We make it 1968 hours (and counting) before the clocks go forward. Sunday 27 March might seem a way off, but we’re already dreaming of daylight at both ends of the cycle commute. To help you count down to BST, we’re giving away a stylish stem clock for your bicycle.
The clock attaches quickly and easily to the stem of almost any bike. All you need is an allen key (supplied with the clock) to release the existing stem, screw your clock in place and you’re done.
Win a bicycle stem clock
We have a stem clock to give away. Simply leave a message at the bottom of this page and we’ll pick a winner next week.
Health and environmental arguments for moving our clocks forward
The UK has already tried year-round BST – once during the war to maximise daylight working hours and again between 1968 and 1971. The most recent trial saw a marked reduction in road traffic deaths and injuries thanks to the lighter evenings, but was ended following pressure from the farming lobby and its objections to darker mornings in the north.
There are some who would go further still by adding a further hour in summer, bringing us into line with Spain, which sits on the same line of longitude. According to analysis carried out in 2010 having GMT+1 in winter and GMT+2 in summer would give Birmingham an extra 301 hours of post-work evening sunlight each year. Glasgow and Edinburgh would enjoy 175 additional hours. Critically, such a change would reduce the UK’s carbon footprint by approximately 2.2 per cent as people would need to use less electricity for lighting.
Moving clocks forward can’t guarantee sunshine, but it encourages healthy outdoor activity
It is also estimated there would be 100 fewer deaths and over 200 serious injuries on the roads each year and a resulting £200m saving by the NHS. Studies have also suggested that changing the clocks forward can have a detrimental effect on cardiovascular health.
It’s unclear if and when the habit of changing the clocks here in the UK will change. In March 2019, the European parliament voted to do away with the tradition of changing the clocks twice each year. They decided that all European countries would decide to remain permanently on winter time or summer time.
Those countries who opted for winter would therefore move their clocks back for the last time in October 2021, and those choosing summer would move their clocks forward for the last time in March 2021. However, the changes have been delayed as EU member states have asked for more time to decide on whether to remain in winter or summer time. Following Brexit, the UK will not be required to make any change although it’s hard to imagine us as the only country in western europe clinging on to what is widely thought of as an anachronistic practice.
The ethical choice
The ETA was established in 1990 as an ethical provider of green, reliable travel services. Over 30 years on, we continue to offer cycle insurance, breakdown cover and mobility scooter insurance while putting concern for the environment at the heart of all we do.
The Good Shopping Guide judges us to be the UK’s most ethical provider.
Darren C
Would love one of those clocks, I never know if I can relax or need to speed up a bit on my daily commute.
Very interesting to read the influence that changing the clocks has on the population, would be great to have more daylight outside of office hours, safer & greener.
Alastair
I’ve seen these before, would be the perfect place to read the time.
Mark
This would be useful for cycle commuters like me to maintain punctuality and who’d rather not install their precious phones onto the handlebars.
Stephen D.
Cool gadget and very useful, I’d love one pls!
Gillian
Perfect for a clock watcher like me!
My mobile is always tucked away in my jersey rear pocket, so not easily accessible.
John R
I would dearly love one of those clocks, as it would mean I could keep track of the time much more easily than now.
Paul E
yes please!
Trev Bloxham
That little clock looks a great idea. I can’t wait for the clocks to change and it’s on a day before my birthday !
Vincent
Oh yes please this looks great.
Peter Clark
Very nice. Saves having my phone out or pulling my sleeve and glove apart on frosty mornings. Don’t mind being late for work but nice to know just how late 🙂
Julian Carter
What a great idea for us commuters to check if we’re going to make the office / station / home on time. Certainly beats trying to check your watch under a tight cycling jacket cuff mid-ride.
Eric Ludlow
As a dedicated clock watcher, this would be ideal!
Ema A
Good idea to keep the time
Frank Lee
No excuse for being late 🙂
Simon Wood
I might never be late again
Rachael K
I would love to be able to keep track of how quickly (or slowly!) I’m getting on with my commute.
Lindy Williams
I always enjoy the weekly ETA email. Interesring things to read specially items like today’s about the little bike trailer caravan! Some very innovative people around.
Mary Fox
Really neat: I want it.
And please let’s have summer time. I have no memory of the 1968-71 experiment although as a teenager then, lighter evenings would surely have been appreciated by me and my mates in my boring market town
Gavin Wright
Looks good to me!
Lesley
Would love this!
Margaret
It’s high time I had a cycle-clock that I can read without putting glasses on! The digital clock on my odometer is impossible to see if you don’t have AA vision.
Andrew Duncan
I feel that we can repeal the emergency daylight saving measure from World War I and just use BST. (The last time I looked the Kaiser had abdicated.)
Peter Chisnall
Countdown!
Doug M
I enjoyed the few years that we had BST all winter. Cross country races were much more enjoyable when they didn’t finish ion near darkness! Let’s bring it back! And I fancy one of those cycle clocks.
Mark B
This would be brilliant and would save me having to pull my sleeve up to look at my watch!
Martin Baker
Yes please. No excuse to be late ever again! 😳
Peter S
I’m not commuting any more but still have to keep an eye on the time.
Chris Johnson
A remarkably useful and decent-looking piece of kit.
John V
Brilliant gadget would love one of these thanks
Peter
Tick tock!
Kath McNulty
My partner really stresses when we cycle to catch a train! A stem clock is just what we need.
john
great example of lateral thinking
Paul
Thanks
Marsha Lomond
It’s high time I clocked up more miles on my faithful Volt Kensington!
james Turnbull
Far better than getting a mobile out in the rain, especially in Scotland through umpteen layers of clothes
james
Far better than getting a mobile out in the rain, especially in Scotland through umpteen layers of clothes
Colin
I’ll never miss my elevenses again . . .
TD
Will I miss the train? With this clock I will know whether I need to cycle faster or just be able to enjoy my ride! Yes, please.
JohnB
What a cool gizmo! I’d love one!
Gavin
Tik-Tok to BST – Now!
David Beacham
Just stop mucking around with the clocks twice a year!
Bazzer
Good to see a real legible clock with a big hand and a little hand!
James Russell
Release my inner Chris Froome, please!