London Cyclist June-July 2009 by London Cycling Campaign

magazine magazineofofthe theLondon LondonCycling CyclingCampaign CampaignJune-July June-July2009 2009

D E V L O V N GET I p18 K E E W E IN BIK

local group news & views

best rides in London

celebrity interview

product reviews

Plus Bike Week preview

Women's ride

James Cracknell

Folding bikes

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O i i Opinion

LCC CHIEF EXECUTIVE

Koy Thompson There's nothing wrong with being a nutcase according to LCC's top man — in fact rewriting the golden rules is deﬁnitely to be encouraged

y dearly loved friend Bijay, an Indian human-rights activist, used to tell me: “Aim for the moon and you might just hit the tops of the trees.” I worked with him in Afghanistan and in tsunami-struck Sri Lanka, and in those tough political environments it was all too easy to lose one’s vision of a better world, adopting inoffensive measures that wouldn’t alienate governments or big donors. Earlier in my career, working as a sustainable development advisor with the British delegation at the United Nations, the desire to be accepted by decisionmakers and peers had an almost magnetic power to strip you of your values. I used to carry a physical touchstone (a pebble) in my pocket during UN negotiations to remind me that my accountabilities were to the powerless not the powerful. And ’lo and behold, in the world of cycling I’m learning the unwritten ‘don’t be a nutcase’ rules. These say that nobody listens to a boat-rocker; that cycling organisations have worked long and hard to be accepted at the top table, and now we’re there we don’t want to be caught passing the port the wrong way or belching between courses.

'Guns don’t kill people…' Rule number one (the golden rule) states that one must establish credibility by not being anti-car. Every single smarter-travel cycling presentation I’ve witnessed starts with the speaker saying: “Smarter travel is not anti-car.” I find this statement very strange because our ultimate goals must be to persuade people out of cars and into sustainable modes, and to lower the volume and speed of motorised traffic. I sense echoes here of the ‘guns don’t kill people, people do’ argument. Can one really be anti-smoking but pro cigarettes? Even stranger, I was recently at a parliamentary cycling meeting and the representative of a very well-known national sustainable-transport organisation opened with the words: “I have two cars.” Not to be outdone, I trumped this ‘we are serious and you should listen to us’ sentiment with my own: “I have a car, and I’m a member of the AA.” In actual fact, I was taking the mickey out of the cycle campaigner’s and my own desires for credibility. Rule number two seems to be ‘cure yourself of your

vision and imagination’. Don’t aim for big goals such as changing the rules on driver liability or creating true walking and cycling cities because you’ll only get depressed and pessimistic. Be content with squeezing more cyclists into the gaps between still-expanding lanes of motorised traffic. At no point should you consider a bike to be an entry point for urban transformation. Well, I’m very pleased to announce that London Cycling Campaign activists are irredeemably ‘aim for the moon’ people. We’re proud to be part of a Londonwide movement of nutcases who want to re-conquer our streets, neighbourhoods and public spaces and make

“I'm pleased to announce that LCC activists are irredeemably 'aim for the moon' people” them truly fit for play, social interaction and active travel. We believe a determined cycling and walking perspective on transport and planning will literally ‘breathe life into London’. Watch this space for a new campaign with that name.

Magazine makeover Before I sign off, I must welcome you to the changes in this latest issue of London Cyclist. After several years, we decided the magazine would benefit from a bit of a revamp. There are new colours and fonts, and some of the content has also been tweaked: for example, the new ‘Best Ride in London’ series will now run over the centre pages, with a remit to cover any kind of London-wide bike excursion. However, our overriding concern was to make sure our readers still enjoy the best campaigning content, as well as features relevant to London life. Without the budget for costly agencies, much of the effort has been done by LCC volunteers, albeit ones with excellent magazine experience. Our thanks go out to those involved. Look forward to more improvements over the coming months as our new editor adds his own impeccable publishing credentials to the mix. June-July 2009

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London Cyclist

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contents JUNE-JULY 2009 2 Newhams Row London SE1 3UZ 020 7234 9310 www.lcc.org.uk

What LCC does… ➤ Campaigns for change ➤ Supports our members ➤ Promotes London cycling

BIKE WEEK IS COMING: get involved!

opinion Koy Thomson What makes 'aim for the moon' people? Zoe Williams Celebrates recent bike parking victory Oliver Schick Embracing diversity in London cycling James Cracknell OBE Olympic champion talks bikes

3 15 17 50

news & letters News Campaign updates and headline-grabbing stories Letters Share your bike-related views here Photo Competition Start of an exciting new series!

6 12 13

features Bike Week What's happening when & how to get involved Technical Essential tips for new riders Campaigning Get more people at your workplace cycling Best Rides in London 'Birds on Bikes' themed night-ride Outward Bound Visit the National Cycle Museum Overseas Discover classic riding in northern France

18 20 23 26 28 30

reviews Products Six folding bikes tested, plus summer gear Books From coffee-table compendiums to comic strips

32 36

members Members’ pages All-new section for LCC members Local Group News Plus meeting dates and contact info Events diary Comprehensive guide to June-July rides Workshops Courses to improve your maintenance skills Discounts Find the best savings with our new listings 4

London Cyclist

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39 40 44 47 48

LCC’s strategic aims ➤ Promote cycling to the people ➤ Redesign our streets for cycles ➤ Promote cycling to our politicians ➤ Make cycling diverse and inclusive For more info, visit www.lcc.org.uk/strategy Member benefits ➤ Up to 15% off in London bike shops ➤ Free third-party insurance cover ➤ Exclusive deals on bike theft insurance ➤ Free bi-monthly member magazine ➤ Free legal helpline Read more about member beneﬁts on p.39 Editorial contacts Editor: John Kitchiner, londoncyclist@lcc.org.uk Products: Matthew Moore, m.moore@lcc.org.uk Design: Anita Razak, design@lcc.org.uk Communications: Mike Cavenett, mike@lcc.org.uk Advertising contact Mongoose Media: Anthon Linton, 020 7306 0300; lcc@mongoosemedia.com Contribute to London Cyclist Please email londoncyclist@lcc.org.uk to discuss feature ideas and photography www.lcc.org.uk For the latest news, campaigns and events information, visit the LCC website, where you can also sign up for our bi-monthly e-newsletter Printed on 100% recycled paper All views expressed in London Cyclist are those of the authors and are not necessarily endorsed by the editor, nor do they necessarily reﬂect LCC policy. Editorial content is independent of advertising. All material is copyrighted and may not be reproduced without the written permission of the editor. London Cyclist is printed by Wyndeham Grange on paper made from 100% de-inked post consumer waste. London Cycling Campaign is a charitable limited company, reg no 1766411; charity no 1115789.

June-July 2009

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News For more campaign updates, news reports and contact information: www.lcc.org.uk

Success in on the cards

IN BRIEF Spring deal on membership LCC is running a spring member offer until 29 June, that gives you a great incentive to sign up a friend too and save money in the process. It's part of our challenge to get more cyclists on London roads this year — so if you can recruit a friend to join at the same time as you, we'll give you a 50% discount on one membership. Not only will you both enjoy the great beneﬁts of LCC membership (see p.39), but you'll help make our campaigning voice louder. ■ To receive your 50% discount, contact our membership department on 020 7234 9310. Look out for our summer member offer for families

To celebrate the recent bike parking victory in the House of Lords, LCC produced a series of ‘spoke cards’ and distributed them to cyclists in London. Designed to mimic a typical ‘penalty notice’, the rear of the card explained how LCC quashed a potential law allowing councils to remove bikes from railings and lamp-posts; it also provided handy information about how people could get involved in future campaigning. Thanks to those who donated because of this victory; if you wish to make a donation, visit www.lcc.org.uk and click 'donate'.

Richmond gets £4.5m cycling boost RESIDENTS OF THE London Borough of Richmond upon Thames are celebrating winning a £4.5m sustainable transport grant, much of which will be spent on cycling projects. London mayor, Boris Johnson, said: "This scheme will help make Richmond an even greener, healthier place for people to live and work." Smarter Travel Richmond — a joint venture between TfL and Richmond council — is a three-year initiative to help change the way people travel in

the area and there’s already an impressive list of new cycling facilities and projects underway. These include: 500 new cycle parking spaces, of which 200 have already been installed to launch the programme; two new cycle routes; new cycling facilities and car club bays; cycle training sessions for new or returning cyclists, families, and in every major school and workplace in the borough. On top of this the group is looking at development of travel plans, and the provision of more

NEW DAWN: for Richmond's cyclists

information on sustainable transport to residents, schools and businesses in the borough. Of the initiative, LCC chief executive Koy Thomson said: "We're glad to see measures that target the outer boroughs. We know from research that there's huge, largely untapped, potential for cycling growth in these areas. There's great potential to make them cleaner, greener, healthier, happier places to lives and work. In fact we’d like to see all the other outer London boroughs benefitting from the same kind of VIP treatment as Richmond!" Richmond upon Thames currently has the second highest level of transport-related carbon dioxide emissions in London and 88 percent of its residents find traffic to be a problem in the borough. The borough is hoping to emulate the success achieved in Sutton, where a similar initiative — Sutton Travel Smart — created a 50% increase in cycling in just one year.

Have your say on motorbikes in bus lanes FIVE MONTHS INTO the trial of motorbikes in bus lanes, it's now time for cyclists to make their views heard to TfL. The trial runs for 18 months, but the official consultation ends on 5 July this year. The British Motorcycle Federation is already urging its members to make their views known to TfL, so let’s ensure that cyclists’ views are also heard in equally high or greater numbers. ■ Also let LCC know about any incidents during the trial by going to: www.lcc.org.uk/ index.asp?PageID=1252

GET INVOLVED Tell Transport for London what you think about the motorbikes in bus lanes trial: http://tinyurl.com/ TfLconsultation

Maps out his transport plans for the capital +++ Find out how to get involved in campaigning at www.lcc.org.uk/index.asp?Pageid=14 +++

London Cyclist

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News

New speed limit on London bridges? More 20mph reports…

TOWER BRIDGE: already has speed curbs

AT A TIME when both the government and London Assembly are backing an expansion of 20mph speed limits in London, a Transport for London report has been uncovered which says such a limit on London's bridges would save lives and money. The report — which remained unpublished until the LCC campaigns team demanded its release — backs LCC's calls for improved safety on these important river crossings. It found that cyclists are 15% more likely to be involved in a collision on one of the 13 central London bridges than on equivalent roads. Three-quarters of collisions on bridges involved vulnerable road users such as cyclists, pedestrians and motorcyclists.

The report also states that savings of up to £2 million per year could be made when balancing the price of implementing 20mph limits against the cost of casualties. It even specifically mentions four bridges — Putney, Vauxhall, Westminster and London Bridge — where there's a "very strong case for the increased safety 20mph brings". A 20mph limit is already successfully enforced on Tower Bridge for structural reasons with no significant reduction in journey times. And LCC is campaigning for the measure to be rolled out further as it recognises that vulnerable road users such as cyclists are put at greater risk on bridges because of the heavy traffic and lack of alternative routes.

LCC's position, stating that the DfT had failed to do enough to reduce its stated aim of reducing cyclist and pedestrian casualties. The criticism followed two recent cyclist fatalities resulting from crashes with HGVs. In the first incident, Lisa Pontecorvo was

43% Source:TfL ‘Trav el in London’ report

killed while walking across Holloway oway Road; in the second, Stephen h Ferguson was struck by a lorry at traffic lights in Dulwich. In both cases, vital safety mirrors were found to be missing. Class 6 mirrors, which are compulsory on new lorries, allow lorry drivers to see the area in front of their cab where there might be pedestrians or cyclists. However, lorries registered before 2007 are currently not compelled to have one of these mirrors fitted.

GET INVOLVED If your company uses hauliers or HGVs, check to see they're using the appropriate safety mirrors; if they don’t, lobby! MIRROR IMAGE: helps save lives!

Submit a motion

The Transport Committee of to the AGM the London Assembly has Now is the time for members recently published a report to submit motions for LCC's supporting extended boroughAnnual General Meeting, to wide trials of 20mph limits, and help decide our future direction. urging the mayor to increase Motions relating to LCC policy funding for the measure. It should be considered by the found that in areas of London Campaigns Committee, as laid where 20mph zones have been down in the AGM Standing introduced by boroughs and Orders (copy available from the Transport for London (TfL), office or by download from the there has been a 42 per cent website). All motions must be reduction in casualties. proposed and seconded, and Some evidence suggests that the be submitted to the Office 400 existing 20mph zones Manager at 2 Newhams Row, — which cover 11 per cent of London SE1 3UZ, by midnight London’s road network — have on 3 July 2009. also contributed to benefits beyond road safety, including Call for nominations improved traffic flow, reduced for the board emissions and encouraging walking and cycling. There will be five vacancies Meanwhile, the Department on the Board in 2009, so start for Transport has launched a thinking now about whom you consultation on road safety, wish to nominate to the Board with 20mph limits being seen at the AGM on 17 November. as a key measure in reducing From 20th May, you’ll be able deaths on Britain’s roads by to download a nomination form a third by 2020. LCC welcomes from the website. Completed the increased support and nominations (nominee, proposer will be sending a detailed and seconder all need to be response to o LCC membe members) must be with the DfT's the Compa Company Secretary at 2 consultaNewham Newhams, Row, London tion, which SE1 3U 3UZ, by midnight on 3 drop in fatalities an ends on d serious July 22009. injuries in 2007, co 15 July. mpare to 1994-98 averag d LLCC CC unveils e

LCC criticises Road Safety Ministerr LCC has criticised the Road Safety Minister Jim Fitzpatrick for yet again failing to implement measures that would ensure all lorries are fitted with safety mirrors. A recent report on the Department for Transport by the National Audit Office backed

IN BRIEF

■ www.lcc.org.uk/campaigns

w women-speciﬁ om c website webs

Following on from the success of ‘Birds on B Bikes’ — a ride to celebrate Int International Women’s Day (see centre pages) — LCC launched a website focused on women cyclists on 27 May. The dedicated site covers speciﬁcs to do with female cyclists and their bikes and one of the key elements of the new site is the interview section. LCC has spoken to women of all ages who ride or work with bikes — from world champions, couriers and mechanics to girls, pensioners, commuters and trainers — and want to present cycling as a normal lifestyle choice and sport for women in the hope that it might encourage others to follow suit. If you'd like to be involved with the site, get in touch!

Maps out his transport plans for the capital +++ You can now follow LCC on Twitter: visit www.twitter.com and sign up to London_Cycling +++

June-July 2009

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News

Southwark gets £1.5 million for cycle improvements The successful Rotherhithe projects: ■ Rotherhithe Tunnel ventilation shaft; Thames Path built around outside: £200,000 ■ New lighting for Kings Stairs Gardens: £20,000 ■ Dropped kerbs etc throughout Rotherhithe peninsula: £250,000 ■ Cycle parking in Rotherhithe Village/Thames Path through Surrey Docks Farm: £150,000 ■ Improved walking/cycling links between Southwark Park south to Surrey Canal Road: £20,000 ■ Canada Water cycle parking racks: £10,000 ■ Descriptive panels along route of Surrey Canal: £20,000 ■ Rotherhithe New Road/Bush Road links: £150,000 ■ Ramps on Thames Path by Old Salt Quay pub: £10,000 ■ Improved walking/cycling link from Rotherhithe Old Road into Surrey Quays shopping centre: £20,000 ■ Surrey Quays/Lower Road and local schools, more cycle parking: £100,000 THAMES PATH: to get re-routed here

THANKS TO HARD work by Southwark Cyclists, more than £1.5 million of new funding has been secured for cycle and disability access improvements in Bermondsey and Rotherhithe. The windfall will enable a section of the Thames Path to be opened up for cycling, plus a multitude of bike parking and access measures introduced. A coalition of Southwark Cyclists and other local action

groups had 15 bids accepted, leveraging new money to improve the neighbourhood. Barry Mason of Southwark Cyclists said: "The victory stems from a lot of detailed work, including excellent partnerships with Southwark Living Streets, BARGEs, the local disability group and others. The bid took the form of precise, realistic, broad-appeal bids — including very robust

The succesful Bermondsey projects: ■ Walking/cycling improvements round Alscot Road & Mandela Way: £200,000 ■ Thames Path improvements: £250,000 ■ Stubbs Drive/Bermondsey Bridge project: £100,000 ■ Bike racks outside Bermondsey tube station: £3,000

internal financial controls that the Council and others trust." Barry’s even hopeful that some of the unsuccessful bids could come good in the future too. He added: "If anyone wants to know more details as to how

it's done, they should get in touch — be warned, though, there's plenty of work involved." olved.

Bike hire scheme to mirror Paris system THE MAYOR OF London has confirmed May 2010 as the launch date for the much vaunted London bike-hire scheme. Planning applications for the docking stations have gone to the boroughs and a sponsor for the scheme is currently being sought. As a pointer to the potential for such a scheme in London, the Parisian Velib is now being extended into the suburbs, adding a further 3,300 bikes and 300 docking stations — this will take the number of hire bikes in the French capital to more than 23,000. London's scheme will initially kick off with 400 docking stations and 6,000 bikes. The Parisian expansion flies

in the face of British media reports earlier this year, which appeared to show the Velib programme was under threat from vandalism. However, it has been widely suggested that reports of the Paris scheme's problems were exaggerated as part of the bargaining between the city authorities and the commercial organisation managing the scheme. LCC communications officer Mike Cavenett said: "Countries all over the world, like Toronto, Washington DC and Buenos Aires, are putting in place their own cycle hire schemes. These projects are proven winners, and the negative reporting has been shown to be just a load of hot air."

80k

bikes sold by Ha lfo through the Cycle rds 2Work scheme since 20 05 Sourc e: Halfords statement

COMING YOUR WAY: new Velib-style scheme

+++ Stay up to date with cycling news in London, go to www.lcc.org.uk and hit the news tab +++ 8

London Cyclist

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June-July 2009

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News

Stop, give way, then go?

IN BRIEF

Report potholes

GREEN LIGHT: for red light turns

LCC HAS GIVEN a cautious welcome to the mayor's proposal for a trial allowing cyclists to turn left at red traffic lights in London. The idea would have to be achieved in a way that guaranteed pedestrian priority and safety. However, LCC views it as one of the many badly-needed measures to make cycling more appealing to the city population, rather than as a solution to the danger of left-turning lorries.

LCC wants London streets designed for cycling, so they allow the greatest choice of direct and convenient routes with minimum diversion, creating a city that's truly 'permeable' to cyclists. If the trial proved successful, LCC would favour introducing a ‘Stop, Give Way and Go’ law, like that already used in Idaho in the USA — there cyclists are allowed to go through red lights after stopping and giving way to all other traffic. Idaho report

no increase in casualties from giving cyclists more freedom. This law is also being proposed in other US states such as California and Oregon. This law could be introduced alongside other measures that favour cycling 'permeablity', such as two-way cycling on all streets, cycle bypasses at T-junctions, traffic light advantages or green waves for cyclists, and the removal of large gyratories.

