Why I Cycle

Never Photograph Yourself While Cycling - It's Dangerous!

Ever since I was a young child, I have cycled. Now, several decades later, I still enjoy the trouble free parking and the freedom to slip past traffic, through parks and shortcut down paths. Within the city it is very often faster and easier to ride than to drive.

A Ten Mile Bike Ride In The Forest of Dean

Children love to go on a bike ride, they can cope with surprisingly long distances and as long as the route is safe, I really enjoy watching them swishing along getting fitter and stronger. Bikes are cheap too, you can get a nice second hand bicycle for next to nothing and after a service they ride as good as new.

Bike Ride!

I have always used my bike for pleasure and as a great fun way to keep fit, and this becomes more important as I get older. Thanks largely to Bradley Wiggins and the rest of our Olympic heroes; we are now seeing an upsurge in cycling on our roads. The roads are also gradually becoming safer, with more cycle lanes, paths and better awareness.

Always Wear A Suitable Helmet

Cycling, as opposed to driving, is also a splendid way to save money. Not having a car can save you about £5000 per year off your annual bills. I don’t mind spending money on my bike and equipment, because I save so much by using it. A few years ago we decided, as a family, that we could cope with only one car. I now pedal to work most days; the journey is about 4 – 5 miles each way, depending on my route. I arrive puffed and with my blood is pumping - I feel awake and alive.

All Wrapped Up

It is obviously necessary to buy suitable protective clothing, when cycling through the English Winter. Even if it pours, I don’t arrive wet when I am properly equipped. I took the precaution of covering my bike in retro-reflective tape, making it very visible at night. It now lights up like a Christmas tree in car headlamps; it looks pretty cool in bright sunlight too.

Be Bright!

Bike lights have come on in leaps and bounds since the advent of LED technology, and they can now be as bright as car's. The batteries last ages too; I have not replaced mine for over a year. Bright clothing, is the obvious choice for the cyclist; wearing dark clothing, or riding without lights at dusk or night time, is asking for trouble.

Zooming Onto the Bevois Boardwalk

One other essential item that I really enjoy is my air-horn; it is as loud as a claxon and will easily make oblivious-fools-crossing-the-road-while-texting-or-wearing-headphones, jump out of their skin and then (hopefully) back onto the pavement. It is simply charged by my bike pump and yet I can now easily compete with car horns.

We Painted That Bike Together

 When you commute by bike every day, you soon get to know the most dangerous places on the roads. Places where drivers try to pass you, where there is not sufficient room. Places where drivers tend to accelerate to overtake you, only to break and turn left. Places where drivers do not look left, as they zoom across roundabouts regardless (on these occasions, the horn really helps). 

Southampton Sky Ride

I now have a helmet camera and have been recording the fun I have riding to and from work. I will shortly edit it all together and post it in here (number-plates and all) for people (and traffic police) to see. 
Of course, you need to be constantly vigilant when riding, we all make mistakes, and everyone will miss something, or misjudge the situation occasionally. Online discussions between cyclists and motorists can become quickly polarised, with the same silly quarrels being batted back and forth. It’s worth remembering though that most adult cyclists, also own cars too, they are riding as a lifestyle choice.

Ruby Red Crab Apples

I sold my vintage Evans racer the other day; with the profits, I bought myself and the Head Chef, a pair of bikes more suited to riding across the Common or down New Forest trails with the children.

Lovely Lugs!

Obviously, a test bike-ride was needed and we set off along a familiar route; through the parks and along the river Itchen towards the Mansbridge Community Orchard.

Miriad jewels (From Solid Ground)

During the recent Apple Day Event, we noticed that, although fruit crops had generally suffered badly with the unusual weather this year, one of the big Crab Apple trees at Mansbridge was absolutely bending under the weight of its myriad precious jewels.

Hold Steady, Will You?

I clambered deftly through the branches and it only took a few minutes to easily fill my swag bag with the tiny ruby red gems. I tried to take a couple of photographs but I’m afraid it was quite problematic to manage the; grip the camera steady, grasp a bag full of apples, cling onto the slippery branches swaying in the wind equation. To add to my woes, on the way down, I managed to rip the bag on a sharp branch. Such are the potential hazards of foraging…

Life is a Bowl of... Crab Apples!

Eventually, the bikes, crab apples and family were all returned home safely. Here the leaves and stalks were removed and the fruit was washed. Last year we made some scrumptious Crab Apple Chilli Jelly. This year, I’m going to make Crab Apple Wine. We may return later to collect some more to make jelly again, there’s enough left on that tree to fill a whole jam shop.

Mmmmmm! This Looks Exotic.

