The Bugle | Blast 406

Friday 4th October 2019

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

BICYCLIST OF THE WEEK

Or 1899 to be more precise. Then the Anerley had some of the fastest riders in the world - but none as fast as Charles “Mile-a-Minute” Murphy. Yep the first bicyclist to break the 60 mph barrier.

He did this by slipstreaming a train along a track of rough wooden boards laid on the sleepers. He rode into the record books on what he called "a maelstrom of swirling dust, hot cinders, paper and other particles of matter".

Charles’ record stood for a long time because no-one else had the necessary combination of fitness, fearlessness and a friend with access to steam locomotives. 

Nowadays (or last August to be precise) following a friendly Porsche Neil Campbell achieved 174 mph - see Bugle 401.

Read a fuller account of Charlie's exploit here: http://notanothercyclingforum.net/bikereader/contributors/woodland/murphy.html

BICYCLE OF THE WEEK

Today's contestents for the fastest human powered cycle (unassisted by trains, boats or planes) was featured on yesterday's eponymous BBC Radio programme from Liverpool University.

That means no slipstreaming and hence success depends on losing as little energy through drag as possible. The search is for the perfect aerodynamic bike. This is their School of Engineering's answer - Arion6 - albeit with three wheels.

The totally enclosed recumbent cyclist has two screens - one giving them their speed, cadence and other important data information. The other is linked to a tiny camera so they can see where they are going!

Arion5 last month broke the world record for women with Yazmin Tredell achieving 56.42mph. Almost as fast as Charlie: https://news.liverpool.ac.uk/2019/09/19/another-world-record-for-arion-project/

Next year they hope to hit 70+ on the Nevada desert.


 

TINA: ANERLEY'S FASTEST RIDER [DOWNHILL]

The training session is a 3.5 hour course that covers choking, management of an unconscious patient, signs, symptoms and treatment of heart attacks, recognition of cardiac arrest, basic life support (CPR) for adults and how to use a defibrillator.

I am also going to add a brief trauma session at the end. This will be an optional extra for anyone that wishes to stay but please be aware that there will be some graphic images so do not feel obligated to remain if it's not your thing!!  

This session will cover management of head & chest injuries and how to recognise and manage a catastrophic bleed. 

The training will take place at Croydon Ambulance Station, Primrose Lane, Shirley CR0 8YY. Initially there will be 2 sessions:
Saturday 16th November 09:30 - 1300
Sunday 17th November 1300 - 16:30

There is a maximum of 12 people per session and ride leaders will get preference in the first instance. 

SUNDAY STEADIES

Following the success of dividing the Tuesday Rides the last Club Meeting decided to do likewise with Sundays. There will now be a 'Speedy Sunday' and a 'Steady Sunday'. Not to mention the occasional 'Des Invitation' to get up to Speed (or Steady).

The 'Steadies' were supposed to start this Sunday but it clashes with TT-ing and an appaling weather forecast. Hence  they will begin Sunday week (13th).

Julia is the 'Sunday Steady' organiser and will be leading the first at 9am on the 13th to Denbies via Ranmore Common. She promises to have you home for lunch by 2pm. Stuart won't do that on November 3rd 'cos it's the traditional London-Brighton Veteran Car Chase (in slowmotion) but you can bail out at Crawley if the carbon monoxide and soot is getting to you.

Please put them in your diary. It also leaves you an opportunity to lead the 20th & 27th October rides. People did out up their hands at the meeting. Now is not the time for cold feet.

Please consider volunteering and if you haven't led a ride before or feel a little unsure we will guarantee you a wingman/woman so you don't have to worry about doing the wrong thing/going the wrong way.  Just sit back and enjoy giving back a little to the club.

Contact Julia direct or by replying to this email.


 

FUNDING FOR GROUPS & ORGANISATIONS FROM:

Thanks to Croydon Cycling Campaign for tipping us off about the Green Croydon Fund. Projects must take place in Croydon, and should deliver an environmental benefit linked to at least one of the following priority areas:

• Environmental protection
• Green living
• Sustainable lifestyles

• Reducing social isolation and creating a greater sense of community involvement
• Creating an environment where our young people thrive and reach their full potential
• Providing volunteering opportunities, particularly hard to reach groups

RIDE REPORT

Saturday 28th September: As you can see - a hard ride and a message for you all at the end of a journey to Tanhouse Farm, Box Hill and The Jolly Farmers:  https://anerleybc.org/saturday-ride-28th-september-2019/


 

UPCOMING RIDES

SIGN SPOTTERS: 8

FINALLY: YORKSHIRE'S WORLD DIVING COMPETITION

FINALLY, FINALLY - CELEBRATING SPEED

Sir Ian Blatchford and Dr Tilly Blyth continue their series exploring how art and science have inspired each other. They focus on responses to a new love of personalised transport and the thrilling exhilaration of speed brought about by the humble bicycle.

As Tilly reveals, the exquisite yet simple design of John Kemp Starley’s Rover Safety Bicycle ushered in the 1890s Golden Age of Bicycles – an affordable means of social mobility for all. For a new movement of Avant Garde artists – the Futurists – the energy and velocity of the humble bicycle came to symbolise Italy’s rapidly changing industrial, emotional and moral landscape.

Ian visits London's Estorick Collection of Modern Italian Art to examine Umberto Boccioni’s Dynamism of a Cyclist, in which man and machine appear almost as one. The bicycle became star propaganda for the Futurists, whose manifesto set out to challenge traditional society and instil a new disruptive order amidst a future based on technological advance, new freedoms and the ever accelerating pace of modern life.

Catch up and listen to it again (14 mins) here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0008y8g



Happy Cycling