London Cyclist Magazine October-November 2007

www.lcc.org.uk

October/November 2007

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Contents

October/November 2007

Issue 107

LC was making its way to your door by the time riders set out on the first London Freewheel on September 23. That means there is unfortunately no coverage of the event in this issue, but do keep an eye on the LCC website and local LCC group sites for a full rundown of the day. As we went to press, LCC staff and volunteers all over London were busy organising rides and events to tie in with the mass ride.

LCC's remit was to ensure that at least 50% of the riders it attracted to Freewheel were new or returning cyclists. It sounded like a big ask, but one easily achievable by each of us bringing along one family member or friend and their wheels. Peer pressure is nothing new, of course. It's the same sort of theory that worked so well on rides to the Tour de France Prologue in July, when thousands of Londoners dusted off their pedals, headed into Hyde Park and finished the day having well and truly caught the cycling bug. And how many cyclists out there didn't point out to colleagues that bikes were the best way to avoid the chaos of the tube strike in early September? I was working from home during the strike, and had three phone calls from bikeless friends wanting to borrow my wheels. I could have auctioned them off to the highest bidder, but the satisfaction I got from seeing my hybrid disappearing down the road with a new bum on the seat was simply priceless.

Lynette Eyb

56 4

51

54

Product reviews

Features 14 Bicycles and the arts

COVER STORY

From performance art to film, we celebrate the bike

20 Online mapping

COVER STORY

Camden Cycling Campaign's innovative web-based routes project

23 Flirting on wheels

COVER STORY

Is cycling the new speed-dating?

28 Bike lights

44 Diary Rides and events for all cyclists

COVER STORY

48 Books ’n’ things plus Josie Dew

Be ready for those long winter days

31 Tools for the job We test a leading tool set

WIN!

High-viz gear

24 Travelling with your bike The best car cycle carriers on the market

26 How to... fix a puncture 27 Workshops Maintenance courses across the capital

london Cyclist

51 My Way From Hampton Hill to Farringdon

52 Outward Bound

Regulars 4 News plus director's column

Technical

Books, bike art and Fine Lines

Community cycling projects, bikes and the economic, and much more

11 Your letters plus Zoe Williams 32 Members’ pages plus AGM wrap Make the most of your membership

Cycling the north of France

54 Outward Bound An exhilarating ride in the Nevada Desert

56 Dispatches A special report from Mexico City

58 My Bike & I 50 Big Issue founder and mayoral candidate John Bird chats to LC

40 Local group news Reports from your part of town Cover photo: Ray Gibson, Bicycle Ballet

Editor Lynette Eyb Product reviews Erin Gill, Mel Allwood Design Anita Razak Proof-reading Rosie Downes Marketing Ben Crowley Advertising Mongoose Media, Matt Styrka (020 7306 0300 ext 112, lcc@mongoosemedia.com) ■ London Cyclist welcomes voluntary contributions, including photographs. All work is accepted in good faith. Content may be edited and reproduced online – see www.lcc.org.uk/londoncyclist You can contact the editorial team via 2 Newhams Row, London, SE1 3UZ (020 7234 9310, londoncyclist@lcc.org.uk) 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. 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.

See page 32 for more on London Cycling Campaign.

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News Director’s column

Photo: Lynette Eyb

Koy Thomson No-one in the public service deliberately sets out to destroy a city. No-one deliberately sets out to fill it with dust, smoke and fumes; to fill our spaces with two to three ton metal bullets shot with the frequency of semi-automatic rifles; to fill us with anger, frustration and rage; to separate community from community, neighbour from neighbour, human from environment; to undermine our health. Yet car-centred transport and planning policy does all this. It so dominates the public and private mind that we can’t imagine alternatives. With cycling booming, now is the time to more assertively articulate and push alternatives. This might be in terms of shifts in mindsets (how about a peoplecentred transport policy giving priority to cycling and walking and integration with public transport?), the campaign to makes the best of a bad car-centred job, or the celebration and multiplication of community based alternatives.

Our work to create a Cycling Manifesto for London to put before the Mayoral candidates (see story, right) will be our statement that another world is possible.

On page 5 we have an article on LCC’s work with local communities – our mission is to make cycling an everyday choice for all so everyone can get around joyfully, easily and effectively. Together with our own values of inclusiveness, this means we need to pay more attention to those who for social reasons are excluded from the services, opportunities and human interactions that the rest of us take for granted. The work that community organisations have done with LCC’s support are an inspiration.

The Active Travel Consortium (page 5) will help us extend this work and take the lessons to other cities. Cycling triggers changes in people’s lives beyond what might be expected of other community projects. It benefits health and selfconfidence, and gives people the ability to take control over their own lives, to earn a living and to access services.

And then there’s environmental benefits, political participation, neighbourhood regeneration and security. If these early observations are borne out, they are of immense significance to cycling advocacy. For this reason, LCC is developing a more in-depth research programme. You will be the first to hear the results.

4 October/November 2007 LONDON CYCLIST

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London follows Paris Mayor orders study into mass hire scheme London could get a mass‘freedom bikes’ now scale public bike hire seen all over the city. system, with Mayor of The scheme has been London, Ken Livingstone, made possible via a directing Transport for sponsorship deal with London (TfL) to examine JC Decaux, which the feasibility of a scheme supplies the bikes and similar to the one recently maintains the system launched to international in return for advertising acclaim in Paris. Both Mr space.

Livingstone and his green “‘Freedom bikes’ transport advisor, Jenny in London would Jones, have visited Paris to transform people’s see the ‘Velib’ hire scheme, travel behaviour which was introduced by and their attitude mayor Bertrand Delanoë. to cycling,” says The Paris scheme sees Charlie Lloyd of LCC’s 10,000 bikes situated at campaigns team. “The Cyclists – including one on a Velib hire 750 hire-points around political challenge to bike (far right) – enjoy the streets of the the French capital. The make it work requires French capital bikes are available at any the commitment of time of the day and cost a dozen highway around 70 pence per half hour. Payment authorities to provide 1000 hire points in is made via credit or debit card, with the zones 1 and 2, then we need to double that hirer charged £100 if a bike is not returned. in the first year. Our challenge is to build the There are plans to expand the programme political will to make it happen.” to offer 20,000 bikes at 1,400 hire points by Cities already operating public bike hire the end of the year. The Paris scheme has schemes include Barcelona, Brussels, been an instant success, with the distinctive Vienna, Berlin, Munich, Oslo and Lyon.

LCC NEWS

AN LCC CAMPAIGN

Maps feedback is welcome

Manifesto to target mayor candidates

As reported in the August/September issue of London Cyclist, the new double-sided London Cycle Guides have been released. Transport for London (TfL) says the maps will be revised on an annual basis. LCC has identified a number of errors and potential improvements and has told TfL. If you have improvements or corrections, please let LCC know via the ‘practical advice’ and ‘mapping routes’ links at www.lcc.org.uk/info

Schools dive into bike pools A scheme to get staff at schools in Hackney to cycle is under way after the borough’s School Travel Plan programme was awarded Transport for London funding to establish bike pools at 10 schools. The bikes will be used by staff for work-related journeys in an effort to cut car and taxi use. Almost 40 schools have expressed an interest in the project.

Project leaders have called

on LCC members interested in assisting with the project to get in touch. Volunteers would ‘adopt a school’ within this scheme and become a point of contact for that school, offering informal advice and suggestions – such as good local routes and bike purchasing advice.

Anyone interested in the project should email alix. stredwick@hackney.gov.uk or call 020 8356 8023.

LCC is drafting a Cycling Manifesto to ensure London candidates for next year’s mayoral elections are committed to ensuring London becomes a world class cycling city. The major parties are set to announce their candidates by year’s end, with at least three contenders – Mayor Ken Livingstone, Conservative nominee Boris Johnson and independent candidate and Big Issue founder John Bird – all supporters of cycling.

Keep an eye on the LCC website for more on the manifesto. See page 58 for our John Bird interview.

For more news, go to www.lcc.org.uk

8/9/07 22:23:02

News Send items for the news pages to news@lcc.org.uk or write to the address on page 3

Bikes crucial to tourism

in brief

Four cycle routes worth over £13m to economy A new report confirms what most of us already knew: that cycle tourism has the potential to contribute millions to the UK’s tourism economy.

The report by sustainable transport charity, Sustrans, reveals demand for domestic holidays is predicted to rise in response to climate change, the rising price of oil and the ongoing threat to personal security in the wake of terrorist alerts.

The report shows how in 2006, four cycle routes in the North East of England had a combined worth of over £13 million to the wider regional economy.

The Economic Impact of Cycle Tourism in North East England report was conducted by the Institute of Transport and Tourism at the University of Central Lancashire, Loughborough University and Sustrans.

It focused on economic impacts of four routes that form part of the National Cycle Network: the C2C (Sea to Sea) Cycle Route, the Coast and Castles Cycle Route, Hadrian’s Cycleway and the northern section of the Pennine Cycleway.

The routes attracted over half a million trips in 2006, directly contributing £9.6 million to the North East economy and representing a value of £13.4

million to the wider economy. They also supported 216 jobs in the areas surrounding the routes.

The report coincided with figures suggesting that the number of trips made on the National Cycle Network is increasing. Some 338 million cycling and walking journeys were made on the National Cycle Network in 2006, 106 million more than in 2005.

Almost 100 million of these were journeys made on local routes to shops, schools and offices.

See page 13 for an Opinion article by Lonely Planet’s Tom Hall on why we should all be taking more holidays by bike.

LCC NEWS

Local projects benefiting from community funding

New affiliates join LCC has welcomed three new organisations to its corporate affiliates scheme. Dexter Moren Architects; British Land, a London-based property investment company; and The Peabody Trust, a housing corporation and charitable trust, have all joined the programme.

LCC will work with these organisations to support their cyclists and develop initiatives to encourage new converts to cycling. For more on the corporate affiliates programme, email shadia@lcc.org.uk or phone the LCC office (contact details page 32).

Campaigners' awards

Left: LCC has been working with Richmond-based Parents 4 Pedal Power, which has been using kids’ bikes and trailers to get more young people cycling.

Right: Dalston Youth Project’s Earn A Bike scheme she said had been hanging out in her community.

This led to Brent Council’s youth service supporting the project with funding from their Positive Activities for Young People scheme. The project has proved so successful it will continue during the October half-term.

Young Southwark Cyclists (YSC) was successfully launched

For more news, go to www.lcc.org.uk

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Following the departure of LCC fundraising and marketing manager Sophie Cutter, fundraising officer Ben Crowley is now covering this position, while membership support assistant Marzia Artelesa is individuals’ fundraising and membership officer. Julie Tublin has joined as membership support assistant, and Shadia Hameed as corporate membership and marketing officer. Shadia also maintains relationships with bike shops, while Julie takes over retention evenings, the second Wednesday of each month.

to encourage young people to develop a greater sense of London and their local community by going on rides across London.

This is all good practice for the Thames Festival, a carnival of lights and creativity. The YSC will join the procession with lights on their bikes, but the fun won’t stop there. As LC went to press, the group was gearing up for the first London Freewheel.

Applications for the 2008 Sheila McKechnie Foundation Awards are now open. The foundation, a charity, is fostering the next generation of campaigners, with the awards scheme offering campaigners development and training opportunities.

Wandsworth Cycling Campaign’s Susie Morrow was a finalist in last year’s awards. See www. sheilamckechnie.org.uk or call 020 7770 7892.

Kingston training Kingston Council has become a National Standards Instructor Training Provider. “Not only are we an accredited provider of ‘Bikeability’ training, we are officially recognised as a centre that trains new instructors,” said Kingston’s cyclist training co-ordinator, Eric Chasseray.

Photos: Sarah Slater. BritainOnView

The Community Cycling Fund for London (CCFL), which LCC administers, has funded more than 50 projects this year.

Here is just a slice of what’s been happening this year to get more people cycling.

The Dalston Youth Project’s Earn A Bike Scheme worked to give people aged 10-16 the skills to bring old bikes back to life. The young people had to show good attendance and learn cycle maintenance before they could ride away on their own wheels, which had originally been donated by police from recovered stolen bikes.

Theresa Kilpatrick, who spearheaded the project, was delighted with the performance, attendance and attitude of the young people involved.

The Brent Eleven project was also based on recycled bikes donated by the police. Josie Washaw, a mother with a teenage son and a keen interest in cycling, organised a Dr Bike event to support the young people who

LCC staff update

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News

LCC NEWS

LCC part of £30m project

in brief

Consortium to get more people cycling and walking

Huq out of Freewheel

Vote 1 for bike project Cyclists are being urged to take part in a nationwide public vote that could see Sustrans’ Connect2 project win Lottery funding to open up more bike routes. The scheme is one of eight projects competing for the Living Landmarks funding in the ITV1 vote in December, and the only one that would benefit London.

In Croydon, it would link densely populated parts of the borough to green spaces, allowing more local people to commute on foot or by bike to the town centre. One part of the route would use the Tramlink corridor to link Addiscombe and Woodside to South Norwood Country Park, Ashburton Park, Addiscombe Railway Park and the town centre. Another route would link Wandle Park to Park Hill and the Addington Hills.

For more on Connect2, see www.sustransconnect2. org.uk/schemes

The Active Travel Consortium aims to encourage more people to get around their local area by bike or foot to lead an active lifestyle by including walking and cycling as part of their daily routine.

The ATC’s wide-ranging projects are designed to encourage people who would not ordinarily walk or cycle to school or work choose to make these local journeys on foot or

LCC NEWS

Ticket discount for LCC members LCC will once again be exhibiting at the annual Cycle Show, which this year moves to Earl’s Court from the Docklands.

All LCC members who quote ‘LCC’ can buy tickets in advance for the special price of £9 (£7 for children aged 13-16 and £1 for kids under 12). Call 0870 838 222 to book. Anyone joining LCC at the show will go into the running to win a new Pinnacle bike (pictured).

See page 32 for details.

For more on the show itself, which runs October 12-14, see page 34.

HGV mirror update The new transport minister for road safety, London MP Jim Fitzpatrick, has told LCC that he will ensure safer mirrors are fitted to older lorries from next year, with implementation to be completed by 2009.

The Department for Transport will, however, not ask lorries registered before 2000 to use the forward facing mirrors that are fitted on new models. These are proven to reduce pedestrian and cyclist casualties. That leaves over one-third of the most dangerous lorries without clear vision on their left side and 90% unable to see a pedestrian or cyclist immediately in front of the cab.

In London, the construction industry lorries cause most fatalities. LCC has asked Olympic authorities to ban them from all 2012 projects.

Congestion update

AN LCC CAMPAIGN

Thames Gateway Bridge blocked A proposal for a six-lane Thames Gateway Bridge has been rejected following public inquiry. The planning inquiry inspector refused permission for the bridge, accepting evidence from LCC and other opponents that the bridge would reduce travel by bike and foot, lead to more motorised traffic and pollution, and do nothing for regeneration.

However, the victory for campaigners was short-lived, with the Government and Transport for London (TfL) choosing to re-open the inquiry and submit a mass of ‘new’ evidence.

“It seems the Government and TfL are determined to keep pushing the planning process until they get to build the bridge they want,” says Charlie Lloyd of LCC’s campaigns team. “This despite the risks to the environment and the consistent opposition to the proposal.”

For more news go to www.lcc.org.uk

News4,5,7.indd 7

by bike rather than by car.

Other organisations joining LCC as part of ATC are British Cycling, Cycling England, Living Streets, National Heart Forum, National Obesity Forum, Sustrans, the Ramblers Association, Transport 2000 and Walk21.

Blue Peter presenter Konnie Huq withdrew her support for the September 23 London Freewheel after being accused of compromising the impartiality of the BBC by backing the event which was promoted by Mayor Ken Livingstone. Huq, a cyclist, withdrew having not received BBC clearance to help promote the event. LC went to press prior to Freewheel – the LCC website, www.lcc.org.uk, and local LCC groups will carry coverage of the event.

The Congestion Charge has cut motorised traffic levels in the western extension area by 10%-15% on 2006 levels since its introduction in February, according to a Transport for London (TfL) Impacts Monitoring Report. During 2006, traffic levels in the original zone remained 21% lower than before the scheme was introduced in 2002.

The charge generated net revenues of £123m in 2006/07, which TfL says will be spent on improvements to transport across London.

“The charge has meant real reductions in traffic emissions, reduced CO2 emissions, and enhanced safety for pedestrians and cyclists,” said Mayor Ken Livingstone.

Photo: BritainOnView

A consortium of cycling, walking and health organisations has won £20 million in Lottery funding to help communities build healthier lifestyles.

The Active Travel Consortium (ATC), of which LCC is a member, has received the funding from the Lottery’s Well-being programme. It’s part of a £30 million strategy to deliver projects that will enable more than two million people to walk and cycle more for everyday journeys.

Under the four-year programme, LCC is being funded to further develop its groundbreaking community cycling project, which has already helped thousands of Londoners to become more active in their community (see page 5). The LCC projects fit perfectly within the ATC remit to encourage more poeple

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Letters Have your say Trains – the good and the bad I think Juliet Simpson (Letters, > LC Aug/Sept) is being a bit too negative about the new trains. Each of the new trains in her area has designated space for at least two cycles. Further afield, provision on the new South West trains is more generous, at least one area for three cycles, and usually two or more. If the official spaces are not available, judicious positioning of cycles in doorways leaves enough room for others to get by, and train conductors raise no objections. Of course, she needs to be nearby for when doors open on the side the bikes are parked on.

Against this, there is the advantage of easier boarding – I much prefer being able to get my bike on board with just a gentle lift, instead of the massive heave that was necessary when using the old guard’s vans.

G Lees, by email Ed: The LCC leaflet, Travelling With Your Bicycle, includes advice on taking your bike on trains. Bans by some train operators on the peakhour carriage of bikes forms part of an ongoing LCC campaign, which also centres on better facilities for cyclists on all trains and at all stations. Details of the campaign are available at www.lcc.org.uk under the ‘current campaigns’ link, or by calling the LCC office (details page 33), which can also send you a copy of the leaflet. There is upto-date information on the bike-rail policies of individual train operators at www.atob.org.uk/Bike_Rail.html After completing the British Cyclosportive in July, I had to get back to Walthamstow from Canterbury on public transport.

The staff at Canterbury East station were very helpful and I got to London without incident. I then

cycled from Victoria to Liverpool Street, intending to catch the train to Walthamstow Central. The line to Walthamstow was undergoing engineering works, so I took the alternative, the line to Tottenham Hale. However on trying to board the Stansted Express at 7pm, I was told bicycles weren’t allowed. The train was only about one-third full.

I contacted One customer services and was told “it would be entirely unsafe to permit cycles on these services”. Do any readers have any evidence of bicyles causing injury on any train?

I was only planning to go one stop. I would have stood with my bike, and I was prepared to get off if the train filled up. The train I caught half an hour later was full.

Ben Collier, by email

Letters Have your say Observations on the buses getting off the bus knocked I liked Simon Brammer’s me report (LC A day spent down. The driver did not soles get snagged on on the buses June/July) on how stressful bother the pedals it must checking if I was OK. as you move your feet be to drive a bus in London.

I am sure in and out bus drivers are trained of the clips. What we I do not believe we should not to open need is good just the doors unless it is a stiff-soled shoes that have to share the road bus stop, have flat but with buses but many still do it. Perhaps grippy soles. They should and get on with it. We they have do have to should be more often smooth lace up tops, share roads with all vehicles, penalised for preferably but this kind of misbehaviour. be water resistance and we should not be made not over to share I have been cycling in padded. And they need the same lane. I feel we London for to be a neat are in an nine years and buses design without welted absurd situation where or black cabs sides. None the most have caused most accidents of this is difficult for manufacturers vulnerable of all road I have users are had. If there is not enough – they have the technology made to share road lanes space – but I with Product reviews or money for separate am still looking for the Shoes the biggest trucks in town. cycling right design.

Given lanes, Martin the authorities should ensure Birdseye, by email that cycles are slower, it is quite that the attitude and bad Product reviewer Mel dysfunctional that the habits of Allwood lane is shared drivers writes: I wonder whether change, otherwise London between such different you’ve vehicles. will never become cycle-friendly. considered a pair of Pearl When I get on a bus, it Izumi is really Ada Kantecka, by email Groove shoes? They have frustrating to see a cyclist grippy slowing soles that don’t snag the bus slow down. As in your pedals, a cyclist, I The problem with shoes a neat lace, and a rubber try to not get in the way bumper of buses, Your product review on at the front to stop the but if I’m in a bus lane cycling toeclips with no shoes (LC June/July) scuffing the shoe. They alternative cycle route is welcome, also have a – how am especially because it nice big boxy toebox.

I supposed to get out identifies of the way? shoes suitable for toe We should campaign clips. In for properly my opinion Support for ‘two tings’ toe clips are the most signposted bike routes that allow us useful Re the British waterway’s option for city cyclists to avoid high streets and who ‘Two bus lanes, may want Tings’ campaign (LC June/July), to use their bikes at any and make it just as punishable on to time and on any occasion. a warm day on a busy step on a cycle lane as This stretch of the it is now to is because toe clip straps towpath by Hampton step on a bus lane. can be Court, I tinkled adjusted for almost any my way past groups of Ana A, SE5 type of strollers. shoe – office, casual, “Thank you,” called out trainers, etc. one lady, “of However, one also wants all the cyclists this afternoon, This morning I had an to have you accident cycling shoes that are are the first to give us involving a bus. The bus optimised for a warning!” driver the toe clips. The choice When I’m walking, I prefer opened the door while available is to be miles away very poor. The two types alerted by a cyclist’s bell, from a bus stop. I happened you have rather to reviewed appear not ideal than be startled by a bike. cycle near by and a passenger because I always they have knobbly soles. say “thanks” if walkers move Knobbly out of the way.

Cycle parking alternatives David van Rest, SW19 I don’t quite see the point of Tom Bogdanowicz’s ‘Stand & Deliver’ While applauding David article (LC Apr/May) on Dansky’s bike stands. advice (LC June/July) We all know there are on good disparate manners, his advice on designs dotted about bells is – none of contrary to the official them any good, in my line (on the view. previous page you show All those illustrated are the British Waterways campaign established on the flawed advice of ‘two tings’ to alert walkers supposition that the bike’s to a cyclist’s frame presence). Patrick Field should be leant against saying the metal “moderate your speed tubing: perhaps not a to that of problem the people in front” is if you ride one of the ubiquitous unworkable.

During my hours cycling scruffy, beat-up mountain on canal bikes, but towpaths and on Sustrans unacceptable for those paths of us who as a ranger, it has always take pride in our expensive been mount’s acceptable to slow down, appearance. give two rings and “thank you” is resisted; panniers do To overcome these shortcomings, as I pass. not lean on the I Derek Clark, by email stand, and it is much have arrived at an alternative easier to park two design which bikes on a single stand I feel is superior in most in head-to-tail respects to the I was bemused to read fashion, as the seat of more conventional types.

David one does not try to By facilitating Dansky write that “in parks occupy the same space leaning the seat of the or as the handlebar bike against the on canal of the other. The stand towpaths, it is no more stand, and then bracing also takes up less of the pedal, no acceptable behaviour space when not in use. other part of the bike to ring your (frame, paintwork, bell or request people Havering has undertaken graphics, brake arms, get out of lamp brackets, to install your way than it is for this design. Fellow members carriers, etc) needs to car drivers come into may like to to do the same to you suggest them to their with it. Moreover, fore-and-aft contact on the own boroughs. movement road”. I always ring my David Garfield, Essex bell to alert pedestrians and find they are nearly always willing to move aside to let 10 August/September

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LCC NEWS

News

LCC’s director

“So do you want it’s like to drive to see what a challenge came bus?” The in of a conversation the middle and bus drivers. about cyclists Given that LCC had recently provided input from the cyclist’s viewpoint for Transport for a London (TfL) DVD for bus drivers, the ‘drive a bus challenge’ from TfL was not one I could refuse.

gets behind

the wheel in

in brief

a simulator

HGVs to carry signs

I was relieved to discover it was a bus that simulator (the first in the UK) I’d be driving and not a real bus, and located in ‘Firsdon’,that it was a fictional borough housed in a huge building in Simon Brammer, north-west London. right, takes charge The simulator of a ‘bus’ in cab is based the fictional on a real London borough of Firsdon the same controls.bus, with You are positioned pedestrian very high up about and at the very front. to the passengersto step out Pulling away from the curb, you distracting me and the realise just motorist trying what an enormous hard to overtake. vehicle a bus Even a cyclist is – you fill the popped up entire width next to the of your side of the bus as I was about road and have to pull away. to constantly When a car emerged look in the mirrors to at speed from judge where side road, I a you are in terms hit the your road position. of lumbering 17-tonnebrakes. The I managed to get out onto bus with its 80 passengers the took its time pick up passengers ‘road’ and stop (visions to drive hasn’t without of passengers mowing them stopped me and shopping flying down. All was being annoyed at down the aisles) under control, the driver who – we stopped, and I was pretty drove up to but only just pleased with my back wheel in time. myself. However, and beeped me soon the empty a few days I never realised ago, but roads were it will make replaced (at me think differently stressful driving quite how the click of next time I a button) a bus could with traffic, am in the same real drivers be: bad weather lane as a bus. need to be and the darkness alert for seven hours of night. My In the spirit a day. stress levels surged of understanding, Since the congestion as I we have now wheel. Suddenly, clutched the offered to take charge, we’ve seen I was having driver trainers TfL a boom in two to predict the out on bikes, transport modes behaviour of in bus lanes, in London: everyone around in London. buses and Watch this me, from the space. Many bikes. Like it or not, thanks to Simon they have to Wallis of TfL co-exist. My and Bob trial

Ingber of First for the experience.

