Luckily, thanks to the wonders of the internet, even non-Dutch folk can buy Dutch bicycle accessories online — though if you can’t get the exact one you want, you may need to bite the bullet and buy them straight from the Netherlands (it’s easier than you might think, honest!).

New Looxs’ 2011 collection is just out, adding a couple more lovely bags to the range.

Leaf is a feminine bicycle bag design. It’s  available in their Alba Single, Double and Camella styles. It comes in grey, blue or black.

Fans of retro style bicycle bags may prefer Arezzo, Napoli and Alba in canvas material.

Speaking as someone who owns some jazzy purple bicycle panniers, there’s something very appealing about the no-nonsense design of the dark and pale canvas designs.

If you’d like to know more, head over to the New Looxs site, where you can locate stockists.

Camella style women's bicycle pannier

Anyone can contribute a movie, so if you have a unique take on bike culture, a story to tell, and a video camera, it’s time to get filming.

You’ve got until 1 April to submit your short or feature film. Selected films will be showcased in some of 25 global cities including Amsterdam, Tokyo, Liverpool UK, and Washington DC.

If you’re anywhere near Chicago and Portland this weekend, there are some Bicycle Film Festival events going. Chicago kicks off with a BFF party tomorrow night, with Portland joining in the fun from Saturday.

Oh, and if you’re a sucker for neat saddles, you can grab a Limited Edition BFF San Marco Saddle.

Check out the BFF site or the BFF Facebook page for the full details of events and cities near you. And for inspiration, this trailer is really worth a watch.

Source: The best thing in town, every town. [Good Blog]

While a kick stand can help matters, it’s not the most stable of additions to your mode of transport — and if you’re doing some major work you’ll want something a bit more usable.

Which is where portable bike stands come into play. Pop one of these in your saddle bag or pannier and you’ll be well away. And it’s not just ideal for spot fixes when you’re out and about; being able to fold a stand down and store it saves having it on display in your place.

For your browsing pleasure, we’ve hunted down five of the best lightweight bike stand options. They might not be the most stylish items you’ll buy, but they’ll certainly be one of the most useful.

If you want some more in-depth thoughts on the best bicycle repair stands, check out London Cyclist’s Portable Bike Stand round up.

Bike workstands

From top left, clockwise:

TopeakFlash Stand Workstand, Wiggle, £21.59

Acor Folding Bike Stand, DotBike, £36.51

Halfords Storage and Maintenance Stand, Halfords, £9.99

Minoura DS30BLT Workstand Workstands, Wiggle, £17.59

Minoura RS-5000 repair stand, Amazon, £179.99

A lot of saddle bags and panniers solve the problem by distributing the weight evenly on each side of the bike. There are a fair few uninspiring styles out there (I suspect due to the requirement for the bag to be waterproof,) but we’ve found six styles that look stylish and have enough room to cram in your bike pump, puncture kit, mobile phone and bottle of water.

Six Stylish Saddle Bags

Clockwise from the top left:

Basil Blossum panniers, Velorution, £41

Retrovelo, Velorution, £251

Basil Kavan II Double Bike Pannier, Halfords, £149.99

Brooks Saddles Challenge Tool Saddle Bag, Wiggle, £49.99

Liberty Traditional Waterproof Pannier Bags, Amazon, £38.99

Gilles Berthoud Panniers, Velorution, £256

Have you spotted any stylish saddle bags? Let us know!

Recommended Reading:

Cool Cycling: Bike bags by Brooks England. Some very English, very stylish old-fashioned bike panniers, baskets and bags from a company that specialises in tasteful good quality.

Cool Cycling: Ortlieb bike bags.
A more modern style of bike bag for those who like their accessories space age not old age.

Cool bike bells. Who knew it was possible to get so much variety when it comes to bicycle bells? If you’re not ready to settle down with a bog-standard bell, take a look at some of these eccentric horns and tinklers.

If we’re not waxing lyrical about Copenhagen’s bike superhighway (especially compared to Boris’s Cycle Superhighways), we’re drooling over the marvels of Dutch cycling.

And once again, Europe leads the way when it comes to making cycling mainstream.

Insane bike park

Check out this video and you’ll see what we mean.

We all know that cycling is popular in the Netherlands, but this blew us away. Especially the bit where the lady hauled her big Dutch bike onto the top level parking.

The video is taken inside Groningen rail station, which has enough room for 10,000 bikes. Originally, it was only built to fit 3,000 bikes, but demand has seen that space grow and grow in the four years since it was built.

Bikes are now stacked on top of each other to maximise the space, using easy-to-pull-down holders to roll the bike into place. It’s really a sight to behold and well worth a click.

Prepare to be impressed

Is there any chance we’ll ever see cycling parks like this in every city?

Image: [VirtualErn]

Source: A view from the cycle path

Recycle Cycle

The local council has voiced their approval of the scheme, with Richard Cowley from the council recycling department commenting “We are delighted to be involved in such a sustainable project. The city can only benefit from more people on bikes and less waste going to landfill”

Bike recycling schemes are not just limited to Wales. iBike details schemes across Australia, the USA, Canada and Japan to name a few. Many of these projects are run by charities, like Akerfa which offers bikes to underprivileged Zambians. Charities like OWL bikes in Cambridgeshire not only recycle bikes, but also offer workshops for adults with learning disabilities.

