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.
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.
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.
On Sunday 30th June 2013 Burnley and Pendle CTC held a Charity Ride to raise funds for the Pendle Council 'Wheels for All' Scheme. The money to be used to purchase disability adapted cycles for use with the scheme.
Wayne Bowman one of the 'Wheels for All' organisers kindly opened up the facilities at Seedhill Athletics track, where we met for the start of the ride.
58 riders took part in the event, including the 14 leaders. We had set an entry fee of £5 to take part with all of these funds going to the charity. However on the day many of the riders gave additional contributions and we collected £485. A number of the riders were also collecting sponsorship. In addition Burnley and Pendle CTC and Barlic Clarion donated their fee for providing marshals to the Colne Grand Prix.
We would like to thank ALL those that helped with the organising of the event, especially Ian Lowcock for sorting out the route, Chris Marshall for his efforts in distributing leaflets and Wayne Bowman for opening up Seedhill. We would also like to say a big thank you to Cycle Sport Pendle for their support of the event and for turning out in large numbers to ride the event.
We are considering holding a similar event next year and would welcome any comments which may help us to improve on and develop the event.
In May my cousin Lisa's 8 year old daughter Imogen approached me, wanting to do a 25 mile cycle ride to raise funds for charity. Imogen had heard that a local family were trying to raise funds to send a young boy to America for an operation and decided she wanted to do something.
The previous year I had taken Imogen on her longest ever ride of 5 miles starting on the Padiham Greenway, and then followed that up in August with a 12 mile ride through Blackpool Illuminations.
The route I came up with was to start at Glasson Docks and then use the off road cycle path up to Lancaster across the impressive bridge and onto Morecambe for a refreshment stop on the bstone jetty before continuing north up the promenade and then back via the canal and river Lune.
Nine family members turned up for the ride, some of which had not cycled for some years, and for many this would be their longest ever ride.
The day went well and finished with an ice cream by the docks.
Imogen also did some other fund raising for the same cause baking buns and selling them at school and managed to raise a substancial chunk of money for a good cause. By John Ramsden.
The nineth Pendle Beer Festival, organised by CAMRA the camapign for real ale, was held at Colne Muni Theatre from Thursday 31st January to Saturday 2nd February 2013.
This year Burnley and Pendle CTC sponsored a barrel of beer, called 'Pale Rider' at a cost of £40. All of this sponsorship money goes to Pendleside Hospice. The sponsorship gave us some publicity as there was a sign on the barrel, one of our cycle club tops pinned up adjacent and we put a batch of our advertising flyers on the bar.
This was a popular event, with a good number of our members attending on the Thursday evening and over the weekend. We have just received the certificate above from Pendleside Hospice as a thankyou for our sponsorship and to let us know that the event had raised £6500 towards their Hospice Charity Funds. By John Ramsden.
Wednesday 18th July was the date for this years Colne Grand Prix, elite circuit cycle race. Our club again provided a number of volunteers to act as race marshalls, earning a contribution to our club funds from the event organisers.
There was also a support race and a two lap fun event chopper race.
By John Ramsden, with photo's supplied by Andrew Walsh.
