Kenilworth Cycleways: Support urgently needed

Hi all,

further to previous emails, the new Kenilworth Cycleways group needs some additional supporters to support a joint Sustrans/Kenilworth Cycleways stall at the Lions Show in Kenilworth (8th June: 12-5pm) and also to help support some rides we're organising.  (our first family ride took place on the kenilworth greenway on sunday, and was a great success with 18 riders and perfect weather!).

PLease let me know as soon as you can if you'd like to get involved in Kenilworth Cycleways group and/or help out at the stall on the 8th June and/or some of the following rides (details of the rides to follow, for now i'm just getting takers for the dates.

Tuesday 18th June - evening ride (6:30 - 8:30)

Sunday 23rd June (10:30 - 1:00pm)

Saturday 6th July (10:30 - 1:00pm)

Tuesday 16th July - evening ride (6:30 - 8:30)

Sunday 28th July (2:00 - 4:00pm) would be good to see if afternoon ride might be more popular?

Kind regards,

Paul

Mowing and weeding on Lias Line

Edward has organised mowing and some weed killing along the Lias Line around Long Itchington and from Birdingbury to Draycote. There will hopefully be some scrapping back of the over grown grass. Great improvement, now we just need to keep on top of it!

Sustrans stalls and rides in May and June: Support needed!‏

Hi all

Summers almost here and I just wanted to let everyone know about a number of cycling events I’m involved in over the next 2 months, a number of which some volunteer support at would be most useful.  Please have a look at the below and do let me know if you’d be able to support.

South Warwickshire NHS Hospitals: Health and Well-being events:

The Hospital Trust I Work for is holding a number of lunchtime events at which a cycle-to-work and Sustran’s stall will be held.  These will be running from 11:30 to 2pm.

• Tuesday 4^th June – Warwick Hospital – 1  volunteer required
• Monday 10^th June – Orchard Hospital, Rugby – 1 or 2 volunteers required
• Monday 17^th June – Leamington Rehab hospital – 1 volunteer required
• Tuesday 18^th June – Bedworth Hospital – 1 or 2 volunteers required

Kenilworth Cycleways / Sustrans - Stalls

• Saturday 8^th June, Lions Show, Abbey Fields Kenilworth – AM and PM volunteers required
• Saturday 15^th June, Leamington Peace Festival – AM and PM volunteers required
• Saturday 22^nd June, Talisman Square Kenilworth Town Centre - AM and PM volunteers required

Kenilworth Cycleways Family RIDES:

• Sunday 26th May - Kenilworth Abbey Fields Car Park to Warwick University (6 miles) using route 52.  No volunteers required to support, but if you have any children 6-12 or know anyone who would like to join please let me know. 10 am start, probably a couple of hours
• Sunday 23rd June - Details to be confirmed, we may have a family and easy ride for adults planned so people coming along would do good.
• More rides will hopefully be planned for several more weekends in July and August.

Please email or call me 07791 885348 if you could help or want more information about any of the above.

Kind regards,
Paul

Paul Elwell

Latest News

I have just posted some photographs of the Rugby Connect2 project which is now open. There will be an official opening ride, I'll post details when I know them. Unfortuntely, but fortunately for me! - I am having my second cataract operation next Tuesday which means that I'll be rather limited in what I can do for the next month so hopefully you can manage to get together and carry on without me :-) i have mailed everyone with some deatils of what might be done now the weather is better.

Connect2 Rugby now open!

Rugby Connect2 Connect2 Rugby is now open. there willbe an official opening ride on the 29th of April, more details to follow.

A chance to ride some nice bikes (including some we can't afford!)

Hi All

I appreciate it seems that I'm promoting the company I work for, and yes it is nearly 60 miles away for most of us in Warwickshire, but I'd just like to make you aware of an event we're running in April.

The link below shows the full details but basically it's an opportunity to ride some amazing bikes on pre-planned routes through a lovely part of the country (Rutland), talk to the UK suppliers/manufacturers to discuss all things cycling, meet the staff and also support a charity that is close to my heart, the Air Ambulance. My wife works for the latter plus they have recently attended a crash in which sadly a very good friend of mine passed away so I am more than happy to raise support for them.

http://www.rutlandcycling.com/content/2013/03/road-bike-demo-days-april-2013-rutland-cycling/

If anyone is attending please let me know and we can either discuss lift sharing or arrange to meet.

Stratford Route 5 and 41 signing ride:

After a couple of rides and re-signing over the last few months the Stratford signing is much improved.  Bob, Ed and I have also come up with a draft plan for finishing route 41 through the middle of Stratford.  However, another ride to review this outstanding section and review the state of signing and the routes through Stratford generally was agreed to be useful.  I'd like to propose another ride, open to all who want to come along, either Saturday or Sunday 6/7th April.  Probable start time 10am, finishing 1 or 2pm.  Please let me know if you're interested and preferred date.  More details will follow...

Warwick Hospital sustainability Day - Thursday 28th March:

As part of this day I will be holding a Sustran's stall (I work at Warwick hospital) that will be running at least from 10am to 2pm and we're also hoping to have some bike-fixers on hand as well.  This day is primarily focused on the hospital workforce.  I've already had a couple of offers to help out through Lisa Hartley, but if you're interested in helping out then please let me know.  More details to follow...