Camden cyclists upgrade route planner A new route-planning feature has been added to the Camden Cycling Campaign's online mapping system. The planner uses the new OpenStreetMap-based route-planner, developed and hosted by Cycle Streets. You can plan a route anywhere in Greater London or the UK, though there is currently a limit of 30km on the length of routes. Visitors to the site can use the 'Plan A Route' button at the top of the window on any of the maps linked from the page. George Coulouris of Camden Cycling Campaign said: "This is a great new feature. We'd like to

ROUTE MASTERS: Camden's online mapping

thank our Cambridge CC colleagues whose hard work helped make this possible." ■ www.camdencyclists.org.uk

Now's the time for London cyclists to report potholes and other road defects to TfL. Reporting potholes could prevent needless injuries. Use the link below to report damaged roads anywhere in Greater London; Transport for London will pass on your report to the relevant borough. ■ To get potholes and other road surfacing ﬁxed, please complete TfL's online form: http://tinyurl.com/reportpotholes

Women’s bike gear hits Topshop

A stylish new women’s cycling specific clothing and accessories company, Cyclodelic, was launched at Topshop’s flagship store on Oxford Street last month. The brainchild of London College of Fashion student Amy Fleuriot and textile graduate ex-courier Sarah Buck, Cyclodelic believes that women who cycle don’t have to forfeit fashion over function. With products designed and handmade by the two female cyclists in their East London studio, they offer everything from beautifully handmade capes, bags, satin cycling caps to customised bar tape, colourful mini D-lock holders and jewelled reflective trouser cuffs. Prices start from £10. ■ cyclodelic.wordpress.com

+++ Look out for www.yehudamoon.com comic strips in the next issue of London Cyclist +++ June-July 2009

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‘Cycling on prescription’ expands A PILOT STUDY instigated by LCC is offering 'cycling on prescription' to patients with physical and mental health problems in Tower Hamlets. Fortnightly guided rides take place within the borough for patients who have been prescribed the treatment; they also receive training and help procuring and maintaining their bike where necessary. More than 30 patients are now involved in the pilot, which is set to expand over the coming year. The project is a collaboration between Tower Hamlets Primary Care Trust, Tower Hamlets Wheelers (the local LCC group), LCC, and St Stephen's Health Centre (a GP practice in Bow). Dr Rachel Bower, one of the participating doctors and a joint architect of the scheme, said: "It's not only weight loss that we're addressing; regular physical activity has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes by half in risk groups. Exercise can also be as effective as antidepressants for treating some types of depression, and can protect against other diseases such as dementia, osteoporosis and some cancers." Once a GP has assessed that cycling could help a patient's health concern, they find out

ON YER BIKE: just the tonic!

how best to encourage them to cycle. Do they need a bicycle? Do they prefer one-to-one or group rides? What time of the week suits them? One participant in the scheme said: "I feel 10 years younger after starting cycling. I've lost my old gittishness, and am more motivated in

Special rate on mechanics course for LCC members LONDON 'S FIRST CITY & Guilds-accredited bike mechanics course, run by the Bike Doctor Academy, starts on 6 July, offering discounts to the London Cycling Campaign. LCC members, as well as recipients of LCC-administered Community Cycling Fund for London grants, can get up to £75 off the courses, which cost £990 (ex. VAT) The courses are designed for all abilities, from complete beginners to seasoned bike shop staff, giving them a recognised professional qualification in bike maintenance. Each course involves 10 full days of intensive tuition at the Bike Doctor Academy based in in Shoreditch. Courses can be taken over two weeks or over consecutive weekends. For more information, visit www.the-bike-doctor.co.uk

other areas of my life too." LCC campaigns manager Tom Bogdanowicz added: "We're very proud of this project, and expect the study results to be a resounding endorsement of the benefits of cycling on prescription, making for a healthier and happier population."

50%

LCC hands out £200k to community projects NEARLY 50 COMMUNITY cycling groups in London are expected to receive a share of a £200k funding pot, after months of hard work from LCC's community cycling team. Since the funding window opened in December 2008, LCC has processed more than 100 applications for community cycling grants as part of its partnership with Transport for London. Community Cycling Officer, Rosie Tharp, said: "We're thrilled with the quality, the range and the sheer number of applications this year. But the hard work doesn't stop now: it's

our job to make sure these projects are a real success, and each one makes an impact on the lives of Londoners in 2009."

ildren rise in number of ch ery ev ol ho sc cycling to day during 2008 Source: Sustrans 'Bike It' survey

Successful bids include: ■ Sikh Community Care Project: establishing an Asian Cycling Club. ■ Redbridge Cycling Campaign 'Movers and Shakers' project: getting councillors and business people out on bikes. ■ Margins Project: running an 'earn a bike' scheme for homeless people. ■ Dysart School in Kingston: purchasing adapted bikes to allow children and young

HIGH VISIBILITY: new projects for '09

people with severe learning difficulties to cycle. ■ BAGRA in Bexley: using cycling to aid recovering drug and alcohol users.

GET INVOLVED Find out how to apply for a grant of up to £5,000 to get your community cycling, and read about other projects. ■ www.lcc.org.uk/community

+++ Sign up for LCC's bi-monthly e-newsletter at www.lcc.org.uk/index.asp?PageID=1305 +++ 10 London Cyclist

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Letters Comment, opinion, rants and raves — send yours to londoncyclist@lcc.org.uk In the spotlight I don't know about anyone else, but I have been deeply irritated by the current media advertising campaign that is running, with the tagline: 'Lose your licence and you're just a kid again'. (Visit www.lcc.org.uk/news to see the ad). I passed one of these posters the other day on a bus shelter and it really emphasised how backward and arrogant the whole concept is. Effectively, it was saying to passing car drivers: car driving equals adulthood. With the implication that you shouldn’t be naughty or you'll have to do what these other losers are doing and use public transport. There is, of course, no need to spell out what it implies about cycling. There's nothing we can do about the campaign now it's running, but I do think LCC should complain strongly to those responsible for commissioning it and point out the negative impact of its associated message. Am I alone in thinking this or in my reaction to the campaign? Chris Elliott, Redbridge LCC

Ensure you’re insured A cautionary note regarding bike insurance. I had my bike stolen from my shed in March, but my house insurance did not cover this because I have tenants living with me. I subsequently applied for and received a company loan for a bike lease under the Ride2Work scheme; I ordered my bike from a shop in Docklands and bought accessories including a lock, using the voucher. Insurance is compulsory, as the bike would not become mine until I had repaid the loan, so I arranged this through the shop's website. Unfortunately, my bike, which was locked to a bike rack on a station platform under CCTV cameras, was stolen. The flexi-lock I was sold was not covered by the Sold Secure scheme, but I had believed that the U-lock that I also used, although two years old, would be covered. The shop gave me no advice contradicting this belief and did not check whether 12 London Cyclist

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TUNNEL VISION: couldn't be clearer

I was fully covered, despite knowing that I was buying the bike under the lease scheme. I am now £600 down, haven't even started repaying the loan, and have no bike. I know I do not have a leg to stand on (or indeed a bike to fling a leg over!), as it is clear now that I should have bought a new lock, but I’m left feeling that I received no advice from the shop assistant and would like everyone else embarking on the same deal to be aware of this stringent requirement. Jill Barrett, by email

Greenwich foot tunnel In response to the Greenwich Cyclists’ newsletter. As a cyclist who uses the Greenwich Foot Tunnel on a daily basis, I would like to offer the following amendment to the proposed Code of Conduct: 1: No cycling in the tunnel at any time (rather than the proposed ‘some of the time’) 2: Always walk your bike (rather than their weak recommendation) 3: Dismount on all public walkways, not just outside the lifts (rather than in front of the lifts).

I am appalled by the way some cyclists flout the bylaws and it’s hardly surprising pedestrians are angered by them. There are notices everywhere, stating that cycling is not permitted in the tunnel and yet cyclists arrogantly continue on their selfish way, endangering the lives of pedestrians and verbally abusing other cyclists who, they claim, are getting in the way by walking their bikes! I am not alone among cyclist tunnel users, who feel ashamed to be cyclists when confronted with these hooligans — they are spoiling the ‘right to roam’ for the rest of us. Ralph Spencer, by email

Safety from scooters I respond to Andy Hillier's letter where he is disappointed that I called scooter riders ‘delinquents’. Firstly there is absolutely nothing petty about my concerns. My selection of petty to describe scooter riders is wrong — petty is for minor infringements of moral or legal codes. Whereas these people are pure ‘criminal’ judging by recent

scooter behaviour on Putney High Street and Putney Hill. I owe a fractured shoulder to a scooter. He crossed the white barrier line into a bus lane at right angles, without indicating, so he could pass between a bus and the pavement where cyclists were aiming — a sequence of actions that I believe includes three criminal acts. The guy in front made it onto the pavement, but my front wheel got caught in a rut where the tar was missing and did not mount the pavement, so could not escape a collision; I hit the pavement. The scooter disobeyed the sign that excludes scooters from bus lanes and left the scene, another criminal act. So where from here? I will sue the State for damages on account of the scooter's recklessness and the State for endangering my life by allowing scooters and motorbikes to use bus lanes. Next I will ask the police for protection from such reckless riding; it’s surely only a matter of time until a scooter kills a child or older person in this area. I feel it is a duty to protect those who cannot protect themselves. Leigh Wright, Putney

June-July 2009

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Letters Scratchcard complaint Firstly let's not jump to conclusions which is what I did initially. I’m referring to the ‘scratchcard’ insert in the excellent April/May issue of London Cyclist. We all know that to survive the LCC has to become more efficient, some say more commercialised. I certainly agree with the efficiency, but totally disagree with the insertion of these notorious scratchcards where one calls a premium rate number — often at £1.50 a minute — to find an unattainable ‘prize’ with stringent conditions attached, or that is worth less than the telephone call itself. Clearly a blatant con! I am very annoyed and disillusioned at this and feels it shows a serious lack of judgement. Please can we get some comment from someone at LCC about how this happened and ensure that it doesn’t happen again? Patrick B Rogan, by email

LCC says: "We apologise to our readers for permitting this advertiser to distribute in our magazine. The insert was allowed due to an error and processes have been changed to ensure LCC only accepts payment from reputable advertisers in future." Critical of the Mass I have always been a supporter of Critical Mass, being under the impression that its prime purpose was to assert the right of cyclists to use the road without fear of intimidation by vehicle users. I was therefore extremely disappointed to see that someone had organised a CM ride as part of the recent ‘anti-capitalist’ demonstrations. Critical Mass is not helped by being associated with a particular political agenda which has nothing specifically to do with cyclists. Even worse, it was predictable from past experience of ‘Stop the City’ events that there would be a hardcore of violent

protesters out to cause criminal damage and intimidate people who were trying to do a normal day’s work. This has again proved to be the case with businesses forced to close, people injured (and one killed) and premises damaged, much to the satisfaction of a media who would have been disappointed if nothing apart from peaceful protest had occured. I cannot see that it helps the cause of cycling for any cycling campaign group to be associated in any way with such events, especially in London where a very large proportion of regular cyclists are commuters, couriers etc, all dependent on the success of London business. Tony Cottrell, by email

LCC says: "The demonstrations at the G20 summit were composed of a disparate group of people with varying aims, but many stated publicly their desire to push environmental issues higher up the politicians' agenda through entirely lawful means.

PHOTO COMPETITION WINNER

Therefore, it's not surprising that Critical Mass associated itself with such a demo. In the BBC's words, most protests were 'overwhelmingly peaceful and benign' and LCC supports the right to non-violent political protest."

Focus on cycling I completely agree with Jeremy Benjamin's letter in your April/ May issue. Politics (apart from cycling issues) has no place in a cycling magazine. There are plenty of other magazines devoted to political issues. LC should be inclusive — why should a cyclist necessarily be left-wing anyway? There are plenty of right-of-centre cyclists, Boris Johnson and David Cameron being two obvious examples. So here's a plea to the new editor — ditch the left-wing agenda and focus more on the cycling agenda. Melissa Collett, by email

Two wheels good? A new tribalism seems to have arisen since motorcycles were

(email pictures to: londoncyclist@lcc.org.uk) This issue we’re kicking off our new bi-monthly Photo Competition. We’ll be suggesting a theme each issue and asking you to submit your pictures. What’s more, the image judged to be the best, funniest or most innovative by our panel of experts will win a prize! To start the series — and to tie in with the latest campaign success — we asked staffers and friends for images on the theme of ‘bike parking’. Why not join in next time? Happy snapping... Theme for Aug/Sept issue: Bike Week

Our ﬁrst prize goes to Kay Konop for this image (above) of hi-tech cycle parking in Japan. According to Kay: “The bike is sent underground and the owner simply calls it up when needed. This particular scheme was located just outside a major train/underground station and parking is charged on a monthly basis for commuters.” Wow, imagine these in London!

The worst bike parking space in the world, by Gegi

Bike stands in dedicated road space, from Picasa

COMP RULES: Only digital images will be accepted. Please include your name, location and a small caption about what your photo depicts. Only one submission per member per issue will be considered — so please select your favourite image carefully! The judges’ decision is ﬁnal. CLOSING DATE FOR AUG/SEPT ISSUE: Monday 29 June. THE PRIZE: Will vary between issues, but Kay wins the LCC T-shirt of her choosing.

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Letters

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using the ‘C’ and ‘F’ words. Even worse was to follow though, as other cyclists all started on me — calling me a ‘bastard’ and an ‘effing’ motorcyclist. Yet no-one had any idea of what had triggered the incident because nothing had! Maybe he’d got out of bed the wrong side or had other issues which he translated into antimotorbike behaviour, but none of that mattered to any of those cyclists who took it upon themselves to dive in and take his side for no reason other than their own sense of tribalism. But the irony is that I am also a pedal cyclist; I work for LCC, I used to race, I currently coach cycling, I regularly work for British Cycling and I'm a fully accredited National Standards Bikeability instructor. Yet this morning I was on my motorbike because, thanks to a car, I have an injury which restricts my ability to cycle very far. But none of that mattered; I was marked out as different and afforded some pretty rank treatment at the hands of my fellow cyclists. The point is that we are all on two wheels, we are all vulnerable and we should be looking out for each other, not behaving badly or finding excuses for those who do. Belinda Sinclair, LCC Community Cycling Officer

Bus lane bust-up In his recent comments in the LC April/May issue, Paul Allen unwittingly displays the innate superiority and patronising attitude of many motorcyclists and motorists in his 'reasoned' defence of the lethal opening up of bus lanes to motorcyclists for a trial period. Paragraph by paragraph, may I reply to his points... 1: Of course he is happy as a motorcyclist that the bus lane trial is going ahead; it's like being given a free house or free money, with no extra responsibilities or cost entailed. 2: How exactly are motorcyclists 'vulnerable' to cyclists and pedestrians? At worst in a collision between them, the motorcyclists gets a scrape and a dented bike, the cyclist and pedestrian, however, is often seriously injured or dead. 3a: There is a point in 'tit for tat' arguing here — cyclists lives depend on it.

Danny McL@Flickr

officially allowed in bus lanes on a trial basis — and judging from what happened to me on my ride to work this morning, it seems to have become an excuse for some very aggressive and partisan anti-motorbike behaviour. No doubt some will try and excuse it by claiming that pedal cyclists are the most vulnerable road users; yes they are — and I’m usually one of them — but after what happened to me this morning, I don’t think I want to be any longer. I pulled up behind a bus and a scooter at the traffic lights in Brixton town centre; another bus was next to me and although there was a big gap between the buses, the scooter (a learner) made no attempt to move up the line of traffic. That was okay and there was plenty of room for me to get round him, but before I could even think of doing so, before I could even start to look or move, I was shoved. Not a nudge or a tap, but a substantial shove by a hand on my right shoulder, from behind. In fact, had I been moving, it would probably have knocked me off balance; luckily I was still stationary with both feet firmly on the ground, so didn’t fall. But the pusher — a cyclist — then drew alongside me, and tried to shove his way past. I nodded him through but he started to shout at me; I was a bit bemused, but I nodded him through again. That was when he really flipped, calling me all sorts of rather colourful names, swearing and shouting and moving in front of me, halfway up between the buses. I followed, expecting him to move to the front of the traffic into the ASL box, and that would be that. But he stopped, swivelled round, and berated me from astride his bike and continued when the buses started to move. He was very aggressive and got right up in my face, grabbed my handlebars, rocked my bike and demanded the keys. As this was going on, the traffic on either side was moving freely and, while he was entitled to be unconcerned about his own safety, I was increasingly unhappy about mine; yet I couldn’t move because he was blocking me, still shouting and swearing and pulling on my bars. He finally let go and started to pedal off — still insulting me

MOTORBIKES: a problem in bus and cycle lanes

3b: Of course his life is already safer for being able to use some bus lanes — but it's every cyclist he now passes who is already far unsafer. 4: What is so inviolable about the Mayor 'granting' this trial? This is also the politician who took away the right to consume alcohol on the Tube, without a direct vote, which indicates how much thought has gone into this particular directive. And why not 'shout loudly' about it? It's called democracy, not acquiescence to bureaucracy. 5: What proof does he have that motocyclists are not threats to cyclists? My favourite stopping places at traffic lights are already being colonised by motorcyclists zipping in just ahead of me as I approach red lights. And I’m sure it won't be long before I’m beeped to get out of the way of what they now see as their favourite spots at lights and other places. The proof is in the pudding, of course. Let Paul Allen walk the walk, not just talk the talk — why not come commuting by bike with me for several days, among motorcyclists and other traffic? Then we’ll see if his opinion changes… Terry Leamy, Finchley

Flash in the pan I am disappointed to see you reviewing these irritating light accoutrements such as ‘ledals’ (please!) and ‘monkey electrics’.

My cycling commuting experience is already immeasurably degraded since the relaxation of the law on flashing lights — and promoting ‘look at me!’ garish accessories does nothing for the enjoyment or mental relaxation of sober-minded cyclists who have to share the roads with the sort of juvenile cyclists who will buy these toys. I am now constantly distracted from the concerns of the road and the cycling environment when commuting by bike, by the high number of cyclists who now sport these wholly unnecessary flashing lights front and rear — sometimes two or three in a bunch over their bikes! They even have them on helmets and packs, pedals and handlebars, all flashing brightly and distractingly! Are we sober-minded cyclists supposed to be able to ignore such circus-like displays? If I wanted twee light displays, I'd move to middle England to be closer to those houses bedaubed in Xmas tree bulbs and reindeers for three months of the year! Anon, by email

CLASSIFIED ADS ■ Brompton, green, 3-speed, 3-4 years old, £400 recently serviced. 020 8318 2439; rodshepherd@hotmail.com

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O i i Opinion

COLUMNIST'S VIEW

Zoe Williams Our regular LC columnist celebrates the recent bike parking success and explains why it’s good to get involved in campaigning

eing a cyclist is like being a dog-owner or a smoker: even when you give it all up, or your dog dies (heaven forbid), that is still where your loyalty lies. It sounds like a nice, bonding thing: a wholesome alliance that gives you a sense of place, community, identity. In fact, it mainly just makes me incredibly angry with the House of Lords. You will remember in the last London Cyclist issue, the matter of bike parking was raised. Not by me, or at least, not in a sensible manner: I was just angry that a chap told me not to lock my bike to some street furniture. But in the wider world, outside my theatre of egocentricity, a Transport for London Bill was almost reaching conclusion, which would have enabled councils to remove bikes, without notice, regardless of how long they’d been locked up and whether or not they looked abandoned.

Worth a shout So this month we’re celebrating a triumph — the Bill was not passed, partly because of the evidence of Ralph Smyth, counsel for the LCC. I feel like I want to attach some little sleigh bells to my ankles or something. Now, this is not the most obvious triumph for pioneering journalism — the real muscle is not the people who shout, it’s the people who organise, and lobby, and get it together to appear before a House of Lords committee. And yet at the same time, cycling is one of the few areas in which the personal and the political coincide for long enough that you can get up a head of steam. Here is the sad truth about my personality — discussing issues of macro-economics, I can get riled, but I cannot get angry. I went to the May Day marches of 2000; I went all the way to Genoa for the G8 summit, and I still wasn’t angry. I was mainly going because I thought it would be a laugh. And it was a laugh, right up until the point that they started tear-gassing us, when we weren’t even doing anything, apart from blowing disposable horns (I will, with the calm of hindsight, admit that that’s quite an annoying noise). So really, my abiding rage about that whole period is not with capitalism, it’s with policemen, of one stripe or another. You can tell me til you’re pink that they are just a function of the injustices of capitalism, but it doesn’t stick, I’m afraid. I can feel viscerally enraged by small, booted Italian men with batons

longer than their angry little legs, but still no more than intellectually critical of the system as a whole.

