Search found 87 matches

by JT
29 Jan 2013, 10:02am
Forum: Cycling UK Topics and Discussions
Topic: Cameron Family Membership
Replies: 72
Views: 160359

Re: Cameron Family Membership

How come it took 10 months (and 5 pages of ranty forum posts) to find this out or to communicate it?
by JT
29 Jan 2013, 9:59am
Forum: Cycling UK Topics and Discussions
Topic: Cyclists Welcome - a printed guide?
Replies: 21
Views: 216989

Re: Cyclists Welcome - a printed guide?

Firstly, doesn't a cafe or B&B have to pay to get on the list for Cyclists' Welcome? Without a decent way of promoting the list, this seems pointless - particularly as most establishments are cycle-friendly. Scrap the fee, canvas all the Member Groups for their cafe stops (and B&B's) and use the Cyclists' Welcome to promote CTC.

As for the initial question... I wouldn't pay for a printed list. Keep an up-to-date PDF online and people can download/print it or just download it to their smartphones. That covers most bases.
by JT
15 Jan 2013, 9:14am
Forum: Racing, Olympics, TdF, Competitive cycling
Topic: CTC Launch Women's Race Team
Replies: 162
Views: 56794

Re: CTC Launch Women's Race Team

I think Team CTC is a great move.

In the past two years or so, those of you who weren't polishing your beards or fettling your sandals might have noticed the amount of media exposure given to Team UK Youth - another charitable organisation that got behind a cycling team. If the same thing happens with Team CTC, which has the added bonus (box-tick if you like) of being about women's sport, then that can only be a good thing. Folk will read or watch something really positive connected to CTC rather than the odd quote from Roger Geffen or Chris Peck about helmets or lenient sentencing.
by JT
8 Nov 2012, 3:22pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Surly Tektro brakes - improvement
Replies: 13
Views: 4168

Re: Surly Tektro brakes - improvement

I've got Tektro CR520 cantis on my LHT with Campag ErgoLevers and they're brilliant - even when fully loaded.
by JT
7 Sep 2012, 12:20pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Britain's Biggest Cycling Fan
Replies: 0
Views: 4605

Britain's Biggest Cycling Fan

Apologies for this shameless request for votes in the competition to find Britain's Biggest Cycling Fan.

In addition to everything listed, I'm the Secretary of CTC Peterborough and a Sky Ride Leader.

Please vote for The Thompsons
by JT
29 Aug 2012, 10:26am
Forum: Cycling UK Member Groups and Affiliates
Topic: CTC Saffron Walden, Haverhill area
Replies: 3
Views: 95865

Re: CTC Saffron Walden, Haverhill area

I'd contact the Secretary of CTC Cambridge, Nigel Deakin, and talk about setting up an informal group for your area. Nigel will be able to tell you how many members are in your catchment area.

With an informal group you won't need a committee and all the other stuff that makes running a group a PITA.
by JT
28 Aug 2012, 11:45am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Newcastle to London in 26 hours
Replies: 21
Views: 17370

Re: Newcastle to London in 26 hours

Stay away from the Fens. Flat yes, but incredibly boring, there's always a headwind, and the drivers are terrible (especially at night).

Your route around Peterborough is just about spot-on and will be very enjoyable.
by JT
23 Aug 2012, 9:07am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Dawes 'problem'
Replies: 32
Views: 6453

Re: Dawes 'problem'

So after all that you don't even want a Dawes? Talk about fickle.

Dawes is not a cool brand but their only decent bike is the Super Galaxy. People looking to purchase a Super Galaxy do not visit places like Evans. Ridgeback is just a brand name owned by Madison - Dawes and Ridgeback frames are probably built in the same Taiwanese factories but at least Dawes bikes are assembled in the UK.

