A utility item with baffling instructions and a name you can’t pronounce… It can only be a new product from Ikea. This is the Sladda (which means to ‘skid sideways’ in Swedish) and you can now add it to your kitchen units and wonky stools as you check out of your nearest blue warehouse.

It comes flat-packed with its own Allen key and little spanner. As we have come to expect, the instructions have no words just lots of little pictures. It should take about an hour to assemble, but a leg falling off your sofa is very different to a wheel coming loose, so don’t rush it. Reading through various comments it seems people have taken up to five hours to piece it together. Be very clear: this is a flat-pack bike not a folding bike. There’s no question of popping it up and down for each journey like a large and cheap Brompton.

The Sladda is a nicely designed bike. It has a frictionless silicon belt drive rather than a chain, which has a 10-year warranty and should be good for 15,000km. The frame itself is guaranteed for 25 years (or until you forget to padlock it to the railings outside your flat). To ride it feels pleasantly smooth. The belt it almost silent. Front disc brakes massively increase your stopping power in the wet. It is unisex and comes in two sizes, but only one colour – a sort of lifeless grey. There are lots of accessories to add if you wish – everything from baskets, guards and lights to a snazzy kiddie trailer.

It’s certainly a decent enough bike, but at £450 it’s quite pricey. You could save yourself the faff and worry of putting it together and simply head to your local bike shop instead (ikea.com).

Price: £450

Frame: aluminium, 26in or 28in

Brakes: front disc

Gears: Sram Automatix

Darkness falls

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Night rider: be safe, be seen

As the clocks roll back and the long nights draw in, it’s important to stay visible and take extra safety precautions when out on the bike. The team at Wiggle offer some advice on how to stay safe, dry and comfortable on your evening commute.

Light up the night: ensure that you can see and that you can be seen from any direction. White on the front, red on the back. Carry a spare set of lights.

Reflect on it: at night and in low light, it’s high quality reflectivity rather than colour that really makes you stand out on the road. Look for garments with Scotchlite reflective prints and logos, like on the new dhb Flashlight collection.

Don’t sweat it: avoid heavy clothing and choose a good quality breathable jacket, such as the dhb Highline waterproof jacket, which will keep you warm and dry.

Routemaster: check your winter route for good lighting and adjust if necessary. It’s better to extend your journey if it means you are on safer roads.

Roll with it: don’t get caught out with a puncture on a cold night. Consider changing your tyres to something more robust, such as the Continental Grand Prix 4 Season.

Don’t get in a fix: even with robust tyres punctures can occur. Carry two inner tubes just in case, which can save fiddly fixes by the roadside or consider using self healing tubes, such as the Slime Smart Tube.

Be on guard: a simple fix of attaching a rear mudguard to your bike can keep you dryer and cleaner for longer.

Don’t get in a flap: wear fitted clothing that won’t obscure lights or get caught in wheels.

Fuel up: riding in the cold and wet demands more energy than on a warm day. Make sure you’re adequately fuelled and carry some food with you.

Clean up: ensure your bike is in tip-top condition to prevent breakdowns. Keep it clean and get a regular service.



Email Martin at martin.love@observer.co.uk or follow him on Twitter @MartinLove166







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