Bike Knitting

I came across this website via a knitting email.
http://blog.lionbrand.com/2013/05/13/yarn-bomb-your-bicycle-for-bike-week/
Lion Brand is a family owned and operated business and the oldest American hand-knitting yarn brand, established in 1878.  That date should ring a (bicycle) bell for many cyclists - it is the year the CTC (Cyclists' Touring Club) was founded.  So I hope to see some knitted artefacts on the next Five Miles to Fabulous ride - you have until 20th July ladies!  See www.southhertsctc.org.uk for details of 5MTF.

Five Miles to Fabulous ride report

Eight ladies and one wee boy in a trailer enjoyed good weather for their ride from the city centre to Sleapshyde on Saturday 7 June. The scones and plants at Sleapshyde Methodist Church coffee morning and plant sale were excellent, we were rested and refreshed after our ride along the Alban Way. As a result we even had the energy to sort out a problematic inner tube on the return leg.
Five Miles to Fabulous is a CTC intiative aimed at providing gentle and supportive opportunities for women to get back on their bikes and build confidence in todays traffic. In leading these rides, I aim to introduce people to useful routes that they may not have been aware of and to demonstrate some 'cyclecraft' - the techniques of positioning on the road and reading and responding to the road and traffic conditions. The pace is calm, we have nothing to prove, we cycle graciously for our own fabulous enjoyment and benefit. On Saturday we were so un-macho that we let a running dad accompanied by his young son on bicycle actually overtake us.

The rides are aimed at providing an opportunity for less confident riders, but if you are a more experienced ride, do please come along, you are most welcome. The rides are enjoyable, and your experience and assistance is appreciated.

I have a busy few months coming up, so have no further 5MTF rides actually planned at present, but I certainly intend to fit some more in over the year. Watch this space. More about 5MTF, including rides all around the country at www.fivemilestofabulous.com

Bike Week Events List - 16 - 24 June 2007

BIKE WEEK - it's also BIKE TO WORK WEEK

Program of STACC organised or supported events (Free to enter unless otherwise shown)

Sunday 10 June: STACC stall at St Albans Farmers' Market St Peters St 10.30-12.30 Rickshaw, Bike Week publicity, Free Info & Maps.

Saturday 16 June: Steve will be in front of the Old Town Hall in St Peters St with the STACC rickshaw , 2.00-4.00pm drop by and show solidarity with local cyclists! (Come at 4.00pm for a slow cycle ride up St Peters Street).

Sunday 17 June: Call in on Sunday morning at St Albans Cycles, Brelade Place, Jersey Farm Estate, or Addiktion (10 am - 2 pm) Victoria St, for free advice & check-over of your bike. Rock, also Victoria Street, offer same service, but in normal hours, Monday to Saturday.

Sunday 17 June: Easy bike ride starting at 10.30 on the Alban Way (NCN 61) at the Sutton Road crossing near Hatfield Rd, St Albans; nearest car park at Morrison, Hatfield Rd, St Albans. A sixteen mile ride, off road and quiet lanes, coffee break at Stanborough and optional lunch at The Plough. Total distance 16 miles. Further information from Dave Johnson, 01727 831001

Tuesday 19 June: Free Breakfast, Bikers only 7.30 to 9.30, supplied by St Albans District Council. Start the day sharing breakfast with fellow cyclists! In front of the old Town Hall, St Peters St. Further information from Doug Nevell, 01582 762120

Tuesday 19 June: The Forty+ Cycle Club meets for mid-week social rides with pub lunch. A relatively lengthy 35 mile ride, meeting at Brown Box Cafe Southdown, Harpenden for 10.30 start. Some experience beneficial - On country roads. Further info from Doug Nevell (above).

Tuesday 19 June: 17.00-19.00 See us at St Albans City Station for Bike Security Marking by police and STACC handout pack of maps, membership form, discount information. More information from Gwen Tagg, 01727 868685.

Wednesday 20 June: Join CTC evening ride starting at 19.30 from St Albans War Memorial, St Peter's Street, 12-15 Miles. Easy pace to suit all levels. Pub finish in St Albans; lights required.

Thursday 21 June: The Forty+ Cycle Club welcomes you to a gentle excursion starting at the Green Man in Sandridge at 11.00 am. Ride about 15 miles, easy paced, lunch venue to be agreed. Further information from Doug Nevell (above).

Thursday 21 June: A free 6 mile gentle family ride mainly off road along the Alban Way. Start at 6.30pm from Earthworks (north end of Hixberry Lane (www.earthworksstalbans.co.uk). Return for games, if fine, and picnic. Further information from Doug Nevell (above).

Saturday 23 June: Family afternoon ride to Wheathampstead, easy pace to play stop and / or café, quiet lanes. Meet at Bernards Heath Play Area 2.00pm. Further info from Rona Wightman 01727 836470.

Sunday 24 June: St Albans Cycles, Brelade Place, Jersey Farm Estate, are open again in the morning for a free bike check over & advice.

