Cycling UK Forum

Foundered or sunk - it's still the same dead horse being flogged (great mixing of metaphors)

While these proposed motions are laudable, and while I might've argue around the details, I hate to say that they are almost certainly irrelevant to the new improved CTC.
These motions have the feel of the sort of proposals that would go before the 'old' club and be passed willingly (and then in all likelihood be forgotten). But in this brave new world where we are no longer members, but supporters, the management almost certainly have no interest in this type of 'micro-campaigning'.
The way that CTC is moving is toward working with other organisations, winning grants, and being a provider of services.
Sorry, but this ship has sailed.

My limited experience has been poor. Prices seem to be inflated by dealers, which in turn leads to private sellers having unrealistic expectations.
Maybe they are fine if you can find exactly what you want and want to touch the grime rather than trusting an eBay seller.

Around my neck of the woods the old A6 from the northern outskirts of Leicester at Rothley to the southern edge of Loughborough is a good road as most through traffic now uses the new dual carriageway A6. The old road - outside the villagers- is wide, with gentle gradients and lightly trafficked.
The B4114 running from the southern edge of Leicester is called 'Coventry Road' as it was the predecessor to the M69 and probably part off the Fosse Way. it's generally a wide fast road, and, outside of the rush hours, isn't too bad traffic-wise. It's really only a useful route between Leicester and High Cross to join the Fosse Way (which runs as a bridleway for a mile or two north from High Cross to Fosse Meadows).

Indeed - as the campaigners say 'it's all about perception, not statistics'. If it feels unsafe then all the numbers in the world won't make that feeling go away.
I generally feel pretty safe when I'm cycling. Most of my riding is in rural / suburban Leicestershire, but even when I was commuting through the city of Leicester I felt quite relaxed.
I am much more aware, as a (supposedly mature) adult of road positioning, choice of route, and making myself visible than ever I was as a youngster; I think I'm also much more aware of my own limitations and vulnerabilities.
The 'problem' is that no-one can guard against the apparent randomness of the type of incident represented in this thread - it could happen to me tomorrow or never at all. In order to get out of bed in the morning I need to evaluate my chances, enhance them as far as I reasonably can, an get on with life.

Vantage wrote:Cycling, whether we like it or not is an increasingly risky activity and the way things are going, I can't see this changing any time soon. We'll be getting killed and maimed in masses before society changes its attitude.

are you sure about the "increasingly risky" part?
I CBA to go hunting out the numbers, but I'm sure that cycling is just about as safe now as it has been in the last 5 years, and considerably safer than at any time since I started cycling in the 1970s.
As with many things, I guess that media - and social media in particular- has made us much more aware of bad things happen in in society. In the 'bad old days' it was rare to hear about cyclists getting killed or injured, indeed, if you were to take the media at face value it might have been possible to believe that motoring, cycling, and many other activities were perfectly risk free as 'accidents' just weren't news-worthy.
I'm not suggesting for one minute that there isn't room for improvement, just that occasionally there's the need to step back and take perspective.

Or as a very minimum provide a bus / rail transfer service for cyclists

Psamathe wrote:I (on my bike) always ignore "Road Closed" signs (but never seen a No Cyclists" black/yellow one). And I always get through. If it really is closed (as has been the case a few times - with metal barriers right across), the workmen have always been happy to move the fences and let me through (and I thank them and explain that the diversion is on a "really dangerous road for cyclists" (they don't know) and also often apologise that I will be coming back again is a few hours). Workmen always seem very happy to cooperate when you are breaking their road closed as long as you don't "push it". So when they are e.g. filling a dumper truck I wait and once the dump truck moves off the workmen wave me through.

I also always think of it as all I have to do is get off the bike and push it along and I'm no longer a cyclist but a pedestrian.

Ian

This has always been my approach - except a couple of weeks ago the workman at the 'entrance' to the closure was happy to let me through and said I could ride, but at the far end I came up against an extremely aggressive mouth-breather who actually frightened me with his 'advice' that I shouldn't be where I was.
In addition I've contacted the highway authority (Leicestershire CC) to get a copy of the TRO as the diversion for cyclists & pedestrians is very long. To date it's not been provided, making me wonder about the legality of the closure.

eBay - tactical bottle holders with Molle fittings - they fit perfectly, while the material is waterproof, they have drawstring closures, but not a problem in my experience. Also there are tactical pouches, which are the same size but with (non-waterproof) zip closures. The Molle fittings can be cut off if you don't think them helpful.

Sorry PH - I'm using your reply as a template as our responses are very similar

Question

How many of the things below do you value as part of your membership?

£10m 3rd party insurance cover – I’m glad to have it, though wouldn’t have any trouble finding an alternative. In the unlikely event of a claim it may be useful to have a cycling specific policy.
Cycle Magazine – I usually enjoy at least some of it, doubt I’d buy it (Or any other magazine) if it wasn’t included.
CTC Incident Line – Never felt the need to use it
CTC training course – Never had the need for them, but it's good that CTC provide them.
CTC maps – Never used them, there’s plenty of free alternatives
Route Information – As above
Cyclists Welcome – I dislike the commercial nature of it, many of the best places won’t pay the subscription
CTC group ride – It's many, many years since I've ridden with a local group as I'm an anti-social b
CTC rides & events – I’ve enjoyed a few in different parts of the country albeit at least 20 years ago

I haven’t used any of the discounts, and think that they are somewhere between a distraction and misleading

What do you think is missing from this list?The 3rd party insurance is accepted by AUK, as a non AUK member entering Audaxs is cheaper

Heritage : I like the sense of belonging to an organisation that has a significant history and (had) important traditions

Campaigning - It may not be a direct benefit for an individual, but I consider it a benefit to all cyclists

I have read (but, no, I can't remember where) that when the Highways Agency is replaced by Highways England (see http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/d326d838-c346 ... z3Vz48sLqF ) one of the options they are seriously considering is removing NMUs from large sections of their network - primarily major A roads.
I can't see what this will achieve from their perspective other than removing troublesome, disparate groups of users that they have to provide for in different ways.
I would welcome good quality parallel routes, but I can't see it ever happening!

The problem with the A45 (the bit I know anyway) is that it is a continuation of Motorway' and some / many drivers consider it to be 'just more motorway' and expect everyone else to do the same ie they don't want cyclists / tractors on that bit of road.
It's the same as the A46 near me, it is 'just' a continuation of the M1.
Volvo's magic spray won't solve this type of arrogance.

I thought the purpose of a cape was to roll it up, and strap it to your saddlebag to show you are a 'real tourist'

I used to have this dilemma (though not with CTC) when I was an OU student - full ISIC card, but not full-time student. I think CTC is among many organisations that haven't caught up with modern methods of study, including modern apprenticeships, distance learning etc,etc.

gaz wrote:A bit more digging shows that CTC Travel Ltd was registered by CTC in 1967 and sold in 1980. I don't know why it was registered, sold or how we got from then to now.

It does suggest that CTC holidays haven't been in house for around 35 years, it might be just a little late to start discussing it now .

I'm not sure that CTC Travel was equivalent to the current tour organisation. I recall it as being much more of a general travel agency type affair, certainly in the mid 70s.