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National and regional press releases in reverse order with the most
recent first ..
2010
(for 2009 - 2006 articles please click on Archived Items)
For Right to Play's Charity Cycle Ride linking up with the Tour de France, click here
Guiness Book of Records Circumnavigation of the World Interim Report
For the Round Britain Cycle Ride, click here
Vin Cox, 34, completed his 18,172 mile trip in London’s Greenwich at 3pm on Sunday after 176 days on the road. The previous Guinness World Record was held by Mark Beaumont who did the journey in 195 days in 2008.
Mr Cox, a National Standards (Cycling) Instructor from Cornwall, set out from Greenwich on 7 February and has taken 12 plane and boat transfers, crossed six continents and cycled through more than 20 countries. He took on the challenge to raise money for the Geoff Thomas Foundation, which works with the blood cancer charity Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research to get advanced new treatments to patients more quickly.
He said: “I am delighted to have finished and to have set a new record.
“I planned a pretty adventurous route and it has meant that I’ve had an incredibly broad experience of different cultures and climates – all the things which make cycling both difficult and exciting. I’ve met some amazing local people and other adventurers along the way.”
“The ride has kept on throwing up adversity for me to overcome – a severe bout of dysentery which meant I couldn’t ride for two days, endless headwinds in Australia and a pass closed due to snow in California. That’s all on top of the conditions you naturally plan for such as the heat in Death Valley, Nevada and Arizona.”
Mr Cox’s journey took him through France, across Northern Africa, across Asia, then through Australia, Northern America and then up through Spain and France and a final leg from Plymouth to Greenwich.
Geoff Thomas, who played football for England and Crystal Palace until he battle leukaemia in 2003, said: “What Vin has achieved is absolutely incredible. I completed the Tour de France after going into remission from my leukaemia and that was one of the toughest things I have ever done.
"To cycle ten-times that distance uninterrupted and keep going takes an amazing amount of physical and mental strength – it’s inspirational.”
____________________________________________________________
CYCLIST SETS NEW RECORD FOR PEDALLING ROUND THE WORLD
By Kate Cunningham, Monday August 2nd 2010
A CYCLIST took the chequered flag yesterday after setting a new record for pedalling around the world. Vin Cox, 34, battled illness and severe weather conditions to cover more than 100 miles a day and completed the 18,172-mile trip in 176 days.
After setting off from the Royal Observatory at Greenwich on Sunday February 7th 2010, he cycled across more than 20 countries in Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia and North, Central and South America. He arrived back at his starting point at 3pm yesterday, Sunday August 1st 2010.
Mr Cox from Par, in Cornwall, who is a National Standards (Cycling) Instructor, said: “I enjoyed it but I’m happy it’s over. The biggest challenges were North Africa and India because I was hitting temperatures of 30C and 40C after coming from freezing conditions in London and France. It was overwhelming.”
He stayed with friends who had emigrated from the UK in Singapore, Bangkok and New Zealand. But he said he had “met some amazing local people and other adventurers on the way”.
Mr Cox took on the challenge to raise money for the Geoff Thomas Foundation, which helps blood cancer sufferers gain access to life-saving treatments. He hopes to have the record confirmed by Guinness World Records within the next couple of days.
____________________________________________________________
By Dave Atkinson - Posted on 02 August 2010
The pile of unratified records in the Guinness World Record in tray is one taller this morning after Vin Cox completed the latest circumnavigation by bike at the weekend.
Vin Cox, who left Greenwich on 7 February, was welcomed back to the Meridian on Sunday 1 August after 176 days on the road. He was raising money for the Geoff Thomas Foundation.
Cox, 34, was quoted in the Telegraph as saying: “I am delighted to have finished and to have set a new record. I planned a pretty adventurous route and it has meant that I’ve had an incredibly broad experience of different cultures and climates – all the things which make cycling both difficult and exciting. I’ve met some amazing local people and other adventurers along the way.”
“The ride has kept on throwing up adversity for me to overcome – a severe bout of dysentry which meant I couldn’t ride for two days, endless headwinds in Australia and a pass closed due to snow in California. That’s all on top of the conditions you naturally plan for such as the heat in Death Valley, Nevada and Arizona.”
Cox was working as a National Standards (Cycling) Instructor in Cornwall before he left but he's also well known in the region as a competitive cyclist, regularly winning Western League Cyclocross events, and as such is the first competitive cyclist to have undertaken the circumnavigation. In keeping with his chosen discipline he completed the ride on a Genesis Croix de Fer cyclocross bike. He's also the first cyclist to have included Africa and South America in his route, which crossed every continent except Antarctica.
Cox's attempt at the record is the latest in a line of circumnavigations which are, so far as we're aware, yet to be ratified by the bean counters at Guinness. Currently the record still rests with Mark Beaumont, whose standard of 194 days and 17 hours from 5 August 2007 to 15 February 2008 has certainly been bettered by one of the three rides that have been completed in the last year. So, let's have a recap:
First off was James Bowthorpe, who set off on 29 March 2009 and arrived back in London on 20 September. He rounded up his time to 175 days, from 174 days and 4 hours. Guinness rules state that the clock stops during transfers by another form of transport, but is running at all other times. James took 11 flights in total and these will be detailed in his record submission.
Next to go was Julian Sayarer, a London courier who set off from Rouen cathedral on his attempt on 10 June. Although his elapsed time was longer at 178 days he claimed 13 days of transfers in his sumbission, due to having to wait for flights. There were also questions raised at the time about his route, which appeared to fall foul of the Guinness rules.
Vin Cox's attempt comprises a ride of 176 days, which 12 boat and plane transfers along the way. His route appears comply with all the rules and it'll be interesting to see how the transfers add up on the submission; it looks to be a close run thing between James and Vin assuming that Julian's much faster time is discounted which, given the evidence we have, we think will be the case.
Whatever happens, it's a bit early to be lauding Vin as the new record holder like the Telegraph and the Express are this morning, but it's a fantastic effort and we wish Vin all the best with his record submission. If you'd like to donate to the Geoff Thomas Foundation head to Vin's JustGiving page
  
Wednesday 28th July 2010
Congratulations to the Brussels to London Cyclists
 200 people cycled for 3 days, through 3 countries, covering nearly 300 miles. This fantastic group of people pushed themselves, made loads of new friends and witnessed some breathtaking scenery but most importantly they will make a huge impact to children in some of the most disadvantaged areas of the world. Their collective fundraising efforts are large enough to ensure that 10,000 children can take part in Right To Play programmes and receive an education based on health, tolerance and peace this year.
Amongst those who rode, was four of RTP's London office staff, Will Bennett who is their University & Education Partnerships Manager, Will Morgan who intially went to them whilst still at university and stayed, who is their Strategic Partnerships Manager, Stacey Cram who is their Operations Manager and last but not least, Events Assistant Leo Matlock.
In addition there, the Managing Director of Wildoo, who specialise in sourcing and supplying custom branded products including bottles, cycle clothing and loads of bike parts. As a company, Wildoo supplied the RTP Brussels to London ride bottles FoC as sponsorship for the event as well as the official RTP ride jerseys on a non profit basis, which each cyclist was given.
A four strong team from EFG Private Bank Limited's London office who gave up some of thrit annual leave to do the ride and exceeded their £4000 target on top of sponsoring the all the jerseys. Their bank group (H.O) EFG International have adopted RTP as their group charity raising in excess of $700,000.00 in the last few years.
Graham Carter, who works for IBM also exceeded his fundraising target with the final total still rising, which is swelled further for every £100 raised by his contributing £25 himself .. As with the other professionals, he also used annual leave to participate in the ride. The majority of the cyclists were students however, whose academic year was already over.
