About this blog
Hello, I'm Roger Symonds and I have created this blog to highlight local and wider cycling issues. Given the incredible interest and increase in cycling we must not miss this opportunity to provide the the infrastructure that gets even more people out on bikes in a safer environment.
Author Archives: Roger
Injuries to top cyclists
Top International cyclists have been involved in serious accidents in recent days, threatening their participation in major tours, such as the 2024 Gyro and the Tour de France. Winner of the last two Tours de France, Jonas Vingegaard broke his … Continue reading
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Low Traffic Neighbourhoods
Since the local elections in Bath where the Liberal Democrats were given an even bigger majority than in 2019, there should be no excuse for not continuing the policy of Liveable Streets (Low Traffic neighbourhoods), which were applied by the … Continue reading
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Kidicale Mass cycle
On Sunday 7th May the most recent Kidicale Mass cycle took place in Bath. The route was of 3 miles through mostly city centre streets, ending at Sydney Gardens play area. Although I did not count there must have been … Continue reading
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Recent improvements for people riding bikes in the south of the city
Riding from Combe Down to Widcombe on Ralph Allen Drive is a lottery of uneven road and potholes. The whole of RAD needs resurfacing. The Drive is positively dangerous for people on bikes and not good for motor vehicles either. … Continue reading
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Swytchbike conversion up and running
This morning I rode up Ralph Allen Drive using my new electric power on my old ‘Ridgeback Supernova’. It was amazing. Obviously the amount of manual work can be varied by using the gears on the bike. For my first … Continue reading
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10 years of cycling blog.
It was 10 years ago, when holidaying on Corfu, that I decided to begin writing a cycling blog. I was at the time nursing a damaged ego from being booted out of my job as Cabinet Member for Transport on … Continue reading
Posted in Cycling policy and politics
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Continuation of installation of Swytchbike electric conversion kit
I tried again to assemble the kit yesterday, but I was foiled in getting the battery holder fitted on the handlebars, so I took the bike into Tom at Greenpark bike station. Tom did the last bit of the installation … Continue reading
Posted in Cycling around Bath
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Waiting for an electric bike conversion in Bath
Well it’s about a year since I wrote on this blog. My situation has changed. From living happily (or so I thought) with my partner in Oxford, I am now back in Bath living on my own. Nic and I … Continue reading
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Cycling in Oxford better than in Bath
For me when I was a lad at school riding a “racing bike” with dropped handlebars was the ultimate thrill and with three speed gearing I could tackle steep hills. Now I can still just about ride hills, but with … Continue reading
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The future for cycling after the Pandemic
As we gradually emerge from this latest lockdown, we are seeing Oxford’s roads getting much busier. But they are busy not only with motor traffic, but also with people on bikes. Since March 2020 when the first lockdown started … Continue reading
Posted in Riding bikes in Oxford
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