Cycleway? What's that?

Cycleway?  What's that?

There was absolutely no need to park on this cycleway, there was plenty of available spaces nearby.

NCN Route 18, Ashford.

We have cycled right across Holland from The Hook to Berlin, and I would recommend it. The only difficulty was getting from Home(UK) to Harwich.

A way-mark for a similar long distance, one which links Holland to France.  

Crossing a waterway in Holland, bikes are always well catered for, even for the long distance tourist.

Cycle Touring (Wishful thinking)

CycleTouring as it not done in the UK

But could be.

Take any town in Holland, Belgium, and Germany, especially at the weekend, on a fine day and apart from a few exceptions it will look something like this:-

 This Market square is surrounded by hundreds of parked bicycles.

Bikes outnumber cars, they ride against the flow up one-way streets.

Cafes do a roaring business.  All ages are cycling.   During a period of about an hour we saw lots of cyclists coming and going, but only one Lycra clad.   

Cyclists were coming and going continuously, few, if any were obese.

Bikes can be very personal and something of a fashion statement. Note that this one has two baskets, handy for carrying shopping or dogs.

In Germany it is much the same, the facilities are generally excellent.  The two dogs arrived in this market square in those wicker bicycle baskets.  But, it is in Germany where Touring Cycling is in a big way.

This grand display of key cycle routes (maps and information packs) is In a typical book shop in Germany.  Touring cycling is Germany's number one leisure activity and they have the cycle network to match it.

   every two minutes a touring Cyclist travels along the Weser Radweg in Minden.  Which means 25,000 to 35,000 cyclists need provisions and accommodation, ll good business for the local economy.

Touring cyclists explore the town, Take photos, buy a meal, etc.

A family of cyclists arrive at the Tourist Information Office.

 many stop for a snack.

Touring cyclists of all come in all types and classes of society.

It is nice to see so many families of cyclists touring together, and this is not in a town which is renowned for cycling.  

As acorns grow

As Acorns grow

Giant oak trees from little acorns grow.

Good old Lidl in this case haven't just stuck a few cycle-stands out of the way around the corner, but bang in front of the entrance to their shop.

Trusty Steed

Many a cyclists may think of their bike as their trusty steed. Not least this one:-

And it wasn't that far from Newmarket!

Saddle

Saddles

A variety of saddles have appeared earlier in this blog, a comfortable saddle is critiocal for riding any distance, and especially when touring.
       

What's left of this one would be none too comfortable. 

I rode a new Brompton today, but only went a few miles before the (smart new) saddle got the better of me, it was so uncomfortable; why, oh why do the make their saddles so uncomfortable?

NCN Route 2

This is the new cycleway which I surveyed and recommended to the local county council in 1994. It links the approximately 7km between Bexhill and Hastings and obviates the necessity to otherwise cycle on a busy main road. It was opened last year (2014) 20 years later!

Compare that with WW2, and all that involved which lasted only six years.

The surface varies from sealed tarmac to pebbles held together with a plastic grid mesh.  It passes quit close to the sea, and in heavy storms of about six months previously parts of the track were damaged by overflowing heavy seas but has since been repaired.

Cut-out figures have been placed at about half way between the towns.  Route 2 passes through Eastbourne onto Bexhill and beyond to Rye and along the Kent coast finishing up in Dover.   I carried out the initial survey for all of that route (Eastbourne to Dover).

Whilst I did represent Sustrans at various meetings, I was actually employed as a Cycling Consultant by East Sussex County Council.

When cycling it is most important to ensure that the rider has a comfortable saddle!  Perhaps there here there had been an explosion 'Down-under'!

This bike was parked in the main street in Bexhill.