Palmer Flash

Advantages: Good classes, excellent customer service
Disadvantages: No pool

...I joined Peak Fitness after my not-so-brilliant experiences with the Gloucester Esporta (see other op). Peak Fitness is about 5 minutes from our new house, and had been reccomended to me by several people at work. So, shortly after Christmas I decided i'd better wear off all that turkey and mince pies and join the gym. **Who are they** Peak Fitness is a chain club, but a lot smaller than the likes of Esporta and Fitness First. They have gyms in Cheltenham, Gloucester, Docklands, Palmers Green, Woking, Worcester, Whitley Bay, Tonbridge & 2 in Newcastle. They are also known as Arena in Northern Ireland. You can use any of these gyms as a member for no extra cost. **Facilities** The Gloucester club is situated on the outskirts of the city, in a large open shopping area. There is plenty of parking, even when it's sale time... Read review

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Advantages: Always on your bike; no fiddling with batteries
Disadvantages: Possible build quality problems; wheels can get in the way; slightly fiddly to set up

...Ree-Lights are marketed as a frictionless kinetic bike light. What this basically means is that the light unit mounts to the bottom of your forks, or at your rear dropouts, and is held close to the wheel by means of a metal bracket. Magnets are attached to the spokes which then pass by the light unit, which contains a little magnet coil, which causes the light to flash. Think of it as a modern take on the dynamo light. There is a basic model, which stops flashing when you stop, but there are two other models which also house capacitors within the unit, and continue flashing for a few minutes after you stop, or even light continuously. On first viewing I fell in love with these. I liked the idea and the simplicity, especially after getting caught out a couple of times without lights on the bike forcing me to walk home. These stay... Read review

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Advantages: Small; Bright; Sturdy
Disadvantages: Slightly disappointing runtime

...Ever since the law changed to allow cyclists to use flashing LED lights (as long as they are bright enough) there has been a noted change in the safety of riders after dark, and efforts by the companies making these items to outdo each other by producing the brightest and most notable sets of lights. Blackburn have recently upped the ante with a number of lights, and while at the front they have gone large and effective with the Quadrant, on the rear the Mars 3.0 (named after the red planet) proves just as effective at making sure other road users will see you. There are seven LEDs packed into this small case, and powered by only two AAA batteries they manage to produce a remarkably intense light - following my girlfriend at night, with this mounted, I can't look directly into the light it is that bright. The bracket... Read review

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