I read, in the Daily Telegraph 05.01.10, of the death of Albert Beurick on 12th December. Albert was a Belgian cafe owner, friend, confidant and business partner of Tommy Simpson. The two friends were pioneers of two-week training camps for cyclist based at their ‘velotel’ outside Ghent. He must have been a delightful guy and great fun to be around especially as one of the songs played at his funeral was Monty Python’s ‘Always look on the bright side of life’!
Adieu Albert
January 6th, 2010Be safe on the roads…
October 4th, 2009You may remember that Lance Armstrong dedicated a day of this year’s Tour de France to the five cyclists injured in a road accident in Kanata, Canada. We arrived in the country to find that the accused driver faced five more charges relating to the incident:
Ottawa Citizen 27th August 2009
Food for thought…
October 1st, 2009I’ve read a few books whilst I’ve been away….well, there’s not much else to wile away the time on transatlantic flights and the food in this book was of much more interest than the in-flight offerings!
The Hungry Cyclist. Author: Tom Kevill-Davies. Paperback, 2009, Collins.
Tom Kevill-Davies cycled 15,000 miles from New York to Rio de Janeiro and this is an entertaining record of his ride and quest for the genuine food flavours of the Americas.
“I could not help but be exposed to the real flavours, smells, ingredients and people of the cultures I rode into…..I ate where the people of the country were eating. Markets, homes, the street, the beach, rivers, campfires, trees and truck stops.”
Sounds like a recipe for some spectacular food poisoning incidents but Tom survived his epic cyclo-culinary expedition with good humour and picked up some intriguing recipes which are detailed at the chapter ends. I like the sound of Peba Caipira but I’m not sure where I’ll find an armadillo (this is an armadillo stew)…wonder if hedgehog might do instead?
Insane! Usain!!
August 21st, 2009Usain 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
Bolt action…
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
For & against, hit & run…
August 19th, 2009Good 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
Riding the Lincolnshire Wolds…
August 19th, 2009The ‘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…
August 19th, 2009
Merrie Middle England…
August 18th, 2009Friday 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. Read the rest of this entry »
Mini tour of Warwickshire…
August 13th, 2009I 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