@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. 

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.

South Manchester bike theft

Theft is one of the two things I would consign to room 101 if I had the chance. The other is litter by the way.
The front page of this week's South Manchester Reporter is all about theft, bike theft in particular.
Apparently a spate of bike thefts have been going on in Chorlton, Didsburyshire and Withington as the robbing unmentionables have apparently developed a taste for high-end carbon road bikes.
My first ever new bike, a Cannondale hybrid got nicked from town a few years back and I still look for it to this day.

Bike theft, stiletto attack and a cat 

It's a painful experience having your bike nicked, it really is.
Just last week one of the Chorlton Velo members had his carbon steed lifted while he was in the shop at 8am on a Sunday morning. You can read the outpouring of sympathy and disbelief in the comments section of the 'paper here. 
It's difficult not to go all 'Daily Mail' when thinking what can be about bike theft, let's just hope this publicity has some positive effect.