New bridge work

Work has begun in ernest on the new cycling and walking bridge over the M20 at Ashford.


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Wye Resolution Ride

Everyone gathering at the Julie Rose Stadium.


Nice turn out for our Resolution Ride today from Ashford to Wye. Weather was bright and clear, if a bit chilly.
We followed Route 18. It's a shame about the Willesborough Road. It seems to act not just as a physical barrier but a mental one too. So this route to Wye is cut off from the main population of cyclists in Ashford. People are worried about the section along the road as it is a fast, narrow and twisty road. The cycle paths are pretty poor too although that's mainly due to the objections of the land owners. If the Conningbrook Watersports Park gets going, there could be a nice route through there avoiding the Willesborough Road section completely. It would be great to connect it up with the rest of the cycle network in Ashford too.
Anyway, today's ride was very nice.


Coffee break in Wye.

New Year's Resolution - Learn to ride

It’s like riding a bike!

That’s what we say about something we’ll never forget. And it’s quite true. Once we have learnt to ride a bike our brains will remember. It’s down to our molecular layer interneurons…apparently!

It is great when you get an opportunity to re-introduce someone to cycling. Even after a break of more than fifty years, it only takes a few minutes to get riding again.

But some people never learn to ride a bike. As a cycling instructor, one of the greatest joys is to help people to learn to ride a bicycle for the very first time.

As we get older we build up fear barriers, so the challenge is to persuade new cyclists to break down those barriers. Consequently teaching someone to ride a bike later in life is a gentle, careful activity where we progress in baby steps. It’s about boosting confidence – also known as “Gok Wan-ing” – and convincing the brain, those molecular layer interneurons, that it is perfectly safe to balance on two wheels.

So if someone you know is planning to make a New Year’s resolution to learn to ride a bike, then encourage them. Support them. Help them. It’s never too late and it just might be life changing. And you only have to learn once, because you never forget how to ride a bike!

First Frost

First frost of the winter. Just zero at 8am this morning. Car impressively iced up. Beautiful bright and sunny day. Great day to be out cycling.


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Just What the Doctor ordered

The days are shorter and the temperature cooler and may be there’s a bit more rain about than there was in August (just). But don’t be tempted to moth ball your bike until Spring as it could be the one thing that keeps you well this Winter.

Scientists at Appalachian State University have discovered that regular exercise, such as cycling, can help prevent you from catching a cold. And if you do catch one, if you regularly exercise then the symptoms are unlikely to be so severe.

Therefore, Dr Bike’s prescription this winter is:

• Look after your bike and your bike will look after you, wash it regularly, ensure the tyres are nice and hard, brakes are nice and sharp and there’s a little lubrication on your chain and gears
• Wrap up warm in cold weather with a cap under your helmet and a good winter collar around your neck
• Wear waterproof jackets and trousers
• Pull on a good pair of waterproof gloves and shoes

And get out there and ride! It will not only be fun but healthy too!

Dr bike at the library

Had a good afternoon running a roll-in surgery at this fab 60s library. Not lots of bikes but lots of issues and some good questions.

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A week in Aldington

We've spent the week in Aldington, a strip of a village about 5 miles south of Ashford. Very friendly, great views and always windy!
As well as the school, it's got a butcher, baker, post office store and a pub.
It's also got a rich history. Erasmus was the rector for a year, there was a busy smuggling gang, the village is about a mile from the church so I suspect the village moved away from the church during the plague and it's been home to Noel Coward, Ford Maddox Ford, Joseph Conrad and now Julian Clary and Paul O'Grady (not together!).
The grasshopper in the picture below was on the bike in the school bike shed. It rode on the bike until we stopped by some grass when it hopped off.






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