24 December 2009

Never forget that Bike Lock,Happy Christmas to everybody.

Yesterday I got up late and Had a Bath then my Breakfast then fixed a Blind on the Toilet Window and also A Cupboard. I was settling down to read something and I just remembered I would have to buy some Presents for my Relations. O my Gosh this is really the only Day left to get anything in the City as tomorrow is Christmas Eve.

So I put on my Old crumpled Cycling Jumper and my Jacket and decided not to bring the front Carrier on my dutch Bike as I would not be getting anything big ,I just took the two Ortlieb Panniers for the Rear Carrier. I cycled into the City,there was a very Hard frost but no actual Snow but bits of Hailstones and Snow that would not stick. There is Snow everywhere Else but Dublin City did not get any.

I pulled up at one of my Favourite Department Stores Arnotts in Liffey Street at the cycle Stand/ Rack and looked around for my Lock. What what in the Name of all thats Holy where's me Bleedin Bike Lock,Im not leaving it here with just the Wheel Lock on. A load of muttered Curses later I went off to my local Bike Shop and bought a New Lock,not a Super Duper very strong lock but an acceptable Lock all the same. So I done my Shopping and went off to Easons Bookshop in O' Connell Street and had a look around,then I remembered I had better get some Bottles of Wine. So back to Liffey Street to the same Bike Stand/Rack ,Parked the Bike only this time I went into Marks and Spencer across the Road. Bought two Bottles of Plonk a Red and White some Reduced Fat Croissants and two bags of Chocolate Chip Cookies a Jar of Dark Bitter Sweet Marmalade and a Jar of Blueberry Conserve. To Spread on the Croissants Luverly Jubbly then headed Home at 7.00pm.

I was just in time for the Sleet ,more Hailstones and bits of Snow. When I got Home I discovered I now have a load of different Assortment of Bike Locks and a Cable. One is my very big and heavy Town Lock that I should have brought with me,two Chains and two Padlocks, a U Lock and the Steel Cable. Because I was Chopping and changing about what to bring,would I bring my Basket and front Carrier ,I forgot the big Bike Lock and Chain.

Moral of this Piece, never forget your Bike Lock, Happy Christmas to all of you in the World of Bicycling & Happy Trails.

YouTube - Talking to David Hembrow

I picked this up on Mike Rubbos Site on You Tube.It is the Type of Cycling Infrastructure that we could do with in Ireland but the Government is dragging its Heels on by not providing it for us. O to live in the Netherlands in Bicycle Heaven. Where you have Beautiful wide Cycle Paths and Superhighways and where you cannot get Doored by Passengers alighting from Cars.YouTube - Talking to David Hembrow

18 December 2009

Dublin Cycling Campaign Christmas Party,The Pod Harcourt Street Dublin.

I went to the Dublin Cycling Campaign and Irish Messengers/ Bike Couriers Christmas Party last Night in the Pod Nightclub in the former Train Station in Harcourt Street. It was great Fun. Everybody was having a go at the Goldsprint Spinning Bikes Competition including myself. I tried it twice,it consists of two Bikes on Rollers connected to a Computer which shows the distance Speed time and two pointers to show who is Winning. There were a Group of Bike Couriers who Won the Competition,I did not Compete against them as I would have no chance. Also there was a Raffle for Bike Accoutrements like Lights Helmets etc. The Weather was a bit Icy with Snow trying its best to fall. Loads of People Attending Parties and Tonnes of People using Bikes now in Dublin. If only the D.C.C. would put in a decent Bike Infrastructure and not Pander to the Car Lobby all the time it would be Bliss going on your Bike.





05 December 2009

The Blue Wave,Anti Climate Change Demonstration,Dublin 5th December 2009


















































Anti Climate Change Demonstration backing up the Copenhagen Talks,Dublin 5th December 09.

I joined the Smurfs in a Demonstration against Global Warming starting from Custom House Quay up to Government Buildings in Merrion Street. To Demand our Government to Lower the Irish Carbon Count,Restrict the use of Gas Guzzlers through our Cities and Towns and give back the Streets to our Pedestrians and Cyclists. That the Pollution is causing our Seas to Rise and we have had an awful lot of Floods lately and it is getting worse not better. We demand of our Politicians to get their Finger out and stop Pandering to big Business and the Motoring Industry and restrict Car usage and move Freight by Train and not Juggernaut Trucks. Many People in the World are getting forced off their Land by Rising Waters and very soon they will have no Countries left forcing them on to the rest of us to Help them out. Stop sitting around doing nothing MR Government Ministers.Be prepared for more Demonstrations. Myself in the first Picture outside the Custom House.Picture of my Bike with new Blue Basket outside my House. Man with his Brompton Folding Bike outside Government Buldings. The Girl with the Bobblers on her Head won Second best Costume for the Blue Wave Demo. Various Pictures at the Custom House and Government Buildings. The Weather was very nice for the demo but got Colder and Wetter later on.

