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Wednesday 31 July 2013

Will we get a women's tour?

You have to admire Laura Trott's [et al] campaign to force the status of women's cycling onto the sport's agenda. For too long the professional end of the sport has done little to promote women's events.
For me, cycling should make a break from other sports and really show how equitable it can be - there I go again getting excited about how cycling is a democratising force!
The trite line which is used to explain the lack of pro events is that sponsors wont wear it. They do this as there is little TV interest. And there's little TV interest as there's not enough money in it to make it stack up. And so the vicious circle continues.
It wouldn't be as bad if there were no female cycling talent around. It's not like we're still waiting for the new Beryl Burton or Jeannie Longo - the talent is there, the racing is competitive but it comes well down the order.
I was fortunate enough to watch the women's Curlew Cup in the North East recently and watched Hannah Barnes sprint to victory.


The racing was hard fought, tight and very competitive - just as you like it.
So, if you have not already done so, join the other 86,500 and sign the petition here and support women's racing wherever you can.
Ride safe

Tuesday 30 July 2013

Happy birthday to...

Well, can you believe it? Cycling has kept me in enough material to keep this blog going for a year. There's been thrills, a few spills, no pills, a few punctures and lots of great stories. 
Looking back it's been interesting to watch the status of  cycling in the UK ebb and flow. We've had amazing success at the Olympics, two Tour de France winners and many promises of government cash.
But with that, cycling's popularity has bred a strong reaction from the unwilling.
There's been sabotage, road rage and sadly accidents.
So where do I think cycling will end up in the next 12 months? Well, we should finally see some investment in Manchester into the riding infrastructure and hopefully more people will take to two wheels as a result. 
In the pro sport, we of course have the Yorkshire stages of le tour to look forward to next year. Pat 'Pat' Mcquaid might get the elbow from of of his UCI positions and replaced by Brian Cookson. Finally, the sport might be able to move on from the doping which nearly destroyed the sport.
I'd also expect the demands for a women's tour to keep getting louder too - quite right too. 
Commercially, the sport will continue to thrive and we should continue to support our local bike shops rather than solely relying on on-line outlets - you'll miss them when they're gone, you mark my words.
Any excuse...
Anyway, I'm planning on bringing in a few little innovations to this blog in the next year: some interviews and guest blogs - maybe even a video or two! If you have any suggestions or want to bang out a couple of hundred words on your view of the world on two wheels, then do drop me a note.
Until then, ride safe.

Friday 26 July 2013

Mad for cycling: my review of @vmcyclone

One of the main reasons I started this blog was because it gave me the opportunity to write about stuff I like as opposed to writing about stuff I'm paid to write about.
So it's really pleasing when you can combine the two.
My working life recently took me into the orbit of the Virgin Money Cyclone: a series of cycling events in and around Newcastle.
You can read my review of it here on the excellent Mad for Cycling blog. It's got a really interesting take on cycling blogs being part review and part cookery tips - a nice mix.
I'd rather be on my bike too!
There should be one or two others appearing here and there in the not too distant.
Enjoy reading...

Tuesday 23 July 2013

@peakdistrict is made for riding

I spent the last day of summer 2013 (Mon 22 July) out in the Peak District but sadly not on two wheels - it was too hot anyway and the hound can't ride so I was a bit stuck. However, cycling is never very far from you if you know where to look.
Heading through Buxton we decided to go and have a butchers at the Tissington Trail - a bridleway cum cycle track on the bed of a disused railway line.
Parsley Hay is the first landmark on the path from the north and the place where many begin. There's a cheap pay and display car park, one of those cafes which is just a hatch in the wall and, most importantly, a bike hire shop which caters for everyone. You can hire bikes for kids, tandems, those chariot trailer things and wheelchair bike - all in all a jolly good set up. There's also a shop selling a few bike related bits and bobs (picked up some new mits which where on offer) and some standard tourist stuff like fridge magnets and wot not.  
As we were on foot we didn't cover the full 15 mile distance in the searing 25 degree heat, but managed a six mile walk along the flat crushed stone surface.
The path was really good: wide enough to ride and get past couples with their loony dog and well surfaced. 
Its interesting to see the area being reclaimed by nature from its rail days. Sure there are bridges, tunnels and cuttings, but the edges are softened by green stuff. Looks good.
Derbyshire - and the Peak National Park in particular - has really cottoned on to the potential of the region for cycling.
As well as infrastructure like the Tissington Trail, they are, in September, hosting an entire festival of cycling.
The imaginatively named Peak District Cycling Festival runs from September 7th to the 15th and has all manner of events associated with it - I might fancy a pop at the Grindleford Goat. The festival does seem to lack a focal point though. You know, a major event around which the whole festival hangs. Some kind of major launch event or some such. Anyways maybe next time. 
The Peak District is superb for riding and is well worth a visit if you have never been.
That's Winnats Pass in the background
Many will be there next year for the 'Yorkshire' stages of le Tour but how will Derbyshire let them know they've left Yorkshire? One to ponder. 