POTHOLES ON THE GREENWAY - UPDATE

Hi all,

had the following update on the potholes on the greenway:

"this section has yet to have its final top surface laid, which will be tar spray and chip, like the rest of the route, and they can't do this until the weather gets better in the spring. The surface that's there at the moment is an open base course and they will rectify sections like this before they lay the final surface."

So good news, it will be sorted.

Paul 

17 miles, or 23 if brave, of virtually traffic free cycling!

Hi All

Some of you may already know but I am the Warranty Manager for Rutland Cycling near Oakham, in Rutland funnily enough! We have four shops, plus a large online presence, and two of these are based on Rutland Water. The water has a 17 mile route around, or 23 if you take in the peninsula in the middle, of beautiful and mainly traffic free cycling (only a small part is on a roadside cycle lane). It is suitable for all cycling ability so if you're an insane mountain biking whippet you can get around in just under an hour (did it once, nearly killed me!) or you can take a much leisurely pace and take a few hours.

My suggestion as a social event would be to hire a minibus, I'm happy to drive this as have experience, and take a few us upto the water (about an 1.5 hour drive away from Warwickshire, which I do on a daily basis so could do blindfolded but won't on this occasion!!!) so we can hire some bikes and take in the beautiful scenary and relaxed cycling. I'm sure I can get us deals on the bike hire and we just need to split between us the cost of the minibus and fuel, as a minibus takes upto 17 people with driver I'd say it'll work out cheaply for a day out as no profit is to be made out of anyone.

Around the water there are a couple of cafes and a great pub (http://www.horseandjockeyrutland.co.uk/) so we can take as much time as we like. If we go in the week the minibus will be cheaper, as I only need to book it for a day rather than weekend, and we'll have a better choice of bikes but am open to the general vote. Alternatively we could all go in convoy and drive in a few cars (lift sharing) if people would prefer.

Have a look at the following link for details of hiring from the company I work for (bear in mind I can probably get us a group discount on the bikes, especially if during the week).

http://www.rutlandcycling.com/article/495/hire-a-bike.html (Whitwell is where we'll go from)

Please let me know on any level of interest and thoughts on weekend or weekdays. I was thinking some time in April maybe.

Plans for the year ahead

Thought i would post some thoughts about what we might try to achieve in 2013. there seems to be a number of things that we can do throughout the year including maintenance on the routes, signing, both upkeep and new signing. Edward is at present getting contracts signed for resurfacing, scraping back and vegetation cutting on both the sections around long Itchington and from Birdingbury to Draycote. When complete it should make upkeep much easier and if we do a few sessions through the year we should be able to keep We have made contact with the Canals and Rivers Trust - what was British Waterways and they are keen to work with us on improving the towpaths both where they form parts of the National Cycle Network and on other sections as they now want to encourage cycling on all towpaths. they will supply materials and some work power we just need to help get the material in place.so plenty of scope there for us to help. i would like to sign connecting routes to existing signed routes. We can also review signing and add distances where possible. leading rides for new cyclists and children would also be a great thing to do during the summer. I would like to see us make the section beyond the Fosse into a Mountain bike route. Let me know your ideas and availability, are Sundays and or Saturdays the best days for work? How many could do things on weekdays? Also what about evenings on the longer days of summer? Don't forget the Two Tunnels Bath opening and Festivol, look at the details on susnet.org.uk - mail me if you can't get onto the site. That's all for now! Bob

Stratford signing and town centre review - Sunday 27th Jan

Hi all,

Just to confirm that some of us are meeting up in Stratford this Sunday to look at route 42 signing in the town and what proposals to make.  We will also tidy up any signs in needed, do let me know anything that needs doing even if you can't come.  There will be a pre-meet at Charlecote Park (approx 5 miles away) and a ride into town that will also redo some signs that recently got removed when signposts were replaced.

If you're interested please do let me know.  I will provide final confirmation of the meet on thursday.  At present it is looking warmer but could be wet!

Schedule:  10am - Charlecote park (National Trust Car Park)
                 11am - Stratford Town centre meet (starting with tea/coffee) at Carluccios on the waterside.

Email me if you're interested.
paulelwell@hotmail.com
07791885348

POTHOLES ON THE GREENWAY!

Hi all, not potholes yet but these will be soon.  Seems like a lack of tar in a few places has left some areas of loose stones.  Ed/Bob can you raise with the appropriate people to see about fixing?  There are 3 or 4 places between the turn off for route 52 to Warwick Uni and the turn-off to Cromwell lane.  If you need exact locations let me know and i'll try and get ordnance survey co-ordinates.

Also, note the last 2 photos which show the pedestrian access to Crackley Woods.  I have thoughts of people cycling to these woods from kenilworth for a wander around or a picnic (at least when summer arrives!).  As cycling is not allowed in the woods some cycle hoops to lock up bikes here might be nice idea if any funding becomes available.  Is this something that can be taken to the greenway group?

Paul
paulelwell@hotmail.com

Tour De France 2014

For anyone interested in the Tour De France I'm sure you'll be aware of the start being in the UK for 2014 which is excellent news.

The following link shows you the route so get booking hotels!!!

http://www.bikebiz.com//news/read/tour-de-france-2014-uk-route-revealed/014239