For many of you, this means it’s decision time; do you pack your waterproofs and get new batteries for your bike lights, or do you tell the world that you’re a fair weather cyclist and buy some pay cards?
I’d rather hope that, with a few months experience behind you, you might attempt a few more weeks of cycling to see if it really is that unpleasant. After all, does it get that cold here? Do we have a lot of snow? Is anywhere that far away that you’ll be cycling for a long time?
I hope that most people will say No to all those questions. And as regards the rain question, apparently you’ll only get rained on 12 days a year if you commute regularly.
Next week I’ll talk about getting you and your bike ready to cycle through the coming months.
Braking News
Going Up
Cyclists in Bristol may be getting a purpose- built lift in the near future. Transport campaigner, Chris Hutt, hopes that the council might be persuaded to install a cycle-size lift attached to the Trenchard Street multi-storey car park.
It’s thought that a lift would cut out some of Bristol’s steepest hills and make the city more ‘cycle friendly’.
If installed, the proposed cost is £1M, the lift would rise 30 metres, going from ground level up to level 8 of the car park without any intermediate stops.
Councillor Jon Rogers, the council member responsible for transport, said that he was in favour of anything that would encourage people to cycle in Bristol, but he felt that the cost alone would make it an impossibility.
Eye-popping Bell Helmets coming in 2010
If you like eye-popping graphics, with colours that reach out, grab you and twirl you around a bit, then get ready for a new line of cycle helmets due out in 2010 from Bell.
Designed by Californian artist Jimbo Phillips, son of legendary skate and surf artist, Jim Phillips, there is a range of seven helmets in next year’s line up. These include two designs on the Faction BMX helmet, two on the Variant, two on the Sequence and one design on the Drop full-face helmet.
Phillips, who lives in Santa Cruz, has worked for Santa Cruz skateboards, Line Skies, the Surfrider Foundation and DC shoes.
www.jimbophillips.com
Cycling in the buff – Where next?
I don’t know how I’ve missed this growing phenomenum – this year alone there are over 60 events planned worldwide.
The World Naked Bike Ride started in 2004. Seattle, London and Edinburgh hosted the events, and altogether just over 200 people took part.
In Britain, this form of demonstration has become so popular that London, Brighton, Manchester, York, Cardiff and Southampton have all had Naked Bike Rides on Saturday 13 June this year.
Why do people take part in this rather bizarre form of exhibitionism? Don’t forget you can use a skateboard if you don’t have a bike!
Well there are a couple of reasons: one is to demonstrate against our dependency on oil, and the need to protect the environment from pollution caused by cars, and secondly, it is to celebrate the human body and the freedom that goes with cycling.
So with sixty six different Naked Bike Rides taking place this year, I wonder when local cyclists will take the plunge?
www.worldnakedbikeride.org
And finally,
If you’re in London, and on a bike on Wednesday, 9 September, do remember that it’s Ding Day in the capital. This will be the second annual celebration of cycling in London, and it’s hoped that it will bring the cycling community together, albeit briefly, and make London streets a happier and more fun place to be.
How do I take part? Easy, every time you meet another cyclist, just ring your bell in greeting. They should return your greeting by ringing their bell back.
www.dingday.org
• Arthur Lamy is the manager of Boudins for Bikes, in Sand Street, and author of Jersey Cycles. He has spent 15 years as a tourist guide and writer, and is also a keen photographer.
• More information can be found on his website: www.arthurlamy.com
