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BRADFORD CYCLE ACTION GROUP

The BCAG Discussion Board leisure cycle ridesIs there anyone in the Bradford area who is interested in having a cycling group for people who like the idea of a leisurely cycle ride on a weekend , a bit like the one in Harogate ( wheel easy ) Colin Re: leisure cycle ridesI would guess that an occasional ride - say, every quarter at least - might well get a crowd (certainly the route 66 sustrans route on a freezing December day last year did!), but that it is difficult to work out how to advertise a ride. Perhaps this website would be one way of saying that you are going on a bike ride and I would be happy to have anyone else along - semi-official bike ride? Steve Bike Tours this Summer?Im doing a few bike tours this summer - probably entirely in the UK this year (did Belgium last year, brewery tour). Where are people touring this year? Where was their best every tour? Steve Re: Bike Tours this SummerFrance seems just about the best touring place for bikes - space, easy to get to, they like bikes, child friendly too! Id be surprised if anywhere could beat it for what we want. Sue Vote for 2connect and sustransSustrans bid to get 50 million is now being voted on - in competition with three other projects. Please vote for sustrans 2connect, itd make such a difference. You can either use the web site at http://www.thepeoples50million.org.uk/vote or you can vote for sustrans by phoning 0870 24 24 602 - just think of what new facilities we can get for 50 million and the high profile it would give cycling, just when people are starting to rediscover the bike... Steve Re: Vote for 2connect and sustransHeh, excellent, sustrans has got the money. If you did vote, well done!!! Steve can any one helpis there any one who knows of a club or similar for my 6 year old son who is bike crazy. nothing too serious just a bit of fun.(Keighley area) many thanks holly Re: can any one helpWell, theres a fair bit in Bradford, if you are OK about travelling in each week. Theres the Bradford Kids Saturday Bike Club - this certainly used to be a popular thing, probably still is. Theyve got a webpage at www.ebccsaturdaybikeclub.org. Thats a bit of a trek from Keighley but... Then theres the BMX bandits - dont know how old you have to be to join them - see www.bradfordbmxbandits.org.uk. Sport Keighley dont seem to have much about cycle clubs - tho theres information about cycling on their web site. Theres the CTC in Halifax, but although they have family friendly runs sometimes, Im not aware of a childrens biking group. You might get in touch with BMX bandits or the Saturday Club just to see if they know of anything nearer to Keighley. Good Luck. Steve the Editor Re: can any one helpHi, I actually run a Cycle club in Keighley every Saturday morning at Worth Valley Primary School.The club has been running for abour a year and is now putting together more activities. The club is from 9:30 to 10:30 or 10:30 to 11:30 and youa are welcome to either session.We are also catering monthly rides for beginner adults. please feel free to contact me on the email or on 07982 730196Thanks Richard. Coach Keighley Just Ride Cycling Club Richard Taylor The Big WheelCharity Fundraiser from Lands End to John OGroats, please go to thebigwheel.net Jo Forsyth Route 66 Low Moor ExtensionJust to inform readers that the Bradford section of Route 66 from Low Moor to the Euroway Trading Estate is now open. Went on it today and I have to say the Yorkshire stone work used as edging to the path makes it look quite an attractive route. Well Done Bradford Council - Its taken time but it is here. Craig Ambrose Route 66 Low Moor ExtensionJust to inform readers that the Bradford section of Route 66 from Low Moor to the Euroway Trading Estate is now open. Went on it today and I have to say the Yorkshire stone work used as edging to the path makes it look quite an attractive route. Well Done Bradford Council - Its taken time but it is here. Craig Ambrose sustrans bradford bridgeBrilliant article in the Telegraph and Argus about the sustrans bid to build a cycling/walking bridge across the horrendous traffic on Manchester road. Great idea - give people a chance, cos theyve not got one at the moment. Is it on the web? Err, yes, at the moment at their web site - though its not easy to find and the url doesnt look like one thatll persist long. Anyway, best contact sustrans if you want to support bid. JohnD Re: sustrans bradford bridgeNote that you can now add your name to people who support this project at the