Bluebells

Did a 9 mile loop with Isaac yesterday mainly off the roads. Only a short little ride but probably like a stage of the TDF for his little 8 year old legs. He seemed to manage it easily (apart from walking up the steeper bit of Meersbrook Park near the end) and I was impressed with his road sense - able to confidently look behind, signal clearly etc. Wouldn't be confident about letting him ride on the roads without me yet but he's getting there and obviously enjoying it. Might take him cycle camping this year or next. Shame the nearest campsites involve a trek over to the Peaks (which he won't manage yet) or a longer, more urban ride, to Thrybergh.

Some of the ride was through Graves Park where the bluebells are fantastic. Could have stopped and had a picnic but it was a typical "Come on Dad, stop taking photos of flowers!".

Bastards

Road safety minister Stephen Ladyman has laid the new Highway Code before Parliament. If not contested by MPs or Lords, it will be approved within 40 days.

The new Code will require cyclists to use cycle facilities 'wherever possible', irrespective of the consequences for their safety. A recent study in London has shown that female cyclists are more likely to be involved in collisions with heavy goods vehicles as a result of their tendency to "trust" cycle facilities.

Similarly cyclists will continue to be recommended to ride around the outside of roundabouts, in the place where conflict is most likely. The rule that they 'should' wear a cycle helmet is also retained.

70% of the 4,000 public responses to the draft Code came from cyclists, and there were as many responses from cycling organisations (41 responses)as from local authorities and road safety organisations together. Despite this, the Government has chosen to ignore completely the clear concerns expressed about the impact of the new rules on cycling safety, and the almost certain increase in counter-claims of contributory negligence that will arise when cyclists are injured.

From the outset Ladyman has refused to meet with the cycling organisations to discuss the draft document. However, there were more promising 'leaks' from civil servants that there would be changes. We were also told that the new Code would not be ready before 2008. Cyclists can now rightly feel aggrieved that they have been deceived and that prejudices and ignorance have ridden rough-shod over considerations about their safety.

CCN, CTC and other cycling organisations are now considering their options, but will need the support of cyclists throughout the UK to overturn this travesty, as we must. In the meantime, please encourage cyclists once more to contribute to the Cyclists' Defence Fund and if you are likely to meet with your MP for other reasons, please make him or her aware of your concerns.

Cyclists Defence Fund

Fixers of Sheffield

Coming along Abbeydale Road South this morning (heading towards the city) catching up with another cyclist and recognised, from quite a way off, that fluidity of pedalling and simplicity of chainline that immediately shouts out 'another fixer ahead'. I am not alone. I've got a lot of momentum and so sail by but he catches me up at the lights at the junction of London Road and Abbeydale Road and we chat on the way down towards town. Mutual positive comments about bikes and fixed gear riding. We both ride similar gearing (him 48x18, me 42x16). He hasn't seen many others on fixed in Sheffield but has seen more recently. I know Ian rides fixed sometimes and I've seen 2 other strangers plus another 3 fixies locked up in and around town. Its getting a bit more popular.

I recall a comment from another 'PedalPusher' on the list recently about Sheffield not being that hilly and how it is possible to get around without encountering anything too mountainous. He's right. You might have to choose your routes carefully and ride further as a result but thats no bad thing. Those that reckon utility fixed gear riding in and around Sheffield is for the marginally insane are just wrong. They are missing out on a whole lot of fun and lots less maintenance. Its NOT a fashion statement but who can fail to appreciate the beautiful, simplistic minimalism of a fixed gear bicycle.

Sunburn and speed

Easter Sunday saw me cycling out to Rother Valley Country Park to meet rest of family there. I can't recall such warm, sunny weather over an Easter weekend and I was unprepared for it. Quite sunburnt afterwards!

I didn't fancy the TPT and so stuck to the tarmac via ring road, White Lane, Mosborough and Killamarsh. Was amazed the see my average speed when I arrived (after nearly 12 miles) as 21.7 MPH. Bloody Hell!! I usually potter around the 13-14 MPH mark. Was obviously going well.

The stiff headwind on the return journey quickly brought me back down to Earth :-)

Cycling in North Carolina

I've just returned from a conference in N. Carolina and very nice it was too but I was slightly amazed at how few students got around on bikes at the Universities we visited. A good example is Duke University which is probably one of the US's more respected HE institutions. I probably saw less than 20 bikes around what is a VERY big campus. Compare that with just about any Uni in the UK!! What I did see was lots of privileged 18-21 year olds driving ENORMOUS 4x4's But then at under 25p per litre for unleaded what is there to stop them?

Perspective

My observations on this mornings commute:

Number of cyclists running red lights - 0
Number of motorists running red lights - 4

Number of cyclists riding on pavement - 0
Number of motorists using bus lane - lots (well over 10)

Number of cyclists without lights - 1
Number of motorists without lights - 7

Number of people using a mobile phone whilst cycling - 0
Number of people using a mobile phone whilst driving - 8

Chainring tattoos

As possessed by every 'proper' cyclist! Actually given the oil, grease, broken skin and blood with this one it'll probably end up a real tat.

Manchester's fantastic car spearing bollards

Some car drivers who try to tail-gate buses into part of Manchester city centre are getting more than they bargained for. Raising bollards have been installed to prevent vehicles other than authorised ones from entering St Mary's Gate. Hilariously, cars have been speared when they have tailgated behind a bus. See here from some excellent video footage of idiots getting their just deserts...

