the world seen through my eyes....

why i love my job

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 08:23:33 +0000

I just love my job. Being a Cycle Instructor is extremely rewarding; not just for me, but for my students too. I was reminded of this last weekend when my latest lady protegee embarked on her second lesson with me.

Let me set the scene: My wannabee cycle diva is around 30 years old and had never before straddled a bicycle before let alone ride it. So naturally, she came to me with a bag full of fears and worries but with a bundle of determination.

So, for her very first lesson, we met at a local park for a 2 hour lesson. She had a clear goal in mind; to be able to join in family bike rides with her hubby and children whilst discovering a new sense of freedom and stylish independence!

Now, the way I work is this; I don't want my fee if I can't teach a complete novice to ride in just 20 minutes! That's how confident I am that I can get an adult or child to ride a bike unaided from scratch.

So after the initial preliminaries of making sure her inherited bike was roadworthy, I set up her bike (which was a little too big for her) and removed the pedals. Off we went to our lovely grassy bank that was to be our training playground for the duration.

Fear soon turned to glee as my cycle diva experienced for the very first time the motion of the bike as I aided her balance on the freewheel down the slope. Her confidence grew and I put the pedals back on, taught her how to use her brakes, set her pedal position etc and off we set again.

After a few assisted runs, unknown to my diva, I released my support for just a few seconds remaining close by her to give her additional balance support when needed.

But do you know, I couldn't keep my running pace up with her pedaling as she whizzed off into the distance unaided with a great big whopping smile on her face. Wow! I was so proud of her.

Now the trick for me was to get her to set off unaided on the flat and that's when things started to go slightly wrong. She could just about set off unaided but stopping without falling off was becoming an issue and no matter how I demonstrated and talked her through the stopping process, the muddy ground was waiting to welcome her with open arms.

I was getting frustrated with myself until I realised that the problem was simply down to the fact that she was tiring quickly and her confidence was dropping. Perhaps I'd expected too much? Maybe I just hadn't recognised how much physical and mental energy is required from someone so initially pent up with fear an unaccustomed to exercise? What ever the reason, I learnt a valuable lesson; don't push beyond what is really achievable.

With the lesson stopped, we planned to meet the following week for one hour. I was concerned that she felt the lesson had ended on a 'low' so throughout the following week, I contacted her regularly with words of encouragement and advice.

When we met this Sunday just gone, the fear and trepidation had raised their ugly heads again but within 10 minutes, she was truly setting off unaided, riding, braking and not falling off. We did loads of other stuff too; gearing, steering, pedal cadence and what to wear to look stylish on a bike!

But most importantly of all, my diva was soaring high on a cloud of confidence and couldn't wait to get home and get out for a leisurely bike ride with her hubby and children. Job done!

Ladies Rule OK!

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 10:23:52 +0000

I had a lovely surprise today. A good friend of mine visited France at the weekend and she sent me a delightful postcard of a gorgeous lady on a bicycle with the slogan "Vive Sainte Catherine" (See above)

Now, my friend is no cyclist, but knowing that I love anything to do with the bicycle, she sent me the card with quite an intriguing message.

"Jay, Happy St. Catherine's Day! I don't know who she is but the words "Vive St Catherine" appear on many post cards and posters with images of ladies of all ages on bicycles. Perhaps she's the patron saint of cyclists? Thought you might like her!"

So I googled St Catherine. I had a hunch that she had something to do with the Catherine Wheel, but that was about it. Apparently, if Google can be believed, Catherine, a devout christian, pissed of some Roman Emperor in 307 by refusing to marry him. So he ordered her to die on the wheel, poor girl, but when she touch it, it shattered, so she was beheaded instead at the ripe old age of 25. Catherine later became the patron saint of unmarried women and crafts people who made wheels.

This started a tradition, particularly in France, for unmarried women over the age of 25, to party on down to celebrate their freedom. And it still happens today with unmarried women partying on down until dawn.