The SW was well represented with Helen Blamey, who is originally from Truro but has been studying at Royal Holloway. Helen acted as a ride leader, having also done the 2009 Edingburgh to London ride for RTP as well. Several other students included Esta Berry from Teignmouth studying at Bournemouth University, Wendy Creed from Truro studying at Plymouth University through the Cornish University Campus programme and her son Richard, who is studying at Truro College, were just some of the other cyclists who participated..
Anyone who wishes to donate in recognition of their endeavours, please click on the button which will take you to Richard and Wendy's fundraising page .. 
Next year they are hoping to make it a true family affair as Wendy's daughter Andee, is also hoping to participate. She is also studying at Truro College, hoping to then go to Beijing Languages and Culture University in 2011 to study Mandarin and learn about Chinese culture on the China Pathways programme.
       
To see pictures from this year's event, click here to go to the RTP page on Facebook
Brunel student creates missing link for cyclists
14 July 2010
The Link gear system designed by student
Chris Holloway has been patented by Brunel University
A final-year industrial design student
from Brunel University has won an award for inventing a new gear
system, called Link, for downhill mountain bikes. Chris
Holloway, who graduates from Brunel University, west London, this
summer, won the Xerox Innovation Award for designing a safer system
for gear changing downhill, a well-known problem among cyclists.
’While every other part of the modern
mountain bike has changed to meet the modern demands of downhill
racing, the gear system has barely changed for more than 100 years.
For the pinnacle of the sport, it is clear that a better alternative
had to be found,’ Holloway said.
Holloway’s design came about from his
personal experience in downhill racing, both as a rider and a
spectator. His ’Link’ gear system is an expanding chain ring gear
system that can replace the old chain-and-sprocket system.
Essentially, the four segments in it expand and contract to give
three different gear ratio sizes. An important design feature is
that each segment moves out independently, and this is what makes it
capable of being used with a chain and not just a smooth drive belt.
The young designer told The Engineer that the advantages of the new
design included seamless shifting, higher efficiency, longer chain
and sprocket life, as well as improved weight distribution.
’On full suspension bikes, it is important to minimise unsprung
weight to obtain the maximum performance. By removing the rear
derailleur and cassette, the mass is relocated between the riders
feet and away from the suspension, which gives much better small
bump response, as well as increased grip and cornering ability,’
Holloway said.
As the system is designed to fit around a standard four-bolt
mountain bike crank set and standard BB mounting, the advantages of
the new system can be obtained on almost any modern DH bike or
frame.
British man draws near to Round the World cycling record
Fri, 02/07/2010
A cyclist from Cornwall is on target to break the world record for cycling around the world.
Vin Cox, 34, is ahead of schedule to beat the current record of 195 days. He is taking on the challenge to raise money for the Geoff Thomas Foundation, which works with the blood cancer charity Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research to get advanced new treatments to patients more quickly.
Vin, a cyclo-cross champion racer, departed on the 18,172-mile trip from Greenwich on 7 February 2010 and he is on course to arrive back at the same point towards the end of July. The current record was set in 2008 by Scottish cyclist Mark Beaumont, who averaged approximately 95 miles per day.
Vin is currently on schedule to beat the record by approximately 20 days, despite facing unfavourable cycling conditions. He said: “The ride has kept on throwing up adversity for me to overcome – it’s good for me, but each time it’s tough to go through.
"Recently I’ve come up against endless headwinds in Australia, a ‘weather bomb’ in New Zealand and a pass closed due to snow in California. That’s all on top of the conditions you naturally plan for such as the heat in Death Valley, Nevada and Arizona. I need a few breaks to get the distance covered, but I’m still on target.”
There is no set route for round the world Guinness World Record attempts but it must be at least 18,000 miles and not involve any back-tracking. Vin’s route involves 12 plane and boat transfers and takes him through six different continents and across more than 20 countries. He would be the first record holder to visit Africa and South America on the journey
He said: “I planned a pretty adventurous route and so far it’s meant that I’ve had an incredibly broad experience of different cultures and climates - all the things which make cycling both difficult and exciting. I’ve met some amazing local people and other adventurers along the way.”
“I hope my ride will inspire some people and also raise awareness and money for the Geoff Thomas Foundation. Geoff’s goal of increasing access to life-saving treatments for people with blood cancers is so important. It’s been a great motivator on some of the more gruelling parts of my ride.”
Geoff Thomas said: “What Vin has achieved so far is in his record attempt is absolutely incredible. I completed the Tour de France after going into remission from my leukaemia and that was one of the toughest things I have ever done.
"To cycle ten-times that distance uninterrupted and keep going takes an amazing amount of physical and mental strength – it’s inspirational.” Vin’s journey has so far taken him through France, across Northern Africa, across Asia, then through Australia and he is currently cycling across Northern America.
He will then catch a flight to South America, where he will cycle across Argentina and Chile, before heading up through Spain, France and arriving back in the UK.
Support Vin
People can get involved by visiting www.greatbikeride.com, where they can support Vin’s fundraising efforts for the Geoff Thomas Foundation, follow his progress on twitter and join his facebook group.
 
The Bike Week that was .. and what a great week!!
Monday 28th June. 18.49hrs
Just a few things that went on in the Cornwall and border areas
   
It all kicked off working with a teenager who had not cycled since she was a toddler and was convinced that she would not be able to remember either .. but the old adage of never forgetting how to ride a bike proved to be correct. She was not only away quite literally, within a couple of minutes but continued for 5 miles UPHILL along the Plymbridge Trail to the tunnel, from the car park in the woods at the bottom! We were fortunate enough to have had the added bonus of nesting peregrin falcons in the quarry as well.
The young lady in question even left her mother and instructor having to really 'go for it' to keep up and ended the day with a huge smile on her face, saying how wonderful it was to have discovered the freedom of cycling! Next stop will be Haldon Woods in July for off training with colleagues Sam Cann and her daughter Calamaty Jane, running sessions for young people between the age of 11 - 16, with British Cycling as part of a race series.
During the week all the SW Instructors were engaged in teaching in the local schools in conjunction with both the local School Sports Partnerships and the schools themselves. The Cornish Festival of Cycling run by Mobilise - a Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Primary Care Trust project and Cornwall Council, went into schools in Bude and Stratton and culminated in a weekend of fun at the Eden Project.
The schools enjoyed Dr Bike cycle health checks, cycle skills, a cycle simulator and smoothie maker, a 'Build a Brompton' exercise, a road safety quiz, a series of cycle-related lessons and bring your bike sessions. All primary schools in the county were also offered free cycling-related lesson plans, invited to enter a competition and encouraged to hold their own Festival of Cycling.
Graeme Hicks, Cornwall Council Cabinet Member for Transportation and Highways, says: “Using a bike for fun or for travel is a fantastic way of staying fit and is really good for the environment. “We want to see people of all ages getting on their bikes and enjoying the glorious Cornish countryside. It’s especially important for young people to get involved in cycling early on – it’s a great way of gaining independence and learning valuable road safety skills.”
To this end, at the Eden Project there was an area provided by the Council with lists taken from the Bikeability and CTC websites of Instructors in the area. The SW Instructors Cooperative also provided some freebie handouts for both parents and children alike plus some of their instructors further provided their own leaflets detailing the variety of services they offer.
Wendy Creed of RSCT, who was the original accredited independent instructor involved in the Bikeability Pilot from September 2006 to March 2007 said "It was also a great opportunity for networking with both new colleagues and potential clients as the new cycle training scheme, Bikeability, is designed for anyone young or old. It was also wonderful to attend an event run by the Cornish, for the Cornish as well as the county's numerous visitors."
