Hampstead Heath

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bicycle riding on Hampstead Heath, bike rental, bike rental London, bike riding Hampstead Heath, City of London, cycling in Central London, cycling on Hampstead Heath, cycling on the Heath, free concerts, free London concerts, Golders Hill park, Golders Hill park bandstand, Hampstead Heath, Hampstead Heath concerts, Hampstead village, Kenwood, London concerts, Open air concerts, Parliament Hill bandstand, riding on Hampstead Heath, Spaniard's Inn, www.goodwheelrentabike.co.uk

Golders Hill Park – Hampstead Heath

Hampstead, in north west London is about 3 miles due north of Regent’s Park has some of the most expensive housing in the London area with (according to Wikipedia) more millionaires within its boundaries than any other area of the United Kingdom.

The jewel in its crown is Hampstead Heath consisting of anchient woodland and reserviors now used as swimming ponds.

The Heath also contains the stately home Kenwood to the north and Parliament Hill in the south east corner which has one of London’s best views of the London skyline anywhere in London.

From a cyclists point of view this area is gold dust. The Heath is criss-crossed with paths, the scenery is ever-changing and the constant changes in terrain challenging enough to keep things interesting. But do watch out for the ‘no cycling’ signs where the terrain occasinally gets too rough for riding or where pedestrians have right of way, where you are strongly advised to dismount.

To the west of the Heath is one of London’s most interesting and beautiful parks, ‘Golders Hill Park’. Cycling is not allowed in the park area but you can wheel your bike around the beautiful sculptured hedges and landscaped gardens as you wonder between the animal cages.

Here you can see deer, ostriches, donkeys, maras, ring-tailed lemurs, ring-tailed coatis, white-cheeked turacos and European Eagles. There is also an excellent restuarant where you can just chill al fresco.

But things get even more interesting this time of the year with open air concerts held at both the park’s bandstand and the bandstand at Parliament Hill.

For more information see page 21 of the City of London website: http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/things-to-do/green-spaces/hampstead-heath/news/Documents/Hampstead-heath-events-diary-2013.pdf

A brief sample for the month of May 2013:

Sunday 26 May 2013 at 3 PM: Andalus Trio (Spanish Guitar) Parliament Hill Bandstand

Sunday 26 May 2013 at 3 PM: Merton Concert band (Brass / woodwind) Golders Hill Park Bandstand

Monday 27 May 2013 at 3 PM: Oh La La! (Parisian folk / jazz) Parliament Hill Bandstand

Monday 27 May 2013 at 3 PM: Andalus Trio (Spanish guitar) Golders Hill Park Bandstand

Does life get much better than this? You are lying on the soft grass, surrounded by deer, lemur and the appreciative murmurs of an animated audience surrounding the bandstand where a band appears to be be playing for free. You are sipping Perrier water ordered from the park’s restaurant and your Goodwheel Rentabike bicycle is resting on its kickstand whilst the forest beyond beckons.

You soon get back on the saddle and are once again in ancient woodland, the winding natural paths stretching beyond, your bike’s suspension and padded seat soaking up much of the unevenness as you navigate the gravel paths interlaced with tree roots. The bike maintains its composure as you ride along the uneven terrain.

We at http://www.goodwheelrentabike.co.uk will be happy to offer you advice regarding the best cycle routes on the Heath. We will draw your attention to areas such as the Spaniard’s Inn and the Hampstead Heath extension which are well worth a visit. Hampstead village itself makes for a very scenic and atmospheric ride and is highly recommended.

Happy cycling!

Cental London to Canary Wharf

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bike rental London, Canary Wharf, cycling London, hidden gems in London, Regent's Canal, ride to Canary Wharf from Central London, www.goodwheelrentabike.co.uk

London is an old city and one in which the traces of its history often remain to enjoy to this day. Regent’s canal is an example of this. Once a vital artery used for transporting such raw materials as iron, steel and grain, it has now become a place of pleasures for such activities as boat cruising, walking and cycling.

If you are renting a bike from us at http://www.goodwheelrentabike.co.uk do yourself a big favour and take a ride from Central London to Canary Wharf along the Regent’s canal.

