What is there to say?

It's Your Ride from Cinecycle on Vimeo.

Watch it (turned up loud) and scream on the inside. This is why we ride. You can't get that feeling anywhere else. 

The great New Zealand cycleway

-- It won’t fix the economy, but it’s on the right track

The naysayers reckon New Zealand’s too wet, its people too old and too fat for a cycleway. But the givers of these views should first be tested for Coronation Street watchers, scoutmasters, and Atkins dieters, whose memories are rich with drive-throughs and hot grease and nights frantic with fancy creams doctoring cottage cheese thighs and wasp nests hanging from ham hock arms.

Questions:

Q: Will building a national cycleway fix the economy?
A: No it won’t. But if you think government spending is going to fix the economy then it’s time you got on a plane to Australia.

Q: Does New Zealand need a national cycleway?
A: Of course it does. 

Q: Will it attract more tourists?
A: Yes it will. Just ask hostellers on the Central Otago Rail Trail.

Q: Will New Zealanders use it?
A: Of course they will. We own 1.2 million bicycles. Cycling is New Zealand’s most popular activity pastime despite cyclists' fear of getting the bash. The ability to ride without traffic and driver intimidation will catapult cyclist numbers.

Q: Will a cycleway get cyclists pedaling the length of New Zealand?

A: In most cases it won't, just as motorists don't drive to Invercargill just because a road goes there. But the opportunity to access a safe cycling passage, or adventure, at various points the length of New Zealand is priceless.   

Q: Should New Zealand taxpayers fund first-class tickets to Australia for naysayers?

A: Yes they should (though with a little help from McDs and KFC, who benefit regardless).

Q: When I say naysayer, does it conjure an image of a fat person?

A: Of course it does.

Q: How many naysayers own bicycles?

A: None.

Bonjour from New Zealand

-- A letter to March Cycling Sauce winner Cycles Laurent 

Hello there from New Zealand.

I am writing to tell you about your growing international reputation.

I contribute to a cycling blog called Chopper Guard and each month our readers nominate their favourite example of bicycle advertising.

Our special interest is wheel-women (bicycle lovelies, as we call them) and we celebrate the winning nominations in a monthly posting called Cycling Sauce.

I am pleased to tell you that your handiwork has been chosen for March Cycling Sauce.

The story accompanying the picture is, well, a fabrication, so we’d really appreciate the full background. What is this lovely girl’s name? Are you still in contact with her? Where is she now? Were you at the photo-shoot? Did it drive new sales? Will you put all the photos on flickr?

Also, we are about to open a gentlemen’s bicycle club. One wall has been allocated to Chopper Guard bicycle lovelies. So we were hoping you could send us a poster, or magazine cover, of your rather marvellous advertisement.

Please let me know and I'll send postage details. 

In the meantime, keep up the great work.

Vive la France!

Thanks and regards,

Lester

'Careless' truckie: Update

-- Desmond Wilson, 45, the truck driver charged in connection with the death of a senior police officer, pleads not guilty

Traffic safety expert and Police Superintendent Steve Fitzgerald, 57, was killed last year cycling home from work, on Petone’s Esplanade, by truck driver Desmond Wilson. Could have been me. Could have been any one of us.