Southampton Cycling Campaign Newsletter Welcome to the May 2005 Southampton Cycling Campaign Newsletter. Many thanks to Dale Bostock who made an appearance at our April meeting and enlightened us all with the latest goings-on at the Council, especially the Bargate pedestrianisation scheme. Details here: http://www.southampton.gov.uk/transport/citycentreimprovements/bargate.asp#0 Lots of events in this year's Bike Week which will be from the 11th to 19th June. See: http://www.bikeweek.org.uk/ for the latest details that may not listed here. I will be relinquishing my position as Newsletter Editor. The position is open to anyone who wants it. If nobody comes forward it may have to end. The AGM was held on 9th May 2005 All agreed: Thanks to the Chairman Eric for having had great results the past year due to a very good dialogue with the Council. More ASL's, cycle lanes etc. The membership rates and the club hierarchy are to stay the same for the next year. As featured in the local papers, Chris Parr is planning a Pedalling For Charity cycle journey across Europe starting in Southampton and finishing in Amman, Jordan. Chris is looking for sponsors and can be contacted at: eb01cjp0@hotmail.com I have a girl's mountain bike (24 inch wheels, lovely deep purple) going for free if anyone would like it. Please contact me for more details. tim@southamptoncycling.org.uk In this issue... CycleWise Cycle Training National Standards for Cycle Instruction Bicycle Chosen As Best Invention The Persecution Continues The 10th Winchester Bike Fair & Cycle Cavalcade Active Travel Week Southampton Cycle Events Contact Information and Membership application CycleWise Cycle Training Spring is here "would you like the independence and freedom of cycling to work" but don't know how? No more traffic jams 5 mile journey = 20 mins. Arrive refreshed and relaxed. Learn to ride safely to Government's new National Standards for Cycle Instruction. - group courses: children or the whole family - Individuals and confidential tuition for adults - Complete novices welcome - Beginner to lapsed cyclist - Courses tailored to your needs - Help with choosing a bike - Advice on bike maintenance Save £ pounds on petrol and Lose lbs pounds in weight. Gain fitness of someone 10yrs younger. Your instructor is: ? An experienced cyclist (and car driver!) ? An experienced instructor trained to National Standards ? Insured ? Police checked ? First Aid trained New: Saturday courses 3 or 4 weeks = £40 Now booking summer school holiday courses. For more information contact Dilys Gartside: cyclewise@aol.com Tel: 023 8077 7472 Bicycle Chosen As Best Invention The humble bicycle has won a UK national survey of people's favourite inventions. Listeners to BBC Radio 4's You and Yours programme were invited to vote in an online poll looking at the most significant innovations since 1800. Nominated by Professor Heinz Wolff. It was an easy victory for the bicycle which won more than half of the vote. The transistor came second with 8% of the vote, and the electro-magnetic induction ring - the means to harness electricity - came third. People chose the bicycle for its simplicity of design, universal use, and because it is an ecologically sound means of transport. Prof Wolff's praise of the bicycle held the most sway with voters which will come as a disappointment to Lord Alec Broers, this year's Reith lecturer. His series of lectures - Triumph of Technology - prompted the vote. In the first of his talks, he expressed surprise at the results of a similar survey. It too ranked the bicycle above scientific breakthroughs such as electricity generation, the jet engine, the discovery of DNA and the invention of vaccinations. http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/youandyours/ http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/technology/4513929.stm The Persecution Continues As some of you may be aware, Wessex recently overturned their peak hours cycle restriction following a vocal campaign here in the South West, and some skilled pressure from Dave Holladay (BTW Bromptons were allowed). However, no-one seems to have told many of the 'train managers'. Just two weeks ago on a busy commuter service between Bath and Bristol, two cyclists get on with full size bikes. The train manager comes and asks them to get off the train, their cycles not permitted on the service. When it is respectfully pointed out that they are in fact allowed to bring a cycle, that the company has changed its position, he all but accuses the cyclists of lying. The cyclists remain polite but refuse to get off. Train manager concedes that the train must leave the station, so allows them to stay and walks off muttering about 'checking up' and threats of throwing the cyclists off at next stop. Follow passengers look on with a mixture of mirth or fury, no doubt depending upon their view of cyclists! Joy, he returns a few minutes later, deeply apologetic, admits his mistake and wishes us a pleasant onward journey. Made my day! The 10th Winchester Bike Fair & Cycle Cavalcade Olympic silver and bronze medallist Rob Hayles returns to Hampshire in June to open Winchester's annual Bike Fair & Cycle