The Bugle | Blast 436


Friday 1st May 2020
Historical Edition

 
 
 

QUOTE OF THE WEEK


"Money can't buy happiness but it can buy a bike and that pretty close" - anon




BICYCLISTS OF THE PAST: JAMES MOORE 1849-1935
Reputed to have won the first formal bicycle race in the world in Paris in 1868 (disputed) and then went on to win the first long distance 81 mile road race the following year from Paris to Rouen. It took him 10 hours 25 mins.

A not disimilar time to that of Anerley's finest going the other way in 2018: https://anerleybc.org/purley-paris-purley-nearly/

However, nobody short of Barrie would consider racing it nowadays without gears, non-solid tyres and tarmaced roads. Hence his average of arounf 8 mph was impressive. Read more about this remarkable man here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Moore_(cyclist)

Here's a picture of him as winner in 1869 and a memorial sculpture recently erected in his birth town Bury St Edmunds.

This is the first in a historical series put together by Capt'n Mark. He has also been busy starting his own Youtube cycling & rock channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2Tc3MaAWkMT6CaScrieDqA


 

BICYCLES OF THE PAST: THE MICHAUX VELOCIPEDE
James Moore family moved to Paris when he was four. Fortuitously the family lived opposite the Michaux house. They were blacksmiths. They produced carriages for the Parisian nobility. Pierre Michaux had the idea of adding pedals to a draisine to form a velocipede, the forerunner of the modern bicycle.

James Moore adopted it, joined a Patisian cycling club and the rest is history.

The picture is of Pierre's son Ernest who went on to run  Michaux et Cie ("Michaux and company"), which was the first company to construct bicycles with pedals on a large scale. More here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierre_Michaux


 

ARGENTINA & CHILE PART 3


Sally & Tim continue their colourful adventure from near Coyhaige to Villa O’Higgins (223 miles 14 days). More gravel roads, rain, mountains and search parties for Tim.
This week's edition is here: https://anerleybc.org/argentina-chile-with-style-part-3/.

Next week: "How we coped on 5km of muddy footpath, friendly border guard who ordered us to eat, fabulous mountains, the most impressive bird I will ever see and how we got home just in time."

 

MORE ANERLEY HISTORY
John E sent in this photograph of the Rose & Crown at Kenley in 1903. The cyclists partaking of a dram could be the Anerley as it was frequented by the club as described on pages 9 & 10 of Anerley's history (or 5 & 6 if you have the paper copy): https://anerleybc.org/a-story-told-by-members-1881-1981/

Or maybe not - John has looked hard but he can't spot Des or Barrie! The pub was demolished in 2008. Here is its own history:

(from The Bourne Society: http://bournesoc.org.uk/blue-plaques-locations/plaque-6-site-of-rose-and-crown-public-house-godstone-road-kenley/)
 

Today that spot on the Godstone Road (A22) heading from Whyteleafe to Kenley looks like this:
 
 


COVID-19 UPDATE
London Road (the one that goes past the Mayday) is one of a number of roads that will be closed or reduced in width with extra provision for cyclists and pedestrians.

But only for 21 days during the Covid-19 crisis to facilitate reducing rat running in residential roads, improve road safety and better facilitate social distancing. We can only hope it we get mission creep and it stays.

Closures will affect:
  • Holmesdale Road at the junction with Park Road (stadium side)
  • Dalmally Road at the junction with Blackhorse Lane
  • Elmers Road at the junction with Blackhorse Lane
  • Lancaster Road at the junction with Southern Avenue
  • Woodvale Avenue at the junction with Avenue Road
More info here: https://insidecroydon.com/2020/04/29/wider-pavements-and-slower-cars-king-makes-road-changes/
 

It's a start Croydon - and this photo is from Leicester. However, from Berlin to Bogotá, city authorities worldwide have acted rapidly to ensure the arrival of lockdown measures were accompanied by expanded space for cycling and walking.

Help sustain and expand these initiatives by supporting Cycling UK's campaign: https://www.cyclinguk.org/blog/why-we-need-more-space-cycling-and-walking-during-lockdown

Just look at what the French are doing to encourage people to not return to their cars and city wide pollution when lockdown has been eased. 

Under the €20 million (£17m; $21.7m) scheme, everyone will be eligible for bike repairs of up to €50 at registered mechanics. The funding will also help pay for cycle training and temporary parking spaces: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-52483684

Across the pond:

(Thanks tomTom for those links)

 

FINALLY


Empty roads, NHS workers riding to the frontline. What could possibly go wronng?

https://twitter.com/CyclingInASkirt/status/1255555561422233601


And don't forget to Zoom with us Monday night at 8pm. Bring a bottle!



Stay Safe