CYCLE CLIPS March 2004

Picked up from a PPPenguin PPPacket

Q: Why couldn't the bicycle stand up?

A: Because it was two-tyred

Dave Lindsey

A bridge too short

Everybody involved in the design and construction of the bridge across Holburn Street denies it. However, it was too short when they tried to fit it on the Saturday morning. The bridge could not be lengthened so the solution was to move the abutments somewhat closer to each other. This is the layman’s view.

Engineers, however, would have a much longer explanation involving long and technical-sounding words. The bridge was put into place on the next Monday. We look forward riding across the bridge. Will people be able to get bikes, buggies, wheelchairs or tandems to the walkway” from the Hardgate or from Holburn Street? The next issue of CLIPS will relate our experiences.

Sheriff and family

I rode behind Sheriff’s tandem-trailer on the North Deeside Road. Traffic slowed down considerably whilst drivers gawped at this unusual sight: husband, wife, and three children being transported on one unusual looking contraption. One little boy shouted: “Look Mum, two front wheels!” It looked as if the tandem would not fit through any gates and narrow passages, but Sheriff’s strength and determination got him right across the Cairns’ area at the back of Altens. Apparently, Kehinde, his wife, takes the children to school on it. In Crawley, of all places!

What is your favourite bicycle run?

Maureen Young, our runs coordinator, would love to hear from you if you know of a particular run that should be included in the January 2005 or April 2005 list. It would, of course be ideal if you could (help to) lead the run. It could be a car-assist if you like. Any length will do but Maureen will frown if it is more than 100 miles.

What is ISA?

Intelligent Speed Adaptation

This is an instrument stuck in your car, which restricts the speed of the car to the speed limit. To introduce it, you have to have a digitised map of the country showing all speed limits. The car won’t ever go over the speed limit. “It will eliminate the glamour of motoring”, says one commentator. What glamour, I wonder. The AA says it restricts drivers’ freedom. They are in favour of it as long as it can be switched off.

The Great Western Peripheral Route (no cycle commuters please)

Apparently, the decision has already been made, before consultation has even started: the new road (costing at least £120 million) will be “Special Status”, i.e. no pedestrians, cyclists, tractors or horses. You wonder what the consultation exercise is for. The new road would be by far the best route to travel by bicycle from Cults, Bieldside, Milltimber and Peterculter to the large and expanding Altens Industrial Estate. Nobody has asked us. The designers and engineers don’t commute by bike. The decision makers (Scottish Executive and City Councillors) have never sat on a bicycle for commuting purposes.

Pedal power for new taxi fleet

Mike Parfitt, a graduate of the Newport Business School, has set up a company which will operate a fleet of futuristic-looking pedal-powered city cruisers in Cardiff. The new-look taxis were used at Euro2004 in Portugal. Next summer he hopes to have 20 vehicles ferrying passengers between Cardiff city centre and Cardiff Bay. They will be free of charge to passengers. Mike discovered that rickshaw operators are not allowed to pick up fares on the street and charge people because this makes them a form of hackney carriage (two lovely old-fashioned words!). Therefore, the only way was to get advertisers on the sides of the vehicles to pay for the rides.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/ 27 July 2004

UpDate (previously DA News)

Sheila reminds us that the latest edition of UpDate - Issue 12 - is now available on the Grampian DA web site: www.ctcgrampian.org.uk/Jl04update.htm

From John Baghurst

A friend’s mother-in-law started cycling 15 miles a day at the age of 60. She is now 97 and he doesn’t know where she is.

Helmets or no helmets, that is the question

I promised a while ago that we would not raise the above question again, because it is boring and people will never agree. We know that the CTC and the BMA are in favour of not forcing the issue. But they might change their minds if buzzard behaviour does not improve. In Devon, some bad-tempered buzzard attacked cyclists, damaging their helmets and inflicting head wounds. This went on for a couple of weeks, possibly due to a nest-site being close to the road. Why did the buzzard not attack cars? Cyclists are easy prey.

Love of the Tour de France

A letter to The Times at the end of the Tour de France:

“Sir,

The Tour de France is the only sport I watch on TV. It’s unfortunate that the endlessly fascinating panorama of the French landscape keeps being obstructed by cyclists as it unfolds on the screen.”

Another one from John Baghurst

The main reason for me to start cycling at 60 was so that I could hear heavy breathing again.