Cavalcade. The event is just one of many cycling activities taking place in the Winchester district during national Bike Week (11-19 June), the UK's annual 'celebration of cycling'. Rob, originally from Portsmouth, now lives in Derbyshire and trains with the Recycling.co.uk/MG Xpower Litespeed Cycle Racing Team, representing Britain at international cycling events across the world. His recent successes include winning two gold medals at the World Championships in Los Angeles. Rob will open the Bike Fair & Cycle Cavalcade at an informal ceremony, near Marks & Spencer in Winchester's High Street, at 10am on Saturday 11 June, with the help of the Mayor of Winchester. They will be joined by Nick Harvey, the national co-ordinator of Bike Week, who is keen to visit Winchester and see how the campaign is celebrated in the city. Visitors to the Bike Fair can try out a variety of bikes and equipment as well as talk to members of local cycling clubs, and get information on cycle hire, cycle training, safety and cycle rides in and around Winchester. The Bike Fair line-up includes the CTC, the UK's national cyclists' organisation, and sustainable transport charity Sustrans. New to the event this year are BMX specialists Just Bikes of Andover and New Force Mountain Bike Club, who are on the lookout for new members. Hargroves Cycles make a welcome return with a selection of bikes and a cycle competition at their stand. Staff from Hampshire County Council will be on hand to promote their Cycle Training Scheme and Bikeabout, a popular free cycle loan scheme, which is unique to Winchester. There will be something to see and do for everyone, with a display of bikes from Victorian times, and mountain bike aerial display stunts at the Buttercross throughout the day, followed by Question & Answer sessions. Younger children can join in the fun at Mister Bigtoys workshop between 10am and 12noon, where they can make and decorate transport- related toykits. The Cycle Cavalcade, sponsored by Peter Hansford, is an annual fun ride that appeals to cyclists of all ages, on all sorts of bikes, and Rob Hayles will start it off at 11am. Once underway cyclists will find themselves on a pleasant, way-marked route around the city, with marshalls stationed at all strategic points. The check-in point for cyclists taking part is in The Broadway (beneath King Alfred's statue) from 10.30am onwards. Children should be accompanied by adults and although cycle helmets are not obligatory they are advisable. Other cycling activities in and around Winchester during national Bike Week include the VC Venta Cycle Slalom Challenge also taking place on Saturday 11 June, at River Park Leisure Centre, which tests children's skill and confidence on their bikes; a Back to Biking for Adults refresher session on Wednesday 15 June with a qualified coach which is designed to get older cyclists back on their bikes; and a cycle ride (some 12-15 miles) along disused railway lines around Winchester which ends with a visit to the Chesil Tunnel organised by the CTC (a railway enthusiast will be accompanying cyclists to answer questions along the way). Winchester Bike Week is supported by Winchester City Council and benefits from MIRACLES (Multi Initiatives for Rationalised Accessibility and Clean Liveable EnvironmentS) funding. For more information about the 10th Winchester Bike Fair & Cycle Cavalcade or any other events taking place in Winchester during national Bike Week visit the website: http:// www.winchester.gov.uk/onthemove Contact details: Sally Hawthorne, Forum Communications, Westgate House, Old Ivy Lane, Southampton SO30 3RX, phone 023 8047 6888 or email sallyhawthorne@forum-pr.co.uk or Matthew Hill, Winchester City Council, phone 01962 848105 or email mhill@winchester.gov.uk 1. More information about Rob Hayles is available at www.recycling.co.uk – see Cycle Team. 2. Bike Week is the UK's annual 'celebration of cycling', first started by cycle campaigners in 1923 This year more than 2,000 local bike events and rides are expected to attract at least 300,000 participants. Bike Week is the UK's only annual nationwide campaign to increase participation in organised cycling, to encourage one-time cyclists to return to the road, and to promote nationally the wider social and environmental benefits of more people cycling to work. For more information on Bike Week and a full listing of events across the country visit the website http://www.bikeweek.org.uk or contact Nick Harvey, phone 01243 527444, email nick@bikeweek.org.uk Active Travel Week Southampton More people, more active, more often - that's the message being pushed at a host of events being held across the city during Active Travel Week 2005. No time to visit the gym, not really a sporty type? Why not incorporate physical activity into your everyday life by walking or cycling to work, school, and the shops. The City Council, in partnership with the Southampton City PCT and Sport England are offering a range of practical sessions and advice on Active Travel from Saturday the 11th of June through to Sunday the 19th of June. Come along and join us on a guided cycle ride through Southampton, passing through one of the City's