The Bugle | Blast 394


Friday 5th July 2019

Wild West Edition
 

 

 

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

 

“Meet the future; the future mode of transportation for this weary Western world. Now I’m not gonna make a lot of extravagant claims for this little machine. Sure, it’ll change your whole life for the better, but that’s all.” - Bicycle salesman in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid



 

BICYCLIST OF THE WEEK

After that is has to be Butch Cassidy (Paul Newman) himself in the 1969 movie. Here tandeming Katherine Ross to one of the greatest soundtracks of all time - "Raindrops keep falling on your head".

Enjoy this recreation of this 19th century song cycle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8-vMP2_K7k


 

BICYCLE OF THE WEEK

Albert Pope began the American bicycle industry with the Columbia Brand built by the Weed Sewing Machine Company. A bike cost $125, a sewing machine $13.

This is the Columbia Model 40 Mens Safety Bicycle, 1895 which looks just like the bike in the movie.  It's right on the dot as the Butch Cassidy was set in the late 1890s.

You can still buy 'Columbia' bikes. More here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Manufacturing_Company
http://columbiabicycles.com/heritage/


 

TOURIST OF THE WEEK

Go West Old Man!

Last week it was me to Devon, following in the  footsteps (wrong word) along the Kennet & Avon of Des to Bath. Des writes:

At the beginning of June  I cycled with one of my sons to Reigate Stn where we took the train to Reading. It took 1hr:5mins at a cost of £16. We then followed the National Cycle Route 4 from Reading to Bath and back with 3 overnight stops,  one on the way out, one at Bath, and one on the way back.  Two hundred, very interesting miles thru some of England’s scenic and historic past.

NCR 4 mainly follows the Kennett and Avon Canal. Approx 60% is along gravel paths, being mainly the original canal towpath, some of which is quite narrow and some with quite a rough surface. Better suited to mountain bikes rather than narrow tyred road bikes!

I can agree on that having tried and failed on 25s abandoning the path to mix'it with A-roads instead. 

Read the rest od Des's story. I wish I had before trying: https://anerleybc.org/a-canal-side-bike-ride-to-bath/



REMINDER: RIDE LEADER & MARSHALL TRAINING


Pete S writes:

This year's Free ride London is taking place on Saturday 3rd August and ahead of this LCC are offering us leader/marshal training on Saturday 20th July, details below.

It would be great to get as many people to attend as possible bearing in mind the growing numbers of all our rides and also to show LCC the strength of the club in depth.

Attending the training does not mean you have to marshal the Freeride (but it would be nice if you could). To get your name added to the list please reply to list admin or contact Pete S.

LCC is running a series of Ride Leader training sessions to support people who are interested in leading rides with their Local Groups, particularly the RideLondon FreeCycle feeder rides on Saturday 3 August, 2019.

Consisting of a short classroom session followed by a practical on-street session with an expert ride-leader trainer, the course teaches participants how to support groups of cyclists moving through roads with motor traffic.

Participation is free and the only requirements are being a confident rider and being able to bring a cycle in good working order on the day. We also encourage participants to brush up on their Cycle Skills before the course, preferably getting themselves up to Bikeability Level 3 or equivalent (information on free Cycle Skills training from local councils can be found here).
 

 

INSURANCE: THE IMPORTANT CODE


Hopefully the last couple of Bugle editions may have convinced you all that Third Party Insurance is more than a good idea, That other riders in the club may expect you to have it in case of an incident on a club ride to save any financial embarrassment in the event of a claim. George writes:

Only ride leaders and Anerley officers are covered against claims. It is therefore a good idea (imperative) that all in Anerley BC riders should cover themselves insurance-wise. As you are thinking of getting Third Party cover with CTC (you get a discount because of Anerley BC affiliation). CTC individual membership is normally £46.50 but because the club affiliation to CTC, you get a discount and pay £25 if you quote Anerley BC code for CTC which is 9101625.
https://shop.cyclinguk.org/membership/affiliate-membership-myself


 

JUSTICE FOR CYCLIST AT LAST

A few months ago we featured the incredible take out of a cyclist on Swain's Lane in Highgate by a hit'n'run BMW. The video (above) is the moment the cyclist was spun into the air by the driver Sean Fagan. The police didn't follow it up and the cyclist had to recover this video himself.