Biking's more bonding Cycling, however, is different, and I think I have to admit that it is bonding — it feels more manageable, more localised than global finance. You can track the measures that endanger or inconvenience you — the bendy buses, the parking regulations, the bus lanes — right up to the people who have the conversations in

“It's asking a lot from your bike, of course, to bring a sense of purpose to your entire life...” which those decisions are made. When you hear 'Yesterday in Parliament', and some unelected wigwearing bigot is extemporising about the time a cycle courier nearly ran them over, you can follow that thread (just about) right up to the policy document that proposes some stupid idea, like cycle licences or number plates. And it makes me livid, not in a barren, petty-minded way, like last week when I got a penalty fare because — in fairness to them — I had not bought a ticket; rather, in a full-blooded, productive way, that makes me think a noise is worth making, and a petition is worth signing, and a pressure group is worth joining. In all these ways, in other words, that sprinkle meaning into my otherwise mainly meaningless life. It’s asking quite a lot from your bike, of course, to bring a sense of purpose to your entire life, especially if it’s just a regular town-hybrid, you’re not even a weekend racer. But I feel that, with a small amount of input from idiot politicians, my trusty steed can handle it. Zoe Williams is a freelance journalist and columnist who contributes regularly to publications including The Guardian and New Statesman June-July 2009

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O i i Opinion

GUEST COLUMNIST

Oliver Schick With so much bike-related activity in London now, it's difﬁcult to keep up. Hackney Cyclists' Oliver Schick celebrates this growing diversity

here’s so much happening in cycling in London right now that you could be forgiven for thinking that it's always been like this. Of course diversity is not surprising in such a large, cosmopolitan city, however what's surprised many people is that such diversity has started to take root in cycling. Stand on any busy street corner and you’ll see hybrids, fixed-gears or singlespeeds, roadies, mountain bikes, cargo bikes, maybe even a tandem, recumbent or bike polo player with mallet attached to the top-tube. And it’s not just about your solo commute — all over London groups of friends are getting together to do cycle activities together. Every evening, there are a handful of social occasions that revolve around cycling, whether it's group rides, sports events, pub gatherings and —not to be forgotten in all the fun — campaigning meetings. Rides like the famous 'Tweed Run', organised by the London Fixed-gear/Singlespeed Forum (LFGSS), are testament to this growth and now attract up to 200 riders. Small businesses connected to cycling also seem to be springing up everywhere — new shops such as Sargent and Co, Tour de Ville and Shop 14, as well as several repaironly businesses like Bike Yard East, are thriving as bigger shops struggle to cope with demand. London’s burgeoning cycle sports scene has likewise had an injection of vitality. Apart from traditional sports like road racing and time trialling, there are new kids on the block like roller racing, hardcourt bike polo and unicycle hockey. Cycling Club Hackney has started doing grass track racing events, which are easy to enter without preparation and give that first taste of racing.

Back to the future Interestingly, roller racing is an example of a bike activity that was hugely popular in the 1950s and is now enjoying a comeback. It's a move echoed elsewhere; we’re regaining parts of the cycling scene that haven’t existed for decades, hence the vintage bike trend and the re-emergence of smallscale framebuilders. Subtly, slowly, London is beginning to reclaim its cycling heritage. It's beginning to return as an integral aspect of the city's identity and culture. There is also a growing movement that looks to the Continent for inspiration in its appreciation of ‘urban cycle chic’. Encapsulated in this vision is people wearing the same sort of clothes on bikes that they might wear on public transport or while out walking; it represents a more

'intact' society, in which the average trip length is very short, in which people can live in a local environment that they actually like, so that they're not always yearning to drive out of it to escape. ‘Cross-over’ appeal means that it’s not cycling itself that’s in fashion, it’s different kinds of cycling — in the same way clothes are always needed, it’s just that the particular fashions change. Diversity helps ensure this appeal can be maintained as cycling gets bigger; to keep cycling, as a major cultural asset, fresh and exciting, and continuing to locate it at the heart of our daily business as a society. In London, cycling

“Other world cities are not experiencing the same growth in cycling as London” needs to truly become part of a Londoner’s identity. This is about more than just counting the number of people on bikes; this is about a genuine cultural shift. It may be possible elsewhere to promote cycling using only utilitarian arguments, but that is never going to work in London. For all its faults, it’s a completely unique place. And other world cities, while diverse and vibrant too, are not experiencing the same degree of growth in cycling as we are. The LCC’s strategic vision is to make London a worldclass city through cycling. Diversity has been key to LCC’s work for years, through our many and varied groups and through administering TfL’s Community Cycling Fund for London. We must not forget that this vision has never been achieved before in such a large city. And that’s what makes it so positive and exciting.

USEFUL WEBSITES www.londonfgss.com www.differentspokes.co.uk www.londoncyclesport.com www.rollapaluza.com

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Bike Week highlights The country’s biggest bike festival comes to town on 13-21 June — so what will you be doing? Here’s our pick from the hundreds of events on offer

ike Week is London’s biggest mass cycling event. Every year LCC's local groups put on a huge range of entertainment and educational rides and events, all of them open to members and public. And this year is no different, with more than 100 rides and events expected to sweep across the capital.

Get friends onto two wheels LCC chief executive Koy Thomson said: “Although for many of us riding a bike is a daily occurrence, it’s worth remembering that for some people it’s a very rare event. That's all the more reason to make sure that during Bike

Week, when there’s a host of family and novice-friendly events in your area, you persuade one of your non or rarely cycling friends or colleagues to attend an event. “It’s only by experiencing the joy of riding a bike that people realise how something that’s healthy, economical and sustainable can also be fun. It sounds too good to be true to most! Find an event near you and take them.” For a full listing of events in Greater London, which you can search by borough, visit www.lcc.org.uk/rides. So what will you be doing during Bike Week? Finding new places? Making new friends? Shrinking your carbon footprint? Getting fit? Perhaps it’ll be all of the above.

GLAM UP FOR THE EVENING WHEN? 7pm, Friday 19 June WHERE? Green Bridge, Mile End Park, Tower Hamlets, E3 4PL WHAT? Decorate either your bike, yourself or both in your deﬁnition of glamour for this fun ride, with prizes later on

www.towerhamletswheelers.org.uk

GRAB FREE BREAKFAST WHEN? Tues 16 June WHERE? Junction of City/Goswell Roads and Colebrook Row, Islington, N1 WHAT? Hot drinks, pastries and bike checks are free for cycle commuters

www.icag.org.uk

LIVE ON THE EDGE WHEN? 10am-4pm, Sunday 21 June WHERE? Camden Town Hall, Judd Street, Camden, WC1H 9JE WHAT? Circumnavigate the borough, visiting every corner on this fun 22-mile excursion

www.camdencyclists.org.uk

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Bike Week

www.lcc.org.uk/rides

Photo: Lambeth Cyclists

THE LATEST BIKE WEEK NEWS HERE

LEARN ABOUT LONDON LIVING WHEN? 10am-4pm, Saturday 20 June WHERE? Ritzy Cinema, Brixton Oval, Lambeth, SW2 1JG WHAT? Join this 'best of' architecture cycle tour, which picks out the ﬁnest examples of buildings in Lambeth

www.lambethcyclists.org.uk

www.bikeweek.org.uk

HAVE FUN WITH THE FAMILY WHEN? 1pm-5pm, Sunday 14 June WHERE? Greenfest, Furnivall Gdns, Hammersmith & Fulham, W6 9DJ WHAT? Bring a picnic and make this the best free party of the year. Lots of activities for adults and children.

www.greenfest.org.uk

CYCLE THE SQUARES

WHEN? 10am-5.30pm, Sunday 14 June WHERE? Outside Marylebone station, Westminster, NW1 WHAT? Cycle to some of London's secret gardens open this week only (£8) www.westminstercyclists.org.uk

BECOME A BIKE FILM BUFF WHEN? Mon 15 June WHERE? Bermondsey Square Cinema, Southwark, SE1 3UN WHAT? Three hours of bike ﬁlms in London’s coolest space

www.southwarkcyclists.org.uk

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Technical

BE SAFE: take the space you need

Essential tips for new riders With more people taking to two wheels than ever before, David Dansky from Cycle Training UK provides some timely advice for those new to urban cycling

eople are taking to the streets by bike like never before and for a variety of reasons — saving time and money, getting fit, having fun or helping to save the planet. And while cycling is not a risky activity, if you haven’t ridden on the road before or are returning after a break, sharing London’s busy lanes with thousands of other people in a variety of vehicles may seem a little scary. By following the advice here we hope it will help minimise your fear and build confidence. You’ll soon be whizzing around town wondering how you managed without a bike for so long!

Get some training Booking up for cycle training is probably the quickest and most efficient way to build up your skills and confidence. Even experienced riders become more capable and experience fewer negative interactions with other road users after training. In fact, results from the 2005 survey ‘Cycle Training Works’ showed that after training people felt more confident, were prepared to make more 20

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frequent and longer bike trips, plus were more prepared to cycle in poor weather. Many London boroughs actually offer free or subsidised cycle training for people who live, work or study in that borough — see panel at the end for details.

Check your bike Regular checks on your bike will go a long way to reducing the risk of mechanical failure. A new bike bought from a traditional bike shop should be pretty hassle-free, but beware too-good-to-be-true online 'bargains' or bikes bought from supermarkets. Most importantly, ensure that your bike fits you and is set up properly; you should feel comfortable when seated on the saddle. As a rough guide for your optimum saddle position, your leg should be almost straight when the pedal is at the lowest point of its rotation (the 6 o’clock position) and you should also be able to reach the ground with the ball of your foot.

Ensure your bike is kept roadworthy

Check that your tyres are hard — the recommended pressure is written on the side of the tyre. Using a track pump with a gauge will make it easy for you to put in the correct amount of air. Remember riding on hard tyres on the road will improve bike control and increase your speed, as well as minimise the chance of a puncture. Also ensure that your brakes work well. Roll the bike forward and squeeze the front brake (right-hand brake); the bike should stop sharply. Roll the bike backwards then pull the back brake lever to test the rear brakes. There should be room to put two fingers between the brake lever and the handlebar, a good indication that the brakes are tuned correctly. Finally check that your chain is clean, lightly lubed and that it spins freely when you turn the pedals. Of course if in doubt about anything mechanical, take the bike to your local shop for advice. And in the long run, consider signing up for a maintenance course.

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Technical Photos: courtesy of Cycle Training UK

PROPER CYCLE TRAINING: will improve your skills and conﬁdence

Control your bike Before riding on the road, check out your control skills in a safe off-road environment. Are you setting off smoothly? Start in a low gear (if you have gears), then move to higher gears as you increase speed, dropping to lower gears as you slow down. Stop with your pedal already in the starting (2 o’clock) position to make moving off again easier. Also practise emergency techniques, learning to shift your body weight back when making an emergency stop. Ride with your fingers covering your brakes at all times, ready for quick stopping. Try swerving, left and right, around objects, getting back into your original line as quickly as possible. Keep good control of the bike while looking directly behind you and practise riding one-handed without wobbling. When you are happy that you have mastered the control basics, you are ready for the road.

Communicate with other road users Start by riding on quiet roads, then moving to busier roads where you get more opportunities to communicate with other road users as you gain confidence. As well as the obvious need to look behind you when you wish to turn or change your position on the road, looking behind regularly is a powerful way of communicating with others on the road. By showing your face to a driver behind, you will attract their attention and ensure that they have seen you; they will also know that you have seen them. Showing your face also serves to humanise the situation. In many cases drivers give more room to a rider who looks back regularly. They may also pass that rider at slower speeds. Always look behind before signalling. If someone needs to

know what you intend to do, give them a clear hand signal. If you plan to turn and don’t see anyone when you look around, there is no need to signal. Keeping both hands on the bars is safer than signalling unnecessarily.

LOOK BEHIND YOU: learn to communicate with other road users

Position yourself where you can see and be seen Many cyclists (even experienced riders) consider their default riding position to be near the kerb. Riding in this position takes you out of the line of vision of drivers and also puts you in conflict with pedestrians stepping from the kerb. While passing parked cars, riding in the car door zone puts you at risk of being hit by a car door opening. So learn to ride a car door’s width away from parked vehicles and a similar distance from the kerb. Ride in the traffic stream when

“At the end of the day the more people that ride, the safer it is for all cyclists” you can match its speed or need to in order to prevent a driver overtaking. This ensures that you are visible and prevents drivers passing you when there is not enough room. Out of misguided fear and deference to drivers, many cyclists need to work to build up the confidence to ride in front of moving vehicles even when they understand that they are actually safer here where the driver can see them. Cycle training and regular practice goes a long way to addressing this. A driver may well

beep a cyclist in this position, but at least it indicates that the driver has seen them. Some cycle lanes are positioned where the rider is less visible — such as across the mouth of a junction. You are not obliged to use these green stripes on the road and should position yourself where you can best see and be seen. On approaching traffic lights it is often more risky to reach the front by moving to the left of a traffic queue (where there may be a feeder cycle lane to the advanced stop box) than by overtaking the queue to the right. It is especially risky moving to the left of lorries, especially if the driver is planning to turn left.

Have fun At the end of the day, riding your bike should be an enjoyable experience. Looking relaxed and riding with a smile on your face as you pass that crowd of commuters waiting at a bus stop is a great way to promote cycling and encourage others to join the fun. The more people that ride, the safer it is for all cyclists.

FACTFILE ■ www.cycletraining.co.uk This is the best place to get further info on cycle training. A list of cycle training providers can be found at: ■ www.lcc.org.uk/index. asp?PageID=165 ■ Transport for London's website: www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/ cycling/9065.aspx

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campaign

Cycling & the workplace Getting your boss to embrace cycling can be a great idea. What's more, if you are the boss, it can be great move for the company too

What are the benefits to cyclists of getting your employer’s support? 1: Buy yourself a cheap bike and accessories HOW? The CYCLE TO WORK scheme. If your employer has signed up to the Cycle To Work scheme, you can buy a bike and cycling equipment (jacket, lock, lights, etc) up to the value of £1000 with superb tax benefits. The exact discount depends on your tax situation, but 50% off isn't unusual. 2: Enjoy better facilities at your workplace HOW? Get them to sign up to A NEW WAY TO WORK. Get your company signed up with TfL, and this can mean more cycle stands, new parking sheds and showers for cyclists, free cycle training, along with pool bikes and expenses allowances for cycling to meetings. 3: Cheaper LCC membership & support campaigning HOW? LCC CORPORATE AFFILIATES Staff at companies that have signed up to LCC’s corporate affiliates scheme enjoy discounts on membership, as well as other benefits such as cycle training and maintenance sessions. You save money, as well as helping raise essential funds for LCC’s campaigning.

"Challenge spurred others on to get their bikes out of the shed and to get tips from the more experienced riders"

What are the benefits to businesses of supporting cycling at work? 1: Save your business money HOW? Cars cost money to run: staff expenses, car park charges, congestion charge, fleet-management costs. Encouraging staff to walk/cycle/car share/public transport can save your business money. 2: Improve employee retention HOW? The more options you provide, the more chance you have to please your employees, so better staff retention, which we all know saves money. 3: More productive workers HOW? Studies consistently show that active staff are healthier, making them more productive and likely to take fewer sickies (cyclists on average take one whole day less off sick per year compared with non-cyclists, according to a Dutch study in 2008). 4: Improve your corporate image HOW? Encouraging cycling ticks corporate social responsibility boxes. Your business can rightly claim it’s helping to reduce congestion, benefiting local communities, reducing city polluting, combatting global warming and improving public health. 5: Support campaigning HOW? Your company can help support our campaigns to improve the city for cyclists.

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campaign i So how do you get more people at your work cycling? 1: LCC CORPORATE AFFILIATES SCHEME LCC is looking to forge more partnerships with leading companies to encourage the growth of cycling in Greater London. We’re experienced at demonstrating how employers can benefit from understanding the needs of urban cyclists. We work with existing corporate affiliates to help them achieve cycling targets, and provide them with the latest information on cycling programmes and grants aimed at helping businesses promote sustainable travel to their staff. Any new partnership will include a membership package in which we can offer affiliate staff 10% off LCC membership, giving them access to all our benefits such as free liability insurance, discounts in bike shops, our bimonthly magazine, access to local groups, events and campaigning news.

Existing corporate afﬁliates include: BskyB; Metropolitan Police Association; British Broadcasting Association; GlaxoSmithKline. Contact Lucy Cooper, London Cycling Campaign, 020 7234 9310; lucyc@lcc.org.uk

2: TfL — A NEW WAY TO WORK What does the scheme do? Transport for London’s A New Way To Work scheme provides companies with loads of free information (much of which they would have paid expensive consultants for a few years ago). Companies get a personal travel adviser, with loads of good advice, and the expertise to help you survey your staff (such as online tools) and plan useful measures to encourage cycling, walking, car sharing, bike pooling, and so on. Do I have to be a manager to contact TfL? No. Any employee, no matter how far down the food chain (and that’s most of us, isn’t it?), can contact TfL. Can TfL help gather support for cycling? Whether you’re a junior member of staff or a manager, TfL can give you advice on how to get the company behind cycling. This can include providing case studies on similar companies that have beneﬁtted, or sending along a representative to explain the beneﬁts of the scheme in person.

What happens when my company signs up? TfL assigns you a consultant to help create a Workplace Travel Plan (you’d have paid £1000s for this service a few years ago). This surveys staff to find out current travel habits and employees’ preferred means of transport. Surveys (TfL helps you conduct these online) consistently find that more people would cycle if the right facilities existed. Based on the survey results, TfL then helps your company implement change. Where do I get more information? www.anewwaytowork.org Contact Transport for London: worktp@tfl.gov.uk

3: CYCLE TO WORK SCHEME What does the scheme do? It gets you a cheap bike: CTW subsidises employees of participating companies up to 50% off the cost of a new bike and accessories, up to £1000. It’s a salary-sacrifice scheme, allowing you to pay for the bike over a number of months with the money taken from your pay. How do I get my company to sign up? Ask them nicely: it’s not compulsory for firms to participate and administering the scheme will inevitably require a small amount of effort from your accounts and management team. Therefore, be prepared to argue for the benefits to the company, as well as those to yourself. Getting a group of you to ask together is bound to be more effective than asking alone.

4: WORKPLACE CHALLENGE The London Workplace Cycle Challenge is a fun, free competition to see which London-based organisations can get the most employees cycling during the month of June. It's a proven way of getting employees to motivate each other, so if you'd like to get colleagues at work cycling, or cycling more, then think about getting your organisation to sign up.