Now, the bike wasn't invented until 1890's but I find the association with Catherine and the bicycle fascinating. The 1890's heralded the start of emancipation of women as they bicycled to freedom in their heavy victorian dress and bloomers without a chaperone. By refusing to marry, Catherine was stating her intent to remain free of the constraints that marriage would have imposed upon her and yet the irony is, that the wheel gave her the ultimate freedom.

So, perhaps it's not that strange that unmarried french women associate Catherine with the bicycle after all.

But my final musing on this matter led me to researching who IS the patron saint of cyclists. And, guess what, it's a woman!! A good old Italian, rather like myself! The story goes that Count Ghisallo was travelling near the village of Magréglio when he was attacked by highway bandits.

Spotting a image of the Virgin Mary in a roadside shrine, he broke away from his attackers and ran to it. There he took refuge, pled for Our Lady's protection - and was miraculously saved from the robbers. The Madonna del Ghisallo was given patroness of cyclists on 13th October 1949 by Pope Pius XII .

The Chapel at Ghisallo is now part religious shrine, part cycling museum with artifacts and photos from the sport. There is an eternal flame that burns there in memory of all cyclists who are no longer with us.

Has anyone been there, I wonder?

What’s Santa Bringing You?

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:27:44 +0000

Antonio Banderas although don't tell my fella!

A new body might be nice but too expensive so I guess I'll just have to cycle harder.

Or perhaps a little something to make me go faster and further on my bike, but I don't think that's been invented yet.

My family and mates look at me askance when I ask for something for my bike, thinking I've lost my mind. Yet I have a hunch that I'll end up with yet more beautifying products that don't do what they say on the tin (what ARE they trying to tell me?)

But all I really want for Xmas is to end these long period of absences away from my gorgeous husband Keith who works away during the week only to return at weekends.

So please Santa, give me the gift of a house buyer all wrapped up and tied with a bow!

Drivers In The Dock...Surely Cyclists Should Be Too?

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 11:17:48 +0000

I'm at that time of life when my body starts to act like a volcano erupting hot flushes every hour or so. So I certainly don't expect to watch a TV programme that has the power to trigger them off.

But, watching ITV's Tonight programme last night really got me very hot.....and angry.

We've been in many decades of oppression as the seemingly simple act of riding a bicycle has taken on an ominous persona in the UK. With the increased media reporting of cycling collisions and casualties and the safety fanatics babble wishing we were all afraid as they, it's little wonder that the public are staying away from cycling in their droves.

ITV's report did little to reverse the trend. Fair enough, the programme was more concerned with who is culpable when accidents occur - the cyclist or the driver, but I think ITV could have set the scene better by giving some recent statistics that shows cycling is become a lot more safer.

Since the mid 90s the number of cyclists who have been killed or seriously injured has fallen by 37% - from 3,732 to 2,360 per year. (Sadly, the highest casualty rates are children between the ages of 12 to 15).

Recent statistics from DfT show that serious risk to cyclists is roughly 0.26 fatalities per million hours. Driving has 0.47 fatalities per million hours. Even if riding on an A-road is four times more dangerous than non A, this gives the cyclist a cycling life expectancy of almost one million hours - much more than the average life time.

It was interesting to see the panel views as to culpability for each of the three 'staged' driver/cyclist accidents. There I was screaming at the TV that both driver and cyclist were to blame in each; the cyclist for poor road positioning, lack of observation and mis-reading the road conditions and the driver for lack of awareness towards other road users and Highway Code infringements.

The pro cycling guy from Liverpool was well out of order; in my opinion, he did little to build the bridges between the cycling fraternity and car drivers and wants shooting and, as for the input from the CTC guy, well, that left a lot to be desired too.

The other thing that got my goat was the comparisons made between Holland and UK. Despite all the moves to make London a cyclised city and regional initiatives to promote cycling, the UK's infrastructure simply cannot support a replication of the Dutch system here. We already have cycle lanes - they are called roads.

