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BCNxCAMS

We are proud to finally announce Black Cyclists Network’s new partnership with CAMS for 2021.

CAMS will be supporting BCN with the loan of two amazing vehicles.

An incredible Mercedes estate and a team van will help our riders get to races across the country, making racing more accessible for those that usually wouldn’t get the opportunity.

Who are CAMS you might ask?
Well, CAMS are an amazing company dedicated to helping cyclists get back on the road after an accident.

Multiple members of BCN, including our very own founder @blackcyclist, have used CAMS’ services to help them get back on the road after accidents that were not their fault.

With the ability to help you get your bike repaired or replaced after an accident, as well as getting the compensation you deserve, CAMS offer a wide range of services that can help make life a little easier when then unexpected happens.

For more information, head over to https://www.c-ams.co.uk and check them out for yourself.

#bcnnation #bcn #cycling #insurance #helpinghands #roadcyclist #roadcycling #freedom #initiative #growth #growthmindset #togetherwearestronger #bcncollective #mercedes #mercedesbenz

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LOCKDOWN 2 : THE SEQUEL

DUE TO THE UK GOVERNMENT LOCKDOWN MEASURES TO BE IMPLEMENTED ON 5/11/2020 GROUP RIDES AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES SHALL BE SUSPENDED.

PLEASE CHECK OUR NEWS & UPDATES PAGE FOR FUTURE EVENTS. WE ARE PLANING ON RUNNING VIRTUAL RIDES VIA ZWIFT AS WELL AS A HOST OF OTHER ACTIVITIES. THANK YOU

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Dark Days Early Lights

As we move into the winter months start to roll in the days get darker earlier and so you have to equip lights onto your bike but how do you know if you’re getting the correct light for you and what are the best lights to buy? We have made a quick guide to help you get the best lights to help you keep safe over when out on the bike whether it’s to help get you home from work or for the long days in the saddle this will help you. 

Firstly, what do you look for in lights? Brightness (Lumens) and battery life are the two most important things to look into when buying lights. I recommend having 4 lights in total – 2 front and 2 back. Have your normal more expensive set and then a cheaper spare set just in case for those times when you forget to charge your light or it runs out of batteries on a ride. Your spare set is more to get you home incase of emergency then it is to help you go out and do long days in the countryside and typically you just put on the bike or in your pocket. 

(https://gearjunkie.com/light-and-motion-850-trail-review) 

This guide will separate the lights into 3 different categories according to budget and then a special category which includes extras such as cameras and computer mounts.

Lower cost lights are usually used as spares, they usually have a low brightness and not a lot of settings but last a long time so are great to use a backup to help you get back home or are a great alternative if you live in a very well lit area. They are not powerful enough to light up the road but will step help you be seen by other road users.

Medium budget lights are your everyday use lights that have a great balance or battery life and brightness. They will light up the road in front of you and allow you to be seen and have a good battery life. These lights will also typically have multiple different settings such as strobing, flash, blast and other settings. 

High budget lights are typically used for mountain bikes or in the countryside where streetlights may not be in certain areas so need the extra brightness in order to see the road. They act the same as medium budget lights however, are much bigger and have even more lumens in them. It’s very rare that someone will use them at max brightness because this will also drain the battery of the light a lot quicker but sometimes that extra brightness is necessary for being seen. 

