People ride bicycles for many different reasons, but at the heart of it they are a fantastic mode of transport. Round London, it's the easiest way of getting about, far less frustrating than public transport and much more convenient than a car. They run all night, without petrol. Here at BC we all use our bikes as transport, so we've had a chance to try out most styles between us.

Big bike companies seem to have finally grasped the idea that people actually want to use a bicycle to get around on, rather than solely as a leisure accessory, and are starting to produce suitable models. You even get a choice of styles now, you can choose between fast, lean machines and comfortable cruisers with an upright riding position. Before you choose a steed, decide what you're going to be doing with it. Is it to be used mainly for short hop shopping trips? Delivering your child to school? Or do you cycle ten miles into town every day, in all weathers? If you're planning high mileage, consider investing more in the bike – the components with which the more expensive bicycles are equipped will last longer, reducing servicing costs. Don't forget to take accessories into account – budget for the little things that make commuting more pleasant, like mudguards and warm gloves. See the Accessories page for a rough idea of price.

We sell "Hybrid" bikes by Trek, Marin and Specialized, basically a 700c wheeled bike with space for fatter tyres than you would find on a racing bike, a flat handlebar with mountain bike gear changers, mountain bike brakes (some now come with hydraulic discs) and provision to fit mudguards and a rack.

Specialized also make the Sirrus range of "Road Terrain Bikes", a faster leaner hybrid with narrower tyres and road bike gearing.

Marin make an Urban range of 26" wheeled hybrids (mountain bike size) built for fast road use.

Don't have a lot of space? Try a Brompton folder. Very popular with people who use a mix of transport to get around. Find out more here

Alternatives to the Norm

Fixed wheel , single speeds, hub gear conversions are all possibilities for a commuting bike. If you've got an old bike lying around that you don't use anymore, contact our workshop to find out what we can do for it, that sad old out-of-date mountain bike might become a top town bike. Or check out our range of Surly single speed frames in either road(fixed wheel) cyclo-cross or mountain style.

Accessories

You don't need masses of bits and bobs, but there are a few vital things that you should price into your budget for commuting. Check out the clothing section – start with a rainproof jacket to arrive dry. Also consider as a priority

• A good lock. Prices range from £20 to £55. See the security page for details

• Lights – unless you're a very occasional commuter, or work very favourable hours, you'll need to set yourself up with some illumination. See the lighting page.

• If you have to carry stuff, get a rack to pop your bag on and make the bike do the work. Prices from £20. For small amounts of gear, you can simply bugee a bag to the top, but later you may want to consider panniers. See the luggage page.

• For year-round use, invest in a pair of mudguards. They help keep you dry, especially your shoes and that strip down your back. They protect your bike from road grime, too, which helps everything last a little longer. As an added bonus, they make your bike a little less sexy, reducing its appeal to theives.

• It's worth having a small toolkit, with a spare tube and a pump.

Later you may want to branch out in the clothing, luggage and accessories directions, but if you're starting from scratch, you may want to build up slowly. Your year's free servicing covers fitting accessories, so if you decide you need extras later, arrange for us to pop them on your bike for you.

In an ideal world, your place of work would have lots of lovely facilities to make it easier to commute. Secure bike parking saves you from having to tie your beloved steed to a railing in the rain, and from worrying about it. A shower and changing facilities are helpful, so that you can wear your cycling clothes then change into whatever you have to wear at your job. Smart clothes suffer badly when cycled in, and don't often do that well at keeping you warm and dry. If you think all this would cost too much for your employer to provide, work out how much they spend annually on car parking spaces.

The London Cycling Campaign - join and get 10% off accessories at Brixton Cycles and other shops

A to B magazine - started as a folding bike mag now includes all transport issues