The scheme is not administered directly by the government, rather through third parties. It's worth shopping around to ﬁnd a scheme that suits you: perhaps you want to support smaller bikes shops. For the ﬁne details on how companies implement the scheme, there's a useful 'open-source' hand-out from London bike shop Velorution (give them a call and ask them to email it), as well as information from the government. Contacts Velorution, 020 7637 4004; www.velorution.biz Government's Cycle To Work Scheme: http://tinyurl.com/cycletoworkLondon

WORKPLACE CHALLENGE 2008 FACTFILE Participants: over 2500 Londoners No. of organisations: over 400 Distance cycled collectively: 250,000 miles

Contact www.tﬂ.gov.uk/cyclechallenge to register your interest now

June-July 2009

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London Cyclist

12/5/09 01:38:17

Best rides in London

Central London: Women’s One dark night in March, nearly 200 cyclists mounted their trusty steeds to celebrate International Women's Day, with the ﬁrst LCC Women’s Ride

FACTFILE 9

Distance: 10 mile loop Location: Central London Terrain: urban Gradient: mostly ﬂat Time: 1.5-2 hours

Tavistock Pl

Row Southampton

here’s something really special about sharing a favourite ride. It’s a chance t o discover new sights and s ee familiar places with a fresh perspective. We hope you enjoy our first London ride, created by some of the staff at LCC to celebrate International Women’s Day.

From the back of beyond

St Ma rti ns Ln

FINISH

CHARING CROSS

STRAND

VICTORIA

Waterloo Bridge

e Gat

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The Mall

The Elegant Covent Garden Hotel on 10 Monmouth St was formerly a women’s hospital, founded in 1710 and built in 1867. Nowadays it’s an oasis of calm in the hustle and bustle of Covent Garden; it might not sell the cheapest cup of coffee in London, but the blueberry mufﬁns are to die for.

London Cyclist

8 ST JAMES PARK

Garden Hotel, 10 Monmouth St 1 Covent

START

m gha kin Buc

On Saturday 7th March, over 200 women (and men), dressed in their finest and brightest outfits, rode the 10-mile route. The ride was designed to be accessible to all, and included many inexperienced cyclists who’d never taken part in an organised ride before. LCC marshals were on hand to make sure everyone had a safe and enjoyable time. Lucy Cooper, LCC marketing manager said: “The fact is that not enough women cycle in London. Worries about safety and practicalities prevent too many of us taking up this healthy activity.” “Our ride was designed to remove some of these barriers. And we’ll be organising more in future. Check out our women-specific website (www. women-cycling-campaign) for news and advice.” ■ For a more detailed map, go to http://tinyurl.com/ LCCwomensRide

We stm ins ter Br idg e

WESTMINSTER

WATERLOO

memorial, Whitehall 3 Women’s

This bronze memorial to the Women of WW2, stands next to the Cenotaph in Whitehall, and depicts the uniforms of women in the forces alongside the working clothes of those who worked in factories, hospitals, emergency services and farms. The sculpture by John Mills is a tribute to all seven million women who contributed to the war effort.

June-July 2009

12/5/09 11:48:01

Best rides in London

Ride

OTHER PLACES TO VISIT 2 Statue of Edith Cavell, Trafalgar Square: Cavell (1865-1915) was a British World War I nurse and humanitarian. She is celebrated for helping hundreds of Allied soldiers escape from German-occupied Belgium.

Persephone bookshop, Lambs Conduit Street

Founded in the Spring of 1999 by Nicola Beauman. The name Persephone was chosen because it has a timeless quality, sounds beautiful, is very obviously feminine and symbolizes new beginnings (and fertility) as well as female creativity. At first it was not realized that Persephone also symbolizes many other aspects of women's lives, for example, less cheerfully, she represents married hell (being raped and imprisoned by her uncle Hades). But mainly she is an image of women's creativity, and that is why the logo, based on a painting on a Greek amphora, shows a woman who is not only reading (the scroll), but also symbolizes domesticity (the goose). Persephone prints mainly neglected fiction and non-fiction by women, for women and about women from the twentieth century.

Theobald s Rd

rn lbo ct Ho iadu V

Vera Mary Brittain (1893-1970) was an English writer, feminist and paciﬁst, best remembered as the author of the bestselling 1933 memoir Testament of Youth. Winifred Holtby, (18981935) was a writer and journalist. Holtby’s novels included Anderby Wold (1923), The Crowded Street (1924) and The Land of Green Ginger (1927).

9 Louisa Aldrich-Blake (1865-1925), Tavistock Square memorial: One of the first women to enter medicine. At the Royal Free Hospital, Aldrich-Blake was the first woman to hold the position of Surgical Registrar and also the first to perform operations for cancer of the cervix. 12 St Bartholomew’s Hospital: Elizabeth Blackwell, the first worman to graduate from medical school, trained here in 1850.

Pankhurst, Victoria Tower Gdns 5 Emmeline

Women were granted equal voting rights to men in 1928, shortly after the death of Emmeline Pankhurst (18581928) who was a political activist and leader of the British suffragette movement. Although she was widely criticised for her militant tactics, her work is recognised as a crucial element in achieving women's suffrage in Britain.

7 Waterloo Bridge: Often referred to as the ‘Ladies Bridge’, as it was rebuilt largely by women after being damaged by German bombers in WW2. 8 Theatre Royal: In the 1660s actresses appeared for the ﬁrst time on the British Stage.

Brittain & Winnifred Holby, 10 Vera Doughty Rd

4 Buckingham Palace & Queen Victoria Memorial: Built by the sculptor Sir Thomas Brock in 1911, the Memorial is now a Grade 1 listed building.

13 Emily Faithfull’s Victoria Press, 83 Farringdon Street: Faithfull championed womens’ rights in the workplace and set up her own printers.

Statue of Boadicea, near Westminster Bridge

Boadicea was a queen of the Iceni tribe, in what is now known as East Anglia. She led an uprising of the tribes against the occupying forces of the Roman Empire.

14 Margaret Macdonald statue, Lincoln’s Inn Fields: Noted feminist and socialist who lived nearby

June-July 2009

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London Cyclist

12/5/09 11:48:30

UK interest

Welsh rare bits There really is only one museum for the bicycle enthusiast — Roger Blackhouse visits the National Cycle Museum in Llandrindod Wells

hell's guide to Mid Wales is cruel about Llandrindod Wells. In the 1966 edition, the author, the late David Verey, wrote: “Round every corner you expect to see the sea, but there is no sea, only rain.” Don’t be put off by that bleak description. The Victorian spa town of Llandod, as it’s known locally, is home to a museum with the best collection of bicycles in the UK. The bicycle is one of the world’s great engineering achievements. Fast, versatile and almost unpolluting, it has evolved remarkably since the 19th century. The museum presents almost the whole history under one roof. The nucleus of this collection was developed by the late Tom Norton, a local entrepreneur who was a cycle racer and dealer in Newtown before

London Cyclist

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branching out into car sales. He built Llandrindod’s Automobile Palace as a car showroom in 1919. Norton had a lifetime interest in bicycles, using a Kendrick tricycle to go to work at the age of 83. Other items in the collection came from the former National Cycle Museum at Lincoln, and the collection of the present curator, David Higman.

Out of the 'ordinary' The Scot, Kirkpatrick Macmillan, is often credited as the inventor of the bicycle. A replica of his 1840 lever-driven machine is in the museum. Unfortunately this was a technological dead end and we have to move to the 1868 invention of the French Michaux Brothers who put pedals on the front wheel to create their 'velocipede'. This was much

copied and Llandrindod has an example dating from 1869 made in Bristol. The velocipede was the first really popular bicycle. It was developed for racing but the only gearing possible was by increasing the size of the front wheel. Racing models of the ‘ordinary’ or Penny Farthing had front wheels up to 52-inch diameter; they were the preserve of daring young men. Many still exist and, again, there's several specimens in the collection. Several technical advances led to improvements. The wire tension wheel was light and strong. It was applied to the bicycle by the American Virgil Price as early as 1870. However, the greatest contribution came from a Swiss engineer living in Manchester, Hans Renold, who invented the first roller chain.

June-July 2009

12/5/09 00:23:16

UK interest

THROUGH THE AGES: from 'Penny Farthings' and 'velocipedes' to recumbents and tourers, there's bikes from every era on display at the museum

One of the most revolutionary inventors was Mikael Pedersen, a Dane who produced a light frame of radical form. He worked from first principles of scientific design and with the help of RA Lister set up the Dursley-Pedersen Cycle Co to make

The 'velocipede' was the first really popular bicycle. It was developed for racing but the only gearing possible was by increasing the size of the front wheel were several less successful spin-offs by other manufacturers. Other bikes were made for appearance rather than hard work. The Raleigh ‘Chopper’ was almost unspeakably clumsy, but was hugely popular among teenage boys in the 1970s and early 1980s. Despite new designs such as recumbents, the basic diamond frame has proved adaptable and durable. The British Post Office used thousands of bikes with a distinctive bent top-tube, while folding bikes were made for paratroopers.

“

Diamonds are forever

a luxury model weighing less than 20lbs. With a seat slung like a hammock it was very comfortable. In 1902 Pedersen added to his invention with the first three-speed hub gear, only a year ahead of the better known Sturmey Archer gear. Pedersen’s use of scientific principles to redesign the bicycle was rivalled only by Alex Moulton, who developed his open frame model in the late-1950s. Though dismissed by many, including Raleigh’s engineers, it proved as fast as a safety bike. The small wheels and innovative rubber suspension gave it a distinctive look and there

”

This chain was a key part of the Safety bicycle invented by James Starley of Coventry. Originally he concentrated on elaborate tricycles aimed at the well-to-do market, but in 1886 he brought out the 'Rover' safety bicycle. Main features were direct steering, sloping forks, rear drive and the diamond frame. It was easy to ride and far safer, sweeping the ordinary out of manufacture within a few years. Now women could ride easily. The bicycle gave women a new freedom, helped by the adoption of 'rational' dress better known in America as 'bloomers' after the Mrs Bloomer who first wore them. The diamond frame remains the classic design today and there are dozens of examples in the museum from different materials, including one made of bamboo. In more modern times carbon fibre has been successfully used for racing bikes. What's surprising is how few truly radical innovations have appeared since the safety bike. More gradual improvements were made such as the derailleur gear invented by Tulio Campagnolo 1933. But this and other innovations, like the safety bicycle, were often resisted by the racing fraternity. Sport did not drive progress in bike design.

In fact many early motorbikes showed their bicycle origins. Some firms made motor attachments designed to drive a bicycle front wheel — an example in the museum is the 32cc Cyclemaster which was claimed to do 200 miles per gallon. The museum has many different tricycles too. 'Barrow boys' or tricyclists have a long history and some weird and wonderful machines were made from 1869 in Coventry; one was the rotary tricycle with one large wheel alongside two in-line steering wheels. Tom Norton’s own Kendrick tricycle of 1937 reversed usual practice with two driven front wheels. Whatever the engineering merits of this arrangement, Tom Norton claimed it kept gout at bay when he rode it to work in his later years. Older readers may remember the 'Stop Me and Buy One' ice cream sellers and there's one of those classic trikes on display. The collection is rich in other cycling memorabilia, ranging from trophies and a cyclist’s tombstone to lights and advertisements. It all adds up to a fascinating day out in this Victorian town.

FACTFILE ■ The Automobile Palace, Temple Street, Llandrindod Wells, Powys, LD1 5DL. Tel: 01597 825531 ■ Admission: £3.50 adults, £2.50 senior citizens, £1.50 children. ■ Opening: 7 days a week, Mar-Oct. Tues, Thursday & Sun only, 1st Nov to end of Feb. ■ www.cyclemuseum.org.uk Article courtesy of Model Engineer magazine

June-July 2009

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London Cyclist

12/5/09 00:23:29

Overseas O

Britt of alright There’s bucket (and spade) loads of beautiful riding just over the Channel, as Mark Mitchell discovers on a long weekend in Brittany

hink ‘Brittany’ and you’ll doubtless conjure up images of striped jumpers. At a stretch you might even picture a rugged coastline of Cornish proportions. But further probing probably draws little more than blanks for most Brits. Which is surprising when you consider its location just a short hop from our southern shores; the tourist crowds invariably bypass the region as they dash for heady delights of Paris or the even headier heights of the Alps. What they’re missing out on, however, is an enchanting swathe of historic villages and impressive chateaux, linked by some of the continent’s best-kept cycling secrets. With its temperate climate and tranquil countryside, the minor roads of this north-west corner of France are quiet with very few cars, and the Bretons are generally well disposed to cyclists. Hardly surprising then that the Tour de France has started here six times and four winners have come from the area, including the mighty Bernard Hinault. Tom Simpson, British racing legend of the 1960s, even launched his continental cycle racing career from the town of St-Brieuc. The scenic attractions are many too — from Neolithic standing stones or menhirs (thousands of them), to glorious mansions and fortified towns, a scattering of major cities, sleepy villages and sea-kissed harbours. Many off-road green paths and lanes have been officially established through woods and by lakesides, plus there’s 1,300 kilometres of coastal trails. Jutting out into the Atlantic Ocean, Brittany is one of those places that has a genuine ‘big sky’ feeling as you’re never far from the sea. About a third larger than Wales with strong Celtic roots, it is divided into five departments, one being Finistère. The north coast offers gently undulating country lanes that hug sandy coves and low, rocky shorelines, perfect for leisure

London Cyclist

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LE TOUR: the cycling world's premier road race has a long association with Brittany

cycling. Recommended destinations include Brignogan-Plages, in an area called the Pays des Abers, littered with granite boulders as big as houses, or Porspoder, in the Pays d’Iroise, where most of the stones are megalithic monuments. Both areas have good cycling infrastructure and bike hire shops

Island life Enticing islands just off the coast also offer great riding and one in particular is the tiny L’Île de Batz. If you only have time for a weekend visit, it makes an ideal break, especially if travelling by ferry from the UK to Roscoff. The island lies less than 30 minutes by boat from this northern port, itself an interesting old town. With a population of just 600 people — the size of a small English parish — a circular tour of the island is roughly ten kilometres. This may not seem much, but a criss-cross network of quiet lanes lead you to a plant collector’s exotic garden, a

lighthouse, a ruined chapel dating from before the eleventh century, in addition to hidden bistros and restaurants by the dozen. Choose between the flats or gentle hills, with breathtaking views throughout, and you’ll understand why the cycling here is regarded so highly. After a hearty seafood lunch in Roscoff, the group I travelled with joined chattering islanders and excited visitors on this local passenger boat. There are three bike-hire shops on the island and we opted for one on the quayside. With very few motor vehicles on L’Île de Batz, it makes cycling the narrow lanes an even more pleasurable experience; it’s a bit like Cornwall used to be. The collector’s garden, a ‘must-see’, was established about a 100 years ago by horticultural enthusiast Georges Delaselle and has several themed areas with plants and trees from all around the world. It really is the perfect place to relax before or after sampling some of the local refreshment.

June-July 2009

12/5/09 00:10:53

Overseas

COAST TO COAST: Brittany's shoreline is very similar to Cornwall

Keep a-Brest of things There are only a few large cities in the region, including modern and maritime Brest in the north-west, home of the impressive Océanopolis aquarium and marine theme park. Quimper in the south-west is famous for pottery and its gothic cathedral, while the regional capital Rennes, in the east, boasts a multitude of historic architecture. To the south, Nantes on the Loire river, has something for everyone, with eight dedicated pages in the Michelin guide covering its many attractions. In the countryside, don’t expect vineyards, but there are cycle-friendly features like the Nantes-Brest Canal, one of four main waterways in Brittany. Nearly 320 kilometres long, it includes a wide, unmetalled towpath for easy pedalling, though we’d recommend a minor detour onto nearby country lanes every few kilometres to add more variety and offer the chance to discover picturesque towns and villages along the way. Things don’t disappoint from a culinary perspective either. Being a maritime region, devotees of seafood are particularly well served. Accommodation is plentiful too: modern and traditional hotels, economy chains, B&Bs, rustic buildings converted into comfy guesthouses, plus well-equipped campsites. After all the physical effort, you might even want to try a natural course of seawater treatments first developed in the region — Thalassotherapy. Spend even a short time in Brittany and you’ll quickly realise it’s not just striped pullovers and seagulls. Cyclists are particularly well catered for. The governments, both central and local, are working hard to make the region more appealing to two-wheelers and there are numerous websites and guides now available to ensure you get the most out of your stay. Combine that with a strong network of hire shops and cycle touring companies and it’s easy to see why our cross-Channel neighbour is set to move up the hitlist of more discerning travellers.

MIXED RIDING: to suit all ages and abilities

FACTFILE How to get there: There is a good choice of air, sea and rail services for travel to Brittany. If time is crucial, flying is the quickest and several national and regional operators offer direct flights. For example, take a train from London’s Waterloo Station to Southampton Airport and flybe will get you to Brest, all within a few hours. Some of the carriers make big green claims but check if they will take bicycles. ■ www.aerarann.com ■ www.airfrance.com ■ www.flybe.com Ferries: Roscoff and St Malo may be reached by channel ferries from ports like Dover, Portsmouth, Weymouth and Plymouth. ■ www.brittany-ferries.co.uk ■ www.condorferries.co.uk ■ www.poferries.com Rail: For Londoners, the Channel Tunnel provides a good rail option and there are services from Paris over to the main cities in Brittany. ■ www.eurostar.com ■ www.raileurope.com

Fact file Xxxxxxxxxxx

Touring holidays: Cycle touring holidays may be booked from companies providing bikes fully equipped with panniers or camping kit; they will also recommend hotels to stay in. One such enterprise is Breton Bikes, run by an English family. ■ www.bretonbikes.com Tourist info: The tourist authorities provide excellent websites, guides and advice, well worth looking at or obtaining. The Michelin Green Guide to Brittany is invaluable and a wise investment. ■ www.brittanytourism.com ■ www.finisteretourisme.com L’Île de Batz website is also worth checking ■ www.iledebatz.com/home.php

June-July 2009

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London Cyclist

12/5/09 00:11:08

Products

Folding bikes As more people turn to cycle commuting, there’s been a resurgence in interest for that perennial favourite – the folder. We look at six current models…

New LC product editor Matthew Moore will be organising our ongoing reviews schedule. Contact: m.moore@lcc. org.uk

Pinnacle Journey 2.0 £400 www.evanscycles.com THE JOURNEY 2.0 is part of Evans Cycles’ own-brand range and, like the Dahon Curve S3, it delivers good performance at a budget price. It’s actually the least expensive here, costing a fraction of the most expensive models. Riding the bike, you notice the smooth and even ride from its 20-inch wheels. Flicking through the nine-speed cassette using the thumb-shift gear changer is a breeze. Steering is very responsive, and though the overall feel isn’t up to that of the bikes at the top end of the range, it still makes for a satisfying experience. Where the Journey 2.0 scores

highly is in its swift fold, and you’ll quickly master the simple mechanism based around a hinged frame. In folded form, the Pinnacle isn’t the smallest or lightest around (at 12.5kg), but it’s still a manageable unit that’s perfectly acceptable to use on your commuter train or to stash in a cupboard. The excellent package includes a rack, chainguard and mudguards, and coming from one of the UK’s leading bike retailers means you’ll always be able to get parts and servicing easily. Deﬁnitely a folding bike to consider if budget’s tight. ■ Evans Cycles 01293 574905

Dahon Curve D3 £470 www.dahon.com

Dahon is the world’s largest folding bike manufacturer by volume, and the D3 is one of its 16-inch wheel models. There’s also a large choice of 20-inch wheelers, ranging from singlespeed to 18-speed options. Aimed at the cost-conscious commuter, our D3 came in an eye-catching scarlet, though it’s also available in pink or white. The bike folds using a hinge in the chassis, which is easy to learn and, with a bit of practice, you’ll have it folded in seconds. The resultant package is compact and light enough to carry, making it suitable for busy trains or stairs. 32

London Cyclist

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The three-speed hub gears keep maintenance to a minimum, and sensible gearing means you should be comfortable on both the ﬂat or London’s hills. A rack and mudguards are standard, plus there’s even a convenient kickstand. If you want a little extra comfort, Dahon’s extensive range of bike accessories includes a suspension seatpost. If you’re on a budget and want a good all-round bike, the Curve D3 should be high on your shortlist. Otherwise, you might ﬁnd what you’re looking for among the rest of Dahon’s stable. ■ Dahon 01727 798345

