Tales from the river bank

Seeing as I didn’t have to bring the kids to school this morning I decided to take the scenic route.
I used to use the Lagan towpath more regularly, mainly on the way home during the summer, but I got fed up with the dogs, glass and kids. And I usually only went half way by towpath. So today I decided to go all the way, it adds another 3 or 4 miles on to my 11 mile commute but its nice for a change. I’m lucky that I can get to the river about half a mile from my house and make it virtually all the way to work without using any roads. Its good not having to fight with motorists for space and on the towpath other cyclists are more likely to say hello as they overtake me (its rarely me overtaking them). It only added about 10 minutes on to my journey, so I think as the evenings get brighter I’ll do it more often.
Last week I was coming home late after doing a juggling gig at the waterfront hall (not as grand as it sounds – I was fire juggling outside as the guests were coming in) and in my first weak attempt at “subvertising” I decided I’d stick a “BAN THE 4x4” poster on a Jeep bill board in Dunmurry. I pulled over, waited for a couple of cars to pass and got the pritt stick out. No sooner had I stuck it up that a bloke on a cheap mountain bike rolled up, he hadn’t noticed the poster, it was only on a crappy sheet of A4 and fell off the next day. He was concerned that I might have a puncture, which I thought was very nice of him. But I couldn’t help wondering what he was doing out at 11.00 at night in the middle of winter with his pot belly, bottle end glasses, £60 mountain bike and crap pound shop l.e.d. lights.
Anyway, he starts talking about cycling – how convenient it is not having to wait for buses etc. Fair point, but then he veers off in to some rehearsed piece about the queen and some MP talking to her about god. Here we go I thought. Then he starts singing this hymn – how are you meant to react in a situation like that? Laughing in his face might be considered rude. I don’t mind Christians – my twin brother is one. But I always cringe at their attempts to witness to people, it was a cold winters night in Dunmurry of all places!
I started putting my things back on the bike, hopeful that this would drop him a massive hint that I was leaving but he asked me where I was cycling too and if I wouldn’t mind him coming along for the ride. That’s all I need – a cycling Christian stalker following me home on a Wednesday night – “look dear, I’ve brought a weirdo home”. Now I’m not the fastest cyclist by any stretch of the imagination, but I thought I’d take it easy to give him a chance to pull along side. I looked behind after about 30 seconds to see where he was and guess what, he’d completely vanished! Only joking, he was about 50ft behind me so I stuck the foot down and lost him.

What a Corker

I got the chance to ride my bike further a field last weekend.
I was working in Cork for the opening celebrations of their year as City of Culture. We did a couple of shows in the newly refurbished city centre which were going great till a 20ft TV screen started belting out music in the build up to a big firework display. The festival was organised by Spraoi – Waterfords festival organisation, which begs the question – why Cork City of Culture and not Waterford?
But I have to say the city centre did look good – a lovely backdrop to our show, and I’m sure people visiting the city this year wont be disappointed.
I went out on the bike on the Saturday morning, with a vague notion of heading towards the coast – but when you forget to bring a map this isn’t such an easy proposition. I set off in the direction I thought the sea should be, but after about 5 miles realised I was probably travelling further inland. So I decided to just head up a steep hill to see what I could see from the top. It was a lovely crisp, clear day – a nice change after the storms of the day before. It felt good to give the bike a good ride after the excesses of the Christmas period and the hills really got my blood pumping. Getting to the top of the hill confirmed that I was nowhere near the sea, but the view of Cork was nice and I did see a house with its own conservatory – a big white sphere stuck in the garden – made me wish I hadn’t dropped the digital camera last summer. The ride back down the hill was fast and exhilarating, but cold, as I had forgotten my hat and gloves. I got back in plenty of time to prepare for the show, then later finished the day with a swim, sauna and a game of cards in the hotel bar – lovely.

Think Bike

Those of us who cycle are aware of the thinking time that riding your bike gives you. Thats one of the main attractions for me, along with combining exercise and travel in one therefore freeing up more of your day - why doesnt everyone do it?
Anyway, apparently Einstein came up with his theory of relativity whilst riding his bike and to celebrate Einstein Year (Whats wrong with Einstein Day?) some Boffins have come up with a new BMX trick called the Einstein Flip
From the Guardian - "The stunt was created by Cambridge physicist Helen Czerski in collaboration with professional BMX rider Ben Wallace. Ms Czerski claims the stunt is "pushing the boundaries of what it is humanly possible to do on a bike". "( post title links to article)
I've always loved seeing what people can do with a bike, I'm not bad with the unicycle and ride an 8ft one but I think thats easier then pulling a wheelie.
I'm travelling down to Cork this weekend to do a show and i'm planning to bring the bike aswell so I can see all those things that you miss when your in a car.