Progress slow on removal of one-way systems

When the unloved system returned 1960s Shoreditch gyratory to two-way journey times member Jenny in 2002, slashing and creating Jones that, massively improvedbus conditions despite studies been done for walking on 11 out of having and cycling, the 12 the flagship funding has it was hailed for a yet been allocated target gyratories, no one-way systems rolling programme removing as the schemes. to implement from London’s any of large Five years “Big one-way high streets. on, there has systems are been no progress the ground, users, as they dangerous though enabling for road encourage on [motor] traffic behind the and cause scenes. Transport work has continued twice as many to speed casualties as published a way roads,” for London hitlist twoMs Jones said. has reform – including of a dozen gyratories agreement “Part of my it wants to with the Mayor budget was to make Court Road/GowerAldgate, New Cross, green city by Tottenham London a providing the Street, Stoke Tottenham appropriate for walking Hale and Wandsworth.Newington, and cycling, conditions but this is not as Hammersmith, with these Others such happening big one-way systems.”

Norwood Triangle the Nag’s Head, and The Greens the Upper are pressing aren’t yet in for the London-wide removal of However, Mayor its sights. gyratories to be put on the recently revealed of London Ken Livingstone as other major same footing investment to Green Party schemes such underground, London Assembly rail and and for big money to be next year’s committed budget. Trevor in Parsons

For more news go to www.lcc.org.uk

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Motor company Ford has joined the Transport for London (TfL) campaigns aimed at reducing the risks cyclists face from HGVs. Ford will display warning signs for cyclists on the back of more than 2,000 HGV trucks and trailers.

The signs, have been developed which carry the message by TfL, ‘Cyclists – beware of passing this vehicle on the inside’. See page 4 for details of LCC’s HGV campaign.

Money for

Camden

Camden Council has won Greenway funding for a Camley Street/Agar Grove link, as well as money to convert a footway on Spaniards Road to shared use. This will run on the south side of the path between the top of the cycleway and Spaniards End. The funding is for 2007-08.

Tour of Britain route

Full route and date information for the 2007 Tour of Britain have been announced. race, from September The 9-15, will visit nine new venues, which will each host a stage for the first time. The race will start in London and finish in Glasgow.

See www.tourofbritain.com

Funding put to

vote Transport charity Sustrans has selected 79 community projects from around the UK to include in its ‘Connect2’ bid to the Big Lottery Fund’s Living Landmarks: The People’s Millions competition.

Connect2 is up against five other schemes, with the winner to be decided by a public vote on ITV1 in December.

Eastway legacy

fight

The Eastway Users’ Group continues to fight to secure a post-Olympic legacy for track and off-road racing in East London following the demolition of the Eastway Cycle Circuit.

Planning applications for a new circuit have been scaled back from 34ha to 10ha.

For more information, see www.lcc.org. uk/campaigns and click on ‘current campaigns’.

LONDON CYCLIST

June/July 2007

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If you’re cycling around town tests cycle-specific in trainers, you’re missing shoes designed a trick. Mel to put power Specialized into your pedallingAllwood Sonoma 2 £49.99, Specialized

UK, www.specialized.com

Adidas Minnret

£49.99, Chicken shoes & Sons www.chickencycles.co.uk

and www.adidas.com/uk

Adidas Minnret shoes are designed upper is a for use around combination of mesh and town. The grey colour suede, scheme is simple, unobtrusive and the black or The best thing about them and subtly trainers. If urban. you don’t want is that they look similar to the world you’re to wander around in shoes a pair of a cyclist, this that tell I would have preferred one is a pair to consider. heel, which is fairly discreet, less Adidas logo – there’s and one on but having one on the the tongue seems excessive.one on the side of the reflective strip toe On the other on the heel is well-placed hand, the The shoes to show up feel comfortable. in headlights. and the heel comes up high, There’s a fair amount of padding rather than so my ankle Velcro, mean felt supported. you can get built more like Laces, the fitting just a trainer than right. They’re the heel to a cycling shoe, allow you to walk comfortably. with enough rubber The soles are on Specialized has shoes we tested.not as stiff as the Shimano with the design made a few versions and Although this of this Sonoma means they’re Specialized and women’s evolving over the years. shoe, not as effective versions. The It comes in Shimano MT20 men’s mesh, which at main body means your is almost entirely £39.95, Madison, feet stay wonderfully weather. Unfortunately, www.ultimatepursuits.co.uk cool in warm if it rains you and www.cycle.shimano-eu.com. combine these quickly get shoes with wet. I looks like it waterproof will be bad. socks if the Shimano makes weather The soles are a huge range from BMX smooth and of cycle shoes, The cleats to professional made of for everything don’t stick under Shimano’s racing out the bottom, highly grippy rubber. walking on ‘leisure’ shoe to touring. These shoes slippery floors. so I with some come range. They’re if you plan However, they’rehad no trouble mesh in the a lace-up shoe, to use toe upper and not ideal shoes These MT20s clips, since a medium-tread tangled in the are the stiffest clip. But Sonomas the Velcro closure sole. tested, even of the three flat pedals gets in larger sizes. are great if pairs of shoes - the plastic plate, The sole is you use simple we clipless pedals grippy soles are an advantage made of a and as a result very solid (SPDs). legs to pedals. they easily – or if you I liked the Velcro transfer power The sole is use so you can curved from closure, which shoes on and still walk reasonable slightly from front meant I could off quickly. fact that the to back, distances in pull the I would have on the back soles don’t them, despite of the women’s liked really bend. punctured the version has My tester, Ben, bike home version, though a reflective strip shiny tabs and didn’t walked a Ben loved – the at both the get sore feet.

I’m a big fan the rigidity heel and toe. men’s of the shoes of Specialized them very care to design comfortable. when cycling, shoes. The His biggest shoes that styling is ‘dull’, complaint was and found fit real people’s company takes up with something but if your that the feet. It has out of your goal is to get it calls ‘body have some come cycle shoes geometry’, substance when you get away without changing an advantage. which seems to it. For instance, geometry’ to work, surely As to shoes, which is also ‘unexciting’well as being available this is include Sonomas,Specialized’s ‘body in the centre in ‘boring’ beige. You’ll of grey, there these to the have a raised easily get away foot. It works the sole that sits neatly pub, although with wearing under the arch part for me – supporting outfit, they’ll if I can wear of your let you down. you’re trying to pull off my feet as a pair of a smart These shoes I pedal.

Sonomas all day without and toe clips. are equally well equipped getting sore Shimano makes for clipless Conclusion feet. Another pedals the vast majority example of Sonomas are Specialized’s of clipless comfortable ‘body geometry’ and sufficiently design is stiff for the way its powerful pedalling. women’s shoes have narrower The grippy sole heels and ■ Cycle shoes is a plus smaller holes are point. The for the ankle. mesh body this guarantees most efficient if the sole This avoids is perfect for is very that the power the hot days, but efficiently to from your legs stiff because I’ve encounteredproblem the pedals. you’ll need is transferred But it’s easier with other waterproof have some makes, where to flexibility in socks for winter.

I the sole. Choose walk in shoes that change out on the pedals pull up hard of your cycle accordingly: ideal for cyclists Not and end up shoes on arrival, if you with a stiffer who yanking my sole. use toe clips, go for something foot out of ■ Shoes designed but fine for the shoe. everyone else. for running a bike. Their are soles are flexible, what you shouldn’t wear on your legs won’t so a lot of the reach your power from quickly wear pedals – it will them out, making LONDON CYCLIST be lost. And you’ll them useless for running.

Tips for buying

shoes

28 June/July 2007

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2007 LONDON CYCLIST

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Motorbikes and cycles I tend to agree with Ken Kneller (Letters, LC Aug/Sep), in that I don’t feel particularly threatened by motorbikes. I can’t recall one ever coming too close, and agree that we do seem to co-exist. However, I have noticed that some bikers have a habit of coming up the outside of stationary traffic, parking themselves in the advanced stop line box, still on the right-hand side, and then turning left as soon as the lights have turned to green. As a cyclist, you never quite know who’s going to go first.

On another note, I just wanted to say (again!) that the magazine is going from strength-to-strength.

How about something in-between, though – say an email every couple of weeks with some news and updates, etc.

David Cohen, N16 Ed: Thanks for the feedback, David.

We’ll add your suggestion to our growing list of ideas to help improve LC for members.

15/7/07 11:35:51

What about bike racks on buses?

Is there any move to have buses in London fitted with bike racks such as they have in Vancouver and various European cities?

Dianne Norton, SW19 Charlie Lloyd, of LCC’s campaigns team, writes: I’m afraid not. Bike racks on the front of buses are not allowed as they are seen as a danger to pedestrians. It would be easy to take bikes straight onto the newer low-floor buses, as happens on some routes in Southampton and Sheffield. That would help people who use bikes as mobility aids; and would be really useful on the bus replacement to the East London Line under the Thames, which closes for three years from Christmas. It’s also worth remembering that black cabs can all carry bikes, and most drivers are happy to take you and your bike for the price of a regular fare. There is also a new taxi service, Climate Cars (www.climatecars.com), which caters for cyclists.

In defence of bus drivers Having read all letters critical of buses in the August/September issue of London Cyclist, I felt compelled to at least try to redress the balance somewhat.

I’ve been commuting into central London for nearly two years now, so I’ve seen my fair share of bad driving behaviour, but I’ve also seen my fair share of good driving behaviour. There have been occasions where bus drivers have behaved so as to protect me from traffic; drivers who have slowed down excessively to let me through; and, on one occasion, to reflect the experience of one of your previous letter-writers, the driver who virtually slammed the door back in a passenger’s face after opening the door some way before

CARTOON REPRODUCED WITH THE KIND PERMISSION OF PRIVATE EYE/AIDEN POTTS

8 October/November 2007 LONDON CYCLIST

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Letters

Letters can be sent to letters@lcc.org.uk or to the address on page 3. Letters may be edited for legal or space reasons (please keep them short and concise)

Faulty Trail-gator In February I bought a Trail-gaitor bike tow bar and had it fitted at my local bike shop. I rode with my son to school on a daily basis until

I used to hate fair-weather cyclists. They don’t dress properly. They over-bind their trouser leg. Or they roll them both up, when they only need to do one, like they don’t know what the rolling-up point is in the first place.

Or they wear professional shorts or all-in-one suits, like they think it’s the Tour de France without the amphetamines. Or they take the amphetamines as well, for authenticity.

They don’t have the right wet-weather gear because they are fair-weather cyclists. Or else they have too much wet-weather gear, the full plastic trousers and overshoes, like a bit of rain could kill a man. They are not fit because they’ve only just got their bike out of the shed after nine months; or else they are perfectly fit, and they make you think, man, I’ve been cycling all this time and I’m no fitter than these part-timers.

They are too polite to the motorised road-user – they act as though this is some kind of summer hobby, rather than a war. Or sometimes, they are too rude to the motorised road-user, and they act as if they’ve been cycling through hell and high water past a bendy bus, when in fact they have only been cycling for one sunny morning and no white van driver has even had a chance to try and kill them yet. And they clump, I don’t understand why. Regular cyclists will lose a lung rather than cycle right near anyone.

They will harass and intimidate and heavy breathe and if all that doesn’t work, they’ll just slow right down. Your sunny natured summer-cyclists all ride together, like a peloton, only a really, really slow peloton. Without the amphetamines.

They don’t pump their tyres up properly; and what a simple thing that would be, as you see them passing, to speed you up and improve your fair-weather efficiency; apart from the ones who give their bike a full service, at the beginning of their cycling season, like it’s some kind of car, and everything about it, from its rock-hard tyres to its shiny bell, is totally perfect. And then you don’t have time to muse about what advice you might give them because they are moving too fast. They have one of those cute little pouches at the back of their saddle, and it’s probably full of totally cool stuff, like, I don’t know, snacks.

Or else they don’t, and they don’t even know how to mend a puncture, and if they ever got a puncture, they’d be stuck at the side of the Strand Underpass forever; they would be as fixed and eternal as the fella outside Parliament with all the banners.

I’ll tell you the funny thing, though: when summer doesn’t arrive, and the hail is as big as golf balls in June, and July looks like November, and it’s August before you see any fair-weather cyclists at all, and you know they’ll be gone soon and you won’t see them again until 2008, well, you do kind of miss them. Don’t you?

Photos: Peter Dench, Adrian Lewis

Thank you to cabbie Jonathan Recently I had a nasty crash in central London leaving me with some very deep grazes and a ruined helmet (it saved my life, I think). A London cab stopped to help, along with a few other very kind passers-by.

The cabbie, Jonathan, said he was a member of the LCC and offered to drive my bike and I anywhere I wanted. I took him up on this for a short ride to King’s Cross, from where I could get home easily. Thanks Jonathan – not all London cabbies are bad after all.

Simon Knowles

Shock at incident at lights Something for those cyclists who still think there’s any debate or justification for treating red lights as optional. On June 14 at 9.15am, I was stopped at red lights waiting to cross Southwark Street from the Tate Gallery side. All traffic lights were red and pedestrians had right of way crossing the road in front of me. A woman on a trendy Dutch bike crossed the junction against the lights and tried to muscle her bike through pedestrians in the expectation that they would stop to let her through. In the process, she ran into a guide dog. Onlookers were in shocked disbelief. The cyclist pathetically apologised to the dog’s visually impaired owner – the apologies went on too long, which just made it worse. I cringed and was furious at the same time.

The idiot cyclist in question is an embarrassment to us all.

Running over blind people and their guide dogs is definitely not socially acceptable behaviour.

Whatever your self-serving justification is for ignoring red lights, it doesn’t wash.

Richard Cohen, Stepney

Zoe Williams

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the bus stop because he’d seen me about to pass on the inside.

Overall, in my experience, bus drivers have become more polite, more capable and safer. I don’t think for a second, however, that that hasn’t also come with improvement of my own ability to cycle in central London, to deal with traffic and to identify potential pinch points before I get to them.

When it comes to risks on the road, buses have never been my biggest fear: they’re great big red things with limited maneuverability and not many places to go. Bus drivers are learning to live with us and, clearly, we need to live learn with them.

Now, taxis, on the other hand...

Edouard Guido, by email

I noticed that part of the receiver kit on my son’s bike, the bottom bit with the lip into which the telescopic attachment slots, had sheered right off. We’ve not had any accidents, so I can only assume this has been caused by a faulty device. I’ve had the bike checked and have been advised that the bike is no longer safe to ride as a tandem. This is desperately inconvenient and disappointing both for me and my son.

Given that I only bought the Trail-gaitor in February, I wrote to the manufacturer but have not received a response. I was wondering if any of your readers could offer any advice or help as to what I should do next. The kit cost me nearly £70, and is the only thing that enables me to manage the school and then office run combined. Any advice or feedback on these kits would be most welcome.

Jane Caro, NW6 Ed: If any readers have any advice or experience using a Trail-gator, we would be happy to put you in touch with Jane. We’ll have more on cycling with kids in our December/ January issue.

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Letters

Letters Have your say

It’s great all these thoughts that have been aired about getting motorists on bikes so they have a feel for what it’s like and perhaps learn to share the road with cyclists a little better. But cyclists are not exactly paragons of best practice, either. I live on a very busy road in central London, frequented by herds of cyclists (myself included), ranging from commuters to couriers. I can sit in the front room and watch the good, the bad and the ugly roll by.

First, let me say, there has been a welcome increase in the number of cyclists who actually stop at the traffic lights on our corner. There have been quite a number of near misses between cyclists and elderly pedestrians (neither party waiting for the lights) – perhaps the cyclists are getting more cautious. But I regularly see actions that only serve to reinforce the bad image urban cycling has in London.

Today, a middle-aged woman – foolish cycling is not limited to the young or male – was riding along, nattering away on her mobile phone. A perfectly good helmet was

dangling from her handlebars. No matter where you stand in the great helmet debate, a helmet hanging from the handlebars is particularly useless, and it says to the onlooker ‘I must have thought there was a good reason for buying and taking this helmet out with me, but I’m too vain/lazy/stupid to actually put it on my head’. On top of that, she was blithely going the wrong way down a one-way street.

A few days ago, a female cyclist who was towing two children in a trailer didn’t even slow down for the red light. Maybe she thought no-one would dare hit her with the kiddie-trailer. I have news for her: they’re too low to the ground to be easily seen. It boggled my mind to think that someone would so carelessly tow children across traffic. Not only is it dangerous, but what does it teach the children about obeying the law?

Unfortunately, common sense is not a requirement for cycling. If we’re going to ask other road users to ‘play nice’, we’d better follow the rules of the game ourselves.

Elaine Bradtke, by email David Dansky’s article on courtesy and etiquette (LC, June/July) was welcome. The problem is, it won’t be read by cyclists who require guidance or training. Most LCC members are only too aware of their responsibilities, even though there are a few mavericks within our ranks who maintain it is acceptable to jump red lights.

I have cycled in London for over 40 years and in the early days an encounter with a fellow cyclist was a rare occurrence – it would even prompt conversations at red lights.

I am appalled by the behaviour of quite a number of the new breed taking to the pedals for whom the word courtesy simply does not exist; they adopt the same selfish attitude to fellow cyclists and pedestrians as they adopt towards

Technical

Minding your manners Nothing beats old-fashion ed good manners. David etiquette and solid bike Dansky says cycling skills can combine to make the roads a nicer for everyone place

CTUK

Riding with manners Having spent some years away from London, it is extremely encouraging to see so many more cyclists on the road – it certainly feels more than the 80% official figure when I commute in from Woodford every day. However I suspect that this growth may well be limited. Just as Vinokourov, Moreni and Rasmussen et al bring professional cycling into disrepute by selfishly believing that they are above the law, so do those cyclists who jump lights only feed into the popular image of the ‘Lycra lout’.

For my own safety on the road, I’d rather not be counted as such. This is an old chestnut of a complaint, but is it time to bring in bike registration plates?

Stephen Wyber, by email

Letters can be sent to letters@lcc.org.uk or to the address on page 3. Letters may be edited for legal or space reasons

Minimising conflict and managing expectations Etiquette is behaving according to socially accepted rules and norms. Some of these rules are written (the Highway Code) and some are not (thanking a driver who slows down for you).

There are advantages to cycling in a manner that is courteous to other road users. Conflict is minimised, and people are more likely to treat each other better if they interaction and their expectationsexperience positive of others are met.

Conflict occurs when expectations are not met.

Seeing a cyclist running a red light will anger many road users who expect people to stop at red, thereby raising potential conflict.

Flouting an unwritten rule will have a similarly negative effect.

There are certain expectations some road users have about cycling which need challenging. Many drivers (and cyclists) expect cyclists to ride near the kerb, or in a cycle lane The correct position for a which runs passed a row cyclist using an Advanced Stop Line of parked cars. Riding here may increase the risk to the cyclist. The cyclist may, therefore, choose to ride junctions (whether turning left, right or going straight away from the kerb, or out of the cycle lane. on) riding in the middle How of the lane where they a cyclist manages the are most driver’s expectations visible. If there is a cyclist in such waiting at a give-way circumstances may influence line, wait behind them unless whether the driver they are signalling to turn becomes annoyed or educated. and there is enough room for you to move next to The key here is perspicuity. them.

John Franklin, in his book Cyclecraft (see page 42), highlights the Advanced Stop Lines (ASL) importance of perspicuity, Consider your position the art of being seen and in the green Advanced Stop understood, as opposed Line box. Whether you to conspicuity, which is just enter the being visible. Wearing a hi-visibility vest may on the left (not recommended), box via the feeder lane get a rider seen but will do or by overtaking the little to communicate queue on the right, move much more in front of the first car, to a driver. Riding well leaving (assertively), demonstrating room for other cyclists to join you. Aim to stop good bike control, glancing in a low gear so you will be back regularly, signalling able to accelerate through clearly and moving into the position early will get junction quickly. Stay a in the middle of the lane cyclist seen by other road users until you have enough room to and help reduce risk and move left, communicating conflict. your intentions clearly to other cyclists and drivers. If there is no room in the ASL, it is worth queuing up Other cyclists and taking the space of a car or pushing Seeing and being seen in behind the first car by glancing back is key in the queue, communicating to your intention to the driver. good communication.

Cycle Training UK’s Cycle Training Instructor’s Manual Pedestrians advises that looking over your right shoulder gives There are occasions when you an you may share space the road behind you; however, idea of what is in with pedestrians, such as in looking over your left parks or on canal towpaths. shoulder before moving to the left will help you It is no more acceptable spot a behaviour to ring your cyclist undertaking you. bell It also communicates or request people get that you out of your way than it are planning to move is for left. If you are riding assertively, car drivers to do the same to you on the road. Patrick there may be room on your left Field of the London School of Cycling wrote on the occupied by a less assertive which may be a space Hackney-lcc forum mailing but faster cyclist. list in 2005 that: “The If overtaking another cyclist, humane thing to do is give them as much to moderate your speed room as if you were overtaking to that of the people in front a car (Cyclecraft ...The role recommends 1.5m). Check rider is to take the considerationof the progressive bike right before moving out and check left when pulling of the park out on to the highway, not to bring back in front of them.

If the cruel and selfish manners the cyclist is riding in the middle of a lane, assume ... (from) the highway into motor-free space.” they are riding there for a reason. The Highway There is enough room Code on our roads for everyone. says you should only pass a cyclist on the left The clearer you are about if they your intentions and the are signalling a right turn better you are able to see and and there is room to do understand what other so.

People don’t expect to people be undertaken on the intend, the more pleasant left. the road environment will be.

Learning to ride a bike is a lifelong and fun endeavour.

Junctions You may wish to take part in some Bikeability One vehicle generally training moves through a single to undo some bad habits lane and to junction at a time. Cyclists David Dansky is a nationally learn new skills. should move through accredited instructor with Cycle Training UK (www.cycletraining.co.uk)

26 June/July 2007 LONDON CYCLIST

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aggressive car drivers. It saddens me to have to share the road with selfish people who degrade cycling to the level of bad driving. Perhaps it’s a reflection of the society we live in, but such behaviour doesn’t enhance our image.

Gil Sutherland, by email ‘Two tings’ campaign support I write from Dorset, where I receive copies of your excellent magazine, passed on by my son. In June/July, you published differing views on bells: the article on the British Waterways’ ‘Two tings’ campaign to encourage considerate cycle use on towpaths, and David Dansky’s opinion that “it is no more acceptable to ring your bell or request people to get out of your way than it is for car drivers to do the same to you on the road”.

My wife is a keen walker and she is also one of tens of thousands who are registered blind.

Increasingly, she finds cyclists passing close by at great speed, travelling silently on the grass. How she would appreciate ‘two tings’, or even a friendly shout.

Roger Free, Dorset Editor’s note In our review of the Powabyke 24 Speed Commuter (LC, Aug/Sep), we said that the bike’s motor eventually switches off if the rider stops pedalling. In fact, the motor will run even if the rider isn’t pedalling. The more power the rider produces through pedalling, the longer the battery will last before needing a recharge.

Congratulations to our Aug/Sept prize-winners: ◆ Tour de France posters and T-shirts: Peter Corkill, SE15; Andy Young, W6; David Cohen, N16; Andreas Barsch, St Albans. ◆ A to B Magazine subscription: Eduardo Gomes, NW7. ◆ Drybum seat cover: Jesus Coromina, E5; John Parkey, Hemel Hempstead; Tristan Heath, Croydon.

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LONDON CYCLIST October/November 2007 11

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Opinion

Don’t forget to pack your bike Weekend breaks by bike and holidays on wheels – Tom Hall says they can help encourage more people to ride more often

Don’t leave home without it Cycling holidays are the obvious answer – and it’s high time this healthy, cheap and thoroughly green way of travelling joined camping and rail travel in enjoying something of a renaissance. We as cyclists should patronise and encourage the growth of this industry. How many holidays do you go on where you come back fitter than you started?

Admiring those Linford Legs rather than poking your wine belly

disconsolately? Your friends never want to know about your travels once you’ve returned, but even they’ll be impressed that you rode from one side of the country to the other over the course of a long weekend. In this way, cycle holidays have the potential to convert the more casual cyclist to two wheels on a more regular basis, perhaps turning them into commuters who help relieve some of that congestion.

And it’s not hard to get involved in holiday riding. Sustrans has helped nurture the National Cycle Network, 10,000 miles and counting of low-traffic or off-road routes, stretching from Dover to the Shetland Islands, London to west Wales and coast to coast at several different points. You’re only ever a few miles from a trail.

Over the past few years I’ve tackled the Pennine Cycleway, C2C and cobbled together my own journeys from connecting sections of the National Cycle Network. I’ve bonded with my brother over big hills and chilled out with friends and family following the Thames and the Tyne. I’d recommend these journeys to any cyclist – especially a Londoner. While cycling around the city is great, you’re missing out on big hills, bigger skies and lovely open roads without a car in sight.

Holidays mean big business But it’s not all about self-indulgence – cycle holidays have the potential to turn into something truly meaningful. Holidaying cyclists need to stock up on supplies, find somewhere to crash out or camp for the night and a pub to celebrate

A couple cycles towards Normanton church by Rutland Water, a 3100-acre reservoir with a reputation for providing a balance of sport, leisure and wildlife conservation.

The church was saved from the water and now houses an exhibition about the building of the reservoir

Have your say What do you think about cycling and tourism? Do you take your bike on holidays with you? Email us at letters@lcc.org. uk or write to the address on page 3.

LCC information See www.lcc. org.uk/info for more on travelling with your bike.

See page 5 for more on cycling and tourism.

the hills conquered that day. This gives towns like Alston in Cumbria a new lease of life. Previously overlooked by travellers heading to the Lake District or the Dales, it now finds itself a key stopping off point for cyclists following signposted routes. Alston, previously a town in decline, now sees itself benefiting from word-of-mouth tales of its fine hospitality and beauty as cycle tourists spread the word – all thanks to a couple of bike routes.

Taking to two wheels abroad Cycling, though, doesn’t just have to be a British holiday pastime. It’s easy to put your bike in a bag on a plane (British Airways will carry bikes free of charge, as will many other airlines) or onto Eurostar or a ferry and tour France, Germany or Italy. If the hills of Tuscany are too much, then there’s another corner of Europe with your name on it. The North Sea Cycle Route offers 4,500 miles of two-wheeled adventures without a car in sight.

I’m offering the following: a happy, fit and refreshed you, a new-found understanding for what all those gears on your bike are for, dozens of new friends made while seeing the world at a gentle pace and a renewed love of cycling.

Next holiday, pack your pannier and go on a cycling holiday. It’s the perfect antidote to commutes that end all too soon.

Tom Hall is information manager at publisher Lonely Planet.

