Had been meaning to adorn my bike with a big poppy for a week or so prior to Rememberance Sunday - today - just got round to it. Found out again how useful old inner tubes and zipties are...
Sunday, 10 November 2013
Saturday, 9 November 2013
Drive A Short Distance So You Can Run A Short Distance...
Every week (OK missed a few) over the past month and a bit, I've been running a 5km timed run, run (no pun intended) by Parkrun. Did one today.
The events take part in pleasant woodlands every Saturday across the UK. It's free, your timings are recorded and personal bests shown. When you've run 50 of them (12 months if you run every week), you get a t-shirt with "50" printed on the back and another when you've run 100, with "100" printed on the back of it.
I came across it one Saturday by accident when out on a morning ride to the War Memorial park. Nice little find. You feel you've done something constructive on a Saturday morning and it's good to be around the health and fitness oriented. All in, it takes less than 2 hours to get there, run, queue for your timings and get back.
So, what has this to do with cycling? Well, I've noticed how the number of people who drive to get there heavily outnumber the cyclists who cycle to get there, who can be counted on two hands at most out of over 300 runners...
The nearest car park is too small for all the cars and excess vehicles have to park on the grass. Today, there were no grass parkers because the organisers had asked people not to park on the grass as, there's been lots of rain and the grass would become a quagmire if everybody parked on it.
Something wrong there? Well, not necessarily; I mean, for all I know, the car drivers may have driven over 10 miles or so, therefore using the car is justified in my book, it's not a triathlon or iron man afterall. Then again, there might be nearer events to them as there are at least 6 of the same about 20 miles away. I just suspect that most of them will have driven in from around 5 miles away because most of the residential areas in my town are that distance at most away from where this event is held.
So, drive 7km or whatever 5 miles is, so that you can run 5 km...It has been fair weather, so even less of an excuse. All the drivers drove there probably out of habit...
Well, in fairness, over ten years ago, I might have been one of them. Of course, I only rediscovered cycling in 2008. Moreover, many are completely unaware of how cheap, fast, efficient and enjoyable cycling is for short distances in good weather. Just like I was. But the cycling lobby only seems to promote the benefits of cycling with regard to environmentalism and fitness. Which are perfectly valid, but don't seem to be winning over the public. The pushbike's forte of fast, efficient, cheap transport over short distances all too often seems to be overlooked or ignored...
If we want to reduce dependency on the car, this type of journey might be a good place to start - use the bike for distances and in weather conditions where the car offers no advantage.
Perhaps we could try more to promote it thus. I'm attempting to here. Also everyone I meet - hope I'm not becoming too dull/irritating/bee in my bonnet in the process...
Also save money and wear and tear on the car...;-)
The events take part in pleasant woodlands every Saturday across the UK. It's free, your timings are recorded and personal bests shown. When you've run 50 of them (12 months if you run every week), you get a t-shirt with "50" printed on the back and another when you've run 100, with "100" printed on the back of it.
I came across it one Saturday by accident when out on a morning ride to the War Memorial park. Nice little find. You feel you've done something constructive on a Saturday morning and it's good to be around the health and fitness oriented. All in, it takes less than 2 hours to get there, run, queue for your timings and get back.
So, what has this to do with cycling? Well, I've noticed how the number of people who drive to get there heavily outnumber the cyclists who cycle to get there, who can be counted on two hands at most out of over 300 runners...
The nearest car park is too small for all the cars and excess vehicles have to park on the grass. Today, there were no grass parkers because the organisers had asked people not to park on the grass as, there's been lots of rain and the grass would become a quagmire if everybody parked on it.
Something wrong there? Well, not necessarily; I mean, for all I know, the car drivers may have driven over 10 miles or so, therefore using the car is justified in my book, it's not a triathlon or iron man afterall. Then again, there might be nearer events to them as there are at least 6 of the same about 20 miles away. I just suspect that most of them will have driven in from around 5 miles away because most of the residential areas in my town are that distance at most away from where this event is held.
