Well wrapped up for winter cycling

What a desperate week for weather. If you have ventured forth, well done!

Like a lot of things, actually leaving can be the hardest part.  If you’re still uncertain about winter cycling, try a few brisk miles when the weather gives us a dry day.

If you’re reasonably well wrapped up, don’t forget that within two miles you’ll be warmed up anyway, it’s quite a bracing experience.

From that point, just extend your mileage, you could ride a circular route around your house and have your home comforts within easy reach if the weather turns grim, or if the lure of a buttered bun becomes too strong.

If that’s not adventurous enough, you could always fit a pair of mudguards, put a waterproof in your back pocket, and ride one of your regular summer routes.

As cycling is a seeing, smelling, hearing activity, the change of season offers a whole new set of experiences to enjoy. Try it tomorrow.

Don’t forget that if you haven’t filled in the Sustainable Transport Survey yet, it finishes on 30 November.

Go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=PQjXmtGqrCW6flS9rDkazA_3d_3d

Braking News

London Cycling Award for Metropolitan Policemen
It looks like London is fast becoming a mainstream cycling city, although it still has some way to go before it reaches the uber bike-friendliness of Copenhagen.

This week saw the Evan’s Cycles sponsored London Cycling Awards being presented to a number of very deserving winners. Among them were several officers from the Metropolitan Police, who won the Best Initiative for Children or Young People.

A number of policemen, from the Regent’s Park area of London, went to the nearby Frank Barnes School for Deaf Children to help the pupils learn cycle skills and road safety. Because of their disadvantage, many deaf children are unable to take part in existing cycling courses. To address the problem, the officers learnt to sign so that they were better able to communicate with the children.

Stateside snow stops play
While here in the United Kingdom, the Association of Cycle Traders report that sales growth among specialist cycle retailers was up 7.3% in October, this is in stark contrast to the United States, where unseasonably cold and wet weather has calmed sales.

Most states have had below normal temperatures, the average temperature being the third coldest since records began, and in fact Oklahoma had its coldest October ever. The Midwest and the Northwest have received snowstorms, the skiing resort of Whistler opened two weeks early, and by the end of the month over 10% of the USA had seen snowfalls.

Crikey, it’s the YikeBike
Without a doubt electric bikes are a fast growing part of today’s transportation world. The Netherlands, well known for its large numbers of daily cyclists, has seen a 41% rise in the quantity of electric bikes sold during the first half of 2009. In the United Kingdom, the British Electric Bike Association was formed in August to not only promote the use of electric bikes, but also to establish a code of practice for its members and their customers.

One of the most exciting electric bikes to appear lately is the Yike Bike. It’s made of carbon composite, weighs a mere 21lbs and has a chainless drive system. It has a maximum speed of 20K.P.H, a range of 10 kilometres and only takes 30 minutes to recharge, and it folds down and disappears into its own bag for storage or taking on a train. When it comes to market next year, it will cost between 3,500 to 3900 euros.

It looks like a space age penny farthing made of carbon fibre, check it out at www.yikebike.com

Sprint Bonuses

And Finally,
With Christmas just around the corner and with many people still struggling with what to buy a loved one, I’m indebted to the Adventure Cycling Association for this quote, from cycling writer Jim Langley : ‘Good bicycles turn effort into emotion. … On a fine bike you can ride better than you ever thought possible and catch glimpses of extraordinary athletic prowess you didn’t realize you had.’

• Arthur Lamy is the manager of Boudins for Bikes, in Sand Street, and author of Jersey Cycles. He has spent 15 years as a tourist guide and writer, and is also a keen photographer.

More information can be found on his website: www.arthurlamy.com