@andycronshaw weighs in to cycle safety debate

Wiggo's and Shane Sutton's crashes continue to make headlines and generate many column inches in our newspapers investigation just what should, or could, be done to make riding safer in the UK.
The piece below appeared in the Manchester Evening News a couple of days ago as they continue to weigh in to the debate.

I agree with everything Andy Cronshaw says in the article but would add that being assertive on your bike is one of the best ways of keeping safe.
I've always taken the view that if some loon is beeping their car horn at you, then that's a good thing as it means they've seen that you're in their way.  Or to put it another way, I'd rather somebody shout some obscenity at me rather than knock me off because they 'didn't see me'.
At times it's a really fine line though and you can easily put yourself in more danger but assertiveness is generally good while recklessness is, well, reckless. 

Thanks to @cyclinstructor for the head's up.

South Manchester Cycling Reporter

It's amazing how often cycling features in the South Manchester Reporter.
As highlighted in an earlier post, one of the members of Chorlton Velo - Kiwi Chris - recently had his trusty steed stolen from outside of the Tesco on Barlow Moor Road at 8am on Sunday morning.
The South Manchester Reporter has this week given Chris a quarter of a page on his quest to get his bike back.

Chris, his bike and some bananas

Yes, this is a great story for a local newspaper: expensive bike, trusting punter and an element of humour - Chris was in the shop to buy a banana for the club run.
They say that 'there's no such thing as bad publicity' so let's hope it helps Chris get his wheels back.
I have it on good authority that articles about cycling in the South Manchester Reporter and the Manchester Evening news regularly get masses of hits on the website.
Further evidence then that cycling has now moved far beyond a marginal interest activity.
Indeed, our sport is more popular than ever and it is only where it collides with the non-cycling world that it gets too painful.  Apart from riding uphill into a headwind of course.
Ride safe.

Cycling: Manchester's Other sport?

It's been raining for about 18 hours solid now but I'm determined to not let it get to me.  I've not had much opportunity to blog of late and as I dry out from this morning's commute, I've been thinking about Manchester and what the city offers cyclists.
Manchester is no worse, or better, than any other typical UK city for cycling infrastructure - it's generally shite with the odd decent bit thrown in where it can be retro fitted into the existing road network.
Manchester should really be much, much better though.
The civic leaders are quick to extol the virtues of having Team GB holed up in East Manchester and point to their presence with pride - rightly so too.
It was, after all Manchester City Council, or rather its council tax payers, which stumped up the money to pay for the Velodrome and British Cycling's electricity bill back in the day.
But there's could be so much more which could be done.  So, what, I hear you ask am I going to do about it?  Well, other than occasionally blog about the region and tut at things I don't like, I'm going to check out the Greater Manchester Cycling Campaign with a view to getting involved in their activities.
I'm also going to ask Trinity Mirror why the Manchester Evening News does not have a dedicated cycling section on its website.  Surely if there's enough going on in Golf and Basketball in the region, cycling deserves a place outside of 'other sports'.

Ride safe