So, drive 7km or whatever 5 miles is, so that you can run 5 km...It has been fair weather, so even less of an excuse. All the drivers drove there probably out of habit...
Well, in fairness, over ten years ago, I might have been one of them. Of course, I only rediscovered cycling in 2008. Moreover, many are completely unaware of how cheap, fast, efficient and enjoyable cycling is for short distances in good weather. Just like I was. But the cycling lobby only seems to promote the benefits of cycling with regard to environmentalism and fitness. Which are perfectly valid, but don't seem to be winning over the public. The pushbike's forte of fast, efficient, cheap transport over short distances all too often seems to be overlooked or ignored...
If we want to reduce dependency on the car, this type of journey might be a good place to start - use the bike for distances and in weather conditions where the car offers no advantage.
Perhaps we could try more to promote it thus. I'm attempting to here. Also everyone I meet - hope I'm not becoming too dull/irritating/bee in my bonnet in the process...
Also save money and wear and tear on the car...;-)
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| The right hand side of the car park...full up... |
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| The left hand side of the car park...full up... |
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| Recognise that silver bike there? That's what they should all ride - not the same bike, but the same model ;-) |
Friday, 8 November 2013
The Appeal Of Cycling - Part 1 - Transport
Cycling, or more specifically, town cycling, isn't the most important thing in my life, but it's right up there.
I've identified 4 areas as to why this is:
1) Transport/utility
2) Hardware
3) Doing it
4) Image/Lifestyle
Except for transport, these aren't in any order of importance. I suppose transport could be classed as more important than the others which could be considered as just nice to have for quality of life.
Anyway, using a pushbike for transport, I find I'm able to get about really quickly, efficiently, cheaply and comfortably for short journeys in fair weather. It's an extension of my legs. For most local journeys, it really is a case of just hopping on, pedaling for 20 minutes or less and you're there.
I think this is the pushbike's forte, and is reflected in the cycling cultures of Holland and Denmark.
In the past, when I haven't had my bike for whatever reason, I find out how expensive motor vehicles can be - either buses or especially by car (as I well remember when I commuted by car, no other way was feasible and our government seemed to be increasing the price of petrol every week). Each time petrol went up by a penny, I had £5 less disposable income...
And when I've had to walk, there's plenty of incentive to get back on the bike, I can assure you. Journeys which used to be quick and easy become slow and arduous, especially if you have to carry groceries, so I avoid it if I can.
Obviously a lot faster than walking, cycling may in many cases be faster than cars, because there's no such thing (yet!) as congestion or roadworks, holding you up and you can ride in areas closed to vehicular traffic. You also don't have to worry about where to park as well as maneuvering out of tight areas like parking spaces. And in my town, parking's pretty expensive too.
I think if more people had the same experience with cycling as transport as I do, its popularity would soar.
See what I could do to make it happen...I know, I could write a blog...
I've identified 4 areas as to why this is:
1) Transport/utility
2) Hardware
3) Doing it
4) Image/Lifestyle
Except for transport, these aren't in any order of importance. I suppose transport could be classed as more important than the others which could be considered as just nice to have for quality of life.
Anyway, using a pushbike for transport, I find I'm able to get about really quickly, efficiently, cheaply and comfortably for short journeys in fair weather. It's an extension of my legs. For most local journeys, it really is a case of just hopping on, pedaling for 20 minutes or less and you're there.
I think this is the pushbike's forte, and is reflected in the cycling cultures of Holland and Denmark.
In the past, when I haven't had my bike for whatever reason, I find out how expensive motor vehicles can be - either buses or especially by car (as I well remember when I commuted by car, no other way was feasible and our government seemed to be increasing the price of petrol every week). Each time petrol went up by a penny, I had £5 less disposable income...
And when I've had to walk, there's plenty of incentive to get back on the bike, I can assure you. Journeys which used to be quick and easy become slow and arduous, especially if you have to carry groceries, so I avoid it if I can.
