CYCLE CLIPS March 2004

This is the Spring Issue. Mostly written while there was snow on the ground and an icy wind blowing. Methinks, this is the start of global cooling.

This issue is somewhat boring because it contains a lot about one subject, the Western Peripheral Route. My apologies. However, it is an important subject, up to 400 million pounds worth.

Hot-under-the-collar

Talking to some whippersnapper employed by the Kuunsel, I got a little upset when he re-iterated over and over repeatedly again and again that the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route was going to be a “Special Status” road. These petrol junkies motor heads seem to take pleasure in informing you that the WPR will be cycle-free, “Special Status”. I have heard that expression so often now, it gets to me, it gets up my nose, under my skin, on me nerves. I said above that I got a little upset, but in fact, I lost my temper and thus lost the argument.

I should have quietly told him that he was not in charge, that we, the voters, are in charge (I hope), that the NHS requires people to cycle to work. And that Commuting Cyclists will Save the Planet.

The Deeside Way

Major developments are in hand for a (mainly) off road route from Aberdeen to Ballater, following in part the old Deeside railway.

Aberdeen City has gained Sustrans support for resurfacing, drainage and improvement of the path within the City. The replacement of the bridges at Milltimber is not presently envisaged, so cyclists might wish to lobby their councillors to enable the hazardous low level crossings to be replaced by two simple timber bridges.

Aberdeenshire are working on a circa five year plan to establish a path to the west, that will be for cyclists and walkers, and where possible for equestrians. They have already constructed a new path between Dalmaik and Drumoak in 2004, which enables a continuous link from Aberdeen to Drumoak, and work is to commence shortly on the next section from Park to Crathes, for which funding is now in place and contracts awarded.

Mark Hagger

Heavenly rides

I have been thinking. During a long ride downhill with wind at the back I have said on occasions to an unlucky companion beside me that in Heaven, all rides are like this. After thinking about it during a ride against an icy wind, I conclude that is wrong. It would be terribly boring.

Tandem for sale

Make Rudi Altig, size not known, Not a lady back, 3 speed Sturmey Archer, colour blue, average condition, Price £85. Contact Gary Routledge, phone 01651 872590.

Letter to the Minister

(recently sent to Nicol Stephen)

Dear Nicol,

Commuting Cyclists and the AWPR

Tens of thousands of people live close to the proposed AWPR with jobs or business to conduct in the industrial areas at the Airport, in Altens and the Bridge of Don.

The new road will create an ideal link for cyclists. You know what it is like to push a bike out of the Dee Valley to the Don Valley. Maybe you never tried.

The gradient of the new road will be just ideal for a daily commuting trip. The design company presently working on the WPR dismisses cycling out of hand (and seems to find pleasure in doing so) by stating this is a “Special Status” road. No cyclists allowed.

However, cyclists do not want to be on that road. We want to be on a cycle path and enjoy the same advantage as car users, namely to get to work quickly and safely.

I would ask you to instruct the designers to carry out a study showing cycle paths on both sides of the WPR. This way we will know that the extra cost will be negligible.

I do not have to spell out to you the Scottish Executive statements, supported by Aberdeen City Council, on the advantages of cycling for the environment and future savings to the NHS.

Yours sincerely, Gerard

Bicycle

is an icicle that swings both ways

Audax events

(If you are of a weak constitution, I would advise not to read the paragraph of the first Audax event. It makes me sweat even to read those distant place names. However, Roger says it is a “comfortable challenge”).

Once again, the Grampian DA is hosting a weekend of Audax events. These events are NOT races; rather they are a personal challenge to complete a specified distance within very generous time bands (as can be seen below).

This year the events are being held over the last weekend of August (27 and 28). They all start from The Anvil, Netherley (Roger & Alison Mattingley’s home).

The rides are as follows:

Saturday 27^th August

08:00 start – Cabrach Circuit 205 km / 127 miles.

This route goes via Kemnay, Huntly, Dufftown, the Cabrach and back via Kildrummy and Lumphanan.

If you are a regular club rider, you should find a 200km randonnee ‘a comfortable challenge’. Timing allowed between 6:42 to 13:24 hours.

10:00 start – Bennachie Burl 104 Km / 64 miles.

This route goes via Kemnay to Archaeolink around Bennachie anti-clockwise and back via Whitehouse and Midmar. Timing allowed between 4:09 to 10:24 hours.

Sunday 28^th August

09:00 start – Mearns Meander 103 Km / 64 miles.

This route takes you through Stonehaven to Inverbervie then over Garvoch hill to Laurencekirk to Clatterin’ Brig and back via Drumtochty Glen and over Cairn Mon Earn. Timing allowed between 4:07 to 10:18 hours.

10:00 start – Dunnottar Dander 66 Km / 41 miles.

This route takes you out to Knappach before looping South to Dunnottar, a café stop in Stonehaven then round the back of Cookney and back to Netherley. Timing allowed between 2:38 to 6:36 hours.