The Eden Project event included Revolve Bicycle Works’ Dr Bike cycle health checks, information on local routes and trails (from cycling charity Sustrans, Cornwall Council and national cyclists’ association CTC), bike tagging with Devon and Cornwall Constabulary and free aero cycle sessions from Polkyth Leisure Centre. Saturday also saw a BMX demonstration and the Big Top Mania Cycle Circus with unusual bikes of all shapes and sizes available to try out.
On Sunday, Era Adventures provided an obstacle course for bikes with the public being invited to take part in a series of rides starting at Eden, with a short ride along the Clay Trail to Bugle on Saturday and on Sunday a more challenging trail for more experienced riders from Eden to GossMoor. Later on Sunday afternoon, the Probus Pedlars primarily consisting of the staff from Probus Surgery but included Bike Shop owner Fred Mitchell from Clive Mitchell Cycles in Truro, arrived at Lands End two weeks after they had left John O'Groats, averaging approximately 80 miles a day.
Louise Rowe, Green Travel Manager for EDF Energy in the South West said: “We’re delighted to be sponsoring Team Green Britain Bike Week. Team Green Britain has launched a fun-filled summer of inspiring activities to get the nation working together to think and act green and there are cycling events happening across the country.
  
Cycling Design arrives .. 11 years later
Wednesday 9th June 2010, 12.32hrs
Scotland's national cycle design guide Cycling by Design has finally been published, 11 years after the initial consultation document was produced! We're assured that it's been extensively updated, but it will remain a live document and suggestions from transport practitioners are welcome.
Cycling by Design is published by Transport Scotland for use by practitioners throughout Scotland. The primary focus of the document is the establishment of guidance to ensure consistent and appropriate design. Transport Scotland requires those working on trunk road projects to follow the guidance within Cycling by Design. It is commended to local authorities and others.
ISBN: 978-1-906006-68-6
ENDS
Celebrity Bike Auction
4th June 2010, 16.04hrs
The Team Green Britain Bike Week celebrities have designed their dream bikes, inspired by everything from the film Grease, retro fashion and English summertime to fluffy clouds, pets, the environment and a make do and mend mentality.
Phillip Darnton, Chairman of Cycling England, said: “These dream bikes have been brought to life with a mixture of old and new bicycle parts and they all look fantastic."
These bikes have been given a new lease of life by three social enterprises: Bikeworks, London; The Bike Station, Scotland and Oxford Cycle Workshop, Oxford. The bikes are on display at the London Transport Museum until 16th June.
The auction will take place in two stages:
*FULL TERMS AND CONDITIONS APPLY.
To see what our celebrities have to say about Team Green Britain Bike Week and view their drawings, click here. CELEBRITY BIKE EXHIBITION ..
Why not check out the bikes for yourself as they will be on be on display at the London Transport Museum in Covent Garden from 9th - 16th June.
     
Cyclists urged to help tackle biggest cycling safety mystery
Wednesday June 2nd 2010, 17.22
NHS Bristol, working in partnership with Greater Bristol's Cycling City team and the West of England Road Safety Partnership, is urging cyclists to help find out more about what causes ‘non-collision cycling incidents’.
The vast majority of non-collision incidents are mere inconveniences that may not lead to injury at all, but in England last year, 8,540 cyclists were admitted to a hospital bed in an emergency following a non-collision incident – more than four times of all those knocked off their bikes by cars, pick up trucks, vans lorries and buses (http://www.hesonline.nhs.uk)
Non-collision incidents are probably caused by all sorts of things: slipping on ice, hitting potholes, bad bike maintenance, getting clothing caught, doing tricks and even riding under the influence of alcohol are all possible causes. But because the police are rarely involved, we know little about the pattern of incidents and injuries that result. However, since they do not involve anybody else, the cyclist is more in control of the events that lead to these incidents. If we can raise awareness of the biggest causes, we can reduce the numbers of injuries.
Cllr Jon Rogers, Bristol City Council Executive Member for Cycling City said:
“By giving cyclists the knowledge to keep themselves on the road, we hope to encourage more people out onto their bikes.”
“It’s interesting that the biggest hazards cyclists face appears to be, more or less, under our own influence, as I know all too well after slipping on wet leaves last year and breaking my collar bone.”
“By carrying out this survey into the causes of non-collision incidents, we hope to help people avoid the irritating incidents that can sometimes result in serious injury.”
NHS Bristol and the Cycling City team are urging people with experience of a non-collision incident, no matter how trivial or serious, to log onto http://www.betterbybike.info/non-collision-incidents and tell us more about it.
This project is part of Cycling City’s plans to get more people cycling, more safely and more often in Bristol and South Gloucestershire but would encourage all those who have been involved in non-collision incidents to complete the questionnaire.
Point of contact for any queries:
Rob Benington, Injury Prevention manager, NHS Bristol
Tel: 0117 900 2235, email: Rob.benington@bristolpct.nhs.uk
What is this survey about?
Most cyclists have come into an ‘unplanned contact’ with the ground at some point. Perhaps something goes wrong like slipping, part of the bike not working, losing balance or getting distracted. Normally, these incidents are just minor inconveniences – unpleasant, but not serious. But there are a lot of them, and non-collision injuries result in many hospital admissions each year. We need to find out how they happen.
Please:
What we already know
The police record many details about collisions involving cyclists. The STATS 19 database is often reviewed to learn how collision injuries might be avoided. One of the latest reports on collisions is here. But quite often, no-one else is around when non-collision incidents happen and the police are very rarely involved, so we don’t know much about them. This is the first serious attempt to gather information about non-collision cycling incidents and injuries in the UK that have not been captured by STATS19.
Why we need your help
You are really important. Your experience is vital in helping make cycling a pleasant and safe experience. Whether it’s just a minor inconsequential tumble, or a serious non-collision incident, we want to know about them to build up a better picture.
Please forward this link to your friends!
Editors notes
· Non-collision injuries do not involve collisions with lampposts, trees or other ‘fixed and stationary objects’, other cyclists, or pedestrians.
· All figures quoted in this press release are from Hospital Episode Statistics produced by the NHS from records supplied by Hospital Trusts in England. Causes of admissions are coded according to the International Classification of Diseases 10, which includes 49 transport accident and collision codes.
· Non-collision injuries to cyclists resulting in 9,584 people needing to be admitted to a hospital bed in England during 2007/08. In 2007/08, 8,666 of the 9,584 admissions (90%) of admissions were emergency admissions.
· Admission to hospital is different from attendance at an emergency department where typically people are treated as an outpatient. Only people with the most serious circumstances are admitted. We do not have any reliable figures about the numbers treated in Emergency Departments as a result of non-collision cycling incidents.
· Road collisions that are attended by a police officer are recorded in the STATS19 database. Non-collision cycling injuries are very unlikely to appear in this database.
· The average age of all non-collision cycling admissions is currently 25 years.
· NHS organisations and their partners are working to reduce emergency admissions to hospital, and need to understand the causes of non-collision injuries so that appropriate safety messages can be integrated with publicity promoting the many health benefits of activity such as cycling and walking.
Non-collision injuries are not subject to the ‘safety-in-numbers’ phenomenon (Jacobsen, 2003) that has been observed to result in reduction in injury rate due to collision between cyclists and other vehicles as the numbers of cyclists increase.
History, modernity and nature’s bounty are some of the reasons why London is one of the favoured destinations in the world. With time, people have come up with various ways of embarking on discovering the wonders of London, and one of them is cycling.
