Going Green

Interesting list of opinions about going green.

Why going green is good for your health.

Air travel is the big one in my opinion.

"Stop Before You Die" She Barks...

From the USA's Tallahassee.com in Florida, comes this tête à tête debate in the letters pages.

"Advice to cyclist: Stop before you die" barks some extremist - pessimist - alarmist...

If Joe Barnett really wants to live, I suggest he either relocate his residence closer to his periodontal practice or open an office in Killearn Lakes.

...She threatens.

I mean really, c'mon. She is probably also the proud broadcaster of similar doom-filled advice such as:

• "Stop eating entirely - or you will get food poisoning!"

• "Stay away from the sun - you might self-combust!"

Countered

The voice of common sense majority is articulated by Amy K. Mann:

Things can and eventually will change for the better concerning alternate forms of commuting, "better" being more alternate forms of transportation and fewer cars.

Borrow a bicycle and take a one-hour ride around town. See what it feels like to ride instead of drive. Put yourself in the other person's shoes.

Amy is spot-on when she talks of fewer cars, because everybody knows that the life-blood of vehicles as we endure them at present, is the expiring finite energy resource of Oil.


Open-Mindedness

Amy's title: "Put yourself in the bicyclist's seat" is such truly valuable advice.

Sometimes these kind of arguments; "well YOU try it then" appear rhetorical, because the challenger might be addressing someone they know to be too fat, lazy and small minded to even walk to the bike shop to hire one, (they'd drive... but they can't be bothered! ;-) )

But really, for any road-user adept in open-mindedness, hiring, or borrowing a bicycle to gain a fresh new perspective, (which is true even of perennially familiar roads nearby), is a very worthwhile and commendable challenge to complete.

Good News Story

Amongst the avalanche of groaning daily news stories, it is refreshing to uncover a good news story. It is pleasant to hear examples of charitable humanity, no matter how basic. Simple? Yes. Insignificant? No.

One recent Saturday on the Chaires group ride, I had a flat tire about 4 miles from the end of the ride. With no spare tube, I started walking. A young man named Ryan stopped with his truck to give me a lift... Thank you, Ryan.

Driver was a help to stranded cyclist

Do you know anyone else who has received some good will and assistance from passing drivers?

Bike Theft Tracked!

The recent snow in parts of the UK provided this little gem of a story from yesterday, which occured near Newcastle Upon Tyne:

Reports were received by police around 1.20am on Wednesday that a shed had been broken into, with two bicycles stolen.

Fresh evidence lay under police noses when they noticed a trail of footprints, captured by the heavy snow, leading to a property only a few hundred yards away.

The footprints paved the way to the hapless thief's door and a 16-year-old was subsequently arrested.

Both bikes were recovered and the teenager is in custody on suspicion of burglary.

Source Story: www.blyth-wansbecktoday.co.uk

Cycling London Updates

"1st on your right, and down a bit more guv!"

If you haven't yet noticed, consider this a custard pie to the face infomercial - Cycling-London now features some "don't call us, we'll call you" ability, where the random unpredictability of new posts are now thankfully in your control, not mine, because you can have them delivered in to your Atom or RSS reader.

Or, if like me, you assume "RSS Reader" to be some kind of American warship, then have the post delivered to you instantly by email! Be Lazy - Do it now!

Cycling-London: RSS feed

Cycling -London: Email Updates

Read Between The Lines

It's not like it was an emergency stop, the eejot coasted up to the lights, then drove a bit further for our benefit - just to confirm any suspicions that yes; "I drive a 4x4 on urban roads and I AM a complete twat, thankyouandgoodnight!"

I give up on humans sometimes...

Free Cycle Training

A not highly publicised bit of information, is the free (and practically free) cycle coaching available in London. Certain London Boroughs have subsidised cycle training to help anyone who wants some expert advice or confidence building tips for the urban riding environment.

Brent
Anyone who lives, works or studies in the borough is entitled to 2 hours of subsidised training at the cost of £5 per hour.

City of London
Anyone over the age of 16 who lives, works or studies in the City of London is entitled to 2 hours of subsidised training at a one-off cost of £8.

Ealing
Anyone who lives, works or studies in the borough is entitled to 2 hours of subsidised training at a one-off cost of £5.

Hackney
Anyone aged 11 or over who lives, works or studies in the borough is entitled to 2 hours of free training.

Hammersmith and Fulham
Anyone aged 8 or over who lives, works or studies in the borough is entitled to 2 hours of subsidised training at a one-off cost of £5.

Haringey
Anyone aged 12 or over who lives, works or studies in the borough is entitled to 2 hours of subsidised training at a one-off cost of £5.

Lambeth
Anyone who lives, works or studies in the borough is entitled to 2 hours of subsidised training at a one-off cost of £8.

Redbridge
Anyone aged 14 or over who lives, works or studies in the borough is entitled to 2 hours of free training.

Southwark PCT
Men aged 18 or over who live or work in the borough are entitled to 2 hours of subsidised training at a one-off cost of £5.

More information from; cycletraining.co.uk.

Global Warning

This photo comes from the BBC Weather photo of the day. Aside from the intense energy it displays, I absolutely love the parallels it can represent regarding global warming: Here is a ferocious sea, wildly rampaging the coast; and the drivers attitudes are probably something like: "Oh just ignore that, I'm not seeing the waves spray my car, cover my ears; la la la, keep driving."

Chocolate Slave

Watching the BBC's Heaven & Earth TV program today, raised the topic of slavery and people trafficking. Amongst the interesting issues was the buying and selling of children to work in one of the world's main locations of cocoa production. Full background and campaign here - Stop The Traffik.org

What has this got to do with cycling? Pass. The most tenuous links I can find, are that chocolate can fuel cycling, and they both make you feel good!

I view this cause is very worthwhile supporting because it is SO straightforward to action! - A consumer just buys ethically sourced chocolate. With Easter approaching, and taste buds salivating, now is a great time to focus on consumer decisions and buying power.

The above campaign is collating a list of Good Chocolates, which guarantee the cocoa beans have not been harvested by human trafficked labour.

I noticed the chocolate big guns like Nestlé and Cadbury are loudly absent from the Good Chocolate list. So reading between the lines then, is it a case that Nestlé & Cadbury's Chocolates use slave labour? And will I have to consider which label my next choco-indulgence will support, for it still to taste as sweet?

The Powerful Urge...

A great little piece lifted from the Telegraph Magazine: Click to enlarge.

What amazes me more than the 4x4 owner's decision to buy one, is the unbelievable restraint shown by the rest of society, to resist the powerful urge to graffiti insulting reflections of the driver, on various 4x4 body panels! But there are always the "accidental" car-parking dents, I suppose...

Spring Cycling Poem

Somewhat of a diversion, a few poetic lines to welcome the Spring.

(The great thing about the internet is you can post this stuff and nobody can ACTUALLY throw eggs at you for being a geek :-) hehehe! )

Spring is dawning, the globe is warming,
Flowers confused, with random blooming,

Snow has gone, hopefully that’s it
Our one-day cold snap has been and hit,

What is next, we can only guess,
Something only the clouds know best,

Cherish the bright cool journey today,
More arid warmth is on the way...,

Meanwhile a cyclist ponders some thoughts;
Ditch the leggings and get the shorts!