SIR: I refer to Alwyn Graham's comments (BEN January 21) about nerd cyclists. This isn't the first time she has made her misguided views known on the subject.

I am a cyclist who rides on average 10,000 miles per year, so I have more knowledge on the subject than Ms Graham, who I assume has never ridden a bike on the local roads. I do not condone cyclists racing around on pavements, but in some cases I can see it as desperation, because it is the only safe route. The local roads are full of potholes and homicidal motorists who think no one else has the right to use the highways.

Cars kill about 100 people and injure hundreds more each week in the UK, yet to my knowledge, no one has ever been killed by a bicycle.

If you think that cyclists are badly behaved, I suggest you climb out of your four wheel cocoon, and try cycling on that pothole infested strip the Council call a cycle lane to Horwich.

As for nerds, my vote would go to our local car rally wannabe, who insists on "racing" her car on popular local country lanes, but goes so fast, loses control, and rolls onto a grass area frequented by walkers, horse riders, and cyclists. Still that would appear to be acceptable, after all it's a car. Good job she wasn't on a mountain bike then you would have more to gripe about.

Finally, just think, your cycling "selfish pests" may soon be behind the wheel of a one ton killing machine, (a car), and then you WILL have cause to mouth off.

Dave Tetley

(ex pro cyclist)

Armadale Road, Bolton?

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.