Saturday 20 July 2013

Doping continues to cast a long shadow over le tour

With the tour entering its penultimate stage today, we can almost reflect on a second win for a Brit. 
While watching the climb of the Glandon yesterday on Eurosport, it was possible to pick out a couple of things which were sad to witness.
First up was booing of team Sky (aka UK Postal - due to their 'dominance' of the race) and secondly was a guy running alongside Chris Froome slapping his forearm in a mocking jesture suggesting Froome was hardly riding pan y aqua. 
Much has been made of the acquisitions against Froome but they are based on a particular - and incorrect in my view - reading of this year's event.
First off, there's no evidence that Froome gas ever doped. Second, Sky and Froome have not been the super dominant team we've seen in previous tours. Sky have struggled - really struggled at times - in this race.
The recent article in L'Equipe which studied Froome's numbers, gave him the nod and Armstrong's nemesis David Walsh is, I gather from Twitter, writing a piece in this Sunday's Times on Froome and doping: Walsh has been 'embedded' with Sky for a couple of months apparently.
Smile :)
So, what does this mean? Well, it shows how much damage Lance's ego has done to the sport - and all the other dopers of course but it also demonstrates that Monsieur Jean Public, really does give a merde about the race and its legitimacy. 
Innocent until proven guilty for me with Froome. Hope it stays that way! 

Thursday 18 July 2013

Lucky break @letour ?

Yesterday's stage of le Tour was a superb spectacle again. Watching Froomdog (there, I've said it) extend his lead means there is only one option for Contador and co: attack! Today's stage to Alpe d'Huez should be a genuine epic.

But the battle at the top is not going to be the only story remembered for yesterday's stage. Enter Jean-Cristophe Peraud who has just written himself into tour history. For those who may have missed it, Jean managed to fracture his collar bone while out practicing on the course.
In massive discomfort, he made it to the start line - superbly observing rule 5 in the process - and proceeded to race.
He was in the process of posting a very good time too, right up until he hit the deck again with 3km to go. Landing on the same, already broken, collar bone and in front of his family who'd selected that very place to cheer him on, Jean's tour was now over. Bugger.

Oui, it hurts there to
But in the process Jean has now become a household name and will forever be remembered as the guy who rode on only to crash again.
Rather like Johnny Hoogerland's appointment with a barbed wire fence a couple of years ago, Jean has embodied the spirit of le tour, demonstrated what a hard sport it is and secured himself a good few after dinner speaking slots in the process.
Grim...
So, is it actually a lucky break for Jean? Well, I bet he doesn't feel like it is at the moment but I'm sure he'll eventually see the benefit. Chapeau.

Tuesday 16 July 2013

Will @johnleechmcr help make the streets #cyclesafe ?

The latest stage of the Times' campaign to make the streets safer for cyclists is beginning to unfold.
Those people following the campaign will have received notification to lobby their MP to ask them if they're attending a landmark debate on the Get Britain Cycling report.
So, John Leech MP for Withington, will you be there? 



The debate takes place on September 2 and if you want to badger your MP, you can do so here.

Saturday 13 July 2013

Cheesy bike

Wensleydale cheese factory bike. Wouldn't fancy tackling Buttertubs on this baby! 

Friday 12 July 2013

@TfGM think Saddleworth is too hilly for cyclists

Well, sort of anyway. The story goes thus:

Greenfield train station is usually a deserted place of two platforms and a ticket machine. Except for rush hour when the services between Huddersfield and Victoria bring commuters in their droves.
Bike parking facilities are rather bog standard with three Sheffield stands on the Manchester bound platform and zero on the Huddersfield side. The three stands have always been in use whenever I am forced into using the train.
Now, Saddleworth Parish Council - an organisation obsessed with Yorkshire for some reason - is asking riders to lobby TfGM to get some more robust bike lockers installed.
For their part TfGM doubts whether they'd be used 'in this hilly district.'

Copyright: Saddleworth Monthly 
The splendidly named Royce Franklin - chair of Saddleworth transport committee - thinks otherwise: 'Roads linking the major villages are quite suitable for multi-geared bikes and cycling to the station.' he said - possibly while peering over a pair of half-moon spectacles while reading The Telegraph.
Well said that man.
If you want to add your support you can email enquiries@saddleworthparishcouncil.org.uk 

Thursday 11 July 2013

@chorltonvelo win at Ashton Crit

Chapeau to @chorltonvelo rider George Robinson who became the first Veloista to take a competitive race win.
George led the field over the line at the weekly criterium around Ashton.
Well done mate.


