Category: General

Be Safe, Be Seen – Get Some Lights!

Posted on by Secretary

The clocks went back last night, which means that it gets darker earlier. Unfortunately this always coincides with a big increase in the number of cyclists involved in road traffic accidents. Don’t be another statistic – make sure that you have working lights and reflectors if cycling after dark.

If you’re only going to be cycling occasionally in street-lit areas, then you just need a set of small, battery-powered, flashing lights that are bright enough to catch the attention of other road users. You can pick up a decent set for around £20.

If you are a regular commuter, then consider upgrading to some rechargeable bike lights that you can recharge at your desk. These should also put out a bit more light than the small flasher. Expect to pay from £30 upwards for a pair.

If you are venturing out into unlit roads, then you will need something a bit beefier at the front that will light up the road and let you see where you are going. Look for something with a rating of at least 300 lumens. Torch lights within internal battery packs can put out as much as 1,200 lumens. This is more than you’ll ever need for road riding, but on lower settings they will run all night. Expect to pay from £50 upwards.

Finally, don’t forget the reflectives. The law says that if you are out after dark, then you must have a red reflector at the back and orange reflectors on the pedals front and back. Reflectors on the spokes and tyre side walls and reflective patches on your clothing also help to get you noticed.

Remember that Spokes members get 10% off at Banjo, Specialized Concept Store and Supernova, so there really is no excuse!

Bike Maintenance Workshop

Posted on by Secretary

Two people fixing bikes

Do you have a problem with squeaky brakes, slipping gears or noisy chains? Would you like to learn how to change a tyre or mend a puncture? Well get yourself down to our FREE bike maintenance workshop at Ace Space in Newbury on Saturday 4th October between 1pm and 4pm. Ace Space is located at the end of St Nicholas Road, off St Michael’s Road in the West Fields area of Newbury (the postcode is RG14 5PR).

Our friendly, trained mechanics will be on hand to advise and assist you and answer your questions. We will provide all the tools you need together with workstands and a stock of the basic parts that wear out regularly (e.g. brake pads, cables, inner tubes, patches, etc). If you need anything else, then Banjo’s is just rounds the corner and Spokes members get 10% discount on bike parts!

Where possible, we ask that you book a 30 minute slot so we don’t keep people waiting. For further information and to make a booking. contact Caroline on 07712 470405 or email training@westberkshirespokes.org.

VMS is not the answer to safety problems

Posted on by Secretary

Think-Bike-MVIS.jpg

You may have come across this recent article in the local media, which suggest that West Berkshire Council are considering putting up Variable Message Signs on the A4 between Thatcham and Theale to encourage motorists to look out for cyclists. Spokes does not feel that variable message signs are the right solution, since they are simply an attempt to tackle the symptom rather than the cause of the problems experienced by cyclists along this busy main road.

There are several Spokes members who regularly cycle this stretch of the A4 and the consensus opinion is that the main problems relate to locations where central islands have been constructed. These have presumably been installed to reduce vehicle speeds and / or to prevent overtaking at key locations along the route.  However, they have been found to create significant problems for cyclists as motorists try to overtake at the islands. Our members have cited several near misses at these locations and we feel that the islands compromise the safety of cyclists.

The ideal solution would be to have a high quality, fully segregated cycle track alongside the A4. This would make it safe and pleasant for people to cycle between the various towns and villages along the A4. Failing that, the next best solution would be construction of cycle bypasses at the road narrowings, or to come up with a completely different design that does not place cyclists and motor vehicles into direct conflict.

We will seek to work with West Berkshire Council to come up with an effective solution and will raise this at the next Cycle Forum.

West Berkshire Spokes AGM 2014

Posted on by Secretary

West Berkshire Spokes would like to invite our members to attend our AGM, which will take place at 2:30 pm on 22 June at the kiosk in Victoria Park, Newbury. Click on the following links to download copies of last year’s AGM Minutes, this year’s AGM Agenda and a copy of the Spokes Constitution.

We will receive reports from the current committee members and elect people to the various posts for the coming year. The current committee looks like this:

  • Chair – William Pitt
  • Vice-Chair – Vacant
  • Secretary / Membership Secretary – Graham Hunt
  • Treasurer – Alan Lane
  • Publicity Officer – Caroline Lane
  • Web site Editor – Gordon Oliver
  • Highways Officer – Vacant
  • Cycle Count Co-Ordinator – William Pitt
  • Event / Stall Manager – William Pitt
  • General Campaigners – Ed Cooper
  • Training officer – Caroline Lane

Any member can stand for election to any of the above committee posts. We would love for more people to get involved – it’s a lot of fun and you will get the chance to be involved in some really interesting projects.

If you would like to put your name forward or find out more about any of the above positions, then please get in touch before the AGM.

Space for Cycling

Posted on by Secretary

You may have seen some publicity in the media around the Space for Cycling campaign. This is a joint call to action launched by independent local and regional cycling groups across the UK following a very successful launch by London Cycle Campaign in 2013.

Space for Cycling has a Steering Group formed by the major national cycling organisations and city campaigning groups who have already made a start on their campaigns for elections that are taking place in May 2014.

While West Berkshire Council doesn’t have any elections this year, it is clear that cycling has fallen a long way down the local list of political priorities. The Get Britiain Cycling Report, published last year, recommended a spend of £10 per head on new cycling infrastructure rising to £20 as cycling increases. This is the MINIMUM spend that is required if we are to make cycling mainstream.

If you strip out maintenance dressed up as bridleway improvement schemes, West Berkshire Council is planning to spend just £0.65 per person on cycling facilities this year. This isn’t good enough, so Spokes is encouraging you to go to the Space4Cycling website pledge your support and email your local councillors to ask them to make Space for Cycling. Together we can make a difference!