Obviously a lot faster than walking, cycling may in many cases be faster than cars, because there's no such thing (yet!) as congestion or roadworks, holding you up and you can ride in areas closed to vehicular traffic. You also don't have to worry about where to park as well as maneuvering out of tight areas like parking spaces. And in my town, parking's pretty expensive too.
I think if more people had the same experience with cycling as transport as I do, its popularity would soar.
See what I could do to make it happen...I know, I could write a blog...
Monday, 4 November 2013
Cycling "Superhighways"
Recently I had to make the journey in London from Waterloo railway station to Chrystal Palace, I decided to cycle the way instead of taking my bike on public transport. According to TFL's (Transport For London) journey planner, the trip should have taken less time than if I'd used the train.
So, I did. It took a lot longer. But that isn't the point of this post. See, I had the dubious experience of using one of the "Cycling Superhighways" in the capital...
Not totally sure of what I was expecting, think it was a segregated stretch of shared footpath, about 3-4 metres wide, the same as in my hometown, only a lot longer, several miles, instead of several hundred yards at most. I find these really convenient to use and feel safe using them. I'd like to see more of them, and to it's credit, the local government is building more and more. All to the good. One thing that my town can boast of is its council, which seems to do what it's supposed to do efficiently and effectively.
Like this where I live (not too much to expect as there's lots of green parks and trees bits of London, it's not all concrete):
What I saw of the "superhighway" was simply a part of road which couldn't have been more than 1-1.25m wide, next to all the other traffic, painted blue, sometimes with a number painted on it (the number of the "superhighway" lane). And that was it. Sometimes it would merge with the bus lane. Not the best mix - one of the largest vehicles side by side with one of the smallest I would have thought...
Hardly a cycling "superhighway" is it? And to officially label it such is to invite ridicule and criticism...
Having asked others, the "superhighways" in other parts of the capital are all pretty much the same.
Now, being the level headed, look-at-both-sides-of-the-argument-before-jumping-to-conclusions-chap that I am, for all I know (haven't bothered to research admittedly, may get round to it), the cycling "superhighway" that I saw may be temporary and subject to continuous improvement, and London may, in the not too distant future get the type of cycling friendly infrastructure similar to the first picture, that a modern city should have. These things take time. London is over a thousand years old with many narrow streets that were adequate for the time at which they were built. So quite a task as I'm sure you'll understand. I've worked in a couple of places that gave me an idea of the planning and consultation needed for civil engineering projects, so as long as what I saw wasn't the finalised version, I'll hold fire...
Time will tell...
So, I did. It took a lot longer. But that isn't the point of this post. See, I had the dubious experience of using one of the "Cycling Superhighways" in the capital...
Not totally sure of what I was expecting, think it was a segregated stretch of shared footpath, about 3-4 metres wide, the same as in my hometown, only a lot longer, several miles, instead of several hundred yards at most. I find these really convenient to use and feel safe using them. I'd like to see more of them, and to it's credit, the local government is building more and more. All to the good. One thing that my town can boast of is its council, which seems to do what it's supposed to do efficiently and effectively.
Like this where I live (not too much to expect as there's lots of green parks and trees bits of London, it's not all concrete):
What I saw of the "superhighway" was simply a part of road which couldn't have been more than 1-1.25m wide, next to all the other traffic, painted blue, sometimes with a number painted on it (the number of the "superhighway" lane). And that was it. Sometimes it would merge with the bus lane. Not the best mix - one of the largest vehicles side by side with one of the smallest I would have thought...
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| See that blue box on the right? That means the far right metre wide part of the road is a cycling superhighway just for bikes well, except for the parts which merge with the bus lane...No, that's not me riding... Photo courtesy of Felix O/Wikimedia Commons. |
Hardly a cycling "superhighway" is it? And to officially label it such is to invite ridicule and criticism...
Having asked others, the "superhighways" in other parts of the capital are all pretty much the same.
