Getting pedalling couldn't be easier. All you need is a bike - there's no need for special clothes or expensive equipment.

Read our tips below for buying a bike, or maybe dust off your old one. Get some handy hints too on comfortable clothes.

Buying a bike

It doesn't need to be expensive, fancy, or even fast. It just needs to be the best bike for you.

Types of bike

• Folding bike - great for taking on public transport and if you don't have parking at home or work
• Hybrid bike - more practical than a racing bike but lighter than a mountain bike
• Racing bike - these are light and fast but thin tyres means more punctures
• Mountain bike - robust but a full suspension bike may be too heavy and slow for the road
• Retro bikes - a fashionable way to get around London

Cost

How much you spend is up to you. You don't need to buy an expensive bike to cycle around London.

Buying secondhand - this is the cheaper option, but be careful not to buy a stolen bike.

Further advice

Specialist bike shops are your best bet in your search for your perfect bike. Find a list of bike shops and places to buy second hand bikes from the London Cycling Campaign website.

Children's bikes

A child's bike is more than a toy. It must be easy - and fun - to ride. Look for a good quality, durable frame that fits your child. Your local bike shop can help you chose the right bike for your child or, you could look for a good second hand bike.

Options for younger children include front or rear mounted bike seats, trailers, Dutch-style cargo bikes, Tag-A-Long bikes or tow bar to convert a child's bike into a trailer bike which can then be detached at the park.

Dusting off your old bike

If you have an old bike, it may just need some TLC and a bit of an MOT - why not read our bicycle tune-up tips?

Avoiding theft

Once you're kitted up, you'll want to keep your bike safe. Read our tips on avoiding theft.

Get comfortable on your bike

Make sure your bike is the right size and that the seat is not too low or it will slow you down. Riding the wrong size bike is often uncomfortable and may be unsafe. Ask a specialist bike shop for advice.

Clothes

Normal clothes are fine for cycling. You won't get hot and sweaty if you don't ride like a demon, so you can even ride to work in a suit.

You don't need to wear lycra from head to toe, but lightly padded bike shorts can keep you comfortable. You can wear other clothes - even a skirt - over the top.

Bright, reflective clothing or strips will make you easier to see, especially at night.

Gloves

Wearing gloves is an easy way to keep cycling comfy. We recommend fingerless gloves for summer and wind-resistant for winter.

Helmet

It's not the law to wear a helmet but many Londoners choose to do so. If you wear a helmet, make sure it fits properly - tighten the straps so you can't push the helmet up your forehead, side to side, or up at the back.

Bell

A bell is a great way of letting people know you're there, especially when you're in a park or around people who are walking.

Londoners of all ages are being challenged by the Mayor to get pedalling through a series of London 'cycle challenges', where workplaces and schools can compete based on the number of miles clocked up and the number of people they get cycling.

New figures released today show a bicycle boom is underway with an estimated 545,000 daily bicycle journeys now made in London, up nine per cent in the year since the Mayor was elected. Speaking at the launch, the Mayor said he was determined to reach beyond dedicated commuter cyclists and encourage more Londoners to join in.

A record £111m investment in cycling is being made this year, which includes funding for new Cycle Hire and Cycle Highways schemes and safety training across London.

The Mayor also unveiled a major new marketing campaign 'Catch up with the bicycle', which shows the freedom of cycling and how, as in other European countries, cycling can be a stylish and desirable way to travel. 

The Mayor said:

Cycling is on the up in London, but there is still much to do if we want to really revolutionise the way that Londoners get about.

'That's why we are making record investments in cycling, developing the cycle highways and cycle hire schemes, and are unveiling a summer schedule stuffed full of biking events, competitions, and campaigns designed to boost cycling across London's boroughs.

'Through this, Londoners of all ages and abilities can take part and experience the joys of travelling in one of the most handy, healthy, and environmentally friendly ways possible, and we can achieve our aim of making London a city where two wheeled, pedal-powered transportation is the norm, and not the exception.

Want your bike to go faster? Ride easier? Shift smoother? Improvements in these areas are often relatively easy to accomplish with just a few simple steps. Try out these simple tune-up tasks below, which don't require any special knowledge or tools, and see immediate improvements in your riding.

