Useful Links

Chain repairs - close-up July 2018 - square

This list has been put together in response to enquiries from cyclists, as well as from our own knowledge and research. Please note that the Isis Cyclists group is not responsible for the content of any of the websites listed. We check the links every few months, but if you encounter any broken links please let us know via the Contact Us page.

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Cycling organisations

Local

  • Oxford Cycling UK:  The Oxford section of Cycling UK (see below), and the parent group of Isis Cyclists. The group organises rides most Sundays, with routes varying from 35 to 70 miles and including coffee and lunch stops. A number of Isis Cyclists members also ride regularly with Oxford Cycling UK.
  • Cycling UK Oxfordshire:  A hub for Cycling UK activities across the county and slightly beyond. The website contains some useful links.
  • Cowley Road Condors Cycling Club: A road club with an unusually high proportion of women members (40%). Some women who started with Isis Cyclists now also ride with the Condors.
  • Abingdon Freewheeling: A friendly and inclusive cycling club with riders of all styles and abilities.
  • Cyclox: A campaigning group, the voice of cycling in Oxford.
  • JoyRiders Oxford: JoyRiders offers women-only rides led by fully trained, female ride leaders. Their rides are mostly aimed at Beginner+ level riders (who can steer, pedal and brake their bike) and are a welcoming place for women who are new or returning to riding. The group also has a Facebook page and can be contacted by email at info.oxford@joyridersbritain.org.

National

  • Cycling UK (formerly the Cyclists’ Touring Club: CTC): The national cyclists’ organisation. Cycling UK/CTC has championed the cause of cycling for well over a century. It promotes all forms of cycling, protects the interests of existing and would-be cyclists, and inspires people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities to discover the joys of cycling.
  • Women’s cycling groups elsewhere in the UK: A list compiled by Cycling UK, but without links to the websites of individual groups.
  • Sustrans: A national campaigning group. Sustrans works with families, communities, policy-makers and partner organisations across the UK to enable people to choose healthier, cleaner and cheaper journeys, and to create better places and spaces to move through and live in.
  • The Adventure Syndicate: A collective of women cyclists committed to encouraging and enabling women – and everyone else – to identify their ambitions, overcome the obstacles that stand in their way, and make the most of their talent and potential.

Resources

Local

If you offer a service to cyclists in the Oxford area and you would like to be considered for inclusion in this list, send us a message via the Contact Us page.

Cycle shops and repairs

Listed in order of postcode (telephone numbers are in parentheses; area code is 01865):

Cycle hire

There are now various options, including Bainton Bikes, a Brompton hire dock at Oxford station and one scheme for dockless bike hire.

Community-oriented services

  • Broken Spoke Bike Co-op: St Thomas School, Osney Lane, OX1 1NJ. Teaches people how to ride and repair bicycles. Beryl’s Night, on the first Thursday of every month, is an evening for women and trans folk only.
  • The Windrush Bike Project: Fairspear House, Leafield, nr Witney, OX29 9NY. A community interest company bringing together cycle training, maintenance, campaigning and culture.

Taking your bike on a train

Links to relevant pages on the websites of the train companies serving Oxford:

Miscellaneous

  • Cycle routes from Oxford: A blog containing lots of ideas.
  • Cycle map of Oxford produced by Cyclox: This map shows all the on-road and traffic free cycle routes in Oxford, including National Cycling Network route numbers. The link takes you to the interactive version, with contact details for obtaining a printed copy. Printed copies are also usually available at bike shops.
  • Fix my street: Report a road or street problem in Oxford or elsewhere in the county.
  • Travelling by bicycle: Information from Oxford University about the cycling-related services available to staff.

Guidance on buying a bike

We can’t offer advice ourselves, but you may find the following websites helpful:

Guidance on safe cycling

 Online retailers

  • Chain Reaction Cycles: Supplier of equipment and clothing
  • Corinne Dennis: Small company based in Cornwall, dedicated to producing high quality,  handmade, performance cycle clothing
  • Evans Cycles: Supplier of equipment and clothing; online presence of FW Evans UK, which has a number of stores throughout the country
  • VeloVixen: Specialist in women’s cycling clothing, based in Wheatley
  • Wiggle: Supplier of equipment and clothing