Snow doesn't stop play (or cycling)

Things got a bit snowy a few days ago and with a cold morning start on Monday the commute had to be by Mountain Bike - big tyres, low gears and seat slightly lower than normal and off you go.

Light on the bars, smooth on the pedals and your rear wheel will follow the front most of the time. Any slipping and sliding is quite good for generating warmth and slowing you down so no cold hands or feet. That slipping and sliding is great for your balance and confidence and most of all it adds to the fun and the sense of achievement.

It makes me smile

I seem to have been grumbling about cyclists and about traffic lately and unless there is a massive shift in policies, regulation and enforcement I probably always will. Don't let that make you think I don't love cycling, I do, and it is why I've set up this blog.

My ride in to work this morning was a reminder of why I cycle rather than use the alternative, slower and more expensive options of my car or public transport.

The weather was lovely (OK minus 2 is a bit cool on the face), the air was clear and fresh, the views were stunning and people I passed tended to say hello.

All in all this is why I cycle - it is fun and it makes me feel good and if that isn't enough reason then the benefits in terms of health, economics and convenice should surely swing it for more people.

Traffic behaving badly

We sometimes have to point out to people that when riding your bike on the road you aren't just riding in traffic, you are traffic.

Recently when crossing Manchester by bike from Victoria Station to Piccadilly station, a five or six minute ride I was shouted at by a cycle courier, on his retro steel-framed racer, because I wouldn't pass on the inside of some traffic, causing him some delay. The traffic involved was a "bendy" bus, another bus, a tipper truck and another couple of lorries!  I don't take too well to being shouted at by fellow cyclists but I'm afraid that my reply to this consisted only of two words, neither of which I can print here!

Funnily enough I caught up with him after only half a mile. All his risk taking and anger didn't get him anywhere faster than my relaxed and safe approach on my Brompton.

Anyway I carried on to my train and on to London where I was able to get out on my bike a few times. It was great to see so many people on bikes but the behaviour of some of the cyclists made the courier in Manchester seem quite sensible.

In no special order some of what I saw included:

• passing on the inside of cyclists who are riding in the correct position
• passing inside large vehicles (including around junctions)
• Riding on and off pavements to pass queuing traffic
• disregarding red lights
• reacting rather than planning
• not signalling or checking before manoeuvring
• not allowing pedestrians room

I'm not just having a go at fellow cyclists here but having read so much about the tragic deaths of cyclist in London, especially involving large vehicles turning left, I was surprised by the general lack of care for one's own safety (or lack of sense?). At one point a number of cyclists told me that the next set of lights was regularly policed so it would be best to stop, I've said before that red lights are fairly clear - it is best to stop when the light is red, police or not!

Whenever I was passed by cyclists behaving badly (not only men!) I found that in half a mile or so I was passing them anyway - nobody is saving any time!

Of course the non-cycling London traffic was at least as bad as anywhere else but the following bad driving in no way mitigates the bad cycling.

• squeezing and driving too close to the kerb
• really poor and unpredictable lane discipline
• not stopping at red lights (several vehicles per change)
• inappropriate parking on roads
• illegal parking on separate cycle paths and pavements
• not signalling or checking before manoeuvres
• not allowing pedestrians room
• tail-gating and pressurising
• inappropriate speed
• sprint - stop mentality

Whenever I was passed by motorists behaving badly (not only men!) I found that in half a mile or so I was passing them anyway, often waiting in a queue - nobody is saving any time!

Hare and tortoise springs to mind!

Truck on the cycle route

Heading down to work this morning I came across this truck parked across the shared cycle and foot route near Milnrow. The driver didn't notice me on account of being sound asleep at the time.

I get a bit fed up with inconsiderate behaviour like this but just think how you would tackle this path if you use a wheelchair, ride a trike or if you were a person with limited vision.

January Weather

Another lovely January morning. Took this on my way to work, a lovely day although a little cold. Commuting by bike is so good at times like this.

I didn't get a picture on the way home because I didn't think the camera would like the sleet and hail that blew up around tea time. Still prefer commuting by bike. How does the saying go?

"There's no such thing as bad weather, just inappropriate clothes"

Free Adult Cycle Training Available

I've got FREE 2 hour adult cycle training sessions for people living, working or travelling in Rossendale, Lancaster and Blackburn. This National Standards training gives people skills and knowledge to ride safely and with confidence. The instructors are qualified and friendly and deliver an enjoyable as well as informative course.

We'll provide bikes and helmets if required.

If you know anyone in those areas that might be interested please let me know here or by emailing me at work seamus.kelly@ctc.org.uk

Stop Lines

I can't help wondering if both motorists and cyclists actually know what Stop Lines at junctions are all about. Am I alone, or is there a wide lack of understanding? I think its time for a rant!