You will see London in all its diversity from the affluent areas surrounding Regent’s Park to the poorer areas as you head east and then to the second most important commercial hub in London – Canary Wharf.

The ride is a facsinating and diverse one. Along the sparkling waters you will pass, quaint little corners of London, traditional pubs, ducks geese and other wildlife, river barges, other cyclists, lots of hidden gems as well as housing estates in the less oppulent parts of London. This is indeed a riding experience to savour. You will learn far more about what makes London unique on this one hour ride then if you stick to just on-road Central London riding.

Click on the below link and get ready to start a journey into the past and into the present. The route ends in Canary Wharf and the River Thames where you will get a chance to marvel at the architecture and layout and see London’s future claim as a world commercial central.

Enjoy!

http://www.gps-routes.co.uk/routes/home.nsf/RoutesLinksCycle/regents-canal-walking-and-cycle-route

Airport hotel bikes

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airport hotels, bike rental London UK, Gatwick airport bike rental, Heathrow airport bike rental, London bike rental, Luton airport bike rental, rental bikes for tourists, Stansted airport bike rental, www.goodwheelrentabike.co.uk

His rental bike awaits

Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton, Stansted are all places we associate with travel, lots of people moving purposefully from one place to another and of course airplane travel.  As a bicycle rental comany we prefer to associate these airports with something a little different – expanding our customer base for bike rental.

So how exactly does our airport bike rental service work? For the sake of simplicity let’s profile our cusomer Luke.

Luke is 28 years old. He works in hi-tech. He earns £50K a year. He likes to work hard and play hard. He likes the finer things in life and to have fun. He is on his third trip to the UK and has his girlfriend Tina is in tow. She works as an executive secretary in one of the Fortune 500 companies.

The internet is Luke’s link with the outside world, so before he travels to Heathrow he googles ‘Heathrow bikes’ and guess who comes up on the first page – www.goodwheelrentabike.co.uk

Luke is a little over-confident and he thinks he gets our business model just by scanning a couple of internet pages in 30 seconds. He doesn’t totally get it but is convinced enough to go to our page http://www.goodwheelrentabike.com/order-a-bike/ and order two bikes one for himself and one for Tina.

He soon learns by way of email that:

1) Our rental service includes free airport delivery as standard. We simply deliver the bike, lock it up securely and hand the keys of the lock to the concierge.

2) When the week’s rental period is over, Luke need simply hands over the keys to the concierge and we will pick up the bike at no extra cost.

3) We require a credit card authorisation to ensure that funds are available before we can process Luke’s order.

4) Luke’s credit card details are secure with us. Paypal requires that we input his card details directly into our virtual terminal where the number is not visible to anyone.

Having processed his order, Luke wakes up on his first morning at his Heathrow hotel. It is only 7.30 AM, the sun is shining and his energy level is high. Best of all his and Tina’s gleaming rental bikes are locked to some railing just a few meters away and the keys are waiting for him at the concierge. Luke quickly mounts his bike and manages a fast paced ride around the local country lanes plus a dip in the pool before Tina joins him for breakfast. Later in the day they take the two bikes on a Central London bound train (at no cost) and have a crazy time together touring around London.

Only The Beginning.

Within 5 minutes of Hyde Park

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artistic collections, arts, Gilbert collection, London cycling, Victoria and Albert museum, www.goodwheelrentabike.co.uk

Gilbert collection partridge cup

Riding a bike in London feels quick and that is largely because you keep arriving at new exciting venues – ‘most everything in Central London being in such close proximity. One mintue you are riding say in Hyde Park watching someone with a bee in their bonnet harping on about something or other in some foreign tongue and literally two minutes later you are at one of the most beautiful, artistic collections in the world.

The Gilbert collection currently housed at the Albert and Victoria museum is just one very important example. It is a hidden gem itself because whilst the museum that houses it is well known, this particular collection is not one that most people know about.

If you are a lover of beautiful artefacts then prepare to be taken aback by the sheer variety and brilliance of this collection.

What is on display? Micromosaics made from miniscule glass pieces, miniature portraits in enamel, gold boxes most of which were made as containers for snuff, which were also used as important diplomatic gifts, silver artefacts and much, much more.

