A Rosy Future

Been a while since my last post. Work, poorly relatives and house hunting have been taking an awful lot of my time up. Still cycling to work and back as ever but not much on two wheels just for fun of late. That is about to change very soon though!

Next weekend I am off to cycle the Way of the Roses - a 170 mile coast to coast route from Morecambe to Bridlington. Not only I am cycling it but I will have some company along. My brother in law (BiL) and his two adult sons (student types) are joining me. My brother was going to come as well but work meant he could not get the time off :-(

We are doing it over a leisurely four days. The longest leg will be fifty odd miles and the others will be a lot less. You see they are not really cyclists. My BiL does some short commuting on his Brommie and the two young 'uns don't even own bikes!! I will be on my trusty Santos Travelmaster, the BiL on his Brommie, tallest son on his Dads old road bike and the shorter son - well we haven't finalised that just yet. We are travelling light and staying in B&Bs/hotels.

I'm really looking forward to it. Expect posts and pics from the route.

Mind The Gap

Back to Blighty after my USA hols. Had a really great time but did miss my cycling, especially when I saw some of the MTB trails is Canyonlands, Utah. Still, at least I can get out on my bikes again and boy do I need it. Five weeks of not cycling + holiday eating and drinking and I have put 5 kg on!!

MTBing the Schaffer Trail. Canyonlands, Utah

Not much has changed in my time away although the tree blossom is out and the days are noticeably longer. Some news on the cycling infrastructure locally though. The Woolfold Gap project has been completed and has an official opening at 10.30 hrs on Monday 7 May. The project is part of a Sustrans backed scheme to add a bridge into the Kirklees trail between Bury and Tottington which also forms part of National Cycle Route 6. 

It is a drop in the ocean as far as I'm concerned but it will be a pleasant alternative to the busy roads in this area and should make cycle commuting between Tottington and Bury a viable alternative for local residents. I'll be going to the opening ceremony and hope to see some other like minded Manchester cyclists there as well.

Woolfold Gap Bridge, Bury

Bye For Now

Off on my extended hols. The house sitters are here and the bags are packed. Will be back at the end of April. Au Revoir and happy pedalling!

More Vehicular Cycling Reality

09.20 hrs on 12/03/12.

Even when the roads are not choked with traffic, the cycling infrastructure doesn't make it easy. That and drivers with absolutely no regard for other road users.

The video shows it all really.

*it appears not all cyclists share my feelings*

Vehicular Cycling Reality

Following on from my recent post where I suggested segregating cyclists fully from traffic on some roads is one way to really increase cycling numbers, I thought I would demonstrate the reality of vehicular cycling in one area of Manchester during rush hour.

This is part of my commute to work. Usually I travel in around 07.00hrs and the roads are much quieter but sometimes I work office hours as on this day. There is no way to avoid this traffic. Taking side roads for part of the route still feeds me into choked roads at some other point. There are no separate cycle lanes, canal paths, old rail lines or quite lanes. The bus/taxi/cycle lane is useful but is short lived and still gets prohibited traffic using it.

I am sure most experienced commuter cyclists will consider this the norm and wonder what the issue is. I don't consider it an attractive cycling environment although, if I'm honest, I do enjoy the challenge it presents. I think most non cyclists will look at it in horror though. I can totally understand why this kind of cycling environment is not likely to entice people to cycle.