Bury Clarion

Some riders take it seriously but many treat it as a festive season reunion of racing cyclist and ride in fancy dress.

Charles Jepson, Clarion national secretary and his tandem partner Ruth Coates, were dressed as ballerinas while Bury member Vince Eastwood participated on his mountain bike.

Since he was not taking a serious approach, his 27 minutes 42 second ride was a notable performance on a machine generally seen as around 10 per cent less efficient in terms of speed than a racing bike.

This sterling performance then must be seen as setting a standard for a new class of club record.

Vince will be continuing his winter cycling activity on Saturday, January 7 when he will be riding the 108 kilometre New Year Hopey Audax in the Peak District.

Any other Bury Clarion rider interested in riding this event should ring Vince.

Tandem Riding Club for the visually impaired

IT was the last ride of the year last Sunday and surprisingly there were more members out than on any occasion in 2005.

All those who had requested a ride were out except Mark Johnson but it was indisposition, and not the bitterly cold day, that meant he was unable to fulfil his commitment.

So that blind lady rider Sharon Cox would not be disappointed, clubs runs organiser Derek Pritchard did some hasty re-arranging and partnered her with Angela Green.

Derek then brought the club triplet into play and he and Janis Lowe were stokers for David Harrison.

It was then a group of 17 tandemists who took the Adlington route to the lunchtime cafe at Rivington.

Bury Cycling Forum

THERE was a good attendance at the December meeting of the Forum.

Among those present were members of Bury CTC and Bury Clarion, representatives of Sustrans the charity that is responsible for the 8,000 miles of safe cycle paths and routes using quieter roads.

There were also two staff members of the metropolitan authority and chairman of the Forum, Coun Alan Matthews.

The cyclists raised issues from past meetings and it is hoped that these will be resolved in the near future except the funding of the bridge in Kirklees Valley.

This will require substantial grants and the authorities' staff continue to search for a source of funding.

The construction of this bridge is important as it will facilitate undisrupted travel along route six of the national cycle ways.

An emerging issue will, no doubt, be the Bury centre 'Triangle Development' .

It is unlikely that the developers will have any sympathy with the need to encourage cycling with suitable cycle lanes.

It remains to be seen whether the local authority will cave in to commercial pressures or ensure that the development of cycling in Bury continues.

Far too many of the people with power fail to recognise the important contribution that the greater use of the bicycle can make to the problems of congestion and pollution.

It was apposite that at this meeting Forum member Marguerite Heywood gave a talk on her cycling experiences in the Netherlands.

Holland might be described as a utopia for both utility cyclists and those who like their touring to be of a leisurely nature.

The Dutch have an enlightened attitude to the encouragement of the use of the bicycle.

This includes adequately signposted special cycle ways, maps that clearly show cycle routes, modestly priced accommodation in people's houses along the routes, safe parking for cycles near railway stations and hassle-free transportation on trains.