Check out the beatiful pictures and descriptions on http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/t/the-rosalinde-and-arthur-gilbert-collection/ for further information.

Rent a bike from http://www.goodwheelrentabike.co.uk and get to see London in all its amazing variety.

Saddles and sore bums

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avoid sore bums, bike rental, cycling advice, www.goodwheelrentabike.co.uk

The only type of bike with a proper seat is the recumbent

When you rent a bike from us at www.goodwheelrentabike.co.uk we want you to be comfortable. In order to be comfortable you have to have the right saddle and know how to use it properly. Here is some advice from the cycling gurus Sheldon Brown and John Allen.

Every Spring, bike shops sell lots of saddles to cyclists who come in because their old saddle has become uncomfortable since they stopped cycling in the Autumn. They went out for a ride or two, and found it much less comfortable than they remembered from the previous year. They’ve heard about the latest buzzword in saddle gimmicks, and they want one of those!

They buy the new saddle, put it on the bike, go for a few more rides, and find they’re much more comfortable. They tell all their friends about their wonderful new saddle, and how they need one too…

But was it really the new, high-tech saddle…or was it just that the rider had become unaccustomed to cycling over the winter layoff? In many cases, working your way up over the course of a few short rides of gradually increasing length is all that is necessary, if you have a decent-quality saddle, properly adjusted.  If you have previously been comfortable on your present saddle, don’t be in a hurry to change.

A saddle is intended to carry some, but not all of your weight. The rest of your weight is mainly carried by your legs, and some by your hands and arms.

A cyclist who is out of cycling shape from being off a bicycle for a few months or more, will start out strong, but their legs will tire rapidly.  When the legs tire, the rider sits harder on the saddle, and that’s when the trouble starts. Many saddle complaints are actually traceable to fatigue caused by starting out the season with a longer ride than you are ready for.

If it has been several months or more since you rode a bicycle regularly, you can expect to be sore if you ride any serious distance.

If you are coming off of a layoff of months or years, start with short rides and increase your distance gradually. Anybody in decent shape can hop on a bike and ride 15-20 miles, but if you haven’t accustomed your body to cycling first you are likely to feel it afterwards.

When a cyclist finds a saddle uncomfortable, the first impulse is often to look for a soft one. This is often a mistake. Just as the softest mattress is not necessarily the most comfortable to sleep on, the softest saddle is not the most comfortable to cycle on.

Many cyclists are unaware of this, and many saddles are made to appeal to the purchaser who chooses a saddle on the basis of how easily the thumb can sink into the squishy top. This type of saddle is only comfortable for very short rides, (though an inexperienced cyclist will often find it more comfortable than a better saddle, as long as rides don’t exceed a mile or two.)

Saddles with excessive padding are also a common cause of painful chafing of the inner thigh, as rides become longer.

So what is the best way to avoid saddle pain? Make sure you saddle is not too soft and don’t use it as a seat. Keep most of your weight on your legs, rather like when you are riding a horse!

Tourists in search

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renting a bicycle, renting a bike, Tourists in London, www.goodwheelrentabike.co.uk

Big Ben posing with Chinese tourists

Visit Britain searches for tourists by advertising the UK abroad. But what emerges from their report is that tourists are themselves drawn to travel in search of…

That’s the big question and it turns out that there is no one convenient answer. Different countries, cultures age groups and genders are in search of different things.

Visit Britain advises that one market Britain to different cultures in different ways.

The Chinese: They are particularly keen on seeing famous locations on their travels. 72% of them agreed with the statement ‘When I’m on holiday I like to see famous and well-known locations’ more than any other. Just 11% agreed strongly that, ‘When I’m on holiday I like to explore new places away from the crowds’. Research show that they tend to be what’s called “trophy tourists”. This is largely because Western destinations are often seen to be aspirational and a badge of sophisticationand. There is an element of “status anxiety” that motivates the Chinese to travel to the West.

