From Christchurch

Sounds like you all had a good time at the dinner and dance. Shame we missed it.

We've done a good cycle ride through the NZ hills although strong headwinds sometimes. Saw some whales and dolphins close up. Now back in Christchurch.

Hiring a car to tour round for the next 2 weeks.

Regards to all,
Ann and Steve

Antelope RT 3-up Team Time Trial - 8th April 2006

"The 2006 race will be held on the second Saturday in April, which is the 8th. It is for teams of three riders. The course is largely two laps of a flattish circuit situated between Aylesbury, Princes Risborough and Thame. There are no significant hills, just a series of light undulations. Course record for the 50km is held by Liphook Cycles with 1:8:34, with last year's winners In-Gear RT coming in a few seconds slower.

Prizes last year totalled £231 for 60 riders. This year, we have sponsorship from European Antennas, and so things should be even better! Composite teams will be on an equal footing with Club teams, as will Student teams. We hope to have lots of Student teams, as the TTT is incorporating the 2006 BUSA TTT Championships.

A new development intended to streamline the entry process is that I will accept on-line entries. To do this, a completed CTT entry form needs to be sent to me. You can then either send a Paypal payment, or wait for me to reply with a Paypal money request. Anyone with either a credit card or a debit card can then make an instant payment. Simple!"

Ralph Dadswell

Any takers? I might be interested if someone fancies dragging me round.
If you want any info about PayPal, I use it all the time on ebay.

Lisa

Highway Code

I don't understand the objection to the proposed amendments to the highway code - the amended Rule 58 says 'Use cycle routes where practicable and cycle facilities such as advance stop lines, cycle boxes and toucan crossings where they are provided as they can make your journeys safer'. This is not enforcing use of cycle lanes, which would be impossible in any case until severe penalties are imposed for drivers who block them etc. But maybe I have misunderstood this?

Update:

My concern with this is that something that looks perfectly reasonable on paper could be twisted against us in court - ending up with the "it was the cyclist's fault for being on the road and not on the cyclepath" as a defence for a motorist who had no excuse for going through a cyclist rather than round them. Also the bit about cyclists having to single out around bends: it seems perfectly reasonable (and sensible) at first glance, but then how do you define a "bend"? Is it a sharp one with all those arrows for motorists, or is it the gentle curve of an otherwise straight road. This wording could effectively ban cyclists from riding two-abreast on anything other than roman roads - if taken to an ultimate (stupid) conclusion.

Lisa

Andy has asked me to put up two links -

The CTC response

and a discussion on the Cycling Plus message board


neither of which I have had the time to look at myself - yet!

Also the "CTT" message board thread where I first heard about this.

JMS out of the jug

Jakie has now been discharged from Hospital. She will be staying with her sister. She says "Please therefore don't visit me in hospital as I won't be there. Thank you (all) so v much for all the support you have given me. Everyone has been wonderful."

JMS Feb 20th

Ron & I have been to see Jackie Morgan Smith this afternoon. She is still on painkillers but is very cheerful after her operation yesterday. As she says, she is now on the road to recovery! She is in Chuter-Ede ward, enter Bradbury Wing & take the lift to the 4th floor.

Doreen Powney

Barn Dance 4th March

Just a reminder to those of you out there that haven't got your tickets YET!

JMS

Jackie has just come out of Theatre. She reports that her leg is very sore, but is glad that this is the first step on the road to recovery.