By: extra on the 01/09/2010
The highway code does also apply to you as a cyclist, after all your are a road user on a vehicle. So do spend some time and have a good old read of the highway code. It will open your eyes and see how many people disregard it. It is after all made to make it easier and safer for you and others to move around in the traffic.
The Lo Fidelity Bicycle Club have written a rather fun blog but still serious post about the highway code for cyclist.
69 You MUST obey all traffic signs and traffic light signals. That means NOT breaking red lights. The wearing of a replica professional team kit does NOT make you immune from all traffic laws. You know you are doing wrong because of the self-righteous yet furtive look you always have ... read more ...
By: extra on the 31/08/2010
I have just got back from my holidays. Cycled 260 miles north on our touring bicycles and only had two incidents, where only one of them was outside London. An overtaking taxi who was very close to me on way back from the station, a nice welcome back.
Anywho, there I was cycling in front of my partner who is 2-3 metres behind me. We are coming to a hill where there is parked cars on the left hand side. We both started too pull out away from the door zone after we have checked that it is clear to do so. A black sedan was behind us and as we cleared of the brow of the hill and we all can see clearly down the road, the black sedan overtook us with plenty of space.
Behind my partner there is ... read more ...
By: extra on the 17/08/2010
I'm not going to gloat but I did think about this a few years back, but Bryony was first to put it on paper so to speak.
Make full Bikeability cycle training compulsory before anyone can pass their driving test.
It would need to be current, like the drivers’ theory test, which must be passed up to 3 years before the licence can be granted, so a school playground session aged 7 will not suffice.
The reasons are several:
One – if all drivers have first qualified as cyclists, they will be more aware of cyclists on the road, why they’re positioning themselves assertively, how much room to give etc and roads will be safer for all users.
Two – the age when most children stop cycling (often due to peer pressure) is the mid-teens, and this is also the age when they start ... read more ...
By: extra on the 30/07/2010
I just fell over this on my daily crawl tru' the internet. All I can honestly say about this, it is a great roller-coaster.
Taking the cyclist away from the roads ain't the way to go. A bicycle is a vehicle and if you are riding one you are a road user. Just as much as a person inside a motorised vehicle aka a car.
It would be easier and more cost effective if you build a proper road layout which is usable for all road users.
So training for all road users is the way not splitting them up.
Though don't get me wrong, it there was one here in London I would give it a go as it does look fun in a theme park kinda way.
LINK : shweeb.com
Related posts:Two wheels By Buffalo
Creative cycling
A good idea, there Bryony.
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By: extra on the
Londoncyclist.co.uk have produced two eBooks, Guide to Cycling in London and Bicycle Maintenance Made Ridiculously Easy, free for you to download.
I have had quick scan of these two eBook and I enjoyed then, very well written and full of useful hints, even for a long time cyclist here in London. Need to read them in full very soon. I do even think that the Guide to Cycling in London can be read by someone who don't live here. As some of the tips can easily be applied to where you live and ride your bicycle.
The maintenance e-book, is great got some great pictures and step by step guide for anyone who fancy grabbing a allen key and do a spot of fettling. Bicycle maintenance is pretty easy and not that hard but armed with this eBook you are laughing. ... read more ...
By: extra on the 23/07/2010
Now this is something good.
I hope that you'll sign this, if you haven't already. We (cyclists) are only hurting ourselves if we keep red light jumping (RLJ) and breaking the Highway Code in other ways.
The more cyclists who respect the code and show courtesy towards other road users and pedestrians, the better response we will get.
Any ways, no matter how fast I try to go from A to B at rush hours, there is only a couple of minutes between the "pecking it time" and the "take it easy and pootle time". So relax and enjoy your ride and above all respect the law and smile.
Stopatred is a campaign to improve the status of cycling in the eyes of the public and policy-makers alike, and to tackle the attitudes of those cyclists whose behaviour perpetuates the image of ... read more ...
By: extra on the 17/07/2010
I totally forgot and missed out on something great. As you can see on this StreetFilms film from Velo-City 2010 in Copenhagen, see below.
This film is Copenhagen seen through North American eyes, as they say it took a long time in CPH to get there but they did. And we (yes even London) can do it but we do not have 30-40 years to get to the same place that CPH are at right now. As the people in the films say we can do it and they are from America ( sorry just a little joke) we here in London can do it too. We just need to educate road users would that be the fella on a BSO or racer or that massive 4x4 and then the rest will come.
While Streetfilms was in Copenhagen for the ... read more ...
featured
A mega-useful gizmo for cyclists and non-cyclists alike!
Does your home lack essential bike storage space?
Do you often wish for a handy strap to attach things to your bike rack? Or a bail-out strap when something breaks?
How does ...
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11 days ago I filled in a request to fill a hole on Hortensia Road, SW10. Today I cycled up the road and lo and behold the hole had been filled.
Though it does look like, "pad some tarmac" onto ...
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So what is stopping you ?
"Every week on the roads around Glasgow a group of men aged between 65 and 89 take to the saddle, armed with a makeshift kettle and a lust for life."
If these you lads can ...
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Trying to follow a route on the London Cycle Network(LCN) or National Cycle Network(NCN) you have to put on your thinking hat. Because you have to be a bit creative with your cycling. Signs pointing the wrong way, signs not ...
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city cycling, pootling, SillyCyclist, fair weather cyclist, BSO, health, freedom, SillyDriver, London, cycling, cycle training, green living, LBS, commuting, bikes, traffic, TfL, SillyCycleLanes, rides, transportation ... and ice cream.
Just found this one, nice little simple thing and by the looks of it will do the job. If you just need to charge something via USB this is the one. Most mobile phones and mp3 players let you do that now.
The Bicycle USB Charger allows the charging of electronic devices from a standard bicycle dynamo. Simply connect to a bottle or hub dynamo, attach to your bike, and plug in your mobile phone, mp3 player, GPS, or any ... read more ...
Register your interest for FREE guided cycle rides on 14th July today.
Your marshals will greet you at 7.30 and give you a basic bike check before setting off at 7.45. ... 
The dates are out, ok I'm a bit slow to post them.
While Team Sky's professional road-racing team aims to take on the world, Sky Ride aims to get more people ... 
Heads up for you folks in Ealing or there about. A friend of mine have set up Ealing Bike Hup, a simply top idea.
We’re a completely voluntary group with a ... 