I'm biased because I own one but I'd say the touring bike of choice these days is the Surly Long Haul Trucker (also a Taiwanese-built frame). It's not light by any standards but it's well thought-out, rides beautifully whether loaded or unloaded, is very tough, is not that expensive and doesn't suffer from any of the image problems of a Dawes. I'm not aware of Surly being involved in price-fixing either.
by JT
22 Aug 2012, 1:05pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Dawes 'problem'
Replies: 32
Views: 6453

Re: Dawes 'problem'

As it's illegal for the manufacturer to set the selling price, it therefore must be illegal for them to prevent discounting. If Spa want to sell them cheaper they can.

For obvious reasons manufacturers generally don't like retailers selling at discount prices, particularly for a premium product, as it forces other retailers to do the same. It's called price erosion. The perceived market value of an item (in this case a bike) drops and then all the retailers go back to Dawes and want their trade prices to be reduced so their profit margins are increased. The end result is a squeeze on Dawes' margins which is not good for Dawes or fans of their bikes.

So a retailer make a decision to discount based on how much business they get from selling Dawes and whether it's worth micturating them off. In Spa's case it's probably worth their while to keep in Dawes' good books.
by JT
14 Aug 2012, 12:19pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Vehicle hire for bikes to Italy?
Replies: 5
Views: 3730

Re: Vehicle hire for bikes to Italy?

Take the wheels off and you should be able to get 4 bikes in most large estate cars or a people carrier.
by JT
10 Aug 2012, 2:47pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Do you like to tour alone?
Replies: 84
Views: 23628

Re: Do you like to tour alone?

I've only done three short tours. The first, a C2C, was on my own and I didn't enjoy it that much. The other two have been club tours (CTC Peterborough) organised by me. The latter have been more enjoyable with a mix of abilities and personalities bound together by a shared club ethos. Obviously it helped with me being the leader of these tours because I make all the decisions and everyone else was happy to follow (that was what they signed-up to).

This is a different dynamic than if I toured with some friends or my wife. Without an appointed leader or decision-maker there can be too many polite compromises which mean people end up not going where, or doing what, they want. Although I would still like to try a tour like this.

I would also give solo touring another go but would do so either abroad, somewhere more remote, or take a less structured route than the C2C.
by JT
22 Jun 2012, 11:59am
Forum: Cycling UK Topics and Discussions
Topic: Live webchat with CTC this Thursday!
Replies: 5
Views: 18172

Re: CTC Topics and Discussions

Well that question certainly wasn't answered properly.

If all CTC has to offer is the best legal cover, and a 100 year history of campaigning (yeah right) then it is very vulnerable indeed.
by JT
14 Jun 2012, 8:57am
Forum: Cycling UK Topics and Discussions
Topic: membership
Replies: 77
Views: 150047

Re: membership

I'm resigning as Secretary and two other roles at our next AGM.

We're only a small club so I'll continue to lead rides until my membership expires next May. I won't be renewing.
by JT
15 May 2012, 5:09pm
Forum: Cycling UK Topics and Discussions
Topic: The CTC - is it vulnerable?
Replies: 256
Views: 216906

Re: The CTC - is it vulnerable?

Si wrote:Oh, and by the way, my CTC councillor has bought me a pizza (a rather big one in a very nice gastro-pub type thing) - so it's not just Sky organisers :wink:

On the subject of turf, I did a CTC ride at the weekend. So many people that we had to split into at least four different groups and go to two different cafes to fit everyone, several newbies came and enjoyed. At the same time I received an email bemoaning the fact that local Sky type free led rides had had to be put off due to no one turning up despite all the publicity. So we must be doing something right for the time being.

But to give Simon his due...this weekend I'm doing a pro-cycling publicity stand ting. I've invited a number of organisations to supply leaflets, etc and said that I'd push them all. My problem is that I can rave on endlessly about how good the CTC is, but then they are going to ask how much is it to go on the sky ride and I'm going to say "oh, it's free" and they are going to say "so how much is the CTC ride?" and I'm going to say "oh, best part of £50". It's tricky.


By highlighting how good your local CTC group is (and your concillor) you're also drawing attention to one of the CTC's problems, i.e. the lack of consistency, the lack of any direction or guidance by national office. What you have is a good local cycling club that happends to be a CTC club. The qualities you have are down to the individuals involved rather than anything the CTC has done as a body.