Now, being the level headed, look-at-both-sides-of-the-argument-before-jumping-to-conclusions-chap that I am, for all I know (haven't bothered to research admittedly, may get round to it), the cycling "superhighway" that I saw may be temporary and subject to continuous improvement, and London may, in the not too distant future get the type of cycling friendly infrastructure similar to the first picture, that a modern city should have. These things take time. London is over a thousand years old with many narrow streets that were adequate for the time at which they were built. So quite a task as I'm sure you'll understand. I've worked in a couple of places that gave me an idea of the planning and consultation needed for civil engineering projects, so as long as what I saw wasn't the finalised version, I'll hold fire...
Time will tell...
Wednesday, 30 October 2013
Just happened to be coming back from the corner shop...
when a man I'd never seen before approached me and asked where I got the rear baskets on the Kettler from. I told him and we got talking about bikes, photography and Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) - where he's from.
What you might call a chance encounter I guess.
What you might call a chance encounter I guess.
His name is Rob, he was impressed with my bike and has featured it in one of his blogs, together with a link to this one. He is a novelist and photographer.
After a hiatus of 8 years or so, he has taken up cycling again and has bought a second hand bike.
I hope he gets tips and advice from this blog (along with everyone else reading) and I shall try to get same from his. He rather likes the Kettler as do many. Come to think, I've had a few complements (understandably :)) in the 3 1/2 months I've had it.
Anyway, his blog is called Ralpapajan's - Fun with photos - Touch a button - Touch a heart! and the photos he took are in the Cycling and photography for fun post. Actually, he only took one photo and used photography software for the rest.
I'm thinking about asking him to have a big photoshoot for the Gazelle, an opportunity to display his talents, which I think will turn out far better than my own efforts. Might be pretty popular given the New Bike post is the most popular by far to date.
Stay tuned.
After a hiatus of 8 years or so, he has taken up cycling again and has bought a second hand bike.
I hope he gets tips and advice from this blog (along with everyone else reading) and I shall try to get same from his. He rather likes the Kettler as do many. Come to think, I've had a few complements (understandably :)) in the 3 1/2 months I've had it.
Anyway, his blog is called Ralpapajan's - Fun with photos - Touch a button - Touch a heart! and the photos he took are in the Cycling and photography for fun post. Actually, he only took one photo and used photography software for the rest.
I'm thinking about asking him to have a big photoshoot for the Gazelle, an opportunity to display his talents, which I think will turn out far better than my own efforts. Might be pretty popular given the New Bike post is the most popular by far to date.
Stay tuned.
Thursday, 24 October 2013
Not Environmentalist, Not Athletic, Not Anti-Car - I Just Like Cycling...
All too often it seems, people assume cyclists are all obsessed with saving the planet and keeping fit. They might also hate cars and certainly some hate Jeremy Clarkson. Well, I'm none of these, but there's plenty of them UK-side.
I just find pootling along either by myself or with company to be enjoyable. It also makes life easy and it's very cheap transport. It's also very useful - fast and efficient for short-shortish journeys in fair weather. Probably the pushbike's forte. For longer distances, it makes for a cheap day out.
Maybe if this type of cycling was promoted more forcefully (wrong word but can't think of something more suitable) instead of everyone getting all serious, more of the public would cycle, seeing it as something to enjoy instead of endure? I'm pretty sure it's not just lack of cycling friendly infrastructure that's a barrier to popularity, but the public perception of it - even image...
But what about the environment? All well and good but I'd probably still cycle if it wasn't environmentally friendly...
Fitness? The type of cycling I do doesn't keep you fit - there isn't enough exertion and I don't want to (at the moment) - I run and go to the gym for that, or I try to...
Cars? More than a few cyclists are on an anti-car crusade (despite many of these people being dependent on cars themselves...), but I like cars, am a Jeremy Clarkson fan, watch Top Gear on the TV on the treadmill at the gym, and would own one if I had a need for one. They're also the best option for some journeys. I don't think any one mode of transport is ideal for all journeys, which includes pushbikes. You can do your 30 - 60 mile round daily commute come rain or shine if you want, but I won't be joining you...as far as I'm concerned, this comes into the "making life difficult for no good reason" category. That type of distance is what planes, trains and automobiles are for...
