Bike It Bus It - BLOG IT!

I'm Claire Mullan, the Office Manager at the Comrie Development Trust. Thanks to funding from the Climate Challenge Fund, the CDT has developed a free starter kit to help Comrie folks get back on their bikes. With free training, free bikes to use, fun events and better road signage on its way, there couldn’t be a better time to get back on two wheels! If i can do it, anyone can do it - YOU can do it!

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Bike It Bus It on tour

I went to London to visit my wee brother a week or so ago and there's just cyclists everywhere! Inspired, I suggested we hire a Boris Bike. As we headed off I had a horrible, gut clenching, "what the %*^&*(@% am I doing!!?" moment. But do you know what? It was actually ok. We took the quiet route from Kings Cross to Spittalfields and I'd even say I enjoyed it - just look at that big cheesy face! That's a happy cyclist right there. No more excuses.

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The woman who walks with bicycles...

So, it was a Saturday and I was mooching about on my own thinking about how to time getting over to the Camp on the bus... and there was my bike sitting in the living room... so, in the spirit of just getting it done, I decided today was the day. Muthill to Cultybraggan over Blairinroar!

I packed plenty of water and an extra jumper in case it rained and lunch and some tools I'd need once I was over there - backpackful. And, thinking myself not to be a complete idiot, I set off to walk up the Golf Course road. I'd been warned it was a tough long climb on a bike so I thought I'd ease myself in gently. Top of the hill and then I'd get on. But (I know - you're way ahead of me here) its alot easier walking with a backpack than cycling. So I fidgeted and footered about with it - contemplated hiding some of it in a hedgerow and coming back for it later - and wandered on. "I'll be fine once I'm on the quiet bit" I told myself. And I was for a while. I got a feel for the balance of the backpack and cycled along nice and flat and steady. And then it started to go downhill for a bit - aaargh! No likey! Far too fast! So I squeezed by brakes and slowed down then sped up then slowed down and eventually... I got off. "I'll be fine once I'm on the flat again" I told myself. 

By the time I got to this point, I reckoned of the 4.84 miles, I'd probably cycled about 0.84 of them. So far I'd met 3 sheep and a cyclist so it wasn't the traffic. There was no-one around for miles so I wasn't self conscious. It was just too fast... I felt like the bike was going to skite out from underneath me. Going up was kind of ok as I felt I had a bit more control but going down!?!!!  

Just another excuse? Its getting a wee bit ridiculous, I know. But I was truly fed up of the bike so I walked the rest of the way. Muthill to Cultybraggan... 9.26 miles... on foot... with a bike... cos I'm an eejit...

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Am I a Woman or a Woose?

Am I a woman or a woose? 

Well, it turns out, a bit of both...

I caught the Breadalbane Explorer bus up to Cultybraggan to pick up the bike so that I could ride up with Emma as planned. I was going to be really clever about it and catch the Sweeney's up, pick up the bike  and put it on the Kingshouse trailer back down to the village - smart eh? Except, it was absolutely chucking it down and I was early so I found myself standing at the road end in the pouring rain with 15 minutes to wait for the bus - with a bike. So I gathered all my courage and got on the bike back to the village.

No woose me!!!

It was scary though - every time I came to a puddle (i.e. big scary pothole I couldn't see) there seemed to be a car at my back! I pulled over several times but I did it, I got there, and I was pretty pleased with myself. 

So, I thought I'd have a bash at Goal #2 - Muthill to Crieff via Templemill. It was fine. Lovely even. Mostly downhill really. And then I reached the Templemill road end...

I had my helmet on but as I stood watching the traffic going past I suddenly felt so defenceless. I wanted a helmet for my body! So I turned back and went home...

No brave woman me :o(

I can't wait for the cyclepath from Muthill to Crieff - its going to be soooooo brilliant!!!

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Fill in our survey for a chance to WIN A BIKE!!!

