The Bugle | Blast 415

Friday 6th December 2019

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

BICYCLISTS OF NEXT WEEK

First off - Boris, bringer of the Boris Bike - even if the begatter was his predecessor. He has been called out on many things this election - though we have yet to hear more of him illegally giving  a lady a 'backie'.

No sniggering please, I was referring to Boris pedalling his barrister wife Marina Wheeler on a bicycle designed for one person. Giving a backie is illegal under the terms of the 1988 Road Traffic Act. Offenders can be fined up to £200.

But Boris apologised, saying he did not know he was breaking the law. I think another lady in Buck House has heard that one before.

Next up ....

Another true cyclist - even if, like Boris, it now lies in the past - or until one of them has more time on their hands. Amazingly the rather Conservative Telegraph had a nice piece on this encounter.

"What would Jeremy Corbyn be without his 2009 Raleigh Airlite 300? It’s sturdy, it's well-worn, it’s red (and green: no emissions!) – never has a politician’s favoured form of transport been so faithful a representation of their ideology."

But given even the Telegraph couldn't pin a cycling crime and even noticed the re-cycling of a gaffer-tape patched saddle this is one leaders' competition Jeremy might win. The only one?

Moving on .....

Our local politicians flyers always have a picture of them on a bike 'cos they say they want everybody else to ride one. Except I've never seen them ever actually ride - with the honorable exception of Phillip Pike - a former Lewisham LibDem councillor and AnerleyBC member.

But looking for bicycling Jo turned out to be a complete no-go. This is as close as she got. Judging from her rather trenchant statements i don't think we will get to see her riding tandem with Jeremy next week either.

And then ...

Never quite saw Nigel as Bicycle Repair Man especially dressed like that. A man more at home in a 4x4 roaring through Kent's twisty lanes as the landlord of a Downe pub found to his cost.

And finally ....

The Greenest of Greens though the Brighton Bikeshare Caroline is sponsoring here  is more turquoise. Nevertheless if you are without a chain down there again Barry - it's another way of getting home!

 

CYCLING MANIFESTOS

Whether we leave or stay, nationalise or privatise - we will still be cycling through the next parliamentary term if the potholes don't get us first. So what are the parties promising to do about it and making cycling more attractive and safer?

The Guardian read every manifesto - so you don't have to. Here is a summary of their analysis:
 

Conservative 

Funding pledge on cycling: £70m per year, each year of the new parliament; total £350m.
Per head per year: £1.18 – so less than the current spend.
 

Labour

Funding pledge on cycling: £4.7bn on capital funding with £2.5bn for revenue funding in the first year, skewing towards revenue funding in later years.
Per head per year: £50 per head per year by the end of the parliament.
 

Liberal Democrat

Funding pledge on cycling: 10% of the transport budget by the end of a five-year parliament.
Per head per year: Dependent on the transport budget (about £40 in 2024).
 

Brexit Party

Funding pledge on cycling: £0.
Per head per year: £0.
 

Greens

Funding pledge on cycling: £2.5bn per year for 10 years.
Per head per year: £42.

A very, very stark left/right split ... their full report is here:
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/bike-blog/2019/dec/01/which-partys-general-election-pledges-are-best-for-cyclists

ANERLEY MAINTENANCE COURSES

Now Tina has taught many of us how to save life - we can move on to saving our bicycles especially if they have to survive those growing potholes. The AGM decided we should run a number of courses in John T's amzingly equipped bicycle shed accompanied by Meike's tea and cake.

Des writes:

Vince now has a programme of very useful topics which have all been suggested by you. These are about keeping your bike in good working order, or to get you home when a problem arises on a bike ride or tour. 

Most bike tools that are required to do the above, are inexpensive. Vince will advise on what are the most useful to have, and show you how to use them. The training sessions will give you hands on experience by doing them under supervision. You never know when you might need to do them for real!

You can find out more here https://anerleybc.org/bike-maintenance-update/

If you want to attend the training classes do contact Vince. It would be helpful if you could indicate anything in particular you would like to learn.

Meanwhile enjoy this little parody of another Bicycle Repair Man:

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2howud

MAKE SUVs EXTINCT

ANOTHER MUST READ

For those that venture north but not that far north my spies tell me highly regarded Ribble Bikes have opened a rather posh pop-up shop at Bluewater:
https://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/our-stores/


 

RIDE REPORT

Sunday Unrelaxed 1st December: Des takes to the hills with the ladies and finds something to warm the cockles: https://anerleybc.org/mole-hills-or-mountains/

UPCOMING RIDES

Saturday 7th December: Ride cancelled due to fog and Ice

SIGN SPOTTERS 13

Roger is taking full responsibility for the photo this sign near Rye. I shall stay silent in sympathy ...

FINALLY

https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/news/18084055.said-bus-shelter-mistakenly-placed-cycle-lane/



Happy Cycling - and Voting!