25/06/2008 by Simeon Orme.

Hello, I want to introduce myself as the author of Pedalling to Panama, a book I have written about a solo bike ride I recently completed from northern Mexico to the Panama Canal - over 7,000 kilometres. It was a fantastic ride which took seven months and my book describes incidents, the places, and the people; as well as some history of this unique part of the world.

I would like to ask if you could bring this book to the attention of your members - maybe you have an email distribution. I am also available for talks and/or book signing events as I return to Britain in July for a few months. You can read about me on www.cliveparker.co.uk and and the book is available through www.amazon.com as well as the publisher, Author House. I have self-published, which means I do not have the backing of major commercial promotions.

However, writing and publishing the book has been an exctiting ride! I have a flyer which includes a photo of me and a picture of the cover of the book. However, I do not attach this to introductory emails as I know many people are nervous about attachments from people they don’t  already know. If you want to see this I could forward it later. By way, I have also cycled around Ecuador, and an article about this is scheduled to appear in the October CTC Magazine.

Regards Clive Parker

The above is from e-mail forward to me by Mike Hutchinson the Secretary of Lancaster CTC Group 

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24/06/2008 by Simeon Orme.

Wars, arguments are all start by someone criticizing someone else over something he or she has not done! Well I learned over pass 43 years and eleven months that I having been living on this planet it taught me when someone criticize me over what I done in the past it is hard to take! Its good policy sit down have think about what they had said and usually about 90% of the time they are right, some times its is hard admit this! Also hard to put your hand up and say that they are right but I learned allot from people criticizing me in the past unfortunately in the age instant communications we don’t have time to think about what we wrote and fire it off over internet has a e-mail or post it up on a website, we sometimes regret this!

Unfortunately I said somethings on this blog last week that I regret and which I have apologize for and should stay out of it but we should remember that RSF officials are only volunteers and hope certain members remember this in the future.

Now getting on to the York Cycle Show I like thank Peter and others for manning the stand, I know how hard it is to stand there from doing it myself in the past, I don’t know how well the show went but I hope you did not get a soaking like we did on the  Sunday on the South Lakes Group  ride.

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24/06/2008 by Simeon Orme.

It seem I am very good at putting my foot in it of late and especially over past week for criticizing others for things they should have done or have not done unfortunately I upset Geoff and Lynne by doing this and decide to resign as the Public Relation and Advertising Officer with immediate effect to be fair I don’t blame them for doing so and apologize to them for doing so and any wrongs I cause them!

I not going to fallout with them over the matter and they still welcome to come out on South Lake Group rides if they wish to do so!

I would also like to point out that reason I post my newsletter comments on this blog is to give visitors to the website a opportunity to read them and comment on them at end of the day the operating costs of South Lakes Group Website are met by myself and not the Rough-Stuff Fellowship I do need keep the website update and interesting so visitors will keep coming back to the site.

I hope it is lesson to all we have to be very careful who we criticise before we open our mouths to speak or type.

Posted in Rough-Stuff Fellowship, South Lakes Group | Print | 1 Comment »

23/06/2008 by Simeon Orme.

Outline

This is a proposal to create quite routes for walkers, cyclists and horses leading from the northern end of the Lancaster built up area into the countryside. There will be no restrictions on residents to gain access to their properties.

The proposal is made by Lancaster Group of the Ramblers’ Association and is supported by the local cycling and horse riding groups.

Reasons

The Lancashire Rights of way Improvement Plan includes policies to improve rights of way especially from built up  areas into the countryside and for the less able.

Lancaster has a cycle town initiative.

There is a shortage of horse riding routes.

The Inspector for the Heysham-M6 link road required more study of cycle routes on the route.

