Ode to the Road by Lucy Frith

Ode to the Road

Lights at amber, it's our turn next

The car is in gear and I've sent that text

"What's for dinner?" "Are we late?"

"Did you send an email to confirm that date?"

"What 's the hold up?"  "Hurry Up!  Go!"

"Why is this traffic being so slow?"

Shops still open, pavements full
Must call the bank and pay that bill
No right turn. Diversion Ahead.
"Are we nearly there yet?" the child's voice said
The clock wouldnt stop, the digits moved on
Stress levels increased up and then beyond

On two wheels at the Advanced Stop Line 

Commuting cyclists bide their time

They hear the engine revving at full throttle

Let's hope they keep both their balance and their bottle

The clock wouldn't stop, the digits moved on

Stress levels increased up high and beyond.

Whilst the Mayor of London promotes healthy Boris Bikes

"It's a great form of transport for the old and young alike"

Cuts down congestion, keeps people on the move

In time, health and air pollution will radically improve

But with gutters full of rubbish as is the cycle path

You want us to use this Mr Johnson? You are having a laugh.

Broken glass and sharp stones brings the puncture fairy

Losing air in tyres when on the move is very scary

Oooh! There's a pothole more like a cave

"Thanks for the space mate" as I give the car a wave

Swerving outwards the gap was quite sufficient

"Thank you driver for being so proficient"

Balance and bad weather, wet roads and drizzly rain

These are constant hazards needing riders to ascertain.

Strong winds, deep puddles, wet paint and misty visors

Along with the possibility of pedestrians surprises

Whether with or without engines, two wheeled machines alike

Should prompt a conscious and frequent thought "Please Think Bike".

Drivers of large vehicles, lorries and the like

Never seem to see the viewpoint of the road from a bike

High up in their cabins these drivers should know

What is all around them - but with blind spots that's not so

And no amount of mirrors, cameras or hindsight

Will show two-wheeled travellers tucked alongside tight.

They remain big, dangerous and far too close for comfort

The three feet rule should be extended not extinguished  - there's a thought

But  their turning curve is a learning curve to all of us near it

They have to pull out one way to turn and avoid the pavement

So on two wheels keep your distance, well back or far ahead

The devastating results of neither - well, enough said.

Pedestrians on pavements in their own distracted state

Eyeing shop windows, lists and reviewing what they ate

Immersed in talk and texts and tasks and things they think they need

Without a clue of those using the road all travelling at speed

Head down, eyes wide shut  they are so busy talking

Not a thought to the effect and danger of their impromptu walking.  

The road is enticing but not to be predicted 

Please share it well and stop bad things being inflicted

Whether on wheels or on foot  it is something that we share

Whatever mode you use, do look around you, be aware 

Enjoy each trip, look out for others with kindness and with care

Because it is full of loved ones absolutely everywhere.

(c) Lucy Frith January 2013 

Mice Log Star Date 73 14th March

Mice goes to Greenwich! 15.5 miles, top speed 16.1 on the Brommie

An appointment with Sustrans in Greenwich with the best Bike It Officer I have ever known (otherwise known as Georgie).  Sustrans (Sustainable Transport) is a UK based charity focussing on cycling, scooting and walking. I hate the name Sustrans as it sounds like an underground pipeway system. Dull. Dull. Dull.  The complete opposite of riding a bike. However what they do is very positive and today was a day with Sustrans!

On the way to Greenwich I was a bit startled to see how much traffic moves into the cycling lane. Not just this chap:

I was also absolutely horrified by the number of drain covers there were in CS8 it should be renamed CD8 (Cycling Drainway 8).  Are we supposed to cycle over them? Do drivers know that cyclists don't cycle over them, I wonder?

The air was cold but the sky was bright.  The view from Lambeth Bridge was lovely.

 

 

I met up with Georgie, Roxanne and Chris (another volunteer who I have had the pleasure of doing some bicycle rides to the coast with)

 

and we started our cycling lesson for Year 4 and 5.  Georgie (on the right) set up the bicycles and soon we had five of six children who didn't even have their own bikes, cycling round a course of cones!  Brillo Pads! Georgie tested they all worked first though:

 

I met Georgie nearly two years ago when she was looking for a volunteer to help her run the Sustrans Active Travel Champion programme in Greenwich.

Her main mandate is to bring cycling and walking to school at 12 of the primary schools in the borough.  This means anything from Dr Bike days, Stabilisers Off days, Games on Wheels days, Bring your Scooter to School days - and in the winter we'd make smoothies by pedal-power and hold assemblies demonstrating the importance of being seen on a bicycle. 

The Oooos and Ahhhhs filled the assembly hall as windows were blacked out by kind caretakers so that we could stand on stage, turn the lights out and use bicycle lights, reflective strips and clothes to show how reflective things work was hilarious. 

