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by TonyR
4 Apr 2016, 1:01pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Trolls do the exist on this forum?
Replies: 65
Views: 3242

Re: Trolls do the exist on this forum?

Philip Benstead wrote:I will not be carry a lump of wood on my shoulder at the agm, or may I should so everybody can identify me?.



We're already on to you cunning plan

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=104878
by TonyR
4 Apr 2016, 12:02pm
Forum: Cycling UK Topics and Discussions
Topic: Technical officer
Replies: 46
Views: 4790

Re: Technical officer

Vorpal wrote:Actually I think (and I've said it before), an important role for a technical officer is to advise about interpretations of legislation, consult upon potential legislative changes, provide expert testimony to MPs, or parliamentary inquiries, etc.

If we take as an example, lighting standards...
We know that they are out of date and not well adhered to. How should they be changed? Should pedal reflectors still be required? If pedals should still have pedal erflectors, what reflectors are appropriate to require for all types of pedals? Should recumbents be exempted? Who can provide our legislators with the answers to these questions? Joe and Jane Cyclist? Rapha? Team Sky? I'm not interested in answering the technical questions on this thread; just posing them in answer to what a technical officer might do that is of value to more than just the touring members of CTC.

There are other things like this for which CJ was very well suited to support cyclists of all sorts. Whether or not one accepts that his services were still needed to answer technical questions for members, or people found his reviews of equipment useful, IMO the one area where he was most needed was dealing with the technical aspects of legislation.


The question is did he do that? The lighting standards have changed, notably to admit LED light and flashing lights. I am not aware that the CTC or its TO had any involvement in that process or being sat on any of the standards bodies looking at revising standards related to bicycles that most regulation is based on. I am not aware of any campaign organised by the CTC or anyone else on pedal reflectors the requirements for which have been out of date for years. And while I am aware of Roger Geffen appearing before Parliament on campaigning issues or what could be considered technical issues (i.e.helmets) I am not aware of that happening with CJ (a Google of "Geffen Parliament" comes up with lots of links but "Juden Parliament" comes up with none). I could well be wrong so would be interested in any evidence for what you are suggesting could be done was actually being done.
by TonyR
4 Apr 2016, 10:48am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: A new kind of saddle
Replies: 26
Views: 2058

Re: A new kind of saddle

Mick F wrote:Is that ash or sycamore?


I don't think it'll be poplar. It couldl be a beech to ride though.
by TonyR
4 Apr 2016, 10:14am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: A new kind of saddle
Replies: 26
Views: 2058

Re: A new kind of saddle

Didn't realise that branch of cycling had grown so big :wink:
by TonyR
3 Apr 2016, 11:05pm
Forum: Cycling UK Topics and Discussions
Topic: Technical officer
Replies: 46
Views: 4790

Re: Technical officer

Psamathe wrote:
TonyR wrote:
Psamathe wrote:A good example might be "mudguard clearance".


Can you not come up with anything other than the same old 30 year old example? Surely if what you say is true there should be plenty more examples to roll out as evidence that are more recent?

I could think of loads of examples. Sorry you don't like the example I gave - which I thought was a particularly good example, illustrating something that applied well to both touring and cycling for transport cyclists. Still, that's life, can't please everybody.


Its just that every time someone tries to justify the TO post they use mudguard clearance - something that dates back to 1986 - and are seemingly unable to come up with anything more recent.

Surprises me if you can't see the advantages of a Technical Officer to provide guidance to less experienced (like myself) on so many technical aspects (gear ratios, different brake types, road regulations, light regs, security component compatibility and pros and cons of different systems, etc.).


That's what we've got Brucey for :wink:

But seriously there is so much information on the internet - YouTube videos, how to and review websites, forums etc - that phoning during working hours or emailing someone is probably on the "if all else fails..." section of the decision tree on what to do. When was the last time you used the TO services? I know I've never used it preferring instead the Sheldon Brown website or YouTube to give me instant gratification on my technical information needs.
by TonyR
3 Apr 2016, 2:20pm
Forum: Cycling UK Topics and Discussions
Topic: Technical officer
Replies: 46
Views: 4790

Re: Technical officer

Psamathe wrote:A good example might be "mudguard clearance".


Can you not come up with anything other than the same old 30 year old example? Surely if what you say is true there should be plenty more examples to roll out as evidence that are more recent?
by TonyR
2 Apr 2016, 6:13pm
Forum: The Cycling UK brand refresh
Topic: Name Change?
Replies: 54
Views: 20562

Re: Name Change?

Philip Benstead wrote:When I was elected for the se I was very unhappy about signing the code conduct, I took advice and in the end dined it. My doults about signing it have come to be true, as stated elsewhere by others on this forum the code is a gagging order. The council does not like debate.


But you did sign it and therefore are bound by it.
by TonyR
2 Apr 2016, 6:08pm
Forum: The Cycling UK brand refresh
Topic: Name Change?
Replies: 54
Views: 20562

Name Change?

gaz wrote:If he felt strongly that this matter should be transparent and open to the membership did he breach the code or follow it?


If there had been an intention by Council to withold the information from the membership then transparency might be a defence. But that was not the case. Council intended to fully communicate the decision to the membership as soon as possible in Cycle which every member receives, and to send out the details to all MGs as has now happened. So there can be no transparency argument because there was a detailed communication plan in place. That was thrown into disarray by the leak and the only credible reason for the leak is not transparency but attempting to overturn a decision they were comprehensively outvoted on.

