WTF (reprise)

If it is not only appalling that the life of a cyclist, killed by a driver who was clearly in the wrong, is worth next to nothing (Is a £200 fine and three points on your licence an appropriate punishment for killing a cyclist on the road).

We now get the indignity of this

Apparently the fact that Matthew's parents didn't make him wear a helmet, is mitigation for the following behaviour...

"Weaving was found guilty by a jury in December 2008 of manslaughter and other charges after the court heard he had driven at 83mph in a 45mph zone in Connecticut. His record showed that he had been arrested on five previous occasions for drunk driving."

...and it's the lack of a helmet that is causing the mental anguish?

British Customer Service

Don't ask!

Ukulele Fun

I went to the Stoke Newington ukulele group upstairs at the lion last night. Good fun all round and a lovely mix of people and songs. I had serious Uke envy though because unlike the work related meet-up, everyone had lovely little instruments (ooer)



I will be going again!!

bike loan...

I am currently the recipient of a loan bicycle from my friend Isa (similar to the picture on the left). It is a 1970's ladies road racing bike in champagne gold. It is a little more glittery than my usual choive of steed, but I'm finding the step through frame (reminds me of the brompton) helpful. I know Jarvis Cocker rode around Paris on a ladies cycle... but it got me thinking. I have a lovely 1980's Raleigh Superb (ladies) at my parents house... Could I... Should I?





Are ladies bikes just for ladies? What if I find this more convenient?

Long time no post...

I have been quite busy with un-bike related things... like trying to perfect the ukulele. Anyway, as the nights draw in and the summer cyclists put away their steeds I thought I'd add a post of the lovely bikes that I have seen over the summer.

sustainability

Prince charles today, set out to persuade his subjects to go green by travelling around in a train powered by chip fat. I kind-of-get-it, but I'm becoming sick of celebrity greens travelling ostentatiously whilst trying to get me to wear horsehair. Why not try this

tfl hates the banjolele - it's official

I saw this yesterday whilst perusing the paper. Outrageous. I was looking up Nigle Birch to see when he was playing near me next, and then this...

And a picture of my soon to be fixed banjolele

weekend wondering

I managed to miss the London Skyride this last weekend (due my bike still being in pieces after a recent attack by vandals). It is an amazing experience. For those that have not been before, it is cycling through a traffic free loop of central London with thousands of other cyclists.

My concern with this event however is indicative of my general concerns about the mayor and tfl. Why the sponsorship... the money (I know). We now have a Skyride and a Barclays bike hire scheme. Why can’t we do anything without a massive corporate logo on it. I wouldn’t mind, but the mayor’s office has branded the bike lanes in barclay’s blue. It won’t be long before all bike lanes, racks and signage is branded. We can build motorways, but painting the road for bikes requires a sponsor.




After a very dignified tea party for Jess’s 30th birthday... we had a very undignified evening in Barrio North. Noisy latin themed cocktail bars aren’t normallt my thing, but when the mojhito’s are this strong I found I soon got into it.

lovely blogs

I'm very impressed with the number of blogs out there about utalitarian cycling with style. The one suprise is that they are nearly all written by girls. The suprise is not that girls are interested in stylish cycling, but that men seem to want to write tech oriented blogs about performance and materials. I follow one blog by a guy, but where are the boys into brooks, twine, pashley and tweed in this country?



I haven't linked to the blogs because they are in the "blogs that i follow" window

flippin' 'eck

it is almost impossible to buy tyres in 700x38 anymore. which is odd. I only bought this bike 5 years ago and already it is very difficult to find appropriate rubber. I am beginning to understand why dedicated round-the world riders ride 26" wheels every good tyre comes in 23mm only. surely that's practically a blade!!