Front Lights
£0-£30£31-£60£61+
https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/LIJOCANO/jobsworth-canopus-usb-rechargeable-light £10 A small, reliable and rechargeable light that fits onto most handlebars. I personally use this as a spare because it’s small size you can easily fit this into the back of your pocket for those longer rides. At 130 lumens it won’t light up the road ahead of you but will allow other road users to see you. https://www.sigmasports.com/item/Lezyne/Hecto-Drive-500XL-Front-Light/N2LW£40Despite being a small light this lezyne 500xl can hold 500 lumens and has a max battery life of 20 hours which is perfect for those riders that are out multiple times a week and don’t want to worry about their light dying on them. https://www.sigmasports.com/item/Bontrager/Ion-Pro-RT-Front-Light/JE2L£99A market leader in quality lights. This bontrager light has an incredible 1300 lumen output – this allows you to be seen and light up the road in front of you. This is perfect for country lanes and trails when it’s dark. No matter the conditions this light can do it. 
https://www.sigmasports.com/item/VEL/300-Lumen-Front-Light/NH48£30An excellent front light which you can also fit to the top certain helmets which is an added bonus. At 300 lumens at a max and a few different settings to scroll through this is a great light you can depend on as a secondary. https://www.sigmasports.com/item/Lezyne/Classic-Drive-700XL-Front-Light/N5LW£60Another great choice similar to the 500xl but more powerful and a better battery life. Additionally, its rubber bracket allows you to use this on the handlebars with fear of scratching them. A perfect for those with the extra early morning starts. https://www.sigmasports.com/item/Cateye/AMPP-800-Front-Light/RX1U £64Cateye has been making lights for a very long time and knows how to make a great light. 30 hours battery life and multiple different settings makes this light a great choice for the price. 800 lumens will keep the road ahead of you lit up. 
Back Lights
£0-£25£26-50£51+
https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/LIJOCANO/jobsworth-canopus-usb-rechargeable-light£10Like it’s front being rechargeable is a great benefit and charges extremely quickly. This is the perfect spare light that you can leave in your bag or pocket and use in case of emergency when your first choice runs out of batteries. https://www.sigmasports.com/item/Moon/Comet-X-Auto-Pro-Rear-Light/GMVP£30This is the light that I use and it is very impressive, long battery life and bright enough for you to be seen. With over 15 hours of battery life you can put it on your bike and be good for the week. A great all round light for the price. https://www.sigmasports.com/item/Lezyne/Strip-Pro-Alert-Drive-Rear-Light/QNEL£55A 300 lumen back light with 270 degrees wide optics allows you to be seen from multiple angles and is bright enough to ensure that the other road users know that you’re there. Definitely a top recommendation for a reliable light. 
Special category 
https://www.sigmasports.com/item/Cateye/Duplex-Front-and-Rear-Helmet-Light/GG0K£24 This light is a front and back light built into one and is for your helmet rather than your handlebars. Pairing this with another stronger front light is a great combination because this light is not strong enough to light up the road but is bright enough for other people to see you and with nearly 100 hours battery life you won’t have to worry about it running out anytime soon. http://www.enfitnix.com/ProductDetail/2151298.html£30Another great light which I use, with a built in speedometer in it when breaking the light gets even brighter to indicate this to other road users. Additionally, it sits in a neat place in between the saddle rails keeping it in a secure spot. With a great battery life you can use this light for a very long time before it needs to be charged again. 
https://www.sigmasports.com/item/Cycliq/FLY12-CE-and-FLY6-CE-Generation-3-Bike-Camera-and-Light-Set/IL1O£400Taking over the cycling scene by storm the cycliq front and rear bike lights with an added camera is amazing and sits flush on any bike. With a 600 lumen front, 100 lumen rear it will keep you seen whilst traversing the road and with the camera being able to video in up to 1080p allows you to record your journeys and keep you safe. https://www.sigmasports.com/item/Garmin/Varia-Radar-RTL515-Rear-Light/Q335 £169Garmin upped their game by creating a light which when paired up with your gamin can give you alerts that traffic is coming up from behind so can stop that sudden shock when a car comes flying past you. Furthermore, with it’s 220 degrees of light spread it will make sure that you are seen from behind. Definitely a light to consider. 
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Welcome to BCN Show Episode #004

Another wonderful glorious day on the bike for all members of the BCN group ride.
If you were not there this is a morsel of what you missed and if this doesn’t whet your appetite i’m not sure what might ?. There were even more new members joining us this weekend to try group riding for the first time and some from other cycling groups who just wanted to enjoy the experience together. Thats what its all about enjoying and sharing. Lets hope we can keep this up into winter… deal?!

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Welcome to BCN show episode #003

Are you coming back? this might seem an odd question but for us its important to know how we can best improve the ride to make sure you enjoy it. This club is a community for all cyclist to enjoy. So when we hear a positive reply it fills us with pride.
Remember you make our community.

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Welcome to the BCN show Episode #002

Okay Okay we know its a shameless copy of the GCN intro but its so good we had to bite it ?. During lockdown in the UK we haven’t been able to group ride due to guidance by British Cycling. As of 18th of June they have advised group rides may restart but only in groups limited to 6 riders. It is for this reason we have not formally announced a return to normal Saturday rides. We wish to rehearse group captaincy so we can keep our riders and the public safe. Please bare with us during this time we hope normal rides can restart soon.

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Race Team is a GO!

Mark the date on your calendar. Today BCN officially launch their race team.
BCN is actively seeking partners in this historic initiative and has set up a Go Fund Me page
for patrons looking to support this cause.
Go fund me page:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-the-black-cyclists-network-race-team

BCN announced today its intention to create the first amateur British domestic racing team for BAME riders to compete in the 2021 season.
The team currently boasts a roster of nine riders made up of an Elite rider, four cat 2 and four cat 3 athletes – with an aim to deliver a competitive team of 10 riders.

London based cycling club BCN (The Black Cyclists Network) was established in 2018 to address the lack of diversity and representation in UK cycling across all levels, grassroots to professional.
Currently boasting over 100 members it is one of the fastest growing and vibrant clubs in the UK, redefining the face of club riding.

BCN founder Mani Arthur said “BCN is more than a club. We are a community built to address the lack of representation in the cycling world.
There are a lot of cyclists from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds in the UK and around the world yet very few resources cater for our communities.
With the launch of the BCN team we aim to give much needed visibility to people of colour in the sport to inspire and engage a new audience to the physical, mental and social benefits of cycling.”

Alongside a race team, BCN ambitions stretch to grassroots cycling setting its sights on community participation, to include an outreach program for beginners and pathways for young talent to chase their cycling dreams.

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Wake Up Everybody No More Sleeping In Bed

Never has the song Wake Up Everybody by Melvin and The Blue Notes had such meaning.
With the #BLACKLIVESMATTER movement seeing a massive resurgence sadly due to George Floyds murder. It has been amazing to see people from different backgrounds come forward and stand up under this banner.

With Covid-19 pandemic affecting the entire world it appears medical professionals are finally getting the respect they have always deserved.

Education has adapted with many children being home schooled with the assistance of their teachers and some in higher office questioning the historic curriculum being taught.

Lets hope this and much more continue to push for the change we all want to see.