Sunday 24 June: Shenley Park Family Ride (our traditional end to Bike Week), a 12 mile easy paced, escorted ride, Meet 1.30 at Highfield Park Centre free car park, off Hill End Lane, GR173065, adjacent to SPAR, approximate finish time 5.30 pm. Cycle along traffic free routes and quiet roads to Shenley Park, where there is a cafeteria & playspace. . Further information from Doug Nevell (above).

Sunday 24 June: Ride4aReason: Organised by Verulam Cycling Club, designed as personal challenge along waymarked quiet lanes, marshals and refreshments. Choice of 40 or 60 miles, Small Entry Fee Full details at http://ride4areason.verulamcc.org.uk/

Sunday 24 June: 20 mile charity ride from St Albans to Hampstead in aid of the North London Hospice. Full information at
www.northlondonhospice.org.uk/content/view/109/2/ Entry Fee

Other Events
Women On Wheels at Luton Mon 4th to Fri 8th June - Incl. Free Cycling skills training for women by women. GORDON STREET CAR PARK, LUTON - 12:00 to 14:00 each weekday Bike provided if you need it, or free safety check if you take your own.
Details might not yet appear on www.luton.gov.uk/cycling so email: safercycling@luton.gov.uk or Tel: 01582 547153. Limited Places

Easy Cycle Rides with Central London CTC

The Central London CTC will be covering our area pretty thoroughly during April:
Sunday 15 - ride from St Albans Thameslink (meet at Platfrom 4 exit on Ridgmont Road) 1003h;
Sunday 22 - ride from Elstree & Borehamwood station, 0954h;
Sunday 29 - ride from St Albans Thameslink, heading towards Ashridge, 1003h.

The rides are all what the Central London CTC grade as 1* rides (out of a possible 4), so fairly gentle pace expect to cover 25 to 30 miles in the course of the day, returning to the starting station typically between 1700 and 1800h - probably nearer the latter now that we are in BST. The start times listed above are when the train that the Londoners will be using to reach our manor is due to arrive at the start station.

The ride on the 15th is led by me, and I haven't entirely planned where I will go, currently considering Redbourn. It will be suitable (subject to weather conditions) for children on seats / trailers / able to ride on main roads and for the distance. (no, we won't be seeking out main roads, but short stretches may be unavoidable). It is a picnic ride, so bring own grub. The others will stop at a pub for lunch. On all rides the leaders try and have a morning or afternoon tea stop as well at a cafe, church or garden centre.

The ride on the 22 is listed as heading for St Albans for lunch, so could be suitable as a morning only ride for us locals.

Full details and leader contacts and also background information can be found on the Central London CTC website: www.centrallondonctc.org.uk

You do not have to be a CTC member to go on these rides.

Report on Rona's Ride - 4-Feb-07

Some STACC members joined the Central London CTC ride from St Albans 4
February 2007, lead by STACC member Rona Wightman. This is the ride report.

Expecting another lovely day like Saturday, St Alban's based leader Rona
wrapped up her six year old daughter and hitched up the trailer bike and
dusted the cobwebs off her husband's bike, and headed down to the
station. Three local riders there already - I always let the local CTC
and the St Albans Cycle Campaign know when I am leading a ride, and I
also promote the ride to the Bicycle User Group at work. Plus John
from CLCTC who had driven out from North London. Trains running late,
of course, but wait not too prolonged.

Set off through St Albans, intending to take advantage of the sunshine
and head out northeast into open country. Targets lunch at Codicote and
purchase of vegetables at Whitwell. However....

First stop at Sandridgebury to add second pair of trousers and gilet to
daughter's apparel. A good one star stop this, as food was available to
purchase from John the Butcher, who trades out of the old farm bothy,
selling local produce to locals and passing cyclists. Extra clothing
layers did not sufficiently warm my sprog however, and to make matters
worse, the fog rolled over and blottted out the sun. I regret to have
to report that shivering and sobs were heard from the trailer bike, and
the old tourist trick of plastic bags over the feet did not work its
magic on this occasion. Some chocolate, a pep-talk, a hug and promise
that we would stop at the first available cosy pub got over the sobs,
but plaintaive cries of 'I hope we find a cosy pub soon' did accompany
us along the Roman Road through Coleman Green, up the hill past the
lovely 1611 Water End mansion and up to St Peter's Green, which we
reached at about 1145h. And we rode slowly around the corner to...

A warm welcome at the Red Lion, an old staging post on the Great North
Road. Two blazing fires and an extensive menu. Most restorative.
Leader decided to abandon the fog-shrouded open country and return to St
Albans by more wooded and urban and hopefully a tad less chilly route.
So we turned off the Great North Road onto the Great North Way (NCN 12),
a lovely ride through the woods down into Welwyn Garden City. Through
the rustic charms of Handside, along the A1000 for a bit, back over the
Great North Road at Hatfield, where we left NCN12 and crossed over the
East Coast Main Line onto the Alban Way, an old railway line (NCN 57).

We fitted in a play-stop at Ellenbrook, a diversion off the track to
admire another Jacobean mansion at Nast Hyde and a coffee stop at
Notcutts Garden Centre, Smallford before cruising back to the station.

PS: If anyone knows how to persuade a 6 year old that if they make an
effort to pedal they will be warmer, I would be very glad to hear it.

(Above write up by Rona - published by Tom)