He has a weekly column in The Observer’s travel section, commutes by bike and takes his wheels with him on holiday whenever he can.

Photos: BritainOnView

I wish my commute didn’t end so soon. I’m a lucky cyclist. My journey is 20 minutes each way, or even less if I don’t have to wait at the lights at the junction of Amwell Street and Pentonville Road in Islington, shouting at fellow bikers jumping the lights and crashing into pedestrians.

By the time I’m home I’ve only just started getting the working day out of my system. That’s probably why I lose my temper at Amwell Street most days. Sure, I can add on a loop or two around Regent’s Park or stretch my legs up Highgate West Hill, but that’s a cycling snack. Weekend rides are a start, but getting out of London is a long suburban slog. Come holiday time, I need to make a meal out of my riding. You should too.

More people are cycling. More people need to. The answer to London’s congestion is to aim for every able-bodied journey to be a bike ride. That means less passenger vehicles on the streets and a healthier London. But how do we get more people onto two wheels?

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Artistic CYCLES To most of us, bikes are so much more than simple and pleasant modes of transport.

Over the following pages, we celebrate bicycle-inspired works of art

PERFORMANCE ART Bicycle Ballet’s Karen Poley explains how she combined bikes with music and dance to create a unique cycling spectacle The beach on the south side of Shoreham Power Station uncovers dramatically at low tides. My partner and I had cycled down there and discovered its vast sandy expanse one Sunday afternoon. As I cycled around, making shapes and patterns in the wet sand, the idea for Bicycle Ballet came to me.

This was about three years ago, and when Brighton & Hove’s Arts Commission called for ‘Ideas on a

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Postcard’, I wrote it up and won a commission from over 200 entries. I’m an events producer and I’ve worked with artists developing new, outdoor work and participatory projects for 12 years, so it wasn’t a complete fluke.

My aim was to develop a large-scale, participatory project which would make a Car Free Day event happen in Brighton. I think one of the reasons it grabbed the imagination of so many people was that everyone instantly knew what I was talking about.

Most people have learned to ride a bike at some point and everyone knew what I meant when I talked about a performance to celebrate the freedom and exhilaration you get from cycling.

I wanted the piece to be strongly rooted in the world of ordinary cyclists by incorporating people’s stories and memories of cycling experiences into the choreography and soundtrack, and by inviting members of the public to perform alongside a core group of six professional performers. In the end, over 60 people performed. The Chorus was made up of about 20 committed people who gave up Thursday evenings, and a few weekends, over a couple of months. This group performed the bulk of the show.

The second and larger group, The Mass, took a lesser but more comical and political role. The group punctuated the performance by sweeping across the space en mass in giant formations – coughing, laughing and falling off. The rehearsal process certainly improved everyone’s cycling skills.

Success breeds more success Working with bicycles on such a large scale was very effective. They’re big, aid impact and make the performers look large. They are beautifully sculptural (even more so when painted), and create fantastic shadows which add another dimension to the show.

They are also mobile and can seem to take on a life of their own, as well as being an extension of the performers’ personalities.

The show was a great success: people loved being involved, audiences thought it was fantastic and it

was hailed as the most photogenic event ever held in Brighton, coinciding as the second show did with a gorgeous sunset.

The growing awareness and promotion of cycling in the UK, combined with events like the Tour de France, has led to more bookings. We performed for the Queen in March and recently did three dates at the National Theatre to launch their outdoor summer programme, Watch This Space, followed by performances for the BBC’s Blast On Tour.

It has not been without its challenges. To get and keep people involved, to develop and expand the passion the project generated in Brighton in other locations, and to create manageable rehearsal schedules so people can be easily involved are all ongoing challenges.

The cycling community has been fantastic – most of the Brighton participants were committed cyclists who were prepared to rehearse in all weathers and loved the camaraderie. They subsequently helped swell the ranks for future dates. Prior to the London dates, our website crashed four times with over 17,000 hits in just two weeks.

The arts world is also interested in helping us develop further, though nothing is certain in these days of funding cuts. Bicycle Ballet’s potential could be that it seems to lie across a number of agendas – sport, health, education, environment, even international development – which might help its own development. The performances at the National Theatre were a wonderful opportunity to expand the cast and raise the profile of the project.

We’re keen to develop the show with workshops and more performances across the UK, and can imagine – in the very distant future – a big performance in Trafalgar Square or even at the Olympic velodrome.

For now, though, it’s about closing the streets to motorised traffic and enabling us all to celebrate our love of cycling.

To get involved in Bicycle Ballet or to keep track of future performances, see www.bicycleballet.co.uk

Cyclists are invited to take part in an innovative interactive performance art piece during October, with the Brighton-based Blast Theory bringing Rider Spoke to London as part of the Barbican’s BITE programme.

Five people set off every 15 minutes from the Barbican, either on their own bikes or on one provided, with a computer console mounted on the handlebars to direct the cyclist to a unique hiding place. Once discovered, the console poses a question to which riders record their responses. Riders then seek out other participants’ hiding places and listen to their recordings.

Rider Spoke aims to blur the lines

between theatre and games, and encourage participants to become co-authors of the piece.

Blast Theory is one of the most adventurous companies experimenting with performance, and uses interactive media to create games, installations and performances. The company has won the Prix Ars Electronica and has shown work at the Museum of Contempory Art in Chicago, ICC in Tokyo, the National Museum in Singapore, the Hebbel in Berlin, the Sydney Biennale and on Tate Online.

Rider Spoke is at the Barbican, Silk Street, London, EC2, October 11-21, 5pm-8.45pm, with a new performance starting every 15

minutes. Entry: £10 with bike hire or £5 on your own bike. Tickets available from the Barbican box office on 0845 120 7550 or see www.barbican.org.uk/bite.

For more on Blast Theory, see www.blasttheory.co.uk Lynette Eyb

>>

Photos: Matt Adams, Bicycle Ballet

And over at the Barbican ...

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VISUAL ARTS Tom Bogdanowicz reports on bike-inspired art and sculpture Madonna and child, Madonna and the angel, Madonna and the swan, but never Madonna on a bicycle (unless it’s a photo of the Material Girl).

Admittedly, Michelangelo, Giotto and Duccio didn’t get to see many bikes back in 14th or 15th centuries, but you get the picture. Even in the 21st century, baskets of fruit, elephant dung and pickled sheep still get more gallery space than bike art.

But for those who take the trouble, there are a few bicycle masterpieces to be found. Perhaps the most famous piece of bicycle art is Picasso’s Bull’s Head, made out of a pair of handlebars and an old leather saddle in 1943. So simple, yet so clever and entertaining. Similarly Marcel Duchamp’s Bicycle Wheel of 1913 turned two ordinary objects into an intriguing puzzle when he put a bike wheel on a stool to create a surrealistic icon. “To see that wheel turning was very soothing, very comforting, a sort of opening of avenues on other things than material life of every day,” said Duchamp. “I liked the idea of having a bicycle wheel in my studio. I enjoyed looking at it, just as I enjoy looking at the flames dancing in a fireplace.”

The contemporary American artist Robert Rauschenberg was clearly inspired by both Picasso and Duchamp, incorporating bicycles into theatrical sets and producing his own ‘ready mades’, notably an illuminated bicycle which fuses a bike and fluorescent tubes into a provocative and extraordinary combination. But the real heyday of bicycle art was around the turn of the 19th century. Art Nouveau masters like Czech Alfonse Mucha tangled the hair of a pre-Raphaelite woman in the handlebars of bicycles, and Impressionist Toulouse Lautrec created the famous poster for Le (bicycle) Chain Simpson.

And soon thereafter, futurists like Giacomo Balla and Umberto Boccioni used bicycles to represent movement and speed in paintings that appeared to be combinations of Cubist and surreal images.

Italian art collector Giuseppe Panza di Biumo put on perhaps the most comprehensive exhibition of cycle art in 2001. He says that from an artistic point of view, the bike beats the car. “The car is too artificial and intrusive, while the bicycle, on the other hand, creates a physical rapport with the person, and for this reason, assumes a precise connotation of a psychological nature,” he said.

The recent popularity of installation and video art has not proved an obstacle to bicycle involvement.

Turner Prize-winner Jeremy Deller collaborated with Southwark Cyclists to produce a bike information stall to accompany his exhibit at the Tate. After winning the Turner Prize, Deller designed a Southwark Cyclists T-shirt, which you can still buy at www.tate.org.uk/ shop/presents.htm.

While bicycles have been influential in the development of art movements, in volume terms they lag behind Greek gods, bricks and cherubs. Perhaps that’s to be expected: some say the bicycle itself

is a work of art – just take a look at the creations of Columbine, Bayliss or Sachs. Picasso observed that bikes can turn into art and then back into bicycles: “Out of handlebars and the bicycle seat I made a bull’s head, which everybody recognised as a bull’s head. Thus a metamorphosis was completed; and now I would like to see another metamorphosis take place in the opposite direction. Suppose my bull’s head is thrown on the scrap heap. Perhaps some day a fellow will come along and say: ‘Why there’s something that would come in handy for

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film

Above: Alphons Mucha’s Cycle Perfecta Top right: Abstract Speed + Sound by Giacomo Balla Right centre: Marcel Duchamp’s Bicycle Wheel Right: Picasso’s Bull’s Head

>>

Photos: Getty Images

the handlebars of my bicycle…’ and so a double metamorphosis would have been achieved.”

So your bicycle can be art or it can be a mode of transport, or both – Picasso says so.

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VISUAL ARTS Rouleur magazine is set to showcase its photography. Lynette Eyb reports

Photos: Timm Kölln, Ben Ingham, Gerard Brown

The Host Gallery in central London is becoming a haunt for cyclists, with the gallery set to host its third major cycling exhibition in four months.

Following the successful Flandrien exhibition (LC June/July) in June comes a showcase of images from Rapha’s quarterly cycling journal, Rouleur, and a second exhibition which coincides with the Bicycle Film Festival (see page 19).

Rouleur Exhibition 2007 is a selection of 40 photographs taken by six of the magazine’s photographers during this season’s racing. Organisers claim the show will be the “finest collection of racing photography ever assembled in the UK”. Prints of the works, as well as a 250-page book of 2007 Rouleur photography (£35), will be available for sale.

“We’re fortunate to have some of the best photographers in the world working on the Rouleur magazine,” said editor Guy Andrews. “It’s a privilege

to work with them and I’m delighted we can showcase their fantastic work at the exhibition and in the book.”

Events to coincide with the exhibition include the opening of a boutique to unveil Rapha’s autumn/ winter collection of clothes and accessories, organised rides (see below), and a Rapha sample sale on October 21.

Rouleur Exhibition 2007 is at Host Gallery, 1 Honduras Street London, EC1 (020 7253 2770), October 11-21.

For more details, see www.rouleur.cc RIDES COINCIDING WITH THE EXHIBITION ◆ Sunday, October 14: Richmond Park to Host Gallery Ride. Meet 8am at Roehampton Gate. ◆ Friday, October 19: Night Ride to Brighton. Meet 8pm at Host Gallery. ◆ Sunday, October 21: Mass ride to Catford Hill Climb. Meet 8.30am at Host Gallery.

Top: All photographs by Timm Kölln Above: Photograph by Gerard Brown Left: Photograph by Ben Ingham

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FILM Lynette Eyb previews the 2007 London Bicycle Film Festival After a sell-out 2006 run, the Bicycle Film Festival (BFF) returns to London in October.

The BFF is an annual roadshow that takes in six cities in America and another eight worldwide. It was founded by its director Brendt Barbur seven years ago after he was struck by a bus in New York and decided to turn his negative experience into something positive. He says the festival’s brief is simple: to celebrate all styles of bikes and all incarnations of biking. Ultimately, it’s about having a good time.

Each day of the festival includes programmes grouping together films with similar themes – from mountain biking to commuter and messenger cycling.

The films on show this year have been selected from hundreds of submissions from more than 15 countries, and include works by the acclaimed Neistat Brothers (www.neistat.com), Lucas Brunelle (www.lucasbrunelle.com) and Daniel Leeb (www.cinecycle.com). Also showing will be Klunkerz (www.klunkerz.com), a feature-length documentary from Billy Savage on the history of mountain biking.

The festival has consistently sold out shows since its inception and has sparked international recognition for artists including the Neistat Brothers and Brunelle, who are working to show that not only does cycling bring people together, but it also offers

an environmentally sound form of transportation.

London’s Bicycle Film Festival is at Rich Mix, 35-47 Bethnal Green Road, E1 (020 7613 7498), October 18-21. Joy Ride, the BFF’s art show, opens at the Host Gallery, 1 Honduras Street, EC1 (020 7253 2770) on October 17. See www.bicyclefilmfestival.com for more information. ◆ The BFI Southbank will screen A Sunday In Hell, Jørgen Leth’s film of the 1976 Paris-Roubaix, as part of its Storyville documentary season. Leth covers the race with 20 cameras and a helicopter as some of the sport’s greats – Merckx, De Vlaeminck, Maertens and Moser – battle it out over the cobblestones.

6.10pm, Sunday, October 7 at BFI Southbank (formerly the NFT). For tickets, call 020 7928 3232 or see www.bfi.org.uk/southbank

Above left: Directed by Billy Savage, Klunkerz will screen at the Bicycle Film Festival Above: Acclaimed director Lucas Brunelle will screen his latest cycling adventures at the festival

MUSIC

Passionate, energetic, thrill-seeking, obsessive – musicians and cyclists have a lot in common.

‘Cycling music’ isn’t as exhaustive as driving music, but it’s diverse and fascinating. Here are just some pieces inspired by or related to cycling.

1. Tony’s Theme by The Pixies: “He’s got the oil on his chain, for a ride in the rain/No baloney/Ride around on my bicycle like a pony”.

2. LDN by Lily Allen: A recent addition. “Riding thru the city on my bike all day ...”

3. Bike by Pink Floyd: A classic. “I’ve got a bike/You can ride it if you like/It’s got a basket, a bell that rings, and things to make it look good/I’d give it to you if I could”.

4. Riding On My Bike by Madness: “I’ve had my fill of petrol fumes/Attached myself to big balloons/And pumped them full of precious air”. Says it all!

5. Bicycle Race by Queen: The quintessential bicycle song from their 1978 Jazz album. The album included a poster of 55 nude women on bicycles.

6. Daisy Bell (A Bicycle Built For Two): An 1892 tune with words and music by Harry Dacre.

7. Tour de France by Kraftwerk. The 1983 single was followed a decade later with an album of the same name which reflected the band’s cycling obsession.

8. This Charming Man by The Smiths: “Punctured bicycle on a hillside desolate...”

10. Side by Side by Kermit and Miss Piggy: Who could forget Kermit and Miss Piggy riding bikes through a park and singing to each other in The Muppet Movie?

11. Apology Song by The Decemberists: A great tune about having a borrowed bike stolen.

12. My White Bicycle by Tomorrow: The British band, featuring future Yes guitarist Steve Howe, released this in 1967. It was inspired by the white bike programme in Amsterdam, which made bikes available for anyone who wanted to use one.

13. Motorcrash by The Sugarcubes: An enigmatic offering from Bjork’s old band, it’s about a girl who gets a bicycle and then rescues/kidnaps motorists from car crashes, nursing them back to health.

14. The Acoustic Motorbike by Luka Bloom: An impassioned take on rapper LL Cool J’s I Need Love’.

RADIO: Jack Thurston’s Bike Show, 6.30pm Mondays, Resonance 104.4FM (www.thebikeshow.net) THE MORE OBSCURE: For alternative bike music, listen to Einstürzende Neubauten, an ensemble from Berlin that uses bike parts as instruments (as did American composer Harry Partch). Cartoon fans should check out Vince Guaraldi’s song about a trike written for a Charlie Brown film, while Canadian choir Song Cycles sings about bikes and traffic.

See page 45 for a special night of music to celebrate the life of composer Edward Elgar, a keen cyclist.

Photos: Bicycle Film Festival

Alexandra Crawford on bike songs that hit the right note

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Charting a new course Motoring organisations were quick to embrace online mapping systems for drivers. Cycling groups are now following suit. George Coulouris reports on Camden Cycling Campaign’s innovative online mapping project ould you find it useful to have an internetbased map showing other cyclists’ favourite routes through London? Perhaps you would like it to show you the nearest bike stands to your destination and a few bike shops along the way?

Information on interruptions to cycle routes and specific dangers could also be valuable.

Drivers have access to a range of route-planning and road traffic information via websites, mobile phone and satellite navigation systems, not to mention speed camera databases to help them to speed between cameras. Arguably, cyclists have an even greater need for detailed information about routes, but there is little available online for London cyclists.

Web-based maps offer attractive benefits. They’re accessible from any computer and can be zoomed out to cover large areas or panned in to focus on details, with satellite imagery superimposed to add extra information. Above all, they can be indefinitely extended with overlays adding information for specific needs.

Camden Cycling Campaign has set out to exploit developments in online mapping to help London’s cyclists. Our goal is to develop an extensive ‘routes library’ that enables cyclists to share their knowledge about routes and their cyclability, as well as other information such as parking facilities and shops.

W

What does the system do?

To see how far we’ve got, point your web browser at maps.camdencyclists.org.uk. The first version of the system, launched in early 2007, covered only Camden.

A second version, designed to handle larger amounts of data and show routes, hazards, stands and shops across London, went live in May. The system has since been refined, and enables users to add information.

The map currently shows almost all the LCN routes in Camden, Westminster, Islington, Hackney, Tower Hamlets and the City. We hope to extend this to all the inner-London boroughs. In order to do so, we need help from volunteers familiar with the areas we don’t yet cover. In addition to the LCN routes, we have already included many of the longer off-road routes (towpaths, Haringey’s Parkland Walk, etc) and park routes.

Routes submitted by LCC members form another important category – it was the opportunity to share this type of information that originally motivated our interest in online mapping. We currently have some 40 such routes and we plan to build on that number. Many of these routes are an excellent basis for planning safe commuter routes, while others are leisure rides.

How the information is organised The routes are accessed via a menu organised into categories such as LCN, utility, leisure, schools, etc.

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Feature Left: Bike shop and hazard markers

Right: Satellite images are useful for precisely locating some items

Developing the website

Most categories are further subdivided by borough, but the LCN routes are organised on a London-wide basis.

Colour is used to distinguish the main categories, both in the menu and on the map itself. Groups of routes covering smaller areas can also be useful. In Camden, for example, we are developing a scheme that will result in a ‘spider map’ that shows recommended routes for each participating school. These routes can be viewed by clicking on the school’s name or by using our ‘user-customised maps’ facilities to generate a web page showing only the routes to that school.

We gave a lot of thought to the design of a user interface for selecting and controlling the display of information. The challenge was to enable users to choose from a large set of available routes without displaying them all simultaneously, since that would have cluttered the map to the point of illegibility, and also degraded its speed of operation. The menu structure is our solution to the challenge, together with interactive techniques to show labels on routes, highlight individual routes and to control their display.

A ‘focus’ facility enables users to select any route from the menu and get an overview of its entire extent on the screen.

The next challenge is to provide a way to search for routes by start and end points. Our aim is different from route planners such as Transport for London’s Journey Planner and the various aids for motorists because finding routes for cyclists in London remains an exploratory activity. Think of the many traffic barriers that are permeable to cyclists or places where by walking a short distance, you can shorten a route or avoid a congested road. Many of these are not on databases that provide routes for drivers, nor is the ‘cyclability’ of roads and junctions recorded.

Once we have collected a large set of users’ routes, we hope to add a facility enabling users to select two areas on the map and view routes that would be helpful in connecting the selected areas.

Learn more about the project See maps.camdencyclists.org.uk for more details on the system and also to contribute routes. There is a forum where the developers post information about the system and users are encouraged to contribute suggestions and comments.

George Coulouris is a member of the Camden Cycling Campaign (www.camdencyclists.org.uk)

Our project is based on Google Maps (maps.google. co.uk) and the Google Maps application programming interface (API) which enables users to develop their own applications. While the Google Maps API is currently the most advanced mapping toolkit, we are keeping an eye on the community-based OpenStreetMap (www. openstreetmap.org) in the hope that it will offer similar facilities while removing the constraints that go with the use of Google’s proprietary base map.

To contribute routes, people use one of several websites that offer routesketching facilities to generate and save a ‘path’ representing a route. They can then use our system to install the route, giving it a name and a short description with a link to more detailed information.

The system automatically generates information about the route’s length and other details. Once the route is installed, this information is available in an ‘info window’ that pops up with a mouse click on any route.

Below: Detailed information on each route can be displayed

HOW TO GET INVOLVED Camden Cycling Campaign (CCC) plans to organise a workshop meeting to discuss the system’s development soon after publication of this article. Details will be available at maps. camdencyclists.org.uk. In the meantime, the project needs your help and CCC would like to hear from: ■ Information providers to add routes and other information: it’s particularly important to complete the LCN network, but there is also a need for people to help with contributed routes and information on shops, stands, hazards, etc.

■ Data administrators to act as ‘moderators’ to keep an eye on the database of routes and install new ones.

■ Web application programmers (Javascript, PHP, AJAX) to help take the project forward.

■ Users with feedback about their experience with the system and suggestions for improving it. Thanks to Jean Dollimore, John Chamberlain, Ralph Smyth and others who have contributed suggestions and added their knowledge to the map. Please email maps@camdencyclists.org.uk LOCAL CUSTOMISATION Local LCC groups and anyone else with a relevant website is encouraged to display a customised view of the system on their site. Facilities to customise include: specify the centre point and zoom level when the map opens; specify a route when the map opens; offering a subset of the routes available; specify which information to show when the map opens.

Photos: Camden Cycling Campaign

How it was done

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You spin me round O

ne of my motivations as a recently single and cycling obsessed woman for joining my local cycling group – the main pull, if you like – was to meet other hot-blooded cyclists. I’d amused myself with speed-dating, internet dating and singles parties with little success when, on my two-wheeled travels, I was coming within flirting distance of dozens of cyclists who I knew shared my passion for pedal power. So it seemed only natural to turn to what I knew to meet the man of my dreams.

“As many as 20 members of Southwark Cyclists have met partners through the group” We’ve all heard tales of flirting on public transport, but what about bikes? Surely nothing surpasses cycling as a catalyst for passion. What else encompasses physicality, adrenaline, sweat, exposed limbs (in summer at least) and rosy cheeks? Then there’s the Lycra, which doesn’t leave much to the imagination, and, as a male friend points out, “the morning display of G-strings”. Admit it – cycling lends itself to sexual tension you just don’t find at your local boozer.

Tried and tested plans of attack We’ve all been privy to bike flirting in some form, whether it be a quick wink or a brief exchange of words or smiles at the lights. Sometimes (although I would never endorse this tactic), falling off can even lead to romance. A friend tells me how “a pretty lady helped me up after I’d humiliated myself with the most slapstick fall you could imagine – unfortunately, knowing you look like a total muppet never helps your chances”.

However, while it’s all very well casting a few coy glances, running a hand through your hair or sidling up to Mr or Miss Dreambiker at a junction, it’s not all good news for everyone. Another friend, Jon, reckons

cycle flirting is inherently biased against men as there are many more men than women who cycle.

But this ‘advantage’ is not without its problems for girls: a female friend describes the frustration she’s experienced when “a fit man starts chatting you up at the ASL but you soon realise that he’s more interested in your bike than you”. Indeed.

Perfect places to get flirting The cycling world is rife with opportunities to get to know other cyclists, whether you’re a slick city commuter or a weekend cruiser. In London, not only do we have trendy bike shops (perfect for subtle browsing) and Critical Mass (a bike flirt’s paradise), but we have fabulously active local groups where people really do hook up – as many as 20 members of Southwark Cyclists have met their current partners through group activities. One member says “group rides are the best way to meet people – in spite of the nerd factor”, while the pub chat after meetings is another opportunity to bond. Others recommend sponsored bike rides – “especially the smaller ones where you keep seeing the same people”. I won’t even bother discussing the possibilities that might, er, present themselves at the World Naked Bike Ride (www.worldnakedbikeride.org).

Well I’ve done the rides, worn the hot-pants, tousled my hair at the lights, loitered on the roadside with my punctured tyre waiting for my panniered prince to rescue me and mooched about the trendiest shops in town – and I’m happy with my progress. But my final thought on the subject goes to Jack Thurston, host of The Bike Show on Resonance 104.4FM, who tells me that “flirting is definitely the best reason to stop at red lights”. Now there’s a Transport for London marketing slogan in there somewhere...

MORE INSPIRATION ■ At www.momentumplanet.ca/?q=node/317, there are more thoughts on the subject.

■ Diary, pages 44-45, has rides that may attract the love of your life. See also CycleOut (www.cycleout.org.uk) and the Gay Cycling Touring Group (http://gaycycling.wfour.co.uk).

■ Do you have a story to tell about love on two wheels?

Write to letters@lcc.org.uk or to the address on page 3.

Photo: Adam Monaghan

Can’t find the man or woman of your dreams? Alex Crawford says your bike could hold the key to a lifetime of happiness

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Getting carried away Holiday riding often gets people into everyday cycling – and taking your bike away with you doesn’t have to be a hassle if you choose to go by car. Holiday Which? magazine has this guide to buying a cycle carrier

Taking bikes away on holidays is popular, particularly among families. If you choose to drive, buying a carrier rack is the obvious solution if you have more than one bike. Holiday Which? magazine tested a range of carriers for their March magazine.

Here, we publish the outcome of their research and their tips for buying a carrier for your car.

Above: Choose a carrier that doesn’t obscure your number plate

The Holiday Which? study Which? selected 15 top-selling carriers from high street stores and specialist internet sites, choosing a wide range of brands and prices. Their lab experts assessed how easy it was to understand the instructions included, assemble the carrier and then attach it to the car. To test their versatility, they fitted each model, wherever possible, to a saloon, hatchback, estate and people carrier. Driving can become more hazardous once bike carriers are on your car, so testers clocked up more than 1200 miles

TIPS FOR A SAFE TRIP 1. Fitting a carrier incorrectly could damage your car and bike, and also lead to a serious accident, so always read the instructions and safety warnings.

2. Don’t overload your carrier. When choosing one, check the maximum bike weight on the instructions and factor in the weight of accessories.