In more mature markets such as Australia tourists want to get beneath the surface of destinations a bit more, getting away from the crowds so highlighting authentic cultural experiences (eg pubs) and ‘hidden gems’ whilst maintaining an element of the ‘must-see’ attractions is important. This is because in consumers’ continued search for meaning in their lives, visitors are looking for emotional satisfaction from their holidays and to return home with experience, not just photos!

Not all countries are keen to get underneath the surface of Britain and meet locals. Indians for example expressed no particular interest in talking to the British as part of the experience of visiting England – for them it is more about seeing Britain.

For Latin Americans London is the key driver to visit England and embodies the mix of modernity and heritage that is Britain’s Unique Selling Point. They come to Britain for its tradition, heritage and architecture but ALSO for its innovation, hub of trends, dynamism and buzz.

Young Canadians in particular wanted to understand local culture and even to blend in / live like a local whereas older Canadian travellers were more likely to speak of exploring museums, galleries, music and the arts.

When affluent American parents spend significantly on their children, it is often on cultural activities, such as international travel. These parents are keen to teach their children to value philanthropy, cultural experiences and personally enriching activities above that of material goods so as to ensure that their children are cultured and well-rounded.

Tourists from Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Poland, and Estonia, tend to be more interested in participating in the city cultural activities (eg restaurants, shopping, galleries etc.) than visiting the built heritage environment (such as famous buildings and monuments) and undertake these activities to a lesser extent than do other tourists.

Conversely, some of the Asian nations felt that castles and stately homes had a sense of mystery or the unexplained to them which they related to from their own cultures and found highly appealing in Britain.

Tourists from Nordic countries tend to have a high opinions of Britain’s culture. They are very Anglophile in their outlook and they travel to Britain for the cultural experience in the broadest sense. They are more heavily influenced by culture when choosing a holiday destination than by history. Finns and Danes in particular are attracted to Britain’s interesting cities and towns as well as city specific things like restaurants, pubs and bars, shopping, museums and galleries and less inclined to visit castles and stately homes.

Countries with strong historic links to Britain tend to rate the built heritage very highly, hence tourists from New Zealand, Australia, the USA, Canada, and South Africa are most likely to visit historic buildings.

Britain’s gardens although highly regarded by the majority of nations are particularly appealing to the Japanese and Egyptian markets. Visiting gardens is also a high priority for older visitors especially for women.

Going to a pub in Britain is far more appealing to more mature markets than emerging ones, and to younger visitors than older ones. Visitors aged 16-34 are more likely than other age groups to be found in a pub, but older visitors often go too. British pubs consistently ride high on the list of positive perceptions about Britain.

For some nations, such as the Nordic countries, Switzerland, the Netherlands, France, and Ireland going to the pub is seen as one of the top priorities for a trip to Britain. For other nations, such as Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, India, Egypt, and Turkey going to the pub is not seen to be one of Britain’s highlights (probably due to a mixture of cultural and religious views). Other activities are far more appealing.

To New Zealanders British culture can appear too similar to their own country which can be a disincentive to visiting Britain.

For the Japanese, a shared “island culture” is felt to be a similarity with Britain. The two countries are perceived to have a plethora of features in common: there is a royal family in both countries; both cultures have a deeply ingrained respect for tradition and the people are quite similar in their reservedness and consideration for propriety. Japanese feel that Britain represents the quintessence of Japan. Britain is what Japan could have been. Japan is changing but Britain is perceived to be  over the same. Britain is all about tradition and stability. “You could always go back to it and you will find it the same”. Japan respects traditions and yet has an obsession with novelty and changes. The juxtaposition between Britain and Japan inevitably leads to the comparison between the culture built of stone and that of wood. Britain is built of stone and thus seen to be everlasting whilst Japan is built of wood which is temporary. While being a land of traditions, Japan is also a land of transient beauty (wabi-sabi), of fireworks and cherry blossoms where, in reality, nothing lasts long.

Chinese have a strong respect for Britain’s “1000 year old history” as they see it as a kinship between the two countries. Royalty and aristocracy are big draws and the Chinese express an interest in experiencing life in palaces and castles and following in the footsteps of royalty.

So whilst not all tourists are created equal, cycling does transcend culture, gender and age boundaries being an activity that can be enjoyed by all. We at http://www.goodwheelrentabike.co.uk look forward to being of service to all tourists regardless of their reasons for travelling to the UK.

