Padded Shorts » health

Changes in the air

extra — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 10:28:11 +0000

Well I have now read two articles in the Daily Mail which is about cycling where cyclist are not being put out to hang. No they are rather good articles and articles that is normally seen in the Guardian or CTC’s Cycle, what is happening?

I tend not to read the Daily Mail as it tends to may my blood boil with the one way hatred toward cyclist. I don’t know if this one made it to print or is only online. But this article, Cycling through grey days on a family holiday to Cornwall, is a rather nice little story about a family’s holiday where they use bicycle as a part of it.

And no where it it does it say the usual thing about cycle as the Daily Mail normally put to print.

Just did a quick search on their website and there are more cycling related stories and none seems to be normal drivel, I think we are turning them :)

LINK : Cycling through grey days on a family holiday to Cornwall by the Daily Mail

Expotitions by BoyCycle

extra — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 18:33:34 +0000

A friend of mine’s offspring, is taking on a four days ride in support of Epidermolysis Bullosa is a genetic condition and have set up a JustGiving site too.

In two week’s time Zak (my 8 year old) and I are planning a 4 day unsupported charity bike ride from our house to his Granny’s house to raise some money for DebRA, a charity that supports people with EB. Epidermolysis Bullosa is a genetic condition where the skin breaks at the slightest touch, causing painful, open blisters and wounds. Younger sufferers are often referred to as “Butterfly Children” because of this fragility. One of the Zak’s schoolmates, Gabriel Duran-Escamez, suffered from this incredibly painful and debilitating condition.

Very sadly, Gabriel died just before the Easter holidays, aged only 8. He was an amazing kid, who had a really profound impact on the whole school. And he was a good friend. Zak would like to raise some money for the charity that supported his friend. So we’ve set up a page on JustGiving and would really appreciate it if you could take a look, and consider making a donation on this site.

I know he will be supported by the best cake maker in the business so therefore I do not have any worries that he wouldn’t make it.

Go Zak !

EDIT : And they are in the news, York Press – Eight year old boy to cycle to Barrow in Furness in aid of DebRA charity.

LINK : Expotitions by BoyCycle – A boy, a bike, a blog

Reclaim the Road women’s bike ride

extra — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 17:33:14 +0000

On March 7, the LCC presents the annual women’s bike ride to mark International Women’s Day. Female-focused, but not exclusively for women, the ride will lead you around some of London’s best routes, encompassing landmarks which have particular significance to the fairer sex.

route – http://tinyurl.com/reclaimtheroad-route
We’ll be finishing up at the Shortwave Cinema in Bermondsey Square, where there will be refreshments and entertainments.

Join us for this fun celebration of women and cycling. All are welcome, even, no especially– if you never cycled before. There will be bike available to rent for £12 per day.

To sign up and for more information, go to: http://tinyurl.com/reclaimtheroad

LINK : Annual LCC women’s ride takes place in March

How to promote cycling

extra — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 12:11:13 +0000

Over on copenhagenize.com they have post about how other cities are promoting cycling.

I totally agree with them that the way New York are “promoting” cycling in their ad Look, is just wrong and is very linked to car-centric fearmongering and this will NOT get more on their bikes.

The others they list on copenhagenize are brilliant and will get people cycling for sure. Especially the one from the Hungarian Cyclists Federation, I did not understand Hungarian but I do understand what they are saying with this add below.

I made laugh out loud and really made me want to go out on my bicycle, even though it is damp and grey here today. See that is what cycling promotions is all about.

As copenhagenize says Hungary really got the cycling promotion spot on.

Come on chaps and chapettes make some fun adds for cycling because cycling is fun and great and good for you. It far out weights the bad things that could happen to you while cycling, like swallowing a fly because you are smiling so much, sun burn ok only in the summer or eating too much cake which is a hard thing to do while cycling.

New York New York

extra — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 13:58:40 +0000

I hope that I’m allowed a bit or artistic licensing from old blue eyes, and re-write his song New York, New York.

“If they can make it there, Then we make it anywhere, It’s up to you – New York, New York.”

I know, I will not give up my day job :) Though what New York have done is amazing, if a car loving city like that can change why can’t others. The car has been the king for too long, it is time to take the roads back and let everyone use it.

Steetfilm.org have a great film with Congress member Mr. Blumenauer where they have a spin around New York. Where they talk about what New York have done and needs to do to get livable streets back to the people.

Rep. Blumenauer sometimes cycles to the White House, now if he can why can’t the rest ? I bet you, that your government representative only lives down the road. That is not just aimed for the US alone it also goes for your country and your representatives, boy that is probably the most political sentence I have ever blogged, I’ll get down from my soapbox and do some riding :)

LINK : Treehugger – Earl Blumenauer rides bike in nyc
LINK : Streetfilms – Mr Blumenauer goes to New York city to ride bikes

Cycle snacks

extra — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 00:28:18 +0000

The Spanish inventor Pep Torres invented a cycle vending machine. Where you have to cycle to get a treat, e.g. you have to burn some calories before you can eat your candy.

Even the Times call this the The Human-Powered Vending Machine and put it in its top 50 best Inventions of 2009.