Cycling has revolutionised from a mode of day-to-day transport and a sport into an attraction, where cycling has become integral part of travelling. With more and more people taking up bikes rather than taking trips in vehicles, they are able to see more and more of the city than before.
With the introduction of cycle tours which are carried out during the day, it will take you all over London by the preferred choice of transport, a mountain bike. Starting from London’s Queensway Underground Station Exit, the entire tour lasts an approximate four hours.
The tours have been designed to highlight some of the new and veteran sights on London. The cycling which starts in the centre of the city, passes some of the finest sights in the city such as Hyde Park, Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, Big Ben and the Parliament. Apart from the main highlights, the other attractions include the likes of Kensington Palace & Park, Westminster Abbey, Princess Diana’s Memorial, St. James Park, the Royal Albert Memorial and the Cabinet War Rooms.
Take a spin on your mountain bike around London, with family or friends, as the tours are also offered to children. All the routes that have been selected for the tours ensures that traffic are avoided, and would give each participant a chance to see the attractions in a more up close manner, not normally accessible or viewable if the tour was taken by car.
What better way to explore London, than on two wheel and great company? Take a cycle tour today!
- ENDS -
 
Cycle training “more important than helmets”, says IAM poll
1st May 2010
Cycle Experience to gain ITO status.
15th April 2010
From ITP to ITO. One little letter, one big step up in nationwide quality assurance.
Cycle Experience will become an Instructor Training Organisation (ITO) over the summer, in line with the DfT guidelines for quality assured instructor training. Along with our tried and tested instructor training courses, we will also be offering Instructor Trainer Training courses (ITT) and Assistant Instructor courses. All our successful trainees will become members of our ITO with a guarantee of training updates and CPD.
In future, Cycling England will only pay bursaries to instructors who train with an ITO. The DfT will only fund Bikeability courses that use ITO registered instructors. The aim behind these changes is to encourage all training providers to attain the same high professional standard that Cycle Experience already provides and clear away those outfits that do not do a good job because they are too small, too part time, or simply ill informed about what cycle training involves.
Related posts:
  Guinness World Record for
Circumnavigation of the World by Bicycle
15th April 2010
Vin Cox "I started at 0 longitude, now I'm at 0 latitude., the Equator."
A summary of the last 8 weeks ..
Weeks have passed since an on Vin’s progress on his ‘Great Bike Ride’ for those who cannot access his ‘fb’ page. We at home have been just dealing with the day to day, looking forward to Easter and the longer, warmer days of spring. All the while Vin has been putting away the miles and has clocked up well over 6,000 miles to date.
Easily said 6,000 but for those of us watching his daily progress we know just how hard it has been. His days in Africa were something of a trial, due to the oft-changing diet which presented his stomach with some real issues. He then had to chase time to reach airport in time for a flight connection. At the same time, he was fighting all imaginable things from dangerous drivers, passing livestock, to relentless headwinds, the curse of all cyclists.
Vin has provided us with a window into a world that the normal traveller never sees. Reading the weekly summary of his challenge is proving to be a real gem. I would urge you all to make a note to catch them as you will find them an enjoyable read and enlightening to boot.
Week four saw Vin heading into Egypt and contending with endless paperwork, all good humoured I believe but a nightmare for someone on a world record breaking schedule. Once across the border the reality of poverty in the country overshadowed the early days but Egypt is a country of many historic places which lent a balance to the journey as Vin pedalled his way through Alexandria.
Quote “131.3mi and now in Alexandria after meeting up with Ahmed from Cycle Egypt outside the historic Library (having cycled past the port and the citadel where the great lighthouse once stood in antiquity too).” Unquote. History overwhelmed, but not quite as much as the traffic ... Tobruk, with its war graves and onto the tax free zone of Port Said, its chaos and crowds.
Police on the Suez Canal did not like the look of a lone cyclist pedalling alongside the canal and it took a certain amount of time to convince them that truly cycling was all that was Vin’s mind, not spying as they supposed before being allowed to cross the ‘Friendship Bridge’ to the other side. On his final night in the country the hospitality of the Egyptians resulted in Vin being fed and watered by teachers at a local school, providing him with a bed for the night, all for free. They were delighted to meet a crazy Englishman on an adventure and Vin was bowled over by their generosity
Jordan was a quiet interlude really as very Western in many ways. Vin’s description of the place ‘a giant airport lounge’. There was however the ever-present worries about miles covered, what food was safe to eat and where to sleep. His visit to the ancient city of Petra was the highlight as he was able to enjoy the peace of the place before the coach loads appeared. How envious are we?
Picking up a flight at the end of his Jordan leg saw Vin moving onto India. India has a traveller reputation. Everyone has a tale to tell about some visit or other and all are hair- raising. Vin had his own to add to those of others. The aspect of the country is very different from the saddle of a bike and Vin seems to have enjoyed it all immensely.
The heat and that special smell of India were as he remembered. The roads were worse. Every one an obstacle course, with him having to dodge endless trucks, cows and the beggars. Trucks travel slow and seemingly he was able to have conversations with passengers on the back as he rode alongside.
On climbs Vin’s legs could outstrip the trucks and the drivers became determined to get ahead of the ‘bicycle man’ on the descents. A game of cat and mouse would ensue. The problem of a different diet and Vin’s stomach resurfaced and he spent a couple of days coping with the trots again. Shorter days of riding resulted in a chance for the saddle sores to ease and gave the watchers at home another worrying time.
He had mixed emotions in India as parts were exquisite, the people beautiful and food divine. However between Vin and the beauty was squalor, poverty, begging and street side toilet facilities. As he rode through the country he saw the landscape change, as he climbed the air became cleaner and the countryside greener and the real beauty of the country was revealed. As much as he learned to love the variety the countryside Vin was ready to see a different culture, taste new foods and kiss the grime of India off his body by the time he reached the end of this leg.
The flight out of West Bengal and into Bangkok did not disappoint. Happy laughing faces greeted him at the airport, very different from India. A bonus to his arrival at Bangkok was a call from friends living there. So many weeks without having a conversation with anyone but a stranger takes its toll and Vin is no different from any of us. Hearing the voices of his friends giving him instructions on how to find them left him weeping with the sheer emotion of it all.
His friends were just the sort you want at times like this. They washed his clothes, sorted out bike servicing and allowed him to enjoy a brief spell of family life, a recharging of his batteries. Thai roads were like velvet carpets in comparison to India and the riding seemed to flow as a consequence. Vin made an error of judgement when booking his flight out of Singapore.
He had not really calculated the distance he had to cover and the days required, net result, he realised that he would have to cycle a minimum of 150 miles a day to get that flight. And cycle those daily miles he did. No mean feat but then Vin likes a challenge! It was about this time (31st March) that Mark Beaumont, the current world record holder who inspired Vin in the first instance, sent him a video message, encouraging and supporting him on his travels.
There was so much to see in Thailand and all too soon it felt as if Vin was pedalling over the border and into Malaysia. His fears that this Muslim country would not be as easy to ride through as Thailand which had convenience stores, working ATMs and readily available food including Cornetto ice cream. His fears were all unfounded. On approaching one of the ATMs he met up with a cyclist who like Vin, was riding from Bangkok to Singapore and they spent an enjoyable evening together swapping cycling tales. Mick (the other rider) declined to ride with Vin next day as didn’t feel he could cope with the schedule Vin had set so he set off on another early start on his own, the norm.
At the end of this leg a third of the world miles have disappeared under Vin’s wheels and this has been achieved in one third of his estimated record setting time. Flying out of Malaysia and onto Sumatra will bring a whole load of new adventures. Why not follow these adventures through Vin’s diary via the website www.greatbikeride.com and see the world through his eyes.