sustrans connect web site. The link is now on the home page. So please sign and make Manchester Rd a better place for bikes, and connect the bike routes through Bradford city centre. Steve radio programmeIts likely that therell be a programme on local radio about cycling - done by BCAG. Were thinking of answering your cycling questions (if we can...!) so feel free to post questions here, or else send them to smcarr at uklinux.net - as text or even as a small (i.e. less than 1Mb) ogg or mp3 sound file where you record yourself asking the question - then we could put your voice on air - yes!, though dont get too excited, this is local radio. E.g. what supermarket has the best cycling facilities in the whole of BMDC (the threshold for best is quite low, I suspect!). steve anti spam measuresIf you post a reply or create a new thread on this forum,youll notice that you have to input a number from an image. This is an attempt to reduce (or even stop?) the flood of automated spam thats hit this forum, and rendered it almost unuseable. If this fails, we may have to move onto signed up members only. Sorry about this. Steve Re: anti spam measuresSo far so good on the anti-spam stuff. How long before they produce a better spammer though? No doubt super intelligent automated spam agents are being created as I type. Anyway, looks like you can use this forum now in relative security from being spammed to extinction! Steve W Yorks cycling IssuesIs there any interest in getting together to discuss issues across west yorkshire?I know some areas have regular meetings with Councils but naturally some issues cross borders.The Spen Valley greenway being one example.We could have a periodic get together and possibly attend district meetings.Kirklees next cycling meeting is 11 Sept at Hudersfield Sports centre, 6pm for a ride, 7.30 for the meeting.Martyn Martyn Re: W Yorks cycling IssuesBCAG is at such a low ebb of activity - lacking a committee and regular meetings - that it isnt really doing its job in Bradford Met let alone elsewhere. I doubt we could get sufficient involvement. Anyone wanting to do anything for cyclists in a co-ordinated way? Steve Tour of Britain in BradfordStage 3 Yorkshire: Bradford to Sheffield - on Thurs the 31st August this year. This is great - Bradford people seeing cycling - and as a serious international sport rather than just me heading for the shops or the swimming pool. Go to the tourofbritain co uk web site for details. Steve Re: Tour of Britain in BradfordIt is great that Bradford has this cycling event - if you are around in Bradford that day, and are off work for the day, do turn up or see the tour from some other location in the area - it is the sort of thing that could bring people into cycling and should be a fun event. The Tour de France next year is, of course, starting from London, so weve got something of a bonanza of cycling events that might shift the view of cycling in a very positive way. On top of the obvious likelihood of a pound a gallon petrol (cynical I know, but people are very motivated by the cost of petrol). Steve Road RageAnyone else getting this kind of behaviour from the general public?Lit cigarettes and half full drinks containers being thrown at you from moving vehicles.Passengers and roadside members of the public screaming in your ear as you pass.Drivers cutting you up whilst using mobile phonesDrivers deliberately pulling out infront of or across you when you clearly have the right of wayI get this plenty on my journey to work from Menston to Bradford and was wondering if there is anything that can be done about it? Redders Re: Road RageGet an air zounds? - a very very loud horn. Available on bike web sites and popular for making drivers very aware of your presence - and it gives them a bit of a scare too since its like being blasted by a truck! Reviews suggest effectiveness. As another poster has said - report offenders to the police, so get the number plate. There is, you have to remember, a serious offence by the driver here - theres threatening behaviour, bad driving, assault - all possible charges here. If youre in the CTC youve got the added benefit of their legal team who are experienced in such cases. On the other hand, a blast from the air zounds in the earhole may be just the right sort of shock to make them a nicer, better, more chilled out driver. Adam Re: Road RageCan you find a quieter route? Car drivers generally behave worst on heavily trafficked main roads. I suppose all the traffic is following the flat-ish valley between Menston and Bradford so an alternative