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times… by Charles Dickens

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A Tale of Two Cities, Best of times worst of times, bike rental, bike rental cheap prices, bike rental in Central London, bike rental London UK, bike rental with free delivery, changing consumer demands, changing consumer interests, changing market forces, Charles Dickens, effect of recession, effect of recession on consumer habits, goodwheel rentabike, London tourism, London tourist, Trendwatching.com, Visit Britain, Visit Britain Report

Charles Dickens

Probably one of the most memorable openings ever in English literature was written by Charles Dickens in ‘A Tale of Two Cities’.

A fuller quote reads: ‘It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way’.

In these words did Charles Dickens so eloquently describe the parody of life – that paroxical tapestry containing both greatness and stupidity, of good and evil, of optimism and negativity. And those contradictions can be found not just around us but within us too. We have our moments of generousity and other moments of callousness, moments of profundity and clear thinking and other moments of murkiness and indecisiveness. Moments where the world looks like a bight place and other times where everything looks despairingly bad.

If we are to believe the media, we are certainly living right now in the worst of times. Economic doom and gloom is all that they see on the horizon. But Dickens’ timeless words are equally as applicable today as they were back when he wrote them. So it is quite likely that we are living both in the worst of times and in the best of times and that there is a silver lining to the current economic situation.

It turns out that those heady days of constantly rising asset prices that existed before the recession hit was just a bubble after all. But living in a bubble is living a lie of make-believe. Ultimtely human beings are far happier with the truth even when that truth is not as pretty as the deception.

So how has the recession affected us in a positive way and how are we in fact living in the best of times? The following report from ‘Visit Britain’ is very illuminating in that it holds up a mirror to our innermost thoughts and desires particularly the desire to get back to the basics of defining and living a good life.

Their meticulously compiled report which utilises source material from Trendwatching.com is titled ‘Overseas Visitors to Britain – Understanding Trends, Attitudes and Characteristics – September 2010′ and makes very interesting reading. Here is an excerpt:

‘Savvy consumers in advanced economies know the difference between brands who want to sell happiness and brands that want to facilitate it, and they will endorse those brands that help them find and create happiness within themselves. Values that cannot be bought such as family, love, and friendship are very much at the forefront.’

‘This provides a challenge for companies to capture such emotions in their products. Brands would do well to associate themselves with something carefree, possibly to the extent that it makes people “feel like a child again”.’

‘There has been a definite shift towards “simpler lives” as a backlash against extreme consumption. Consumers are realising that having more doesn’t necessarily make us any happier. Consumers are becoming more focussed on what makes them happy and are finding that true happiness comes from a life that acknowledges the good in the small and everyday, that finds happiness in the now and the present, that sees worth and abundance in what we already have and feels prosperous in the simple presence of life and nature, friends and family.’

‘As a result consumers are starting to consume less and really examine what they buy. There is a realisation that a constant desire for more, new, fashionable stuff is not necessarily the road to a happy and fulfilled life. Similarly consumers are trying to “make do” with things they already have, as much of what we throw out or replace is based on perceived obsolescence. Look after, fix up and make-do has become the new craze. Sharing, borrowing and renting has also become trendy. There is an acknowledgement that we don’t need to buy items we rarely use and most things are available to borrow or rent. This in turn reduces clutter in our homes, saves money and reduces waste.’

‘Shopping has become a worldwide pastime or even hobby. On the weekends the shopping centres and malls are filled with people eager to spend hard earned money on all kinds of stuff. The more time we spend surrounded by stuff to buy the more likely we are to buy it. However as consumers strive to become more satisfied with less, it is likely that shopping will be swopped for alternatives such as visiting art galleries or museums, the park or a walk in the countryside.’

So, in essence there is much that is positive about our current situation. As a group we are being more real, honest and in touch about what constitutes ‘the good life’.

