‘Honestly, it’s life changing’ is a regular series where we talk about the weird and wonderful possessions we can’t imagine life without. Think of it as an ode to the mundane, bizarre and, sometimes, wholly unnecessary products in our lives.
For years I was intimidated by road bikes: the thin wheels, the hunched over riding position, the fact that wearing incredibly tight lycra seems non-negotiable.
But then I moved house. Not only did my postcode change, but so did the length of my commute. Instead of the cushty three-and-a-half mile ride downhill to work, I now had to cycle six miles across central London to get to the office.
My heavy, Dutch-style bike with its comfy seat wasn’t going to cut it – unless I could stomach the hour-long commute each way. Now, I needed speed or I’d end up stuck on the Northern line for the rest of my life with my nose in someone else’s armpit.
So I did some research, took a deep breath and went to my local Evans Cycles to test one out. It felt different, sure – you hold your hands around the front of the dropped handlebars meaning you have to lean further forward, and to shift gear you simply tap the breaks – but it was nothing I couldn’t get used to.
My budget of £400 doesn’t go far in the bike world – some cost more than £1k (lol) – but Evans’ own-brand Pinnacle Laterite 1 is a decent entry-level road bike, and is just £420. I managed to bag £30 off by trading in an old bike, so it came in just under budget.
It’s described as “a high-performance tarmac machine on a budget” and, I’m told by someone in the know, the specifications are good value. This bike is light – just 9.9kg compared to the 15kg of my last one – and riding it is effortless. I can cycle to work in half an hour, which is roughly the same time it took to ride my other bike to my old house. And honestly, I haven’t looked back.
Despite my reservations, leaning forward when riding is a much more comfortable position for my back. The seat is pretty small and hard – but thankfully a combo of padded shorts and a padded seat cover seem to have done the trick.
“This bike is light and riding it is effortless.”
Cycling not only saves me money and reduces my impact on the environment, but the daily ride is also good for my physical and mental health. Riding to work is incredibly meditative (don’t worry, mum, I keep my eyes open), because it forces me to be present – and I don’t have my phone on hand to distract me.
I have greater mental clarity while on my bike, which helps me destress, problem solve and come up with more creative ideas. And I sometimes sing, too.
I’ve always been a fair-weather cyclist – you’d never catch me on two wheels in the winter – but with a faster, more enjoyable commute, perhaps now I’ll try cycling all year round.
Correction: This article originally stated the bike was 8kg instead of 9.9kg.
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