Fewer cyclists seem willing to brave the wet and windy conditions

It might just be pot luck, but it seems like there are a lot fewer people cycling at the moment.

OK, I know it’s cold, it’s wet and it’s windy, but there should still be a hardcore of determined riders out there.

Today, I’ve been out and about; this morning I walked about seven miles and this afternoon I cycled about another 20. All in all, I think that I saw a dozen people riding their bikes. Not many by any standards?

I wondered if we could elevate winter cycling holidays, that take place somewhere warm, to the status of those skiing holidays that everyone plans after Christmas.

So I thought I’d check out the possibilities. How about this from the Cyclists’ Touring Club holiday offering India, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, and I quote: ‘A tropical paradise. Sunshine, palm fringed beaches, tea, coffee, spice plantations, friendly people and superb South Indian cuisine.’ Or what about The Chile and Argentine Lake District: ‘Lakes, volcanoes and waterfalls at the lower end of the Andes.’

They both sound good to me, and both should provide hours of discussion at dinner parties, but will they ever beat going on the piste?

Braking News

Cycle shops fear internet competition
Recent research by cycle trade magazine, BikeBiz, reveals that most cycle retailers are more concerned about the growth of online sales as a threat to business than anything else. While just over 6%, of shops surveyed, felt that supermarkets were the problem. A robust 27% felt that internet retailers were their biggest worry.

In response to this, many dealers planned to improve their internet presence to gain a greater market share.

As an interesting aside to this, Retail Week reports that online cycle retailer, Wiggle, have plans to double their current £33.2M turnover during the next two years or so.

Islington lowers its speed limits
In January, the London borough of Islington will bring in a 20MPH speed limit on all its residential streets. This move was originally proposed in February by Green Party Councillor; Katie Dawson. The borough’s ruling Liberal democrat party set aside funds for the work, and consultation took place with the residents. The replies that came back indicated that more than 60% were in favour of the new speed limit.

Islington has some 20MPH areas at present, where the speeds are achieved by traffic calming, however the new low speed areas will be indicated solely by road signs and road markings.

More Welsh schoolchildren are now cycling to school
Going against the tide of health and safety issues that appear to exist in English schools, thousands of Welsh school children in the Neath Port Talbot and Conwy areas are now cycling to school.

This is due in no small part to the Bike It initiative organised by Sustrans, the sustainable transport authority, and funded by the Welsh Assembly Government and the bicycle industry. The scheme is supported by Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council and Conwy County Borough Council.

The Bike It scheme started towards the end of 2008, and since then it has seen a threefold rise in the numbers of kids who ride to school once a week, and an increase in the number of children who have started cycling to school.

Sprint Bonuses

And Finally,
Cycling has been taking a bashing in the media this week: The Spectator newspaper organised a debate on whether; ‘Cyclists are a menace’. The motion wasn’t carried!

But The Sunday Times thought that cyclists that listened to music as they cycled along were a menace. In fact they suggested that these cyclists had something to do with the recent upsurge in cycling injuries.