3. Drive slowly over speed bumps and don’t corner too sharply. Watch height restrictions with roof carriers.

4. With rear-mounted carriers in particular, get out regularly to check the straps.

putting them through rigorous safety trials. Each carrier was fitted to a car, loaded with its maximum number of bikes, and subjected to a gruelling drive. The route included speed bumps, roundabouts, rough country roads, motorway driving and emergency braking from 70mph. Along the way, the testers regularly stopped to check whether either the carriers or bikes had come loose or required any readjusting.

CARRIER OPTIONS Check with the retailer to ensure your chosen rack will be compatible with your car and your bikes (especially those with wide tyres, with wide frame diameters or without crossbars). There are three types of carrier.

ROOF-MOUNTED Pros ◆ In the tests, these carriers stood head and shoulders above their rear-mounted cousins, mainly because they stayed on the cars very securely. ◆ They fit almost all models of vehicle with roof bars. ◆ They won’t impair the driver’s vision.

Cons ◆ You will need roof bars. ◆ More awkward to load and unload bikes. ◆ The height could restrict entry to car parks, bridges and ferries; you may have to pay a supplement on ferries. ◆ More wind noise than rear-mounted carriers.

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Technical See www.lcc.org.uk/info for more on leisure cycling and travelling with your bike

TOWBALL-MOUNTED

BEST BUYS

Thule, EuroClassic Pro 903, £240 A beast at 20kg, this carrier proved time-consuming to assemble and load bikes onto, so an extra pair of hands is useful.

The price is high, but it comes with a five-year warranty, a base rack for the bikes to rest on and an integral lighting board. Instructions were clear and the bikes don’t obstruct the driver’s vision.

Paddy Hopkirk, QuickBall, £35 Holiday Which? found the QuickBall quite quick and easy to fit, and it’s blissfully tiny when folded away for storage. It proved to be perfectly secure and fits both types of towball.

It is very good value, Paddy Hopkirk, QuickBall particularly for two bikes, but you will need to buy a lighting board if the cycles obscure the lights.

USEFUL CONTACTS Argos: 0870 600 3030, www.argos.co.uk Halfords: 0845 057 9000, www.halfords.com Mont Blanc/Paddy Hopkirk: 01525 850 800, www.montblancuk.co.uk The Roof BoxCompany: 01539 621884, www.roofbox.co.uk The Roof Rack Shop: 01506 418 218,

www.roofrackshop.co.uk Save And Drive: 0191 521 0387, www.saveanddrive.co.uk Skidrive: 01223 323 488, www.skidrive.co.uk Tesco Direct: 0845 600 44 11, www.direct.tesco.com Thule: 01275 340 404, www.thule.co.uk Wiggle: www.wiggle.co.uk

REAR-MOUNTED Pros ◆ No need to buy roof bars or towballs. ◆ Generally less awkward to fit and load bikes on and off; usually no need for a second person to help.

Cons ◆ Accidents with rear-mounted carriers are more common than with other types, as they may restrict visibility through rear-view mirrors and have adjustable straps that need regular tightening. ◆ They sometimes obscure number plates and lights so you may need to buy a lighting board (around £30) and an extra number plate. ◆ Restricts access to boot. ◆ Often car-model specific, so check that the carrier you want will fit your car.

ROOF-MOUNTED

BEST Mont Blanc, Barracuda, £55 This pre-assembled, secure carrier comes with a threeyear guarantee, a decent lock, comprehensive fitting instructions, and is quick and easy to fit to the car. It suits any car with roof bars, although it can be tricky lifting the bike out of the groove.

BUYS

Thule, ProRide 591, £60 Despite the fact that the instructions consisted mainly of diagrams, this carrier was easy to fit to the car. As with the other roof-mounts tested, it was awkward lifting the bike on, but it stayed perfectly secure during the road test. Comes with a fiveyear guarantee.

REAR-MOUNTED

BEST

Thule, ClipOn 9101/9103, £75 Assembling the ClipOn is easy, though long-winded, and attaching it to the car is straightforward. It was also the sturdiest of all the rear-mounts tested.

It suits only a restricted range of cars, and a frame adaptor might be needed to carry children’s and women’s bikes.

BUY

Thule, ClipOn 9101/9103, £75

ABOUT HOLIDAY WHICH? Holiday Which? is a subscription-only holiday magazine published four times a year by Which? It carries independent, unbiased advice on holidays and tour operators, as well as money-saving tips. To try two issues for £3, visit www.which.co.uk/hwtrial

Photos: Holiday Which? magazine, LCC

TOWBALL-MOUNTED Pros ◆ These clamp to the car’s towball - useful if you already have one. ◆ Some can be tilted to allow access to the boot. ◆ They stay secure compared to rear-mounts.

Cons ◆ Can be an expensive choice, especially if you also need to fit a towbar and ball. ◆ Not all carriers are compatible with both types of towball, so check before you buy. ◆ The pricier models are heavy and need a lot of space to store. ◆ Some cheaper models obscure number plates and lights; if it doesn’t come with a trailer board, you may need to buy one. You’re likely to need to sort out electrical connections to a trailer board in any case.

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Technical

How to...

See www.lcc.org.uk/info for more on maintenance, as well as as advice on training and cycling to work

Mend a puncture It can take some time to fix a puncture, but it gets easier with practice. It’s faster to replace the inner tube with a spare rather than try to patch a tube that’s on the bike. You can repair the punctured tube later.

Check the tyre to find out what’s caused the puncture. If it’s something obvious, you may be able to pull out that section of the tube and patch the spot without removing the wheel and the tube. Otherwise, remove the inner tube, inflate it and listen or feel for escaping air. Once you’ve established where the air is coming from, check that section of tyre for glass or another sharp object and remove it. There’s no point replacing a tube only for it to be punctured again.

Many people use puncture-resistant tyres, which have protective materials such as Kevlar inside them.

REMOVING THE INNER TUBE ◆ Remove the wheel, undo the valve cap, remove the threaded metal collar (if there is one), empty any air out of the tube and push the valve back into the rim. ◆ Fit two or three tyre levers into the rim about 2cm apart and pull them back, levering one side of the tyre out and over the side of the rim. ◆ Take care not to pinch the tube. Remove the middle of the three levers, and hook it under the tyre about 2cm past one of the others. You then have three levers in place again, but a longer section of the tyre is hooked over the rim. ◆ Take the middle lever out and repeat the process a few times. Once about a third of the tyre is hooked over the rim, the remainder will come off more easily. ◆ The tyre should remain sitting on one side of the rim.

Grab the inner tube at the valve hole, push the valve up through the rim and pull the valve out from the tyre. Pull the rest of the inner tube out.

MENDING THE PUNCTURE ◆ To find the hole, you can either pump the tube up and feel/listen for the air coming out or hold the tube under water and see where bubbles appear. ◆ Deflate the tyre, clean around the hole and make sure it’s dry. Then lightly sand around the hole to help the glue stick the patch on. ◆ Apply rubber solution over an area larger than the patch, keeping the hole in the middle. Let the solution dry (five minutes) but don’t let any dirt stick to it. ◆ Place the patch on the inner tube so that the middle of the patch covers the hole.

Squeeze the patch in the rubber solution for a minute. ◆ To remove the backing paper, fold the tube in half so the backing paper on the patch splits down the middle. ◆ Dust the patch and any exposed areas of rubber solution with chalk/talc to stop it sticking inside the tyre. ◆ Give the inner tube a few strokes of the pump before putting it back on the wheel.

REPLACING THE TUBE ◆ Starting at the valve hole, put the inner tube onto the rim under the tyre. Hook the tyre back onto the rim, making sure the inner tube doesn’t get pinched, and that the tyre is seated on the rim. You may need to use a lever to get the last section of tyre back on the rim. ◆ Replace the threaded collar, pump up the tyre and replace the dust cap.

MORE INFORMATION LCC ADVICE: See www.lcc.org.uk/info for more maintenance advice. Members without internet access should call the LCC office (details page 32). LCC’s leaflet Cycle Maintenance is also available from the LCC office.

MAINTENANCE CLASSES: See page 27 to find a workshop near you.

CYCLE MAINTENANCE

Brakes, gears, punctu

res and more

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Photos: Rosie Downes

The LC Bike Surgery How do I go about ensuring that all the potholes on my route to work get fixed? A Davies, by email Reporting potholes helps keep us all safer on the roads. Be prepared to report road faults several times – polite but insistent is usually the best approach.

Transport for London is responsible for repairing London’s trunk routes (major A roads). Other roads are the responsibility of local borough councils. A small number of roads are private – your local authority will be able to provide information.

Transport for London’s Street Faults Contact Centre (0845 305 1234) and Fill That Hole (www.fillthathole.org.uk) passes on complaints to borough officers or the relevant Transport for London officer.

You can also report street faults via most council websites. You will usually be given a reference number so you can follow up on your complaint or keep track of progress.

For the contact details for your local borough, see page 41 of this issue. For future reference, this information can

be found at www.lcc.org.uk by typing ‘reporting potholes’ into the search box.

The LCC site has direct links through to each local borough council website.

Members without internet access can also call the LCC office (details page 32) for further advice.

HOW TO SEND US YOUR QUESTIONS If you have a question on anything related to cycling, send it to the LC Bike Surgery via londoncyclist@lcc.org.uk or to the address on page 3, and the LC team will answer it for you.

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Technical

Workshops

Visit www.lcc.org.uk/info for more on bike maintenance. To list a workshop on this page, please email londoncyclist@lcc.org.uk

Want to know how to maintain your bike? Try a course or workshop

Camden What: Includes puncture repair, brakes, chains, tuning gears, cleaning.

Two tutors, maximum 12 participants.

Details at www.camdencyclists.org. uk/newsitems/workshopsyllabus Cost: For all three sessions £50 When: October 6, November 3 and December 1 from 2pm-5pm At: Velorution, 18 Great Titchfield St, W1W 8BD Contact: Stefano Casalotti (stefano@lamsam-casalotti.org.uk, 020 7435 0196) Central London What: One-day courses, basic and intermediate; one-to-one, or group sessions; bike assessment and adjustment; puncture masterclasses Cost: £60/one-day course, £27.50/ hour for bespoke tuition; £100 for assessment and adjustment; £20 for punctures.

When: Puncture masterclasses: every second Wednesday; 6pm-8pm.

Phone for other course dates.

At: CTUK training room Discounts: 5% for LCC members Contact: CTUK (020 7231 6005, info@cycletraining.co.uk) www.cycletraining.co.uk What: Work on your own bike – no mechanical knowledge is assumed.

Includes cleaning and lubrication, machine inspection and safety checks, tyres, tubes and punctures, brakes/gears. Six hours’ tuition Cost: £58 (£52 for LCC members) When: Saturdays 10.30am-5pm At: Bikefix, 48 Lamb’s Conduit Street Contact: Patrick Field (020 7249 3779, www.londonschoolofcycling.co.uk) Ealing What: Ealing Cycling Campaign runs ad-hoc drop-in maintenance classes throughout the borough

When: Year-round at various venues Contact: info@ealingcycling.org.uk or see www.ealingcycling.org.uk Greenwich What: Year-round maintenance classes for all levels and including advice on tyres and punctures, brakes, gears, hubs, etc. Bring your own bike, along with any parts you want to fit eg brake cables or pads, racks, etc.

Cost: Call for details When: Call for details At: Armada Centre, Armada Court, 21 McMillan Street, SE8.

Contact: Julian Dobson (07771 692 344, 020 8463 0801 julian@jadobson.demon.co.uk) www.greenwichcyclists.org.uk Hackney What: Evening workshop Cost: Free. Donations appreciated When: First and third Tuesdays of each month, 7pm-9pm At: The Kings Centre, Frampton Park Baptist Church, Frampton Park Road Contact: Adam (07940 121 513, adamt@constructionplus.net); Ross Corben (rosscorben@blueyonder. co.uk) Islington What: 2.5-hour, self-help cycle maintenance workshop Cost: £1 (50p unwaged) When: Fourth Wednesday of month (not August/December); 7pm-9.30pm At: Sunnyside Gardens, at the corner of Sunnyside Road and Hazellville Road, N19 (off Hornsey Rise) Contact: Adrian (07810 211 902) What: One-day workshop covering adjusting, cleaning and lubricating bike; punctures; brakes; and gears Cost: £20 (£12.50) When: October 6, 10am-4pm At: Freightliners Farm, Sheringham Road, N7 Contact: Jonathan Edwards (020 7704 1884). Regret no email Kingston What: Maintenance and repairs to help keep bikes in good working order

A Kingston Cycling Campaign maintenance course

Ealing Cycling Campaign runs ad-hoc maintenance classes – like this one at the Oaklands Summer Fair in June – year-round Cost: Six sessions are £46 or a Saturday one-day session is £26 When: One-day sessions: October 13 and March 8, 10am-4pm. Six-session course, Mondays, 7pm-9pm, from May 5.

At: North Kingston Centre, Richmond Road Contact: Kingston Adult Education (adult.education@rbk.kingston.gov.uk, www.kingston.gov.uk/adulteducation) or Rob (020 8546 8865, mail@ kingstoncycling.org.uk Lambeth What: Five two-hour classes Cost: £55 or £5 if on income benefits When: Starting Tuesday, October 30 At: Accord Building at 336 Brixton Road, SW9 Contact: Olivia Christophersen (okchristophersen@yahoo.com) or see www.lambethcyclists.org.uk What: Everything the cyclist needs to know about bike maintenance Cost: £60 for the two-night course When: 7pm-9pm on December 6 and 13, and November 8 and 15 At: Brixton Contact: See www.cyclinginstructor. com or call 0845 652 0421 Redbridge What: Three-week courses covering: punctures; brake blocks; gears; general check (pedals, spokes, bearings, brakes, headset, etc) Cost: £15 per course When: October 3 At: Wanstead House, 21 The Green, Wanstead, E11 Contact: Terry (07795 981 529, terence.hughes@btinternet.com) or Chris (020 8989 9001, christopher.rigby1@ntlworld.com) www.redbridgelcc.org.uk Southwark What: Three-week course. Includes puncture repair; cables, brakes; chains; trueing wheels. Organised by Southwark Cyclists at On Your Bike

(10% discount on purchases) Cost: £36 per course When: Tuesdays 7pm-9pm (please telephone for dates) At: On Your Bike, 52-54 Tooley Street, SE1 Contact: Barry (07905 889 005) Sutton What: Basic bicycle maintenance class plus free Dr Bike cycle check Cost: £5 per class (family discounts) When: Saturday, October 20, 9.45am-noon (bring your own bike) At: Sutton West Centre, Robin Hood Lane, Sutton Contact: Chris Parry (020 8647 3584, cyclism@blueyonder.co.uk) or Shirley Quemby (020 8642 3720) Tower Hamlets What: Hands-on workshops. Tools, demos; bring your own spares Cost: Free. Donations welcome!

When: Last Saturday of the month (except December); 11am-3pm At: The Boxing Club, Limehouse Town Hall, 646 Commercial Road E14 Contact: Owen Pearson (07903 018 970, workshop@wheelers.org.uk) www.wheelers.org.uk/workshop

Waltham Forest What: Maintain or assemble a bike Cost: £3. Tea/coffee provided When: The workshop (when staff available) opens 11am-3pm on Saturdays. Open 10am-12pm the second Saturday of the month (LCC day). No maintenance the first Saturday of the month (recycled bikes for sale 1pm-3pm). Fridays and Saturdays (10am-3pm), volunteers welcome to recondition bikes.

At: Council Transport Depot, Low Hall Manor, South Access Road, Walthamstow, E17. Stop at security for directions within the site Contact: Christopher Rigby (christopher.rigby1@ntlworld.com, 07910 235 149) or call 07948 060 473. Keen to hear from volunteers able to help keep this service running

Photos: Ian Manders, David Eales

Bromley What: Hands-on session suitable for beginners. Bring your own bike.

Bookings essential. Two courses: The Basics (safety checks, punctures, cleaning and lubricating). Brakes and Gears (tuning gears, brakes, cables, brake pads). A session on disc brakes may be organised if there is demand Cost: £20 – includes a maintenance pack worth at least £9.

When: Call for details At: Hayes Old Church Schools Contact: Bike Foot Bikes (020 8462 5004, roger@bigfootbikes.com) www.bigfootbikes.com

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Product reviews Lights Lights are a necessity for urban cyclists and, as a result, every year there are new lights of every shape and size competing for our attention. Mel Allwood gives three very different lighting products a try

Bicygnals BIC 241, £39.95, Bicygnals Ltd (020 8940 9241, www.bicygnals.com) I’m always surprised by how excited people get by the idea of indicator lights for bicycles – a concept that has inspired more than one invention over the decades. I remain to be convinced that car drivers are really paying attention to my hand signals when I’m out on the road, let alone being capable of noticing indicator lights.

So, I wasn’t immediately inspired by the Bicygnals BIC 241 package, which comprises front and rear lighting units – for after-dark cycling - as well as winking orange indicator sidelights. The indicator lights flick on and off at the touch of a button, allowing you to indicate your intention to turn without having to make hand signals.

Bicygnals are wireless, which means there aren’t any cables to attach. Wireless technology also means removing the lighting units is easy - no unplugging. However, you do have to take a hand off the handlebars to operate the indicator switch. This is fine for anticipated manoeuvres, but may frequently be impossible in the cut-and-thrust of a rush-hour commute. And just like a motorist, you have to remember to turn the indicator off once you’ve completed your turn.

Our tests suggest that the indicator lights on the front unit are tricky to see from many angles. They’re on either end of the front light unit, which is narrower than the handlebars.

This means the indicators sit between your hands rather than outboard of them. The rear light is mounted on the seatpost.

Bicygnals come complete with brackets and batteries, and fit very securely - they may wobble a bit on rough roads, but they didn’t show any signs of bouncing off. Off the bike, they clip together neatly and fit into their own carrying bag.

Our tester, Charlie, didn’t think drivers took much notice of the indicator lights, despite the fact that when he turned them on they tended to be on for longer than it would take him to complete a hand signal. Another comment from Charlie: “They look weird, but twelve year old boys seem to like them.” But if they don’t attract drivers’ attention as much as, or more than, hand signals, what’s the point? However, if you are looking for something that flashes as you turn corners, these are far better than previous incarnations of bicycle indicator lights, and as a bonus they act as your front and rear lights, too.

Electron Lighting Systems’ Backupz seatpin safety light, £9.95, Madison Cycles (www.madisoncycles.co.uk) The Backupz is a very cute, very small back light, designed to attach to your seatpost. It’s got an integral elasticated strap and hook, so you don’t need a bracket, and it can be swapped from bike to bike. With a little bit of experimenting it should also be possible to attach it to another part of the bike or the back of a jacket. Although designed as an extra light to supplement a proper BS standard rear light, its multiple LEDs (there are six of them) produce an impressively bright display.

Shaped a bit like a turtle, the Backupz is so small and light that it can’t possibly be resented for taking up too much space or adding too much weight to a pannier, rucksack or jacket pocket. For this reason, it’s ideal for those times when you leave work/ the pub/ some other favourite place and discover it’s dark and you don’t have your lights. Provided you can find the darn thing, it should be a great help on the ride home.

The batteries last ages, which means I was well disposed to flicking it on in daylight when the weather was bad. If you don’t want to use up the battery juice of your bigger lights, but it’s the type of day when motorists could do with an additional reminder that in amongst the rain there are cyclists, this is a useful light.

The casing is transparent, so some light is given off in all directions, but the light is brightest when the beam of the LEDs is met head on. It’s worth spending time to ensure that any ‘novel’ methods of attaching the Backupz to your bike, luggage or clothing are sufficiently well thought out to guarantee light isn’t muffled and is directed out toward motorists.

This version of the Backupz has six LEDs, with one steady and two flashing modes. There’s a cheaper version with four LEDs, but I’d splash out on this brighter version. There are also two types of miniature front lights, and it is possible to buy a twin-pack, featuring one front and one rear light.

Conclusion

Conclusion

A big improvement on previous attempts to produce indicator lights for cyclists. Still, drivers don’t seem to notice them, so what’s the point?

A lightweight, very compact rear light. Perfect for evenings when you’ve forgotten your ‘serious’ lights and need an emergency back-up.

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Product reviews

This light is the latest offering from Cateye, one of the best known and respected manufacturers of lights for cyclists. The Singleshot is a new model, designed with urban commuting in mind. It includes a 1 watt LED and a set of rechargeable batteries. The lighting unit is a neat package - fitting into the palm of my hand and boasting a beam that’s too bright to look at directly.

The Singleshot has two modes, which I term ‘bright’ and ‘ridiculous’. Since the battery lasts a good couple of hours between charges in ‘ridiculous’, I opted for the more powerful setting almost all the time. On miserable rainy evenings I really appreciated the power of the beam. The clean, bright, white light meant nobody had an excuse not to see me.

The Singleshot passed my brackets test with flying colours, staying firmly locked onto the bike at all times. The switch gets full marks, too – it’s a press-and-hold affair, so is easy enough to use with gloves but isn’t likely to switch on accidentally, illuminating the inside of your pannier all day and dying out just when you want to cycle home.

The corners of the case are rubbery, with enough shock-absorbing properties to give the Singleshot a good chance if you drop it onto an unforgiving pavement. These rubber sections are quite grippy, too.

The battery charger plugs directly into the light, which is great, but I’m still waiting for a universal charging standard. I can’t be the only person who thinks it’s daft that I have to own a separate charger for every gadget.

Rechargables are convenient, and the Singleshot is neat and durable, but what I appreciated most about this light was the super bright beam. I felt more confident that I would be seen, especially in rain and in busy traffic. This is an expensive light, but worth it if you’re regularly commuting in the dark.

Conclusion A high quality rechargeable front light offering an incredibly powerful beam.

Motorists cannot fail to see you!

(Matching back light also available – model no. TL-LD610.)

TOP LIGHTING TIPS ■ Turn your lights on before it’s completely dark. A bright light will help people see you at dusk and even during the day when it’s gloomy and/or rainy.

■ Replace/recharge batteries regularly.

A faint warm red glow around the back of your bike isn’t much help – don’t fool yourself into thinking it’s enough.

■ If you’re attaching lights to your rucksack or courier bag make sure they’re visible when you’re sitting on your bike. They could be pointing at the sky.

■ Why not add an extra light at the back?

One flashing red one and one steady red

light will increase your visibility.

■ Make sure rear lights aren’t obscured by a pannier or by the tail of your jacket. Seatpost back lights are often obscured in this way.

■ You are allowed to wipe the lens of the light clean, even on dynamo lights.

■ If you cycle a lot after dark, consider investing in a dynamo system. Power your lights as you pedal – no more batteries or recharging. Shimano, Busch & Müller, and Schmidt all make hub dynamos that produce plenty of light without slowing you down.

.foska.com

Cateye Singleshot front light, £59.99 Zyro (www.zyro.eu)

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Presents a unique cycling event in London this October

The

Exhibition

THE EXHIBITION The finest work from six Rouleur photographers: Gerard Brown, Ben Ingham, Timm Kölln, Camille J McMillan, Olaf Unverzart and Geoff Waugh.

THE RAPHA BOUTIQUE See and buy the new Rapha Autumn/Winter collection Rouleur Annual – Launch of the 250 page book of 2007 Rouleur photography Rides and evening events – Organised rides and parties 10th TO 21st OCTOBER 2007 Host Gallery 1 Honduras Street London, EC1Y 0TH Tel. 020 7253 2770 www.rouleur.cc

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Product reviews Tools Every urban cyclist should have a few tools to assist with repair and maintenance. Mel Allwood puts one of the biggest names in bicycle tools to the test Park Tool Mini tool kit, £34.95, Madison Cycles (www.madisoncycles.co.uk, www.parktool.com)

WIN HI-VIZ GEAR

Park Tool is, indisputably, the big fish in the bicycle tools market. If you take your bike to the bike shop when it breaks down, chances are a Park Tool will be involved in fixing it. As well as manufacturing high quality, workshop-specific equipment, Park Tool also makes a number of kits for cyclists who like to take care of their bikes, whether at home on a Sunday afternoon or on the roadside in an emergency.

These kits tend to offer better value than buying all the tools separately.

The most basic kit produced by Park Tools is the Essential tool kit.

It’s really for the ‘casual cyclist’ and I feel that the next step up is better value. That’s the Mini tool kit. The Mini is designed to get you out of trouble if you break down on the roadside and it slips easily into a pannier or rucksack. It is also ideally suited for London cyclists who want to keep some tools at home but who don’t have the space for a fullscale cycle maintenance and repair workshop. Who does in this city?

The Mini tool kit comes with an Allen key and screwdriver set, tyre levers, a spoke key, a tyre boot (for a temporary repair to split tyres), self-adhesive patches, and - my favourite - a folding chain tool.

Everything comes neatly arranged in its own zip-up bag, which also has enough room for extras, provided they’re quite small.

I’ve added old-fashioned patches and some glue, because I can’t convince myself that self-adhesive patches aren’t cheating.

Although the Park Tool Mini tool kit is tiny (my scales tell me it weighs just 400 grams), it genuinely provides everything you need to

London Cyclist has a bunch of highvisibility gear to give away.

There are four chances to win. First prize is a Beacon Wear waistcoat from Glow Safety Wear (www. gswuk.com). In addition to reflective strips, the waistcoat boasts six battery-powered, ‘electroluminescent’ panels for maximum visibility (pictured). The waistcoat is also adjustable, so will fit over rucksacks and other bulky items. Second prize is a Lumistrip Activ from Exelite (www.exelitesafety. com). The Lumistrip Activ is a high-visibility strip – also battery powered - that can be worn around the waist or over one shoulder. It is designed to maintain visibility up to a distance of 800 metres, even in fog or mist. Third prize is a Madison High Visibility Sam Browne Belt. Made from highly-reflective material, this is the traditional Sam Browne design, combining belt with an over-the-shoulder strip. Fourth prize is a pair of Madison high visibility arm/ ankle bands. You can view Madison products at www.madisoncycles.co.uk

TEMPERATURE ADJUSTMENTS. Cycling jackets are primarily designed to be breathable, getting rid of the excess moisture you generate when you’re working hard. This will only work well if whatever you’re wearing underneath breathes as well, transferring sweat from your skin to the inside of the jacket, to be spirited away. Cycling jackets tend to be lightweight, so on a colder day you may need an insulating layer so you don’t chill on downhill and easy stretches. My preference is to wear a number of thin layers, that I can take on and off as the weather, and my level of

fix your bike by the side of the road nine times out of 10. For that tenth time, whatever has gone wrong will easily be serious enough to allow you to push your bike home with a clear conscience or jump in a cab.

