Category Archives: cycling

Cycle Heaven

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Folding bikes

It’s the name of a shop, not a home for old bikes and I was there last night for a demo of folding bikes. Airnimal and Brompton sent their top people and Birdy and Mezzo’s marketing and sales teams turned up too. Lots of technical stuff and really useful comparisons of four of the top brands. 

The break at half time gave anyone who cared to a chance to play with the bikes so I took my turn. I liked the Birdy and the Airnimal Joey. The Brompton was a Brompton and I didn’t get round to trying out a Mezzo. After the presentation about the Mezzo, which came after the break, I wished I had. Of all the bikes it looked the most highly specced machine of them all. 

There was no one there for Dahon, which happens to be the type of folder I use daily for getting around York. I have to say that after trying a new Brompton and the Joey my bright orange machine felt a bit sloppy, although perfect for my needs and a lot cheaper than either of them.

Plans ignore cyclists

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Richard George: Plans ignore cyclists | Health and wellbeing | Life and Health
My local supermarket was designed by a driver, for drivers. This, despite the fact I live in Hackney, London, where less than half the population drives and 70% of shopping trips in the borough are made on foot. Nine buses stop outside the supermarket and most of the customers live in nearby flats, but my supermarket would rather everyone drove – and they have designed everything to try and ensure we do.

Richard George is right – planners are making it impossible to use a bike for shopping or commuting. It’s time they brought their green ambitions into line with their aspirations.

SOS Response – Bicycle thieves stopped in their tracks

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As a cyclist, I rarely leave my bike locked up for more than a few minutes because I know that determined thieves can smash their way through almost any lock in moments. So this security system being trialed in Portsmouth looks really interesting.

SOS Response – Bicycle thieves stopped in their tracks
When the bicycle owner locks up their bicycle they send a text to a security office to trigger the system to guard it.
Wasp Logo
If someone then moves or tries to move the bicycle a sensor in the lock emits a silent alarm which triggers a CCTV camera to zoom in and take a picture.

The sensor also sends an alarm to security staff and flashes up live images from the camera on to their monitors.

A security guard can then be sent to investigate.

I know it only works on a place like a university campus where security staff are on duty 24/7, but couldn’t traffic wardens be redeployed into something useful to make it work everywhere?