And we thought we had it bad here!

Taken last Wednesday, 6th January to which I referred to in my Letter from America of Saturday 9th. This was the first really cold day as it has only got worse since then! Hope things are getting better in your neck of the woods.

Bryan

The future!!!

Great as a product in some ways but when the price comes down (over 5K), what will the roads be like...

Event test

Hi All,

I have found a new gadget that I have put into the sidebar (below left), this allows us to put up an event (this is misleading as it is not an "event" as we know it) such as a particular ride or meeting. It may be useful, let me know what you think.

Best Time Trialist Ever?

Best Time Trialist Ever? What do you think? Comment below...

Cycling on the Cote d'Azur

Having spent last week in Nice it was interesting to see that the Tour de France was generally overlooked. I didn't go out of my way to find a bar to watch the race in, and couldn't have watched for long at €8 a beer, but you wouldn't have known the race was on!

Maybe it's down to the manifold distractions of a city by the sea, or that a french rider wasn't going to win again or the fact that, in this tourist honeypot, sport seems to be unimportant (the same could have been said at a trip to the Monaco GP about 10 years ago when we had to ask the owner of a empty bar to put the qualifying session on the tv for us).

What was great though was to see how Nice has re-imagined itself. A tram system has been put in through the heart of the city and, last week, a fleet of 900 hire bikes was launched to complement it. The Vélo Bleu bikes take their name and colour from Nice's famous and distinctive blue seats that line the Promenade des Anglais; the two initiatives together have taken a crowded, dirty, stressed and car centric city and given it back to the people.

Steve

Saturday night, Place Massena

Another new site...

We have been sent this link, http://www.cyclecrank.co.uk, it may be useful, let me know!

Steve

New Cycling Site!

Introducing The Bike List: http://www.thebikelist.co.uk

Our listing is: http://www.thebikelist.co.uk/ride/clubs/51_clarencourt-cc. Have a look and see what you think, the site would welcome any feedback as it has only just gone live and is still being tweaked.

Steve

Woking Workplace Challenge/Tour Series

I helped out the CTC on their Woking Workplace Challenge (I'll write it up for the newsletter), preceeding the Woking Tour Series Round last night and who should I meet but Geraldine and Ana. Woking was staging a one day cycling festival to support become a designated Cycling Town, Geraldine and Ana were selling Ana's clothing and accessories (www.ananichoola.co.uk). I really liked the bike-part jewellery but look at the website as it's bursting with ideas!

"Have you got anything in carbon fibre?...."

After an interesting day on the Workplace Challenge, it was time it was time to watch the racing. A great race in perfect weather was won by Dean Downing (how??? - it was so fast I didn't think anyone would get away). It was great to see a high quality circuit racing series again and brought back memories of the working on Kellogg's City Centre Cycling with Alan Rushton in the 80's. The difference between then and now is that cycling seems to be ticking so many boxes - sporting excellence, green credentials, health concerns, fashion, cost - it really has become a lifestyle choice that can be increasingly embraced by non-cyclists.

Rapha go on the attack

Does anyone fancy going up to the Smithfield Nocturne (http://www.nocturneseries.com/smithfield/) on Saturday evening? If so let me know...

Steve

Giro time!

A funny and irreverent look at the up coming Tour of Italy...

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/05052009/58/blazin-saddles-giro-hero.html

Don't try this at home!!!

Another link from the CTC... more than just a touring club. The band sounds good as well!

Top cycle fashion

from the CTC...

Top cycle fashion
From next Thursday, CTC Member Sarah Buck and her business partner Amy Fleuriot’s company Cyclodelic will be stocking unique and handmade cycle accessories at TopShop in Oxford Circus. To celebrate their designs hitting the high street, they are also organising the ‘ Cyclodelic Champagne Bicycle Treasure Hunt’ on Thursday 16 April at 7pm at Middleton Place, London W1.

http://cyclodelic.wordpress.com

Help the Aged

With the recession biting look what can be found in Ashtead's Help the Aged charity shop

Really inspiring off-road article on the Penine Way!

One for the future?...
http://www.everydaycycling.com/edc/routes/20081107_pennine_bridleway_nick_craig.aspx

Steel and fixed in Hackney

These pictures come from Broadway Market, Hackney where cyclists almost outnumber pedestrians. Can anyone identify the age of the Concorde bike?

6 months free membership of the Clarencourt for new members appeals before great melt down whilst Max guards new members before they disappear!

Keith Rook's Record of the Coldest Day for 10 years off-road around Downside.

January MTB Ride

Puncture on Route 21

Our Leader Supervising

Puncture on NHS

Caroline rests outside Waitrose while doing the shopping for Jim & Mick's 70th brithday dinner party on Saturday.

Loxwood Wey & Arun Canal latest news

Half the road now excavated. Foundations and basic concrete pilings in for sides of tunnel.

The road is down to one lane with traffic light control.

Loxwood: Wey & Arun Canal

Work is in progress at the Onslow Arms pub to reconnect the two severed sections of the canal. The road level will not change. The lock on the west side of the A281 has been built to lock the boats down to a water level to pass through a tunnel under the existing level of the road surface.