Category: General

Spokes launches 2016 programme of led bike rides in Newbury

Posted on by Secretary

West Berkshire Spokes Bike Rides

Winter weather means that cycling can be hard work. It always seems to be cold or wet and it gets dark way too early! However, Spring is just around the corner, and so we have been working hard to plan our programme of led bike rides for 2016 to tempt you back out on two wheels to discover the beautiful countryside in and around West Berkshire.

We will be running at least two bike rides each month from March right through to October. Rides on the first Saturday of the month are shorter, slower rides that are aimed at occasional cyclists, or those who are looking to get back into cycling after a break. Rides on the third Saturday of the month are a bit longer and faster and are aimed at more experienced cyclists. If you’re feeling really brave, then why not sign up for ‘William’s Big Wheel’ – a 57 mile jaunt deep into Hampshire!

All rides start and finish in Newbury and our meeting point is at the side of Lloyds Bank in the centre of town. Details of the rides can be found on the calendar page of our website. For safety reasons, we limit rides to a maximum of 20 places. To book your place, please visit: www.goskyride.com.

If you want to find out more about our rides and whether or not they are right for you, then please do get in touch. We hope to see you soon!

Spokes Carry Out Local Cycling Audit

Posted on by Secretary

St John's Roundabout

One of Spokes’ early achievements was a Cycling Map of Newbury and Thatcham, which was produced after a detailed audit of the local cycle network by Spokes members.  It was a great success and helped to get more people out on bikes.

West Berkshire Council has now asked if Spokes can carry out another audit of the urban cycle network in Newbury, Thatcham and Hungerford, while Reading Cycle Campaign are covering Theale and the Reading fringe. The audit will help to inform how the cycle network can be improved, including for the various new developments that are planned.

The audit has to be completed by 31 March 2016, so we have recruited volunteers from our membership to help us over the next couple of months. This team effort will be coordinated by our Highways Officer, Dr Tony Vickers.  We are focusing initially on ‘commuter routes’, identifying gaps that could be filled, junctions that could be improved, and anything else that would make life a little easier and safer for a cyclist.

If you would like to help with the audit, or if you have any ideas about how the local cycle route network could be improved, then please get in touch and let us know.  We would love to hear your ideas.

Be Safe and Be Seen This Winter

Posted on by Secretary

The clocks go back on Sunday, which means darker evenings. Spokes is urging all cyclists to be seen and be safe by using lights and reflectors on your bike. Without these, you are not only illegal, but drivers may not see you and your risk of being involved in a crash is much greater.

The law requires that you have a white front-facing light. a red rear-facing light and a red rear-facing reflector fitted to your bike if riding at night. You are also legally required to have front and rear-facing amber reflectors on both pedals.  The police have the powers to stop anyone they catch cycling without these and issue a £50 penalty.

There is a bewildering array of lights available from cheap ‘flashers’ costing a few pounds to high power units costing several hundreds of pounds. There is also a wide range of clothing that you can buy, including fluorescent and reflective kit.

What you buy will depend on the type of riding that you intend to do. Some kit is better than others, but the rule of thumb is that you get what you pay for.  If you only ride at night occasionally on streetlit urban roads, then the priority is to be visible to other road users. A set of flashing lights and perhaps a slap band on the ankle will suffice.  However, if you are rising on unlit roads, then you will need something brighter, not only to increase your visibility to other road users, but also to light up the road ahead of you. You may also want to invest in come hi-viz clothing – a combination of bright colours and reflectives helps you to be seen in both low light and night-time conditions. This useful video helps to demonstrate the various option.

Remember that Spokes members get 10% off all lights and clothing at participating local bike shops, including Banjo Cycles and the Specialized Concept Store in Newbury.

Mind the Gaps

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A4 Bath Road, Newbury

The Council has recently set up a working group to look at where and how facilities for cyclists can be improved, and we are delighted to report that Spokes has a seat at the table.  This is a fantastic opportunity for us to influence how and where the Council spends their future highways budgets and to make sure that cycling is properly represented in their programmes.

We need your help to identify the gaps in provision for cycling and what new or improved facilities you would like to see, such as:

  • cycle parking
  • cycle routes
  • junction treatments
  • priority over side roads
  • parking restrictions
  • traffic management schemes
  • speed limits
  • surfacing improvements
  • signing and lining enhancements
  • lighting upgrades

We would like to hear from people living and cycling in all parts of West Berkshire from Hungerford to Calcot, Streatley to Brimpton Common, and everywhere in between. The focus will mostly be on encouraging cycling for everyday transport (e.g. journeys to work, school or the shops). However, we are also keen to hear about your suggestions for new or improved facilities for leisure and sports cycling.

You can share your ideas by emailing highways@westberkshirespokes.org or by contacting us via the website.

Spokes Needs Your Help

Posted on by Secretary

volunteer wordcloud

Spokes is inviting all of its members to come and join us for this year’s AGM, which will take place at 12:30 on Sunday 21 June, at the outdoor seating area at the rear of The Hatchet in Market Place, Newbury.

It’s been a fantastic year for Spokes, with notable successes including:

  • Monthly pub meets at venues across West Berkshire
  • A successful programme of social bike rides
  • Cytech home mechanic training for our Dr Bike volunteers
  • A well-attended bike maintenance workshop at Ace Space
  • Bikeability training for adults and children
  • Provision of loan bikes to local kids from low income families
  • A screening of ‘Bicycle: The Film’ at The Corn Exchange
  • Representation on the Cycle Forum and Cycle Working Group
  • Undertaking the annual cycle counts

We have a really good core of active members who are keen to get involved on a wide range of tasks. However, with additional projects on the horizon, such as the potential opening up of sections of the disused Newbury to Didcot railway line, we desperately need more people to step up and get involved.

Every year at the AGM, we invite our members to nominate themselves to get involved in the Spokes committee. If you can spare just a couple of hours a month, then we would love to hear from you – no experience necessary.

If you would like to find out more, then please email Graham Hunt at secretary@westberkshirespokes.org.