A whole lot easier than attempting your own round the world ride and the people he is meeting, is really adding colour to the journey, right down to the hospitality of a police chief, who offered him a cell for the night – but he declined politely, and opted for a hotel instead!
He has now crossed the equator and said at the time “I started at 0 longitude, now I'm at 0 latitude. The equator”, which was on Monday 12th April. Since then he has changed route due to the roads which were limiting his mileage. This was agreed by the Guinness World Records prior to the switch being made, due to the roads having being affected by the recent earthquake in Sumatra which no-one could have foreseen, so he is now in Java instead where the roads are considerably better or in Vin’s words “59.5mi half day. Nice motorcyclist guided me to posh hotel. Traffic has attitude, but roads are fast”.
  
From L-R: Leaving Greenwich on 7/2/2010, a little light maintenance in Egypt and the transportation of coal in India.
As a footnote but no less important is a message about the charity Vin has promised to raise money for with his great bike ride. For every mile ridden Vin has promised to match with a pound raised. Please donate some money no matter how small. Vin accesses the fund total to see how it is faring and I know it helps motivate him on the ride when he sees the total growing.
The work the charity Geoff Thomas Foundation is immeasurable and to both donate and read the details of their work please visit their site either by the link from Vin’s website or direct on theirs www.geoffthomasfoundation.com
Right to Play's Charity Cycle Ride linking up with the Tour de France
April 10th, British Cycle Training in Idless Woods, Truro
South West Training Activity Sessions 2010
11th March 2010
Go Ride Race South West .. Jodi Vickery, Go Ride South West Coach
The South West Go Ride Team are to host their own Go Ride Race Series offering young people in the region who are new to the sport a fantastic opportunity to take part in a series of 4 Go Ride Races. Not only are they offering a series of Go Race but also providing some training and activity sessions at the same venues to prepare the riders for what fun lie’s ahead prior taking part in their first Go Race!
The opportunity arose when South West’s Go Ride Coach Jodi Vickery decided to approach ex race pals Jay and Maddie Horton of Fully Sussed who were organising a Regional Cross Country Mountain Bike series. From her experience and local race knowledge of Mountain biking in the region she recognised an opportunity not to be missed using some top race venues that even the pro’s wouldn’t wish to miss!!
We all know how daunting the concept of your first race can be, when everyone looks like they have far greater experience and what looks like very specialist equipment. This often proves a barrier to competition for many riders new to the sport. This is where the races and training/activity days are aimed at novice riders from ages 8-16yrs who may be totally new to the sport, joined a Go Ride club, or simply taken part in school coaching sessions.
Jodi also felt it was a great way of showing the young riders how they can progress from Go Race to Regional Competition by linking in with the South West Series and allowing the Go Race to take priority on the timetable to enable the Go Racers to stay on and watch the pro’s!! There is no obligation what so ever to take part in both the training days and the Go Race, however it is advisable to take part in the training days if you wish to Go Race.
- BC Race Licences are not required to take part.
- When signing up for all 4 training days you will receive your very own Go Ride jersey!!
- Activity/training sessions: - Go Ride Race:
Saturday 10 April Idless Woods, Truro Sunday 11 April Idless Woods, Truro
Saturday 12 June Newnham Park, Plymouth Thursday evening 13 May Newnham Park, Plymouth
Wednesday 28 July Haldon Woods, Exeter Sunday 13 June Newnham Park, Plymouth
Thursday 19 August Haldon Woods, Exeter Thursday evening 19 August Haldon Woods, Exeter
Bikes and helmets are available on request all you need to do otherwise is complete a Go-Ride Race entry form available on the day or you can either
'CLICK HERE' to download it and either send it to Jodi Vickery or if time does not permit, bring it with you and pay your £1 levi on site!!
For the training/activity days these are offered on a separate basis whether you want to Go-Race or not, these 4 training days are £30 and on signing up you receive your very own Go-Ride jersey!! Click on the link below for all details.
http://new.britishcycling.org.uk/search/article/goridest-South-West-Region-Holiday-Coaching-Programmes
Alternatively contact South West Go-Ride Coach
Jodi Vickery 07534 281 268 Email jodivickery@britishcycling.org.uk
or Regional South West Manager Chris Yates 07940 738 361
LIMITED PLACES & JERSEYS AVAILABLE SO BOOK TODAY!!
CROSS COUNTRY MOUNTAIN BIKING TRAINING/ACTIVITY SESSIONS ages 7-16 yrs
Saturday 10th April 10 - 2pm
Idless Woods Nr Truro (Go Race Sun)
Saturday June 12th 10 - 2pm
Newnham Park Plymouth (Go Race Sun)
Wednesday 28th July (Go Race as below)
Haldon Woods 10 - 2pm
Thursday 19th August 10 - 4pm (Go Race 4:30pm)
Haldon Woods Exeter
All of the above venues and training days are in conjunction & prep for the go race SW Series of the same weekend & also run in to the thurs evening races. However you do not have to participate in the go races. Please see additional poster for details or contact below.
Limited bikes & helmets available on booking.
Go Ride Training £30 for 4 days ~ Receive a free jersey!!
Go Race : £1 per race
The site at Newnham must not be ridden outside of allocated race/training times.
 
 British bicyclist on a quest to circle the globe in 99 days
by Gene Bisbee at 08:51AM (PDT) on April 5, 2010
 A 45-year-old British bicyclist and bar owner set off from Thailand last week in an attempt to smash the around-the-world bicycling record by shaving more than two months off the current best time. Alan Bates proposes to accomplish the 18,000-mile journey in 99 days, eclipsing the fastest time of 165 days set by Julian Sayarer, 23, just last year.
The feat requires that Bate ride his bicycle an average 180 miles a day, compared to the 109 miles a day ridden by Sayarer last year. The past couple of years have seen many attacks on the bicycling record to circumnavigate the globe -- all by British bicyclists.
World record
The standing Guinness World Record holder is still Scotland's Mark Beaumont, who completed the journey in 195 days in 2008. Two faster rides in 2009 by Sayarer (165 days) and James Bowthorpe (176 days) are still being validated by the Guinness organization. Bates also is British, but now makes his permanent home in Bangkok, where he runs a bicycle museum and cycle-themed cafe and bar.
Team support
A major difference between Bates's attempt and the journeys completed by Beaumont, Bowthorpe and Sayarer is that Bates is taking a support team with him. The other three accomplished their journeys solo, loading their bicycles down with all their gear and handling all the arrangements as they went along. Not taking anything away from Bates -- 180 miles a day is amazing -- it seems that his attempt should be in a different category (supported) than the previous attempts (unsupported.)
Bates's ride is bank-rolled to the tune of $230,000 by the Thailand-based Boonrawd brewery, according to an interview in the Runcorn & Widnes Weekly News, his former hometown newspaper in the UK. Bate has dedicated his ride to the king and queen of Thailand. Since relocating to Thailand, he was set two long-distance endurance bicycling records in that country. London-based Red Spokes Cycling Adventure Holidays also is sponsoring Bate's globe-girdling bike ride.
Rules
Guinness World Records sets strict rules for establishing an around-the-world bike record, but they don't specify supported or unsupported rides.
The bicyclist must ride at least 18,000 miles in an East-West or West-East direction and waver no more than 5 degrees off course. The route must pass two antipodal points (two points that line up through the Earth's center). The clock stops whenever the cyclist flies or takes a boat to cross water bodies or goes through customs as he crosses boundaries.