Conclusion A high quality kit. Everything you need for emergency roadside repairs. Also suitable for use as an ‘at home’ tool kit for spaceconstrained Londoners who want to keep their bike-related paraphernalia to a minimum

exertion, changes. I often carry a ‘warm’ layer at the bottom of my pannier, just in case. This layer can also serve as ‘civilian’ gear – something I can put on when I’m off the bike, replacing my high-visibility jacket and ensuring I don’t look like someone dressed as a crisp packet or a traffic light.

Currently, my favourite warm layer top is the Ground Effect Hot Toddy (pictured).

It’s a lightweight and warm red hoody made of merino wool. It’s been just the thing for the unpredictable weather and sudden temperature changes we seem to have been experiencing this year. See www.groundeffect.co.nz

WIN!

To enter our prize draw, please send an email to londoncyclist@lcc.org.uk or a postcard to LCC (address listed on page 3), marking your email or postcard “High visibility prize draw” and including your full name, telephone number and postal address. Deadline for entries is October 31, 2007. For LC prize draw terms and conditions, please see www.lcc.org.uk.

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LCC members’ pages

You can contact the membership team on 020 7234 9310 or email membership@lcc.org.uk

These pages have all you need to know to get the most out of your LCC membership BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP LCC is a campaigning charity mainly 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 the LCC, you are covered for up to £2 million. If such an incident occurs, phone the LCC office for immediate advice and assistance.

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

Theft insurance LCC Cyclecover theft insurance also comes with free personal accident cover for LCC members.

Theft insurance costs about 10% of the value of your bike and is a ‘new for old’ policy. For an instant quote, please call 0870 873 0067 and have your LCC membership number to hand.

INFORMATION & CAMPAIGNING Local groups LCC has a local group in every borough, plus the City of London.

These groups campaign on local cycling issues, and also organise events, meetings, workshops and

LCC’S VISION LCC’s vision is to make London a world class cycling city STRATEGIC AIMS ■ To involve people from all communities in cycling ■ To improve the quality of life in London by increasing cycling ■ To bring about the best possible services for people who cycle or want to cycle in London ■ To be leaders in urban cycling

CONTACT LCC 2 Newhams Row London SE1 3UZ t: 020 7234 9310 f: 020 7234 9319 e: hello@lcc.org.uk w: www.lcc.org.uk Contact the LCC Board: chair@lcc.org.uk

Registered charity number: 1115789

social rides. See page 32 to find out what your local group is up to.

Maps LCC, in partnership with Transport for London (TfL), has produced free cycle maps covering all of London. These can be ordered via www.lcc.org.uk or by phoning TfL on 020 7222 1234.

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

Who needs eBay? Members who have bikes or accessories to sell can advertise in London Cyclist free of charge (see page 35). Send your short, concise

ad to londoncyclist@lcc.org.uk or to the LCC (address left). Ads from businesses are not accepted.

HOW TO HELP LCC GROW Ask a friend to join You can help boost our work by recruiting members to LCC. The more members we have, the greater our campaigning voice.

Simply ask your friend or colleague to visit www.lcc.org.uk/join to join online or ask them to call 020 7234 9310 to join over the phone.

Tell your boss about us LCC has several schemes to help encourage employers to help make riding to work easier. For details, see www.lcc.org.uk or call our office and ask for information on our corporate affiliates programme.

Volunteer your time Our small office in central London relies on volunteers for its membership administration and campaigning. If you have some spare time, we could use your help!

Phone the office for details. London Cyclist also relies on voluntary contributions from members. See www.lcc.org.uk/londoncyclist

How to join LCC If you like what you see in London Cyclist but you are not yet a member, we encourage you to join the campaign to receive the magazine delivered to your door every two months. Members also receive the great package of other benefits listed on this page. You can join by calling 020 7234 9310 or via www.lcc.org.uk/join

Anyone joining LCC at the Cycle Show will have the chance to

WIN A PINNACLE BIKE! Come and visit the LCC team at stand G3A at the Cycle Show (www.cycleshow.co.uk) at Earl’s Court, October 12-14. If you know anyone who isn’t a member, bring them along to the LCC stand and they could ride away on a brand new Pinnacle Sentinal 2.0* worth £749.99.

See pages 5 or 34 for more on the show. * Pinnacle Bikes are UK-designed for UK riders and conditions. Evans Cycles reserves the right to substitute the promoted prize for an item or vouchers of equivalent value.

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LCC members’ pages Many of these shops have email and websites.

For details, see www.lcc.org.uk

LCC member discounts Anyone who joins LCC can cash in on a range of ongoing benefits open only to members.

See ‘Central’ Heales Cycles 477 Hale End Rd Highams Park E4 (020 8527 1592) ■ ➔ Mon-Fri 9-6 Sat 9-5.30 London Fields Cycles 281 Mare St E8 (020 8525 0077) ● ✔ MonFri 8-6 Sat 10-6 S & S Cycles 65 Woodgrange Rd E7 (020 8503 1000) ● ✔Mon-Sat 10-5.30 Wharf Cycles Unit B6, Lanterns Court, Millharbour E14 (020 7987 2255) ● ✔ Mon-Fri 8-7 Sat 10-5 Sun 11-4

Maintenance Cycle Training UK (CTUK) offers LCC members a 5% discount on bike maintenance training. You can call CTUK on 020 7582 3535.

Breakdown cover LCC members get 50% off membership of the Environmental Transport Association (ETA), a breakdown service for transport users who care about the environment. For details, phone the ETA on 0800 212 810 or see www.eta.co.uk. You will need to quote your LCC membership number and reference 1061-9001.

Bike shops LCC members also get discounts on bikes, accessories and servicing at the following bike shops in the capital. Remember to show your membership card before you make a purchase or book your service.

MAIL ORDER / ONLINE Cotswold Outdoor Quote ref 2115 at www.cotswoldoutdoor.com ♣ Loads Better Mail order only.

Suppliers of xtracycle and Kronan bikes (0845 8682459) ▲ ✔ Mon-Sat 9-5 Old Bicycle Trading Co Mail order only. Hub gears new and vintage parts (020 8306 0060) ● ✔ www.oldbiketrader.co.uk Outdoor Indoor Ltd Mail order clothing supplier. ● ✔ www.outdoorindoor.co.uk CENTRAL Action Bikes Dacre House 19 Dacre St SW1 (020 7799 2233) ● ✔ Mon-Fri 8-8 Sat 9.30-5.30 Action Bikes 23-26 Embankment Place Northumberland Avenue WC2 (020 7930 2525) ● ✔ MonFri 8-8 Bikefix 48 Lambs Conduit St WC1 (020 7405 1218) ● ➔ Mon-Fri 8.30-7 Sat 10-5 Condor Ltd 51 Grays Inn Rd WC1 (020 7269 6820) ● ✔ Mon-Tues Thurs-Fri 9-6 Weds 9-7.30 Sat 10-5 Cavendish Cycles 136 New Cavendish St W1 (020 7631 5060)

● ✔ Mon-Fri 9-6 Sat 10-5

Cotswold Outdoor 23/26 Piccadilly W1 (020 7437 7399) ♣ (quote L2115 and show card) MonFri 10-8, Sat, 10-6 Sun 11-5 CycleSurgery 3 Procter St Holborn WC1 (020 7269 7070) ▲ ✔ Mon/Weds/Fri 8.30-6 Tues/Thurs 8.30-7 Sat 10-5 Sun 11-5 Evans Cycles 51-52 Rathbone Pl W1 (020 7580 4107) ▲ ✔ Incl servicing Mon-Fri 8-8 (Closed Thurs 11-12) Sat 9-6 Sun 11-4 Evans Cycles 69 Grays Inn Rd WC1 (020 7430 1985) ▲ ✔ Incl servicing Mon-Fri 8-8 (Tues closed 11-12) Sat 9.30-6 Sun 12-5 Evans Cycles 178 High Holborn WC1 (020 7836 5585) ▲ ✔ Incl servicing Mon-Fri 8-8 (Tues closed 11-12) Sat 9.30-6 Sun 11-4 Fluid Cycles Mobile repairs and servicing in Underground zone 1 and the Docklands (020 7021 0742) ● ✔ (on servicing and repairs) Mon-Fri 8.30-6 Weekends by arrangement Re-rolling Mobile puncture repair within central London (Cycle Guide no. 10) but may travel further (07715 711150) ● ✔ Mon-Fri 7.30am-7pm Velorution 18 Great Titchfield St W1 (020 7637 4004) ● ✔ Mon-Fri 8- 6.30pm Sat 10-6pm Also sells secondhand bikes EAST Bicycle Magic 4-6 Greatorex St E1 (020 7375 2993) ■ ✔ Mon-Fri 9-6 Sat 10-5 Bike Shack 621 High Rd, Leyton E10 (020 8539 5533) ● ✔ Mon-Sat 9-5 Wed & Thurs 9-6 Brick Lane Bikes 118 Bethnal Green Rd E2 (020 7033 9053) ■ ✔

Mon-Fri 9-7 Sat-Sun 11-6 Chainlink Cycle Centre 140 Hornchurch Rd Hornchurch RM11 (01708 470 007) ■ ✔ Mon-Sat 9-6 Cotswold Outdoor Ground floor, St Clements House, Leyden St E1 (020 7655 466) ♣ (quote ref L2115 and show card) Mon-Fri 10-7, Sat 10-5 Cycle Asylum 700 Romford Rd E12 (020 8478 2540) ■ ✔ Incl servicing. Mon/Tues/Fri-Sat 10-6 (Closed Weds/Thurs & Sun) CycleSurgery Brody House Strype St E1 (020 7375 3088) ▲ ✔ Mon/ Weds/Fri 8.30-6 Tues/Thurs 8.30-7 Sat 10-5 Sun 10-4 CycleSurgery 12-13 Bishops Sq, E1 (020 7392 8920) ▲ ✔ (excludes Marin bikes. Full SRP items only.

Excludes Selfridges concession.)

Mon-Sat 10-6 Sun 12-6 Ditchfields 792/794 High Rd Leyton E10 (020 8539 2821) ● ✔ (everything over £10) Mon-Sat 9.15-5.30 Evans Cycles The Cavern 1 Market St (Off Brushfield St) E1 (020 7426 0391) ▲ ✔ Incl servicing Mon-Fri 8-8 (Closed Thurs 11-12) Sat 9.30-6 Sun 12-6 Evans Cycles 1 Farringdon St EC4 (020 7248 2349) ▲ ✔ Incl servicing Mon-Fri 18-8 (Closed Thurs 11-12) Sat 9.30-6 Sun 11-5 Evans Cycles Cullum St EC3 (020 7283 6750) ▲ ✔ Incl servicing Mon-Fri 8-8 (Closed Mon 11-12) Sat 9.30-6 Sun 12-5 Evans Cycles Unit B, Reuters Building, 30 South Colonnade, Canary Wharf E14 (0870 164 4037) ▲ ✔ Incl servicing Mon-Fri 8-8 Sat 9.30-6 Sun 12-6 Fluid Cycles Docklands

NORTH Action Bikes 64 Ballards Lane N3 (020 8346 2046) ▲ ✔ Discount also on servicing Mon-Sat 9-6 Sun 10-4 Bike and Run 125 High Rd N2 (020 8815 1845) ● ✔ Mon-Fri 9-6 Sat 9.30-5.30 Bike Mech The Castle Climbing Centre Green Lanes N4 (07762 270 616) 10% discount on servicing only Mon-Fri 9-7, Sat 10-5 Bikes R Us Mobile cycle repairs throughout north London (020 8882 8288 – workshop, 07949 066 889 – van) ● ✔ on servicing and most repairs Mon-Sat 9.30-5.30 CycleSurgery 70 Holloway Rd N7 (020 7697 2848) ▲ ✔ Mon 9-6 Tues 9-7 Weds 8.30-6 Thurs 9-7 Sat 10-6 Sun 11-5 Cycle Store (The) 201 Woodhouse Rd Friern Barnet N12 (020 8368 3001) ▲ ✔ Mon-Fri 9-6 (Closed Weds) Sat 9-5 Sun 11-3 Holloway Cycles 302/304 Holloway Rd N7 (020 7700 6611) ● ✔ Mon-Fri 8.30-6.30 Sat 9-6 Sun 11-5.

Mosquito Bikes 123 Essex Rd N1 (020 7226 8841/020 7226 8765) ● ✔ Mon-Fri 8.30-7 Sat 10-6 Sun (summer only) 11-4 S & S Cycles 29 Chapel Market N1 (020 7278 1631) ● ✔ Mon-Fri 10-6 Sat 10-5.30 Sun 10-2.30 Shorter Rochford 27 Barnet Rd Potters Bar EN6 (01707 662 332) ▲ ✔ on RRP Mon-Fri 9-6 (Closed Weds) Sat 9-5 Shorter Rochford 65-67 Woodhouse Rd N12 (020 8445 9182) ▲ ✔ Mon-Sat 9-6 (Weds 97) (Closed Thurs) Two Wheels Good 165 Stoke Newington Church St N16 (020 7249 2200) ● ➔ Mon-Sat 8.30-6 Sun 11-5

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LCC member discounts

Many of these shops have email and websites.

For details, see www.lcc.org.uk

Two Wheels Good 143 Crouch Hill N8 (020 8340 4284) ● ➔ MonSat 8.30-6

Evans Cycles 77-81 The Cut SE1 (020 7928 4785) ▲ ✔ Incl servicing Mon-Fri 8-8 (Closed Weds 11-12) Sat 9.30-6 Sun 11-5 Evans Cycles 6 Tooley St SE1 (020 7403 4610) ▲ ✔ Incl servicing.

Mon-Fri 8-8 (Closed Thurs 11-12) Sat 9.30-6 Sun 11-5 Herne Hill Bicycles 83 Norwood Rd SE24 (020 8671 6900) ● ➔ Tues-Fri 9-6 Sat 10-5 (Closed Sun & Mon) London Recumbents Rangers Yard Dulwich Park College SE21 (8299 6636) ● ✔ Variable discount on bike hire. Mon-Sun 10-6 On Your Bike 52-54 Tooley St SE1 (020 7378 6669) ▲ ✔ Sat 10-6, Sun 11-5 Also has bike hire ReCycling (Only sells catalogue returns, renovated and secondhand bikes) 110 Elephant Rd SE17 (020 7703 7001) ▲ ✖

NORTH-WEST Broadway Bikes 250 West Hendon Bwy NW9 (020 8931 3925) ■ ✔ Mon-Sat 9.30-5.30 Sun 11-1 Chamberlaines 75-77 Kentish Town Rd NW1 (020 7485 4488) ■ ✔ Includes shop discount Mon-Sat 8.30-6 Cycle King 451-455 Rayners Ln Pinner HA5 (020 8868 6262) ■ ♣ Mon-Sat 9-6 Sun 9-4.30 Cycle King 173 Hillside Stonebridge NW10 (020 8965 5544) ■ ♣ Mon-Sat 9-6 Sun 10-5 CycleSurgery 44 Chalk Farm Rd NW1 (020 7485 1000) ▲ (except Marins) ✔ Mon/Weds/Fri 9-6 Tues/ Thurs 9-7 Sat 10-6 Sun 11-5 CycleSurgery Hampstead 275 West End Lane NW6 (020 7431 4300) ▲ ✔ Mon/Weds/Fri 9-6 Tues/Thurs 9-7 Sat 10-6 Sun 11-5 Cyclopedia 262 Kensington High St W8 (020 7603 7626) ● ✔ Mon-Fri 8-8 Sat 9.30-6 Sun 10.30-5

Evans Cycles 250 Watford Way, NW4 (0870 142 0108) ● ✔ Mon-Fri 8-8, Sat 9.30-6, Sun 11-5 Simpson’s Cycles 114-116 Malden Rd NW5 (020 7485 1706) ▲ ✔ (Birdys ■) Mon-Fri 9-6 Sat 9-5.30 Sparks 5 Bank Buildings, High St NW10 (020 8838 5858) ● ✔ MonSat 9.30-6 SOUTH Bikes Plus 429 Brighton Rd Croydon CR2 (020 8763 1988) ▲ ✔ Mon-Sat 9-6 Cycle King 26-40 Brighton Rd Croydon CR2 (020 8649 9002) ■ ♣ Mon-Sat 9-6 Sun 9-4.30 Evans Cycles 5 London Rd Croydon CR0 (020 8667 1423) ▲ ✔ Incl servicing Mon-Fri 9-6 Thurs 9-8 (Closed Thurs 11-12) Sat 9.30-6 Sun 11-5 SOUTH-EAST Bigfoot Bikes 50 Hayes St Bromley BR2 (020 8462 5004) ● ➔ Inc servicing; exc labour Tues-Sat 9-5.30

Bike Shop (The) 288-290 Lee High Rd SE13 (020 8852 6680) ▲ ✔ on items over £10 Mon-Fri 9-5.30 Sat 9-5 Blackfen Cycle Centre 23 Wellington Parade Blackfen Rd Sidcup DA15 (020 8303 3761) ▲ ✔ (Incl labour) Mon-Fri 9-6 Sat 9-5.30 Sun 10-3 Bromley Bike Company 27 Widmore Rd Bromley BR1 (020 8460 4852) ● ➔ Mon-Sat 9.305.30 Thurs 9-8 Comptoncycles.co.uk 23-25 Catford Hill Catford SE6 (020 8690 0141) ▲ ✔ Mon-Fri 9-6 Sat 9-5 Edwardes 221-225 Camberwell Rd SE5 (020 7703 3676) ▲ ✔ Mon-Sat 8.30-6 Evans Cycles 111-115 Waterloo Rd SE1 (020 7928 2208) ▲ ✔ Incl servicing Mon-Fri 10-8 (Closed Thurs 11-12) Sat 9.30-6 Sun 11-5 BIKES

ACCESSORIES

0%

●

✖

5%

■

➔

10%

▲

✔

15%

❋

♣

• Show your LCC card to claim your discount.

• The discounts vary and are not negotiable. ● ➔ means no discount on a bicycle and 5% discount on parts and/or accessories.

• Discounts don’t usually apply to special offers or sale items.

Book tickets online at www.cycleshow.co.uk and you could win 1 of 2 Specialized bikes worth £1,999 each New venue

2008 bikes fresh from the box

Special rate for LCC members

Now at Earls Court 1 with twice the space, more brands, bigger retail zone, indoor mountain bike test track and much more…

Be the first to see next year’s bikes and accessories from the likes of Brompton, Dahon, Specialized, Trek, Scott, Pashley and Condor.

£9 in advance (quote LCC when booking) Children £7 in advance Under 12s £1 95p booking fee per order

Ticket hotline 0870 838 2222

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LCC members’ pages

LCC members’ pages

You can contact the membership team on 020 7234 9310 or email membership@lcc.org.uk

Mayor Ken Livingstone is the special guest speaker at the London Cycling Campaign Annual General Meeting on Tuesday, October 16 On the evening of Tuesday, October 16, 2007, London Cycling Campaign will hold its Annual General Meeting at City Hall. The event will feature a guest presentation by London Mayor Ken Livingstone. The meeting will also provide an opportunity to meet LCC’s recently appointed chief executive Koy Thomson.

For more details and updates, visit the AGM section of the LCC website at www.lcc.org.uk/about Agenda for the evening Registration: 5.30pm Special guest presentation, Mayor Ken Livingstone: 6pm-6.30pm LCC Cycling Awards: 6.45pm-7.30pm Break for refreshments: 7.30pm-8pm

AGM 8pm-9pm AGM Agenda a) Introduction b) Apologies for absence c) Minutes of the previous AGM d) Board and Committee reports and questions e) Staff report and questions f) Approval of Accounts g) Appointment of auditors h) Election of Board members i) Members’ motions j) Any other urgent business

NOMINATIONS TO THE BOARD Four nominations for the Board have been received for five vacancies. The four nominees are: Ian Callaghan, Jon Hoare, Theresa Hoenig and David Love. These four nominees will therefore be elected unopposed in accordance with the LCC governing documents.

MOTIONS TO THE AGM Motions to amend Clause 4.2 of the Constitution (Membership) 1. For some years LCC has offered membership to students, the unemployed and the retired at a concessionary rate.

This has resulted in a number of students joining LCC who are under 18. The constitution currently states that only individuals 18 or over can be members of LCC. This

motion seeks to amend the constitution to remove this anomaly.

It is proposed that the wording in clause 4.2 (a) be amended from “any individual aged 18 or over” to “any individual”.

Proposed: Andy Cawdell Seconded: Ruth Chapple 2. LCC now offers family

CHAIR’S REPORT 2006 was another busy and successful year for LCC in both campaigning and organisational terms. On the campaigns front, there were advances on issues ranging from cycle parking and cycle routes (especially major progress on key bridge and green routes) to HGVs, the Highway Code and the Olympics. In another vitally important area, community cycling, we were delighted with successes in winning funding for two important schemes.

Transport for London increased the Community Cycling Fund for London £150,000 to £200,000 and gave LCC responsibility for distributing this money. Secondly, as part of the Active Travel Consortium, we have been awarded approximately £100,000 per year over four years to deliver community cycling projects across London. These two initiatives targeting hard-to-reach groups are big steps in our vision of creating a world-class cycling city by promoting active travel and making cycling accessible to all.

Organisationally, the move to charitable status has brought with it some challenges, but also many benefits in terms of the availability of Gift Aid and the amalgamation of LCC and the London Cyclists’ Trust, allowing us to reduce our overheads

membership. Presently, however, the articles (part of the LCC legal documentation) only allows for individuals or organisations. This motion therefore seeks to add a category of membership at 4.2 (c) to cover family membership and any other class of membership approved by the Board.

It is proposed that an additional sub-clause 4.2 (c) be inserted to the constitution and this sub-clause, if approved, will read “The Board may approve any other form or class of membership consistent with the aims and objectives of LCC and subject to the same conditions as individual members at 2.4 (a)” Proposed: Andy Cawdell Seconded: Ruth Chapple

without reducing our campaigning or our services to members.

Communication with members and London cyclists generally was improved by the launch of a new website in November 2006 and a radical redesign of London Cyclist magazine, relaunched in 2007 after a year of development work. Both our main communication channels now have fresh looks which have been received with great acclaim by all our stakeholders. The website now receives around 1,400 visitors every day and is the first point of contact between LCC and its members and other London cyclists.

During 2007, we said a sad goodbye to our very successful CEO of some five years, Simon Brammer, and welcomed Koy Thomson as his excellent replacement. Just before Simon’s departure, we had a hugely enjoyable participation in the Tour de France Prologue in London, with thousands of people joining our rides and visiting our tent in the People’s Village in Hyde Park. At the time of writing, the staff team was gearing up to repeat this success at the Hovis London Freewheel on September 23.

Best wishes and happy cycling!

Ian Callaghan, LCC Board Chair

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LCC members’ pages London Cycling Campaign Annual General Meeting Tuesday, October 16, 2007 at City Hall, London, SE1 2AA SUMMARISED FINANCIAL ACCOUNTS 2006 was another year of growth and financial consolidation for LCC. Income rose by 20% to over £645,000, while careful management of expenditure yielded an operating surplus of more than £39,000.

With the transfer of the assets of London Cyclists’ Trust totalling just over £47,000, the total net income (surplus) for LCC for 2006 was in excess of £86,000.

We continued to see benefits from our strategy to broaden our income streams.

We continued our specialist consultancy work, which is supported by a grant from Bridge House Trust, and continued to develop links with corporate affiliates and other major funders, Esmee Fairburn Foundation and the Sainsbury’s Family Trusts, as well as the Association of London Government (now London Councils), whose continuing support is greatly appreciated.

In July 2006, an extraordinary general

meeting voted to change the company’s constitution to pave the way for charitable status. LCC was registered as a charity by the Charity Commission on August 14, 2006. Charitable registration is enabling LCC to attract funding from new sources and the dissolution of LCT will help reduce administration costs.

LCC ended the year with funds of around £197,000, of which £75,000 are restricted funds; £53,000 of this £75,000 are held by local groups. Our target is to build reserves to cover six months of membership-related expenditure and three months of nonproject-related costs, which would provide financial security, cover cash balance fluctuations of day-to-day operations and allow scope for planning. We face difficult choices between setting aside funds for security, and applying extra money to our primary objectives, but believe we have the balance about right.

Summarised accounts These statements are a summary of information extracted from the audited annual accounts of LCC, on which the auditors’ opinion was unqualified. These summarised accounts may not contain sufficient information to allow for a full understanding of the financial affairs of LCC. The full report and accounts of LCC are to be submitted to the Registrar of Companies and the Charity Commission. For further information, the full accounts, the auditors’ report on those accounts and the annual reports should be consulted. Copies of these may be obtained from the Secretary, London Cycling Campaign, 2 Newhams Row, London, SE1 3UZ.

Signed on behalf of the Board Andy Cawdell, Treasurer August 17, 2007

LCC Income and Expenditure Accounts for year ended December 31, 2006 RESTRICTED FUNDS (£)

COMBINED (£)

MEMBERSHIP AND INFORMATION SERVICES Grants Local Groups income Other income (including donations) TOTAL INCOME Less: Staff costs Local Groups costs Depreciation Other operating costs

323,825 0 0 58,497 382,322 176,068 8,526 176,975

0 136,426 67,589 58,673 262,688 125,495 57,061 61,642

323,825 136,426 67,589 117,170 645,010 301,563 65,865 109,798 120,867

TOTAL EXPENDITURE

361,569

244,198

605,767

SURPLUS/DEFICIT ON ORDINARY ACTIVITIES BEFORE LCT TRANSFER LCT TRANSFER NET SURPLUS/(DEFICIT)

20,753 34,295 55,048

18,490 12,798 31,288

39,243 47,093 86,336

£

£

LCC balance sheets as at December 31, 2006 Fixed assets: Tangible assets Current assets: Debtors and prepayments Cash at bank and in hand Less: Current liabilities [inc deferred income] (due within one year) Net current assets Total assets less current liabilities Representing Restricted Local Groups Funds Restricted Charitable Reserves Other reserves

✃

UNRESTRICTED FUNDS (£)

26,255 68,557 201,000 (98,521) 171,136 197,391 53,776 21,510 122,105 197,391

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LCC members’ pages You can contact the membership team on 020 7234 9310 or email membership@lcc.org.uk

London Cycling Campaign Annual General Meeting Tuesday, October 16, 2007 at City Hall, London, SE1 2AA Auditors’ statement to LCC members on the Summarised Accounts We have examined the summarised accounts set out alongside, which combine the results of LCC. Respective responsibilities of the Directors and Auditors The statements of summarised accounts are the responsibility of the Directors. Our responsibility is to report to you our opinion on their preparation and consistency with the full audited accounts of the charitable company.