Occasionally we had a few minutes left over at which point Georgie would stand there and say "Now hands up who'd like to see Mice give a demonstration of folding her very special bicycle?"!  What? Me? Ooo! So with a splutter I would run a Q/A session running through the names of the basic parts of the bike and of course caused more Ooos and Ahhs once the folding a la Brompton started! 

Working as one of Georgies volunteers, I have taught non-riders to ride for the very first time, fixed punctures, replaced brake systems, led bicycle games  and set up mini bicycle assault courses.  In fact last year I was elevated to Sustrans Gold Star Volunteer status as my hours totalled more than 140!  All this is entirely down to Georgie.  

The enthusiasm and sensitivity she shows to pupils, teachers, parents - everybody, her never-ending and bounding energy to bring cycling, scooting and walking to all her schools has been an absolute privilege to see. 

Sadly for Sustrans, Georgie leaves this week to take some time out, cycle from Lands End to John O'Groats (again!) and move into pastures new.  She has many strings to her bow and whatever avenue she follows she will without doubt be a roaring success.  I am very happy to say that she is a good friend and will remain so even after Sustrans. If you look up Georgie in the Dictionary it will say:  One of life's gems.

On my way home I cycled down roads I don't know and caught sight of The Shard.  

 

On to the South Bank where I saw this.  I'd say this was progress - rubbish collecting by bicycle.

  The South Bank is an ever changing art environment.

I reached Westminster Bridge as the sun was going down - wondering what on earth was going on in this building.  

 

 

 A great day in the City! And a big thank you to Georgie - you have been a star!

 

Mice Log Star Date 72 - Hail Hail Hail

15 Miles including hailstones. 19.6 mph max and on the Brommie.  In just two days have I become a hardened commuter?  No, me thinks not! But despite yesterdays arctic conditions I was a bit stunned to find myself out on the bike in freezing conditions again in the rush hour. 

 Looking for a coffee in Islington I found the perfect cappuccino answer in the Holloway Road. I will be back! But I was distracted.

My wardrobe featured Merino, Goretex and Ultura jacket along with a Max Mara skirt and padded jacket which were perfect apart from one small (actually not small at all) problem. 

Because it was so cold, I had pedalled like billio and by the time I reached Islington I was sweating like a sweating-something.  Remembering a tip from a friend, once at my destination I bolted into the Ladies and removed my two Merino tops, used one to dry my torso and arms and then put the rest of my tops back on but not the Merinos.  My legs were fine. 

Bleurkkk!! Had I fallen into the office commuter trap?  Is this the real world of speedy commuting without shower facilities?  Is this one of the fundamental issues that puts people off cycling to work?  Well it would certainly be one of them if I had to work in an office all day after arriving in a sweaty mess.

My solution, however, is to keep the ride as a pootle (a gentle amble) and not pedal like a speedster (or attempted speedster in my case).  This means it is still possible to have all the benefits of cycling but not turn into a smelly, (the word manky comes to mind) stale-sweaty employee.   Yuk!!

Feeling a bit more presentable and with a meeting over I headed to Look Mum No Hands in Old Street.  It was a bit warmer outside so I didn't need to pedal too fast.

  

Then on to Marylebone.  In hail! Yes hail - big nasty hailstones.  I couldn't believe my eyes.  This later changed to snow and sleet.  What is going on??

Mice Log Date 71 Ssssssoooooooooo Cold!!

Mice Log Date 71. 10.50 miles in the coldest and windiest weather I have ever, ever cycled in.  I blame it on a friend who posted on a well known forum early this morning that he was out and about on his bike despite the weather.

This gave me a ridiculously false sense of security. "Oh well, if he's cycling today it can't be too bad" I thought.   Wrong!!  As I opened the front door it was like opening the door of a freezer in a supermarket.  Pppatchew!  I couldn't believe it.  -2 with a windchill factor of much more.   

Thank goodness for fabric technology. I was wearing two pairs of cycling leggings under a pair of Gore waterproof trousers , two merino baselayers, an Assos baselayer, a Max Mara padded jacket, two buffs and a bright orange (to wake up the dozey commuters) Mountain cycling jacket.  I was truly layered up! Oh and two pairs of socks. The only part of me that was cold, was my face. It was unbelievable. 

Half way down the road I saw what looked like squashed snowflakes. I hoped that the roads had been gritted otherwise I was in real trouble.

A little hill into Clapham warmed me up a weencey bit and four miles after that I was at my rendez-vous.  At lunch a friend and I headed to Streatham and found a great cafe Earl Grey and Rose  which did really, really good food!  OK so it was a ham sandwich but Sourdough with ham off the bone and sundried tomatoes accompanied by salad drizzled with Balsamic vinegar really was delicious and very unexpected. 

The bike ride home was better because the sun was out but the air temperature was still biting. Truly biting.   

 

For some reason I felt the urge to head to Daylesfords for some of their fresh soup and an absolutely enormous chocolate biscuit! 

Goodness knows how cold it is going to be tomorrow - be careful out there peeps.