The Proposals

1. Change the northern section of Powder House Lane to a Restricted Byway. This is very narrow between high hedges with almost no passing places. At present this has no restrictions except a width restriction for access. There are residents only at the very northern end. Althrough this route would end on a busy, narrow road there is potential to create a link from the end of Powder House Lane on Hasty Brow to the Shore Road.
2. Change the section of Barley Cop Lane from the intersection with Powder House Lane to the turning circle near the end of Hammerton Hall Lane to a Restricted Byway.This is wide between hedges but with bad visibility at the railway bridge. There is often excessive speed with consequent reduced safety and loss of amenity to non-motorised traffic.This section contains the entrance to the Crematorium which has a one way system exiting onto the southern section of Powder House Lane. Fast traffic is detrimental to the solemnity of the area. The restriction would effectively make the Crematorium entrance at the cross roads with a clear ‘Crematorium traffic only’ sign.
3. Make Foley Lane into a footpath or bridleway, depending on the status of the canal tow path where it goes. This is narrow lane giving access to the canal towpath. There are residents at Foley Farm. The Lane to the turning circle on Barley Cop Lane would be access only.
4. Make Hammerton Hall Lane from Barley Cop Lane to the A6 a Restricted Byway. This is a very narrow lane between hedges with few passing places and no residents. It has no entry, except for access signs.
5. Make Green Lane into a Restricted Byway. It is a narrow and largely unmetalled track which is only just passable by private car. There are a few residents at the North end.
6. Create Grimshaw Lane into a Restricted Byway or Bridleway. It is a very narrow track with high hedges between the M6 bridge where two bridleways join, to the A683 near Denny Beck. Its status is not clear.

Benefits

Briefly

• Its hits a lot of PROWIP targets.
• It Helps people get out of town easily and safely.
• It extends walking, cycling and riding networks to create more loop routes.
• It increases safety by reducing motor traffic on narrow lanes.
• It reduces some ‘rat-running’ routes.
• It could reduce the cost of the link road.

Appendix 1

The proposed Heysham-M6 Link.

The proposed road cuts the sections of Powder House Lane, Foley Lane and Green Lane that are proposed here to be downgraded. A slight realigment of the section of Barley Cop Lane near the cross roads may be involved. These are little used routes and are likely to be closed during the construction. There seems to be little reason why the proposed changes not be made before the decision is made. Some savings in design standards may be made by making the changes before the road design is finalised and the construction  starts. Grimshaw Lane is not affected by the new road.

Appendix 2

Extracts from the Lancashire CC Public Rights of Way Improvement Plan.

Policy IIN1: In deciding our improvement priorities, we will take into account the extent to which the improved route would contribute to:

- improving communitiy-to-community and community-to-countryside links;

-promotion of health walks;

Policy IIN6: We will develop working practices that: -ensure the needs of people with reduced mobility and visual impairment are taken into account particularly the need to minimise physical barriers (e.g. steps, stiles and bridges);

Policy BCC1: Where possible, cost effective and safe, and without unacceptable enviromental effects, we will:

-Create new sections of bridleway which can be used to provide the missing links in bridleway circuits or networks, or which can be used to provide access to bridleway networks from towns and villages;

-improve existing bridleways;

-actively seek funding to implement this policy.

Policy BCC3: We will promote better use of the existing network of bridleways and off-road cycling circuits in areas where we assess there to be an unmet need, including cross-border links.

Policy CCL2: We will work with local authority departments, user groups and community representatives as partners to:

-extend the criteria for assessing road crossings to include benefits of recreation and links to the wider countryside;

-identify and prioritize the locations for safe crossings in order to support a programme of improvements works.

Policy HRO2: We will adot working practices that:

-are consistent with best practice for routes with higher rights;

-make use of our powers to introduce Traffic Regulation Orders to manage the use of rights of ways, where necessary and appropriate.

Policy HRO3: We will identify and/or support Quiet Lane and Greenways initiatives that :

-implement the Forest of Bowland Quiet Lanes and Greenways Project, and will learn from experience in the County and nationally;

-offer potential public benefits at proportionate coats.

The above was put together by Brian Jones of the Lancaster Group of the Ramblers’ Association and who has  sent the above proposals to Lancashire County Highways and Lancaster City Council but he had no response from them.

Posted in Lancashire County Council, Lancaster City Council Cycling Newsletter | Print | No Comments »

23/06/2008 by Simeon Orme.

First of all I would like to express my appreciation to those members who have arranged and conducted rides on this year’s programme, and to those who have led group rides in my absence, thank you all.

This year we have been asked to put on a ride or two for the South Pennine Walking and Cycling Festival, these rides will appear in the next Journal, and are already on the websites in the forthcoming events section. The ride is on Wednesday 24th September, from Rivington Hall Barn to Darwen Tower, visiting Rivington Pike on the return leg, the lunch stop will be at the Tockholes Tea Room. The second ride which was already on our programme is from Hollingworth Lake on Sunday 28th September, to Hebden Bridge for lunch, via Blackstone Edge and Cragg Value, returning on the Rochdale Cannel towpath.