At least Tiff Needell and the Taxi Driver both remained objective and had valid contributions and good on Quentin Wilson for ditching his car for 2 wheels.

So where is all my rambling leading?

1. Get a cycle registration plate system going
2. Make it mandatory for cyclists to get a license to ride on busy main road. Bikeability Level 3 should include testing for Highway Code knowledge similar to car driving tests.
3. Build bridges between cycling fraternity and car drivers rather than create divides
4. Make it mandatory for all cyclist to have insurance

My final thoughts are directed to ITV....if you are going to create media hype to keep people away from cycling, then the least you could have done was to promote cycle lessons with a professional to give a balanced view.

How To Make Yourself Stand Out

Thu, 5 Nov 2009 10:15:00 +0000

Yesterday, I went networking. Business networking to promote my cycling services.

Knowing that the suits would be there in abundance in their dreary blacks and greys, I pondered long and hard as to what to wear. Should I conform to the norm with my little skirt suit and long black boots or the trouser suit with 6 inch heels?

Now being an image consultant by trade, I know better than anyone that what you wear is a reflection of you - it's your personal brand, trademark and logo that tells the world your values and what you represent in 3 seconds flat, just as the infamous Nike Swoosh screams athleticism, competition and victory.

But I'm a cycle instructor, and yes, I do ride in heels but if I were to turn up to this "Promoting a Healthier Workforce" event in my suit with the aim of attracting new (and hopefully lucrative business), I doubt that I'd be taken seriously!

So, after much deliberation and many 'try ons' of different outfits, I plumped for my rather snazzy cycle top and leggings and sported a pink bandana, beanie hat style on my head. Great, but it's not really me so I pulled on my thigh length 4 inch heeled black boots over my leggings and rode off to the event. That's my trade mark style - DRAMATIC!

Well, I walked tall into a room packed full of suits. But do you know what, I picked up 5 firm offers of work from the local councils, the PCT and a couple of local businesses all interested in getting their workforce fitter through cycling!

I wonder what the outcome would have been had I gone in a suit? Just hope they don't think they've booked a stripogram!

the world through my eyes

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 20:16:02 +0000

I bought a video camera today. A bike camera. A teeny weeny camera no bigger than a cigarette lighter. One that sits on my handle bars to capture the world as seen through my eyes.

This is my first ever MUVIⓒ captured from my handle bars. This is my street. A busy street with lots of traffic and loads of opportunity to catch evidence of poor driving as seen from a cyclists eyes. This footage is a bit shaky but it tells my short cycle story of my shopping trip into my local town today. I need to master the audio yet, but hey, for a first attempt, it’s not that bad.

My journey was only 3 minutes long yet the uncut version (not shown here) captured 4 incidents of atrocious driving!!!

Over the months and years to come, my little camera will capture all the naughty goings on and the most severe will be sent to both the Police for investigation and to CTC to inform their SMIDSY (Sorry mate, I didn’t see you) campaign.

Smile, you’re on candid camera!

Duffy Diet Coke Ad cleared despite health and safety complaints

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:39:14 +0100

My eyes were drawn to a feature in the Guardian Newspaper (today 17th June 2009) announcing that “Duffy Diet Coke bicycle ad cleared despite health and safety complaints”
If you’ve not seen the multimillion pound TV commercial campaign featuring the singer Duffy cycling through city streets at night, click here.
First shown during the Brit Awards on ITV earlier this year, the advertising watchdog received a total of 22 complaints that the ad either “condoned behaviour prejudicial to health and safety” because she was not seen wearing reflective clothing or using lights, or that it was irresponsible because “children might copy her behaviour.”
Closer inspection of the ad shows Duffy wearing a black and white sequined top that reflects the light to give her a luminous glow so that she stands out in the dark and as Coca-Cola points out, the bike does have lights. Whether they were switched on is another matter. I can’t see any evidence that they were but perhaps you are more eagle eyed than I?
But I do wonder about these 22 complainants.
Are they the type whose children are glued to the latest computer games 24/7 never venturing into the wide open world for fresh air and exercise?
Perhaps they are the sort of person whose lives are so bound up by health and safety that they never experience life as it was meant to be?
Or is it more likely that this fabulous image of a young trendy woman riding in heels has pricked the conscience of those day-glow spandex clad cyclists who rebel against anyone cycling in everyday work or leisure wear?
But what concerns me more is that the advertising authority said that the cycling sequence was clearly ‘unreal and fantastical’! So, going to the shops at night on your bike, in heels and urban chic apparel is unreal and fantastical? I suggest they visit Derby to see just how many cycle divas do just that!
Let me know your thoughts. Take the poll!

