The Bugle | Blast 299

Friday 1st September 2017
 

QUOTE OF THE WEEK
 

BUSHWHACKER OF THE WEEK

Frank in bed, Frank in the loo. A piece of visual selfie art brought to you from Pembury Hospital, Tunbridge Wells.

Frank and the road on last Thursday week's ride had a difference of opinion on which way to go. A catapult across a four foot ditch and arrest in a hawthorn hedge brought Frank to a swift, bloody and unconcious halt. His fellow riders feared the worst. They were fortunate to have their own hospital matron to render immediate assistance until the paramedics, ambulance and air ambulance showed up.

Frank returned home yesterday after a week in hospital having been patched up with a few bones to mend. He adds:

Tunbridge Wells Hospital Pembury was 5*. Back cycling I hope in December ie 3 months to fully heal. Outpatients appointment in 2 weeks for X-ray and then 4 weeks later for 2nd X-ray. I had emergency head and body CT scan on entry.

BICYCLE  OF THE WEEK

No, not Frank's bike after the crash (which was safely rescued and is now back home) but a piece of rideable art entitled 'Bike of the Apocalypse'. More weird concoctions can be viewed here: http://guff.com/weird-bicycles-that-you-can-actually-ride


CROYDON'S CYCLING STRATEGY

Did you know we had one? It is mentioned but not linked on the council's cycling facilities page: https://www.croydon.gov.uk/transportandstreets/rhps/roads/rms/facilities. A bit of ferreting found a draft 2017 version which contained this bad news: 

Current levels of cycle activity in the borough are low. Indeed there was a 10% reduction in the number of cycle trips between 2008 and 2013 in contrast to the growth shown across London. Only around 1% of Croydon’s population cycle for at least 30 minutes five times a week. Croydon has fewer regular cyclists than many other parts of London. Only 1% of Croydon residents regularly cycle compared to 2% in outer London and 3% across London as a whole. Croydon residents also have relatively low cycle ownership.

Rather shocking but not surprising as we have seen Croydon's current cycling provision get poorer or, in the case of the regeneration of the restaurant quater (S End), removed and replaced with car parking.

Will this new 2017-22 cycling strategy make any difference? Read and decide:  https://secure.croydon.gov.uk/akscroydon/users/public/admin/kabatt.pl?cmte=SEH&meet=7&href=/akscroydon/images/att9153.pdf
 
 

RIDING A BIKE IS TOO DANGEROUS: CHRIS BOARDMAN

Yes, you read that right. Our former world champion cyclist who won gold at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics is scared of riding a bike on UK roads - or at least those in Cheshire. Chris lost his mother when she was run down by a motorist last year.

“The roads are statistically safe, but it doesn’t look it and it doesn’t feel it. Now I try to do more of my riding off-road, which is sad”

But he isn't giving up - but instead taken an important role in improving Manchester's infrastructure for cyclists. And having heard him lecture on the subject - Chris brings rather more sense to the subject than most. The success will be when we see Chris cycling around the city for fun. He is interviewed by the Guardian here: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/aug/31/chris-boardman-riding-a-bike-on-uk-roads-feels-too-dangerous-for-me

Then he can come and sort out Croydon!
 

RECENT RIDE REPORTS

Sunday Ride 27th August: Tom's 100 miler to Anerley BC legend SF Edge's grave at Tilford - just down (sorry UP) the road from Frensham Ponds, south of the Hog's Back. And our backs were nearly broken with some of the ferocious climbs our Capt'n found for us: https://anerleybc.org/sunday-ride-27th-august-2017/ 

Tuesday Ride 29th August: Decent weather and turnout for a Club Picnic at Lullingstone Country Park. I forgot to take any pix there so above is one snapped on the way along Chestnut Avenue. Report: http:// https://anerleybc.org/tuesday-ride-29th-august-2017/

UPCOMING RIDES

Saturday Ride 2nd September: 10:00 Shurguard/501 Brighton Road: Karen again kindly steps in to lead as Pete is still away. An attractive route to tea stop at Hartfield in the village with a possible pub stop at Mark Beech, The Kentish Horse. 60 miles at 12mph approx.

Sunday Ride 3rd September: 10:00 Shurguard/501 Brighton Road: Tom leads to the Conservatory Cafe at Horsham and afterwards to the White Horse at Shere.

Tuesday Ride 5th September: 
'A' Ride [12mph] 09:30 Shurguard/501 Brighton Road: Tom V to Bridges, Edenbridge
'B' Ride [10mph] 10:00 Shurguard/501 Brighton Road: John D to Bridges, Edenbridge

Thursday Ride: 7th September: 10:00 Shurguard/501 Brighton Road: Mark H leads  

FINALLY

That's my friend (another) Frank resting during a Dutch cycling tour.

Some of us have, very occasionally, had an odd pint or two before trying to ride home. A few of us have even had one or two more and decided it would be best to push the bike home.

But beware you could still get done by the fuzz: http://road.cc/content/news/228582-drunk-cyclist-who-had-been-pushing-bike-was-locked-police-under-19th-century-law


Happy Cycling!