Over the next four years (2015 - 2019), East Lancashire will be developing its Strategic Cycleway Network, which, when completed will provide 23km of new and 95km of improved routes in the area. This will include imporved links to the Enterprise Zone at Samlesbury and other key employment sites at Huncoat, Whitebirk, Blackburn Town Centre, Rising Bridge, Haslingden and along the Rossendale Valley.
As well as being available for commuters, these new cycleways will also provide benefits for leisure, health and tourism cyclists. The cycleway network will focus on connecting gaps in the existing networks, to maximise connectivity and deliver high-quality, end-to end cycle networks.
Further infomration can be found on the Lancashire County Council website.
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17th or 18th to 20th September - Club weekend to Dumfries area. Cancelled due to insufficient numbers able to go. May try again for next year?
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We were saddened to hear that John Herbert, a regular rider with us for a number of years until his diagnosis of Motor Neuron's Desease, passed away this morning Wednesday 1st July 2015. We would like to offer our sincere condolences to John's family and friends. He will be sadly missed.
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Over the week of 30th March - 3rd April, Krishnan Guru-Murthy of Channel 4 News cycled from coast to coast across northern England, interviewing local people about the forthcoming General Election.
On Wednesday, 1st April, he cycled through his home town of Nelson with Burnley and Pendle CTC, where we were interviews for the evening Channel 4 News.
Channel 4 News then posted the below clip on YouTube.
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Lancashire Police have contacted us to ask that we make our members aware that there has been a dramatic rise in the number of thefts of quality bicycles in our region, with 63 cycles priced over £1000 each stolen in a ten week period! Many of these incidents appeared to be targeted thefts, going to some lengths to achieve their aim because they know the bikes are there, which sugguests intelligence gathering. It may be that the victim has been seen regularly coming and going from home by bike, but what other tell-tale signs are we unwittingly showing thieves? Garage doors left open with bikes on view, cycle racks left on a vehicle in the drive. the use of GPS applications that map a ride or route repeatedly showing where the ride started and finished at home, then loaded onto social media for others to view, can advertise the fact that expensive cycles are located within. the statistics show that the security often does not match the technology of the machine. Many, but not all, have been stolen from sheds and garages with poor standards of locks and alarms.
The Police are asking us to review our cycle security arrangements.
- Always make sure your bike is locked even if you are only going to be away from it for a short time.
- Use a good quality lock. The police recommend a solid steel D-shaped shackle lock which can be bought from any good bike shop.
- When out, lock your bike to something solid like a lamp-post or railings, preferably in a public area.
- If you have quick release wheels, take off the front wheel and lock it to the frame and back wheel.
- Remove all detachable accessories, such as lights, pumps, panniers and quick release saddles.
- Mark your postcode on the frame with a UV pen.
- Think about taking out insurance cover for your bike.
- Register your bike FREE at www.bikeregister.com the onlypolice approved cycle database. (Further tamper proof security markings can be purchased during registration for under £25)
- Alternatively ther is datatag which is a bit more expensive but state-of-the-art system of marking cycles wothout damagingexpensive frames, forks and wheels. The system involves UV etching that is not visible and gives your bike a unique fingerprint. Component parts can also be marked. For more information go to www.datatag.co.uk/bicycles.php.
If you would like to be kept abreast on policing issues in our area you can sign up to www.lancashire.police.uk/intheknow. to get info about bike related issues just tick that you work in a bike shop.
On 18th December 2014 Burnley and Padiham Police added that a number of people had reported finding chalk marks on their properties, front & rear gates, walls etc. It has been established that each of the chalk marked properties owned expensive bikes. The Police are concerned that the marks are put there to identify properties to be targeted later, although this has not been confirmed. Please be aware of this type of crime and review your security if necessary.
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Article by Chris & Sue Marshall on their experiences of taking bikes on trains, which may be of use to other members.
Having just started doing this in 2011 we thought that other members may be interested in our experiences which were very positive.
- It can be very cheap: Manchester to Taunton £18.50, Portsmouth to Manchester £15.50 (with senior railcard -1/3 off).
- These are available from 11 to 12 weeks ahead of travel date. Don't get before that, you'll pay full price!
- Do your research on the internet first to find the cheapest tickets to suit your needs. The more flexible you are the cheaper it's likely to be. We found the East Coast Trains site the best for all routes, but all the companies have them plus Trainline nd others.
- Try all combinations to get the cheapest total. i.e. A to B, B to C, C ot D, A to C, A to D and B to D etc. There is no rule. Ardrossan to Nelson was cheaper than Ard. to Glasgow plus Glasgow to Preston plus Preston to Nelson, yet Whalley to Taunton was loads more than Whalley to Manchester plus Manchester to Taunton. Generally returns are not cheaper.
- Once you've found the best trian(s), go straight to Nelson Station and buy them PLUS your bike reservations. You can't seem to be able to reserve bikes on the website and this means you get all your tickets in your hand immediately - same trains will be same price, (if your quick enough).
- Bikes are always free (except Eurostar £22) but mainline services you MUST reserve, branch lines you CAN'T. Although trains have a low limit on number of bikes they carry you won't have a problem 11 weeks ahead.
- If you have a choice, its best to board and/or leave trains at start or terminus of route. This means you have plenty of time to load/unload bikes, and then go back for panniers/topboxes. If this is not the case, make sure you are standing in the right place on the platform (station staff should know - there is a sign at Preston for Virgin Trains).
- After boarding, you are asked to contact the Train Manager so he knows where you're getting off, particularly Virgin as he/she has tp unlock the door for you (there may br Virgin stall on the platform to do this if you have reservations).
- The arrangement for storing bikes varies according to rolling stock and Rail Company. Virgin Pendolino is horizontal storgae at either end of train, Cross Country is vertical (front wheel hanger) elsewhere but at least you can open the doors yourself!
- Your reserved seats may not be adjacent to bikes, but if there are free seats nearer, use them.
- For non-reservable trains, you can use any train but try to avoid the rush-hour. One train from Preston was packe aith people and had 9 bikes and 3 push chairs at one point, which the guard would be entitled to refuse (2 or 3 is official max.) but fortunately he didn't - he just hid in his cab the whole journey and left us to sort ourselves out! Also some old stock (Ardrossan/Glasgow) doesn't have long enough space to fir a bike - fortunately all stops are on samw side so you can angle them in the opposite doorway. If in doubt ask the guard?train manager.
For further information on cycles on trains, visit the National CTC website www.ctc.org.uk
By Chris and Sue Marshall.
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On Wednesday 17th July 2013 Colne town centre again hosted the Grand Prix cycle event.
This year's Elite Circuit Series race was won by Olympic Gold Medallist Ed Clancy of the Rapha Condor Sharp team. Fellow Olympic Gold Medallist Steven Burke, from Colne, also took part in the race along with many other top riders.
The event was filmed with highlights shown later on British Eurosport. There was also live coverage on Radio Lancashire which included an interview with Burnley and Pendle CTC club president Ian Lowock and secretary John Ramsden.
Our local CTC group had a stall, within the circuit close to the VIP area, with various information & leaflets for display and handing out.
Our club again supplied a number of volunteers to act as marshalls for the event, which earns the club a contribution from the event organisers, which this year was added to our charity fund raised in aid of the disability adapted cycles used by the Pendle 'Wheels for All' scheme.
The build up to the main event included a chopper race with Le Mans style start, chopper jousting, a parade lap by the younger members of Cycle Sport Pendle, and a support race.
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