The Transport for Greater Manchester Better By Cycle Challenge returns in April 2015. Throughout the month you can log your bicycle miles in the latest challenge. It’s free to enter and there are spot prizes for participants. You can compare your performance on the leaderboards, including one for the University of Manchester (just remember to select The University of Manchester when you sign up – listed under T).

Manchester Central Foodbank (http://manchestercentral.foodbank.org.uk) are looking for cyclists to help move food around the city to their distribution centre at the Chaplaincy on Oxford Road.  They have some bikes and trailers for the purpose and are hoping to build a list of people to occasionally help out (they emphasise that it needn’t be a big or regular commitment).  If you’re interested, please get in touch with them at bikes@manchestercentral.foodbank.org.uk and they’ll get back to you.

UMBUG held an open meeting on Tuesday 13th January to generate ideas for key projects in 2015 to support current and potential cyclists at the University.

It was an excellent brainstorming session and many suggestions were made on how UMBUG can:

• promote the group and cycling at the University;
• further investment for current (and future) cyclists;
• help promote modal change (from cars to bikes).

UMBUG is always looking for willing volunteers to help make a difference. If you’d like to get involved, just send us an email.

There has been a spate of bike thefts on campus, 7 in the last week (correct 12/1/15) – many of which involved cable locks being snipped.  Please do check out the University’s crime reduction page, where subsidised heavy-duty d-locks are available, as well as times & places for getting your frame security-marked:

http://www.estates.manchester.ac.uk/services/security/estates-sevices-ian-ourservices/crimereduce/

Crime Reduction at UoM’s facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/CrimeReductionAtTheUniversityOfManchester/timeline

Online consultation for the proposed Wilmslow Road cycleway is now open, featuring maps of the proposed route and examples of features to be implemented. Please take a look at the proposals and respond to the consultation here. The closing date for comments on the cycleway is Friday 2 January 2015. Responses to the consultation will be published in early 2015.

On 26^th October, British Summer Time ended and the clocks went back by one hour. Whilst this means a bit of increased daylight in the morning, it means that there’s a good chance your evening commute will now be taking place in much darker conditions. The weather is also going to become colder as temperatures dip through autumn into winter. We’ve put together a list of tips, which will help you increase your visibility, keep yourself clean, dry and warm as well as making sure your bike is ready for the winter roads.

1. Increasing your visibility

Lighting Regulations

There’s some useful guidance on the CTC website, which explains in detail the legal requirements for bicycles being ridden on a public road after dark. In a nutshell, you are required to have:

• One white front light
• One red rear light
• One red rear reflector
• Four amber pedal reflectors

Flashing lights are accepted, but they must have a minimum brightness of 4 candelas. Cycle Scheme has some good advice for commuting in the dark.

Clothing and accessories

Hi visibility clothing is one of the easiest ways to dramatically increase your visibility on a bicycle. Many waterproof cycling jackets are now available in hi-viz colours such as luminous yellow or orange. If you already have a waterproof, a hi-viz tabard worn over a coat or jacket is an inexpensive way of making sure you can be seen. Rucksack covers are also available, and usually waterproof so they have the added bonus of keeping your stuff dry at the same time! As well as clothing you may want some reflective or illuminated accessories, see here for some tips. Most bike shops stock a wide range of hi-viz clothing and accessories, for some ideas of what’s available why not head over to Respro or Glow.

2. Keeping warm, dry and clean

Clothing

Cycle Scheme has a short guide on keeping yourself warm as temperatures start to drop- waterproof socks or overshoes can make going out on rain soaked roads much more palatable.

Mudguards

If you don’t have a pair on your bike already, it’s definitely worth fitting a set of mudguards as winter approaches. Not only will they keep you clean and dry, but they’ll deflect the worst of the dirt and mud from the road and prevent it getting into your brakes and plastering itself all over your frame. See this article for advice on fitting and a few examples of mudguards appropriate for different types of bicycle.

3. Riding on winter roads

Potholes litter many of the roads around Greater Manchester, and unfortunately, with water freezing overnight causing tarmac to fracture and crack, many of these will get worse over winter. There are several steps you can take to avoid riding into a pothole, or other road defects like grids or debris.

Sometimes riding over a poor surface is unavoidable. If it forms a part of your regular commute, you may want to consider investing in a set of puncture resistant tyres. Typically these are slightly heavier than other tyres, but the slight weight penalty is well worth the time spent fixing punctures, which you don’t want to be at doing at the side of the road when it’s cold or raining!

As part of the University’s Sustainable Travel Plan, 4 cycle repair stands have been installed on campus for cyclists to carry out minor repairs and pump up tyres.

They are located at:
– University Place (external area near Williamson entrance)
– Roscoe Building (to the right of the cycle shelter on Brunswick Street)
– Alan Gilbert Learning Commons (near the large cycle shelter at the back of the SU)
– Manchester Meeting Place (under the canopy on North Campus)

Please make use of the facilities and spread the word! The sustainability team are keen to hear feedback.