Saturday, 29 September 2012
Friday, 28 September 2012
Manchester Arndale cycling frenzy
There was a proper scrum in Aldi in the Arndale at dinner time today. It was noticeable that it wasn't the usual Aldi shopper - whoever that might be - involved in said scrum either.
Rather, it was mostly blokes of between 25 - 45 years old all crowded around intensely scrutinising the contents of a few cages which usually contain mop heads and industrial sized boxes of mechanically reclaimed meat which have been fashioned into tasty morsels for man's best friend.
While I was sizing up the fair trade bananas and the unusually appalling standard of grape-fruits, it dawned on me what was going on: it was a cycling special day.
Now and again Aldi get in a whole load of inexpensive but pretty good cycling gear and a massive blokey bun fight ensues.
Think Boxing Day sales but with blokes stretching their hands into gloves which are conjoined by strips of nylon and a wild blur of day-glow sleeves reaching upwards as arms are inserted.
It's a feeding frenzy basically.
I had to make do with a quick browse of the sock section as I was weighed down by fruit a feared a citrus-based disaster might occur. The bike stands looked pretty good though but the lights I spotted from afar looked pretty shit.
Anyway, as per yesterday's post, I'm shopping local me.
Rather, it was mostly blokes of between 25 - 45 years old all crowded around intensely scrutinising the contents of a few cages which usually contain mop heads and industrial sized boxes of mechanically reclaimed meat which have been fashioned into tasty morsels for man's best friend.
While I was sizing up the fair trade bananas and the unusually appalling standard of grape-fruits, it dawned on me what was going on: it was a cycling special day.
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| Saddleworth lollipop man heads to work |
Think Boxing Day sales but with blokes stretching their hands into gloves which are conjoined by strips of nylon and a wild blur of day-glow sleeves reaching upwards as arms are inserted.
It's a feeding frenzy basically.
I had to make do with a quick browse of the sock section as I was weighed down by fruit a feared a citrus-based disaster might occur. The bike stands looked pretty good though but the lights I spotted from afar looked pretty shit.
Anyway, as per yesterday's post, I'm shopping local me.
Thursday, 27 September 2012
Cycle into Manchester's past
Lovely event coming up as part of the Manchester Weekender. Visit Creative Tourist for further deets.
1910 cycle ride at Victoria Station, 10.30am, Sunday 14 October 2012, £5. Walking tours are so, like, yesterday*: take a tour of the city via two wheels instead as guides Emma Fox and Kate Dibble uncover the remnants of the early 20th century: the ‘war to end all wars’, Manchester Ship Canal, the largely unknown Trafford Park Village, and Manchester United’s move to Old Trafford. On this cycling tour, pedal along two of Manchester’s most significant canals, and have the option of either stopping off at IWM North for Pat Barker’s one-off reading at 6pm, or heading back to the city centre for refreshments at Pop Up Bikes. Bloomers and tweeds optional. Meet at Victoria Station (wall map). Organised by Manchester Guided Tours. Bring your own bike and lock; expect to cycle on road and occasionally narrow/muddy track. Suitable for adults and accompanied teens. *they’re not, obviously; we refer you to our previous listing.
1910 cycle ride at Victoria Station, 10.30am, Sunday 14 October 2012, £5. Walking tours are so, like, yesterday*: take a tour of the city via two wheels instead as guides Emma Fox and Kate Dibble uncover the remnants of the early 20th century: the ‘war to end all wars’, Manchester Ship Canal, the largely unknown Trafford Park Village, and Manchester United’s move to Old Trafford. On this cycling tour, pedal along two of Manchester’s most significant canals, and have the option of either stopping off at IWM North for Pat Barker’s one-off reading at 6pm, or heading back to the city centre for refreshments at Pop Up Bikes. Bloomers and tweeds optional. Meet at Victoria Station (wall map). Organised by Manchester Guided Tours. Bring your own bike and lock; expect to cycle on road and occasionally narrow/muddy track. Suitable for adults and accompanied teens. *they’re not, obviously; we refer you to our previous listing.
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| Nice 'tache |
Manchester bike shops v online
If, like me you've ever bought anything from an online retailer, your email inbox will have lit up recently with a blizzard of messages encouraging you kit yourself out for the Autumn / Winter season.
I much prefer going to local independent shops for cycling bits but being in work, getting dragged to visit the in-laws and watching shite football teams which never win anything, tends to limit my opportunities to pay a visit to my favourite shops.
So, more often than not, I find myself shopping online for stuff - clicks and mortar as retail sector wonks annoyingly call it.
There are some pretty good ones out there too: Parker International, Tweeks cycles, Wiggle, Chain Reaction and many others.
These are good operators but the world would be a much more uninteresting place without bike shops. So, I'm resolving myself to re-double my efforts to support independent retailers and spend my money locally.
Obviously, Ken Foster's will be the natural place to start and I'll try a squeeze in a trip to Harry Hall soon - spread the love and all that.
There are loads of other shops about too - I might do a review of them all actually - as a secret shopper or something.
Ride safe, shop local
I much prefer going to local independent shops for cycling bits but being in work, getting dragged to visit the in-laws and watching shite football teams which never win anything, tends to limit my opportunities to pay a visit to my favourite shops.
So, more often than not, I find myself shopping online for stuff - clicks and mortar as retail sector wonks annoyingly call it.
There are some pretty good ones out there too: Parker International, Tweeks cycles, Wiggle, Chain Reaction and many others.
These are good operators but the world would be a much more uninteresting place without bike shops. So, I'm resolving myself to re-double my efforts to support independent retailers and spend my money locally.
Obviously, Ken Foster's will be the natural place to start and I'll try a squeeze in a trip to Harry Hall soon - spread the love and all that.
There are loads of other shops about too - I might do a review of them all actually - as a secret shopper or something.
Ride safe, shop local
 |
| The Amber Nectar, in Chorlton |
Tuesday, 25 September 2012
Truly wonderful cycling imagery
There is some really lovely stuff on this tumblr site. All cycling related of course - like this photo of the memorial to Tullio Campagnolo at the summit of the Croce d'Aune in the Italian Dolomites.
If you like photography, design and cycling then you will be hard pressed to find a more enthralling collection. A feast for your eyes. Indulge.
Monday, 24 September 2012
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
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
Sunday, 23 September 2012
Cycling in Cheshire alone
There was a distinct chill in the air this morning on my Sunday ride. The first ride after the autumn solstice, I sadly missed the club run bus and took my mild strength hangover out for a solo ride.
Sometimes there is nothing more soul destroying than riding alone for mile after mile, but today was one of those days which was the opposite.
The opportunity to ride at your own pace and on your own route is the main attraction of riding alone, plus you can let your mind wander.
On the negative side is you are always on the front and you might not push yourself as far or as hard.
But, that said, I always feel that it doesn't matter how far or how hard you ride, just as long as you do ride.
So my ride took in The Wizard, Swiss Hill and a number of the lovely lanes around Prestbury and Alderley Edge. Nice.
Sometimes there is nothing more soul destroying than riding alone for mile after mile, but today was one of those days which was the opposite.
The opportunity to ride at your own pace and on your own route is the main attraction of riding alone, plus you can let your mind wander.
On the negative side is you are always on the front and you might not push yourself as far or as hard.
But, that said, I always feel that it doesn't matter how far or how hard you ride, just as long as you do ride.
So my ride took in The Wizard, Swiss Hill and a number of the lovely lanes around Prestbury and Alderley Edge. Nice.
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