This week Fagan was sentenced to 20 months jail after pleading guilty. It suggests that the judge didn't completely buy Fagan's excuse that it was his passenger who was drunk.

Story here: https://www.hamhigh.co.uk/news/crime-court/swain-s-lane-crash-bmw-driver-sean-fagan-jailed-for-hit-and-run-which-injured-cyclist-1-6138629

Video here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/embed/p0785yy5/48856330

Injuries here:

Story: https://road.cc/content/news/262654-81-year-old-becomes-oldest-woman-cycle-lands-end-john-ogroats


 

BUILD 'EM AND THE CYCLISTS WILL COME

We reported last week that dysfunctional Kensington & Chelsea council had killed this West London scheme (but hopefully may be cajoled into rte-thinking). They and objectors had justified their position with many of the common cycle lane myths.

They should read this: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/bike-blog/2019/jul/03/ten-common-myths-about-bike-lanes-and-why-theyre-wrong

The good news is that cycling is increasing rapidly in London  Less so in other parts of the UK that don't even have a half-decent cycling infrastucture plan.

Cycling journeys grew by 5% in London last year, with more than 4m km travelled each day by bike in the capital: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/jul/03/london-records-biggest-rise-in-cycling-journeys-in-2018

 

RIDE REPORTS

Saturday 29th June: Bob has a bad caff day as 4 go off road to Godstone: https://anerleybc.org/saturday-ride-29th-june-2019/
 

Sunday 30th June: Danehill and back in two videos: https://anerleybc.org/sunday-ride-30th-june-2019/
 

Tuesday 2nd July: Meike welcomes us to a new Tuesdays destination, Tablehurst Farm, Forest Row: https://anerleybc.org/tuesday-ride-2nd-july-2019/

 

UPCOMING RIDES


Saturday 6th July: Meet Shurguard/501 Brighton Road at 09:00. Pete S leads to Polesden Lacey and onwards! Out via Chipstead Valley, Kingswood, Ashtead, Bookham to Polesden Lacey for Tea. After tea you have a choice of joining Stuart for a longer ride to Bracknell or Return with Pete via Boxhill and Chipstead valley.
Shorter ride distance 40 miles. Longer ride distance 100 miles.

Sunday 7th July: Meet Shurguard/501 Brighton Road at 09:00. Viv leads on the Wandle trail  to Richmond Park. Hybrids or mountain bikes recommended but not essential.

Tuesday 9th July:  Shurguard/501 Brighton Road. Rides to Abinger Hammer:
09:30 Early Leader: Tom V
10:00 Steady Leader: Peter R
10:00 Relaxed Leader: Des

Thursday 11th July: Meet Shurguard at 10:00 am. 
Destination: tba 


 

CLUB TOOL OF THE WEEK
In Anerley colours too!

Frank had a technical or two on last Tuesday's ride. What he needed and didn't have was a pair of pliers. Few of us carry them but a moment's thought shows that they may be the most useful tool besides cable ties to fix unexpected problems:

* Holding the nut while twisting the bolt.
* Possible substitute for a spanner if the bolt isn't too tight
* Sorting out broken spokes, mudguard stays etc
* Clipping cable ties and other bits of metal

And many more. Can you think of a few?


 

FINALLY
Can you guess the world city from the cycle lane icon?
A question from a Guardian Quiz. Tom V scored 4/8, I did 5/8 [gloat]. Can you do better?

https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2019/jun/26/can-you-guess-the-world-city-from-the-cycle-lane-icon?CMP=share_btn_link

So 6/8 or more and you could be next week's Anerley Bicyclist of the Week. Come on, don't be shy ...



Happy Cycling