(if you live in Comrie)

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/XB7QHDQ

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Have you filled in our survey yet? Even if you don't want to win a bike, take a couple of minutes to tell us more about how you move about Comrie. This will help us understand what's working and what's not. Knowing that will help us to help more people back on their bikes, using the car less and saving money! 

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Too much luggage!

I got the CDT cargo trike out last Saturday morning as I had to move some stuff around at the Camp and I remembered how much I love it! I had thought about taking the bike out and attempting home over Blairinroar once I'd finished work but I had a handbag and a rucksack and water and... it was all just too much hassle. So I had a cup of tea...

And as I was sitting there admiring the nice shiny red cargo trike it suddenly seemed so easy! So I strapped in the handbag, chucked in the rusksack, spare water and my packed lunch box and I was ready. Easy peasy:

And off I set up the hill. I know!! Up the hill!!! What was I thinking of??? It all started off very well and I actually got further up than I did on my bike but when I got off to push... omg that is one heavy bit of kit! I got as far as the house on the bend and pulled in to catch my breath. Going back down was fun until it got too fast and again when I got off, I nearly got dragged down the hill behind it! 

Once it levelled off though it felt good again. I really don't mind taking the cargo trike out on the road. I feel pretty solid on it and not afraid of the traffic at all. So I decided to take it in to the village. It always draws alot of looks but I don't even mind that cos they're looking at the big red box not my big red face! 

I can't see me taking the high road home in the cargo trike any time soon but it occurred to me that I might feel ok about the South Crieff road on the Trike... maybe...

Meantime maybe I just learn to carry less luggage around with me? 

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Thanks to all my lovely teachers - Fran, Colin, Andy, Naomi, Emma...

I think I just passed my theory test!

Download the mobile app - Essential Cycling Skills 

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BIG BIKE IN A WEE HOUSE

Its a problem some of our other novice cyclist have come across. If you don't have any outdoor / shed space, where do you keep your bike? In the living room for me just now but that's not ideal is it? 

I took the bike home because I was just putting off taking it out when it was in Comrie. From home in Muthill I can easily take it out on some quiet roads to practice and work on Goal #2. Whilst its easy to cycle around in Comrie, as soon as you hit the village limits, those are some pretty scary roads! And I'm including the road to Cultybraggan in that.

Ray thinks I just need to keep doing it and the fear will eventually go... so I'm going to bring it back over to Comrie and Emma is going to bodyguard me out to the Camp again next week. 

Goal #2 = Muthill to Crieff (via Templemill) then on to Comrie on the Explorer Bus but I should probably focus on nailing Goal #1 first eh?  

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Bring on the bus!

I Biked It and Bus-ed It last week, catching the Breadalbane Explorer from the village up to the Camp. It was only 80p which was great - handy for when I've left the bike at the wrong end of where I'm going!

I actually had a bike with me but it was someone else's and too big so I got to try out the trailer service. Nice friendly Sweeneys driver - no hassle - strapped it in and off we went. 

It runs on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and Sundays for the whole season (finishing 19th Oct) and its just started its Saturday runs for July and August. I might take my bike out to one of the off road routes to get in some practice away from the scary roads this weekend.

Any recommendations? 

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GOAL #1 - I did it! I cycled up the road from the village to the Camp!

Here's me still looking slightly terrified with my cycling / rollerblading CDT support - Naomi & Emma

But I did it... not only that but I turned right and I knew there was a car behind me but it was ok because I signalled and it worked and I arrived in one piece. I think that cars probably don't want to hit me any more than I want to be hit so, as long as I'm visible and sensible, I should be alright. I just need to do it again now...

And I wrote that 10 days ago and i still haven't done it again - Plan B needed... watch this space...

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Should cycle helmets be made compulsory? - Telegraph

The issue of helmets has come up (as I knew it would!) So I've been doing some reading up on the arguments - I think this article in the Telegraph sums up both sides pretty well. What do you think? 

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Fill in our survey for a chance to WIN A BIKE!!!

