The Bugle | Blast 298

Friday 25th August 2017
 

QUOTE OF THE WEEK
 

BICYCLIST OF THE WEEK

No contest. Jo on her very welcome return to the Tuesday Ride this week. And looking good, very good. This was Jo's first outing with the Anerley after the crash on day one of the Tour de Bullecourt. She chose a tough ride too - around 45 miles Caterham to Caterham. It can only get better ... for our steel framed and steely lady!

 

BICYCLE SADDLE OF THE WEEK

It looks like a Brooks, it feels like a Brooks but it ain't - or is it? 

The Wright Saddle Co began making saddles remarkably like their fellow but older Birmingham manufacturer and competitor Brooks around a hundred years ago. There is remarkably little information to be found about Wrights before they were taken over by Brooks in 1962.

Brooks was then, with Sturmey Archer, part of the Raleigh Group owned by Tube Investments. The merger meant neither saddle factory was big enough and the combined company moved out of Birmingham to the current premises in Black Country Smethwick. Gradually the Wright line was phased out.

The common belief is that while the design was almost identical Wrights used an inferior grade of leather. But the winners, in this case Brooks, tend to write the history - so we can't be sure. Just as if you don't know when it was made you can't know whether it is a genuine Wrights or a cheaper Brooks.

This beautiful example was found on ebay by John E who will know more. Want one? Plenty more available here: https://www.ebay.co.uk/ wrights-saddles....

And talking of Brooks. Ever wondered what their annual magazine is called?

THE ANERLEY IS NOW A STRAVA CLUB

Tom has registered us with Strava - so we are all street warriors now looking for little known hills where we can share a few moments of fame as King of the Mountains. Tom plans to put his routes before rides. This is their blurb:

Strava is the social network for athletes – a huge global community – and club founders like you play an important role in bringing athletes together. Here’s how to get started with your new club:

1. Invite relevant athletes to join and make it clear to them what your club is about.
2. Post announcements, useful information and discussions. You can create posts that your members will see in their feeds.
3. Create an event. Once you establish the time, date, and location of the event, members will get notified and can join. After all, Strava is all about activities and organizing an event is a great way to bring people together in real life.
4. Watch your club activity feed and leaderboard. Congratulate big efforts and improvements, and keep supporting the whole team whenever you can.

That’s it! If anything is certain, it’s that athletes love talking about their sports… just get a few of your favorite athletes in your new club and chatting with each other, and the rest will fall into place.

Here is the AnerleyBC link: https://www.strava.com/clubs/304632

 

DEATH BY FURIOUS RIDING

Last week we featured the trial of Charlie Alliston who caused the death of a pedestrian on Old Street, London whilst riding this track bike without a front brake at 18 mph.

You may have now heard he was found guilty of the 150 year old charge of causing death by "wanton and furious driving" a law original aimed at horse riders and carriages but later extended to cyclists. He is expected to receive a custodial sentence when he returns to court on September 18th. The maximum term is 2 years.

He was cleared of manslaughter which carries a maximum 14 year sentence. The burden of proof of intention not being met.

I would assume no one in the Anerley has any issue with the book being thrown at Mr Alliston for his ludricously dangerous action in riding a bike without a front brake at high speed in a heavily pedestrianised environment.

Whether the victim behaved properly or just stepped out without looking is not the issue. It is the duty of care we should have to more vulnerable road users whether they are behaving properly or not.

Inevitably the non-cycling press are going to town with 'something needs to be done'. Well perhaps 2 years is a bit lenient. But they are not campaigning to increase that but to bring cycling within the motor vehicle laws. Changing the whole basis and balance of the right to ride because of a single and exceedingly rare event.

Should you be on your guard? Here is an interesting article by the 'cycling silk' Martin Porter: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/bike-blog/2017/aug/23/motorist-would-not-have-landed-cyclists-wanton-and-furious-driving-charge
 
 

RECENT RIDE REPORTS

Sunday Ride 20th August: Tom & the Anerley Cowboys do High Beeches: https://anerleybc.org/sunday-ride-20th-august-2017/

Tuesday Ride 22nd August: Des & Tom do a longish but flattish ride to Bites cafe at Ockham. Named after what large dogs do there when they are not at Crufts? We did Box Hill, just for laughs, on the way back. Oh, and there was something fishy going on. Des's account: https://anerleybc.org/tuesday-ride-22nd-august-2017/ 

UPCOMING RIDES

Saturday Ride 26th August: 10:00 Shurguard/501 Brighton Road: Karen is taking the ride to a tea stop at Edenbridge leisure centre. 

Sunday Ride 27th August: 08:00 Shurguard/501 Brighton Road: Tom's 100 miler.
<<>>
This is a rough itinerary.
08.00      0m     Leave Purley Oaks
10.30    30m    Teastop Cromwells in Cranleigh
11.15                Leave for Tilford
13.15    54m    Lunch at Barley Mow, Tilford
14.15                Tilford, grave of Selwyn Francis Edge - probably the greatest of the Anerley Riders.
16.15    80m    Pub stop - Black Swan, Martyrs Green
18.45    100m  Home

Tuesday Ride 29th August: PICNIC TIME!!!
We are riding to Lullingstone Country Park next Tuesday. Riders could take their own food or buy stuff there. It's going to depend on the weather. Otherwise its the Riverside Cafe at nearby Eynsford
'A' Ride [12mph] 09:30 Shurguard/501 Brighton Road: Pete R
'B' Ride [10mph] 10:00 Shurguard/501 Brighton Road: Stuart G

Thursday Ride: 31st August: 10:00 Shurguard/501 Brighton Road: Mark H leads  

FINALLY

Des writes:

One of the most common problems with our bikes, is gear changing. Or to be more correct, the failure, or reluctance of gears, to change up or down when we want them to.

Getting them to work smoothly is a simple task, but does require patience and fine tuning.

It something that is well worth knowing how to do because an adjustment is sometime that has to be done as result of normal wear and tear. This link explains gives a simple and easy to follow explanation on why it needs to be done, and how to do it. And anyone can, it really is easy once you know how!

https://www.roadbikerider.com/latest-rbr-newsletter-2017/293-issue-no-775/3054-diy-rear-derailleur-adjustment



Happy Cycling!