Cycling UK Forum

Most unusual?

Probably...

A fresh trout
or
A garden gnome, less fishing rod

Ron wrote:I've never read such overprotective nonsense, bikes are for using

Sometimes it seems the bike is more important than the riding

djoptix wrote:I have a ZTE Blade

+1

Also sold as the San Francisco from Orange.

Jonty wrote:
Do you not think this is self-harming as many cyclists are also motorists?
jonty

Real cyclists can never be motorists.

<runs>

Only last Sunday I came across someone who had been sold a 'Dutch' bike with only a back pedaling brake. - clearly a bike for use on the road, not on on an Olympic velodrome!
This came from a well-known dealer in a major town on the south coast.

Brakes are perhaps the most common issue that causes me to refuse to take riders on training courses.
At one session a bike had no brakes at all. When I asked why, the child said his Dad (who was standing next to me) had taken them off because they were making a noise.
When I said I could not allow it on the road, the Dad became very indignant telling me it was fine as his son had a helmet.

Some people just don't get it.

John Holiday wrote:If as you point out, the Local Authorities are able to fund Training from DfT funds,why on earth would they ignore that funding!

Just because they take the funding doesn't mean they deliver training to the required standards.
Where are the checks? Where are the standards being assessed?
LA's can impose sub-standard requirements upon training providers, some of whom may then accept them just to get the contract.

I have seen this happen.

Vorpal wrote:To say this 'closely approaches the national “Bikeability” levels one and two' is misrepresentation.....And then I saw that after the teaching a right turn (properly), they also teach 'wait left to turn right'. Idiocy.

Saw a group from a Hampshire school yesterday being told to pull into the left, stop, and wait before turning right.
Training was even on a residential junction without any traffic in sight.

I suggest many LA's provide training just to tick the box, rather than to teach safe cycling.

My question has now been answered very timely, by a DfT Press Release.
Steer Davies Gleave are running Bikeability.

*************************
Publisher: Department for Transport
Published date: 9 September 2011
Type: Press release
Mode/topic: Roads, Road safety, Road transport
The Department for Transport is today pleased to announce a new contract to provide day to day Bikeability support services. This follows a commitment given earlier this year by the DfT to support and provide funding contributions for Bikeability for the remainder of the parliament.

£11 million has been made available for cycle training during financial year 2011-12. This is helping to deliver up to 275,000 cycle training places to school children aged between 10-11.

Transport consultancy firm, Steer Davies Gleave, have won a competitive tender process to manage the day to day running of the Bikeability programme. Previously this work was shared between four different contracts. Using a single supplier to provide support will save an estimated £1.2m over the next three and a half years.

Transport Minister, Norman Baker, said:

"This government is strongly committed to cycling. Enabling children to learn to cycle safely and confidently on today’s roads plays a valuable role in creating a new generation of cyclists. That is why we took the decision to safeguard the future of Bikeability with the aim of giving as many children as possible the opportunity to take part in Bikeability cycle training."

”Bikeability promotes the benefits of cycling as a healthy and enjoyable way of getting around. On a wider level it helps to reduce congestion, gives children more opportunities for exercise, and plays a part in the fight against climate change.”

The rules for local highway authorities and school games organiser host schools (formally School sports partnerships) who receive Bikeability grants are also being changed to allow more flexibility of grant use. Examples include offering training to a greater age range. Currently training is aimed at year six school children but the changes mean that children ranging between school years 5-9 (aged 9-14) will now get the opportunity. Grant recipients will also be able to consider offering the more advanced Level three training. This covers complex road situations to support children cycling in busier areas.

Peter Zanzottera, Bikeability Support Manager, said:

“Steer Davies is proud to be associated with Bikeability as we have been since it started in 2007. With this new contract we offer continuity to all of the stakeholders, parents and children and we anticipate new products and initiatives to swell the numbers of new cyclists.”
________

Notes to Editors

Funds for the support services are worth £2.1 million over 3.5 years subject to contract extensions. Their responsibilities will include providing specialist advice to DfT, making grant payments and looking after all materials associated with the scheme.
Four companies were invited to tender, one later withdrew leaving three suppliers who submitted bids to the Department.
Bids were assessed in accordance with the Public Contracts Regulation 2006.
Steer Davies Gleave was contracted to run the Bikeability support service from November 2008 to September 2011. Before that the company was contracted to develop the service and to help local authorities and school sports partnerships apply for grant funding from the DfT. The company has also run a parallel contract to administer and develop the National Standard for cycle training which underpins Bikeability.
Full details of the changes to the grant rules will be released to grant bidders later this year.
Press Enquiries: 020 7944 3066
Out of Hours: 020 7944 4292
Public Enquiries: 0300 330 3000

**************************************

seventeezlad wrote:Well the Golden Swan proved to be a delightful pub

I'm a bit late, having just seen this thread.
I can also vouch for the Golden Swan - its a good field and in a quiet area.
The ham egg and chips were superb too

I've asked the CTC and await their reply.

Many thanks. The question relates as to how does an independent get to become Bikeability registered?
Links from the Bikeability site don't work.

Does anyone have a link to how to become registered?
Does the scheme exist any more?

I once did a wild-camping fortnight down there in early February.
Other than one day and night when it poured down, and I took refuge in a derelict building, it was great.
Came back with a tan too.

This young lad caught my attention - an 18 year old riding unsupported to Ben Nevis, climbing it, then riding back.
All for a Youth Centre.

It brought back memories of past adventures.

http://whitchurch.org.uk/2011/08/youth- ... d-raising/

stevenmal30 wrote:<mod: The original post in this thread has been removed as it appeared to contain spam. The non-spam part read:>

Hi. I'm seriously considering cycling Lands end to John-O-Groats alone. Anyone ever done it? Anyone have any good advice. For me it will be the furthest I've cycled and on previous long rides we've always had a back up vehicle supplying grub etc. Thanks

Just treat it like a series of day rides. That really is ALL it is. No Big Deal.
No 'Epic-Challenge-Ride-of-a-Lifetime' stuff.

When you go out for a day do you have a back up vehicle?

Treat it for what it is and it will be fun, with no pressures; just the enjoyment of meeting people and seeing our great country with the simplicity of just riding a bike.

John
(I rode it with my 14 year old daughter, and we just took it as it came)