Happy New Year.
It was my first time on the bike for a week and a half yesterday and I had a tail wind easing my journey on the way in which had died down by the time I was going home making the return journey quite pleasant as well.
I also had that rare occasion of another cyclist riding alongside me for a chat. I think it was the same bloke I chatted to a couple of years ago – we talked about the nice wind that morning and the various alternative routes of getting from Belfast to Lisburn. He uses the tow path quite often, which is a nice route but one I don’t use too often because of the glass, uneven ground, and too many dogs. He wasn’t going the whole way to Lisburn last night but I was glad of the short chat – I think I’d be too shy to start one myself, but it does make you feel part of a wider community.

Trailer Bike

I got my trailer bike this week and just finished putting it together last night. It was fairly straight forward till I read the last bit about removing the seat post! Having not removed the seat post since I bought the bike I thought I was going to be in for a hard time. But after a bit of welly with a hammer and a few twists for a good half hour it came out so i could fit the bracket. But it meant I had to take the mud guard off so i'm going to have to look for a mud guard that will fit on somewhere else.
Anyway I havent taken the kids out on it yet so i'm looking forward to the weekend so we can have a good go on it.
I got a bottle of lemonade chucked at me last night on the way home, they just missed with the liquid so threw the bottle aswell which hit the back wheel so I went after them - didnt catch them though - probably good job that I didnt, its difficult not to react to these things though.

This has got to be the coolest bike i've seen in ages. I saw the kids version in a bike shop in Kilkeel on Saturday and when I checked the website www.kmxkarts.co.uk it turns out they have an adult version aswell for about £600, cheap enough for a recumbent but a bit difficult to justify when I wouldnt be using it on the road - but then again I can get virtually the whole way to work by tow path so maybe in a couple of years time. I'm busy looking for a solution to getting the 2 kids to school by bike without 1 of them having to walk. I'd love to get a Bike Friday tandem (pictured on a previous post) but in the mean time I think I'll go for a trailer bike.
Posted by Dave

Dublin

Went for a day trip to Dublin yesterday and noticed a big increase in cycle lanes since the last time I was there, didnt stop people riding on the pavement though or riding through red lights with their child sitting on the crossbar. Not surprisingly there were plenty of wrecked bikes attached to lamp posts and cycle stands.
When you ride in a city I think its important to dominate the traffic and stake your claim on the stretch of road you are using, but for me this doesnt include taking stupid risks - especially going through red lights.
Back to the commute this morning and someone pulled right in front of me without indicating, so I hammered on the window. Even when its blatantly their fault why do some motorists always assume its the cyclists fault. Maybe hammering on the window isnt the best option but what else can you do to make someone understand how dangerous a 2 tonne piece of metal can be. I think i'll hammer on the roof next time this happens - I think it'll make a more satisfying bang.

Fancy a bit of direct action, fed up of SUV's blocking your cycling route - why not give them a thinking ticket. Cant promise that it'll make them change their car but you never know - it might plant a seed of an idea in their head, maybe.
Posted by Dave

Well - how many months since my last post.
Nevermind, autumn is a lovely time to be on the bike - just cool enough to be comfortable and lots of nice trees to look at. People still cutting me up in cars though - i'm going to have to get one of those air horns.
3 other cyclists on my way in the other day, and not one of them stopped for red lights - sad.
I sent a couple of e-mails at work trying to find out wether we are running the tax break scheme for buying a bike through work and someone is looking in to it for me - so a new bike might be up for grabs, cant decide between the adaptability of a Brompton, the comfort of a hybrid, the speed of a racer or a recumbant. I think the recumbant can wait till i'm a bit better off.
I should really try and post more often.

