Arthur Lamy with a few book recommendations

No snow then? I bet that you’ve all been cycling around furiously to make up for lost time, or maybe not?

This week I’ve become a bit soft, and instead of encouraging you out on your bikes, I’m going to suggest a few miles in the comfort of your armchair, with the warmth of the central heating rather than the summer sun.

This week I’m going to suggest a few cycling books that you might like to borrow or even buy. They are all principally about cycle touring so apologies for that, if it’s not your top choice. I’ll try and read some books about other cycle based activities and report back.

I’ve read all these, and I found all of them to be entertaining, informative but not technical, and in many ways quite inspiring. What is interesting is that some of these travellers’ tales come from people who have never really done much cycling, so their stories are extra encouraging. Here are some of my favourites.

The Wind in My Wheels: Travel Tales from the Saddle by Josie Dew. This was published in 1992 and was shortlisted for the British Books Travel Writer of The Year Award. This was her first book, and the one that remains my favourite.

Downhill All the Way: Cycling Through France from La Manche to the Mediterranean by Edward Enfield. This is the father of Harry Enfield the comedian, and dad is just as funny, though perhaps rather more subtle.

French Revolutions: Cycling the Tour De France by Tim Moore. I think that this was one of Tim Moore’s earliest travel books, but as usual very witty. He followed this up with a book about walking the Pilgrim’s Trail to Santiago de Compostella-accompanied by a donkey!

A Bike Ride: 12,000 Miles Around the World by Anne Mustoe. Retired headmistress, Anne Mustoe, hadn’t ridden a bike for thirty years when she decided that she’d cycle around the world on the bike bought for her as a leaving present. Sadly Anne Mustoe died whilst on a cycle expedition in Syria in November last year.

Breaking News

Another bumper year for the North American Handmade Bicycle Show
It looks like a bumper turn out for the North American Handmade Bicycle Show which takes place in Richmond, Virginia this year. Organisers of the February show say that they have over 100 exhibitors already signed to attend, and they expect that this number will exceed 120 before the show opens on the 26^th February. The show organisers report that the recession does not appear to be adversely affecting these smaller companies, and that exhibiting their products is the best way to gain further business.

Nine countries are represented at the show, these include; Denmark, Japan, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.

Check out some two wheeled works of art at www.handmadebicycleshow.com

Peugeot reborn
After a gap of eight years, Peugeot bicycles are due to produced again this year. A new agreement has been reached between Peugeot and Cycleurope, which grants Cycleurope a world -wide licence to manufacture Peugeot bikes. Toni Grimaldi, president and CEO of Cycleurope, said that the bikes will be designed and manufactured at their French factory at Romilly sur Seine. He also said that Peugeot bikes might also be made at the company’s Varberg facility in Sweden.

Cycleurope will initially launch four models in the spring. These will be a racing bike, a mountain bike, a hybrid and a city bike. All will come in Peugeot’s classic black and white livery, reminiscent of the company’s successes in the Tour de France.

A bigger range of bicycles will be on show at 2010 Eurobike, which will include electric bikes. As a brand, Peugeot plans to focus on the development of electric bicycles, scooters and cars.

Pothole payouts
76 year-old cyclist, Kenneth Atkinson from Kent, who in May 2007 was thrown from his bike because of an unrepaired pothole, has just received £6,250 in an out-of-court settlement from Kent County Council and Scotia Gas Networks, the contractor.

A similar accident happened to Ian Davis from Berkshire in February 2006. He took advice from the Cyclists’ Touring Club’s Accident Helpline, and was awarded £7,600 in April last year, for injuries that included broken ribs, a dislocated shoulder and injuries to his hips and knees.

The CTC has a dedicated pothole website which allows you to pin-point a pothole on a map of the area, and a direct link to the relevant county council. And surprise, surprise, it appears to work in Jersey, though I haven’t tried to report any potholes yet. Go to www.fillthathole.org.uk

Sprint Bonuses

• Despite all the snow, cycle courier company Yellow Jersey Delivery in Coventry have kept busy. The only complaint that director Jonathon Prime had was that everything took twice as long.
• British Eurosport will be covering almost 20 top cycling events this year, including the Tour of Qatar, Paris-Roubaix and the World Road Race championships.
• Lance Armstrong’s charity, Livestrong, is donating 250,000 dollars to victims of the Haiti earthquake.
• Transport for London is offering Londoners grants of up to £10,000 for ideas to promote cycling in the community.
• San Francisco’s Mayor, Gavin Newsome has announced that there will be nine ‘Sunday Streets’ this year. This means that between 10am and 3.30pm, on certain Sundays during the year, motor vehicles will be banned from particular areas in the city.

And Finally,
Lindsey Cole, a journalism graduate from Buckinghamshire, is looking for a companion to cycle with her to the World Cup finals in South Africa. The trip starts in Cairo in February. Email her: joinmecycle2sa@gmail.com

• Arthur Lamy is a freelance writer who has written books, guides and articles for, among others, IPC Media, Ottaker’s Bookshops, Seaflower Books and Jersey Tourism.

• He is a Blue Badge qualified tourist guide specialising in cycling and walking tours.

• He is also a keen photographer – Joint winner of the 2009 Jersey Telecoms ‘Front Page’ competition.

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