Opinion In our opinion the balance sheet and income and expenditure account set out alongside are consistent with the full audited accounts of the charitable company for the year ended December 31, 2006.

HW Fisher & Company Chartered Accountants and Registered Auditor Acre House, 11-15 William Road, London NW1 3ER August 17, 2007

APPROVAL OF ACCOUNTS AND APPOINTMENT OF AUDITORS LCC is legally required to seek approval of its accounts from members. Please consult the Summarised Accounts on page 36 and vote accordingly. If you wish to see the full accounts, phone 020 7234 9310, email agm@lcc.org.uk or visit the LCC office.

✃

LCC LOGO

HOW TO VOTE Don’t miss your chance to influence LCC’s future – participate in the forthcoming Annual General Meeting.

How? Choose one of the following ways to vote: 1. TO VOTE ON THE DAY: Complete the booking form overleaf to attend the AGM. This will enable us to send you all AGM papers before the day. If you intend to come to the AGM, please register with us by Friday, October 12 as space is limited. Places will be given first to those who have booked.

2. VOTE BY POST: If you can’t attend, please complete the postal ballot paper overleaf. Completed ballot papers must reach the LCC office by Friday, October 12.

CONFIDENTIALITY In order to guarantee confidentiality in this secret ballot, please complete the form on the next page by placing a cross next to either ‘booking form’ or ‘ballot paper’. This will enable us to process the votes of those who wish to attend and save the tallying of ballots until after the deadline. Remember also to fill in your LCC membership number (see your membership card) and surname so that we can check that you are member at the time of the AGM. To vote, you MUST be a current member as of Tuesday, October 19, 2007.

Andy Cawdell, LCC secretary

BALLOT PAPER OR BOOKING FORM

PLEASE AFFIX A STAMP HERE

LONDON CYCLING CAMPAIGN 2 Newhams Row London SE1 3UZ

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LCC members’ pages London Cycling Campaign Annual General Meeting Tuesday, October 16, 2007 at City Hall, London, SE1 2AA

LOND

THE TOWER OF LONDON

For further information please email office@lcc.org.uk or call 020 7234 9310.

ST .T

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Public transport: The venue is a short walk from London Bridge or Tower Hill stations, or Tower Gateway DLR.

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HOW TO GET THERE By bike: Easiest access is from Tooley Street onto Weaver’s Lane (road alongside Potters Fields Park). There is cycle parking for 44 cycles (22 Sheffield stands) at the top of Weaver’s Lane at the south side of City Hall.

Alternative cycle parking can be found on Tooley Street (Sheffield stands outside the On Your Bike shop at 52-54 Tooley Street), or street furniture.

ON B RIDG E

City Hall Greater London Authority City Hall The Queen’s Walk London SE1 2AA

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DON’T FORGET TO BRING YOUR LCC MEMBERSHIP CARD IF YOU WANT TO VOTE AT THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING.

1. BOOKING FORM Only complete this section if you WILL attend the AGM on Tuesday, October 16, 2007.

❑ I will be attending the AGM and would like papers sent to me in advance.

This booking form must be returned to the LCC office by Tuesday, October 9 so that AGM papers can be sent out prior to the day of the meeting.

2. POSTAL BALLOT PAPER Only complete this section if you WILL NOT be attending the AGM. Please mark your vote by placing an X clearly in the box.

Note: For your vote to count, your LCC membership must be current on Tuesday, October 16, 2007.

MOTIONS

❑ Motion 1 - To amend the wording in clause 4.2 (a) of the Constitution. ❑ Motion 2 - To insert an additional sub-clause 4.2 (c) into the Constitution. ❑ I nominate the chair of the AGM to cast my vote as they see fit on any amendments to the motions.

LCC MEMBERSHIP NUMBER: .........................................................

SURNAME: ..........................................................................................

Please return your ballot paper to the LCC office so that it arrives no later than Friday, October 12.

38 October/November 2007 LONDON CYCLIST

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Local groups News

Above: Ealing Cycling Campaign’s visit to Our Lady of the Visitation in Greenford in July. Right: Laura Eales, one of the younger members of Ealing Cycling Campaign (ECC), gets into the spirit of a Dr Bike session. See page 43 for ECC’s contact details BARNET

Too many bike racks could discourage cycling!

An amazing statement but apparently the belief of Barnet Council! While campaigning for more racks, especially after some existing ones had been removed, we were told that seeing too many unused racks could deter people from cycling. This is a graphic example of why campaigning for cycle facilities in Barnet is so frustrating. Are you on our email list? We send regular updates of our latest rides, events and meetings, so why miss out?

Do get in touch – we’d love to see you.

Meetings: Last Thursday of the month at Trinity Church Hall, Nether St, N12.

Contact: Jeremy Parker (020 8440 9080) BarnetLCC@come.to Website: www.barnetlcc.org BEXLEY

We will be organising several rides over the autumn and will plan what activities people would like to do next year at the October 22 meeting. It would be great to get something organised for the Danson show or for Bike Week and perhaps to set up some training for less experienced cyclists. Come along and give your ideas. An email list (http://groups. yahoo.com/group/bexley-lcc) has been set up where we will put news. Feel free discuss issues of interest to Bexley cyclists here. All you need do to join this list is send an email to bexley-lcc-subscribe@yahoogroups.com Meetings: Monday, October 22 and Monday, November 12, 7.30pm, Room 12, Hurst Community Centre, Hurst Road.

Contact: Frances Renton (01322 441979, f.renton@gold.ac.uk) Website: www.lcc.org.uk > Local groups

Photos: David Eales

CAMDEN

Camden Cycling Campaign (CCC) is very pleased that following an award of greenway funding, Camden Council is consulting on a proposal for a cycle and pedestrian link between Agar Grove and Camley Street. CCC has been campaigning for this link since 2002. CCC had another meeting with TfL at

Swiss Cottage as part of a CRIM for Route 50.

We urged the consultants to recommend a long term plan to return to two-way working and a shorter term plan for contraflow cycling in Avenue Road. Hopefully our protest ride around the Swiss Cottage gyratory and the canvassing of Camden councillors will contribute to achieving the right result. Concerning cycle access to King’s Cross and St Pancras Stations: we have always been promised two-way access in Pancras Road. But in August Camden published a traffic order that contradicted southbound access for the next five years.

However, the situation is almost resolved: from November 2007, cyclists should be able to use the taxi lane.

Meetings: 7.30pm on the second Monday of the month (October 8 and November 12) at Primrose Hill Community Association, 29 Hopkinsons Pl, NW1 (you can leave bikes on railings outside).

Contact: Stefano Casalotti (020 7435 0196, stefano@lamsam-casalotti.org.uk) and Jean Dollimore (020 7485 5896, jean@dollimore.net) Website: www.camdencyclists.org.uk HACKNEY

Bike theft figures unfortunately continue to rise in our borough, as they are doing across London, with reports of thefts in Hackney running at four to five per day. We are working with police to encourage Hackney cyclists to register details of their bikes on the immobilise. com database, which makes it easier to return stolen bikes to their owners when recovered.

The police are also refining how they receive and investigate theft reports. This includes tactics for dissuading people from making false reports of theft for the purpose of insurance fraud – one Hackney resident has already been caught out and fined for doing this. Hackney Council’s School Travel Plan programme has been allocated Transport for London funding for 10 schools in the borough to set up ‘pools’ of bikes for school staff. The bikes will be shared by school staff and used on work-related journeys, such as travelling to the Learning Trust for meetings. Would you be interested in

‘adopting’ a school to assist with the smooth running of this project? You may already be involved with the school as a governor or parent, or you may not have been in contact yet. If you take part, you won’t have any formal responsibility, but you might be able to put forward suggestions such as good routes you use locally, or which bikes to purchase. If you are interested, email alix.stredwick@hackney. gov.uk or call 020 8356 8023. Our summer rides programme, organised for us by Adam Thompson, culminated in a superb and well attended ‘Thames Estuary escape’ ride past the QEII Bridge as far as the Hoo Peninsula.

We look forward to many more such golden days ahead.

Meetings: First Wednesday of the month, 7.30pm, at Marcon Court Estate Community Hall, near corner of Amhurst Road and Marcon Place, E8.

Contact: Trevor Parsons (020 7729 2273, info@hackney-cyclists.org.uk) Website: www.hackney-cyclists.org.uk Mailing list: Send a blank email to hackney-lcc-subscribe@yahoogroups.com HAMMERSMITH & FULHAM

One thing that has worked out well is that finally the council has taken measures to stop cars parking on the cycle track on Wandsworth Bridge. This is very good, except that it has taken a long time for this to happen. Next step: keeping cycle lanes clear. Westfield are the developers of the White City London shopping and leisure complex. This is due to come open late 2008, but 2009 more likely. Late in the day they are producing a cycling strategy.

This provides a toucan across the northern arm of the Holland Park roundabout, across the West Cross Route, and widening of cycle tracks around the roundabout. To reach that toucan is a bit of a trek. There is also a toucan in front of the Central line station across to the W12 centre. What the strategy does not do is make life any easier for cyclists who prefer to stay on the carriageway. It also does not address the problem area around the eastern end of the common. This is left

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Local groups See the ‘local groups’ section at www.lcc.org.uk for more contact information and news from your area

to a CRISP study, but options are likely to be ruled out by this strategy being finished first.

It would also appear that the complex might introduce a touch of gridlock to the area. For more details, please see our website.

Meetings: First Tuesday of the month (not August) Contact: John Griffiths (020 7371 1290, 07789 095 748, john@truefeelings.com) Website: www.hfcyclists.org.uk

a joint ride to Horsenden Hill with Richmond group in August. We have written to the council requesting greater involvement in their cycling proposals, and have been promised regular meetings from now on.

Meetings: Last Wednesday of the month at the Express Tavern (north side of Kew Bridge).

Contact: Liz Trayhorn (020 8751 5430, liz.trayhorn@googlemail.com) ISLINGTON

HARROW

There is renewed interest in forming an LCC local group in Harrow. If anyone is able to help start and coordinate the group, please email charlie@lcc.org.uk or call the LCC office (see page 32). There are many potential members in the area, with questions and queries from cyclists coming in on an almost daily basis. There also appears to be demand for a maintenance classes and organised rides.

HOUNSLOW

Things have been quiet in Hounslow this year, but we have conducted a modest programme of activities and plan to expand our liaison with the council. We held an information stall at Osterley Day in July and

cycle crossing from Colbrooke Row over Goswell and City roads after the TfL consultation stalled earlier this year.

Meetings: 7.30pm-9.30pm on the second Wednesday of the month (October 10 and November 14) and at Islington Town Hall, Upper Street, Islington.

Contact: Alison Dines (020 7226 7012, alisondines@clara.co.uk) KENSINGTON & CHELSEA

Our liaison with the council hasn’t been good recently, despite Islington apparently being “praised for its dialogue with the local LCC group” in the CTC Benchmarking event. We were disappointed to find that the Islington cycling bid to Transport for London had been submitted without consultation with us at all.

However quarterly meetings with the borough’s engineers seem to be back on track (well we’ve had one and dates are being arranged for the next) so if there is anything you would like raised please contact me. TfL are considering the cycle parking along Holloway Road so please let us know where you’d like it put on this major road. And what about cycle parking in a widened central reservation there? We hope to be meeting soon with a local councillor, TfL and Living Streets about the

There are lots of cycle route studies at the moment! The K&C LCC group was involved with some provisional assessments of LCN+ cycle routes in September, and there’ll be a CRISP study of Cheyne Walk and Chelsea Embankment this month. Come along to our meetings to find out more or join our Yahoo group for news and updates by sending an email to kccyclists-subscribe@yahoogroups. com or, better still, join via the K&C web page on the LCC site.

Meetings: Monday, October 22 and Monday, November 26, 7pm-8pm at Café Deco, 62 Gloucester Road, SW7 Contact: Philip Loy (07960 026 450, philip_loy@yahoo.co.uk) Website: www.lcc.org.uk > Kensington & Chelsea >>

Reporting potholes and other street faults in your area BARKING AND DAGENHAM: 020 8215 3005 www.barking-dagenham.gov.uk > Transport and streets BARNET: 020 8359 4600, www.barnet.gov.uk/potholes BEXLEY: 020 8294 6562, worksdirect@bexley.gov.uk, www.bexley.gov.uk > Roads – repairs/sweeping BRENT: 020 8937 5050, streetcare@brent.gov.uk, www.brent.gov.uk > Transport and streets > Street care and cleaning BROMLEY: 020 8313 4621, www.bromleyforms.co.uk CAMDEN: 020 7974 2015, www.camden.gov.uk/streetproblem CITY CORPORATION: 020 7606 3030, www.cityoflondon.gov. uk/Corporation/online_services/fault_reporting.htm CROYDON: 020 8726 6200, www.croydon.gov.uk/doitonline EALING: 020 8825 6000, customers@ealing.gov.uk ENFIELD: 020 8379 2152, www.enfield.gov.uk/forms/greenqcardonline.asp GREENWICH: 020 8921 6204, www.greenwich.gov.uk > Environment and planning > Up your street HACKNEY: 020 8356 2898, www.hackney.gov.uk/ufs/BrowserCheck HAMMERSMITH & FULHAM: 020 8753 1100, www.lbhf.gov.uk > Roads, highways and pavements > Potholes HARINGEY: 020 8489 1335, www.haringey.gov.uk > Contact > Report a problem HARROW: 020 8424 1418, www.harrow.gov.uk/reportit HAVERING: 01708 432563, www.havering.gov.uk > Streets and transport > Roads, highways and pavements > Potholes HILLINGDON: 01895 250 050, www.hillingdon.gov.uk/services_online HOUNSLOW: 020 8583 5555, smpp@hounslow.gov.uk

ISLINGTON: 020 7527 2000, www.islington.gov.uk/Doit/ Onlineforms/reportproblem.asp KENSINGTON & CHELSEA: 020 7361 3001, www.rbkc.gov. uk/EnvironmentalServices/FaultReports/highways.asp KINGSTON: 020 8547 5978, www.kingston.gov.uk/contact_environment LAMBETH: 020 7926 9000, TandHCallCentre@lambeth.gov.uk, www.lambeth.gov.uk > Transport and streets > Roads, highways and pavements > Roads and pavement repairs LEWISHAM: 020 8314 7171, www2.lewisham.gov.uk/lbl/transport/report_info.asp MERTON: 020 8545 3133, www.merton.gov.uk/doitonline.htm NEWHAM: 020 8430 2000, www.newham.gov.uk/ReportIt.htm REDBRIDGE: 020 8708 3946, www.redbridge.gov.uk > Transport and streets RICHMOND: 020 8891 7083, www.richmond.gov.uk/home/transport_and_streets.htm SOUTHWARK: 020 7525 2166/2167, www.southwark.gov.uk/YourServices/environment/ StreetsAndRoads/Obstructions.html SUTTON: 020 8770 6060, www.sutton.gov.uk/onlineforms TOWER HAMLETS: 020 7364 5000, www.towerhamlets.gov. uk/data/transport/forms/data/potholes.cfm WALTHAM FOREST: 020 8496 3000, www.walthamforest.gov.uk/index/do-it-online.htm WANDSWORTH: 020 8871 6708, www.wandsworth.gov.uk > Environment and transport > Street defects WESTMINSTER: 020 7641 2000, www.westminster.gov. uk/streetproblems

IT’S ALSO WORTH REPORTING IT TO: TRANSPORT FOR LONDON’S STREET FAULTS CONTACT CENTRE: 0845 305 1234.

LONDONWIDE REPORTING: www.yourlondon.gov.uk/reportit FILL THAT HOLE: www.fillthathole.org.uk

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Local groups News KINGSTON

The council is proposing additional contra-flow cycle routes along Fife Road and Dolphin Street and around the back of the Bentall Centre to link up with the crossing at Skerne Road. The route follows a desire-line for many cyclists and will help to connect more of the town centre.

We’ve also indicated that allowing cyclists access to Acre Road from Richmond Road would assist a lot of north Kingston cyclists.

The aforementioned good news is tempered by growing concern that what is now Eden Street will largely be done away with – it won’t exist – and become a pedestrians-only mall. We are in discussions with the council to maintain the eastern passage across Kingston centre. The things that cycling campaigners have to watch out for are many and varied. Recently there has been a spate of applications of cafés wanting to put tables and chairs on the pavement in Castle Street and Little Wood Street. The concern is that they would obstruct the footway and send more pedestrians onto the cycle paths. Thankfully the council officers seem to recognise this and councillors have rejected a number of applications. The new shared-use path is now open from Ham Gate to Petersham in Richmond Park and could make some of your trips easier. Our rides programme has, gratifyingly, been busier than ever this year.

If you haven’t joined one of the rides before why not try one and find out why they’re so popular? We also have a maintenance course on Saturday, October 13.

Meetings: 8:30pm, October 9 and November 3 at Wagon & Horses, Surbiton Hill Road.

Contact: Rob James (020 8546 8865) Website: www.kingstoncycling.org.uk LAMBETH

Lambeth Cyclists has started up more bike maintenance classes following on from the previous successful sessions – check our

website for details. Look out for our regular Architecture Rides which continue to be very popular, usually the last Saturday of the month.

Why not come along to one of our friendly and informal meetings? There’s a social part in the bar afterwards.

Meetings: 8.30pm, Wednesday, October, 17 (please note that the October meeting is on a Wednesday due to the LCC AGM on Tuesday, October 16) and Tuesday, November 20 in the upstairs meeting room at the Bread & Roses, 68 Clapham Manor St London SW4.

Contact: Philip Loy (lambeth_cyclists@hotmail. com, 020 8677 8624) Website: www.lambethcyclists.org.uk RICHMOND

Our ride with Hounslow was enormously successful. We even managed to drag some Hounslow members from their beds for a sunny, hot ride to the beautiful Horsenden Hill. Thanks to John, Sue and Liz in Hounslow for organising this. Our gentle ride experiment didn’t go too well, though – only the organisers turned up!

We have two rides a month: an easy paced, gentle ride of about 10 miles on the penultimate Saturday of the month and a (bit) faster, longer ride of about 20 miles on the first Sunday of the month. Check the website for details. We’re attempting to strengthen our campaigning, so if you want to express your views about cycling in Richmond, come along to our meetings and rides and have your say.

Meetings: Second Monday of the month at The Crown pub, Mortlake Road, TW9 Contact: Ian Lyall (ianlyall@btopenworld.com) or Jonathan Rowland (joftek@tiscali.co.uk) Website: www.rcc.myzen.co.uk SOUTHWARK

One evening every couple of months, six or more cyclists repair to the very excellent (even better unsmoky) Dog & Bell in Deptford

and spend an efficient hour comparing diaries for the months ahead. And have done for the last year or so. The meetings are advertised on the local websites and new faces often join the regulars. And that’s how neighbouring (in east/west order) Greenwich, Lewisham and Southwark Cyclists ensure a busy local rides programme that makes sure that rides don’t clash, that short rides are alternatives to long ones, that there’s a healthy tension to ensure rides keep coming, and that anyone involved and interested knows that lines on maps don’t matter and that anyone can join any ride they fancy. Just turn up. And new ride leaders emerge too. And informal and instant peer review laughs gently at daft suggestions (why don’t we do Dunwich Dynamo in daylight?) and encourages the tasty ones (camping in Sweden, anyone?).

And the cooperation of course doesn’t stop at rides. If the future of the LCC is in its local borough groups, then such sensible informal local cooperation as is alive and kicking in the south-east corner makes huge sense. It’s the variety of rides that pull new faces in. Talk to your neighbours.

Meetings: The second Wednesday of the month at 7pm at Blackfriars Settlement, 1/5 Rushworth Street, SE1. Pub after.

Contact: Barry Mason (07905 889 005) Website: www.southwarkcyclists.org.uk SUTTON

CRIMs done in August: A232 Park Lane, Croydon to Bromley boundary; A297/A217 A297/A24 roundabout to Surrey CC boundary.

Whole route recommendations: More signage, more toucans (arouud Rose Hill), entry treatment at most side roads, footway “No Cycling” to be changed to “Cyclists Dismount”, some segregated tracks to be made shared tracks, adjust Tesco exit traffic lights to allow cyclists entry into Stayton Road. Shared use two-way cycle track on east side pavement from A232 to Surrey CC boundary. CRIMs for October are A232 Park Lane, Croydon to Wallington Green, then A232 Wallington Green to Surrey CC boundary. Many thanks to Dr Bike team for Carshalton Environmental Fair where 45 bikes were checked. See our listing on the Workshops page for our cycle maintenance class on October 20, and the Diary pages for our rides. Rides may start from Bedzed Pavillion from October – contact Leon at bedzedpavillion@yahoo.co.uk for details.

Meetings: Second Tuesday of the month (October 9 and November 13), 8.30pm at the Robin Hood Pub, Robin Hood Lane, Sutton.

Contact: Chris Parry (020 8647 3584), cyclism@blueyonder.co.uk) Website: www.lcc.org.uk > Local groups WALTHAM FOREST

Pictured: Richmond Cycling Campaign’s Richmond and Hounslow Head North ride on August 5. The Richmond group has two rides each month – see their news report above for their contact details

We missed the deadline for the last London Cyclist magazine, so we’d like to say a big thanks to all those who joined us for our successful ride to Le Tour in early July.

Waltham Forest Council also held a very successful Tour of Waltham Forest at the

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Local groups DECEMBER/JANUARY DEADLINE: 5pm Thursday, November 1 Please email news to boroughnews@lcc.org.uk – photos are welcome and will be published if space permits. Please keep contributions as concise as possible.

OTHER LOCAL GROUP CONTACTS BARKING & DAGENHAM Contact: Colin Newman (020 7871 0489, 07761 577255, Colin.Newman@stibasa.org.uk) www.stibasa.org.uk BRENT Meetings: First Wednesday of the month Contact: Ben Tansley (ben.tansley@bentan.demon.co.uk) www.brentcyclists.org.uk BROMLEY: www.lcc.org.uk > Local groups CITY Contact: Ralph Smyth (info@citycyclists.org.uk) www.citycyclists.org.uk

end of June which was very well attended despite the grim weather – we understand that the leader of the council is committed to making it an annual event, so keep an eye out for the publicity next summer. The group has established a message board at http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/ walthamforestcycling – please sign up for up to date information and access to minutes.

Our efforts to improve the proposed cycle facilities at the re-modelled Whipps Cross roundabout continue. Members attended a meeting with the borough’s engineers in June; LCN+ was also represented as well as the borough’s cycling officer. Funding to achieve a T-junction (the preferred option in the CRISP report) will be explored and we are trying to get LCC to lobby TFL on our behalf. We intend to instigate a letter writing campaign and to lobby cyclists who use the roundabout. The CRISP reports on Chingford and Wood Street/Forest Road quiet routes are now available on the TfL website. We have been advised that the secure bike shed at Leytonstone tube station (below the bridge by the taxi office) is not being used while people continue to lock their bikes to the railings. Don’t forget to use the shed and/or if there are particular problems with it, please let us know.

Contact: Robert Vaughan (020 8520 8858, wfcycling@wfcycling.org.uk) Website: www.wfcycling.org.uk Members’ adverts ◆ For sale: Marin Nail Trail 2002 model, 15” frame, front suspension, 27 gears Shimano, alloy lightweight frame, hydraulic disc brakes, little use, well-loved and in good condition. £350. 0208 531 6801.

How to advertise Small, non-business ads are free to LCC members. Please email londoncyclist@lcc.org.uk or write

WANDSWORTH

Wandsworth Cycling Campaign is still going strong, with money to spend on projects. Send in your ideas, or come and join us for a meeting or a ride.

Meetings: Second Tuesday of the month at 7pm.

Contact: Simon Merrett (020 8789 6639, coordinator@wandsworthcyclists.org.uk) Website: www.wandsworthcyclists.org.uk WESTMINSTER

We recently paid a repeat visit with engineers to two of Westminster’s worst cycle routes.

The route between the Mall and Regent’s Park currently has a number of circuitous diversions, whilst the one between Hyde Park and St Giles’ Circus simply cannot be followed eastbound beyond Hanover Square.

Now that enough people know about these problems, is it too much to hope that they will be solved one day? We were pleased to see cycling allowed along the Broad Walk of Regent’s Park, but less pleased with the sub-standard cycle lanes introduced past pedestrian islands along the Outer Circle.

We are supporting Camden LCC with their campaigns on these issues.

Meetings: Wednesday 7pm on October 3 in the The Library Bar of the Victoria Pub, Strathearn Place W2 (now with cycle parking).

Contact: Colin Wing (020 7828 1500, cyclist@ westminstercyclists.fsnet.co.uk) Website: www.westminstercyclists.fsnet.co.uk to the address on page 3, including your short and concise advertisement, full name, postal address and LCC membership number. The Dec/Jan LC issue deadline is 5pm, Thursday, November 1.

Businesses or members interested in larger advertisements should contact Matt Styrka on 020 7306 0300 ext 112 or email lcc@mongoosemedia.com

CROYDON Contact via www.croydon-lcc.org.uk or http://groups.yahoo.com/group/croydoncyclists EALING Meetings: First Wednesday of the month Contact: David Lomas (020 8579 0805, david_lomas28@hotmail.com) www.ealingcycling.org.uk ENFIELD Meetings: First Thursday of the month Contact: Richard Reeve (0870 321 3717, r.reeve@blueyonder.co.uk) www.lccenfield.fsnet.co.uk GREENWICH Meetings: First Wednesday of the month.