Where there are traffic lights there are accompanying stop lines. When the traffic lights are red, or amber, then all traffic must stop behind the stop line. If you have already crossed the stop line then you should continue through the junction.

In the case where there is a cycle advance box at the junction there are actually two stop lines the front one is where pedal cycles must stop and the back one is where motor vehicles must stop. Pretty simple and straightforward really. So why do I need to have a rant? Because I'm fed up of people ignoring the rules and creating pressure and risk for everone.

I'll pose a simple question; When should you cross a stop line whilst either the red or amber light is showing?

Possible answers (all incorrect); When the light has just changed, when I'm in a hurry, when there is nothing coming the other way, when I want to get ahead of the traffic to stay safe, when no-one is looking, when ....

The only correct answer is: NEVER

Simple question, simple answer so why do so many motorists and so many cyclists fail to follow the simple rule?

EXCUSES;

I think there are some who genuinely don't understand the rule - if you drive a motor vehicle you should understand the rule and there is no excuse for not knowing, you must have a licence and you have access to the highway code. If you ride a pedal cycle you should understand the rule or you are not safe to cycle on the road, and you also have access to the highway code.

Some cyclists think it is sometimes safer to set off before the traffic so set off before the light changes. Sorry guys but it isn't safer, in fact it adds to the overall sense of rushing and encourages some of the other road users to behave similarly and annoys others, that doesn't make anyone safer!

Some people say "everyone else does it" - are you lemmings or people with minds of your own?

THERE ARE NO EXCUSES - just reasons

You do it because of ignorance, pressure, a need to hurry, misguided advice, peer pressure, because you can get away with it or for other obscure reasons of you own. They are reasons but don't excuse your actions.

JUST DON'T DO IT!!

Ring a Bell?

I hadn't had a bell on a bike since the 70's until I started to use a Brompton to commute a couple of years ago. The bell on the Brompton came in for frequent use on towpaths where its polite ding seems to go down well with most pedestrians.

In fact I've since added a bell to my mountain bike (which didn't have one for its first 14 years) because I often use it on the towpaths and sometimes a couple of bridlepaths where I have also found it useful. Sometimes a pedestrian might not hear the bell, especially if they're wearing headphones, so I'll shout to alert them.

Either way I'll slow down to pass people and always thank them for letting me pass - these are shared use paths so we ought to "share nicely" (like our Mums told us when we were little). There has been a "Two Tings" campaigns on towpaths around the country and in Rochdale bells were fitted free of charge to towpath users who wanted them.

Not sure I'll put one on my road bike though, I don't think it would work so well with traffic and the general noise levels on the road.

Nice bike stand

Here's  a nice bike stand as found in Westport, Co. Mayo, Eire, there are a few of these around the town which sees lots of people on activity holidays riding bikes around the Clew Bay area.

Looks like the handlebars could be based on one of Graeme O'Bree's designs!

Cyclists Dismount

Am I the only one who gets fed up with poor information, poor signage and crap road design?

One of my favourites is the "Cyclists Dismount" sign, there's one at the end of my street. This is a sign that clearly tells cyclists what to do, in pretty direct and demanding tone, yet it actually carries no weight at all. The "Cyclists Dismount" sign is actually purely advisory, it has no legal force and as such it should surely ask or advise e.g. "cyclists please dismount". When I don't dismount people on foot or in cars assume I'm being irresponsible and breaking the rules; I'm not, the sign itself is giving a wrong impression.

If there is a genuine need for cyclists to dismount then there is a correct sign in the Highway Code, the "No Cycling" sign. Of course that can't be used in places where we are actually allowed to cycle so local authorities keep using the "Cyclists Dismount" sign.

There are lots of other silly things that the authorities do relating to signs, road layouts etc. and some of these will be included in this blog under the label "Cyclists Dismount"

A smile on wheels

When trying to define what a bike is there are so many possibilities. Of course it has two wheels and some way of steering, some means of propulsion by your own power and something to sit or perch on. But I wouldn't want to discriminate against trikes (for example the excellent and adaptable Kettweisel that I reviewed for Cycle earlier this year, or the four wheeled machines used by people with disabilities).

So how would I best define the bike?

Simple, for me a bike is:

"A smile on wheels"

MTB over Rochdale

Today I was cycling with my brother, Brendan, for the first time in well over 20 years and it was our first time ever mountain biking together.

The Peninnes over Rochdale are a brilliant place to ride and in less than 2 miles from home we were off road and stayed that way for the next 20 miles. The wind over the hills was really wild but then we always liked a challenge and being blown into the edges of ruts and sometimes off the edge of singletrack was fun.

After over 20 years we've a fair bit of on-bike catching up to do so perhaps next time we'll be in the Peaks nearer to his home or up at Lee Quarry for a bit of technical stuff.