Every company working in the retail or tourist trade would do well to consider the content of the above when considering how best to market themselves. We at www.goodwheelrentabike.co.uk certainly emphasie the various aspects of our product that has wide appeal for the consumer which are: a value for money bike rental service, the uplifting feeling of being out in the great outdoors getting plenty of fresh air and exercise and the opportunity to meet people, engage socially and feel the rhythm of the city when out in the open.

We hope you indeed find fulfillment in these simple  pleasures of life.

Boris bikes – the carrot and stick (and how it got stuck in their spokes)

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bicycle rental London UK, bike rental London UK, Boris bike costs, boris bikes, Boris bikes business model, Boris bikes philosophy, Boris bikes problem, Boris bikes shortcomings, London tourism, London tourist, transportation, viable business model

We at goodwheelrentabike.co.uk can hardly be described as competitors to the 8,000 bike strong Boris bike scheme.

It would hardly be a like-for-like comparison anyway, for a whole host of reasons not least because Barclays Bank has never offered us tens of millions of pounds to have their name embalzoned on our bikes.

In fact, it is not just the bank that have been called upon to dig deep to advertise on the bikes and thereby keep the scheme afloat – it is also local councils. As the scheme expends southwards towards Hammersmith and East to Canary Wharf, local councils have found that they have been called upon to find the funds with which to cover the cost of these expansions.

In short, the scheme does not have and never did have a viable business model, which begs the question: if renting out bikes is apparently such a loss-making endeavour why would any sane person get into a business like that?

To answer that, one must first come to grips with the curious model upon which shared scheme bike rentals are based. Therein lies the scheme’s biggest strength and also its one big fatal flaw – the pricing structure.

The model is based on the first half an hour being free. Yes, we all know that it isn’t really ‘free’ after all it does in fact cost £2 a day access fee for non-members (up from £1 last year) but even with the doubling of the access fee it is still quite cheap for short periods, which is a great thing. So on that count, well done Boris bikes!

But the other side of the coin is not so ‘well done’ in that it intentionally discourages longer rentals using the ‘carrot and stick strategy’. It doesn’t want you holding onto a bike for too long a period when someone else could be using it so it makes it prohibitively expensive to do so.

Hence, keep the bike for over 3 hours in a single stretch and the price (including access fee) rockets to £37!

By comparison at www.goodwheelrentabike.co.uk that kind of money would get you the use of a bike for a two day rental period – with £3 left over for a Starbucks coffee (the coffee is just a suggestion, you could instead give us a tip if you preferred to do that!)

So by rewarding you if you dock the bike within half an hour and punishing you severely if you hold onto it for more than a few hours they created a situation where only 1% of users keep the bike longer than 1 hour at a time. (This information is based on ‘Barclays Cycle Hire customer satisfaction and usage – wave 2, 2 September 2011′).

The big minds behind the scheme had originally anticipated a win-win situation. The carrot and stick would encourage the majority of people to return the bikes quickly but the minority who don’t would fund the scheme with the onerous charges applied to their accounts.

But things didn’t quite work out that way (they never do work out quite as anticipated – after all that is life). They found that they had become too successful for their own good. They had locked themselves into a model that was a losing one. There was never going to be enough money coming in from rentals to cover the cost of their overheads because their customers knew better than to allow themselves to be ‘punished’.

Were we to imitate their business model our sanity would well be in doubt. In fact our business model is based on a very model. Rather than increasing our prices the longer you rent from us we reduce our prices the longer the rental period. So while a one-day rental is £20, a two-day rental is just £34 and a three-day rental is just £42.

Compare that with the £52 cost of renting a Boris bike for more than 6 hours and you will see that the models work very differently. We encourage long-term rentals, we make it cheaper the longer you rent and we have a business model that actually works.

So no, Boris bikes will never be in competition with us or us with them.

Whither go thee?

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bicycle hire, bicycle rental, bicycle rental in Central London, bike rental, bike rental in Central London, bikes, London tourism, London tourist, transportation, viable business model, Visit Britain, Visit Britain Report

Harrods lit up

Not many people give this much thought that Britain besides for being a country is also a brand. The folks at Visit Britain.org – entrusted with marketing Britain, take their brand very seriously and for good reason too, it is worth by their estimates quite a bit of money – around £5 billion annually.