1. Clean and lubricate your chain

The chain and sprockets on your bike play a key part in the transfer of power in your legs to your wheels, making them go round and round. When they collect dirt and grit and get gummy, not only does it slow you down, but they also wear out faster. Keeping your chain clean and lubricated is one of the best ways to keep your bike working well. This is not a daily or weekly task by any means. Plan on doing this every thousand miles or so; more often if you ride in dusty or dirty conditions.

Tip: Use a lightweight oil specially designed for bikes. Stay away from motor oil as it is too heavy and will quickly attract dirt and crud. Want a big greasy chain ring mark on your leg? Using too much oil or the wrong kind is a guaranteed way to get one. Light lubrication is the key, and wipe off excess at the end.

2. Lubricate the moving parts of your brakes and derailleurs.

Your bike has quite a few moving metal parts that are vulnerable to dirt and moisture. To keep your bike happy and functioning well, these parts should be lubricated regularly.

Pivot points on the brakes and derailleurs are good examples of the types of places you should target because they are vulnerable to attracting dirt and grit due to their placement on your bike. You can spot many of these places just by watching your bike in action and seeing where metal parts move against and around each other.

For instance, think about your brakes. On most road bikes, they are mounted on a bolt on the frame above your wheel. When you squeeze the lever, the brake pivots around this bolt as it contracts. It's these places where you want to apply a couple drops of oil.

3. Inspect your brake pads.

A quick check of your brake pads will often reveal potential problems that are easy to fix. You want to check:

• Are your brake pads properly aligned?Brake pads are the little rubber things that clamp down on your rims to slow you when you squeeze the brake levers. Make sure they are hitting the rims evenly, and aren't either rubbing the tire or missing your rim partially or completely.
• Are the brake pads toed-in?The bike brake pads should also be "toed-in," which means the leading edge of the pads should touch the bike rim first when you lightly apply the brakes. The pads squish a little, and when you squeeze down hard, you should get full contact to the rim. This helps prevent squeaking
• Check for junk embedded in the brake padsInspect the surface of the brake pads where they meet the rims, and using a pointy sharp instrument like a knife, pick out any bits of sand or metal that may have become embedded in the pad. Removing this grit prevents the pads from wearing and scratching your rims and helps them provide more even and consistent stopping power.

4. Check the pressure on your tires.

One of the simplest things you can do is the one that can have the greatest effect, and that surprisingly, people most often overlook.

Paying attention to keeping the proper level of air pressure in your tires accomplishes many things:

• Makes pedaling easier
• Protects your rims from damage
• Prolongs the life of your tires
• Makes it much less likely that you'll get flats.

Checking for proper air pressue in your tires before every ride is quick and easy to do.

Cycling gets a lot less money from central Government than it would like, but a lot more than it used to get. In January 2008, the Department for Transport pumped in a record GBP 140 million (€ 156.5mn) investment.
Cycling England had asked for GBP 250 million (€ 279.4mn). Cycling England’s previous budget was GBP 10 million (€ 11.2mn) per annum. The GBP 140 million (€ 156.5mn) is split over three years.

Phillip Darnton, Chairman of Cycling England, said:

“Cycling England produced compelling evidence to show that increased and sustained levels of investment in cycling can make a substantial impact. The bicycle really does have a role in helping meet England’s transport challenges. It is now taking its place as a proper mode of transport.”

Bristol may be Cycling England’s official Cycling Demonstration City but it’s London that is doing most to promote the use of bikes. At a cycling conference in October, speaker Peter Lensink of Ned Railways said cycling in London was at a tipping point.

“There’s been a change in perception, not just people in Lycra. Biking is becoming part of mobility. I pedal on a Dutch roadster and cycle everywhere in my suit. There are now lots like me. Who would ever have imagined the junction between Tavistock Square and Tavistock Place would have cycle congestion in the mornings?”

Before he was ousted by cyclist Boris Johnson, the then Mayor of London Ken Livingstone announced a GBP 500 million (€ 559.2mn) 10-year plan to transform cycling in London. There’s to be a Vélib-style bike hire scheme with 6,000 bikes available every 300 metres. There will also be radial ‘Cycling Corridors’ - bicycle superhighways - for commuters to provide high-profile, easy to follow cycling streams into central London.

Jenny Jones, Green Party member of the London Assembly, said:

“These plans for promoting cycling and walking are more ambitious than anything which has been tried before in this country, but they are exactly what we need to persuade large numbers of Londoners out of their cars.”