Archive for August, 2009

Insane! Usain!!

Friday, August 21st, 2009

Usain Bolt’s performance in the 200 metres last night, another gold, another world record by an astonishing margin leaves one speechless. By his own admission he was not on top form! So, when fully fit and prepared, what can this lad really do?

When he crashed through the 9.6 secs barrier for the 100 metres we watched the event at Tom & Kate’s flat on the Upper Richmond Road in Putney. We were there to help them move to a new flat over the road in West Hill.

Upper Richmond Road is the South Circular route and was especially busy on Sunday. Unlike Birmingham there is more traffic at weekends as Londoners, sensibly, don’t use their cars during the week. Cyclists are provided for with two wide cycle lanes which were being very well used. Where the roadway wasn’t wide enough for a bike lane, bike logos were painted at intervals to remind motorists that cyclists are sharing the road. I counted more than twenty four cyclists passing by in less than five minutes.

Upper Richmond Road (South Circular) Putney

Upper Richmond Road (South Circular) Putney

(more…)

Bolt action…

Thursday, August 20th, 2009

“Where were you when Bolt broke the 9.6 secs barrier?” It was a moment in history which will be long remembered, perhaps in the way that John F Kennedy’s assassination has been remebered? Certainly John Regis thought so in his piece in last Monday’s Guardian (17.08.09). For the record: back in November 1963 I was at the Birmingham Hippodrome and was told the news from Dallas as I left the theatre. And no, I cannot remember what show we’d gone to see!

The Guardian 17th August 2009

The Guardian 17th August 2009

For & against, hit & run…

Wednesday, August 19th, 2009

Good to see (in the Birmingham Post 12th August 2009) some support for increasing the number of cycle lanes in the city and this from someone who appears not to be a cyclist. Jon Gill is right when he writes that Birmingham lags behind the rest of UK in regard to greener transport.

Birmingham Post 12th August 2009

Birmingham Post 12th August 2009

(more…)

Riding the Lincolnshire Wolds…

Wednesday, August 19th, 2009

The ‘Medium Ride’ report in the September issue of Cycling Plus, forty miles over the Lincolnshire Wolds from Horncastle and back, endorses my views on the delights of cycling in this county. Indeed the ride covers some of the roads I mention in my June posts.

Deano - the verdict…

Wednesday, August 19th, 2009

Oh dear…what on earth possessed him….?

The Guardian 18th August 2009

The Guardian 18th August 2009

(more…)

Merrie Middle England…

Tuesday, August 18th, 2009

Friday 14th saw me heading south by Earlswood to Tanworth in Arden and down to Ullenhall through lanes so quiet that at times one could hear birdsong without the background noise of traffic or mechanical contraption.

A right turn in Ullenhall takes one up passed the church and on to a tee junction. Left here onto the A4189 and then first right onto the lane to Morton Bagot. At the next crossroads taking the left one heads towards Shelfield. From this hamlet it is on to Little Alne, a short hop on the B4089 and then a left and a right back to the pleasures of quiet country lanes and the village of Aston Cantlow. (more…)

Mini tour of Warwickshire…

Thursday, August 13th, 2009

I managed to strain my back muscles whilst lifting boxes of leaflets at the RBSA Gallery on Monday 3rd. So the ‘injury’ and the foul weather kept me off the bike until Sunday 9th when there was sunshine at last! As the forecast for the day was good I took off to have a look at Warwick

On the way through Solihull Lodge I went down Aqueduct Road under the Stratford Canal then left and left again into Drawbridge Road. This takes one up and over the canal at a lift bridge which looks like something out of a Dutch old master’s painting.

Shirley drawbridge

Shirley drawbridge

(more…)

Oh, Deano!

Tuesday, August 11th, 2009
The Guardian 10th August 2009

The Guardian 10th August 2009

We’ve known of blood doping in cycling for years but no story in sport is quite so sad as that concerning the blood dopes at Harlequins. The player clearly knew what he was doing, the medical staff must have been aware that he wasn’t injured and that fake blood is fake blood - not the real thing. I cannot believe that Deano sanctioned the action but also cannot believe that he didn’t have an inkling that some puerile stunt was being pulled…?

I remember the Calcutta Cup match of 1992 (I think) at Murrayfield when, during the second half, Richards took the field to a ground ringing with the cries of thousands of lusty English voices: Deeanoh! Deeanoh! Deeanoh! The greatest roar I have ever heard for one individual. How the mighty are fallen….?

Man from Uncle in town…

Saturday, August 8th, 2009

Hooray! A dry day last Sunday and the opportunity to get off the settee and stretch the legs.

I rode through town and out along the cycle lane down Hurst Street to the junction with Sherlock Street. The ‘cycle way’ heads diagonally across the junction via traffic light controlled crossings. One reaches the island refuge and then hs to press another button and wait for the green light on the traffic light by the Eden bar. I waited and waited. Then another cyclist arrived and commented that he’d “never seen that light turn green.” So we waited until the traffic had stopped, assumed we had right of way and cycled off. Not terribly satisfactory.

Sherlock Street/Hurst Street junction.

Sherlock Street/Hurst Street junction.

(more…)

Horse sense…

Wednesday, August 5th, 2009

One looks out of the window these dark, dank and dismal days and one is hard-pressed to know what season it is. Thank goodness then for the horses of the Blues and Royals.

One of the holidaying Blues & Royals' horses taking a dip in the sea off Holkham Beach. Birmingham Evening Mail 4th August 2009

One of the holidaying Blues & Royals' horses taking a dip in the sea off Holkham Beach. Birmingham Evening Mail 4th August 2009

These sensible creatures go on holiday the same week every year to the same place in Norfolk, as you’d expect for the Household Cavalry, not far from the Queen’s place at Sandringham.

So when you see pictures in the press of these horses with their riders on the beach or in the sea (yes, they are allowed to go too) you know that it is high summer, whatever the weather outside the window.

Click here for advice on how to cycle around horses on the road.