(if you live in Comrie)

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/XB7QHDQ

[bikeitbusit]

Be Safe - Be Seen!

So, having figured out that I think I’d prefer to be invisible when I’m out on my bike, I now know that’s all wrong! We had our final session on Monday with Colin from Comrie Croft Bikes and before we went out on the roads we talked about the importance of being seen. Top marks to Isobel with her Hi-Vis vest and well done everyone else with their nice bright t-shirts and helmets. Bottom of the class = me, who rocked up all in black. 

On reflection then, I’d rather motorists see me and give me a wide berth than I blend into the verge and get dunted. Maybe disguise is the way to go? Maybe I go out in a big yellow duck costume. With my rollerblading vanguard we’d make quite a sight…

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Confidence!

We've had two confidence sessions with Fran from Breathing Space now and I think we're all feeling much better than when we started. I know I am. I was ridiculously nervous at the first session - jittery, super chatty - all over the place! But Fran was great and she had us all calm and focused in no time. We went right back to basics, focusing on balance and straight lines with the aim of getting us signalling and looking behind without veering wildly...

I've been practicing on my own as well. Laggan Park was a great starting point as I can get there from the office via the lanes without having to tackle roads (Dinnies, Back-o-toon, Nurses, then through the wood and over the bridge to the park). There's some traffic at the car park once I'm there but its pretty slow and less scary than the roads. So I've been going round and round in circles and now I've got my balance and can take my hands out to signal.

The Camp has been a great venue for the lessons too. Its got properly laid out and marked roads but also space to practice out of the way of traffic - although, same as Laggan, that is generally slow. I've yet to make the leap from Laggan to Camp on the bike though. I went out to Comrie one weekend specifically to do that but ended up going round in circles for two hours instead - I just could not  psyche myself up to leave the safety of the Laggan car park. I think I've figured out that its not just the traffic (though that is a fear) I just don't want anybody looking at me!!! 

Naomi and Andy (my CDT workmates) have offered to help. Andy has already been round the park with me, showing me gears and so on. He says he'll come out with me to provide a bit of protection on my first run out to the Camp. Naomi says she'll bring in her roller-blades and come out with me. I think this is great cos no-one will be looking at me - they'll all be wondering who the woman in the roller blades is!  

So if you see me out on the bike - drive on by (nice and wide mind!) nothing to see here... 

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This is my jam for week one of the bike - the wheels have made a big impression on me:

Big wheels keep on turnin'...

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The Bike is here!

So it’s finally here. The Bike arrived yesterday. 

The Bike - thanks Mark from The Bike Station!

We’ve been planning this project for a while so I’ve spent a lot of time talking about cycling, thinking about cycling, asking questions about cycling. And now… I’ve got to do some cycling!

I’m not a complete novice. I know how to ride a bike but it’s been a while (maybe 10ish years?) and any cycling I have done has been quiet roads, no pressure, weekend picnic cycling mostly.

I’ve always been terrified of the roads and, frankly, thought people who cycled on roads – especially country roads – were weird, competitive, driven types.

But then I came to work in Comrie and, well, cycling seems pretty normal round here. It helps that its flat but I also think it helps to see other normal people you know just hopping on a bike to get from A to B.

The CDT is funded by the Climate Challenge Fund and we spend a lot of time thinking about how to cut carbon footprints. In that context, replacing short car journeys with a bike might seem like an easy thing for people to do but, you know, maybe only if you’re already a cyclist in a cycling frame of mind…

So, we planned this project.

We want to help people who want to cycle but find it difficult to start.

We want to find out what it is that puts people off cycling.

And we want to build on what Comrie already has: a healthy cycling culture where cycling is a normal thing for normal people.

And I said,

“I’ll give it a go! If a fat, forty-something, feartie like me can do it…”

And they said, “OK!”

And now I’ve got a bike. And it’s got big wheels. And I’m wobbly on it. And I’m nervous!!!

But I’m also excited and a little bit amazed at myself.

I hope it’s a dry Summer...