Again this year, under the R.S.F. banner, I have put rides on the Lancashire County Council Programme of Guided Rides, the next one is from Spring Wood, Whalley on Friday 27th June and the following one is from Wycoller, on Friday 25th July, this is primarily for people new to off-road cycling, and due to insurance requirements I have to advise that helmets are strongly recommended.

Please come along and support these events, which are open to the general public, and perhaps assist with the running of them, all the above rides start at 10-00am, contact me if you require further information.

Next year I intend to put all the rides under the auspices of the R.S.F. both in the Journal and on the Websites.

This year I have not organised any multi-day rides, next year I would like to include some, the Mary Towneley Loop of the Pennine Bridleway has been mooted, this would be over a two day period again, staying at Mankinholes Y.H.A. overnight, each day would be about thirty five miles. I welcome any thoughts that members may have for events next year, be it a one day ride for the programme, or perhaps a few days camping, a bunkhouse, a Y.H.A. or something entirely new! Please put your suggestions forward.

Anyway that’s all for now, safe cycling Brian Parkinson

Posted in Lancashire Group | Print | No Comments »

21/06/2008 by Simeon Orme.

Unfortunately I have gone upset someone with some of my weekly rants on this blogs and in the e-newsletter which I send out each Thursday evening to those of you on the mailing list and he was not brave enough to leave a comment on this blog or even phone me up, he sent me a e-mail which is guarantee to wind me up! I hate relying to these e-mails you have choice you have a laugh about it and then delete it or spend hour or so writing a rely which could easily been sort out in five minute chat on the phone. So I  wrote a rely.

The theme of his e-mail that I should not use this blog or Where the Cafe e-newsletter for ‘Criticising other RSF officials behind their back is contray to the spirit of the Fellowship’ yes I may have done so! I did call the photo on the back of the current Journal boring but the photo on the back cover of the March-April issue was great photo taken by Tracey Maund but that my personal opinion and that what good blog is all about! Yes I did encourage you all to complain but its your club but the editor can use only the material you send him and there also photo library on the four area group websites of over 3,000 photos which he could use but at end of the day what is good photo is down to your personal choice.

Yes I did criticise previous public relations officers for not attending the York Cycle Show which I do apologize for but why is so important to go, well you get allot members of the public who happen to be cyclists and RSF members coming up to the stand and telling you what they think about the club and sometimes they have some great ideals which you can use.

Well my attack on the RSF national website I will leave it up to you to decide if I am right or wrong about it!  I should point out the RSF was one of the first national cycling clubs to have one!

In ending my e-mailer said ‘I’m sure most of us would be quite open to constructive criticism’ I think most people would like you to use the phone if you going to criticize them and not e-mail.

In ending this post, yes I going to upset someone even if I don’t try do so when I writing one of my weekly rants about something but at end of the day you have the right of rely at the bottom of this post to comment if you agreed or disagreed with me.

Posted in South Lakes Group | Print | 1 Comment »

18/06/2008 by Simeon Orme.

A little bird told me that our General Secretary had celebrated his 35th birthday again  last week, it should had click that it was Peter birthday when he bought the morning tea and cakes a fortnight ago on the ride anyway congratulations from your friends at the South Lakes Group.

Anyway I will come clean after embarrassing Mr K. about his birthday, I will be 44 year old on the 23rd of next month so plenty birthday cards please! Also its important year for my parents with my Mum celebrating being 70 years old in September and Fred celebrated his 80th birthday in May plus both of them are still cycling so hope you come to the party they holding for members after committee meeting on the Saturday evening of the Autumn Meet weekend.

Yes we will be having stand at York Cycle Show and this year it will be manage by Peter Kenner(This section as be edited for reasons why click link) So if you going to show this weekend if you are please go and say hello to Peter and offer to help out behind the stand for hour or so!

One thing that was highlighted at last year’s York Cycle Show that allot of visitors to the stand would have join the RSF if there was local RSF group in the North Yorkshire Area. This is major problem for the RSF in most parts of the UK finding members willing to start area groups up if there no area groups operating where they live visitors to the stand will not join, has I said before on this blog there only few members who join just to read the Rough-Stuff Journal most join to go out with the local group.

So if you live in the York area and you are member why not go have chat with Peter about starting area group for the York Area.