14 November 2009

Ghost Bike in Memory of Karl.





























A new Ghost Bike was Erected on Astons Quay beside the Merchants Arch just across the Road from the Halfpenny Bridge in Dublin Today. In Memory of the Newest Victim to be Killed by a HGV by The Dublin Cycle Campaign Group. He is Karl Magee a 51 Year Old Cyclist on His Commute and He was Knocked down and Killed by an Articulated 40Ft Truck on 15 th September last. It was attended by Members of his Family and Cyclists and an Oration was made by a Family member and one of the Cyclists and Flowers was placed on the Bike. These Trucks are supposed to be Banned from going through the City since they put in the Port Tunnel save for a few who are given Permission to Deliver to the big Shops. Another Testament to the bad Infrastructure or lack thereoff. How many more are going to get Killed before things are improved for Cyclists. My deepest Sympathies to the Family of Karl may he Rest in Peace.

02 November 2009

Dublin Critical Mass/Oice Samhain/ Halloween/30/10/09




























































Some Pictures I took of the Critical Mass on Friday 30/10/09 the Day before Halloween/ Oice Samhain.Three I took the next Day because of the bad light Conditions,Swans on Canal at Harolds xRoad,Spot on Harolds x Road where cyclist got Killed by Cement Mixer Lorry at the Bike Shop incidentally, Paul the Chinese Man was going to Work on his Bike .Irelands first Ghost Bike Erected in his Memory.French Cyclist standing on Parapet of Grand Canal Bridge Harolds X Road gives Speech about Ghost Bike and a New GhostBike to be Erected on Wellington Quay where a 51 Year old Man was Killed by an Artic Truck while Riding his Bike to Work,this Bike to be Erected on 14th November at 11.00am.Me with Top Hat and Grease Paint for the Halloween Critical Mass.

The Critical Mass was great Fun,There was a Horrible Shower of Rain for 20 Minutes before the Event at 5.00pm up to 5.20pm then it Dried up and it was actually quite Balmy after the start at 6.00pm.

30 October 2009

2éme Fete De La Critical Mass Vert St Stephen 30/10/09 , Halloween Critical Mass.















Rendezvous at St Stephens Green at the Memorial Arch 5.45 pm and Randonnée at 600pm Sharp.
The first Critical Mass in Dublin for years was held last Month on the 25th September. Now Today Friday 30th October is the Halloween Critical Mass /Oice Samhain at 6.00pm. I hope a Lot of Cyclists and other Non Internal Combustion Modes of Transport like Skate Riders ETC can make it and everybody can have a lot of Fun. I was hoping to wear this Mask but it is to Stifling, so I will just have to settle for Greasepaint. So Put on Holloween Gear and bring Whistles Horns Streamers Etc. Get out on Yer Bike and Join us. Also Critical Mass will be held in Galway ,Cork, Belfast, we wish them well on the Ride.

20 October 2009

Autumn Days on my Bicycles, Clontarf and Surrounds.

Gerty The Dutch Bike arriving Home with the Groceries 2 pics,
Autumn Day in Fairview Park 3 pics,
My New Trek 7.3 F X Fast Bike on Clontarf off Road Cycle Path 2 pics,
Cars Illegally Parked on the off Road Cycle Path at Alfie Byrne Road Clontarf last Sunday Week and not a care in the World and nobody Ticketed or Hauled away,
No Cycle Parking Stands/or Racks at Killester Train Station,People have to Park their Bikes Lashed to the Bridge Parapet Railings or just leave it against the Wall like this Grand Old Raleigh with the Religious Emblem on the Seat Tube for good Luck 3 pics. Weather was very Mild up until now ,we have had a very good Autumn, Indian Summer as they say. Now Today the Rain has come and the Wind also but it is not Cold.









03 October 2009

The Week and Trip to the Farmers Market Dunleary last Sunday.




Gerty The Azor Dutch Bike Loaded up and ready to go Home from Tesco's Artaine Castle
Supermarket Artane,Stylish Cyclechick on her Bike in Capel St, I took a Trip to the South Side of Dublin Bay 15 K or 10 Miles from where I live on the Nth Side to Dunleary Farmers Market and Bulloch Harbour .Woman with Beautiful Lurcher in the Farmers Market in the Peoples Pk Dunleary,More Dogs at the Fountain in Pk,Hare Krisha Selling Delicious Vegetarian Food at their Stall,Nice Racing Bikes,more Stalls 2Pics, Bulloch Harbour Dalky Anglers Hiring out Boats,Anti Eu Traite Du Lisbonne Posters in Fairview 2 Pics on way Home ,More Harbour Photo's ,Interesting Old Raleigh Bike in Georges St Dunleary. Road to the East Link Bridge and View of Roll on Roll off Cargo Boat on Liffey.