I just find pootling along either by myself or with company to be enjoyable. It also makes life easy and it's very cheap transport. It's also very useful - fast and efficient for short-shortish journeys in fair weather. Probably the pushbike's forte. For longer distances, it makes for a cheap day out.
Maybe if this type of cycling was promoted more forcefully (wrong word but can't think of something more suitable) instead of everyone getting all serious, more of the public would cycle, seeing it as something to enjoy instead of endure? I'm pretty sure it's not just lack of cycling friendly infrastructure that's a barrier to popularity, but the public perception of it - even image...
But what about the environment? All well and good but I'd probably still cycle if it wasn't environmentally friendly...
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| nuclear power - just as unpopular as cars with some cyclists... photo courtesy of Stefan Kuhn from Wikimedia Commons. |
Fitness? The type of cycling I do doesn't keep you fit - there isn't enough exertion and I don't want to (at the moment) - I run and go to the gym for that, or I try to...
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| A triathlete - if the cycling doesn't get you fit, the running and swimming will... photo courtesy of Olivier Trudel-Languedoc from Wikimedia Commons |
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| for longer distances...once I've bought all the bikes I want first... photo courtesy of Sovxx from Wikimedia Commons. |
On a separate note, I shall be publishing once or twice a week as and when instead of every Thursday.
Thursday, 17 October 2013
Sit up and beg/upright riding position - something I'd forgotten to mention...an' the computer works...
Coupla things this week:
Sit Up and beg position
Thus far I haven't mentioned that one of the essences of a town bike isn't just a bunch of equipment that makes it weigh a ton, but the way that you sit upright when riding in contrast to the hunched over the handlebars position used in cycling sport.
It's not conducive to speed, then again, it's not meant to be. I find it comfortable and convenient and it allows you to get a good view of your surroundings which adds to the pleasure of slow cycling - it's about the journey, not the destination.
The most upright riding position is also known as "sit up and beg" as it resembles the position a dog would in order to beg. Mainly applicable to Dutch bikes like my Gazelle: Upright riding position and quite high handlebars.
And of course, typically rare in the UK, although it is getting more popular - slowly...you never know, bit like other things - eg hubgears which might start to regain popularity in the country in which they were invented in 1902...
New Computer - figured out how to set it up...
Some of you might remember the wireless computer I bought for £7 from Lidl's. All well and good, but I couldn't figure out at first how to set the thing up and put it off for about 3 months because I found the instructions difficult to follow. Meaning to get round to it, finally I did today (15/10) - and it clicked! See, it has an option of "advanced" or "easy" which I thought were some sort of exercise programme...What they actually are are the functions of the computer itself; the advanced option is comprehensive including things like the odometer and many others - 14 functions in all - whilst the easy mode is just 3 of them. Well, learn something new an' all that...
I blame the instructions for being messy and complicated...;)
Sit Up and beg position
Thus far I haven't mentioned that one of the essences of a town bike isn't just a bunch of equipment that makes it weigh a ton, but the way that you sit upright when riding in contrast to the hunched over the handlebars position used in cycling sport.
It's not conducive to speed, then again, it's not meant to be. I find it comfortable and convenient and it allows you to get a good view of your surroundings which adds to the pleasure of slow cycling - it's about the journey, not the destination.
The most upright riding position is also known as "sit up and beg" as it resembles the position a dog would in order to beg. Mainly applicable to Dutch bikes like my Gazelle: Upright riding position and quite high handlebars.
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| since got rid of most of those weeds on the patio... |
New Computer - figured out how to set it up...
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| Seven quid...nifty or what...and I actually know how to set it up now so it's more than just decoration... |
I blame the instructions for being messy and complicated...;)
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| convenience...control...all at my fingertips... |
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