Whether Council takes action is up to Council but there is a substantial issue of breach of trust and cabinet responsibility that may make their position untenable anyway. It just doesn't work if all the discussions on difficult issues are guarded because of fears of them being leaked or used to brief against decisions.
by TonyR
2 Apr 2016, 3:15pm
Forum: The Cycling UK brand refresh
Topic: Name Change?
Replies: 54
Views: 20562

Re: Name Change?

Bazza55 wrote:Gaz is right, I was NOT talking about Philip Benstead, the person who (thankfully) leaked the information is still a serving councilor. Though his card will be marked now.


I'm not surprised if his card is marked. For a start he seriously breached the Code of Conduct he signed up to when he became a Councillor specifically

3.4 I will participate in collective decision making, accept a majority decision of the Council and will not act individually unless specifically authorised to do so.


He refused to accept a majority decision of Council (15-1 as I understand it) but then having been overwhelmingly out-voted, took matters into his own hand to attempt to overturn the decision. In the process he totally destroyed Council's plan to properly communicate the change in the April issue of Cycle and in place gazumped it with all the rumour, misinformation and speculation that has gone on since based on partial information.

When he signed up to the Code of Conduct he also accepted that if he breached the Code as he has that

6.1 I understand that substantial breach of any part of this Code may result in procedures being put in motion that may result in my being asked to resign from Council as the trustee board.
by TonyR
2 Apr 2016, 8:23am
Forum: Cycling UK Topics and Discussions
Topic: Technical officer
Replies: 46
Views: 4790

Re: Technical officer

mercalia wrote:
TonyR wrote:The cycle touring community is a very small minority of the CTC membership these days although some of that community seem to think it should dominate other members' interests because of its history. Unfortunately real life is not like that.


eh what else do they do? I only now of the CTC thru these forums.


Try knowing them through their website. http://www.ctc.org.uk

Amongst some of their major achievements over the last decade

Preventing a mandatory helmet law in the UK and one in Northern ireland.

Through the Cyclist Defence fund overturning a Court ruling that a cyclist was breaking the law by using the road instead of a cycle path

Through the CDF winning against an insurer who was claiming a child was responsible for their injuries by not wearing a helmet

Getting the new Highway Code changed to make use of cycle facilities advisory rather than mandatory

Plus lot of work to get people back to or into cycling.

All things that, if the CTC had not done them, would have made cycling in the UK now very different from what it is.
by TonyR
2 Apr 2016, 8:14am
Forum: The Cycling UK brand refresh
Topic: Why didn’t CTC do this?
Replies: 122
Views: 72508

Re: Why didn’t CTC do this?

Labrat wrote:So, I am going to ask you very simply and very clearly again:

did you approve/assent to the approval of the minutes that you now claim to have not been an accurate representation of the discussions at council or not?


You are, as the Americans say, trying to nail jelly to the wall.
by TonyR
2 Apr 2016, 8:11am
Forum: The Cycling UK brand refresh
Topic: Name Change?
Replies: 54
Views: 20562

Re: Name Change?

Bazza55 wrote:The voting slips wouldn't be sent out at all if it wasn't for one (unnamed) Councilor having a morals and standards by letting the membership know of the intended secret name and plan. Amazingly for which he has received much internal criticism from the Chair.


Not forgetting that that Councillor was an active and willing part of the process of rebranding for at least two years including supporting the Campfire proposals last October until his epiphany after he failed to get re-elected as a Councillor and had to step down on 1 January this year.

Unless of course you believe his claims of a multiyear conspiracy to ignore his comments and falisfy the meeting minutes to censor his strident opposition in Council
by TonyR
2 Apr 2016, 8:01am
Forum: The Cycling UK brand refresh
Topic: Name Change?
Replies: 54
Views: 20562

Re: Name Change?

gaz wrote:
TonyR wrote:... Remembert the rebranding decision was taken on 25 January and the petition did not arrive until 5 February ...

23 January and 4 March respectively.


Thanks for the correction. By 4 March the April edition of Cycle would have pretty much been put to bed and off to the printers. It would not have been realistically feasible to take out a major article at that late stage.
by TonyR
1 Apr 2016, 10:42pm
Forum: The Cycling UK brand refresh
Topic: Name Change?
Replies: 54
Views: 20562

Re: Name Change?

Bazza55 wrote:So according to 'Cycleclips' the CTC officially becomes Cycling UK on April 5th. ;

The 600 plus members who petitioned for a ballot of the full membership have just been ignored, disregarded and insulted.

Ladies and Gentlemen, your new Cycling UK ENJOY IT!


The petitioners have not been ignored - the poll voting slips will be sent out in the June/July issue of Cycle in compliance with Articles 11.2 and 11.3, But also decisions made before the petition was received at HO can still be carried out in compliance with Article 11.4 which is what appears to be happening. Or do you only want the CTC to only follow the articles that you want them to and ignore the ones you don't?

Remembert the rebranding decision was taken on 25 January and the petition did not arrive until 5 February during which period its highly likely that the rebranding wheels will all have been set in motion and therefore can be continued under Article 11.4
by TonyR
1 Apr 2016, 10:32pm
Forum: Cycling UK Topics and Discussions
Topic: Technical officer
Replies: 46
Views: 4790

Re: Technical officer

The cycle touring community is a very small minority of the CTC membership these days although some of that community seem to think it should dominate other members' interests because of its history. Unfortunately real life is not like that.