East London Cycling Archives
The newsletter of Tower Hamlets London Cycling Campaign Group
August - September 2002
Bike-tastic!
Bike Week 2002 was a brilliant success for the Tower Hamlets Wheelers and
we'd like to say a BIG THANK-YOU to everyone who got involved!
Full report, press coverage and more photos.
SPECIAL THANKS: Bicycle Magic, Creative Zones, GLA Transport Chair John
Biggs, the council's Lyndal Peters, DHL, Rick Sure's Rickshaws, Bow
Police... .and EVERYONE who helped out!
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Cable Street cycle track/lane
The saga continues but we seem to be getting somewhere! Since the last
newsletter several Wheelers have written to the Dept. for Transport about
the pointless 'give way' markings on the west part of the street's cycle
facitliy, which relegate cyclists to second-division after side-roads, on a
cycling 'super-highway'!
The DoT has taken note of the pressure and set out their arguments in
several replies. We're moving up a gear, to tackle these in a meeting with
the bigwigs on 28th August.
This was a result of a very useful Wheelers meeting in July, at which
both Lyndal Peters and Gwyn Owen from the council attended. Reps from the
DoT, Transport for London's Cycling Centre of Excellence and the Wheelers,
plus the facility's designer and Lyndal herself, will be thrashing out this
problem until we find a solution.
Sign our Cable Street petition!
We have started a petition which we will present at the meeting on 28
August so PLEASE SIGN IT NOW! Please take just 2 mins or email Alix who will send you one to print
out and pass round. Thank-you!!!
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Grove Road cycle lanes
You may have spotted that most of the 'green gutters' along Grove Road have
now been widened and dashed white lines added - to mark 'advisory' lane
status. We informed the council that we think the cycle symbols painted
next to parked cars may tempt novice cyclists perilously close to
potentially opening car doors. Gwyn Owen tells us that the lanes will
eventually become mandatory, so parked cars will not be so much of a hazard
in future - we hope. Gwyn has also listened to the Wheelers and will be
investigating whether the black pole slap-bang in the middle of the Cable
Street track could be made more visible - to avoid a painful night-time
collision! We suggested painting it white.....
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Bikes, & all that jazz...
A frustrated Wheeler lets rip about a radio station stuck in in era gone
by....
Commuter cyclists know that dealing with rush hour traffic on the way to
work is only half the battle. They also require changing facilites &
possibly a shower so that they can be as presentable as possible during the
working day.
Another must is good cycle parking. As your bike will be parked there for
8 hours a day, 5 times a week it is important that it is secure -you don't
want to try getting home minus a wheel - and undercover... watching your
pride & joy turn into a pile of rust is not amusing!
Whilst many employers provide good car parking facilites, it is the rare
enlightened one who makes the same effort when it comes to bikes. Just
think of the benefits that they are missing out on: a) less absenteism: as a
fitter workforce is a healthier workforce; b)Boosted morale: reduced travel
costs and a more pleasant commute means happier workers;
c) More reliable: what Tube strikes..?!
Given all of these benefits it is distressing when we hear about
employers who are reducing cycle parking in order to provide additional
space for cars.
By adding ONE extra car space a West London radio station is taking away
EIGHT secure parking spaces from regular cyclists - and also partially
blocking a fire exit!
We certainly won't be listening in colour anymore!
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Gary's Touring Tips
For all you energic types, here are some smart tips on how to tour
efficiently, from our cycling sage Gary Cummins....
First let's talk about the equipment you already have. You do not need a
special bike - almost any bike will do, but it does need to be safe and have
some luggage carrying capacity - e.g. pannier racks.
Make sure your tyres are in good
condition, replace or repair any parts that look iffy: brake blocks,
rattling mudguards, fraying cables. If in doubt get the bike serviced.
Good panniers are useful but not essential. I've seen old timers on the
road with little more than a saddlebag! But avoid backpacks; they are
uncomftable, compromise your balance & reduce your ability to look behind
you.
The minimum requirement of tools to carry is a set of tools to change
your inner tube - and of course the spare tube itself. Punctures won't
happen often - if you fully pump up your tyres - but you could spoil a
weekend away if you get one and can't get it fixed. On longer tours take a
puncture repair kit and fix the damaged tube in the evening. Contact any of
us on the committee - bottom left, back page - if you need to see how to fix
a puncture.
With clothing 'the lesser the better' is the rule. Anything you carry
will need to be washed, so how quickly it dries is important. This is where
the common t-shirt fails... they are dreadful things when wet. I have toured
the Carribean wearing non-specialist cycling gear, but I didn't take
t-shirts. I took thin, short-sleeved cotton shirts, and they seemed to dry
pretty quickly.
One lesson is to try and take clothes that will double up for occasions.
A flourescent top is great on the road, but how will you feel going out to
the restuarant in the evening...? Darker colours are more versatile than
lighter ones, and they are easier to wash too.
Depending on the type of accomodation you choose, and the lengh of the
tour,
boring things like laundry become serious issues. I try to choose a mixture
of B+Bs and youth hostels - you can do your laundry.
Try a long weekend away if you have never toured before. Jump on a
train to somewhere close like East Anglia or the Cotswolds, and do no more
than 30-40 miles a day.
Handy hints
(1) After squeezing out excess water from hand-washed clothes, place the
garment on a towel, roll them both up together and then twist them both, so
that excess water is squeezed into the towel. Don't use your own towel
though - it'll still be wet in the morning!
(2) Dental floss or bungees are
handy to use as a washing line.
(3) Use plastic tie-top bin liners to line your panniers, making them
water-proof.
(4) Wet-wipes or throw-away surgical gloves come in very handy if you need
to fiddle with your chain for instance.
(5) Share tools with a friend - but make sure they are compatible with both
bikes!
(6) Use your bike computer as a watch.
(7) Remember to carry enough socks for your washing regime to ensure a fresh
pair in the evenings!
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We're going monthly
There's so much great stuff going on I can't fit it all
in the newsletter! So now itll be produced monthly. If you would like to
receive the 'extra' ones in the post, please send a cheque/PO for £5 (or
more!) payable to 'Tower Hamlets LCC' to Alix Stredwick, 109b Roman Rd, E2
0QN. This will also help print more copies to hand out to passing cyclists.
To receive it by email (PDF file) email Alix with 'newsletter' as the
subject. Please consider donating anyway!
** Many thanks **
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Rides & Events
July's Wheelers ride was a wonderful wend through the Essex countryside,
ending in Chelmsford for the Beer Festival! See the rides page for a full
report.
Next ride
Sat 24 Aug, c.35 miles up the Lea Valley & beyond. Meet 10am at Victoria
Park gate where a roundabout joins Grove Rd & Old Ford Rd (opp. The Crown
organic pub). Please contact Alex!
Check the diary page for all our other upcoming events.
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