True, that is ‘only’ half as much as the Louis Vuitton brand but to be fair Britain cannot sell its product the way fashion labels can. For Britain to earn any tourist revenue at all it has first to convince the tourist to hop on a plane to England.

By contrast, LV only has to convince its worldwide target market to take that one little step from the pavement into one of its 440 shops accross the world. Hence, to put things into context. 5 billion UK Sterling per annum from one ‘shop’ really isn’t all that bad for Great Britain after all, all things considered.

Visit Britain takes its brand so seriously that in 2010 it produced a 93 page report to explore what exactly draws tourists to Britain (particularly London) in the first place, what in fact they enjoy doing once they get here and how best to market the brand in the future. So what were the findings? It would be difficult to condense all into one blog so we will begin with some of the key findings.

Other than just soaking up the atmosphere what do tourists do when they come to London?

1) Going shopping for clothes and accessories is the favourite activity of tourists to London.

2) Going to the pub is extremely popular too.

3) Visiting castles and historic buildings, museums, art galleries and gardens is also very popular.

Considering that shopping is the most popular pastime for tourists visiting London you can be sure that Harrods in that picutre was utilising its electricity budget very wisely by making itself as attractive and noticeable as possible.

A great proportion of London’s tourists are potential customers but they must first be enticed through the door where the magic can do its work. Glittering lights on the ouside, fantasic quality goods and decor on the inside and not least, one of the world’s best collections of attractive salespeople all come together to ensure that it is not long before the visitor is eagerly flashing plastic at the sales clerk.

But how is this relevant to a bike rental company? We at www.goodwheelrentabike.co.uk believe that the best way to integrate your transport and sightseeing needs is by bike. A rented bike + rack + 17 litre luggage box is not just a sightseeing vehicle but als an accomplished shopping assistant allowing you to go where you want, stop off wherever the lights shine the brightest and stow away your beautiful new acquisitions safely.

Hence, in future blogs we will be looking at how our rental bikes can serve you best around London as you explore, seek out bargains, socialise, see new sites and learn new things. You will wonder how you managed without it.

“Tired of London – tired of life”

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bicycle rental, bicycle rental in Central London, bike rental, bike rental in Central London, London tourism, London tourist, tired of life, tired of London, visit London

Samuel Johnson

Johnson, the 18th century eminent English writer and arguably the most distinguished man of letters in English history was responding to a friend’s vacillations with regards to moving to London when he said:

“Why, Sir, you find no man, at all intellectual, who is willing to leave London. No, Sir, when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford.”  

There are other less famous quotes from Johnson showing his strong feelings for London, which are equally illuminating.

“Sir, if you wish to have a just notion of the magnitude of this city, you must not be satisfied with seeing its great streets and squares, but must survey the innumerable little lanes and courts. It is not in the showy evolutions of buildings, but in the multiplicity of human habitations which are crowded together, that the wonderful immensity of London consists.”

“The happiness of London is not to be conceived but by those who have been in it. I will venture to say, there is more learning and science within the circumference of ten miles from where we now sit, than in all the rest of the world.”

“A country gentleman should bring his lady to visit London as soon as he can, that they may have agreeable topicks for conversation when they are by themselves.”

“By seeing London, I have seen as much of life as the world can shew.”

We can only imagine the utter excitement Johnson would experience were he able to come back from the dead today and witness the incredible vibrancy of 21st century London.

Johnson who died in 1784 would never have come face to face with a bicycle either as the first pedal powered bicyles the ’penny farthings’ were only invented in 1870 some 85 years after Johnson had been laid to rest.

So, seeing the beautiful sites of modern London atop a modern day bike with 21 gears, front suspension, brakes and rubber inflateable tires is an exhilirating experience Johnson could not even have dreamed of. And we are so fortunate to be living at such a time in history that these exquisitve experiences are there for the taking. So, here is to making the most of the wonderful opportunities available to us!

Here at goodwheelrentabike.co.uk we are here to help you do just that. With our free delivery service of rental bicycles, our coverage of most of Central London and our competitive pricing structure, bike rental is both accessible and very affordable to anyone whose good fortune it is to be spending some quality, stimulating time in London.