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Dark Nights: With dark evenings still continuing make sure you can be seen riding at night and wear hi-visibility clothing and use lights. Our pictures show just how difficult it can be for drivers to see someone not wearing appropriate clothing or using lights compared to a cycist that is. Take care and make sure you can be seen by others.
Cycle paths can become slippery at this time of year with wet leaves lying on the surface so beware of braking or manouvering sharply where leaves have fallen. Reduce your speed to suit the conditions and stay safe.
Rides and events: If you are new to cycling and would like to gain experience and build up your confidence why not try an Aylesbury Sky Ride. They organise short Sunday rides with experience leaders which are free to take part in & for all ages and abilities. Full details of their organised events can be found on the Sky Rides site
Peter our chairman took part this years Tour de Vale but with the unfavourable weather conditions was unable to take pictures of participants of the event this year. We hope to resume our normal picture service for next years Tour on 10th June 2012. If you are interested in taking part in any rides in our area take a look at our Events page for more information.
At this years SAVE awards held in AVDC’s council chamber at The Oculus, Aylesbury on 22nd November, Aylesbury Cycling Campaign received an award for "the community promotion of cycling in Aylesbury Vale". This was to reflect our group's contribution in supporting the bid for Aylesbury to become a Cycling Demonstration Town and our subsequent positive support and constructive criticism of Cycle Aylesbury. We initiated a school gate bike checking project in Bierton, that has developed, with funding from Bucks County Councils Extended Services Officers, to support cycling in many schools across Aylesbury Vale. We have supported the Sustrans Bike It project and CTC Bike Club to help increase cycling amongst young people inside and outside school. Aylesbury Cycling Campaign has provided assistance in route planning for the Tour de Vale for many years. We have worked with other local cycling groups and produced a leaflet about "Cycling in and around Aylesbury". The picture shows our chairman Peter Robinson on the left receiving the award from Alan Norchi Chairman of SAVE.
Cycle Training Instructors: Have you ever considered becoming a cycle training tutor? Could you provide children & others with the abilities & knowledge to ride safely? Haddenham Cycle Training is one of only 18 training organisations accredited by the Department of Transport. There is a shortage of instructors currently available to provide tuition but 4 day courses are available with Haddenham ITO & the cost is currently 50% subsidised. Further information is available via our link.*
Potholes: The early arrival of winter snow has taken a serious toll on local roads and the resulting potholes can cause expensive repairs to drivers & cyclists alike so be vigilant as you ride along. Our pictures below show road surfaces that have taken a battering in 3 residential areas of Aylesbury: Stirling Avenue, Long Meadow & Turnfurlong Lane.
Trunk roads do appear to be undergoing repair but many holes & ragged surfaces appear on numerous other local roads. If you spot a problem pothole or poor road surface then report this direct to Highways on Call in order for them to address the problem. Also call them about heavy falls of slippery wet leaves on the Gemstone Cycle Routes.
Campaigning in 2010:
From putting stickers on Gemstone routes to leading Get Fit rides for the Tour de Vale our campaign group had a busy 2010. For more details on our activities last year click here.
The Chiltern Cycleway officially opened on 18th June 2010. This circular route covers 170 miles throught some lovely countryside. Why not ride the local section - you can find route details here.
Do you ride on footpaths? Are you riding illegally or are you allowed to cycle there? See our new section on Footpath Cycling & find out.
Sustrans: Good or Bad? There are several Sustrans routes in Bucks that you may have used including the Phoenix Trail, the Leighton Buzzard section of the Grand Union Canal & the nearby Thames Valley Route. Do you find these meet your requirements? Ron Strutt a lifelong cyclist has written a critical review of their work and you can read his views if you click here and select his 'Sustrans Good or Bad' link. Let us know your thoughts on cycle routes in and around Aylesbury via the Leave Feedback link below.
View our PHOTO GALLERY with our Tour de Vale, Tour of Britain pictures & many more. Just click here, select the group of pictures you want to see & view them either individually or on a full screen slideshow.
As prices continue to rise...
If you drive a car for the purpose of your work the highest tax free amount you can claim per business mile from the Inland Revenue (HMRC) is 40p**. This rate is based on an allowance for all costs of driving generally, including long distance trips. If you live locally to your work then your driving costs are increased by higher use of fuel, wear and tear etc as the car warms to its optimum operating temperature by which time you may well have arrived at your place of work.
On the basis that this adds 30% to your driving costs this increases the HMRC rate to 52p a mile. If you live 2 miles from work then you will drive 20 miles per week to and from your home at a cost of £10.40. Over a year this will exceed £450 which equates to the purchase of a really good bike which you could use instead and benefit your health too. Even if you only cycled to work a couple of times a week you would still repay the cost of a very servicable bike costing £150, so its easy to recoup your costs. Why not give cycling to work a try?
You can beat the financial blues & traffic queues by using your bike for trips to local shops & work.
** The AA have produced current tables of car running costs based on such factors as: type of fuel used, purchase price & annual mileage. Full details are available if you click here.
* Photos copyright of HCT taken by Paul Wilkinson Photography