By Bike to Mansbridge Community Orchard

During the summer holidays, I had been looking after the children and they wanted to go on a bike ride. I needed to visit the Post Office and do one or two chores, so I decided on a suitable route and set off. During the trip I decided to teach the kids how to perform the classic cyclist’s “Scoot Start” and the reverse action “Side Dismount”. Easier said than done but they began to pick it up eventually.

After a full mornings riding we returned for lunch but the kids insisted on going out on bikes again as soon as we had finished. I hadn’t visited the Mansbridge Community Orchard for a while, so I thought we would zoom down and check it out.

We took a route through Riverside Park, then on through Woodmill and along the banks of Itchen past the Pitch & Putt course up to the old stone bridge that gives Mansbridge its name.

After this it was on foot through the meadow and into the trees to explore. As we worked our way through this beautiful place, we did remove some brambles and ivy, in amongst the apple trees. Stinging nettles are growing strongly there too, so shorts and sandals were not ideal but we did our best with what we had with us.

Some of the trees have obviously suffered badly with the poor weather this Spring but several are looking as if they will have a very healthy crop. There are so many trees in the site, that even if some fail, others will make up for it. 

One visit was not enough to account for all the trees and we didn’t really get much of a look along the Monk’s Path, so we need to get down there again soon to see if there is any fruit ripening alongside the houses. We did pick and eat copious amounts of Blackberries though...

Have a Dangerous New Year

 It’s a jungle out there kids, danger lurks under every leaf and every single stone...

Beautiful Bees Won't Sting You if You Don't Threaten Them

Unless you wash your hands without touching the soap container the germs might get you (according to TV adverts). Even water can dehydrate your delicate skin (apparently). Nowadays your brittle hair and fragile nails are under constant assault from the sun, rain and wind – the Horror!

Stinging Nettles Can be Made Into Beer

I do occasionally get asked about the potential dangers of foraging and yet, with a couple of common sense precautions, it is no more dangerous than getting out of bed in the morning, going downstairs and eating breakfast…

Beware of Children

Granted, I might get up, dozily step on a stray Lego brick, fall down the stairs and crack my head. Then, in my stunned state, I could accidentally pour bleach on my cornflakes, but I'm pleased to report that this has not happened, yet...

Don't Get Prickly

I have been stung by nettles and insects; brambles, prickles and thorns have drawn blood, but all of this can happen in the garden or park. I am always careful when climbing trees or encouraging my children to. This is because branches of fruit trees are prone to suddenly snapping. Naturally, I need to make sure that the kids are operating in a reasonably safe environment but then, they also need to learn basic risk assessment and management for themselves; these are essential life skills.

The World Is Out To Get You!

There are lots of poisonous things out there and if you go about randomly eating berries of unknown bushes or consuming strange mushrooms, you will pretty soon come a cropper.

Do Not Drink!

These things might look fascinating, but so does Cillit-Bang, and you don’t put that in your mouth! Commonly occurring trees, like the yew, contain some of the most noxious natural poisons found in the UK but we know not to eat them.

Frog's Legs With Rhubarb

One part of a plant might be very good for you but another part of the same thing might kill you. Rhubarb stems are great with custard but the leaves are highly toxic and whilst elderberries and flowers can be made into some lovely drinks, ingesting the leaves and twigs can put you in hospital.

Elder Berries Forming

Castor oil is used for all kinds of useful things (including sore ears), the plant is commonly grown in gardens and yet the seed of this shrub contains the lethal poison ricin. This substance was used with fatal effect during the Japanese subway atrocity in 1995; it is 1500 times more deadly than cyanide and 500 times stronger than cobra venom! For the record, the only poisonous snake in the UK is the adder or viper and they are so rare that they are protected. In any case, they will not strike unless threatened and even then, they are very unlikely to kill you.

Always - Only Eat What You Are Sure About

Fortunately, you can negate all complications by only picking and eating things that you are familiar with. Most people already know what cherries, plums, apples, pears, blackberries, hazelnuts and chestnuts look and taste like (see Urbane Vs Urban). There’s not much that can go wrong here, unless you have some kind of allergy and you should know about this already.

Only Touch If You Are Confident

The scariest moment I have met while out and about, was being attacked by a large dog, which was appalling but this could equally happen outside the supermarket. I now know that the best way to deal with aggressive dogs is to put your hands in your pockets and look away! This seems counter intuitive but dogs see eye contact and waving arms as a threat (I was not aware of this when I was attacked).

Two Wheels Good - Four Wheels Bad!

Some people think that cycling is risky but it is actually less dangerous than walking, it gives great pleasure, is often quicker than driving and it keeps you fit. Remember, being fat can kill you too.

My Safer At Night Retroreflective Bike

So people, throw your Wii through the telly, get a map, a compass, a penknife maybe - just in case and go outside...

Keep It Real in 2012!

(Don’t forget your helmet)…