Further details can be obtained from Roger from July onwards. As he has to arrange printing of the route sheets and Brevet Cards he asks those who intend riding any of the events to register at least 2 weeks beforehand. There is a small charge of approx £3.00 per ride. This covers costs incurred from planning, printing, hire of facilities etc.

Roger Mattingley, The Anvil, Netherley, Stonehaven, Kincardineshire, AB39 3QR Tel 01569 730081.

AWPR

These magical initials represent the proposed bypass for Aberdeen, currently out for consultation until April 29. We would encourage members to contribute to that process. The costs vary between £210m and £405m on completion in 2010/11. Details can be found on www.awpr.co.uk and at roadshows around the City and Aberdeenshire.

The AWPR is proposed as a special designation road, which means that cycles will be prohibited. Requests that there should be at least a cycle path alongside have fallen on deaf ears, and have not been included in the costings.

There are now four alternative routes proposed for the southern section, with a possible link alongside the B979 Netherley road to Stonehaven. Most of the debate thus far has been raised by the Camphill Community opposed to the Murtle option.

Junctions at major roads will be grade-separated with large roundabouts (split level gyratory) – bad news for cyclists. Cyclists are expected to benefit merely from other routes being calmer, though there are no consequential proposals to restrict traffic elsewhere (Turn Anderson drive into a cycle lane?) Indeed traffic projections suggest a minimal impact on the city centre. Request to provide cycle facilities at major river crossings have met with little direct response.

A consultation form is available at the AWPR roadshows, and may later be on the website.

Comments should be sent to:

Catherine.Sweeney@scotland.gsi.gov.uk or

Mrs Catherine Sweeney, Scottish Executive, 2d, Victoria Quay, Edinburgh, EH6 6QQ

Mark Hagger

The road show for the AWPR: What a show!

The Scottish Executive has splashed out on it. They should be commended.

By the time the Cycle Clips appear, most of the local road shows will have been held. You may be able to catch Newmachar (March 29) and St Leonards Hotel Stonehaven (March 31). In April, you can visit the Road Show in the Cowdray Hall, Aberdeen on April 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 15, 19 and 22.

A possible Public Enquiry will take place in the summer of 2006 or 2007.

For or against?

The Cycle Clips are there for cyclists. We do not particularly want to proselytise for or against. You make up your own mind. Some of us may live near the Haudagain, others right on the track of any proposed routes. On one thing we are all agreed: we would like an easy cycle commuting route to work (see letter to Nicol Stephen). If the thing is to be built, we want to use the two bridges, Dee and Don.

Democracy works

Until recently, the only option for the Western Peripheral Route was the one through Murtle, splitting the Camphill community into two. The Access Advisory Group Aberdeen (forerunner of the Local Access Forum) was told as recently as six months ago, this route through Murtle (route number 14) had been consulted and approved years ago. It could not be altered. Now suddenly there are five routes. All the traffic/road consultants’ work of the 90’s gone to dust. We start al over again. Democracy is expensive.

One-way streets

In February, some members of the Aberdeen Cycle Forum met with Ian Yuill, the Councillor heading the Transport Sub-committee and Hugh Murdoch, the chief road engineer. Many subjects were raised with no immediate effects, but on one subject we all agreed: Allenvale Road should be a two-way street for cyclists. I have written to Messrs Murdoch and Yuill to remind them. Wait and see.

Hurrah for Mrs Gwyneth Dunwoody, MP

She is formidable. She heads the Transport Select Committee in the House of Commons and every Minister is scared of her.

The Government proposed recently that there should be lower fines for breaking speed limits by lower speeds: i.e. between 31 and 39 mph you would be fined less than if you did over 40 mph. This sounds reasonable and logical. However, she has correctly pointed out that 90% of casualties are caused in built-up areas. The speeds mentioned above are exactly the sort of speeds that kill children and cyclists. (A case could be made for distinguishing between speeds on motorways).

Rover

In last month’s Clips, we mentioned the cycle named Rover. Bill Sinclair informs me that in Poland, Rover means bicycle. Not many people know that.

The Ripon Loiterers

I wouldn’t want a name like that. The police don’t like loitering, especially within tent. (Sorry about that). The loiterers are cyclists who have a publication like ours, but with this difference that it gets published after every ride, describing in detail the weather and the cakes and the punctures and the hills. Admirable. The publication is called “Cycling Shorts”, not bad. The Cycling Shorts look very much like our Clips; they have borrowed our layout. A feather in Maureen’s cap (and Gerard’s - Maureen).

Intellectual disagrees with Albert!

This headline should not come as news really. It follows the publication in the January CLIPS of Albert’s gripping contribution on speed and distance. He proved without any doubt that “it is the speed that kills, not the distance”. It is as simple as W = {K_A(V +V_w)² + F}V, which can be simplified to W = KAV³. (See January CLIPS for further elucidation). The import of the above formula is that if you reduce your speed by 1 mph you save 20% energy (have I got that right, Albert?).

