FAQ

Are you a bike shop?

Yes! Low Traffic Neighbourhoods will give you a bike in exchange for money.. nothing unusual there.
However, also …
No! Low Traffic Neighbourhoods typically has no bikes to sell, until you tell us what you want to buy. Much like you might hire an interior designer: they wouldn’t sell you a living room from inventory; they would listen to your thoughts (however embryonic or fully-formed) and then deliver a carefully-curated complete living room, unlike anybody else’s.

Additionally: we have no affiliation with Luton Airport!

How does the collaborative design process work?

Low Traffic Neighbourhoods is here to make sure that your bike is unlike any other. That doesn’t mean I do not support popular brands: on the contrary.

I just want you to have the chance to ride a fantastic bike, which is not the same as anybody can buy ‘off the peg’ .. or straight out of the catalogue .. or one of 30 identical models any time you stop for coffee at the summit of Box Hill.

Come to me with any level of knowledge or concept.
Maybe you have tested a Trek on a ride with your friends and you know that’s exactly the bike you want .. but would rather die, than turn up next week with the same bike as Jonny Bigpotatoes. I can replicate everything that you like and still be totally unique.
Maybe you have no clue about anything yet, but saw a courier zoom by last night and now need to buy yourself a red & blue single speed.
Maybe your knowledge is somewhere in the middle: you have seen an amazing bargain online, perhaps a frame you know and love, finally in the perfect colour and size, impossible to resist: but you don’t know how to turn that into your dream bike.
Maybe you are a disciple of the n+1 rule and have a few bikes already, but now it is time to go loco with a ‘lucky dip’ from the LTN hive-mind.
Maybe good old Uncle Jeff has sadly passed away, but left you a chunk of change and you want to splurge on a real head-turner: at LTN, I love and fondly remember Uncle Jeff. I can arrange a suitable (carbon and titanium) tribute.

Low Traffic Neighbourhoods will endeavour to discover what you like and don’t; what you know you need and what you still need to know; what you’ve already seen and what I really think you should see.

We can step through the possibilities together; or you leave it up to me to curate something; and when you are happy with what we have created, LTN will acquire and arrange assembly of the constituent parts for you.

How much does the design & build cost?

Please see our Pricing page

Does LTN just do road bikes?

Absolutely not! Low Traffic Neighbourhoods has in-house experience of customising and/or building from scratch mountain bikes, single speeds, fixies and road bikes.

I would be delighted to take on any project you have in mind, or even discuss what might be best for your needs.

Does LTN do bike servicing?

Low Traffic Neighbourhoods is not currently set up to service or repair your existing bikes, due to the online-only presence (so far!).
It is something I am definitely considering in the future, if and when LTN becomes a bricks-and-mortar enterprise. That, and a huge coffee machine.
Of course, LTN has been a frequent customer of Local Bike Shops over the years and so if I am able to recommend a mechanic or business I know, I will .. feel free to ask via this website or Instagram channels.

Who builds the bikes?

That depends! Where you are, what you want, how I get the bike to you and whether you are using a Cycle to Work scheme.
Low Traffic Neighbourhoods is happy to delegate the final assembly of the project, where appropriate, to existing reputable Local Bike Shops. If it suits, Low Traffic Neighbourhoods can build your bike in-house.
LTN does not have a professional-level workshop and so will operate as a ‘How To Spend It’ advisory in many cases. Even the greatest surgeon would not operate outside of a theatre: any project which needs top-tier facilities shall get them.
Josh is a qualified “Level 2” bike mechanic under the Cytech Training Academy; in addition to 20+ years of everything from modifying to building, via fiddling and fixing.

Can I see some examples?

Low Traffic Neighbourhoods is a recent start-up, founded in May 2021, still compiling its own back-catalogue of client work. The Instagram feed @lowtrafficltd has pictures of early projects and will continue to proliferate as time passes and projects stack up.
Please keep an eye on that @lowtrafficltd for examples of current #LTN customer builds; previous private passion-projects; and some ideas for how to fall in love with your next bike.
Additionally, take a look at the Instagram from the Founder of Low Traffic Neighbourhoods @therealjmj … plenty of amateur bike photography and terrible captions on there to keep you amused. He has built or totally re-customised mountain bikes, single speeds, fixies and road bikes, most of which are documented in some way on that feed.

Are you on a Cycle to Work scheme?

Please see our Cycle To Work page

Is there any #LTN merch?

The Shop is NOW OPEN! < Click here; or link at the top of the page; or in the ‘+’ menu on the mobile site.

Milltag supply the Real Cycling Gear: the jerseys, gilets and jackets, so you know it’s good.

We have concentrated on ‘ESG Credentials’ for the remainder of the merchandise: recycled materials where possible; responsibly sourced.

Low Traffic Neighbourhoods donates 1% of all merchandise revenue to Stripe Climate: take a look at the ‘Climate’ page to learn more.

Like the secret menu at Nandos, anything else is possible. Let us know via info@lowtrafficltd.com if you want even more Lycra (or anything really..)

Do you believe in Low Traffic Neighbourhoods?

Yes. Don’t @ me!