Meanwhile, another British cyclist, Vin Cox, is bicycling though Mayalsia after completing the seventh week of his attempt to break the around-the-world record. Bates also has entered Mayalsia on his around-the-world quest.
(April 6 update: Cox has reached Singapore and Bates is heading that way.)
Endurance world cyclists
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Mark Beaumont
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James Bowthorpe
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Julian Sayarer
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Alan Bates
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Vin Cox
  
Thursday, February 25, 2010, 07:00
READY TO RIDE: Hatherleigh man Graeme Willgress prepares for his planned
4,000 mile cycle ride around the UK. Picture: Ian Snell
A FORMER teacher who had not ridden a bike for 17 years because of health problems is preparing to tackle a 4,000 mile cycle challenge around the UK. Graeme Willgress from Hatherleigh was forced to give up his job because of mental health issues which culminated in a breakdown four years ago. He suffers from bi-polar disorder but started volunteering with sustainable transport charity Sustrans and soon found himself responsible for the Meeth to Bideford section of the Tarka Trail.
Graeme said: "I had not been well enough to do anything and wanted to give something back. "Mental health is still an area of great fear and stigma, but it needn't be and exercise has a hugely positive impact."
He hopes his challenge will raise both awareness of the condition and at least £2,500 for Sustrans. He added: "I have had a series of mental health problems over the course of my adult life and only came to recognise them when I had a breakdown four years ago. "Being emotionally exhausted led to me being physically exhausted as well. "I hadn't cycled since 1992 and started again in September last year.
"I started gently riding parts of the Tarka Trail, I was really enjoying it and feeling really relaxed. "I wanted to give something back as well as explore the UK. "I have decided to do the challenge unaided on my own and will be camping. "An American company has offered me a teepee which is large enough to live in and store my bike."
Graeme has also been offered support and equipment from tyres to chewy bars to eat when he is in training. He plans to cycle the British coast in April/May next year and is currently training three times a week.
Graeme said he needs to do a couple of preparatory rides first and this April plans to cycle around the South West peninsula from Hatherleigh to Land's End, on to the Lizard, Plymouth then back on one of the national cycle routes.
In August he is planning a ride which will start in North Wales, go along the national route to Chepstow and then home. He said: "I never know from day to day how I will feel, but I have come a long way and I want to enjoy this challenge as well as raise money and awareness.
"There will be days lost and I think it is going to take me about four months as this is me living within the boundary of my illness. "It is daunting but I am very excited about it.
"I would like the money raised to go into Sustrans South West, and would like to make people aware of the importance of exercise in managing conditions like mine." To support Graeme visit www.justgiving.com/Graeme-Willgress
|
 
CTC’s response to the Government’s Active Travel Strategy
22/02/2010
The Government has just published its Active Travel Strategy (Monday 22 February).
CTC – the UK’s national cyclists’ organisation welcomes the Strategy’s declaration to make this the ‘Decade of Cycling’ and its case for increasing cycle levels. The strong evidence of the health benefits of cycling has been well set out by the Strategy’s authors, who also provide a useful outline of what has worked so far in towns across England.
CTC has been campaigning for the Government to increase cycling to the level achieved by many of our European neighbours, so is pleased this aspiration is endorsed by the Strategy. However, even though it refers to the doubling of cycling levels in London in 8 years and Darlington
in 3, it is disappointing that the Strategy itself contains no specific timescales for achieving similar goals nationally. Furthermore, there are no new initiatives or investment to deliver the promised ‘Decade of Cycling’.
CTC’s Campaigns and Policy Director Roger Geffen said: “The Active Travel Strategy is a supportive statement of warm words about cycling. Unfortunately, it cannot deliver the massive step-change in cycle use that it recommends alone. CTC wants government departments to tell us what they are going to do and spend to make this happen. To tackle obesity, climate change and congested roads we need more than a homily to the humble bike; we need an action plan with pound signs attached.”
CTC believes cyclists need to come together to ensure there is a strong cross-party consensus for the Active Travel Strategy to become a reality, so that cycling grows into a mainstream activity. It is clear that we won’t see any real changes until after the election, so that’s why CTC will shortly be launching a new campaign called Vote Bike, so that cyclists can enlist the support of their parliamentary candidates to ensure cycling stays on the Government’s agenda.
Now is the time to get serious about getting a lot more people cycling.
Ends
For more information please contact the CTC Press Office on 0844 736 8453 or 07786320713.
Notes to editors
§ CTC - the UK’s national cyclists' organisation, with 70,000 members and affiliates in 250 clubs across the UK, is the oldest and largest cycling body in the UK, established in 1878. We provide a comprehensive range of services, advice, events, and protection for our members and work to promote cycling by raising public and political awareness of its health, social and environmental benefits. For more information see www.ctc.org.uk.
§ Further information about the Strategy, and CTC’s input to it, can be seen at www.ctc.org.uk/activetravelstrategy
§ Active Travel Strategy was promised by Gordon Brown as part of his ‘Building Britain’s Future’ strategy, launched last summer. It is published by the Department for Transport.
§ CTC’s Vote Bike Campaign will be launched at the beginning of March. Cyclists will be able to contact their parliamentary candidates online and ask them to sign up to CTC’s Vote Bike manifesto. CTC will then publish the results to help cyclists decide who to vote for, as well as to identify cycle-friendly MPs in the new parliament, about half of which is expected to consist of new MPs. The Vote Bike manifesto builds on CTC’s New Vision for Cycling and CTC’s Safety in Numbers campaign, both launched last year. |
Government outlines vision for an active England
22/02/2010 15:30
The Government wants to see access to cycle training for every child, creating a generation of new, safe cyclists according to Transport Minister, Sadiq Khan.
This is one of the aims of the 'Active Travel Strategy' - published today - which outlines plans to put walking and cycling at the heart of local transport and public health strategies over the next decade.
The other aims of the strategy include:
- Every major public sector employer to be signed up to the Cycle to Work Guarantee
- Cycle parking at or within easy reach of every public building
- Sufficient secure bike parking at every rail station
- Local authorities introducing 20mph zones and limits into more residential streets to improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists
Transport Minister Sadiq Khan said: "Active travel means a transport system where walking and cycling become the norm. "Instead of automatically reaching for their car keys, I want to see people feeling confident enough to jump on their bike or pull on a pair of trainers. "I am confident that this strategy will achieve this, making active travel a genuine and viable option for everybody."
Public Health Minister Gillian Merron said: "Walking and cycling are two of the easiest ways for people to build regular physical activity into their daily lives – whether it’s riding to work, walking to school or simply having fun. “This strategy demonstrates that even making small changes can bring about significant health benefits, and helps reinforce the message of the Government’. Change4Life movement, which is helping people to eat well, move more and live longer.”
Today's announcement is supported by a £12.5m package of investment which will secure cycle training for half a million additional school children by 2012.
The funding - which is part of the Government's £140m cycling budget over three years - will be provided to Local Authorities, the Government's Cycling Demonstration Towns, Youth Sport Trust, School Sports Partnerships and cycle trainers. Also published today are results from an evaluation of the Government's Sustainable Travel Towns project, which aims to showcase towns that put walking, cycling and public transport firmly in the spotlight. Across three towns - Darlington, Peterborough and Worcester – there have been:
- 7% to 9% reductions in car trips
- 26% to 30% increases in cycling trips
- 10% to 13% increase in walking trips
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. The Active Travel Strategy is cross -Governmental Strategy, led by Department for Transport and Department of Health, to get more people walking and cycling more often and more safely.