route isnt that easy? A photo of any driver using a mobile phone while driving is a valuable thing - and should be sent straight to the police so they can prosecute. Its a significant offence. Petrol prices are on your side I think - once we get a one pound per litre price, even the dumbest car driver is likely to think that there is something to a non-petrol vehicle (or have I not grasped how dumb they are?) Jason B Re: Road RageA lot of that stuff is familiar. The desire to shout out of car windows at cyclists, at pedestrians too, seems inbuilt in some prats. The throwing of drink out of the window isnt that uncommon. Do you just have to put up with it? Well, on the whole getting into a confrontation carries a risk (five yobs versus one cyclist - the odds may not be good). On the other hand, if its a kid in the back and the driver isnt restraining the kid from bad behaviour, well catch them up at the lights and embarrass them! Ive done this and it was delicious. The 10 year old was chucking stuff out of the window at me, the lights ahead went red, I leant my car against the front (!) of the car and we had a chat and a reluctant, amazingly enough, apology was obtained. Video evidence would be enough for a caution from the police - so keep an eye for CCTV. Reporting of the number plate works sometimes too - tell the police and theyll usually, I believe, have a word with the owner (who may not be the driver). Steve Re: Road Rage - furtherOh, and carry a cheap digital camera. Its a great help for remembering number plates - obviously it only works in relatively slow moving traffic but thats more often the sort of traffic that were dealing with here. And BCAG people have notified the police of the number plates of offenders and action HAS been taken. So dont feel theres nothing you can do. Steve Re: Road Rage and number platesThanks for the hints and tips from all who replied to my enquiry.It would appear that it is of value to record number plates of offending drivers.For future reference, should I send any recorded platesdirect to the Police force or post them on here? Redders Re: Road Rage and number platesYou could do both. But the important thing would be to talk to the police and give them the number plate since they can speak to the driver/owner. It was contacting the police that helped other BCAG members. Sad to say, few drivers will be shamed much, I suspect, by being posted on the bradfordcyclists web site.... BCAG did run a page of bad parking pictures for a while - snapshots of illegal parking - mostly cars parked in bike lanes with a complete lack of politeness or legality! Steve Re: Road Rage and number platesJeez, begger me if it aint just happened again!This prat going through Shipley to Baildon first cuts me up in the inside lane lane then as I change into my lane to go to Menston he waits for me get alongside him and starts gobbing at me out the window.Sorry I didnt get a full number plate, (247 xxxx) I got some and the colour of the car (white) but I will keep a lookout for him to see if I can get the rest of it in future.He was dead lucky the lights didnt go red before he disappeared cos I would have got all the details then, shame really. Redders Cycling for BeginnersHi yawl. At the ripe old age of ** I have learned how to get on a bike and pedal along without falling off (well, usually)but everything else is a nightmare - the traffic, the steep hills, signalling to traffic, scratching my nose, etc. I would dearly love to get out more on my bike but am finding it an uphill struggle! Anybody got advice to offer? Sue Logan Re: Cycling for BeginnersIn Bradford cycle training is aimed at children, for the most part. Theres lots of good advice on the web - a quick search for cycling safety will reveal heaps of web sites with varyingly useful advice! Theres a list of cycle training people on the ctc web site - and Judy Connor is listed for Bradford, with contact details, so she might know of specific training for adults, which there certainly is a demand/need for.My own opinion, for what it is worth, is that visibility (so bright colours), riding assertively (i.e. not riding in the gutter), and some basic technique (e.g. going slow at appropriate points, handling roundabouts properly, braking and signalling at the same time) are the basics - assuming your brakes are working well and your bike is reasonably well maintained. Going uphill only gets easier with practice. Steve Re: Cycling for BeginnersTo find the ctc stuff on cycle training, follow the link for resources on the CTC (cycle touring