Welcome

Welcome to this corner of the web. Hope you find it interesting. If you do: come back again, tell your mum or subscribe! If you want to share your thoughts on cycling in the early 21st century, then do it.

Thursday 28 February 2013

Le tour 2013

Le trailer cinematique pour le tour de France 2013


Click Greg's face
Fin

F-F-F-F-February

There is a distinct feeling of change in the air isn't there? Daylight is starting at about 7am now and lasting to about six. It makes such a massive difference not permanently riding in the dark.
The last few days of February have been absolutely stunning, bloody cold and a bit blowy but beautiful days for riding.
Riding in daylight on my commuter route reveals all manner of gems which previously remained hidden in the murk behind the glow of sodium lights.
I'm a bit of a champion of modernist architecture on the QT and was pleased to see an amazing example on Huddersfield Road at Millbrook Village - which obviously isn't a village.

Byzantine and modernism alive in Stalybridge
I might even pop in one day, provided I'm not struck by lightening for being a heathen!

Monday 18 February 2013

Bikes, photos and free beer @popupbikes

This sounds like a rather splendid exhibition over at Pop Up Bikes on Friday evening.  Not sure how long the exhibition runs for or if it's just for one night only. 


I wonder if there really is free beer or if that's just the name of the exhibition.  I remember as a lad there used to be a rubbish covers band on the Merseyside pub circuit called Tuppence a Pint. Oh the disappointment! 

Wednesday 6 February 2013

Nice things to lock your bike to #5 Staylyvegas

Superbly positioned bike racks: under a canopy and next to a pub!

Stalyvegas in the sunshine: out of a dirty train window

Tuesday 5 February 2013

Pot hole repairs and poor demented souls

Have you noticed anything different about the roads lately? Yes, the actual road surface. Cyclists are almost alone in observing to road surface in any great detail - it really matters what the road surface is like: which sunken or raised manholes you have to avoid, the patches which mark the location of earlier roadworks - these are called 'utility scars' in the US of A apparently - and the rippled oil covered surfaces of bus stops.
After a little while of doing a particular ride, you end up with a route within a route which you use to pick your way through the worst bits
But have you noticed that it is that time of year again when spray painted white boxes are starting to appear around some of the worst areas signalling their impending filling in.
There is a received wisdom that local authorities condense road repair activity into the months running up to April.  So the discourse goes, this is due to 'the road department using up its budget' to 'make sure it gets the same budget next year'.

A favourite at local authority Christmas parties apparently 
I've no idea if this is true or not.  But it doesn't it make sense to hold your repair budget back a bit incase something really bad happens?  And then, if it doesn't, splurge it on doing as much as you can to keep the roads going for as long as possible?
In an ideal world, the roads would have a smooth layer of tarmac, be regularly swept and have bike lanes on them.  But, alas, that's not going to happen, ever - well not teh smooth bit anyway.
So, what can you do?  Well, you can report pot holes to 'the road department' and see if you can get the buggers filled in, pronto.
You can find out how to do this over on the Sharp Edge Trip blog which can find a link to on the right or here if your mouse wont scurry that far.
Happy pot hole spotting.

Monday 4 February 2013

Manchester's cycling heartland is...

Finally got around to having a butchers at all that ONS 2011 Census data which was released last week.  While the Express got itself into a lather about Polish being third most used language in Britain ( I bet English is either first or second in almost every country in the world), they missed the big story which clearly identified Chorlton as being Manchester's cycling heartland.  And here, courtesy of the Grauniad, is the map to prove it.

Bit of blue in a sea of grey

Friday 1 February 2013

From Tameside with love - thanks to @aLazyrider

February the 14th is always a busy day for the postman at this blog, let me tell you.  First there's all the post to get through the inadequately sized letter box, then the parcels and all the things which need signatures - a nightmare!
But this year, my mind wont be on the endless demands for unconditional love, it will, in fact be in committee room two of Tameside Council's Wellington Road building in Ashton (revolving door entrance).
The revolving door and lightening strike warning - bizarre 
But why I hear you cry?
Well, Tameside Council has chosen the day of St Valentine to hold  public consultation event, a cycling workshop no less, to plan how the riding of the bicycles can be promoted in The Tameside.
This is an important opportunity to input into the Local Plan - just a shame its on during work hours - 16.15 - 18.15.
I ride through Tameside a lot and it's fair to say that there isn't too much evidence for cycling ever being on the agenda in the corridors of power before.  So this is to be welcomed.
You can get more info here.