall height, and manufacturers vary. Check the size chart on the product page against both.
Saddle height: with your heel on the pedal at its lowest point, your leg should be straight. When you pedal properly with the ball of your foot, there'll be a slight bend. Too low is the most common setup error and it's hard on the knees.
Children's bikes go by wheel size — 12in for around 3-5 years, 16in for 5-7, 20in for 7-9. Check the child can put both feet flat on the ground when seated.

How to look after a bike

Check tyre pressure weekly. Underinflated tyres are the most common cause of punctures and make riding far harder work. The correct pressure range is printed on the tyre wall.
Clean and re-lube the chain every few hundred miles or after any wet ride. A dry chain wears the cassette and chainrings, which are far more expensive to replace.
Wipe excess lube off. A wet, oily chain attracts grit and grinds itself down — the opposite of what people expect.
Check brake pads before winter. Wet-weather braking wears pads much faster.
Store indoors or covered. Rain rusts chains and cables; a bike left out all winter often needs more repairs than it's worth.

E-bike battery care

Don't store it fully flat or fully charged long term — around 50-70% is best for a bike being left over winter
Charge indoors at room temperature. Charging a cold battery in a shed damages it
Use the supplied charger. Battery fires in e-bikes and e-scooters are overwhelmingly linked to incorrect or damaged chargers — never leave one charging unattended or overnight
Expect gradual capacity loss over several years; batteries are consumable and replacements are a real cost to factor in

Legal requirements for riding in the UK

Lights are a legal requirement after dark — white at the front, red at the rear, plus a red rear reflector and pedal reflectors
Helmets are not legally required but are strongly recommended
Cycling on pavements is not permitted for adults unless the path is designated shared use
A bell isn't legally required once the bike is in use, though most new bikes are sold with one