Whilst I was putting this week’s blog together, I came across the story about Aileen McGlynn who won a Gold Medal at the 2008 Para Olympics in Beijing. Aileen is partially sighted and she was the stoker (that’s the person at the back) of a tandem bicycle that raced in the 1 kilometre Time Trial.
Though Aileen’s main aim was to win in her chosen sport, and get some exercise along the way, it does show that tandem cycling is something that can be enjoyed by the visually impaired, whatever their level of fitness.
As regular readers know, I’m very keen on cycling because it’s something that involves most of one’s senses, so with a tandem and a willing pilot(that’s the one at the front) it can open up the world of cycling to the visually impaired. Judging by what I read on the net, it’s something that is firmly established within many cycling clubs.
Braking News
Free Cycling Information Kits from Sustrans
Sustrans, the sustainable transport authority, are producing free localised information packs in an effort to encourage more people onto their bikes after Christmas. They feel that cycling could be the ideal antidote to the post-Christmas blues of January.
Each pack will contain safety tips, maintenance tips and a National Cycle Network guide specific to that area. In addition, there will be suggested traffic-free routes that riders can try depending on their needs and cycling skills.
Thieves target Team Trek again
Thieves made off with a team Trek-Livestrong time trial bike during the weekend of 21/22 November. The bike, which was used by Ryan Baumann during 2009, was taken from an area inside the building that houses Lance Armstrong’s ‘Mellow Johnny’s Bike Shop’ in Austin, Texas.
Shop manager, Ted Arnold, hopes to use Twitter to help find the bike, following the success of Armstrong’s own Twitter campaign when his time trial bike was stolen during the Tour of California in February.
The Lancet reports on Green Travel
A report recently published in the Lancet, has stood firmly behind the view that motorised travel should be drastically reduced in cities.
Using Comparative Risk Assessment methods, the report looked at the effect of alternative transport methods in two cities: London and Delhi. The three situations that were projected were: lower carbon-emission vehicles; increased active travel and a mixture of both of these. Different models that linked physical activity, pollution and risk of injury were produced. In both London and Delhi: less pollution due to active travel and in turn a lesser use of motor vehicles produced greater benefits when compared solely against the use of low-emission vehicles. The greatest health benefit, however, would come from a combination of active travel together with lower-emission vehicles. The report concluded that increasing the appeal of active travel, while minimising the use of private vehicles would have greater health benefits than simply promoting lower-emission vehicles.
Sprint Bonuses
- Guess what? Someone else is hoping to break the 3 month-old Around the World cycle record. 23 year old Julian Sayarer is currently managing to ride five miles a day further than the present record holder, James Bowthorpe, did during his record attempt. Check out Julian Sayarers efforts at www.thisisnotforcharity.com
- A new co-sponsor has come on board for Team Garmin. Henceforth they will be known as Garmin Transitions. Transitions Optical are a company that makes spectacle lenses that adapt to varying light conditions.
- For the third time, Sanyo have won an eco-products award in Japan. The award was given for an electric hybrid bike called the Eneloop, and a solar powered cycle parking bay which charges up electric hybrid bikes whilst they are parked there.
- Do you remember me talking about the huge lead times that bike manufacturers have to work to? I see that at the Taichung Bike Week, which starts next Saturday, buyers will be able to review 2011 products for inclusion in their 2011 range of bikes.
- Congratulations to partially-sighted, Gold Medal winning, para-olympian Aileen McGlynn who received an OBE from Princess Anne at Buckingham Palace last Wednesday. She was awarded it for services to disabled sport. Aileen won her medal in the 1 Kilometre Time Trial at Beijing in 2008, she was assisted by Ellen Hunter who piloted their tandem.
And Finally,
Supermarket giant Tesco are locked in negotiation with Universal Cycles after a Tesco employee accidently paid £984,000.00 for six Muddy Fox bicycles instead of £984.00.
Arthur Lamy is the manager of Boudins for Bikes, in Sand Street, and author of Jersey Cycles. He has spent 15 years as a tourist guide and writer, and is also a keen photographer.
More information can be found on his website: www.arthurlamy.com