club) homepage. Steve moved web serverThis site has just moved web server - so if anything doesn\t seem quite right, please do let me know. This message just tests that this bit works! Steve hacking againHi everyone.Because theres a lot of posting of commercial, spam or porn web sites on this forum, Ive made it so you cant easily put links in responses to this forum. If this fails, I may make submissions go via approval. Sorry everyone interested in biking for all the rubbish that gets posted by commercial, etc, organisations. Steve coaster powacyclecoaster powacycle for sale any good offers...on the road once for 1/2 an hour so virtually brand new. john Re: coaster powacycleHi John,Is the Powacycle Coaster still for sale? If so, please let me have further details, eg colour, condition and warranty situation, and is a battery and charger included?Cheers,Mark H Mark Haydock Re: coaster powacyclehi mark, ive sent details to your email.cheers john john coaster powacycle still for salecoaster powacycle electric mountainbike still for sale for decent offers john Anyone out thereIs the BCAG active. Meet and keep in touch....I visit the site often but there seems no change to it. Leonie Re: Anyone out thereoops, sorry, well, the editor of the old newsletter is meant to be maintaining the site (thats me) and I havent been doing much to it recently so apologies. Ill put some new content up - suggestions (even wholesale chunks of text!) welcome. There needs, I guess, to be some thought about some kind of BCAG activity - perhaps a celebratory Spring bike ride or suchlike... Would a brand new BCAG controlled mailing list be useful? Steve Re: Anyone out thereWell, actually, content from BCAG members would be very welcome - articles, routes, stuff for the home page, ideas about campaigning, suggestions for what the web site could do with having, etc, etc. Email to steve AT bradfordcyclists.org.uk Steve HackingThere\s quite a bit of hacking of this board - but don\t worry, a new version of this forum software will be out soon. Steve Carr Cycle club (continued)How embarrssed am I?? I pressed submit button before I finished my email, hence the lack of ending to my previous one.If you are keen to go out cycling at weekends, exploring our beautiful county (going to Bolton Abbey from Baildon is a favourite ride of mine) at a gentle pace, distance approximately 40 miles, please call me. If you already are in a club who does that on hybrid bikes, may I join you? Ill press submit button now! Michael perry Road cycle clubsI am a fairly fit but a very keen 42 your ol d man who loves cycling (on road not off) an dlooking for peopl eto join me. Is there a cycl eclub? I used to belong to East Bradford cycle club many years ago. It was, doubtless still is, very good and I met some great people whilst I was there but I now have ahybrid bike - not a racing bike - and fear that I would not be able to keep up with a club using those sort of bikes. Ill blame my bike rather than my inferiror fitness! michael perry cycling to manchesterHi, Ive just moved to Bradford & trying to cycle for fitness - am not very experienced but generally shocked by the lack of cycle racks in Leeds and Bradford. I just wondered what the best route to Manchester is - is the canal path cycleable as far as Leigh? What then? Sorry - Google isnt very informative besides saying that the Aire Valley Towpath is part of the unfinished Route 66. TaAngela Angela Re: cycling to manchesterYou are pretty accurate about the poor numbers of cycle racks - there are a few places where there are a good number (e.g. the university, tho the college is useless). As to cycling along the canal, others may know better, but my experience of walking bits of the local canals - Calder and Leeds/Liverpool - would suggest that this would be a bouncy and slow route. I guess you are thinking of the Rochdale Canal for the final bit of the journey? (there a sort of map of the canals at http://www.holidayuk.co.uk/canals/maps/leeds.htm). If I was doing the journey in a leisurely fashion, then the canals would seem OK - or getting onto the transPennine trail. If I was in a hurry, I think Id look at getting out of Bradford on the Spen Valley trail, and then heading West either via the Calder valley or via Glossop (especially if I was heading into East Manchester). Someone else probably has a better idea than me though... 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How to Use this Forum Please use this board to discuss any ideas to do with cycling in Bradford - routes, campaigning, safe cycling, experiences, etc.