Our New Membership Secretary just e-mail the updated membership list today it was disappointing to see that membership was down to 540 members from 561 members in March. Again this highlight another problem at national level the RSF is not very good at marketing itself you just have to look at the RSF national website to see why! You now know why the South Lakes, Lancashire, North Wales and North Peak & South Pennine Groups have their own web sites for! yes you correct for marketing and selling them self’s, also show visitors to each site what each group get up to on day out. Yes its major step for visitor to the site to phone or e-mail the Area Secretary and ask can he or she can come out with the group but I wish more visitors to sites would ring me or John or Brian or Stuart and ask!

You may have notice that I have now post up the Members Area on the South Lakes Group website this will be link in other three group websites to access this area you first click the sign up button(that below the log in area) on the home page of the members area which take you to the sign up page choose screen name ie this could be your own name and password once you done this the email address you specified on the Signup page will receive an email with the subject Account Activation (Forum Account) then click the link to activate account, then go back to the login area on the members area home and in the login dialog type your e-mail address and password once you done this you can access the other pages in the members area and also use the members forum.

If you not going to York Cycle Show I hope to see you on Sunday in Kirkby Stephen at the start of South Lakes Group ride we will do some tracks around the Upper Eden Valley.

Posted in North Wales Group, Northern Peaks and South Pennine Group, Lancashire Group, South Lakes Group | Print | No Comments »

12/06/2008 by Simeon Orme.

The South Lakes Flickr Group is up and running at this link with myself and Barrie posting several photos up already! The ideal of starting flickr group for the South Lakes Group was give members of the Group opportunity to post photos up on to flickr group which offer different take of what the South Lakes Group rides are about from those seen in the photo gallaries of South Lakes Group Website. To join the Flickr group, send me or Barrie a e-mail so that we can send you e-mail inviting you to join from Flickr.

Few members having been asking me posting photo of each member of the South Lakes Group up on site with their name and phone number or e-mail address so other members can contact them. The only way of doing this is having password protected area which I set up on the South Lakes Group Website as the ‘members area’ and issue each member with user name in case of those members on the Where the Cafe? e-newletter mailing list this will be your e-mail address and for other South Lakes Group members who don’t have e-mail address for this will be your full name on the RSF membership list and password will your RSF membership number. Only members who have User Name and password for this area is myself and Barrie,  the only thing so far in the members area is photo of Nick Lay, so in coming week I will issue user name and password for each member of the group so they can view this area.

I will add members area  to other area group sites if requested to do so my Area Secretary of that Group.

I would welcome some feedback from members what they like to see in members area!

Now getting on to the weekly rant about something or nothing, I wish alot more people when e-mailing a group of friends would use the bcc setting in the e-mail address box in Outlook Express or Thunderbird or what e-mail client you use. If you use this setting it send blind copy of the e-mail to each of your friends and does not show list of e-mail address you sent it to as does in the cc: or to: settings in the e-mail address box of the e-mail client you use. If we all did this bit more often we cut down on the amount of spam we all receive each day!

Hope to see you all on the South Lakes Group ride on Sunday!

Posted in North Wales Group, Northern Peaks and South Pennine Group, Lancashire Group, South Lakes Group | Print | No Comments »

12/06/2008 by Simeon Orme.

SLACC and KDCS joint Riverside Route Protest Saturday 14th June, 11:00 to 11:30 am County Hall Offices, Kendal LA9 4RQ

We are calling on all cyclists and pedestions to UNITE and join us in protesting against the County Council’s decison to scrap the Riverside pedestrian and cycle path through Kendal, in favour of 40 car parking spaces, by gathering for half an hour outside county offices in Kendal this Saturday and making our views known.

The whole scheme is now hanging by a thread. With your help we can reverse this decision and get the project back on track. We need as many people to turn up this Saturday to protest. Only a strong show of support will convince councillors to reverse this decison. SLACC will ensure we get good press coverage and will also invite councillors etc.

If you want to better cycling provision in Kendal please come along for Half an hour to join us. We need to unite to ensure the seven councillor who opposed the scheme in favour of 40 parking spaces know how unpopular a decision this is. We need a big show like we had for the cycle ride through Kendal in support of the cycle demonstration town when around 150 cyclists responded and turn up.

Please forward this on to as many people as possible. Circulate it far and wide and lets show Council that Kendal is serious about cycling by uniting en masse outside county hall and making some noise!