a polka dress in slow style

Tue, 19 May 2009 22:29:50 +0100

Have you, like me, noticed a recent increase in joggers pounding the pavements in your town?

I have a hunch that these red-faced jogging types are perhaps feeling the pinch of the recession, ditching the sweaty confines of their excessively expensive gyms in favour of street bashing. Yuk!

Don’t get me wrong, I’m all in favour of people exercising, and indeed I used to be one of them until my knees screamed ‘enough!’ and my vanity took umbrage.

Then I re-discovered cycling. Slow cycling in style! And even when I outpace these pavement pounders in my polka dot dress at a cool 12 km per hour, I’m not even breaking sweat!

And I smile as I a shout a cheery ‘hello’ but I’m secretly gloating, safe in the knowledge I’m burning more calories per hour than they ever will jiggling their body parts up and down mile after mile.

Cycle Divas No.1 Rule is Style Over Speed.

My polka dot dress is beautiful to ride in. Teemed with black heels and matching accessories, it’s a real head turner not to mention totally on trend again for spring/summer 2009.

It’s a my faithful friend that never lets me down when creating movement with pedal power. The softly draping skirt, pegged in the middle to stop it getting caught in the chain, allows for slow bare leg pedaling allowing cooling airflow to temper any sign of heat.

But if a glimmer of perspiration does start to appear, it’s a sure sign that I’m pedaling too fast so I coast, or maybe stop and admire the beautiful countryside to regain my cycle diva cool, chic composure.

Awesome Tips For Slow Diva Style

• Shout your own unique sense of style loud and clear by riding in clothes you love
• Hills and gradients may be walked!
• Be a fair weather Cycle Diva.
• Adopt the slow cycling posture - upright & straight backed.
• Take a spontaneous detour.
• Shout a greeting to passers-by.
• Get in the slip-stream of those whippet-like cyclists clad in day-glow lycra to give you a few meters pull.
• Get a slow cycle movement sticker for your bike to tell the world you ride in style!
• For chain disasters, wear those disposable gloves you keep in your pannier and look vexed. You’ll soon
have a guy stop to do it for you.
• Don’t go faster than 12 km per hour unless going down hill. Yippeee!
• Ensure that some part of your bike creaks gently
• Don’t fear riding in heels. They’re great for keeping your foot on the pedal for slow rotation.
• Book a session with one of our Instructors who’ll teach not only to ride safely but stylishly too.

And a final Diva tip for those of you that are daunted by riding on busy main roads.

Let me tell you this; cars do slow down when overtaking you. The reason is simple. They’re rubber-necks!

So desperate are they to gawp and admire your elegance, style and panache, they slow down for a good old oggle!

In return, give them the eye-ball with a conspiratorial wink!

World’s Naked Bike Ride

Mon, 18 May 2009 08:42:27 +0100

I was grabbed by this headline a little earlier today telling me that ‘the craziest, wildest most insane cycle event of the year is just around the corner!’

Intrigued, I clicked on the website and was astonished to learn that thousands of people around the globe are getting ready once again to cycle naked this June with a mission. And that includes Britain!

From Bath to Bristol, Edinburgh to Exeter, Manchester Sheffield and York. These are just a few of the UK’s towns and cities that are to host naked bike rides this June!