Wednesday 10 July 2013

@markcavendish re-evaluation

I've just had my first ever look at Mark Cavendish's twitter to check out the sneering which I was confident would be there following piss-gate.
Nothing of the sort. He actually comes across really well in writing, like, REALLY well. Sounds like a proper decent guy.
Which makes it all the more perplexing that he sounds so abrasive, defensive, awkward, disinterested, surly, arsey when he's talking. 
So I'm happy to re-evaluate my prejudices and put him back on the Christmas card list.
Maybe he really dislikes talking in public and as he's so often the story that perhaps its just tiresome. 
Whatever the truth, I suggest he should try and let some of that personality which is evident on twitter, out when he speaks to the world via the telly.
Just saying, like

Cav causes crash chaos

I've never been Mark 'erm, well, y'know' Cavendish's greatest fan so I don't really need an excuse to have a pop at him. When he presents an open goal however, I find it irresistible. 
And so, enter stage right, the flying vortex of negativity that is Mark Cavendish and the final 100m of yesterday's stage of le tour.


"Just seen the sprint. I believe I didn't move line.
"I'm actually coming past Veelers and we touch elbows when he moves. Anyway, hope he's OK." Said 'Cav' on his twitter
Have a look at the pictures and make your own mind up. Tom Veelers has made his feelings known.

Cav - not moving
Yes, I know: 'what do I know' and all that. Yes, but his post race interview just made me bristle. I doubt you'd have him as a mate - if you knew him I mean.

Tuesday 9 July 2013

Building a new @chorltonvelo

While I've not been updating this blog, I've been busy playing a part in refreshing the output of my cycling club: Chorlton Velo - well, it's not actually mine but you know what I mean.
The club's grown quite a bit since in joined in 2011 (I think) and a whole new group of riders have joined - some have left too which is always sad.
Anyhoo, for my part in its Kafkaesque metamorphosis, I've rebuilt the club website.
Home page...
It still needs tinkering with here and there but I'm reasonably happy with it. It's an interesting exercise to look at club websites as they span the full spectrum: from absurd and hilarious to slick and professional.
Hopefully the Chorlton Velo site communicates our passion and love for being on two wheels.
Feedback is encouraged of course.

Monday 8 July 2013

@letour hots up

Its taken a few days but I can hold it no longer, I must type something about the tour!
It has already been a fascinating and incident packed race and we're only just into the second week.
As untouchable as Sky were on Saturday, they paid heavily for it on Sunday. For one thing this shows that the race is cleaner than it has been for a long time.
The days when team X would dominate day after monotonous day seem to be behind us.
With Sky losing Kiryienka after he missed the cut off time in yesterday's stage, Froome perhaps looks a little more vulnerable than before - we'll see.

Top marks must go to Chris Froome for perfectly adhering to Rule 15 of the velominati code. There's the Ventoux and the Alpe d'Huez twice to look forward to - can't wait!

Sunday 7 July 2013

@gmpolice go nuclear on bike riders

I dont often have a go at the fuzz: difficult jobs and all that. True, they don't always endear themselves to the Great British Public but then, that's not really what they're for is it.
But I have to record my disgust, yes DISGUST dear reader, with their actions in fining 400 riders in ten days in Manchester for 'dangerous' riding.
According to the article in the South Manchester Reporter, dangerous activities included: jumping red lights, riding on the pavement, using a mobile when riding and dangerously weaving in and out of traffic.
My considered view on this list of offences is: what a load of shite. 
Under the guise of making cyclists aware of danger, 400 riders got £80 on the spot fines or could opt to have them waived in return for attending a cycling course at a fire station of all places.
The pcso (whatever that is) quoted in the article said - apparently without trying to sound patronising - "Many cyclists we spoke to were not aware of the danger they put themselves in...". Really, I bet they did.
I reckon the conversation went something like this: 

Plod: Evenin' all: are you aware that riding like that is dangerous?
Rider: No, because it isn't.
Plod: Ah, another one of the 'many'

Put brakes on: gettit?
Dont get me wrong, cycling can be dangerous, very dangerous but I'm not sure I know a single cyclist who is not acutely aware of their vulnerability on our roads and what we all need is protection from the law not having it whacked over our heads under the banner of safety.
To me this is a clear symptom of more riders and no improvements in infrastructure.
They even had one of those annoying names for the operation.  This one was called Grimaldi when it should have been called Operation Coppi. Poor show all round.