2. The evaluation of the “ Sustainable Travel Town” demonstration projects was undertaken by an independent research team to review and assess the activity undertaken in Darlington, Peterborough and Worcester to promote increased walking, cycling and public transport use between 2004 and 2009. The Summary Report of the evaluation can be found at http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/sustainable/smarterchoices/. More detailed analysis of the projects will be made available in early March.
3. We are also publishing a number of research reports from the first six Cycling Demonstration Towns programme. These are an economic analysis of the programme which indicates that the investment delivered high value for money, a survey of levels of physical activity in the Towns across the programme and summary of the programmes in each of the six towns. The reports can be found at http://www.dft.gov.uk/cyclingengland/cycling-cities-towns/results/
4. We have announced a further package of measures costing over £ 12m in 2010-11. We have awarded the following grants:
- £6m to over 90 Local Authorities and Cycle Demonstration Towns;
- £6m to schools through the School Sports Partnerships; and
- £500k for bursary grants to train more trainers to deliver the increases in cycle training delivery.
To date we have funded over 300,000 additional training places. This package has the potential to deliver 300,000 further Bikeability training places in 2010 and will help us deliver our target of 500,000 places by 2012 a year early.
Press Enquires: 020 7944 3066
Out of Hours: 020 7944 4292
Public Enquiries: 0300 330 3000
Department for Transport Website: http://www.dft.gov.uk
Report: British Cycling's 50th Anniversary Gala Dinner & Annual Awards
Event: 20th February 2010, Manchester | Posted: 21st February 2010
Report: Eddie Allen | Images: Larry Hickmott and Luke Webber
  
L-R: Victoria Pendleton with the Volunteer nominees, British Cycling's inaugural Hall of Famers - marking the end of a special birthday night for British Cycling and goodness knows what MB is thinking!!
In September 2009, Wendy went to the UK School Games as a Team Attaché to the Yorkshire team. It was a weekend that would change her life. Being allocated to Mark Barry, who was part of the Olympic and Commonwealth Squads in the 1980s, inspired her to the extent that she decided she would now do her third year at university and train as a coach, specialising in track and road racing, MB having agreed to mentor her as she works through the process.
Last night he was honoured by British Cycling .. and there they can tell their own story ..
Cycling champions, tireless volunteers, backroom heroes and sporting stalwarts past, present and future flocked to Manchester for British Cycling's golden anniversary - the 50th Anniversary Gala Dinner, for the first time incorporating the traditional Annual Awards and the induction of 50 of British Cycling's finest into the newly created Hall of Fame - one illustrious name for each year of British Cycling's eventful first 50 years.
Hundreds of guests attended the day's celebrations, which were spread across two venues - with the Annual Awards prize-giving taking place at Manchester's Midland Hotel, with National Champions from all categories across the sport being recognised.
The event then moved to the spacious surroundings of the Manchester Central Convention Centre, where guests were treated to a sumptuous gala dinner, the Hall of Fame Roll of Honour, special presentations and an evocative journey through the first 50 years of British Cycling's history, from organisation's origins in 1959 to its world beating performance in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. A display of cycling memorabilia including Chris Boardman's Athlete's Hour Record bike also helped guests rekindle memories from many epic moments on British Cycling's exciting journey.
Whilst dinner was served, the Hall of Fame roll of honour was announced, with sporting champions, volunteers and back room staff from every decade inducted in this, the first Hall of Fame presentation. The roll of honour was interspersed with interviews with this year's crop of National Champions and other distinguished guests.
The evening quickly moved on the presentation of Volunteer Awards, with Vicky Pendleton, Sir Chris Hoy, Sarah Storey and Steve Peat rewarding our sport's most dedicated volunteers in person.
Above: Victoria Pendleton congratulates the assembled Volunteer Award winners, to the right of Victoria Pendleton is Mark Barry, Wendy's Team Manager at the UK School Games.
Hosting the evening was Sky News anchorman Dermot Murnaghan, who guided the assembled guests through a 50 Years of British Cycling, with the help of British Cycling President, Brian Cookson. Through video, images and interviews with key figures in the organisation's development, the story of the last 50 years was told, from the federation's infancy in the late 1950s to its phenomenal achievements in Beijing.
Then came a series of Special Recognition Awards, which celebrated the achievements of outstanding figures in the sport, including road and track sensation Bradley Wiggins, sprint star Mark Cavendish and British Cycling's former Chief Executive Peter King, who took the organisation from the brink of collapse to the heights of success.
The evening's awards were rounded off with Brian Cookson and Victoria Pendleton officially inducting British Cycling's first 50 Hall of Famers with legends such as Barry Hoban rubbing shoulders with modern day heroes like Craig Maclean.
As the evening drew to a close, it was clear to all present what an exciting ride the past 50 years have been and, judging by the current crop of national, world and Olympic champions present on the night, the next 50 years of British Cycling will be as exciting as the past.
British Cycling Awards Presentation
On the afternoon of February 20, Britain’s best cyclists from across all the disciplines, assembled in the rather posh Midland Hotel (Manchester) for a presentation of awards. Over the course of three hours, the awards were divided up into age categories, (Youth & Junior, Senior and then Masters) and one by one, the awards were presented to the winners by some very important VIPs including Olympic Gold medallists, Jamie Staff and Sir Chris Hoy. As each award was presented, photos were taken and these can be seen in the slideshow below.
 
Boy's cycling design chosen for Olympic 50p coin
A design by a West Yorkshire teenager has been chosen from more than 3,000 entries to become a new 50p coin inspired by the Olympic Games.
16:30 GMT, Tuesday, 9 February 2010
 
(L) Judges said Theo's design 'captured the essence of cycling'., (R) Theo's prize included a gold coin featuring his design
Theo Crutchley-Mack, 16, from Halifax, said it was "absolutely amazing" that his picture of a cyclist in a velodrome was chosen by the Royal Mint. His design was also seen and approved by the Queen. Up to three million of Theo's coins will be released into circulation later this year.
"Just the thought of my design going throughout England and millions of people seeing my design, that's just absolutely amazing, I can't think of much better than that," Theo said.
Dave Knight, head of commemorative coins at the Royal Mint, explained the judges' choice. "It's a very good design, irrespective of Theo's age, it is very good," he said. "It is technically very proficient, and he has really captured the essence of speed and cycling in general," he said.
Theo was awarded with a special commemorative gold coin featuring his design. The teenager, who is a keen cyclist himself, described how the picture had been lost under a pile of papers before his mother found it and encouraged him to send it in to the competition.
The coin is the second in a series of 29 officially licensed commemorative Olympic 50p coins. The first was created by nine-year-old Florence Jackson and unveiled in October last year. Each coin in the series depicts a different Olympic and Paralympic sport, with the remaining 27 coins to be announced later this year.
Cyclist's flower power spreads the love after potholes bloom in icy weather
Potholes are worse this year thanks to the freezing weather, but one man has taken an unusual approach by planting primroses
(Photograph: Pete Dungey)Pete Dungey has been tirelessly ridding Oxford of its potholes by filling them up with primroses.
I read once that the best way to tackle a muddy path full of puddles when on a mountain bike was to take a leap of faith and plough straight through the middle of them, the reason being that the ground is firmest at the deepest part of the puddle. Or something like that. Whatever the science, it's a technique I have employed pretty successfully over the years, forgetting six inches of front suspension can make up for a multitude of rider errors.
Thus it is not a technique to be employed in rush hour when faced with what looks like a puddle but which is, in fact, a water-filled pothole. Fixing a blown out front tyre with nail varnish and a plaster is a story for another day.