Contact: Julian Dobson (07771 692 344) www.lcc.org.uk > Local groups HARINGEY Contact: Adam Coffman (adam@tao.org.uk) www.lcc.org.uk > Local groups HAVERING Contact: Bernie Curtis (CurtisBernieS@aol.com, HCC@dynoweb.f9.co.uk, 01708 347 226) HILLINGDON Contact: Sarah James (020 8868 2912); Steve Ayres ( 01895 230953) www.lcc.org.uk > Local groups LEWISHAM Meetings: Third Wednesday of the month Contact: Roger Stoker (info@lewishamcyclist.net) www.lewishamcyclists.net MERTON Meetings: Usually 8pm on the first Thursday of the month, please email or phone for details Contact: Richard Evans (020 8946 0912, richard.m.evans@ntlworld.com) Website: www.mertoncyclists.org.uk NEWHAM Contact: Bernard McDonnell (07947 236 965) www.lcc.org. uk > Local groups REDBRIDGE Contact: Gill James (020 8989 4898, gilljames@btinternet.com); Chris Elliott (020 8989 6285, c.elliott@dsl.pipex.com) TOWER HAMLETS Meetings: Second Wednesday of the month Contact: Owen Pearson (020 7515 9905, wheelers@towerhamletswheelers.org.uk) www.towerhamletswheelers.org.uk Most groups have email lists to communicate with members and exchange ideas. Ask your local group for details.

Photos: Jonathan Rowland, Alan James, Arvinder Singh Paul

Left: The Ketley family try unicycling during Redbridge Cycling Campaign’s Bike Week Picnic Ride Above: The Redbridge feeder ride to the Tour de France Prologue proved a huge success.

To get involved in the Redbridge campaign, contact the local groups coordinators, right

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Diary Rides & Events Rides and events across London and farther afield What you need to know about social rides Unless stated, train-assisted rides meet at the relevant ticket office. Lunch is at a pub or take sandwiches if you prefer. Don’t forget: water, lights, a spare inner tube and tools.

Armchair riding To keep up with late changes and extra information, subscribe to the LCC Rider email list.

Send a message to lccrider-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Organisers To publicise your ride or event in the Dec 07/Jan 08 issue, enter details onto the LCC database (www.lcc.org.uk/rides) by noon, Thursday, November 1 or email details to londoncyclist@lcc.org.uk.

UK’s largest cycle expo opens at Earl’s Court The Cycle Show, the UK’s largest bike expo is at Earl’s Court Exhibition Centre October 12-14 – see next year’s range of bikes from some of the industry’s top manufacturers. LCC will once again have a stand at the show (see page 32 to find out how a friend or family member can win a bike), while there are also ticket discounts on offer for all LCC members (see page 34 for show details and discounts).

Take a ride through London’s green history Edinburgh-based company Laid Back Bikes is running tours of the Scottish capital on recumbents. Two tours are on offer: the first is a one-anda-half hour circuit that takes in the city’s parks (from £15 per person), while tour two goes via the Gallery of Modern Art and out to the coast at Cramond (30km; from £22).

For more details, see www. laid-back-bikes.co.uk

Two new ride leaflets in the London Parks & Gardens Trust’s free series, London’s Green Heritage, are now available. The rides explore gardens, churches and parks in Enfield and Sutton.

Other leaflets in the series feature Hackney, Bloomsbury and Shoreditch.

The leaflets can be downloaded at www. londongardenstrust.org or

ordered by sending an A5 stamped, selfaddressed envelope, marked with the leaflet required, to London Parks & Gardens Trust, Duck Island Cottage, St James’s Park, SW1A 2BJ. If ordering more than one leaflet, stamp your envelope for 55p.

Pennine Bridleway continues to grow England’s first purpose-built long distance bridleway for cyclists, horse riders and walkers has celebrated its fifth birthday. The first section of the Pennine Bridleway opened in 2002 with the 47-mile Mary Towneley Loop that skirts Manchester, Derbyshire, Lancashire and Yorkshire. Since then, three more sections have opened, including a 73-mile pathway from Derbyshire to the South Pennines. When the trail is fully open, it will run for more than 350 miles from Northumberland, flanking the Lake District, Yorkshire Dales, Ribble Valley, East Lancashire, Calderdale, Rochdale, Oldham, Tameside, and Derbyshire. Additional link routes are under construction and expected to be completed by 2009.

The Hopton Tunnel

New trail weaves through Welsh wetlands

Cyclists enjoy the new trails around the wetlands

A new bike trail has opened at the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust National Wetland Centre in Llanelli, Wales, and covers much of the 250-acre site.

The centre has six men’s, six women’s and 12 children’s bikes, plus one tandem, two toddler trailers and two child seats available for free use by anyone who visits the centre.

The wetlands have been instrumental in increasing the number of rare birds and other species in Wales. For details,

see www.wwt.org.uk or call 01554 741 087.

Also in Wales, tour company Oyster Active, is offering an Introduction to Mountain Biking course in North Wales from October 12-14. It costs £230, including accommodation and meals. For experienced bikers, there’s a weekend in Llandeilo, with rides in Brechfa Forest and the Brecon Beacons. It costs £255 from October 19-21. See www.oysteractive.co.uk or call 01295 251 644.

RIDES AND EVENTS Monday, October 1 ◆ Resonance 104.4FM Bike Show. Every Monday, 6.30pm-7pm Tuesday, October 2 ◆ Rapha Roller Race: Culture Clash. 8pm Shoreditch Town Hall. Fixed bicycle rollers race to raise money for Leukemia Research. Contacts: Therese (07719 411 817, theresebjorn@ yahoo.co.uk) Thursday, October 4 ◆ Southwark Cyclists’ Afterworker. Every Thursday.

Details: www.southwarkcyclists. org.uk or Barry (07905 889 005) Saturday, October 6 ◆ Dulwich Paragon Ride.

Every Saturday. Meet at Café St Germain on Crystal Palace Parade 9am for a two-hour ride at a steady pace. Contact: www.dulwichparagon.com Sunday, October 7 ◆ Bread Pudding Ride.

10.30am from Kingston Market Place. Easy-paced ride into Surrey with Kingston Cycling Campaign.

Bread pudding for all. Contact: John Dunn (020 8397 1875, johnedunn@blueyonder.co.uk) ◆ Jubilee River to Eton and Windsor. Depart Ealing Town Hall 10am. Train to Maidenhead to follow Jubilee River to Eton/ Windsor. Train back from Slough.

Contact: David Eales (07990 531 472, jellied30@hotmail.com) ◆ Weekly ride with Pollards Hill Cyclists. Depart 9.30am from Pollards Hill Library on South Lodge Avenue, Mitcham.

See www.pollardshillcyclists.org. uk or email mark@pollardshill cyclists.org.uk ◆ Bike Polo. Every Sunday from 1pm in the football court, corner Brick Lane and Shacklewell Road. All welcome. Details: http://myspace.com/ bricklanebikepolo Monday, October 8 ◆ Resonance 104.4FM Bike Show. See October 1 October 10-21 ◆ Rouleur Exhibition.

See page 18 Wednesday, October 10 ◆ LCC retention evening. Help LCC with its member mailouts.

Contact: Julie Tublin (020 7234 9310 ext 215, julie@lcc.org.uk) October 11-14 ◆ The Cycle Show. See left October 11-21 ◆ Rider Spoke. See page 15 Thursday, October 11 ◆ Southwark Cyclists’

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Afterworker. See October 4 Sunday, October 14 ◆ Weekly ride with Pollards Hill Cyclists. See October 7 Monday, October 15 ◆ Resonance 104.4FM Bike Show. See October 1 Tuesday, October 16 ◆ LCC AGM. See page 35 October 16-20 ◆ Bicycle Film Festival.

See page 19 Thursday, October 18 ◆ Southwark Cyclists’ Afterworker. See October 4 Saturday, October 20 ◆ Joint ride to Westerham with Wandsworth Cyclists and Greenwich Cyclists.

60-80 miles. Meet Clapham Junction or Cutty Sark 9.30am.

Contact: Chris (07801 188 768 from Greenwich) or Martin (07946 354 852 from Wandsworth) ◆ Beddington Park Ride. Meet at Park Cafe 1.30pm. Details: www. beddingtonparkcyclerides.com Sunday, October 21 ◆ Little Green Ride. 9.45am from Finsbury Park Station. Easy paced 30 miles into Hertfordshire.

Contact: Stephen Taylor (07977 235 735, sltaylor001@yahoo.co.uk) ◆ Surrey’s Finest Hills Ride.

Meet Clapham Junction Station foyer 10am. Train assisted to Effingham Junction, then 30 miles over North Downs to Horsham with Wandsworth Cycling Campaign.

Contact: Martin (07946 354 852) ◆ Bread Pudding Ride.

See October 7 ◆ Weekly ride with Pollards Hill Cyclists. See October 7 Monday, October 22 ◆ Resonance 104.4FM Bike Show. See October 1 Thursday, October 25 ◆ Southwark Cyclists’ Afterworker. See October 4 Friday, October 26 ◆ Critical Mass. London’s largest monthly cycle ride. Meets from 6pm by the National Film Theatre on South Bank. See www.criticalmasslondon.org.uk ◆ ICAG Feeder Ride to Critical Mass. 6.15pm from Islington Town Hall. Islington Cyclists’ Action Group ride to Critical Mass (above). Contact: Alison Dines (020 7226 7012, alisondines@ clara.co.uk) Sunday, October 28 ◆ Weekly ride with Pollards Hill Cyclists. See October 7 ◆ Kent’s Oldest Bike Ride.

10.45am from Thames Barrier car park south side of A206.

Classic veterans bike ride –

An Elgar celebration The London Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO) celebrates what would have been Sir Edward Elgar’s 150th birthday with a concert on November 7 at London’s Royal Festival Hall. Elgar was a keen cyclist and bought his first cycle, a Royal Sunbeam, in 1900. He gained inspiration for his music from his rides around Worcestershire, Gloucestershire and Herefordshire. Two years ago, a statue (left) was unveiled in Hereford which sees the composer leaning against his beloved bike, notebook in hand.

For concert tickets (£9-£38), call the LPO box office on 020 7840 4242 or see www.lpo.org.uk

A scone with a view Scones are the focus of a new cycle route called the Tea Trail Cumbria. Thirteen farmbased tea shops can be found by riders on a route from Kirkby Lonsdale, in the south of the county, to Brampton, in the north.

Each tea shop is set in a stunning location, giving cyclists the opportunity to drink in the landscape while they are munching on scones. A poetry competition is running in conjunction with the launch of the new trail – cyclists wanting to try their hand at verse can enter until October 31. Details of the competition are included on trail leaflets.

Four cyclists will win a place on a sconemaking workshop in February. Maps and leaflets are available by calling Cumbria Tourism on 01539 822 222 or visiting www.golakes.co.uk/teatrailcumbria

A golden cycleway around Salisbury A seven-mile circular waymarked route around Salisbury for cyclists and walkers, christened The Golden Way, has opened in the south Wiltshire city. The route links the Old Sarum ancient monument with Salisbury Cathedral, via the suburban fringes of the city and river corridors. The majority of the route follows car-free cycle paths.

Salisbury Cathedral

The Golden Way takes in many of the best open spaces in the city, and is already being used by visitors, commuters, shoppers, school children and recreational cyclists for local journeys in and around Salisbury. A leaflet showing the route is available from the Salisbury Tourist Information Centre or by calling 01722 434 325.

bring your oldest bike. Contact: Dave Piggott (01892 722 584) Monday, October 19 ◆ Resonance 104.4FM Bike Show. See October 1 Thursday, November 1 ◆ Southwark Cyclists’ Afterworker. See October 4 Saturday, November 3 ◆ Dulwich Paragon Ride.

See October 6 Sunday, November 4 ◆ Weekly ride with Pollards Hill Cyclists. See October 7 Monday, November 5 ◆ Resonance 104.4FM Bike Show. See October 1 Thursday, November 8 ◆ Southwark Cyclists’ Afterworker. See October 4 Sunday, November 11 ◆ Bread Pudding Ride.

See October 7 ◆ Weekly ride with Pollards Hill Cyclists. See October 7 Monday, November 12 ◆ Resonance 104.4FM Bike Show. See October 1 Wednesday, November 14 ◆ LCC retention evening.

See October 10 Thursday, November 15 ◆ Southwark Cyclists’ Afterworker. See October 4 Saturday, November 17 ◆ Ride to Westerham with Wandsworth and Greenwich Cyclists. See October 20 ◆ Beddington Park Ride.

See October 20 Sunday, November 18 ◆ Parks & Thames Ride.

10.30am Clapham Junction Station foyer. 20-mile ride to Hamptons with Wandsworth Cycling Campaign.

Contact: Martin (07946 354 852) ◆ Little Green Ride.

See October 21 ◆ Weekly ride with Pollards Hill Cyclists. See October 7 Monday, November 19 ◆ Resonance 104.4FM Bike Show. See October 1 Thursday, November 22 ◆ Southwark Cyclists’ Afterworker. See October 4 Sunday, November 25 ◆ Bread Pudding Ride.

See October 7 ◆ Weekly ride with Pollards Hill Cyclists. See October 7 Monday, November 26 ◆ Resonance 104.4FM Bike Show. See October 1 Thursday, November 29 ◆ Southwark Cyclists’ Afterworker. See October 4 Friday, November 30 ◆ Critical Mass. See October 26 ◆ ICAG Feeder Ride to Critical Mass. See October 26

Photos: Mike Williams/Natural England, BritainOnView, Elgar in Hereford Group

For last-minute rides, contact your local group (details page 40) or go to www.lcc.org.uk/rides

LONDON CYCLIST October/November 2007 45

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The market place Phil Liggett says: “Having ridden using Bike-Eye I don’t think I would leave home without it now, I can keep an eye on my wife Pat and she can also keep an eye on me when I am chasing her! I am sure Bike-Eye will be a great success and very worthwhile in modern day cycling”.

Phil

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BIKE-EYE 7 Calewen, Two Mile Ash, Milton Keynes. MK8 8LP Or purchase by post, paying by cheque to BIKE-EYE £15-95p Inc p&p. Post to address above with full postal details and stating your colour choice of Black or Metallic Grey WE RECOMMEND THAT PURCHASERS VISIT OUR WEB SITE TO FULLY UNDERSTAND THE BIKE-EYE APPLICATION. PANNIERS AND SADDLE BAGS COULD RESTRICT THE REAR VIEW!

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46 October/November 2007 LONDON CYCLIST

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LONDON CYCLIST October/November 2007 47 6/9/07 13:09:29

Books ’n’ things Fine lines extract from Grayson Perry: Portrait Of An Artist As A Young Girl

by Wendy Jones My mother was the youngest of nine children and Aunty Mary was her older sister. She was married to Uncle Arthur and they lived down the road from my grandmother.

As well as providing me with books, Uncle Arthur gave me my first bike. I had been intensely jealous when my sister was bought a bicycle before me – although soon afterwards he came to my rescue hobbling together a second-hand cycle. We were visiting Aunty Mary and Uncle Arthur on Christmas Day and, after we had given them their customary packets of Benson and Hedges, Uncle Arthur bellowed, ‘TAR-DARRRRR!’ and wheeled in a bicycle, wrapped up and tied with tinsel.

The whole family was watching me. I burst into tears, charged out of the sitting room and hid in the toilet. I felt terrible because I thought I was being ungrateful, though I enjoyed riding the bike afterwards.

The bicycle had cream and rust mudguards and the previous owner had stuck model aeroplane stickers all over the frame, which I thought was very cool. It was my pride and joy – I was so happy. I taught myself to ride my bike by laying my stomach on the saddle and trailing my feet along on the pavement, then pushing off. On Boxing Day, I was cycling all over Broomfield with Alan Barford when I rode over a shard of glass that caused a major blow-out of the rear tyre and it completely disintegrated. I was distraught. Uncle Arthur had to be summoned: a few days later he came to fix the tyre. I felt vulnerable because my happiness was dependent on his mechanical ability. My father was the capable mender of machines but he wasn’t on the spot to repair my bike for me.

Extracted from Grayson Perry: Portrait Of A Young Artist As A Girl, Wendy Jones (£8.99, Vintage Books)

Reviews Two Wheels, Matt Seaton (£9.99, Guardian Books) I was excited a couple of years ago when The Guardian gave Matt Seaton a weekly cycling column. Not just because Seaton is a former editor of London Cyclist, but because it was a huge step forward for cycling. It would have been unimaginable 10 years ago for a national newspaper to devote space to cycling every week. We may be a long way from the cycling nirvana many of us dream of, but we should allow ourselves a wide, toothy grin when we consider the successes we are notching up. Seaton’s column is one of those successes. Two Wheels provides the chance to re-read – or read for the first time – Seaton’s Guardian musings on everything from the joys of urban commuting to the rage that rises up in us when we’re told we have no right to the road. There’s also a fair bit about cycle racing and how much one man can love his (six) bikes. Seaton’s natural tendency is to find common ground and, given how aggressive everyone seems to think we cyclists are, I’m thankful Seaton isn’t the Jeremy Clarkson of cycling. This a great book for those moments when we need to remember that we’re not alone out there. It’s also the perfect book to leave in the waiting room at the doctor’s surgery – maybe someone will pick it up, read a few pages, and decide to give cycling another try. Erin Gill City Cycling, Richard Ballantine (£9.99, Snowbooks) Richard Ballantine is not just a cycling author but a brand: Richard’s Bicycle Book (1975) unlocked the market for readable, accessible bike manuals and led to a series of ‘Richard’s’ books. City Cycling continues the tradition of clearly explaining the basics of buying, riding and repairing bikes. It also makes plain all the benefits of cycling. Aimed at the urban rider, the book focuses on skills and bike selection. As well as covering hybrids, town bikes and mountain bikes, the book reflects some of Ballantine’s personal cycling interests (he’s chair of the Human Powered Vehicle Association). Curiously, the chapter on resources doesn’t mention LCC, CTC, Sustrans or any other organisation providing information for social activities. With the book priced at an affordable £9.99, perhaps City Cycling buyers will have enough left for a membership fee. Tom Bogdanowicz

Riding Through The Storm, Geoff Thomas (£16.99, Orion Books) This is a personal and engaging account of how former Crystal Palace and England footballer Geoff Thomas deals with leukaemia. Inspired by Lance Armstrong, he tackles the Tour de France route, marking his own recovery while raising funds for leukaemia research. Thomas’ account feels similar to Armstrong’s It’s Not About The Bike, from his diagnosis right through to the chilling reality of having a lifethreatening disease. Throughout, he makes clear the importance of family, friends and his consultant, and he talks about cycling in an accessible way. For all this, the ride sometimes becomes lost in his commentary about football, and lacks the emotional depth of Matt Seaton’s The Escape Artist.

Michael Stenning

Cycling’s Greatest Misadventures, edited by Erich Schweikher (£11.99, Casagrande Press) Available in the UK from Cordee (www.cordee.co.uk, 01162 543 579) This book contains some 27 accounts of cycling mishaps from around the world, from touring in the South American jungles to the experiences of a 19th US army cycling regiment and to teenage delusions of cycling greatness – the sort doomed to end in bent rims, broken bones and hurt pride. Tales of broken racks, being chased by livestock and the roadside camaraderie among cyclists struck a particular chord. There’s a good blend of comedy, terror and the downright bizarre, which keeps the book fascinating and accessible to seasoned cyclists and curious observers alike. Michael Stenning

48 October/November 2007 LONDON CYCLIST

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Book ’n’ things

Backpedalling

Postcards and art

Cycles Onyx by Fritayre, 1925

Cycles Bouton by C Fournery, 1925

Styria Bicycles, Johann Puch, 1889

Visoni Vintage posters and greeting cards are great as gifts or as framed artwork around the house. Visoni (www.visoni.com, 01233 633 991) specialises in posters and greeting cards reproduced from vintage poster art, including these three cycling cards, which pay homage to early European bicycle manufacturers. The cards are available from retail outlets or via the Visoni website (12 cards for £18, plus postage). While the company currently only reproduces in card format these three pieces of bicycle art, it says it has more cycling images in its archive for future publication.

Spokes At Cley, Robert Chaplin One of Norfolk artist Robert Chaplin’s most distinctive works is now available in limited edition postcard and print format. Spokes At Cley, Chaplin’s only bike-inspired work, proved popular when it was displayed and later sold at the Church Street Gallery in Cromer. Chaplin describes his artwork is a hobby, one that due to ill-health he doesn’t indulge in as often as he would like. The card retails for £2, or three for £5, while prints are priced at £33 (plus postage and packaging). Both are available by emailing y.art@hotmail.co.uk See page 16-18 for more on bicycle art

London books Books about London provide great inspiration for anyone wanting to explore the capital by bike.

Tunnels, Towers & Temples: London’s 100 Strangest Places (£19.99, Sutton Publishing) Where is the capital’s only sewer-powered street lamp? What aout England’s largest moat? Ever wanted to know more about Kensal Green Cemetery? A curious and odd collection of writing on some of London’s hidden – and not-so-hidden – attractions.

I Never Knew That About London, Christopher Winn (£9.99, Ebury Press) From Fleet Street to Fulham, Wandsworth and Whitehall, 2000 years’ worth of pub quiz answers can be found between these covers. A great foundation for anyone looking to take a ride through London’s history.

On Brick Lane, Rachel Lichtenstein (£20, Hamish Hamilton) Ahead of the big-screen adaptation of Monica Ali’s book comes this journey through the history of Brick Lane, home to London’s most infamous (read: stolen) bicycle market, and quite possibly one of the most interesting streets in Britain.

To lollipop or not to lollipop, that is the question. When I was 12 and first given parental consent (albeit a not particularly willing consent) to cycle alone around London, my mum gave me one of those bright orange sticking-out-arm you-blinking-wellkeep-away-from-me-you-blinking-big-vehicle lollipops to stick on my bike. You know the things – they look like those fly-swatting paddles people use for semaphoring – only with large bluebottle eye type reflectors plonked on the end. This most unsightly of appendages struck me as the epitome of uncool – the last thing in the world you would want to be seen with on your bike.

I bear similar sentiments today about the extended protuberances of a bike-mounted lollipop – I don’t think I’ll be putting one on my touring or road bike in a hurry, but I’m sorry to say I have softened my stance in one department – the Molly one. When Molly (who has not yet reached the ripe old age of one) is strapped to my bike, I find I have no hang-ups or inhibitions whatsoever about how ridiculous I might look. As long as I show and glow up like a belisha beacon on amphetamines, I’m quite happy to be the neighbourhood’s mobile eyesore. In fact, wait for it (you may need to sit down for this), I have not just one lollipop extending its mighty limb of pliable plastic toward the combat zone of the road, but three! Shocking, I can tell you.

They are beginning to follow the curved rim of Molly’s rear rack-mounted seat, forming a rather radiant arc not dissimilar from a peacock’s resplendent raised train of feathers. Let no driver tell me anymore when they give me a close shave, ‘sorry love, didn’t see you!’ For ‘not to see me’ is akin to admitting blindness. I am so outrageously visible that if they look hard enough, they can surely see me from Sydney. The challenge is on (even if it is a self-administered challenge) to see how many lollipops I can clamp to my bike and how wide a berth I can get from a passing vehicle. Initial testing has shown that having three plastic 14” protuberances sticking out of the side of my bike results in motorists giving an additional two-feet of clearance. On that basis, if I was to accost the local lollipop lady and cross her palm with a bucket load of biscuits, I may be able to appropriate her six-foot long lollipop thus preventing traffic from passing me altogether. The only slight modification would be the requisite of having Molly planted in the nearside pannier leaning hard to the left like some manic sidecar racer to counterbalance the rolling roadblock thus created.

Josie has written seven books about her various escapades around the world by bike. Her most recent book, Long Cloud Ride, covers her 10,000-mile ride around New Zealand. For more information, see www.josiedew.co.uk Ed: Keep an eye out for the December/January issue of LC, which will carry a feature on cycling with children.

Photo: Chris Frazer Smith, Richard Haughton Words by Lynette Eyb unless otherwise stated

Josie Dew

LONDON CYCLIST October/November 2007 49

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My way

Hampton Hill to Farringdon Cycling to work each day takes Ian Williams across parks, along rivers and through some of London’s most historic areas

From Hampton Hill to Clapham The strange thing about my route is that it’s pretty much a straight line. Although I live in south-west London, it’s actually north of the Thames, so I cross the river twice on the way to work.

From Hampton Hill High Street, it’s downhill to Teddington. I jump off at the footbridge at Teddington Lock and cross to Ham, crossing first the tidal piece of the Thames, then the other side of the weir, the non-tidal bit.

After wiggling through a couple of cycle paths through a residential area, it’s across Ham Common to Richmond Park. There’s a short, steep climb up into the park and then a cycle track across the middle. The park is beautiful at any time of year, with rabbits, badgers, foxes, owls, herons and, of course, parrots all fairly common spots. You need to keep a sharp eye out for deer – especially in the winter when it’s dark – as they can dart out in front of you.

I leave the park at Robin Hood Gate and use the shared pavement cycle path alongside the A3 up the long hill to Roehampton. Then it’s on to the road down West Hill to Wandsworth. I claim the middle lane of the one-way system and follow it to St John’s Hill and down to Clapham Junction.

The ride just got longer Over the years I’m sure my journey has got slower – I don’t think it’s me! Traffic lights along my route have multiplied to almost 50. From Clapham to Vauxhall, it’s one set after another, with lights every few hundred metres – every zebra crossing seems to have been replaced with lights. I stop at lights – I’m a pedestrian as well as a father and I hate it when cyclists whizz past on the green man. A bad run of lights can add five minutes to my journey.

Vauxhall Cross junction is the low point of the journey – making myself as ‘big’ as possible, I claim the centre of lane four or five. Then it’s past MI5 and along South Bank, with great views across the river to the Tate Britain and the Houses of Parliament. Then it’s past Lambeth Palace and the beautiful new Evalina Children’s Hospital to the one-way system at Westminster Bridge. Here I join some more shared pavement. What a cop out these shared pavements are – wherever it’s hard to make proper provision for cyclists, they slap up a couple of shared pavement signs.