many green open spaces. Why not try a guided 'Health Walk' in a safe environment with one of our skilled walk leaders? Sat 11th June Northam Community Centre 11am to 2pm Cycle Fun day as Part of Sure Starts Northam Community Project. Sun 12th June Weston Shore 12 noon Cycle Fun day to link with Westwood Forest Rangers Treasure Hunt. Follow Westwood's Cycle route finding the hidden clues to complete the hunt.. Meet at the entrance near the Mill House Pub , Grange Road, Netley Abbey, Southampton. Must bring suitable bicycle. Advised to bring safety helmet if you have one. Grid Ref: SU459093 Mon 13 June Southampton Central Library 12.30pm Walk in the Parks. Southampton Sports Centre 6.30pm Evening Bike Ride to Chilworth. Tues 14th June Southampton Central Library 12.30pm Walk in the Parks. Green Park 6.30pm Evening Bike Ride to the Sports Centre. Weds 15th June City Centre early am Bike to Work Day. Southampton University 12:30pm Lunchtime cycle ride from University. Southampton University afternoon Health Promotion at University. Southampton University 6.30pm Evening Bike Ride to Chilworth and beyond. Southampton Common 6.30pm Back to Biking for Adults - for those wishing to improve their cycling skills. Southampton Common 6.30pm Walk around the Common. Thurs 16th June West Quay 10am Active Travel Week Exhibition, Information on Travel, Activity, Health, and Nutrition. Southampton Central Library 12.30pm Walk to Mayflower Park. Southampton Common 6.30pm Evening Bike Ride to Chilworth and beyond. Fri 17th June West Quay 10am Active Travel Week Exhibition, Information on Travel, Activity, Health, and Nutrition. Southampton University 6.30pm Evening Bike Ride to Chilworth and beyond. Sat 18th June Southampton Kite Festival 12 noon Exhibition and Bike Rides from the Southampton Kite Festival at Lordshill. Walk around Lordshill. Sun 19th June Southampton Common 11am Bike Ride to the Sports Centre and Chilworth. Dale Bostock (council cycling officer) dale.bostock@southampton.gov.uk Events: Bike Week Winchester Bike Fair Saturday 11th June. Come and visit us at the 10th Winchester Bike Fair its a great day out. http://www.winchester.gov.uk/onthemove/ Bike Week "Ride My Bike Introduction To Cycling Skills" Sunday 12th June morning. An introductory course to the basic skills for safe cycling for children and families, based on the new National Standard for Cycle Training - the new 'Cycling Proficiency'. Free, but donations to Leukaemia Research. Winchester, meet at River Park Leisure Centre. 10.30 - 12.noon Bookings advisable bikeweek@hampshirecycletraining.org.uk Bike Week "Family & Friends" Ride Sunday June 12th afternoon Follow on from the morning's course and put the skills into practice, using cycle routes and quiet roads with an emphasis on using road safety skills. Suitable for all, including children. Winchester, Meet at River Park Leisure Centre. 1.30 - 3.30pm Bookings advisable. bikeweek@hampshirecycletraining.org.uk John Heath Start Bike Week Ride To Braishfield Monday 13th June 6.30pm from the Cowherds pub. 7.00pm from The Ship pub, Test Lane. B&Q Try-A-Bike Wednesday 15th June Lunch time at B&Q, Cando House, Bournemouth Road, Chandlers Ford. Bike Week "Family & Friends Sunday June 19th Enjoy a pleasant guided meander along parts of the Test and Bourne valleys with a picnic or pub lunch. Suitable for all riders. Start at Whitchurch Bell Street Car Park Bookings essential Children must be accompanied bikeweek@hampshirecycletraining.org.uk Summer Holiday Courses 'Ride My Bike' Courses 1st August - 5th August 8th August 12th August Summer courses are being held throughout Hampshire for all levels of cyclist. Each course lasts two and a half hours (either morning or afternoon) and is held at a location central to trainees. Please contact us for venues. Other dates may be available. ridemybike@hampshirecycletraining.org.uk Prepare For School Courses1st August - 31st August For the first time in Hampshire special courses are being held to prepare children for riding to primary and secondary school. They cover what to wear, basic cycling skills and road safety and of course how to carry those books ! Training is by a qualified national instructor and is suitable for all children and teenagers from Age 9. A certificate is awarded. schools@hampshirecycletraining.org.uk Get in touch Chairperson Eric Reed. Tel: 02380 497512 E-mail: eric.reed@eastleigh.gov.uk Membership 39 Swift Road, Woolston, Southampton, SO19 9FP. Want something raised at a meeting? Call or e-mail Eric. Or e-mail agenda@southamptoncycling.org.uk. And finally, to keep our meetings on track, how about getting that winge out of your system by emailing winge@southamptoncycling.org.uk Meetings at 19:45 every 2nd Monday of the month (except August) at Friends Meeting House, Ordnance Road. This newsletter is available online at www.southamptoncyclingcampaign.org.uk Membership application Join us and help make a difference! Name Address Telephone Email Annual fee (please circle) £10 Waged / £5 Unwaged Return this form with your fee to SCC Membership Secretary, 39 Swift Road, Woolston, Southampton, SO19 9FP Cheques payable to Southampton Cycling Campaign, please.