Route 6, squirrels and punctures

View across lake from Newstead Abbey

Spent most of yesterday pootling from Derby along route NCN route 6 to Worksop and very nice it was too. Most of the route is very flat and on well surfaced tracks and minor roads away from busy traffic. Well at least it is when you don't get lost as we did in Long Eaton, Nottingham (twice) and then near Blidworth. In these instances we resorted to main roads to get ourselves back on track including a stretch on the very busy A614 which wasn't that pleasant. All of these detours added quite a bit to the mileage so in the end we'd done 65 miles instead of 54. Generally though, the route is well signposted. It was just us being crap.

From Derby the well surfaced track follows the River Derwent to Borrowash where you then join minor roads and tarmaced tracks through to Beeston and Nottingham. My only criticism of the section between Long Eaton and Nottingham is that the route seems to go 'round the houses' (literally in some instances) with lots of road crossings and so on. Can't comment on the route through Nottingham as we ended up in the city centre and took a main road North to rejoin route 6 near New Basford.

The route then crosses the railway line where you have to drag your bike up and down some steep steps. There are some helpful 'wheel tracks' so you can push your bike up rather than carry it. Never come across these before. I can imagine that these are useless though if you are trying to get a loaded/heavy bike down them as as soon as you touch the brakes the wheel skids. Got lost again shortly afterwards and ended up going in a big circle near some park in North Nottingham.

After this it was back to quiet routes and the picturesque route through Newstead Abbey shortly followed by beer and food at a pub near Ravenshead (Little John Inn I think). After a long lunch we proceeded to get lost again taking quite a long detour on a busy road before rejoining the route in Sherwood Forest where the tracks became much rougher and my 28mm tyres were only just coping. It was here that a squirrel decided to have an argument with my bike! This particular little critter couldn't make up his mind which side of the track he wanted to go for as I bore down upon him. He just made it under my front wheel and was soundly clonked about his body by my left foot and pedal. Although it probably hurt it a lot it did keep us (very) amused for ages afterwards. No more than a mile or so later I had another close encounter with one of the little tree rats. Its possible that the squirrel population of Sherwood Forest has a particularly low IQ.

However, karma was soon balanced as I suffered a front and rear p*nct*re at the same time (one of which was actually over another patch!). We could see the squirrels laughing at the side of the track. Only one spare tube (bugger) so had to fix one. Didn't do a good job though as this later started to very slowly deflate (double bugger). It was now starting to get a bit dark and so on went the lights.

The rapidly failing light combined with leaves and small branches covering a very rough track and a slow puncture inside a 28mm tyre made for an interesting ride through the rest of the forest. In hindsight we rode this with a bit too much of a gung ho attitude as we wanted to get a particular train in Worksop. One big branch or big pothole and we would have been toast.

We did make our train (with a minute to spare) but not before a big van tried to wipe us out in Worksop city centre. Pete's loud slap on the side of it probably made them think they'd got one of us.

Overall a great day on a very nice route but definitely one for taking your time on and I'm grateful to those who advised against 23mm tyres!

Thieving scumbags

At the weekend I acquired a nice second hand Specialized Hardrock MTB in the hope of doing a bit of off-road stuff. Last night some thieving bastard(s) forced open the shed and nicked it. I'd only had it 4 days! Basically its the one below but with a different saddle (black and yellow), some better wheels (Specialized hubs and Alex DM20 rims) and a new deore chainset. Only saving grace was that my other bikes were ignored but I'm still gutted.

If anyone sees it around Sheffield please let me know.

The Mercian slims down

And loses the unnecessary dangly bits. I've been meaning to 'fix' this bike for a little while and have finally got round to it, although it still needs more work. Clipless pedals, better wheels and a better brake mainly. That old 1960's single pivot might look right on the bike but it doesn't give you a great deal of confidence!

RLJs and pavement cycling

Maybe its just me but the increase in numbers of cyclists in Sheffield of late seems to have produced a disproportionate increase in the number running red lights or using the pavement? Recent jaw dropping acts of stupidness witnessed by myself have included:

Twit1 trying to avoid red light at junction of London Road/Boston Street by cutting on to the pavement and shooting across the junction. Except his timing was off and the cars in front of me were turning left just as he was crossing at speed.

Twit2 deciding to ride at speed down London Road (even though there is a flippin' bus/cycle lane there) causing peds to scatter.

I think that both Twit1 and Twit2 deserved the very unflattering appelations thrown at them from myself and others.

I bring this issue up as I came across an incident on a cycling forum where a cyclist ran a red light at a ped crossing in London recently and ran into someone who has subsequently died of their injuries. The git on the bike apparently got up remounted and rode off. See the cycling through red lights thread here for the source of the info.

The wonders of whisky

When feeling slightly knackered after numerous hilly miles how best to prepare for the 2 mile slog from Beeley up to the top of Beeley Moor? Easy! Stop at Devonshire Arms and refuel with a large Malt Whisky. Worked for me anyway as I got up there faster than I have ever done before. No pics from the top as visibility was stupidly poor in the fog. Probably less than 40 yards.

How (not) to bodge a dodgy mudguard

The bolts on Pete's rear mudguard stays decided to fly away resulting in hideous noises as the guard rubbed on the tyre and stays clattered against spokes. With no tools to effect a repair or actually remove the damn thing this seemed like a reasonable thing to do at the time! My guess is that it'll still be like that when the rest of the bike dies (the tightarse).

Winter approaches

And its time for Green Vernon (as oposed to Blue Vernon with the Dangly Bits) to wake from his shed slumber. He's a simple reliable soul who is easy to please and pleases easily.

Some might consider him to be a bit of a luddite with his single fixed gear, ancient Brooks saddle, Carradice saddlebag and centre-pull brakes but he's efficient and does exactly what he's supposed to do with the minimum of fuss. As long as you keep his tyres up to pressure and lube/tighten his chain every once in a while he's a happy bunny who never complains.