If you want to ride to the County Offices as part of a group, we are meeting at 10.45am on the Saturday at Abbot Hall car park and will cycle along the Riverside Route to County Hall where we will protest. This cycle ride is not offically part of the protect action, and is not organised by SLACC or KDCS, but by indivduals, so it is up to you as individuals weather you want to take part in it, though we would encourage you to do so.

More info about how we can reverse the decison: As you are no doubt aware, on Tuesday 3rd June this week South Lakes County Councillors met to discuss the proposed  pedestrian/cycle Riverside Route through Kendal. Conservative councillors formed a block vote to oppose the route (though some, to their credit, abstained), and were joined by some lib dems. The meeting was poorly attended, and the route was rejected, 7 councillors voting against and 3 for.

The councillors rejected the New Road part of the scheme on the basis that 40 car parking spaces would be lost, and that this would have a negative impact on the economy of Kendal (sic). We take the view that 40 car parking spaces are irrelevant, will have np effect on the economy, and that the benefit of a swanky new pedestrain and cycle path through the town, along with lots of groovy cyclists and families using it, will boost tourism and the economy far more 40 car parking spaces!

The New Road section of the schene costs £325,000, and is the cornerstone of the whole development. Without it, it is unlikely to survive. There were three public consultations, at which public and councillors were invited to attend to raise concerns/go over the  scheme. Why didn’t councillors come to public  meetings to express their views? They have ignored the democratic process and instead done this behind closed doors. They have also ignored the advice of the Kendal Tactical Traffic Group who approved the scheme.

We looking forward to seeing you there!

Regards

Sonny Khan, South Lakes Action on Climate  Tel: 01539-740694 e-mail sonnykhan@(removethis)hotmail.co.uk and Liz Ashburn, Kendal & District Cycle Scene, e-mail liz.ashburn@(removethis)phonecoop.coop

The above was e-mail to me today it sounds to me that several Cumbria County Councillors have lost the plot! The South Lakes Group supports any improvement in the cycle network in Kendal and if you in the area please support the protest.

Posted in Cumbria | Print | No Comments »

05/06/2008 by Simeon Orme.

I hope you all enjoy the cycling last weekend, the aim of this weekly rant which I write for the site’s new e-newsletter ‘Where the Cafe?’ and post on The members and site blog as well! Is to generate debate with fellow members of the Rough-Stuff Fellowship and visitors to South Lakes Group  of websites, you may agreed or disagreed with what I got say but do take five minutes to write comment about it or if you have good ideal lets hear about it!

The ideal for ‘Where the Cafe?’ e-newsletter came from RSF new Public Relations Officers which I through was good ideal! So if you reading this on the members and site blog why not sign up for the weekly e-newsletter and see what you missing!

Did you see the new RSF Ad in the June-July issue of Cycle on page 70 what did you think about it? Also did you see bit about the Lune Cycleways on page 25 and page 26.

In Walk the Magazine of the Ramblers’ Association on page 50 there article on wild swiming and link to this site which interest certain person who come out with the South Lakes Group.

Anyway getting back to the South Lakes Group websites, last month the sites had 45,500 pages download and 33,916 unique visits. Also the site’s  main domain name southlakesgroup.org.uk is rank at 297,742 in the UK by Alexa the web information company, these stats show that increasing number of people are visting the sites.

Regarding my comments about photos in last week’s ‘rant’ I have set up Flickr group for the South Lakes Group and afraid if you want to post anything on this group you have to be  invite to join myself or Barrie. Other Area Secretaries may like to set up a Flickr group for their area group. It gives a chance for members post up photos taken on area group rides.

Well its six months to start of the Christmas Dinner season, well I would like to know if you would like me to organize a Christmas Dinner this year for the South Lakes Group and how many members would interest in coming to it! Should this be joint affair with the Lancashire Group so let have some feedback on this!

So hope to see you all on the South Lakes Group Ride on Saturday and hoping better turn out of more than four members that we had on last Saturday South Lakes Group, the other three riders did put me to shame by riding to the start of the ride which alot more of us will be doing in the future with the price of fuel going up! Also if price continue to go up we have start looking having youth hostel and camping weekends away in next year events programme for the South Lakes Group.

Posted in North Wales Group, Northern Peaks and South Pennine Group, Lancashire Group, South Lakes Group | Print | No Comments »