Oxford Road works to start on Jan 20th

Infrastructure works to make Oxford Road, Portland Street and Piccadilly Gardens more bus, and bike, friendly are due to start this month according to TfGM. Coupled with the work to put new tram lines along Cross Street, it looks like it'll be a busy, and tricky few months of riding around Manchester City Centre.
You can read the press release here if you're so inclined or you can watch the video thingamabob below.
Whether this is the change to cycling infrastructure Manchester needs, I suppose only time will tell but what is for sure is that it's the best the city is going to get for years to come.

Does it have the feel of something truly significant for cycling? Well, not really, its some segregated lanes and some coloured tarmac. Some lanes are routed behind bus stops, others not. And, of course, you have got to get to these facilities first of all.
But, it's something and as a glass-half-full person, it is better than nowt. 
oven that these cycling improvements are being delivered as part of a bus improvement scheme tells its own story...

What's the best way to dry your bike post-wash?

Hang it on the washing line? 

Mudguard destruction

This week was probably the worst possible week to destroy your mudguards on your bike. The incessant rain and huge puddles of standing water have left my bike - which was gleaming on Monday morning - looking like its been cyclocrossing for ten days.
I managed to completely destroy my Crud Roadracer mudguards by taking the outdoor cover off my bike - absurdly, the cover was stuck under the front one and as I pulled it up, a loud crack signaled the end of its useful life.

That the rear one suffered a similar fate only moments later left me in a magnificent mood as I grappled around in the dark under sheets of rain.
Anyway, five soaking rides later, my replacement Crud Roadracer guards arrived today and have been fitted post haste as it's still lashing down in Uppermill.
These guards are the only choice for winter road bikes in my view - dead easy to fit, light and great coverage - what's not to like?
Hey ho, things should get better now - well when my shoes dry out from Monday they will.

@VeloViewer : making Strava loads more interesting

If, like me , you use the Strava to clock your miles and review how badly you're going but want a bit more info, then I can highly recommend the superb VeloViewer website.
I've not delved fully into it yet but essentially it takes all the info that the bog standard version of Strava produces and collates it all in one place for your surgical dissection at a later date - good eh?
Well, yes, it is good, very good in fact.

All you need for a quiet night in...

What's more it is priced very keenly at £0 and 0p - but there is an option of making a donation so the guy who's put it all together and given you access to it out of the goodness of his heart, can buy a pint or whatever.
Once you've logged in with strava deets and uploaded your routes, a whole new world of data fixation awaits you - dive in and see what you can find!

New year, same rain

It's amazing how quickly your fitness evaporates when you don't do much riding isn't it? 
Having not ridden my bike since before Christmas - happy new year by the way dear reader - I was back on my trusty steed this morning fresh after a winter overhaul.
New chain, cassette and wheels in place, it was great to be back on two wheels but far too hard for my liking!

Get cape, wear cape, ride

It's lashing down now too - welcome back to the world of cycling in the UK's north west in January...