Recommended reading:
Five cool cycle helmets: We pick the very best in cycling chic with a selection of men’s and women’s bike helmets.

The most stylish cyclists in the world: We round up the very best places online to check out cycle chic.

Image: [Professor Bop]

Thankfully, retailers and manufacturers are stepping up to the mark with some workwear travel solutions to help you arrive at work in style. The Slicks Suit25 commuter bag, sold exclusively at Slicks, is specifically designed to transport a suit and shoes to work, crease-free.

The backpack folds out to fit an entire suit carrier with a hanger, and has several separate sections for shoes and a towel, if you’re lucky enough to have a shower at work. There’s also an additional section to add your laptop etc, and the backpack converts into a hand-held carry case.  The reflective strips on the zipper and straps mean you’ll even be visible in the early mornings and late evenings. It’s effectively the Transformer of backpacks.

It’s £114.99, so it’s possibly one for the Christmas wish list. But it’s worth it for the dry cleaning bills you’ll dodge over the year.

Recommended reading:

Six of the best bike panniers and saddle bags. We round up the coolest bags, baskets and panniers for your bike.

Warm clothing for cyclists. We’ve picked the warmest, the most winter-proof cycling gear out there to keep you toasty on your daily commute.

During the colder months of the year, those cycling shorts simply aren’t going to be enough to keep you warm. So, to keep you toasty while you’re enjoying the misty mornings, here are a few clothing suggestions.

Warming gloves
There are a couple of options when it comes to gloves. You could go techy and get the new breed of gloves that heat themselves up (Maplin £12.99.) The grip doesn’t look entirely cycle-worthy, so perhaps it’s more for a casual bike ride rather than anything particular hardcore.

Your other option is a pair of specialised, skintight cycle gloves to keep the heat in. These DeFeet Dura Winter Cycling Gloves from Wiggle might not heat up, but the grip certainly makes up for it.

Cosy clothing
SPEG does a nice range of warmers for arms and legs, which can be layered and removed when the sun comes up. Prices start from £10.99 on Cycle Clothing. SPEG also has a cycle jacket with removable sleeves for £24.99. Layering is the key to keeping warm on your morning commute.

Cycling Footwear
We’re not talking about shoes here, but socks. Sealskinz from Wiggle (£19.80) are waterproof socks that keep your feet warm and, most importantly, dry. In terms of shoes, the Specialized BG Defroster MTB Shoes (Evans Cycle, £119.99) are waterproof and full of features that make your winter cycling adventure go as smoothly as possible.

How do you prepare for a winter cycle?
Image: Comedynose

Like many underground movements in the last decade, it started online in forums and groups, where fans discussed the best ways to motorise their bikes. Sites like Endless-Sphere are popular for swapping tips on the best batteries and where to get essential parts.

The rising popularity of e-bikes can be attributed to a number of factors. City dwellers are increasingly turning to e-bikes to dodge heavy commuting, while those concerned about the environment are considering them over gas-guzzling cars and motorbikes.

The last year in particular has seen a huge growth in the sale of e-bikes. In China, it’s believed that 22 million e-bikes will have been sold this year alone. Europe should see a million e-bikes sold. The US is catching up, with 300,000 e-bikes sold.

However, home-made e-bikes are a cause for worry to some authorities. Transport laws in some countries may apply to e-bikes, which therefore would suggest that customisations would break these laws, in the same way customising a car to a dangerous degree would.

There’s also the tough decision to be made in terms of where the bikes can travel. Can they still use bike lanes, like the manual alternatives? Or should they be classed in the same category as small motorised bikes like mopeds?

But with prices starting at around $3,500 in the US for factory-made bikes, creating a customised version may seem like an attractive alternative in the current recession.

Perhaps when e-bikes enter the mainstream, we’ll see a change in legislation to deal with the new transport.

Image: [revolution cycle]

Following this success, the scheme is expanding, with the first docking station at a London terminal announced. London Waterloo will get its own docking station in mid-December, housing 124 bikes. It’s the first of many, with 50 new docking stations planned throughout the capital.

It’s not just Londoners that are enjoying a cycle scheme, though. The Oy Bike Scheme in Cardiff has been extended for another year, after Welsh Assembly Government funding was confirmed.

At the moment there are 17 bike stations across Cardiff, charging around £5 a day, or less if the user has a membership.  The scheme has been so successful that they’ve released an iPhone app to help users find their nearest station.

Bernie Hanning, managing director of the Oy Bike Scheme, said: “”We are really pleased with the many positive responses we have received from Oy Bike users in Cardiff and are keen to make this scheme a trail blazer for sustainable travel in Wales and the UK.”

Hopefully we’ll see biking schemes adopted by towns across the UK, not simply the capitals. It’s hugely encouraging to see so many people adopting this green method of travel.

Image: [Paul Robertson]