Folding tandem in Waterford
Posted by Dave

Mini Cycling Holiday

I've just spent the weekend in Waterford doing the show at the "Spraoi" (apparently it means "Fun" in Irish) and I managed to get the bike rack rigged up to Chris's car. So after 4 hours looking over my shoulder to make sure it wasnt falling off we got to Waterford and the Hotel owner was kind enough to let me lock it in the beer garden.
The next morning it was down for an early breakfast and then out towards Bunmahon on a glorious sunny day. It was such a joy to be cycling for pleasure rather than just commuting. From Bunmahon I came back along the copper coast through Annestown and on to Tramore before heading back to Waterford. A total of 37 miles.
The copper coast is lovely, and I was accompanied by swifts diving around the cliff edge. Unfortunatley I forgot to bring my camera with me so no picies i'm afraid. But the next day in Waterford I did see a foldable tandem which I took a picture of, unfortunatley the owners werent about so I couldnt ask them about it.
I'm bringing the bike over to Scotland at the end of the month when we go to stay in the wig wams in Dumfries, so hopefully I'll get a few more early morning rides in

2 Less Wheels

I've been off work for the last week so havent had much chance to be on the bike as I've been looking after the kids.
But on the plus side I finally got round to taking the stabalisers off my daughters bike. She learnt how to do it in a couple of hours! I dont know why I didnt take them off sooner - shes really in to cycling now and begs me to bring the bikes out every day, needless to say i'm a happy daddy.

Half a Century

I've done some miles this week.
On Wednesday I did 50 miles! All the way to Bangor with juggling stuff in my rucksack for a gig at the Bangor Market. I went over the Craigantlet hills which is a killer, but the pay off is the long descent in to Bangor on the other side.
Then coming in to Belfast I had the wind behind me all the way down the dual carriageway. Using the dual carriageway can be a bit scary but it's better than riding through all the glass and dog crap on the cycle path.
I really want to do a century before the end of the summer but I dont know when i'm going to fit it in.
The Tour de France is in full swing but itv1 seem to be giving it less coverage than last year unfortunatley. Oh well, i'll just have to follow it on the net.

BBC Bias

From BBC News - "A 72-year-old Teesside man has died following an accident with a cyclist who rode off before emergency services could get to the scene."

I first heard this news on Radio2. Very sad but why is it making national news when reports about hit and run accidents involving cars rarely make it out of the local rag?

Drugs Scandal

Just one week before the TDF and Drugs are making the headlines again. It makes you wonder how many of them are still at it, especially when someone like David Millar with a supposedly clean history is caught. Oh well - i'll still be watching Lance go for his 6th anyway.

David Millar
Posted by Dave

The only way to travel!
Posted by Dave

Bike to Work Week

Well as Bike Week draws to a close I managed to double the amount of people cycling in to work! Doesn't sound quite as impressive when I tell you that just one other person bothered to get on their bike.
Out of an office of about 200 people you'd think that more than one person would cycle in on a regular basis. Most of them do live quite a distance from the office though, so you could blame the government for centralizing my particular branch of the civil service in Belfast, Whilst an old branch 2 miles from my house lies empty. So most of my colleagues would say their only option is bringing the car, which is probably true. Just another example of how the car is given priority in every detail of the planning of our lives. Whether it be going to work, doing our shopping..Everything is designed with the driver in mind.
I think people realize the damage that cars do but they just don't care. We live in very selfish times.

Cameras save 100 lives a year

I know you can argue about statistics till your blue in the face, but its good to see speed cameras get positive press coverage for a change.
To say its not speed that kills but dangerous drivers misses the point. If you are driving fast you are a dangerous driver. The faster you go the worse the carnage if or when you do crash.
I've never understood why they allow the manufacture of cars capable of speeds over 70 when the speed limit is 70.
When are people going to realise that driving isnt a freedom, its a privelege and one that they frequently exercise at other peoples expense.

Guess who I voted for

Having said I should remember to bring my camera out with me more often the next day I was cycling home and I heard a whirring noise over head. Now its not unusual to see helicopters in Northern Ireland but this one flew right over my head and landed right in the field next to me. I dont think I would of got the camera out quick enough for a good shot anyway.
I just nipped down to the polling station to cast my vote in the European elections. The Green Party obviously got my number one vote. The UUP and DUP both put me off by referring to Sinn Fein/IRA in their opening paragraphs - I hate negative campaigning. Most of the other candidates made some reference to environmental policys, but it just seemed like a token gesture that they were adding on as an extra vote grabber.
To be honest i'm not really interested in party politics but i'd rather the greens got a seat than any of the others.
By the way i've just started a photo blog aswell at http://banthecar.buzznet.com not much on it at the moment but it will be a good place to stick my photos.