Pedestrians hate them (and often don’t see the signs) and they are rubbish for cyclists too, as it means

Above: Richmond Park’s deer can be hazardous, says Ian, particularly when it’s dark Above right: Ian sets out for work

YOUR WAY Is your regular commute interesting? Can you take a few photos along the way? Email us at londoncyclist@ lcc.org.uk or write to the address on page 3

weaving through pedestrians.

I cut through by County Hall – I think this is part of the LCN but they make it hard, with big concrete blocks all but blocking the road.

Here some people opt to cycle along the river, which is beautiful.

I choose not to because it has no cycling sections around the Oxo building, so I go along Upper Ground, past the London Eye, the newly refurbished Festival Hall, the National Theatre and the GMTV studios. There is a short contra flow bike lane leading to Blackfriars Bridge – here, the new cycle route has been a big improvement.

The final push is up Farringdon Street and then right into Smithfield meat market. This is always busy in the morning, so it often means weaving around fork lift trucks, bummerees pushing trolleys of meat and reversing white vans.

Around the corner and it’s into St John Street and our offices, which have a lockable bike shed and showers with a free towel service.

Ten of our 100 staff now cycle, and we offer the Cycle2Work (see www.lcc.org.uk/info) bike purchase scheme to all staff.

ABOUT IAN WILLIAMS Ian is the managing director of Lansons Communications, a PR firm. “Our whole family cycles,” he says. “When the kids were babies, my wife had a tricycle with two child seats on the back that the kids used to go to nursery on. Then we got bike seats and tag-alongs; now they cycle themselves.”

THE JOURNEY Distance: 17 miles each way Time: 60-70 minutes, wind and traffic lights dependant Low point: Vauxhall Cross High point: “Richmond Park, but I love all of it – it’s just fab to be out on the bike. I’m not so keen when it’s snowing, though.”

Photos: BritainOnView, Ian Williams

I started cycling to work almost 10 years ago when we lived in Shepherd’s Bush, and it took just 25 minutes to get to the office.

When we moved to the suburbs, I was a little daunted by the thought of riding 17 miles each way. Six years later, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I roll out of bed at 5.45am and grab a bowl of porridge, listening to the end of Farming Today – Monday’s five-day weather forecast is especially useful – and the start of Today. By 6.15 I’m getting the bike out of the garage.

LONDON CYCLIST October/November 2007 51

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Outward bound

Coastal drift The coast of northern France offers some spectacular scenery, much of it best seen by bike. Sophie Hampton crossed the Channel to check it out he ports of Calais and Boulogne are hardly an advertisement for a cycling holiday in northern France, but the countryside between these two much maligned towns is unexpectedly beautiful.

Pas-de-Calais, with its rolling landscape, is a fantastic area for exploring by bike, and it’s cheap and easy to get to from London. The seaside resorts of the Cote d’Opal boast endless sandy beaches, nature reserves and stunning cliffs. The area is rich in war history with much evidence of Hitler’s Atlantic Wall.

My boyfriend Rich and I rented a cottage for three nights in January in Ambleteuse, a pretty coastal village 30km south of Calais, which has a 17th century fort designed by Vauban and an excellent World War II Museum. We took our bikes on the train from Charing Cross to Dover Priory. The docks are only a 15-minute cycle from Dover station and clearly signposted. On arrival at the port, we followed the specified route for cyclists which, although marked by a red line, was predominantly the same route that vehicles took. It was slightly unnerving cycling alongside enormous lorries and coaches, while we were also a little disconcerted to note that there were no other bikes in sight.

Passport Control instructed us to go to the head of one of the queues, and as we waited in front of a line of SUVs (some ironically carrying bikes), I wasn’t sure whether I felt rather smug or more like a poor relation.

My mind was made up when I glanced down and noticed the flat tyre hanging from my front wheel. At

T

this point, the boarding staff waved us on ahead of a procession of vehicles. I have never cycled so hard in my life as I panted my way up the steep ramp on my bumpy tyre and sailed onto the car decks, determined to look as though cycling was the way to go.

The other side of the Channel Arriving in Calais with a hastily patched inner tube, we decided that rather than cycling to Ambleteuse as planned, we would take the train from Calais Ville to Wimille-Wimereux, a station 7km from our destination.

Advance booking is not required on local French trains and there is no charge for carrying bikes. The French train was much more pleasant to travel on than the train we caught from Charing Cross to Dover earlier that day; heavily subsidised, French trains are cheaper and smarter than those in the UK. From Wimille, we cycled along the D940, the coastal road to Ambleteuse. Fading light, fog and blustery winds fuelled adrenaline, taking us to Ambleteuse in just 20 minutes. The puncture repair held and it was fantastic to arrive at our cosy cottage. I won’t forget the look on Monsieur Fourcroy’s face as he welcomed us and discovered we were ‘sans voiture’ (without car).

It was cold and windy throughout the weekend but we had lots of sunshine and used our bikes a lot. We cycled 15km along the back roads, through the hill-top village of Bazinghen to the seaside resort of Wissant from where Julius Caesar launched his invasion of

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Britain in 55BC. On the way back, we took a diversion down the D191 to Cap Griz-Nez, the closest point between France and England, for the spectacular views.

Another enjoyable day was spent exploring Ambleteuse, neighbouring Audresselles and Wimereux, which has a well-stocked bike shop with helpful staff.

The return journey All too soon it was time to set off home, but our spirits were lifted by blue skies and sunshine. We took the D191E1 out of Ambleteuse passing through Audembert and joining the D244, the old road to Calais, at Leubringhen. This route took us through vast expanses of gorgeous countryside and avoided virtually all traffic.

There were one or two challenging hills en route but with the help of my lowest gears, I survived them all, even though at times I was sure I was going backwards as yet another peloton of Lycra-clad French cyclists whizzed past! There were some long downhill stretches on the approach to Calais and the exhilarating ride made up for the hills.

Boarding the ferry was stressful as we weren’t allowed to board first and I felt vulnerable sandwiched

Above left and top: On the coast of northern France Above: The remnants of a World War II bunker

between the huge vehicles. Regardless, it was the first time we’d taken our bikes abroad and we will certainly do it again. It was an energetic yet relaxing and peaceful holiday. We had been concerned that travelling with our bikes could be a burden but we found that it gave us an enormous sense of freedom.

CHARING CROSS DOVER CALAIS

AMBLETEUSE

AUDEMBERT

WIMILLE-WIMEREUX BOULOGNE

Train: Charing Cross to Dover Priory with Southeastern (www. southeasternrailway.co.uk), £25.90 return. The bikes were carried free; limited bike storage available in passenger area on off-peak trains.

Ferry: Dover to Calais with SeaFrance (www.seafrance.com), £24 return (saver ticket). The bikes were carried free on the car deck. See also SeaFrance’s dedicated cycling website, www. sailandcycle.com

French trains: www.voyages-sncf.com Accommodation: www.cottages4you.co.uk Tourist information: www.uk.pas-de-calais.com has lots of useful information on the area, including cycle routes. The French Tourist Board is at 178 Piccadilly, W1 (info.uk@franceguide.com, 09068 244 123).

Useful maps and guides: Michelin Map 301 Local – Pas-deCalais, Somme; Lonely Planet’s France

Photos: Richard Milne

SOPHIE’S TRIP DETAILS

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Desert life The desert west of Las Vegas is home to some challenging rides. William Weinstein rode the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area’s Scenic Loop ed Rock Canyon, a minor spur of the Grand Canyon, lies just west of Las Vegas. A 15-mile scenic loop has been built out from the highway, up into the mountains and back to the road. It’s oneway traffic, smooth tarmac and a 20mph speed limit all the way (except for you, of course).

The road begins to climb as soon as you pass the gate. You press the start button on your computer and the seconds begin to stream away. Cutting through a dry river bed, the tarmac briefly gives way to concrete. In the flash flood paths normal road building materials wash away when it rains, dissolving like flour under a tap.

You push back on the saddle, drop through the gears and settle into a rhythm. The climb winds through the desert scrub. To your right the red rocks emerge from behind the hills – rust, beige and sand-coloured stone that deepens to a shocking red with the setting sun.

The first hill is harsh and you reach the top feeling the pulse in your ears, the dry air in your chest. The small

R

parking area here is choked with cars and pick-up trucks. There is a trail down into the canyon, but most drivers seem content to simply gaze at the view.

The road runs across the crest of a ridge and appears to go downhill, but the muscles in your legs tell you that this is an optical illusion. You struggle to make 10mph until, for a scant hundred yards, there is a descent. You sweep past a second carpark and, no sooner are you in a high gear, the second hill appears. The road goes up towards the impossibly blue sky. The momentum of the downhill carries you up the first few yards and then you are out of the saddle, feeling the work in your knees, in the muscles of your thighs.

This is a long hill with a false summit halfway up.

Over to the right, the red rocks have given way to the yellow of Calico Basin. Suddenly you are at the top and your speed picks up. Down to a hairpin and round it, attacking the road to regain momentum. Another concrete wash through a tight right-hander, the wheels skipping as you lean hard into the corner then again down through the gears, fighting to retain the speed as, like a heartbreak, the real climbs begin.

In summer, when the heat distorts the view in every direction, this part of the ride is a torment. The road is sheltered from the wind, but not from the sun and it is like an iron bar across your forehead; sweat dries as instantly as it appears on your skin. Your vision blurs.

You understand how easy it would be to die of heat exhaustion, of dehydration.

If you are lucky, you will see another cyclist ahead of you. With a rabbit to chase down, you can focus on something other than your failing legs, your aching

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Finding the end of the Loop The highest point of the Loop is a right-hand corner around an outcrop of rock. Cars slow here to admire the sweep of the mountains and the desert plain below. You take the corner, skirting the loose pebbles the car tyres kick onto the road and pick up pace, tapping through the gears. The next mile across the top of the hills is a series of switchbacks, progressively steeper, where the momentum of each downhill carries you almost to the top of the next rise. You feel your breathing steadying and take the opportunity to drink more of the warm, plastic-tainted water you have dragged up the mountain.

And then, at last, the corner you have been waiting for. You glance at your watch, hoping for 22 minutes but finding 25. Around the corner, a long, straight downhill and in moments you are in top gear, pedalling, hands to the drops, two fingers on each brake, back flat and then, as the speed increases, no longer turning the cranks but tucking in, knees knocking like an ingènue, every part of you trying to get lower, slimmer, less attractive to the hot wind off the valley floor. Under your nose, the computer clips through 40 and then comes the corner, a long, long righthander with another damn concrete wash halfway round it; the wheels skitter sideways and the crack between the concrete slabs creeps closer. You lean harder and stop breathing, the bike carves through the bend and out the other side to where the mountain drops away and the road plunges after it, cutting through the rock; you’re hurtling down it like water through a high pressure hose.

Above and below right: The roads around Red Rock offer some exhilarating rides

You can hear nothing but the wind. Below you watch the forks dancing as the road batters the wheels through their slender arms. You glance up as the road disappears into a blind left-hand corner and you disappear with it, praying that no tourists are parked on the other side. The road is clear and it’s another left, the speed awesome. Down through the scoop and the road turns up. And up. This is The Wall, 100 vertical yards. Your speed carries you up the first 20. If you get the gears right, the next 20 are easy and then, with your momentum spent, with your lungs choked, with your muscles locked with the terror of descending, the last 60 are agony. You are furious, sick of the heat and the flies that follow you when you are moving this slowly. At the top you know you should change up again, keep pushing, but for a few moments you weaken and stay in a low gear as your lungs suck in oxygen for your muscles.

The big hills are gone; now there are long, fast straights and only one more obstacle: a horrid, deceptively shallow climb that spoils what should be a good time. As you pass the last car park, the road begins to unwind again and you slip into an aero position and grit your teeth for the last, fast corner, promising yourself you will stay off the brakes this time. Exiting the corner at close to 50mph, the road spits you out onto the valley floor, open desert.

The mountains are behind you now and the road runs towards the end of the Loop. You’re aiming for sub-40 minutes. Rumour has it that Greg LeMond, a Reno boy, once did it in under 30. You lower your head and grind a big gear but as you cross the line and slow for the turn back on to the main road, your watch shows 42.28 and you know that you didn’t hurt enough on the climbs, didn’t dare enough on the descents.

MORE INFORMATION Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Reserve is 15 miles west of Las Vegas on Charleston Boulevard. The start of the ride and the visitors’ centre are clearly sign-posted. There are cycle lanes all the way out to it or, if you prefer to drive, extensive parking at the entrance to the Scenic Drive. For more details, see www.redrockcanyonlv.org The Scenic Loop Drive (which William cycled): The one-way loop (14.7 miles round trip) starts at the visitors’ centre. It is very steep and is for more experienced riders.

The Highway Ride: State Route 159 (7.6 miles each way) begins at either the Red Rock Canyon Visitor Center (downhill) or in the town of Blue Diamond (uphill), and is for moderately fit riders.

Bike shops Las Vegas Cyclery: 8221 West Charleston Avenue (001702 838 6966/800 596 2953; www.lasvegascyclery.com), hires out a variety of bicycles, including a Schwinn Fast Back, Cannondale R400 or LeMond Nevada City, for day, half-day and multi-day rates. Prices start at US$35 for a half day or US$145 for one week.

Bike Outpost: 16 Cottonwood Street, Blue Diamond (001702 875 4820; www.bikeoutpost.com), hires out mountain bikes from US$35 per day or US$175 per week. The company is located in Blue Diamond (west of Red Rock Canyon), near mountain biking trails.

For more information on Nevada, see www.travelnevada.com

Photos: William Weinstein, Nevada Commission of Tourism

back. Your upper body ceases its swaying, the rhythm of your pedalling steadies. Yard by yard you stalk your prey, reeling him in, noting with derision his hanging head, his zigzag progress. You slide onto his wheel and your shadow falls across his on the road. He jumps, glances back and, in an instant, you are level with him. A nod, perhaps a muttered acknowledgement, and you are past.

You glance back. He knows he is defeated. You get out of the saddle once more and sprint for the top of the climb.

You are alone again on the mountain and all you can do is keep the pedals turning, keep the upper body still, your eyes on the road. Chest open, breathe deeply. Relax.

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Talk about a revolution Authorities hope cycling will help ease congestion in one of the world’s most populated cities. S. Lynne Walker has this special report from Mexico City

Pic caption

Mayor Marcelo Ebrard delivered his shocking order to top officials from beneath a leafy tree in one of the few remaining parks in Mexico City. On the first Monday of every month, Ebrard announced, he and his team would cycle to work.

Bicycles? In Mexico City, where more than 3 million cars jam the streets? Where the pollution is so thick that people think the colour of the sky is grey?

Dangerous, the ecology secretary protested. Impractical, the health secretary sniffed. A health threat, argued the Secretary of Urban Development.

Ebrard’s goal was to inspire the city’s 9 million residents to cut petrol consumption and use bikes or public transport. But was the plan realistic in a city where people are wedded to their vehicles?

That was in April. By July, the officials had warmed to the idea, especially after 47-year-old Ebrard – who smokes and is himself not fond of exercise – warned them their jobs depended on their participation.

No one expects their efforts to bring a flood of bicycles onto Mexico City’s crowded streets, but the ambitious programme has sparked a national discussion about the congestion and pollution

that is choking the nation’s capital.

Since the programme began, tens of thousands of residents have taken to the streets on Sundays when the city’s downtown thoroughfares are closed to motorised traffic. Men and women, young and old, fill the wide avenues with everything from vintage bikes to skates and scooters.

“Magnifico!” enthused Juan Carlos Espinosa, a 30-year-old computer programmer, as he roller- bladed down elegant Reforma Boulevard. “This is what we need to motivate us to exercise.”

The government plans to build 186 miles of new bike lanes and install bike racks at Metro stations and outside hundreds of city buildings. It has even started a loan programme so people who don’t own bikes won’t be left out.

The plan has gained the support of the World Bank, which is giving Mexico City US$100,000 to design a master plan to make the city bicycle-friendly.

“Many people have looked at Mexico City’s traffic problems and thrown their hands in the air.

This mayor is not doing that,” said Michael Replogle, president of New York-based Institute for Transportation Policy, who has visited Mexico City to work on the bicycle project.

Above: Jerry Serrano, 4, pictured on Mexico City’s Reforma Boulevard. On Sundays, officials close downtown thoroughfares to motorised traffic to encourage more residents to cycle

A nationwide solution Mexico City is not the first metropolis to promote the idea of bike riding. Guadalajara, the country’s second-largest city, launched a similar programme in 2004 after citizen groups pushed for a place where families could gather for a leisurely cycle rides. On the first Sunday, Guadalajara officials expected 5,000 people and got 10,000, said Gabriel Michel, director of Guadalajara’s programme.

The next Sunday, Michel’s team planned for 10,000 and got 20,000.

Now, more than 100,000 people ride their bikes on Sunday, a day also filled with yoga classes, chess tournaments and photo exhibitions.

The popularity of the event has translated into more bike use in Guadalajara, said Michel, a side effect that “is not only viable, but totally desirable. It is extremely important for the sustainable development of the city”.

Gerardo Villanueva, a federal congressman from Ebrard’s leftist Democratic Revolution Party (PRD), introduced legislation in June to fund bicycle programmes in 56 Mexican cities. But even as he dreams of a Mexico where bicycles replace some of the 20 million cars clogging the roads, Villanueva voices a concern shared by everyone who cycles here.

“In this country, there is not a culture of motorists respecting cyclists,” he said. “That has to change so that riding a bicycle ... is not a heroic act.”

Every time Sergio Martinez gets on his bicycle for the six-mile ride to work, he feels “the indifference, the power” that motorists wield over cyclists. Martinez is Mexico City’s new director of traffic planning.

His conversation is sprinkled with phrases like “traffic chaos” and “total collapse.” Sometimes he talks about a looming “apocalypse.”

In his office, Martinez stares at a map of Mexico City covered with 350 tiny red flags. Each one represents a spot in the city where traffic is so tangled at rush hour that it takes motorists at least an hour to escape.

Motorists spend about three hours a day travelling from their

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The hard facts of life Although 40% of the city’s residents own bikes, only 0.7% use them for transportation. The goal is to raise that number to 5% by the end of Ebrard’s administration in 2012, said Javier Hidalgo, the mayor’s point man on the bicycle programme.

Now the head of the city’s Youth Institute, Hidalgo is such an avid cyclist that he conducted his political campaigns by pedalling through his borough. These days, as he rides his bicycle to work, he laments the waste caused by the automobile. Cars move only 20% of the city’s residents, but take up 80% of the space on the streets.

Those cars use 11 million gallons of fuel every day of the year. With more than 300,000 additional cars hitting the streets every year, a “total collapse” is likely to occur in 15 years, Martinez said.

That’s why the Ebrard government is pushing the idea of bikes, reversible traffic lanes

Above: Francisca Rodriguez installs spokes at the Mercurio factory in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. Mercurio hopes demand for its bikes will increase as cycling becomes more popular in the capital city

The perfect Sunday morning On a recent Sunday morning, Ebelio Sanchez caught himself grinning and waving as the city’s

Right: Mexico City officials hope to increase bicycle use by builidng nearly 200 miles of bike lanes before Mayor Marcelo Ebrard’s term ends in 2012

residents passed by. Sanchez has been a Mexico City traffic cop for nearly half his life, but as he stood on a downtown street corner in his starched uniform and polished badge and watched cyclists placidly pedal by, he said, “we have never seen anything like this.”

He’s used to seeing people “mad and bothered”, Sanchez said, people who are in such a hurry that they all insist on “going at the same time”. But on this sunny morning, there was no cacophony of blowing horns, no obscene gestures, no shouted insults from rolled-down car windows. There were serene smiles, the fluttering of silk ribbons in a little girl’s hair, the soft sound of the wind whooshing through the spokes of spinning bicycle wheels.

“You don’t have to be rich or poor to ride a bike,” said Juan Cervates, a father of two who had a Tour de France cap pulled down on his head. “This is a way for everybody in the city to go out and have fun.”

Not everybody likes the idea, of course. “They’re in the way here.

This is a major street,” Gerardo Gomez, a fabric store owner, growled as he waited in his neatly pressed suit and tie for a shoeshine on Reforma Boulevard. “People want to ride in their cars. I don’t think that is going to change.”

Martin Gomez, an accountant and member of a bicycle club called Bicitekas, disagrees. “This will make the city more humane,” he said. “The city is collapsing from so many cars and contamination. A journey of 10,000 miles starts with one step. This is the first step.”

© 2007 San Diego Union-Tribune.

Reprinted with permission.

Photos: San Diego Union-Tribune

house to work, Martinez said. If they take public transportation, their trip lasts almost two hours.

“We do not have an orderly city,” he said, shaking his head. “Our city was built on top of Aztec ruins in a colonial style with stone streets just wide enough for carts and horses.

On top of that, we have had to build a modern Mexico City.”

Martinez talks about the “cult of the automobile” and ticks off numbers to support what he’s saying: more than 3.1 million registered cars, 108,000 taxis, 45,000 trucks and school buses, 38,000 mini-buses and 42,000 fullsize passenger buses.

“We saw the American way of life – a house, a dog, a car – and we wanted it,” he said, “but that lifestyle does not fit the idiosyncrasies of this city.”

and commuter lanes. There will be new traffic laws, too, like a ban on talking on mobile cell phones while driving, mandatory seat belts and giving pedestrians the right-of-way when they’re crossing the street.

There’s also talk of making the city’s air more breathable by “rescuing” 1,000 city parks that are neglected or abandoned. Mexico City has only 12 feet of green space for each of the city’s residents, well below the United Nations recommendation of at least 30 feet per person in metropolitan areas.

Officials in this dressed-up metropolis are even contemplating Casual Friday, urging businesses and government agencies to let their workers shed their spiked heels and ties one day a week. Ebrard is leading by example. Dressed in khaki trousers and a windbreaker, he rode his bike to a breakfast meeting earlier this year with US Ambassador Tony Garza. But the numbers at Mexico’s bicycle factories suggest the mayor faces a huge challenge.

Sales nationwide declined 3% between 2004 and 2006.

Although the Ebrard government is buying bikes from the Mercurio bicycle factory in San Luis Potosi to loan to city residents, the company’s general manager believes getting people to give up their cars will take years.

“A lot of people are not convinced,” said Cesar Ramos.

“They say this is just political posturing, but you have to give them credit for promoting bicycle use. At least the Mexico City government is trying.”

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Interview

My bike & I John Bird

Photo: Mike Wells

The Big Issue founder and independent mayoral candidate for London chats about riding in the capital, cycle lanes and why he doesn’t wear Lycra How long have you been riding in London and what made you start cycling?

For 50 years – it’s fun, great exercise, and good for the economy and the environment.

Tell us about your favourite route in London.

Old Brompton Road through Brompton Cemetery, Fulham Road then down to Waterford, to Eel Brook Common, Parsons Green, Hurlingham Road, Bishops Park to Hammersmith Bridge.

Where else do you enjoy riding?

I enjoyed riding around the old Covent Garden and all the other central London markets in the ’60s.

What sort of bike do you ride?

Various types as they periodically get nicked! I’m on a cheap Dawes at the moment.

Do you think you are a good cyclist?

Yes, I always look behind, and never move unless checked. And I use big, big hand signals.

Do you remember your very first time on a bike?

I was 10 and it was on a stolen bike in Eel Brook Common with my two brothers – I still remember the thrill. The bike was returned contritely to its rightful owner.

Do you take your bike away with you on weekends or holidays?

Yes, to Norfolk, Warwickshire and Normandy. I’ve cycled throughout Normandy with my children. I use my cycle as a vehicle and not just as a jaunt. I cycle carefully, daily and with interest to the surrounding countryside.

There has been a huge boom in cycling in London over the past few years. Where and how does cycling fit into your mayoral campaign agenda?

Cycling needs to be made safer. There is too much stupid light-jumping and pavement-riding. There are too few cycle routes that end at the most dangerous spot and too many bad car drivers. I see cycling as one of the principal saviours of modern civilisation. Cheap, exercise and Earth-friendly.

How would your policies towards cycling – and public transport in general – differ from those of Mayor Ken Livingstone?

Vigorous defence, vast investment and a warrior-like attitude toward supporting both!

How much further investment is needed?

I can only guess. All I know is that we need on- and off-road priority for cyclists. A vast sum of money isn’t needed. Mr Sarkozy is doing [great things for] bikes in Paris – I’d do that in London. Cycling is arriving at the centre of our urban thinking – it now has to arrive at the centre of our urban planning.

You’re on record as saying that you’d review the need for the congestion charge. Most people who ride bikes in London would agree that the congestion charge has actually been good for cyclists. What would your message be to them?

Transport is so poor in London that getting tough with

“I cycle carefully, daily and with interest in the surrounding countryside” motorists creates a definite ‘them and us’ mentality.

My worst experiences on bikes have been with cabs and buses. The viciousness of road driving does not seem to have receded [since the introduction of the congestion charge]. Plus, nearly 80% of all carbon emissions come from buildings, so to reduce cars, a vast, vast transport investment programme needs to be created.

Should cyclists be on the road or on a network of cycle paths and lanes?

A combination. Cycle paths are really good if they actually take you somewhere. If [cyclists choose to] cycle on the roads, they should be safer.

On a personal note, if you could do one thing on two wheels, what would it be and why?

Make a film about this most wonderful, engaging form of transport. The camera would be on my helmet and I would talk philosophy as I went along.

Which do you favour when you’re cycling, Lycra or street clothes?

Street clothes. I have never got into fashion on or off the bike, nor have I ever got ‘practical’. I often wear a suit and end up getting drenched and then drying out. It’s good fun, but slightly smelly for people near me, but what’s wrong with a good, honest sweating?

JOHN BIRD John Bird founded The Big Issue (www.bigissue. com) in London 13 years ago, and has since launched the magazine in cities across the world.

It’s sold by homeless people, with vendors keeping 80p from each £1.50 sale. John Bird’s mayoral campaign website is www.johnbird 4mayor.com

58 October/November 2007 LONDON CYCLIST

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