Hmm, am I brave enough to shed my body image hang-ups and let it all hang out? Maybe. I’ll write more about this another time!

Now a word of warning to those of you with delicate dispositions.... DON”T click here to find out more and see naked cyclists campaigning against the ‘indecent exposure to vehicle emissions on people and the planet’.

This phenomenon of naked cycling led me to thinking more about the connections between cycling, fashion and the emancipation of women so I did a little bit of research.

Cycling started in the early 1800’s at a time when fashions were cumbersome and dangerous for the rider, especially for women. Think BIG skirts, petticoats, whale-bone bodices, dainty shoes not to mention all the other paraphernalia a lady of that time carried.

It is believed that, just like open water swimmers who rejected the dangerously heavy swimwear of their day, many tried riding their cycles naked although evidence to corroborate this is scarce.

What is known however, is that an American lady called Amelia Bloomer, (1818-1894) caused quite a stir when she promoted the abandonment of the petticoats in favour of baggy trouser outfits as a more sensible and hygienic option to the boned-fashion bodices and long weighty skirts.

A year after Amelia’s death, these baggy trousers became known as Bloomers and caught the imagination of lady cyclists of the age who soon adopted the Bloomer as suitable cycling wear! Has much changed?

This Spring/Summer season’s trend for Harem pants harks back to the age of the Bloomer, providing a 21st century twist for modern cycle divas looking for on trend inspiration combined with cool functionality.

Cycle Diva Style Tips

Create this season’s hottest look by combining
silky harem pants with a cool cami and a crisp
over-sized cotton shirt for a cool diva on trend
cycle style.

Accessorize with chunky jewellery in burnished
bronzes or tarnished golds for eastern impact.

And never ever forget the one golden rule; harem
pants MUST be worn with heels to avoid a
style faux-pas!

the trouble with trains....

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 22:45:02 +0100

Now you may think this a little strange, but in all the years I’ve been cycling, I’ve never once used the train to transport my bike from A to B. Until today that is! Well, more accurately, tomorrow.

Now normally, I’d put Popsy, my 24 speed 2 wheel goddess Globe Hybrid, into action for the 10 mile commute but I knew that I’d be faced with many more miles to cycle at my journey’s end. And I’d still have to get home.

Plan A: TAKE THE TRAIN. Hmmm, easier said than done. For some reason, a small niggle has been working it’s way from the back of my mind all day and it’s grown into a gremlin I can’t ignore.

How do you take the train with your bike?

• Do you have to book your bike on?
• How much does it cost?
• What part of the train do you store it in?

No worries, I’ll ring National Rail enquiries! The nice people there will help me out......

(.....Some time later....)

Give me a headache pill! Whilst you don’t have to book unless you’re planning to travel on a mainline route, nor do you part with any more of your hard earned cash to transport your 2 wheel goddess, you must make yourself known to the station staff prior to the arrival of your train. The decision to transport your bike is then left at the discretion of the train guard since only 2 bikes can be transported on any one train.

You must store your bike securely in the guards van before settling yourself in the main carriage. Oh, and you certainly must not, under any circumstances, faff around and cause the train to run late.

Now this poses me a dilemma or two.

My journey tomorrow is during rush hour. The train is only a local one having at the most two carriages.

• Will it have a guards van?
• If so, at what end of the train?
• And what if 2 people further up the line are taking their bikes on board meaning that I’m refused?

I’ve got to be at my destination tomorrow by 9 am at the latest. No excuses! And by the way, my local station is unmanned. Very pretty, but devoid of human existence.

Enter Plan B
Resort to going in by car with Popsy inelegantly strung up on the back. Get stressed in the rush hour queues, pay exorbitant car parking fees, add more CO2 emissions into the atmosphere and feel generally down in the dumps because I’ve not had my dose of fresh Derbyshire air!

I’d love to hear your personal experiences of traveling by train. Perhaps you can educate me!