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CYCLE LETTERS Write to: Cycle Letters, CTC, Parklands, Railton Road, THAT WAS THEN Guildford, GU2 9JX, or email [email protected] Bicycle suspension, 75 AUDAX OK all those kids who now time trial, cyclo- years ago… cross and road race, do they cycle to When our roads were very much school? You bet they do! rougher than they are today, almost The notion that ‘proper cyclists’ – read every imaginable kind of shock absorber was placed on the market, athletic types in lycra – marginalise but the demand was never sufficient Josephine Public on a bike and leave her to keep the inventions alive. Volumes more vulnerable on the road is gainsaid could be written on the subject, for we by the evidence that motorists give had spring seat pillars, spring forks, more room to those who do not appear spring handlebars, and innumerable to be ‘proper cyclists’: blondes without varieties of spring frames. One of helmets get the widest berth of all. the most famous was the BSA spring All cycling is good: let none of us be frame, upon which Harry Green broke marginalised. several records; but today nothing In reply to Peter Kenner’s letter in the Brian Kennedy of this sort survives. And if springing June/July issue: audax is predominantly devices were not wanted for water- a tourist event with max and min time I think that perhaps you asked the wrong bound macadam roads, who would limits. This equates to quite low average question. Cycle sport does appear to get buy them for the smooth speedways of today? The chief trouble has always speeds and, once completed, does not people cycling but sadly it does not get been that springs involve a loss of have a result or finishing sheet. The them out of their cars. If you attend any power, and although engines may whole concept of the ride is to complete cycle sport event, the vast majority of have plenty to spare this does not the distance within the allocated time, participants have travelled there by car, apply to human beings. much the same as the CTC 50-in-4 and some from a great distance. Similarly, Editorial response re. springs on 100-in-8 rides. when helping on a ladies’ race a few bicycles – CTC Gazette, 1935 It is not a case of seeing how fast you weeks ago, there were seven motor can ride through the countryside. It vehicles going round the circuit with the never has been and never will be under competitors. In total the cars and motor THE FUNNY SIDE Audax UK regulations. If Peter looks at a bikes did 350 miles, creating extra traffic I was delighted to read Rex Coley’s name copy of Arrivée, the audax magazine, he and the pollution that goes with it. in Roy Spilsbury’s letter (Cycle, June- will find that the majority of riders have I and other CTC members work July), in which he bemoans the lack of a mudguards, racks, saddlebags and even constantly to encourage the use of bikes giggle factor in cycling stories today. Rex lights – real touring machines not really as a viable alternative to motor vehicles was Cycling’s esteemed Cycle Touring conducive to riding at speed. but cycle sport most definitely does not Advisor when I first joined Cycling on Furthermore, the revenue from the do that. Fleet Street in the 1970s, and his dry two audax events run by Lancaster and Ian Burt sense of humour wasn’t confined to the South Cumbria CTC each year is used by printed page. the organiser to subsidise the club and Editor Ken Evans was a snappy dresser its activities. This surely is a good thing and turned up one day in a vividly for the membership? coloured shirt, causing Coley to shield David Core, Lancaster and his eyes and cry out, ‘It’s The Shirt’. South Cumbria CTC & Audax UK The name stuck. Henceforth, even Ken referred to himself as ‘The Shirt’. He dubbed assistant editor Sid CYCLE SPORT Saltmarsh ‘The Twins’ – Salt and Marsh. In your head-to-head last issue, Matt Coley would turn up at the office, and Wilson, writing about what gets the ask, ‘Are they in?’ – indicating Sid’s British public onto bikes, says: ‘The empty desk. If the answer was ‘Yes’, question here is: what does professional Coley would then ask, ‘Both of them?’ cycling do to alter these sorts of He was very funny man, and a brilliant prejudice?’ writer. We all have funny cycling tales to Professional cycling is just the tip of a tell. But few of us can translate it to the motivational iceberg. The real question written page is: what does the buzz of competition Keith Bingham, Dorking do to get bums on saddles? And the answer is ‘lots’. I am lucky enough to WELCOME TO SCOTLAND live in a town where a Go-ride club has I’ve just completed Land’s End to John been launched, with great success. And O’Groats, cycle-camping. I really enjoyed 16 CYCLE AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2010 the trip – far and away the longest I’ve to our deliveries and being our own achieved to date. masters – being able to deliver at our OBITUARIES My reason for writing is this: I felt own pace and using our own methods a warm glow cycling in Scotland as I of tackling the job. We also enjoy not LES WARNER MBE genuinely felt welcome on the roads. A having to be waited for or having to wait Died 18th June, aged 82, after a long touring bike, fully loaded with camping for colleagues while working in ‘loops’ illness. Les joined the CTC staff in gear, with me pedalling it, is a pretty around vans. 1953 and was National Secretary slow, lumbering beast that inevitably Max Lambert, Colchester (Chief Executive, as was) from 1959 causes a little traffic nuisance. Most for 21 years. Throughout that time he handled major negotiations with drivers are considerate and patient For an update on CTC’s campaign on this Government and other authorities, people and I had very few reasons for topic, see ctc.org.uk/royalmail. represented CTC at countless complaint as I trundled along the A30, meetings, conferences and events then up to Bristol, Wye Valley, etc. ON THE WRONG SIDE relating to the promotion of cycling England really is very nice overall. I had a thought the other day: why can’t for travel and transport, road safety, However, when I got to Scotland cyclists cycle facing oncoming traffic? countryside access etc. everything changed. Cars, vans, A cyclist uses the same amount of road Les began cycling as a wartime and lorries would, without fail, slow space no matter which way he is facing. evacuee exploring the Surrey down and overtake very carefully and Walkers are advised to walk facing countryside. Returning to London he considerately. Not once in Scotland did oncoming traffic, so why not cyclists? joined the South Western Road Club. It I feel at all pressured or intimidated. I Think of the advantages. You will be was on a CTC tour that Les met Sheila got lost on a few occasions and three facing oncoming cars, some of which Messenger, whom he married in 1960. times in the outskirts of Edinburgh, are so quiet that you can’t hear them The Warners led tours at home and abroad and never owned a car. while standing studying the map, I was until they have run you off the road – Les took the reins of CTC with approached by a local and offered help and when electric cars become more cycling and membership both even before I’d asked. common they will be even worse. in decline. From a 1971 low, CTC Frank Manning, Jodrell Bank You would also see the face of the membership more than doubled to oncoming motorist for future reference. 40,000 by 1980, when Les’s growing POST SCRIPT Gone would be the days when nutters workload precipitated an early can approach you from behind and retirement. Earlier that year Les shout at you or smack you on the back received the MBE with characteristic with a rolled up newspaper. If you rode modesty: as an honour for CTC rather two abreast you could see approaching than himself. He was also awarded the motorists and fall into a single line. Bidlake medal and a new role as CTC The more I think about this, the more President. it makes sense. Roundabouts and traffic Les went on to work for WWF and then several voluntary positions lights? Best to get off and walk. associated with his other interests, Dennis E Hiller, Chorley particularly music, French and literature. For most of the last 30 years This isn’t as crazy as it sounds, when you Les continued to enjoy cycling. That consider the London trial of cyclists being we can also do so is in no small way allowed to ride against the traffic flow on due to his work. He leaves a devoted I write as a postman of over 20 years, all one-way streets. Problems arise when you wife Sheila, three children, and eight spent on bicycle delivery. Many of my consider not just roundabouts and traffic grandchildren. (A longer obituary colleagues and myself were saddened to lights but junctions of any kind: left turning for Les Warner appears on the CTC hear late last year of Royal Mail’s plans to traffic would be looking where you’re not. website.) Chris Juden dispense with almost all cycle deliveries.

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