The pothole situation has worsened dramatically this winter when water which had seeped into cracks in the road then froze, opening them up. Cycling organisation CTC has seen a spike in the number of holes reported to its Fill That Hole website – 3,500 were reported in January, compared with 750 in December last year. The Local Government Association has asked the Department of Transport for emergency funds of £100m to deal with the most pressing repairs. In 2009, councils filled 968,195 potholes – or one every 33 seconds.
Roger Geffen, the campaigns director for the CTC said: "We've had a substantial spike in reports but councils are taking notice and acting upon it, filling them in. The problem is they can't get everywhere to find them in the first place." He estimates that at least 30-40% of the holes that are reported are dealt with.
But one man has had enough. And he's using flowers to prove it. Forget stuffing them down the barrels of guns, Pete Dungey has been tirelessly ridding Oxford of its potholes by filling them up with primroses. "It began as part of a project called 'subvert the familiar'," says the graphic design student. "I wanted to do something that would grab attention but also raise awareness of an issue, and so the project was born. I have been planting the gardens for about a fortnight now and see it as an ongoing thing."
"Potholes are a big problem that could be eradicated quite simply. Hopefully it's something that grabs attention and raises awareness although I wouldn't call myself a renegade cyclist."
Pete currently works alone but he's hoping other people will follow his example. If you do, he's asking you to take a snap and email it to him via his website.
As a mountain biker I'm all in favour of practising my swerving skills before work, zig-zagging between pot holes. Roger, however, has some more useful advice for urban cyclists: "Firstly, try not to go through any puddles. But more importantly – and certainly more importantly than usual – don't hug the kerb, because that's where most of them are."
IAM warns motorists to give room to cyclists trying to avoid potholes
The Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) has called on car drivers to pay extra attention to cyclists looking to avoid potholes as the nation emerges from the cold snap that covered Britain in a blanket of snow earlier this month.
In a press release issued by the IAM, Neil Greig, the organisation’s Director of Policy and Research, said that “as well as worrying about your vehicle, with potholes being a major cause of suspension failure, drivers should be particularly conscious of cyclists and motorcyclists trying to get past a pothole and give them a wide berth.”
Mr Greig added: “They are entitled to a wobble and would appreciate not having a motorist attempting to overtake just as they avoid a hole in the road.”
He advised that cyclists and motorcyclists alike should “look well ahead and change direction early so they have time to deal with the holes, and so that their movements don’t cause surprise to other road users.”
Potholes become particularly prevalent after spells of icy weather when water penetrates cracks in the road and expands as it freezes, causing cracks in the tarmac.
Other advice to drivers regarding potholes from the IAM includes leaving adequate space behind the car in front to ensure that potholes can be seen, checking tyres afterwards if you do hit a pothole, and avoiding making sudden movements after spotting one so as not to take other road users by surprise.
The IAM advises that since potholes are likely to reappear in the same place, road users should take a mental note of where they saw one in case it recurs.
Last year, we reported how cyclists’ organistion CTC had helped a cyclist win £7,600 in damages from West Berkshire County Council following injury sustained after hitting a pothole.
CTC has a longstanding campaign against potholes called Fill That Hole!, supported by a a website, www.fillthathole.org.uk that allows you to register any potholes you may spot while out riding your bike, with details then notified to the relevant local authority.
Should a local authority be notified of the existence of a pothole and fail to rectify the situation and that pothole is subsequently the cause of an accident, the council concerned may be liable for damages to the injured party.
As the snows have receded, local authorities have started counting the cost of the works that will be needed to repair potholed roads. Earlier this month, we reported how Cardiff City Council had spent more than £1.2 million repairing 9,000 potholes during 2009.
Snow beater: put on your knobbliest tyres and get pedalling
Travel disruptions mean cycling, with a few adjustments, may be the best bet for getting to work vaguely on time
Matt Seaton Wednesday 6 January 2010 07.33 GMT www.guardian.co.uk
A cyclist pushes their bike across a snow covered bridge in Salford Quays, Manchester. Photograph: PA Wire Snow, for many, is already here. And after I'm done writing this, I'm going to put the knobbliest tyres I have on my bike for this morning's commute.
I've got used to riding with a big crowd of cyclists on my way to and from work, but I suspect that as it has snowed overnight in London, the rank and file of two-wheeled commuters will be thinned out substantially.
But really, there's no need to leave the bike at home, just because of a bit of the white stuff. In fact, with bus, train and London underground services reduced by the inclement weather, cycling might be about the best bet for getting to work vaguely on time.
I just came back from a couple of weeks in north-east US. It snows there any time from November to April, and easily a foot at a time. In New York, where they snowplough the avenues and the main cross streets with incredible efficiency (courtesy of the sanitation department, which uses garbage trucks kitted out with blades and chains on the wheels), I saw no shortage of cyclists pedalling through the snow and slush. Up in Vermont, I rode on dirt roads carpeted in packed snow and sand: with a wind chill of -20C, the biggest issue was avoiding frostbitten fingers; staying upright was no problem.
Only ice is the real no-no, but riding a bike in snow is not only easy, it's even fun. And you get the added kudos because people think you're incredibly intrepid getting to work, as though you'd just pedalled to the South Pole or something. With all the hype about the winter weather, I did start web searching for some serious winter tyres – the type with metal studs that will bite and give grip even through hard-packed icy snow. I found a very useful article on tyre choice from this New Hampshire cycle shop, but there's so little demand for studded tyres in the UK that these products are hard to source, and by the time your order arrives, the snow will almost certainly have disappeared. So I'd suggest that unless your commute takes you over the Cairngorms, a pair of studded tyres for £70 is a slightly over-the-top technical fix for a problem that occurs a day or two a year at most.
Assuming, then, that we're doing cycling in the snow the cheap and cheerful way, I've got a few tips, but I'd be interested in yours ..
• The more tread on your tyres, the better. You can ride in snow on slicks, but I wouldn't choose to. If you have a mountain bike, with chunky off-road treads, this is the day for it.
• Let some air out of your tyres, whatever sort they are. Ride them soft: you'll get more grip.
• It's natural, when you're a bit anxious about conditions, to ride leaning forward and tense, with your hands on the brakes. But try to relax the hands and arms, and keep your weight back.
• As in any slippery conditions (such as very wet roads), do your braking early and as much as possible in a straight line. Definitely only use the front brake in this way; otherwise, use the back brake more. And you can also use the back brake to test the amount of adhesion you have.
• Try to steer "with your hips" rather than your hands: in other words, make directional changes progressively and with your whole mass on the bike, rather than by sudden sharp steering inputs at the handlebars.
• As snow gets grooved by car tyres and refreezes, you can encounter rutted tracks and momentary "tramlining" effects. Deal with this by allowing the front wheel of the bike to go where it wants; again, keep your weight back, stay relaxed and don't be too ambitious about your speed.
• Mostly, on British roads, the snow is cleared or turns to slush quickly, but beware of transitions from snowy side streets to clear roads: this is where you're most likely to encounter ice or tricky ruts.
• I generally ride around town with some sort of hat, rather than a helmet. But in the snow, I'll wear a helmet – there's just a little more likelihood of a slip. Most likely, it would be slow-speed and harmless, but I'd factor in the extra risk by wearing a helmet.
• Unless you have mudguards (with good clearance!), wear old clothes: that slimy black slush is perplexingly indelible and a dirty stripe up your arse is not a good look in the office.
• The most dangerous time, as with any analogous activity (skiing, skating, downhill mountain biking etc), is when you get over-confident. The day I got a little cocky on the back roads in the Green Mountain State, I found myself sliding down the road on my butt. So hey, what do I know?
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