Brompton M3L £600 www.brompton.co.uk It says much for the quality and longevity of this London company that the name Brompton is almost synonymous with the words ‘folding bike’. The company's strong identity is helped by the fact that, though every bike is hand-built to order, they all share the same distinctive chassis. Indeed, the Brompton shape is so ubiquitous that it doesn't attract the envious gazes the Birdy and Airnimal elicit; rather a quiet respect. But then the Brompton design is something of a masterpiece. The steel frame

offers rigidity and strength, and while the 16-inch wheels suggest less stability than larger-wheeled rivals, that simply isn't the case: our M3L showed excellent poise, with zippy manoevrability to boot. The M-type features Sturmey-Archer's reliable three-speed hub gear and mudguards come as standard. Brompton also makes twoand six-speed derailleur models, but if you're looking for a superb workhorse which may well last a lifetime, this could be your bike. ■ Brompton 020 8232 8484

June-July 2009

12/5/09 00:18:10

Products Airnimal Joey Sport £800 www.airnimal.com This Cambridge-designed bicycle will fold to a reasonably compact form considering its size and its (near mountain-bike diameter) 24-inch wheels. However, the Joey Sport isn't a super-compact folder in the style of some, so don't expect it to ﬁt in smaller luggage racks or cupboards. The fold is also slower and demands the removal of the front wheel, though straps mean you can still transport it as a single item. Yet if you do have a little extra space and time, this is clearly the bike to ride. Large wheels, 11kg weight and crisp Shimano nine-speed transmission make it a beautifully balanced affair. Chrome details and neat graphics mean it's a bit of a head-turner too. Our bike wasn't equipped with a rack or mudguards, but there's a reasonable range of options if you

spend a bit more. Other options include an eight-speed Shimano Alﬁne hub gear model (£975), which will add some weight, but promises years of hassle-free,

Mezzo D10 £845 www.mezzobikes.com

Mezzo is a British company based in East Sussex, with designs by Jon Whyte, the man responsible for dozens of classic mountain bikes. Though British designed, the bikes are actually built in the Far East. The D10 is the most expensive in Mezzo’s range, and its neat touches are immediately appealing. The dogleg ‘steering column’ is a noticeable departure from other designs, but certainly has no ill effects on the handling. The one-piece aluminium chassis is stiff and, allied to the responsive steering, makes for a comfortable ride despite its 16-inch wheels. A slick thumb-shifter is mated with a 10-speed

derailleur, which is a Shimano 105 unit of the sort you’d ﬁnd on decent road bikes. The range is very practical, able to tackle tough hills and put on a good spurt along the ﬂat. Learning to fold monocoque bikes can be tricky, but with practice you really will be able to do it ‘quicker than you can tie your shoelaces’ as Mezzo claims. The D10 folds to about the size of an airline handluggage bag, and is comfortable to carry at 11kg. It makes this sporty model eminently suitable for train commuting, an idea reinforced by Mezzo’s useful extras including a rear rack-bag and mudguards. ■ Mezzo 01424 753566

low-maintenance riding. All folding bikes are a compromise between comfort and compactness to some extent, and Airnimal has chosen its market

position cleverly. If you can handle the Joey Sport's extra bulk, it's a superbly rewarding machine to ride. ■ Airnimal 01954 782020

Birdy C2W £999 www.birdybike.com The ‘Cycle 2 Work’ is a new model in the Birdy range, the cheapest in this brand’s range of premium models, though the most expensive reviewed here. And of all the bikes shown, it's the sporty lines and gloss ﬁnish of the Birdy that draw the most admiring comments. The one-piece aluminium frame and 18-inch wheels combine with front and rear suspension (the only bike here with that feature) to give an excellent ride. While some folders require a period of acclimatisation, the Birdy immediately feels natural and balanced, and soaks up bumps and obstacles with ease.

An 8-speed Shimano transmission lets you accelerate swiftly to a fast commuting pace, while a crisp twist-shifter makes for rapid gear changes. The C2W weighs just 12kg and folding to a compact package is quick once you’ve familiarised yourself with the process; you just need to remember to put the bike in top gear ﬁrst. Assembling the bike is easy too, and you’ll be able to stash it unobtrusively on a train. Overall, the Birdy’s attractive design, comfy ride and simple fold make it an attractive product if you have a grand to spend. ■ Bikeﬁx 020 7405 1218

NEXT ISSUE We review hybrid and commuter bikes, a couple of new singlespeed designs, plus highlight some more summer gear worth trying.

June-July 2009

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London Cyclist

12/5/09 01:24:37

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7/5/09 20:49:58

Products

Summer gear Our experts recommend some new products that'll make your summer riding even more fun

For advice on buying a folding bike, plus a competition, go to www.londoncyclist.org.uk. There's also a brand new 'product blog' coming in July!

Cyclodelic Cap £29 Cuffs Wide £19 Cuffs Narrow £10 www.cyclodelic.co.uk

Osprey Talon 22/Osprey Talon 33 £60-£70 www.ospreypacks.com These ultra lightweight packs are designed for fast, outdoor activities — so they’re perfect for summer commuting. The ﬂexible, ventilated back panels and waist-strap distribute weight so well that you can forget you’re wearing the Talons. You’ll get every day use from features like the nine well-placed pockets on the Talon 22 (pictured), the zip ﬁnger-loops

that you can open with a gloved hand and the blinker patch for your rear light; while features like the hydration bladder slot mean the Talons step up effortlessly to demanding outdoor use. The larger capacity Talon 33 will even take a full change of clothes or shopping — and it’s no more awkward to commute with or carry. ■ Tel: 01202 413920

Tifosi Stelvio £49.99 www.tifosiopticsuk.com

Hackney-based Cyclodelic brings some much-needed glamour to cycling clothing and accessories. The narrow and wide-beaded cuffs, with matching or clashing colour smartie snaps, are more fun than cycle clips. And a satin jockey cap brims with insouciant style. A fun, outgoing range that’s now available at Topshop on Oxford Street. ■ Tel: 07882 939905

Rapha Fixed Shorts £120 www.rapha.cc

With three sets of glare-reducing, UV sensitive lenses, you can wear the Tifosi Stelvios no matter what the great British summer is doing. The durable frames ﬁt medium to large heads especially well and

you can adjust the stems from half-way down, and the nosepiece, to ﬁne-tune your ﬁt. If you’re serious about your sunnies, the Stelvios are a cracking buy. ■ Tel: 01332 274200

Endura Spectrum £14.99

Knog Valore £12 www.knog.com.au

Knog’s Valore saddlepacks give you an oval alternative to those black and boxy numbers. It’s big enough at 850ml for bike spares and tools, or to cart around keys, wallet or purse and phone for a luggage-free summer ride. You can remove it from under your saddle in a few seconds if

you're leaving your bike and reattach in about a minute. We like the rubberised splash-proof underside and reﬂective rear light on this well-designed, good-looking pack. Knog also has a smaller 750ml version for a tenner. ■ Tel: 01332 274200

www.endura.co.uk New in a dirt-disguising slate blue, Rapha’s ¾-length plus-four Fixed Shorts square the circle of comfortable, practical kit and well designed, immaculately crafted cycling couture. The Fixed Shorts keep the chill off on cold mornings and spirit away sweat as you get going. Pockets are snug and secure, and the padding adds that bit of comfort. Unfortunately, there’s no female equivalent yet, but Rapha plans to launch a women’s range next spring. These shorts aren’t cheap, but they are a class apart. ■ Tel: 020 7485 5000

If London is littered with your lost shades, you don’t want to shell out too much every time you need to replace them. Choose from seven colours in the Spectrum range, and get yourself light, comfortable sunglasses with a carry case and cleaning bag. Or two pairs in case you lose one… ■ Tel: 01506 497749

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London Cyclist

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Books From coffee-table reads to workshop manuals and cartoons, we've reviewed them... The Golden Age of Handbuilt Bicycles Jan Heine US$50 WHEN I FIRST ﬂipped through this beautiful book of bicycle photographs I was puzzled and somewhat disappointed — ‘The Golden Age of Handbuilt Bicycles’ included no Hetchins, no Baines, no Ephgrave, no Gillot, not even a classic Dursley-Pedersen. As a collector of 20th-century English bikes I was stunned at the omissions until it dawned on me that all these glorious bikes were French and it was a book about French bicycles (with a slightly confusing title). My puzzlement then turned to wonder — how had I missed out

on the wide selection of so many superb and imaginatively designed French bicycles? And it wasn’t just me, but the whole world of retro-bike fans in general: the Classic Rendezvous website, the ultimate vintage-bikie internetdestination, has only few examples of the many great bike builders included in this book. The immaculate illustrations show just what we’ve been missing: there may not have been

a bike maker on every major Paris street, as there once was in London, but the bikes built by the likes of Herse, Faure, Routens, Marcadier and Caminade are every bit as mouth-watering to fanatics as their Brit equivalents. The French were clearly not as obsessed as the British with fancy lugwork, but they more than made up for it in gleaming chrome ﬁnishes, ingenious brakes and even elliptical chainrings

SWEET SINGER: one of the famed builder's highly desirable classics

in-between twin down-tubes and seat-tubes; they even made exotic customised freight-carrier bikes or ‘porteurs.’ Surprisingly Jacques Shultz’s Funiculo appears to be pre-date the Harry Renschdesigned English classic, the Paris-Galibier (recently revived by Condor Cycles), by about 10 years. Superbly photographed, with a fascinating history of the builders, this book is a treasure trove of French handbuilt bikes of the golden age. Tom Bogdanowicz

Early front derailleur design

Sleek dropout and rear derailleur

Yehuda Moon & the Kickstand Cyclery, Jan-June 2008 Rick Smith £16.87 www.yehudamoon.com YEHUDA MOON IS the main character in a comic strip that chronicles life around a bicycle shop in midwest America. The author is a passionate advocate of cycling, and this is evident in the strip’s storylines. This 66-page paperback is a compilation of six months’ worth of cartoons, which ﬁrst appeared for

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free online. Author Rick Smith is currently taking a break from producing new material daily, but there’s an archive of more than 500 vignettes if you become addicted. Apart from being beautifully illustrated, the strips offer a pleasing blend of familiarity and surprise: topics such as altercations with

vehicles and bike thieves are touched upon intelligently (though not always in a politically correctly fashion); while other elements – such as an elusive Bike Ninja and a strange religious order who build the store’s frames – provide rather more supernatural entertainment. All in all, Yehuda Moon's a most

enjoyable and satisfying read, even for those who might not generally thrive on comic strips. Yes, some of the issues are serious, but folk are rarely far from smiling in Rick’s inviting world. (The strip will appear in LC from next issue). Mike Cavenett

June Ju June-July ne-J -Jul ulyy 20 2009 09

12/5/09 00:11:46

Books B k Pedaling Revolutions: How Cyclists are 13.50 Changing American Cities Jeff Mapes £13.50 PEDALING REVOLUTION IS a fascinationg insight into the growth of the cycling movement in the USA. Yes, the country that pretty much invented the gas guzzler is finally — in some pockets — realising the benefits to its cities and citizens of sustainable transport. Mapes explores the cycling lobby’s growth from a grass-roots movement to one that now has the ear of influential city planners such as the mayor of New York, and has helped transform cities like Portland into cycling oases. The re-genesis of the latter, the author’s home city, is given excellent treatment.

The book also covers topics familiar to British readers, analysing recent urban trends like the messenger/ ﬁxed-wheel fashion and the rediscovery of classic-looking Dutch-style bicycles. Other topics relevant to Londoners such as cycling and public health, and getting kids on bikes, are also well informed. An excellent read, which goes some way to dispel the stereotype that American streets are rammed with Hummers: hey, cycling Stateside can be fun. Lucy Cooper

Bike Repair & Maintenance for dummies Bailey & Gates £13.99 AIMED AT NOVICES, this guide is packed with useful information but is sabotaged by sometimes sloppy and inconsistent layout. It takes the reader on a logical journey beginning with basic tools, progressing to components and how they interact with each other and, refreshingly, when to seek out a bike shop’s professional expertise. To this end it differs from the glut of guides swamping the market in recent years. Clear black and white photography, complemented by line drawings, run throughout the book which explain the processes. But while

an informative and amusing bedside read, cluttered layout makes tackling repairs in situ more difﬁcult. Bailey and Gates omit some increasingly mainstream component systems such as Shimano/ISIS drivetrains and yet cover others such as cottered cranks which have been largely extinct for many years. Overall it’s actually a great book if you wanted a coffee table reference, but the shelves are heaving with far superior workshop companions. Michael Stenning

In Pursuit of Stardom Tony Hewson £12.99 IN PURSUIT OF Stardom is the tale of three Englishmen back in the late 1950s — a time widely regarded as cycling’s hey-day — disillusioned by the lack of competitive domestic racing who decided to pack up their troubles and the bikes, buy an ex WWII ambulance and drive over to the continent in search of racing stardom. Hewson conveys their adventures in a truly accessible fashion, his turn of phrase and dry wit is coupled with unfaltering narrative very much of its time, but yet completely relevant now

— I could almost arrating. hear my late father narrating. Frankly while cycling enthusiasts are the obvious audience, to some extent the subject matter is almost irrelevant. These are a series of fascinating encounters told with sufﬁcient references and occasional, relevant namedropping — riding with and, occasionally beating, continental heroes of the day to keep racing aﬁcionados happy — but there’s nothing ‘closed shop’ about it. Michael Stenning

Josie Dew

yclists, especially cycle-touring cyclists, always like a free meal. What with the credit crunch in full swing and food prices spiralling forever upwards, the builder and me are making new cut-backs in these mend and make-do times. One step forward is holding back on buying meat — not that Molly (aged 2) and me eat much meat, but the builder, being of a building type, would eat a whole horse if he could. So he is doing his bit for tidying up the environment by scooping up any tasty-looking roadkill of the freshly hit variety; to date rabbit, pheasant and pigeon have featured on the menu. Now when the builder comes home from the workshop, instead of finding him carrying a couple of carrier bags full of over-priced and overlypackaged goods, Molly and me are greeted by a ball of feathers or a lump of fluff. Molly then trots after him to the al-fresco plucking and gutting table, where she and the neighbour’s cat watch him slicing and dicing with a lethal Leatherman knife. The cat then gets the unappealing remnants, while the kitchen staff (ie Molly and me) are galvanized into action with our bubbling cauldron hotpot. As a selling feature, Birds Eye proclaim on their packets of frozen peas: ‘From field to freezer in two hours’. We’d like to top that by saying: from roadkill to Rayburn in 47 minutes!

Slippery slope Down Under I think the slippery slope for all this live and let roadkill occurred when I cycled around New Zealand. At one point the builder came out to meet me and there in the South Island, in the metropolis of Pukekura (population 2), we came across the unsettlingly named Puke Pub which featured the Puke Pub Possum Menu. The big seller was the Roadkill of the Day, but also on offer was the ‘Guess that Mess Daily Special’ (‘Possum straight from the highway to you’), 'Headlight Delight Pie' (‘Fresh from the roadside’) or ‘Our daily take-out lunch special served open face — Anything Dead on Bread’. Cycling around Trafalgar Square the other day I spotted no less than three roadkill pigeons, but I held fast on scooping them in to my panniers as the freezer is already brimming with pigeon pies. Meanwhile, for sake of variation, the builder now has his eye on magpies — which makes me wonder if we were to make a pie out of magpies, would it be a magpie pie or just a mag pie? In New Zealand, a farmer told me that possums are so unpopular (when alive) that motorists intentionally flatten them — hence their posthumous moniker ‘squash’ems’. If a motorist in this country wants want to rely on roadkill as an alternative to the supermarket shop, some quirk in the law states that if you knock a fluffy or feathered som thing down you can’t pick it up, but the person behind you can. So if you happen to be a cyclist of a kamikaze killer nature, you would perhaps have to work in tandem with a friend: the front cyclist riding a wide-tyre trike to do the deed, the rider behind on a Burley trailer’ed sturdy mount to scoop up the goods. Josie Dew has written seven books about cycling around the world. For details, see www.josiedew.co.uk

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London Cyclist

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members’ Our new section provides everything you need to know about how to get the most from your LCC membership

BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP LCC is a campaigning charity significantly funded by your membership. We work to improve conditions for cyclists and to promote cycling throughout London.

INSURANCE & LEGAL: Third-party insurance If you cause damage to a person or their property while cycling, they may make a claim against you. As a member of LCC, you are covered for up to £5 million. If such an incident occurs, phone the LCC office for immediate advice and assistance.

Free legal advice If you need any legal assistance on cycling-related issues, please phone the LCC office and we will put you in touch with a cyclist-friendly solicitor.

Theft and damage insurance The new LCC urban cycling theft and damage insurance comes with a benefit unique to LCC members. If your bike gets stolen, vandalised or accidentally damaged, there is up to £50 ‘getting you home’ cover. Theft insurance costs about 10% of the value of your bike. For a quote, see www. urbancyclinginsurance.co.uk or call 01514 279 529. Have your membership number to hand.

INFORMATION & CAMPAIGNING: Local groups LCC has a local group in every borough, plus the City of London. Groups campaign on local cycling issues, and also organise events, meetings, workshops and rides. See page 40 to find out what your local group is up to.

Maps LCC, in partnership with

pages

Transport for London (TfL), has produced free cycle maps that cover all of London. These can be ordered by phoning Transport for London on 020 7222 1234.

London Cyclist magazine This magazine is sent to members every two months. It is packed with news, features, cycling tips, product news and all the latest on our campaigns. It has been voted the number one member benefit.

HOW TO HELP LCC GROW: Spring membership offer Check out the Promotions & Offers section at www.lcc. org.uk/membership. And tell your friends about us — the more you can help us build our membership, the greater our campaigning voice, plus more cyclists get to enjoy the benefits of LCC membership. Ask a friend or colleague to call 020 7234 9310 and quote ‘recommend a friend’.

How to join LCC If you like LC but you are not a member, why not join the campaign to receive the magazine every two months? Members also receive other benefits listed on this page. You can join on 020 7234 9310 or via www.lcc.org.uk/join

MINI CONTENTS 40-43 44-45 47 48-49

Gift membership A gift membership to LCC will enable your friend or relative to enjoy year-round benefits. You will also receive a limited edition LCC T-shirt (while stocks last) — keep it for yourself or give it away as part of the gift. Call 020 7234 9310, and quote ‘gift membership’.