A friend of mine, by the name of John Carey, from Cambridge saw Albert’s marvel and contributed the following:

It’s the energy that matters, not the power!

It’s true the faster that you ride,

Along the flat or mountainside,

Means that more effort is required,

And you will find yourself more tired.

A better measure than the power,

Required to push your bike each hour,

Is energy expended on,

Staying with the peloton.

If you go at lower speed,

Less push but more time you will need,

For your example, one mile less,

Each hour as flatland you progress,

The energy you must provide,

As through the atmosphere you ride,

Will see a finite decrement,

I calculate – 15%.

John Carey

I will stay out of this disagreement, they are both my friends.

101 uses for an inner tube

James Brook, the Editor of the Ripon Loiterers’ Cycling Shorts, must have been fascinated by Gordon’s challenge to find the 101 uses. He contributes the following:

1. Lassoo

2. Quoit for large hoopla game

3. Whip

4. The rubber for a large catapult.

Our sincere thanks to and admiration for James Brook. (I don’t know what a quoit is, nor have I heard of a hoopla game, Editor).

Bicycle transfers and decals

If you are painting your bike frame and would like it to look authentic, or you would like to personalise it, consider buying some transfers. The supplier below has a good range of transfers, which are available mail order. In addition to the usual names of Hobbs, Claud Butler etc. in various colours, they sell badges, decals and individual letters. The full range can be seen at www.Lloydcycles.co.uk, or I have a hard copy (19 pages long!). Typically a transfer would cost about £3.50. Supplier: H Lloyd Cycles, PO Box 133, Penrith CA10 3YA.

John Baghurst

Buffalo Bill

This story contributed by Sandy from the P&J:

Buffalo Bill came to Aberdeen with his Wild West Show. Queen Victoria was a fan, that’s why. There were wild rides on horses with Cowboys, Cossacks and Mexican Vaqueros, Arab jugglers and an Imperial Japanese troupe. The performance consisted of 800 people and among other things enacted Custer’s Last Stand.

One of the highlights of the show was an act called "Carter the Cyclist Rides through Space". A cowboy mounted a bicycle and descended from one ramp and up another to be catapulted 56 feet through the air.

After the show, it took three trains to take all the performers from Aberdeen to Peterhead.

P&J 24 December 1904

There is nothing like it these days, is there? It is a tame affair even when Tom Jones comes to town.

Dutch experiments

Damian Whitworth writes in The Times about his experiences with some towns in Holland where the traffic department have removed all traffic lights, all white lines, all road markings, in other words all street furniture. He concludes after a number of visits that it works OK. All road users become equals: they are all forced to slow down. The number and severity of accidents has declined.

British experiments

Wiltshire County Council has tested removing all white lines from the centre of urban roads and found that accidents fell by 35 percent. Kensington and Chelsea Council plans to remove all street furniture from Exhibition Road.

Aberdeen to follow?

The roads and traffic people would have to be very courageous to try this out here. Are they?

The story of two cyclists and a fly

Two cyclists were cycling towards each other, starting twenty miles apart, and both cycling at a steady 10 m.p.h. At the same time, a fly started from the nose of one cyclist, and flew at a steady 15 mph to the nose of the other cyclist, and then back to the first, and so on, until the cyclists met. How far did the fly travel?

(Answers to the Editor by 10 April, please).

Alan Cowking

Pythagoras

Maureen Young read the following about designing space for people, rather than cars:

"Pedestrians are natural Pythagoreans, preferring the hypotenuse to the other two sides of the triangle whenever possible."

One man and his bike

A man named William Wagstaff gave his bike to the London Transport Museum at the age of 95 (man not bike!). He had bought the "Evans" in 1929 for £13 and had ridden it almost every day (that's 76 yrs) until he had a close encounter with a car. Evans don’t make bikes any more but they still have a chain of specialist bike shops. Can you beat this record? Call the editor when you are 95!

John Baghust

Want to camp?

Tayside DA organises a camping weekend on June 11 and 12 at Wellbank, East of Dundee. Further information from Allan Ferrier Tel: 01307 462984.

Semaine Federale - what’s that?

The French are good at organising large cycling events, witness the Tour. From 31 July until 7 August, you can attend the Semaine Fédérale de Cyclotourisme 2005 at Oloron Sainte-Marie near the Pyrenees. Thousands of cyclists attend the event. For more information, see www.sf2005.org If you are interested, John Tuckwood Tel 01467 620146 would like to hear from you.

The 7th Tarves Bike Ride

Invitation to all cyclists to take part in the 7th Tarves Bike Ride on Sat 7th May 2005 @ 1pm (25 miles)

in aid of Ekwendeni Mission Hospital, Malawi

For more information contact Evelyn Cook 01358-761719.

CYCLE CLIPS

April 2005