John has been writing about bikes and cycling for over 30 years since discovering that people were mug enough to pay him for it rather than expecting him to do an honest day's work.
He was heavily involved in the mountain bike boom of the late 1980s as a racer, team manager and race promoter, and that led to writing for Mountain Biking UK magazine shortly after its inception. He got the gig by phoning up the editor and telling him the magazine was rubbish and he could do better. Rather than telling him to get lost, MBUK editor Tym Manley called John’s bluff and the rest is history.
Since then he has worked on MTB Pro magazine and was editor of Maximum Mountain Bike and Australian Mountain Bike magazines, before switching to the web in 2000 to work for CyclingNews.com. Along with road.cc founder Tony Farrelly, John was on the launch team for BikeRadar.com and subsequently became editor in chief of Future Publishing’s group of cycling magazines and websites, including Cycling Plus, MBUK, What Mountain Bike and Procycling.
John has also written for Cyclist magazine, edited the BikeMagic website and was founding editor of TotalWomensCycling.com before handing over to someone far more representative of the site's main audience.
He joined road.cc in 2013. He lives in Cambridge where the lack of hills is more than made up for by the headwinds.
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71 comments
Exposure Flare.
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Lezyne Zecto Drive (rear)
http://www.lezyne.com/product-led-sport-zectorear.php
Nice little light, easy to attach and quite robust. Charges on USB. For longer night rides or more visibility, I just take a second one.
Best light ever
http://www.orfos.bike/
For properly dark conditions without fog, Cateye TL-LD 1100 - all round visibility, bright enough to be seen, but not ridiculously so. Different opinion in daylight or fog.
Smart Lunar R1 (1W)
These lights are very good value; especially for use in a pair with one set to flash & one on steady.
Seconded
Mine has gone through successive winters on flashing mode without a battery change. Well designed/made, bright, reliable, simple to use, and at £9 by 'eck it's cheap compared to some of the new fangled lights.
Light & Motion Vis 180
http://www.westbrookcycles.co.uk/light-motion-vis-180-rear-cycle-light-p...
Excellent rear and side visibility, incredibly bright, USB charge (at work), has served me well for 3 years + commuting in all weathers, reassuringly expensive!
Exposure Blaze
http://www.ultimatesportsengineering.com/exposure-lights/cycle-lights-20...
Have used this rear light for well over a year now. Excellent quality. Only have to charge it once a week. Fixes securely so it doesn't come off during off-road parts of my commute.
Cateye Rapid X2
http://www.cateye.com/intl/products/detail/TL-LD710-R/
USB rechargeable so I easily charge it, compact, good brightness and quick to mount and remove. I though the elastic band would prove a faff, but it hasn't
Hope District+ rear
http://www.hopetech.com/product/district-plus-rear/
Fantastic light - British built and very bright.
Exposure TraceR
http://www.hargrovescycles.co.uk/exposure-tracer-rear-light-57502.html?g...
A brilliant litle light. Well built. British made. Bright & Light.
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