Volunteer with us Much of LCC’s work would not be possible without volunteers. Much of our membership, administration and campaigning work is carried out by volunteers — if you have any spare time and and would like to put it to good use, phone Matthew on 020 7234 9310. LC also relies on voluntary contributions — see www.lcc.org.uk/ londoncyclist

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Local Group News Events Diary Workshop Listing Members’ Discounts

London Cyclist

12/5/09 00:14:42

Local Group News Welcome to the new Local Group news pages. Find out more at www.lcc.org.uk/localgroups

www.stibasa.org.uk

I'VE LONG BEEN familiar with the idea that not making things worse for cyclists is called an ‘improvement’ — but Vicarage Field's meaning of 'improvement' wins the prize for spinning the word so far it's facing the other way! On page 3 of its glossy (and at www.vicaragefield.com/ scheme.php) they claim: "Dramatic improvements to St Awdry's Walk for pedestrians, cyclists and shoppers [sic]". What are these ‘dramatic improvements’? Well, in the words of the spokesman at the exhibition, “we're going to ask cyclists to dismount”. I pressed him further and he said that segregation of cyclists and pedestrians had been discussed — but that's what we've got currently. Every shared segregated path I use seems to have pedestrians in the cycle bit; that's not illegal, but I'm not sure why they do it, unless they’re just oblivious. I think shared unsegregated is the way forward, where a path is shared by cyclists and pedestrians. The spokesman agreed that many cyclists are considerate but said some are not; true, but these are just the ones who ignore signs telling them not to cycle. I doubt there has been a collision, let alone a serious one, in St Awdry's Walk (known locally as Peto Alley) for many years, if ever. The proposal is to have a high-level walkway — at the level of the footway at Station Parade (a bridge over the railway) — but in the scale model at the exhibition the walkway ended with steps at the St Awdry's Road end. Have they looked into a continual slope or series of slopes with level platforms? If they are not going to genuinely improve this route for cyclists then they should leave it alone, not make it worse. In my campaigning to stop cycling from being banned through the town centre pedestrianised area (Blake's Corner where the bandstand was, East Street etc) I have advocated 40

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making/improving alternative routes for cycling, avoiding the very central area. Now is the chance to do this at Vicarage Field. ➤ MEETINGS: tbc ➤ CONTACT: colin.newman@ stibasa.org.uk ➤ BLOG: www.stibasa.blogspot. com ➤ E-GROUP: http://groups. google.com/group/stibasa2

BEXLEY www.lcc.org.uk/localgroups

BEXLEY COUNCIL IS trying to encourage more of its staff to cycle and recently held a short weekday ride for staff to a park close to the Sidcup offices. At the park there was a Dr Bike session and drinks. Though this ride was arranged for Council staff, the organisers welcomed additional cyclists which made it more of an event. I had promised to try to swell the numbers for them and it was great to support the initiative, though it wasn't easy for some to attend as the ride fell at an awkward time. But big thanks to those of you who did manage to turn out for the ride — we hope to do it again. ➤ By the time this issue is out we will have had our Bexley Cyclist ride to the Hoo Peninsula. It’s hoped this ride will be around 33 miles long (mostly flat) with an option of going on for an extra 6 or so miles for anyone who is feeling more energetic — full report next time. ➤ MEETINGS: The next Bexley Cyclist meeting will be on 9 June at the Hurst Road Community Centre, Hurst Road, 7.30-8.30pm. ➤ CONTACT: Frances Renton, 01322 441 979; f.renton@gold. ac.uk. Or Dave Reynolds, 01322 525 481.

BRENT www.brentcyclists.org.uk

WE HAVE CHANGED our practice to meeting in alternate months on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, always the first in the month — see below.

➤ LB Barnet is trying, very quietly — in the hope that the boroughs that share the road will not notice — to implement regressive changes on the A5, cutting back the bus lanes PACKED PROGRAMME: during Bike Week in Camden (which also protect cyclists) lamsam-casalotti.org.uk. Or Jean near junctions, and Dollimore, 020 7485 5896; jean@ generally trying to make the dollimore.net road faster and more hostile to ➤ WEBSITE: You can ﬁnd more pedestrians and cyclists. This is on our website about items separate from, but possibly mentioned here — or register on related to, the consultation on our website to receive the monthly the planning application for the e-bulletin. vast Brent Cross Cricklewood development, the close of which has been set back again. The neighbouring boroughs have ENFIELD noticed in this case and Brent, www.lccenﬁeld.fsnet.co.uk Harrow, Camden and TfL have all objected to the plans. OUT HERE IN suburbia, things ➤ MEETINGS: 7.30pm (preceded are not quite the same as in inner London; the cycling renaissance by business meeting at 6.30pm) that is so evident in other parts of on Tues 2 June and Wed 1 July at the capital is less visible in Enfield. Samaritans Centre, 1 Leopold The congestion charge zone is Road, NW10 9LN. ➤ CONTACT: Ben Tansley, 07941 miles away, and we are not about to get a cycle-hire scheme or 050161; coordinator@ cycling super-highways on our brentcyclists.org.uk doorsteps any time soon. While our council has started to make the right noises about cycling, CAMDEN deep down they still seem to www.camdencyclists.org.uk believe that the car is king. We at PLANS FOR BIKE WEEK: Enfield Cycling Campaign are constantly reminding them that ➤ Sat 13 June, 1-5 pm: West cycle ownership in Enfield is high, Hampstead Dr Bike and growing. That the people of ➤ Sun 14 June: Gentle pace London Parks Ride. Meet 11am at Enfield would like to cycle more, given the right conditions. That Open Air Theatre, Inner Circle, those cyclists they see out there Lunch in Holland Park cafe. braving Enfield's cycle-unfriendly ➤ Weds 17 June, 8-10am: streets are just the tip of the Cyclists' Breakfast, Ossulston iceberg. Cyclists in Enfield seem Street. reluctant to label themselves as ➤ Thurs 18 June, 12-2pm: ‘activists’. LCC membership has Cycling and Business event in remained around the 100 mark Fitzroy Square. for some time; however, our ➤ Sun 21 June: Camden 'EnfieldCyclists' email list, open to Peripherique ride. Meet 10 am all, has recently burgeoned to Town Hall, Judd Streeet. almost 400! The will is there. ➤ This year, during Bike Week, ➤ MEETING: 11 July at Primrose the council is supporting a mass Hill Community Association, 29 charity cycle ride around the Hopkinsons Place, (off Fitzroy Rd) borough organised by Enfield London NW1 8TN. Cycling Campaign and the ➤ CONTACT: Stefano Casalotti, Nightingale Community Hospice 020 7435 0196; stefano@

camdencyclists@Flickr

BARKING & DAGENHAM

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L Local lG Group N News Trust. We're calling it Enfield's Big Bike Ride — please help us to make sure it is just that! There are two things that you can do in the run up to Bike Week. Firstly, join the ride on Sunday 14th June, and the picnic in the park afterwards. Secondly, spread the word about this ride to everybody you know — to friends, to family, at work, at your children's schools. Let's give Enfield Council a vision of what Enfield's transport future could be like! Our dream is to never again hear an Enfield councillor say: "But people in Enfield don't want to cycle". For more details visit www.edmontoncyclingclub. fsnet.co.uk/bigbikeride.htm ➤ MEETINGS: first Thursday of every month. Thurs 4 June at 8pm, Winchmore Hill Cricket Club, Firs Lane, Winchmore Hill, N21 3ER. Thurs 2 July at 8pm, King William IV pub (upstairs), 192 Hertford Rd, Edmonton N9 7HH. ➤ CONTACT: Richard Reeve, 020 8363 2196, r.reeve@ blueyonder.co.uk ➤ WEBSITE: Please note that our regular rides programme is listed on our sister website: www. edmontoncyclingclub.fsnet.co.uk ➤ NEWSLETTER: to join the Enfield Cyclists email list, send a blank email to enfieldcyclistssubscribe@yahoogroups.com

HAMMERSMITH & FULHAM www.hfcyclists.org.uk

WE ORGANISE THE Greenfest West London and are looking forward to a great day. It’s during Bike Week on Sunday 14 June, 1-5pm, beside the river in Hammersmith. To encourage cycling there will be bike try-outs, particularly bikes with childseats or trailers. And there may be a free draw to win a bike. Basically it’s a chance to meet and become involved with many environmental and community groups. There’s live music, stalls etc, so bring a picnic and help make this the best free party of the year. Thanks in advance to other local groups who are helping out on the day. If you wish to be involved in any way, please get in touch — and spread the word. Check www.greenfest. org.uk for details, and the

links to Facebook. ➤ MEETINGS: normally on the ﬁrst Tuesday of the month. Plus we're expecting to have a great rides programme this summer. ➤ CONTACT: John Grifﬁths, 020 7371 1290 or 07789 095 748; john@truefeelings.com

LOCAL GROUP IN FOCUS

Bromley

ISLINGTON www.icag.org.uk

WE'RE DELIGHTED THAT Andrew Gilligan, recent convert to cycling and Evening Standard journalist, will speak at our AGM on 10 June at the Town Hall. It starts at 7.30pm and he will be talking at 8.30pm, followed by refreshments. Please join us! ➤ Our Cycling Officer and local police Safer Neighbourhood Teams have been working with us on ‘Stop and Advise’ sessions on the Holloway Road. Vehicles stopping in the ASL were warned they shouldn't, as were a far fewer number of cyclists that went through the red light! We were joined by a representative from Living Streets, with whom we hope to campaign for a borough-wide 20mph speed limit and get tackling dangerous driving higher on the police agenda. In the shadow of another cyclist fatality in the borough we also distributed leaflets about the dangers of left-turning vehicles — we send our sincere condolences to the victim’s family. ➤ MEETINGS: 7.30-9.30pm on second Wednesday of the month (10 June, 8 July, 12 August) at Islington Town Hall, Upper Street, N1 2UD. ➤ CONTACT: Alison Dines, 020 7226 7012; alisondines@clara. co.uk

KENSINGTON & CHELSEA www.lcc.org.uk > Local Groups > Kensington & Chelsea

AS WE GO to press members of K&C and Westminster LCC are planning events for Bike Week in June — look out for events on our website. One of our members is currently looking to set up a bike repair and maintenance workshop; do get in touch if you’re interested

BIG CHEER: Bigfoot Go-Ride Club, Hayes, March 2009

The Bromley Go-Ride Project, creating children’s cycling clubs across the borough (brainchild of this LCC group), is progressing: two community cycling clubs for children have begun during this summer term, at Pickhurst Junior School, Hayes (contact Martin Baker, bromptoncyclist@gmail.com) and Alexandra Junior School (Winnie Farquharson, winnie@ se20cycles.co.uk), ages 8-14. An after-school club has also begun at The Priory School, Orpington; short courses of cycle instruction are being delivered in several schools in anticipation that these become after-school clubs (Bullers Wood and Beaverwood Secondary Schools; Alexandra, Malcolm and Stewart Fleming Primary Schools). Wanted: volunteer helpers and coaches (training by British Cycling; CRB checks required). Long-term goal: borough-wide access to organised cycling for children, borough-wide cycling events and borough-wide change in car culture. ➤ The 2nd annual Bromley Parks and Ride family ride is on 14 June (Bike Week event — see website). Wanted: experienced cyclists to be marshals. ➤ MEETINGS: 7.30pm, second Wednesdays at Bromley College, London Rd, Bromley BR1 1PE. ➤ CONTACT: Charles Potter, 07951 780869; coordinator@bromleycyclists.org) ➤ WEBSITE: www.bromleycyclists.org ➤ E-GROUP: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bromleycyclists/ in being involved. ➤ Works relating to the radical re-design of Exhibition Road continue apace; the new arrangements around South Ken tube station should be a lot better for all road users, cyclists included. ➤ MEETINGS: Tuesday 9th June (with Westminster LCC group), 7.00pm, Hyde Park bandstand (check their website: www. westminstercyclists.org.uk). Also Monday 6th July, 7.00pm, Café Deco, 62 Gloucester Road, SW7 4QT. ➤ CONTACT: Philip Loy 07960 026450; philip_loy@yahoo.co.uk

KINGSTON www.kingstoncycling.org.uk

IS THERE SUCH a thing as a

free launch? We’ve seen the launches of the council’s (RBK) new Climate Change and Sustainable Travel Group and of the Kingston Eco-Op. Expect to see Debra the Zebra and Captain Kingston tackling global environmental meltdown as well as promoting road safety messages very shortly. ➤ Kingston Eco-Op are now accepting donations of unwanted bikes for refurbishment and selling-on at low cost to residents on benefits. To donate a bike call 020 8942 5500 or refer to www. kingstoneco-op.org.uk ➤ In other news, we’ve welcomed visitors from Oldenburg and shown them the highlights of our borough and our cycle network. ➤ We’ve applied for a grant to

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London Cyclist

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Local Group News

differences. We hope to visit most of the borough eventually and produce a document library incorporating all current needs and identifying new ones. ➤ Our summer events are starting early this year and by the time you read this we will have been at Whitton St Georges Day parade and Richmond May fair. Our Bike Week (13-21 June) events are being planned. We hope that the Smarter Travel team will be arranging something magical. Our Music Tour of the borough will be a highlight and there will be other rides throughout the week. For details of our rides, to take part in the campaign or just to say hello, come to our meetings... ➤ MEETINGS: second Monday of each month, 8pm, at The Ship Inn in Richmond. ➤ CONTACT: 07976 294626; info@richmondlcc.co.uk ➤ GENERAL BLOG: http:// richmondcc.blogspot.com/ Rides blog: http://richmondccrides.blogspot.com/

REDBRIDGE

RICHMOND

SOUTHWARK

www.redbridgelcc.org.uk

www.richmondlcc.co.uk

www.southwarkcyclists.org.uk

SUCCESS FOR 'MOVERS and Shakers in Redbridge' — leader of the Council, Cllr Prince, has signed up to do cycle training, along with worthies such as Roger Evans (GLA Representative for Redbridge and Havering), Cllr Gary Staight (Chair of the Cycle Liaison Group), Hugh Muir, the Guardian journalist, and even a Peer of the Realm, Lord Victor Adebowale. They will ride in the 'Movers and Shakers Ride' at Redbridge Cycling Centre, Hainault, on Saturday 6 June, from 12.30-2.30pm along

THE SMARTER TRAVEL launch came and went. First result is new cycle parking which can be seen on www.smarter travelrichmond.org under ‘Cycling’. Lots more promised; work and destination travel plans. RCC want more schemes like the bike buddy scheme (still waiting for the go-ahead on this at the end of April, as this issue went to press). ➤ A small group of members went on their first permeability audit of Twickenham town centre, noting places where small changes can have big

TOOLEY STREET, TOWER Bridge, St Katherine's Dock, Wapping Ornamental Canals, Shadwell Basin, Limehouse Narrow Street, Poplar High Street in the shadows of Canary Wharf, under the DLR, over the Lower Lea Crossing, alongside Royal Victoria Dock, Tate & Lyle's Factory Road, London's best free ride on the Woolwich Ferry to the south bank of the Thames, Woolwich Flood Barrier, watering/dewatering stop at the riverside Anchor and Hope, miles of riverside past The Dome, industrial east

LET THE MUSIC PLAY: check out the bands at this year's Greenfest

provide safety lights and security skewers to replace quick-releases. A response to the Tesco-Tolworth planning application has been submitted. ➤ Bentalls has 600+ new car parking spaces and 12 bike parking racks, but they forgot to provide access to them — they call it progress. Check our website for more news. ➤ MEETINGS: 8:30pm on 9 June and 14 July at the Waggon & Horses pub, Surbiton Hill Rd. ➤ CONTACT: Rob James, 020 8546 8865.

LAMBETH www.lambethcyclists.org.uk

LAMBETH CYCLISTS HAVE always been active but now we have two new committee members joining the team, elected at our meeting in April. The next two months will see two summer favourites, Bike Week from 13-21 June and the Lambeth Country Show on Sat and Sun 18-19 July. Watch out for those on our website. We also have monthly meetings in The Priory Arms in Stockwell (see below); they’re open to all and friendly, with a social party afterwards! Don’t forget our monthly Architecture Rides either — details on our website. ➤ MEETINGS: 3rd Tuesday of the month — 16 June and 21 July, 7.30pm upstairs at The Priory Arms, 83 Lansdowne Way, SW8 2PB. ➤ CONTACT: Philip Loy, 020 8677 8624; lambeth_cyclists@ hotmail.com

MERTON www.mertoncyclists.org.uk

MCC MONTHLY MEETINGS have moved to the All Saints 42

London Cyclist

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Photo: Hugh Morgan

Centre, All Saints Road, SW19 1BX. They are still at 8pm on the first Thursday of the month (except August). This new venue provides more spacious and more accessible accommodation and has the added benefit of being just a few yards from possibly the best pub in Merton (The Sultan in Norman Road). We thank Jenny for having so warmly hosted MCC meetings for more years than I care to remember in her living room, but it was becoming a bit of a tight squeeze to get in there sometimes! ➤ Our 2009 annual meeting will also be at the All Saints Centre, at 8pm on Thursday 9 July. I am planning (once again) to stand down as borough co-ordinator — it's been 16 years now — so if anyone here feels like taking over the role, please do get in touch. ➤ MEETINGS: see above. ➤ CONTACT: Richard Evans, 020 8946 0912; info@mertoncyclists. org.uk

with yet more cycling ‘Movers and Shakers’, such as Lee Scott MP. Please be there on 6 June to help make the event a success and to cheer everyone on. Bring family and friends and join in the celebration laps once they have had their moment of fame! The project and the ride is being recorded on dvd ‘pour encourager les autres’. ➤ Fairlop Country Park has secured £400,000 from the Mayor in the Priority Parks Vote, which selected 10 parks across London for improvement of facilities which will include cycleways. This will help to provide a badly-needed link in the Fairlop route network. ➤ A section of the Roding Valley Way from the A12 Eastern Avenue to Vista Bridge has been closed for Environment Agency path improvements and will reopen in late summer; unfortunate timing for summer family rides. There’s lots of great summer events, workshops and weekends away listed on our website and in 'Hubbub' — but sadly no short family rides until someone volunteers to organise them! ➤ MEETINGS: no meeting in June. Next meeting on Tuesday 21 July at 8pm, Wanstead House, 21 The Green, E11 (near Wanstead tube); speaker to be announced. Drinks in the bar afterwards. ➤ CONTACT: Gill James, 020 8989 4898; gilljames@btinternet. com. Or Chris Elliott, 020 8989 6285; c.elliott@dsl.pipex.com

How about a new series 'Signs of Incompetence'? This is an autumnal view of Hartﬁeld Road, Merton signage — imagine when the tree’s in bloom!

June-July 2009

12/5/09 00:25:03

Local Group News

WALTHAM FOREST www.wfcycling.org.uk

OUR CENTREPIECE FOR Bike Week 2009 is our ‘Movers & Shakers’ rides — council officers and councillors will ride with volunteers to experience cycling in the borough. Email us (wfcycling@wfcycling.org. uk) if you can ride with us during any day 13-21 June. Or if you can spare a bike to lend to a councillor. Other Bike Week events include a ‘Cyclists Tea’ on Friday 12 June and the Tour de Waltham Forest on

Photo: Paul Luton

Greenwich, the Royal Naval College, Cutty Sark Gardens, Deptford Creek, inland round Convoys Wharf past the lovely Dog and Bell, and Rotherhithe and back to where we started a couple of hours earlier. This is the route on one of our favourite regular rides and one that combines many landmarks in London history. So join us for this typical easy-paced, very smiley ‘afterworker’ on most Thursdays all year round —meet 6.30pm at Southwark Needle, south end of London Bridge. ➤ Monday 15 June — the new Bermondsey Square Cinema taken over by Southwark Cyclists for 3 hours of bike films. ➤ MEETINGS: second Wednesdays, 7pm at The Community Space Bankside, 3 Great Guildford Street (Zoar Street corner), London SE1 0TF. ➤ CONTACT: Barry Mason, 07905 889 005; info@southwark cyclists.org.uk ➤ WEB: We’re on Facebook too.