Absolutely a great idea though the only problem I have with it is that if I wanted say M&Ms before getting on the bicycle. I’m pretty sure that after a “bike ride” on it, I’m not up for just M&M’s I want more – like cake or a fry-up :)

LINK : treehugger.com – human powered christmas vending machine

Beauty and the Bike

extra — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 20:43:44 +0000

Now this is a great project and a very uplifting short film, Beauty and the Bike.

If they can get teenage girls to start to cycle again in Darlington, why not elsewhere here in the UK. They are right teenagers all over Europe use the bicycle to get around. When I grew up there was no chance in hell of getting a lift from my folks, on your bike son, was the answer. Best part of it was the independence I had from my parents, I could go where I wanted to go and when I wanted to do so.

This is an 8 minute version of our 55 minute documentary Beauty and the Bike. The film follows two groups of young women from Darlington and Bremen. Between them, they discover what makes – and stops – teenage girls from cycling

I love the idea of getting more young teenagers onto their bicycles again, it made me smile.

There was a few problems with this film, they showed one cycling on the pavement, not good. And she clearly didn’t know anything about her gears, since she was standing up when starting her journey, forgot about the little thing called “setting your pedals” before you start. They also kept going on about cycling lanes and a bit of paint, that is not the answer.

We need to give them some cycle training, not just the teenagers in the short film but also the adults who talked about paint and other road users. And generally some better awareness about cycling, though Darlington is way ahead of other cities and towns in the UK.

The full DVD is available from http://www.bikebeauty.org/ and there is other short movies there too.

They have even set up a little cycle club come bike rental called velodarlo for where you can hire Dutch bikes.

So come on, get on your bicycle – its cool, fun and freedom (from your folks :) )

Start riding now

extra — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 22:20:19 +0000

Today I read this article over on the Telegraph, Copenhagen climate conference Danes launch campaign to get the world cycling.

And it got me wondering why the UK has such a hard time in get on their bikes. The first thing people over here think is that it is dangerous and it is going to get you killed. I’m sorry but you are wrong it is not, there I have said it.

Not only is it good for the little rock we call home…

“Switching from cars to bikes brings an immediate climate change gain and signals that lifestyles and thinking have finally got the climate change message. There are no technical, financial or logistic issues in this transport transformation; the only thing missing is the will to act and the time to act is now.”

…but it is blooming good for you, just look at me. Four years ago I struggled walking up one flight of stairs and I was the wrong side of 20 stone. But getting back on the bicycle I have now lost 5+ stones and feel so much better for it. And there is some truth in the saying “you will look 10 years younger if you cycle” because there are quite a few people who don’t believe me when I tell them that my next birthday is the big four oh. :)

Your first right of passage is pretty much when you learn to walk and in Denmark we kinda celebrate that with a set of wheels. As I grew up there was no point in me asking for a lift to my after school event. If I did I was just pointed towards my bicycle. And if I moaned that it had a flat it was answered with a “well fix it then”. Every new neighbourhood we lived in I learnt to know the area before me old folks, simply because I explored the area on my bicycle. Met plenty of new friends that way, because I was not restricted to the cul-de-sac we lived in. Back then Lego and Pong were the biggest things keeping us kids indoors, but it was never as fun and as exciting as jumping on your bicycle and going exploring.

It is not hard it is easy as long you follow these three simple steps.

#1 Get a bicycle, from your local bicycle shop, go and talk to them and they will get you the ride you need and want

#2 Even if you can ride a bicycle get some cycle training, because it will iron out all the bad habits you have.

#3 Go riding as .citycycling says it doesn’t matter what you ride just as long as you do, and have fun.

So come on get on your bicycle and let’s start the next revolution. And let it not be a motorised one.

Old boy racers get on their bikes

extra — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 15:03:21 +0000

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 do it, you should be able to do the same or at least half their distance. Reading stuff like this, puts a smile on my face and a bit of shame since I shouldn’t moan and say I can’t be a…. If they so can I since I’m half their age.

“That may be, but it seems they’ll be a long time dying. And as I head home I wonder what will finish these men, what could ever stop them climbing on their bikes and cranking up the hills, into the wide blue, wherever the hell it takes them.”

I have found out what I’m going to do when I’m 65. The Baby :) of the lot, will probably still be around when I’m old enough to join and I do hope I’m allowed.

LINK : Herald Scotland – old boy racers get on their bikes

How we as cyclist are seen

extra — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 15:20:18 +0000

The fella on ibikelondon has a valid point in his article, Public face of cycling. We now have an image of cyclist which either scared others off the idea of riding a bicycle.

Trying to get new people to start cycling is hard work, since the image of a cyclist is either a tree hugger or lycra lout.

No matter what the magazines tells you down your local newsagent, you don’t have to wear lycra and own a £2000+ bicycle to be cyclist . You can easy ride your Dutch style “sit up and beg” bicycle (or what ever you fancy to ride) in you every day wear down to the shops for a pint of milk or a picnic in the park. Just as .citycycling.co.uk says “no matter what you ride, as long as you do” and have fun while doing it, because it is fun and you will be so much better of for it.

And you do not have be the fastest of the lot in the “tour de commute” on the Embankment every day at rush hour. Just look at how they cycle in Denmark and Holland, very relaxed and chilled out. And they still get there before the ones on the public transport or the ones in the cars.