Confessing your sins

Mrs Pat Ruding regrets that at a fairly advanced age she has nothing worth confessing. She should remember that where there is life there is hope.

From a letter to The Times

Computer glitch

Looking at the read-out of my bike-computer, I saw that my distance for the day (having cycled to Kelly of Cults) was 694.31 miles. I ascribe this glitch to having parked the bike against an electricity substation. Alan Cowking says if you go through Sainsbury’s checkout, your average speed increases dramatically.

Letter to the Editor

“Dear Sir, Having read your July newsletter with interest there were a couple of things I thought I would comment on. (If you allow a non-member to comment).

(1) In relation to 'Columnist Unmasked'. There was mention of a person on a bicycle having jumped a red light. I would imagine it may already be known by yourselves, but a person’s motor vehicle driving licence can be endorsed for any road offence committed while in control of a bicycle e.g. drunk driving, dangerous driving, ignoring traffic light signals, and any number of other offences which I cannot think of at the moment.

(2) I think the fact there was a free breakfast to be had the Town House was inadequately advertised. Being a Fifer by birth and upbringing, if I had known there was a free breakfast to be had, I would have cycled the distance from Ellon to get it, even if I did have to walk most of the way back after being too stuffed to cycle effectively.

Thanks for an enjoyable read,

George Wilson, Ellon”

Thanks, George, I for one didn’t know about the potential driving license endorsement. Editor

More WPR (120 million pound worth)

The Access Advisory Group Aberdeen (The AAGA) is a worthy body on which your Editor represents the CTC for his sins. On 30 August, the AAGA was incensed and rose up as one man (and woman) against “The Plan”. The Plan is to ban cyclists, pedestrians, horses, wheelchairs, buggies, etc. on the two bridges across the Dee and the Don. The very purpose of AAGA is ACCESS. Bridges across rivers are a precious means of creating and enlarging access. The presenter of “The Plan” can’t help being an engineer. He is not an elected official, such as the City Councillors and the Scottish Minister of Transport, Nicol Stephen (from Cults). They should go and cycle across the Forth Road Bridge.

If you care about access to the Bridges, write to them at the City Council and the Scottish Parliament.

What are SODS?

They are Sustainable Open Drains Systems. Road builders use this sort of terminology. Some authority should look into that.

Want to know more about the WPR?

The team preparing the plans would welcome any person or group of persons to come to their offices: Aberdeen WPR, Aberdeen Business Centre, Willowbank Road, Aberdeen AB11 6YG. Their phone number (to make an appointment) is 01224 332300.

Even more about the WPR

The Consumption Dyke at Kingswells is only 200 years old. This is apparently so precious that the SNH (Scottish Natural Heritage) did not allow it to be bridged. Instead, the Road makes a wide detour, probably raising the cost by another million or so. The SNH is a very powerful body. I wish I worked for them. It should be possible to find some ancient monuments along the whole proposed route. On the other hand, maybe some rare butterflies could scupper the whole Plan.

What is the SOAC?

It is the Scottish Outdoor Access Code. This has been consulted to death by hundreds of august bodies around Scotland, including the AAGA. Therefore, it is unreadable and boring. It will come into effect in November, the Scottish Parliament willing. It will give people the right to responsible access to lots of places.

No bikes chained to lamp posts, please

Our Chairman was told that his bicycle was liable to be confiscated by a “job’s-worth” man with a peaked cap. He represented the City Centre Partnership. (Who are they, you may ask). John had chained it to a lamppost, not blocking anybody’s way.

The Aberdeen Cycle Forum (more about the Forum in the next issue) has been informed and promises to take action.

For sale

Cycling jackets by Eager Sport, ideal for winter, waterproof, windproof, breathable and lightweight, one size L, one size XL, £25 each. Contact Cindy on 01224 484891 or cindy.blackmore1@btinternet.com

Grampian Rally

The 2^nd Grampian Rally was held at Templars, Maryculter from 20-25^th August. Thanks to all those Grampian DA members and friends who supported the event by coming on rides or by helping with the organisation.

The Rally was a great success and we look forward to the 3^rd Grampian Rally at a date to be arranged.

For those of you in search of a souvenir, we still have some commemorative Grampian Rally mugs available at £3.50 each. Apply to Gordon or any other committee member.

Here are a few pictures of folk enjoying themselves at the Rally:

CYCLE CLIPS

October 2004