RICHMOND MEMBERS: in Bedfont earlier this year

Sunday 14 June. www. wfcycling.org.uk for more details. ➤ Away from Bike Week, on the plus side, following our cycle path audit the Council Leader confirmed a full cycle facility maintenance plan is in the works. And cycle stands are finally coming to Walthamstow Village, following a meeting with the Village resident's association and council officer. On the minus side, despite objections, Temple Mills Lane will soon be closed to cyclists while the Olympic site is developed — email us if the detour causes problems. ➤ MEETINGS: tbc ➤ CONTACT: Robert Vaughan, 020 8520 8858; wfcycling@ wfcycling.org.uk

WANDSWORTH www.wandsworthcyclists.org.uk

Photo: Neil Hutchins

TWO GREAT PROJECTS will be taking off this summer, if two of our ever-creative WCC members are successful in their grant applications to the Community Cycling Fund. We’re keenly supporting the cycle-related ‘Common Vision’ — to be based in the Platform One Gallery on Wandsworth Common station. Do take a look in this friendly gallery ON PARADE: Richmond BC Jonathan Rowland greets the for more mayor at the St George's Day celebrations in Whitton information if

you’re passing through the station. The other project is the wonderfully named ‘Ting-Ting Tooting’, which will offer a whole series of cycling activities through the summer. At time of writing, the outcome of the applications is still unknown, but fingers are crossed. ➤ Other news: we’re making all sorts of efforts to put more pressure on Wandsworth Council for their lack of delivery so far on LCN+ routes in the borough. And we can report a very encouraging meeting with Parks Police at our April meeting — we were glad to remind them of our concerns, and they are a great contact for us. But they made it clear that it’s for us to put pressure on policy-makers in Wandsworth Council if we want change — so if you’d like to join the campaign on this, do get in touch. ➤ MEETINGS: second Tues of every month (check website for details). ➤ CONTACT: Simon Merrett, 020 8789 6639; coordinator@ wandsworthcyclists.org.uk

WESTMINSTER www.westminstercyclists.org.uk

WE HAVE SEEN plans for a cycle contraflow lane along the eastern end of Long Acre. We have been campaigning for many years for this facility, which would open up a route from Leicester Square/Covent Garden through to Lincoln's Inn Fields and Bloomsbury. ➤ We have also been discussing with the Royal Parks a number of ways of making cycling safer around Hyde

OTHER GROUP CONTACTS CITY CYCLISTS Website: www.citycyclists.org.uk CROYDON Contact: info@croydon-lcc.org.uk Website: www.croydon-lcc.org.uk EALING Contact: David Lomas, 020 8579 0805; david_lomas28@hotmail.com). Website: www.ealingcycling.org.uk GREENWICH Contact: Julian Dobson, 07771 692 344. Website: www.greenwichcyclists.org.uk HACKNEY Contact: Trevor Parsons 020 7729 2273; info@hackney-cyclists.org.uk Website: www.hackney-cyclists.org.uk HARINGEY Contact: Adam Coffman (adam@tao.org.uk). Website: www.lcc.org.uk/localgroups HARROW Website: www.lcc.org.uk/localgroups HAVERING Contact: Bernie Curtis, 01708 347 226; CurtisBernieS@aol.com HILLINGDON Contact: Sarah James, 020 8868 2912, or Steve Ayres, 01895 230 953 HOUNSLOW Website: www.lcc.org.uk/localgroups LEWISHAM Contact: Ian or Paul (info@lewishamcyclists.net). Website: www.lewishamcyclists.net NEWHAM Contact: Bernie McDonnell, 07947 236 965. Website: www.lcc.org.uk/localgroups SUTTON Contact: Chris Parry, 020 8647 3584; cyclism@blueyonder.co.uk TOWER HAMLETS WHEELERS Contact: Owen Pearson, 07903 018 970; wheelers@towerhamletswheelers.org.uk Website: www.towerhamletswheelers.org.uk

SEND YOUR SUBMISSIONS For the August/September issue, we're after your stories and pictures from Bike Week — editorlondoncyclist@yahoo.com

Park, in particular at Victoria Gate and on the Rotten Row path. This currently carries an undesirably high volume of fast-moving cyclists at peak times. ➤ Look out for Westminster's Dr Bike sessions around Hyde Park during Bike Week. ➤ MEETING: AGM, Tuesday 9 June at 7pm, ear the bandstand, Serpentine Road, Hyde Park. ➤ CONTACT: Colin Wing, 020 7828 1500; cyclist@ westminstercyclists.org.uk

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London Cyclist

12/5/09 00:25:18

Events With Bike Week running from 13-21 June, it’s a busy couple of months ahead…

Smithﬁeld Nocturne returns

IN BRIEF Evans off-road rides More than 300 riders are now regularly signing up for the Evans Cycles off-road rides, held in great locations a short distance from London. Different distances available to suit a variety of ﬁtness/skill levels. For more details go to: www.evanscycles.com/ride-it/ dates-and-locations

Bike polo champs The European Hardcourt Bicycle Polo Championships are coming to London on 1-2 August. Watch the continent’s best players challenge for the coveted Euro crown; ﬁnal venue tbc. For details go to: www.ehbpc.org

Yoga for cyclists Rebecca Bogue is running a new ‘Yoga for Cyclists’ class, from 7-8pm, at a new venue in Shoreditch called Move Your Frame (29 New Inn Yard, EC2A 3EY). www.moveyourframe. com/courses/

LISTINGS: RIDES & EVENTS ➤ ➤ For the latest rides and events, updated daily, visit www.lcc.org.uk/rides

Tuesday 2 June ➤ Hackney Cycle Workshop: 7pm at The Kings Centre, Frampton Park Baptist Church, Frampton Park Road, London E9 7PQ. Contact: hackneybikeworkshop@ googlemail.com Saturday 6 June ➤ Locks, Docks and One Smoking Ferry: 11am or 11.30am, John Ball Primary School or Cutty Sark Gardens. Ride suitable for families, free bike loan for children. Contact: Tom Crispin (020 8318 1004) or mail@britishschoolofcycling.com Sunday 7 June ➤ Bread Pudding Ride: 10.30am, Kingston Market Place. Easy-paced ride. Contact: John Dunn (020 8397 1875) or johnedunn@blueyonder.co.uk ➤ Thames Marathon: 10am or 10.30am, John Ball Primary School or Cutty Sark Gardens. Cycle for 26 miles, 385 yards away from roads. Contact: Tom Crispin (020 8318 1004). ➤ The Chilterns and Maharajah's Well: 10.15am, Richmond Station. Contact: Paul Luton (020 8977 4016) or paul@pluton. eclipse.co.uk Wednesday 10 June ➤ James' Weekly Ride: 10.30am, Interchange Studios, Haverstock Hill, NW3 4QP. Contact: James Brander (020 7267 3585) or jxchamberlain@aol.com

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THE AWARD-WINNING Smithfield Nocturne returns on 6 June and LCC will have a stall at this exciting night of street racing. Organisers Face have now developed an exciting partnership with the City of London and the event will once again provide an innovative mix of racing and entertainment with public and professional racers competing on the 1km circuit around the historic Smithfield Market. The highlight of the programme will be the

Elite Criterium which will feature the cream of British talent as well as some continental guest riders. The ever-popular folding bike race also returns with suitedand-booted city commuters racing for glory after a chaotic Le Mans-style start. Other races in 2009 include the Cycling Weekly Support Race, an Elite Women’s Criterium, a Fixed Wheel longest skid competition and the Citihub Team Challenge.

Added attractions will include Rollapaluza Roller Racing on the main stage, Red Bull DJs and event vehicles, the Rapha stand, other bike exhibitors, as well as BBQs and refreshments from local bars and restaurants. The Smithfield Nocturne is free to attend and will take place between 6-10pm. For more information, to enter the races and to purchase hospitality tickets go to www. smithfieldnocturne.com

Take Care on charity challenge CARE INTERNATIONAL IS another charity offering biking enthusiasts the chance to ride from London to Paris for a worthy cause. Starting on 16 July, the event hopes to raise much needed funds for Care’s work in helping 55 million people in nearly 70 countries find routes out of poverty. Participants will ride through the rolling English Friday 12 June ➤ Royal British Legion Pedal to Paris: Three-day ride. Contact Dan Solley (020 3207 2270) or dsolley@britishlegion.org.uk Sat & Sun 13-14 June ➤ Blackheath Bike and Kite Festival (see story above) Sunday 14 June ➤ Greenfest West London: 1pm-5pm, Furnivall Gardens, beside river in Hammersmith, W6 9DJ. Riverside party with live music. Contact: John Grifﬁths (020 7371 1290) or info@greenfest.org.uk ➤ Greenacre Bicycle Rally: 11am, Arts Depot, North Finchley, N12 0GA. Family event, fancy dress, Dr Bike. Contact: Mike Gee (020 8346 5503) or MrGreenacres001@aol.com ➤ Open Garden Squares Weekend Ride: 10am, meet outside Marylebone station. Contact: Colin Wing (020 7828 1500) or info@westminstercyclists.org.uk ➤ Parks Ride: 11am, Inner Circle outside Open Air Theatre, Regents Park. Easy-paced, family ride. Contact: James Brander (020 7267 3585). Tuesday 16 June ➤ Hackney Cycle Workshop: 7pm at The Kings Centre, Frampton Park Baptist Church, Frampton Park Road, London E9 7PQ. Contact: hackneybikeworkshop@ googlemail.com Wednesday 17 June ➤ Age Concern and Help the Aged, London to Paris Ride: 8.30am, Croydon Aerodrome Hotel. Five-day challenge.

countryside and catch the ferry from Portsmouth to Ouistreham, passing quaint vineyards and picturesque villages on the way to Paris. This Challenge forms part of the 2009 Care Challenge Series, a set of twelve exciting outdoor events. To get involved in this cycle challenge, visit www. carechallenge.org.uk/london2paris or call 020 7934 9470. Contact: Sarah Greene (020 7239 1922) or events@helptheaged.org.uk ➤ Bike2Town: 7.15am, East Finchley Tube Station forecourt. Barnet Cyclists ride to Kings Cross, for breakfast organised by Camden Cyclists. Contact: John Silvertown (07722 003489) or silvertown@tiscali.co.uk ➤ James' Weekly Ride: 10.30 am, Interchange Studios, Haverstock Hill, NW3 4QP. Contact: James Brander (020 7267 3585). ➤ Midweek Ride: 7.30pm, Kingston Market Place, Queen Anne's Statue. Contact: John Dunn (020 8397 1875). Saturday 20 June ➤ Newham and 2012 Ride: 10.30am, beneath the 2012 Countdown Clock outside Stratford Station. Leisurely 18-mile ride. Contact: Bernard McDonnell (07947 236 965) ➤ The Surrey Thames: 10.30am, Bushy Park Fountain Car Park. Contact: Paul Luton (020 8977 4016). Sunday 21 June ➤ Bread Pudding Ride Summer Special: 10.30am, Kingston Market Place, Queen Anne's Statue. Contact: John Dunn (020 8397 1875). ➤ Camden Peripherique: 10am, Camden Town Hall, Judd St, WC1H 9JE. Annual Bike Week ride round the boundary of Camden, 22 miles. Contact: John Chamberlain (020 7485 2685) or Email: paul.braithwaite@camden.gov.uk Wednesday 24 June ➤ James' Weekly Ride: 10.30am, Inter-

change Studios, Haverstock Hill, NW3 4QP. Contact: James Brander (020 7267 3585). Saturday 27 June ➤ Gatwick Airport ride: 10am or 10.30am, John Ball Primary School or Ladywell Fields. Suitable for young people. Contact: Tom Crispin (020 8318 1004). ➤ Maintenance workshop: 11am, Limehouse Town Hall, 646 Commercial Road. Hands-on workshop with Dr Bike. Contact: Owen (07903 018970) or owen@wheelers.org.uk Sunday 28 June ➤ Thames Path to Erith: 11am or 11.30am, John Ball Primary School or Cutty Sark Gardens. Contact: Tom Crispin (020 8318 1004). Sat & Sun 27-28 June ➤ The Outsider Festival: Rothiemurchus Forest, Scotland. www. outsiderfestival.co.uk Wednesday 1 July ➤ James' Weekly Ride: 10.30am, Interchange Studios, Haverstock Hill, NW3 4QP. Contact: James Brander (020 7267 3585). Saturday 4 July ➤ Picnic Ride: 10.45am, Islington Town Hall, Upper St. N1 2UD. Contact: Clive Attenborough (020 7263 8165) or clive. attenborough@btinternet.com Sunday 5 July ➤ Bookham Common: 10.30am, Twickenham Riverside, by Eel Pie Bridge. 34 miles. Contact: Paul Luton (020 8977 4016).

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Events Ride double for breast cancer

BREAST CANCER Campaign has two big rides coming up in the next couple of months and they’d love to see more LCC members getting involved. First up is the Capital to Coast cycle challenge, from London to Hove, on Sunday 28 June; participants can choose between 30- or 60-mile routes, with three

different starting points. The second, larger event is the classic London to Paris ride, from 21-24 August, covering 200 miles in just three days. For more info on these rides, please contact the events team on 020 7749 3700 or email ukchallenges@ breastcancercampaign.org

Blackheath Bike and Kite Festival ON 13-14 JUNE, between 12pm and 7pm, Blackheath will again be hosting its unique Bike and Kite Festival. Sponsored by Transport for London, the event coincides with the start of Bike Week, and promises to be an entertaining weekend for the whole family. Last year the event attracted around 15,000 visitors. This year’s attractions will include: mountain bike stunt

team, MAD; International Kite Fighting displays; guided bike rides; cycling activities for young people including slaloms, slow races and limbo; vintage bikes from the 1800s; plus bike demos and Dr Bike. There will be stalls selling bikes, kites, arts & crafts, food, and a licensed bar. For all the latest information go to www.lewisham.gov.uk/ bikeandkite

➤ London to Oxford: 7.30am-9.30am,

Cutty Sark Gardens. Contact: Tom Crispin (020 8318 1004). Walpole Park, Mattock Lane, Ealing, LonWednesday 15 July don W5 5EQ. Contact: Bike Events (08454 601342) or mail@bike-events.com ➤ Midweek Ride: 7.30pm, Kingston Market Place. Contact: John Dunn (020 ➤ Ride to Rye: 8.30am, Interchange 8397 1875). Studios, Haverstock Hill, NW3 4QP. Saturday 18 July 100-miler with opt-outs at 25, 50 and 75 miles. Contact: James Brander (020 ➤ Ham House, Richmond Park & 7267 3585). Teddington Lock: 10.30am, Richmond, Tuesday 7 July Little Green, by library. Choice of different level rides. Contact: Paul Luton (020 ➤ Hackney Cycle Workshop: 7pm at 8977 4016). The Kings Centre, Frampton Park Baptist Sunday, July 19, 2009 Church, Frampton Park Road, London E9 7PQ. Contact: hackneybikeworkshop@ ➤ London to Southend: 7.30amgooglemail.com 9.15am, Victoria Park, Tower Hamlets, Friday 10 July London E9 5HT. Contact: Bike Events (08454 601342) ➤ MDM UK London to Paris Bike Ride: Tuesday 21 July 6am, Crystal Palace. Contact: Kaina Ibtiouene (020 7515 7534) ➤ Hackney Cycle Workshop: 7pm at Saturday 11 July The Kings Centre, Frampton Park Baptist Church, Frampton Park Road, London E9 ➤ Newham and 2012 Ride: 10.30am, 7PQ. Contact: hackneybikeworkshop@ beneath the 2012 Countdown Clock googlemail.com outside Stratford Station. Leisurely 18Saturday, July 25, 2009 mile ride. Contact: Bernard McDonnell (07947 236 965) ➤ Maintenance Workshop: 11am, Limehouse Town Hall, 646 Commercial ➤ The Waterlink Way: 11am or Road. Contact: Owen (07903 018970). 11.30am, John Ball Primary School or Ladywell Fields. Suitable for families. Sunday 26 July Contact: Tom Crispin (020 8318 1004). ➤ Bread Pudding Ride: 10.30am, Sunday 12 July Kingston Market Place. Contact: John ➤ Bread Pudding Ride: 10.30am, Dunn (020 8397 1875). Kingston Market Place. Contact: John ➤ London to Cambridge: 7.30amDunn (020 8397 1875). 9.15am, Pickett's Lock, off Meridian Way, ➤ Cycle Orienteering: 10am or Enﬁeld N9 0AS. Contact: Bike Events his transport 10.30am, John Ball Primary School orMaps out (08454 601342) plans for the capital

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Maintenance courses Learn skills and save money... LOCATION BOROUGH

COURSE

BEXLEY

Roadside repair and maintenance

BROMLEY

Beginners’ classes: (1) Punctures, cleaning and lubrication; (2) Brakes and gears; (3) Disc brakes. Bring your own bike CAMDEN Camden Cycling Campaign and Camden Council beginners’ courses CAMDEN Work on your own bike no knowledge is assumed EALING Ealing Cycling Campaign runs courses throughout the year GREENWICH Greenwich Cyclists run courses all year on: (1) Tyres and wheels; (2) brakes and gears Bring your bike and any parts you want to fit HACKNEY Hackney Cycling Campaign runs twice monthly two-hour workshops. Additional volunteers welcome HAMMERSMITH One-day cycle repair and & FULHAM maintenance workshops ISLINGTON

SUTTON

Redbridge Cycling Campaign’s basic maintenance course: punctures, brakes gears, and so on Southwark Cyclists’ 4-evening course includes maintenance, cleaning, punctures, cables, brakes, trueing wheels Basic maintenance, plus free Dr Bike check

TOWER HAM

Hands-on workshops with Tower Hamlets Wheelers

WAL FOREST

Learn to maintain and assemble a bike

Saturdays 10.30am-5pm contact us

£5 for two hours Tuesday or Wednesday 7.15-9pm Donation 7-9pm Tues Tuesdays £40, 5% off for LCC members

£1 (50p unwaged) £26

Lambeth Cyclists’ 5 x 2-hr course Basic maintenance course Workshop for Newham cyclists

SOUTHWARK

£72 (£66 for LCC members) contact

2.5-hr, self-help workshop

LAMBETH

5-6 June, 17-18 July Call for details

£20, including maintenance pack worth £9 £50 two sessions 15 Nov & 13 Dec

On demand

Maintenance and repairs to help keep bikes in good working order

REDBRIDGE

£35

Bicycle maintenance courses

KINGSTON

NEWHAM

PRICE & TIMES COST DATE

1st Thurs or last Sat of every month 4th Weds of month (not Aug/Dec); 7pm-9.30pm 10am-4pm, 31 Jan & 7 Mar 1-day Sat course

CONTACT DETAILS CONTACT Sidcup Cycle Centre, 020 8300 8113; info@sidcupcycles.co.uk Hayes Old Church School, BR2 7BA. Big Foot Bikes, 020 8462 5004; roger@bigfootbikes.com www.bigfootbikes.com Velorution, 18 Great Titchfield Street, W1W 8BD; Stefano, 020 7435 0196, stefano@lamsam-casalotti.org.uk Bikefix, 48 Lamb’s Conduit Street, WC1N 3LJ Patrick Field, 020 7249 3779; www.londonschoolofcycling.co.uk Visit www.ealingcycling.org.uk or email info@ealingcycling.org.uk Armada Centre, Armada Court, 21 McMillan St, Deptford SE8 6PW. Julian Dobson, 07771 692344, 020 8463 0801; julian@jadobson.demon.co.uk; www.greenwichcyclists.org.uk, The Kings Centre, Frampton Park Baptist Church, Frampton Park Rd E9 7PQ. Adam, 07940 121513; Ross, rosscorben@blueyonder.co.uk www.hackney-cyclists.org.uk Emerald Centre, 2 Beadon Road, W6 0DA. Gordon, 07983 949559; gordonk.pedalpower@hotmail.com Jon, 07507 496212 Islington but can travel. Jonathan Edwards, 07946 261165; j.edwards530@btinternet.com Sunnyside Gardens, N19. Adrian, 07810 211902.

