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many cyclists

Save Our Cyclists – Cities Fit for Cyclists

Yesterday, the front page of the Times carried a headline ‘Save Our Cyclists’ It is partly motivated by a young Times journalist, Mary Bowers, being involved in a very serious accident on her way to work in 2011. It was quite a surprise to see a major newspaper give their front page to improving cycle […]

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yellow jacket

What to Wear on the Bike

There is a saying that you are what you are wear. A cyclist faces quite a few choices. You can try all kinds of different looks. The strict Italian roadie classic look. Immaculate looking lycra with matching sunglasses. Socks at right height (Armstrong’s knee high white socks are definitely out – even if aerodynamic benefits. […]

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Racing vs Commuting

One commuter takes a sit up and beg approach, the other goes for an aerodynamic tuck (or is she looking at why her brakes aren’t working) I tend to wear two cycling hats, my racing helmet and a wooly hat for commuting. In most sports, there is no complement to the sporting aspect. The only […]

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Tips for Cycling Commuters

Cycling to work can be a very rewarding experience. You will save money, get fit, lose weight and quite possibly save time. With so many advantages of cycling to work it is perhaps surprising more people don’t commute by bike. I know a close colleague who always drove for 20 years, but, it was only […]

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Challenge A Friend to Commute by Bike

Very interesting video (at bottom of post) where a long term driver is challenged to swap his car for a bike and try a week of commuting by bicycle. It is a very good advert for the advantages of cycling to work. He comes across as a typical motorist who is honest about his experience […]

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Beating the Traffic in Indonesia

If you think it’s difficult cycling through British cities, look at this video from Indonesia. Six lanes of traffic bumper to bumper – but it hasn’t stopped some locals taking to their bikes in a bid to beat the traffic. The traffic problem is so acute in Indonesia that a group of commuters started a […]

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queens lane

The End of A Transport Paradise

Commuting to work is always a little stressful. Coming down Iffley road, you have buses and vans squeezing past with, at times, a few inches to spare. Then you have Magdalen roundabout to negotiate. Five different exits, vehicles flying around – you need your wits about you. Then there’s High Street and a combination of […]

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How Amsterdam Got Its Cycle Paths

Fascinating video below about how Holland became one of the top countries for cycle use in the world (and also the safest). The interesting thing is that in the post war period the Netherlands experienced many changes other countries did rise in wealth – increased numbers of cars City centres became clogged with traffic New […]

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rain

Waterproof Cycling Trousers

For quite a few years of cycle commuting I never really used waterproof trousers. I would kind of get wet, curse the weather and take a spare pair of trousers. My first pair of waterproof cycling trousers were pretty useless and this must have been what put me off (they did only cost £15 from […]

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Getting to The Front of The Queue

Advanced Stop Signs create a mixture of responses from cyclists. On the one hand they can be useful for giving a better position at traffic lights. They can give better visibility Remind motorists cyclists have right to be on road and encourages them to be more tolerant of cyclists (in theory anyway!) Provide a nicer […]

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Advantages of Rail Freight

Advantages of Rail Freight

Cars moved by rail freight at Willesden junction, England   Whenever I see freight being moved by rail, I always get a good feeling that it means several less lorries on the road. As a cyclist my biggest gripe is having to deal with large lorries (btw: I find lorry drivers generally more courteous than […]

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