North Kingston Centre, Richmond Road, KT2 5PE. Kingston Adult Education; adult.education@rbk.kingston.gov.uk www.kingston.gov.uk/adulteducation, 020 8547 6700 or Rob 020 8546 8865, mail@kingstoncycling.org.uk. www.kingstoncycling.org.uk £55 30 Sept Janet Paske, 07740 457528; janet.paske@gmail.com £60 Call for dates Brixton — Paul Lowe, 020 7733 3070; www.cyclinginstructor.com Donation Sats, 9.30amNew City Primary School, New City Rd, Plaistow, E13 9PR. 12pm term time Liz Bowgett, liz.bowgett@btopenworld.com £30 From Weds 1 July, Terry, 07795 981529; terence.hughes@btinternet.com call for dates or Jim, 07949 883747 jimdalton24@hotmail.com www.redbridgelcc.org.uk £48 Tues 6.30-8.30pm On Your Bike, 52-54 Tooley St, SE1 2SZ. online via Paypal Barry, 07905 889005; info@southwarkcyclists.org.uk www.southwarkcyclists.org.uk £10 per head 9.45am-noon Sutton West Centre, Robin Hood Lane, Sutton, SM1 2SD. family discounts 25 Oct Chris Parry, 020 8647 3584; cyclism@blueyonder.co.uk Shirley Quemby, 020 8642 3720. www.cyclismsutton.org.uk Donations Last Sat of month Boxing Club, Limehouse Town Hall, 646 Commercial Rd, E14 7HA. (except Dec); Owen Pearson, 07903 018970; workshop@wheelers.org.uk 11am-3pm www.wheelers.org.uk/workshop £3 w. tea/coffee 11am-3pm Sat, Council transport depot, Low Hall Depot, South Access Road, 10am-noon 2nd Walthamstow, E10 7A6. Chris Rigby, 07910 235149 or 07948 060 473; Sat of month christopher.rigby1@ntlworld.com

Our ee-new Our newsle slette sle tterr (sen tte (sen sentt out outt alt altern e ate mo ern month nt s to nth nths to the he mag mag gazi azine) ne) he ne) helps lppss keeep ep you yyou upp to to da date te wi te wit w ith the lat atest esst est LCC ca LCC c mpa mpaign aign gn an gn andd memb memb m er er new n ws. s B s. But Bu uutt iff we w do don’t n’tt ha have vee you your ouur cur ur ent urr nt email nt em maail aiili ad ddress, dreess, sss, yyoouu won’ ss on t rec eece ce c ive ve it it. Please Ple asee uppdat d e your your ur em email aill ad a dre reess by by sen sendin ndin d g it to: o: offi fice c @lc @lccc.oorg. @lcc.o rg.uk uk. The hee ee--new newsle ew wslette sletter sle tteer mighht aallso lso be be filt filte ltered red by sp spam a ssof softwa ware. wa are. e. To pr preve eventt thi eve event this, add a d nnews ewslet ews letter letter le let teer@lc @lcc.e @lcc.e c emai c.emai maailms m ailmsg.n lms msg.n g.net et too y ur emai you emai ma l coont ntact acts to maakee su ure you rre recei ce vee you cei y r emai mailil ccont ontain ont on tain aining aall the lat ai aining a est LCC atest LC CC news w an nd memb m er er off offers ers ers

June-July 2009

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London Cyclist 47

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LCC member discounts Get a great deal at more than 120 high street and online bike shops JUST SHOW YOUR membership card at any of the bike shops on these pages — or quote your membership number online — and you qualify for a discount of up to 15% on bikes, accessories, parts or clothing. Check the listings, ordered by borough, to find out which shops offer you the best discounts in your local area. Otherwise, visit www.lcc.org.uk/membership where you'll find a clickable map to help you hunt down the best savings in your neighbourhood.

LOCATION

CONTACT DETAILS

BIKE SHOP DISCOUNTS

BOROUGH

BIKE SHOP

ADDRESS

POSTCODE

PHONE

WEBSITE (www.)

BARKING & DAG BARNET

Cycle King Bike and Run Broadway Bikes Central Cycles Cyclelife Shorter Rochford Shorter Rochford The Cycle Store Cycle King Sparks Bigfoot Bikes Bromley Bike Co. Luvbikes.com Action Bikes Bikeﬁx Chamberlaines Condor Cycle Surgery Cycle Surgery Cycle Surgery Evans Cycles Evans Cycles Paul's Custom Cycles Simpson’s Cycles Bike Hut Evans Cycles Bikes Plus Cycle King Evans Cycles Evans Cycles Woolsey of Acton Top Riders Cycles UK Bike Yard East Brick Lane Bikes London Fields Cycles Two Wheels Good

1088-1090 High Rd 125 High Rd 250 West Hendon Broadway 64 Ballards Lane 8 Bittacey Hill 27 Barnet Rd 65-67 Woodhouse Rd 201 Woodhouse Rd 173 Hillside 5 Bank Buildings, High St 50 Hayes St 27 Widmore Rd 173 -175 Widmore Rd 23-26 Embankment Pl 48 Lambs Conduit St 75-77 Kentish Town Rd 51 Grays Inn Rd 3 Procter St 44 Chalk Farm Rd 275 West End Lane 178 High Holborn 69 Grays Inn Rd 38 Mount Pleasant 114-116 Malden Rd 3-4 Ave Maria Lane 1 Farringdon St 429 Brighton Rd 26-40 Brighton Rd 5 London Rd 548-550 Chiswick High Rd 281 Acton Lane 210 Baker St 135 Creek Road 1a Goldsmiths Row 118 Bethnal Green Rd 281 Mare St 165 Stoke Newington Ch. St

RM6 4AB N2 8AG NW9 6BG N3 2BU NW7 1LB N6 2QX N12 9ET N12 9AY NW10 8LL NW10 4LT BR2 7LD BR1 1RW BR1 3AX WC2N 6NN WC1N 3LJ NW1 8NY WC1X 8PP WC1V 6DW NW1 8AJ NW6 1QS WC1V 7AA WC1X 8TP WC1X 0AP NW5 4BY EC4M 7AQ EC4 7LD CR2 6EU CR2 6AA CR0 2RE W4 5RG W4 5DH EN1 3JY SE8 3BU E2 8Qa E2 6DG E8 1PJ N16 OUL

020 8597 6834 020 8815 1845 020 8931 3925 020 8346 2046 020 8346 5784 01707 662 332 020 8445 9182 020 8368 3001 020 8965 5544 020 8838 5858 020 8462 5004 020 8460 4852 010 8460 0433 020 7930 2525 020 7405 1218 020 7485 4488 020 7269 6820 020 7269 7070 020 7485 1000 020 7431 4300 020 7836 5585 020 7430 1985 07960 987 887 020 7485 1706 020 7332 4160 020 7248 2349 020 8763 1988 020 8649 9002 020 8667 1423 0870 060 5489 020 89946893 020 8363 8618 020 8692 3148 07949 764 631 020 7033 9053 020 8525 0077 020 7249 2200

cycleking.co.uk bikeandrun.co.uk broadwaybikes.co.uk centralcycles.co.uk cyclelife.com shorter-rochford.co.uk shorter-rochford.co.uk thecyclestore.co.uk cycleking.co.uk sparksonline.co.uk bigfootbikes.com bromleybike.com luvbikes.com actionbikes.co.uk bikeﬁx.co.uk chamberlianecycles.co.uk condorcycles.com cyclesurgery.com cyclesurgery.com cyclesurgery.com evanscycles.com evanscycles.com paulscustomcycles.co.uk simpsoncycles.co.uk bikehut.com evanscycles.com bikeplus.co.uk cycleking.co.uk evanscycles.com evanscycles.com woolseyofacton.co.uk topriders-cycles.co.uk cyclesukgreenwich@blogspot.com bikeyardeast.com bricklanebikes.co.uk londonﬁeldscycles.co.uk twowheelsgood.co.uk

BRENT BROMLEY

CAMDEN

CITY CROYDON

EALING ENFIELD GREENWICH HACKNEY

48 London Cyclist

final048049_discounts.indd 48

BIKES 5 5 10 5 10 10 10 5 10 10 5 10 10 10 10 10 5 10 10 5 10 10 10 12.5 -

ACCESS. PARTS LABOUR 15 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 15 10 5 5 10 10 5 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 15 10 10 10 10 12.5 10 10 5

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10 -

June-July 2009

12/5/09 00:20:49

Di Discounts LOCATION BOROUGH HAM & FULHAM

HARINGEY HARROW HAVERING HILLINGDON HOUNSLOW

ISLINGTON

KEN & CHELSEA

KINGSTON LAMBETH

LEWISHAM

MERTON

RICHMOND

SOUTHWARK

TOWER HAM

WALTHAM FOR

WANDSWORTH

WESTMINSTER

KENT SURREY ONLINE MOBILE

BIKE SHOP

CONTACT DETAILS ADDRESS

POSTCODE

PHONE

WEBSITE (www.)

BIKE SHOP DISCOUNTS BIKES ACCESS. PARTS LABOUR

Evans Cycles Evans Cycles Mend-a-Bike SBR Sports Two Wheels Good Cycle King Chainlink Cycle Centre Bikewise Action Bikes Moores Cycles Wizzbike.com Bike Mech Cycle Surgery Cycle Surgery Holloway Cycles Mosquito Bikes S&S Cycles Cotswold Outdoor Cyclopedia Cyclesurgery Cyclopedia Evans Cycles Evans Cycles Pitﬁeld Cycles Brixton Cycles Evans Cycles Evans Cycles Herne Hill Bicycles Compton Cycles Finches The Bike Shop Action Bikes Mike’s Bikes Moose Cycles Smith Brothers Triandrun Action Bikes Action Bikes Cowley Security Moores Cycles Moores Cycles Prologue Edwardes Evans Cycles London Recumbents On Your Bike ReCycling Robinsons Cycles Wilsons Bicycle Magic Cotswold Outdoor City CycleSurgery CycleSurgery Evans Cycles Evans Cycles Evans Cycles Wharf Cycles Bike Shack Ditchﬁelds Heales Cycles Cycleworx Evans Cycles Evans Cycles Luciano Cycles Psubliminal Putney Cycles Siecle South Bank Cycles Stratton Cycles Action Bikes Cavendish Cycles Cycle Surgery Dial-A-Bike Evans Cycles Velorution Sidcup Cycle Centre Crayford Cycles Corridori Evans Cycles online Old Bicycle Trading Co Bikes R Us

240 Watford Way 13-15 Jerdan Place 19 The Arches, 33 Munster Rd 917-919 Fulham Rd 143 Crouch Hill 451-455 Rayners Lane 140 Hornchurch Rd 61 Swakeleys Rd 176 Chiswick High Rd 3-5 St Johns Rd 113-114 High St Castle Climbing, Green Lanes 200 Pentonville Rd 70 Holloway Rd 290 Holloway Road 123 Essex Road 29 Chapel Market 23-26 Piccadilly 262 Kensington High St 186 Kensington High St 256 Fulham Road 320 Vauxhall Bridge Rd 48 Richmond Rd 137 Kingston Rd 145 Stockwell Rd 77-81 The Cut 111-115 Waterloo Rd 83 Norwood Rd 23-25 Catford Hill 25-29 Perry Vale 288-290 Lee High Rd 221 The Broadway 27 Aberconway Rd 48 High St 14 Church Rd 53 Wimbledon Hill Rd 437 Upper Richmond Rd 54-56 Whitton High St 146 Colne Rd 214 Kingston Rd 61 London Rd 232 Upper Richmond Rd 221-225 Camberwell Rd 6 Tooley St Rangers Yard, Dulwich Pk 52-54 Tooley St 110 Elephant Rd 172 Jamaica Rd 32 Peckham High St 4-6 Greatorex St St Clements Hse, Leyden St 12-13 Bishops Square Strype St 1 Market St 30 South Collonade 5 Cullum St 21-23 Westferry Rd 621 High Rd 792-794 High Rd 477 Hale End Rd 20-30 Buckhold Rd 167-173 Wandsworth High St 65-79 Clapham High St 97-99 Battersea Rise 17 Balham High Rd 337 Putney Bridge Rd 789 Wandsworth Rd 194 Wandsworth Rd 101 East Hill Dacre House 136 New Cavendish St 400 Oxford St 30 Strutton Ground 51-52 Rathbone Pl 18 Great Titchﬁeld St 142-146 Station Rd 3 Empire Buildings 203 Fir Tree Rd, Epsom Internet bike/parts Internet parts/servicing Mobile repair

NW4 4UB SW6 1BE SW6 4ER SW6 5HU N8 9QH HA5 4ET RM11 1DP UB10 8DQ W4 1PR TW7 6NA TW8 8AT N4 2HA N1 9EN N7 8JG N7 6NJ N1 2SN N1 9EN W1J ODJ W8 6ND W8 7RG SW10 9EL SW1V 1AA KT2 5EE KT3 3NX SW9 9TN SE1 8LL SE1 8UL SE24 9AA SE6 4NU SE23 2NE SE13 5PJ SW19 1SD SM4 5LN SW19 2BY SW19 5DL SW19 7QW SW14 7PJ TW2 7LT TW2 6QS TW1 19JF TW1 3SZ SW14 8AG SE5 0HG SE1 2SY SE21 7BQ SE1 2SZ SE17 1LB SE16 4RT SE15 5BP E1 5NF E1 7LL E1 6EG E1 7LQ E1 6AA E14 5EZ EC3 7JJ E14 8JH E10 6RF E10 6AE E4 9PT SW18 4WW SW18 4JB SW4 7TG SW11 1HW SW12 9AJ SW15 2PG SW8 3JQ SW8 2JU SW18 2QB SW1H 0DJ W1W 6YD W1A 1AR SWIP 2HR W1T 1JP W1W 8BD DA15 7AB DA1 4JJ KT17 3LB n/a n/a n/a

0870 142 0108 020 7384 5550 020 7371 5867 020 7731 5005 020 8340 4284 020 8868 6262 01708 470 007 01895 675376 020 8994 1485 020 8560 7131 020 8326 2891 07762 270 616 020 7713 1312 020 7697 2848 020 7700 6611 020 7226 8765 020 7278 1631 020 7437 7399 020 7603 7626 020 7368 5188 020 7351 5776 020 7976 6298 020 8549 2559 020 8949 4632 020 7733 6055 020 7928 4785 020 7928 2208 020 8671 6900 020 8690 0141 020 8699 6768 020 8852 6680 020 8540 0313 020 8640 1088 020 8544 9166 020 8946 2270 020 8971 2065 020 8876 5566 020 8894 0174 020 8894 1212 020 8977 2925 020 8744 0175 020 8878 6266 020 7703 3676 020 7403 4610 020 8299 6636 020 7378 6669 020 7703 7001 020 7237 4679 020 7639 1338 020 7375 2993 020 7655 466 020 7392 8920 020 7375 3088 020 7426 0391 0870 164 4037 020 7283 6750 0845 806 2373 020 8539 2821 020 8527 1592 07970 615 171 020 8877 1878 020 7720 4139 020 7228 4279 020 8772 0707 020 8785 3147 020 7622 3069 020 8874 1381 020 7799 2233 020 7631 5060 020 7318 2448 0207 233 4224 020 7580 4107 020 7637 4004 020 8300 8113 01737 373 227 01293 574 900 020 8306 0060 020 8882 8288

evanscycles.com evanscycles.com mend-a-bike.co.uk sbrsports.com twowheelsgood.co.uk cycleking.co.uk actionbikes.co.uk moorescycles.co.uk wizzbike.com bikemech.co.uk cyclesurgery.com cyclesurgery.com mosquito-bikes.co.uk mountainbikelondon.co.uk cotswoldoutdoor.com cyclopediauk.com cyclesurgery.com cyclopediauk.com evanscycles.com evanscycles.com brightcycles.co.uk brixtoncycles.co.uk evanscycles.com evanscycles.com comptoncycles.co.uk ﬁnches-ski.com bikeshoplewisham.co.uk actionbikes.co.uk moosecycles.com triandrun.com actionbikes.co.uk actionbikes.co.uk moorescycles.co.uk moorescycles.co.uk prologuebikes.com evanscycles.com londonrecumbents.co.uk onyourbike.com re-cycling.co.uk bicyclemagic.com cotswoldoutdoor.com cyclesurgery.com cyclesurgery.com evanscycles.com evanscycles.com evanscycles.com cycleshoplondon.com ditchﬁelds.co.uk www.healescycles.co.uk cycleworx.co.uk evanscycles.com evanscycles.com lucianocycles.co.uk psubliminal.co.uk putneycycles.com waltoncycles.co.uk actionbikes.co.uk cavendishcycles.wordpress.com cyclesurgery.com dial-a-bike.com evanscycles.com velorution.biz sidcupcycles.co.uk corridori.co.uk evancycles.com oldbiketrader.co.uk bikesruslondon.com

10 10 5 5 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 5 10 10 10 5 10 10 10 5 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 5 10 5 10 10 10 10 10 10 5 10 10 10 5 10 5 10 0 5 10 10 -

June-July 2009

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10 10 10 10 1 10 5 10 0 10

London Cyclist 49

12/5/09 00:21:03

IInterview t i

MINI INTERVIEW

James Cracknell OBE He's won Olympic gold medals and rowed across the Atlantic, but James Cracknell's no slouch on a bike either

alexlomas@Flickr

Do you remember your very first time on a bike? Can you tell us about it? I can’t remember how old I was the first time I got on a bike, but I do remember the first time I was allowed to go somewhere on my own and the real sense of freedom I felt. I ditched the stabilisers aged four. Both of my parents taught me to ride. What about your first bike? How old were you and who gave it to you? I’m struggling to remember, but I do remember when I got a racing bike. I’d been riding my normal bike pretending the brakes were drop handlebars — then I had to stop in a hurry and crashed. After that I was bought a racer. Result! What sort of bike do you ride these days? I’ve got a racing bike and a time trial bike, both by Boardman, and a mountain bike. Can you tell us more about your cycling nowadays? Where do you enjoy riding? When I’m just riding around I go to Richmond Park (this is a good training spot too), up and down the towpath along the Thames, or in the park with my family. For a longer ride, I'll head out to Box Hill. Where else in London do you enjoy cycling?

London Cyclist

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Down the Embankment is a great way to ride along the river, seeing the landmarks and the way it (the river) snakes through London. What’s the best thing about being a cyclist? You can travel a long way very easily, no traffic, no petrol, no parking. Do you consider yourself a good cyclist? Not too bad. I obey traffic lights as drivers will never respect or be patient with us if we disobey the rules while

“It's vital to get people on bikes, and for them to do so safely... it's why Bike Week's a great event” expecting them to obey them. Any pet hates when it comes to cycling? Rain and a headwind! What’s your idea of a perfect day on two wheels? A mountain climb in the Alps. What’s the longest ride you’ve ever done? In a single day I rode about 300 miles during my challenge for Sport Relief earlier this year. I rode from Calais in France to Tarifa in Spain after rowing the Channel and before swimming to Africa. In total I covered 1,640 miles over 10 days —it was amazing. If you could ride off into the sunset on your bike, where would you ride to? Down through South America. You lend your name to Bike Week — why is this an important event for you? I believe it’s vital to get people — kids and adults — onto bikes, and for them to do so safely. There are so many benefits: health, environmental, no traffic, economical reasons. Bike Week encompasses these beliefs in to a great event, or number of events across the country. There are so many things going on, for all levels, that everyone can get involved. If you hadn’t been a rower, could you have imagined yourself as a competitive cyclist? In my dreams — I’m just not quick enough. I love cycling because it keeps me fit, but for short journeys it’s often also the quickest way to get from A to B, so it keeps my carbon footprint down to a minimum. I do calculate how many miles I’ve built up over the months though — I use the Sports Tracker on my Nokia phone.

June-July 2009

12/5/09 00:19:42

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