Great Western Coffee Shop

'Find joy in the journey" might not immediately light my fire but hopefully it will do something for cycling in WECA
https://www.bikebiz.com/new-cycling-and-walking-campaign-launched-in-west-of-england/ (https://www.bikebiz.com/new-cycling-and-walking-campaign-launched-in-west-of-england/)

Yes, a somewhat lacklustre slogan. The full press release is here:

https://www.westofengland-ca.gov.uk/west-of-england-mayor-launches-new-cycling-and-walking-campaign/

Some choice quotes:

...this is an interesting one. Cycling campaigners claim that we all benefit from cycling, whether we cycle or not. Is it possible that that message is gaining traction?

...but there's a gap between 'growing appetite' and 'range of committed plans'.

£13m might sound like a lot, but compared to what's still being spent on encouraging private motoring it is less than a pittance.

But I bet on one thing,  we won't see WRECA Mayor Mr. Bowles standing in front of a camera lens grinning like a Cheshire cat in his finest lycra cycling gear donning his cyclists helmet being propped up by his 3-wheeled tri-cycle !!!!

Ouch, that's an image in my head now that won't go away! 😦

It would have to be a quadri-cycle: one wheel each for South Glos, BANES, Bristol and North Somerset.  ;D

N Somerset is not officially a constituent of WRECA so tricycle it is but to be pedantic a 4-wheeled cycle is a quadcycle.

It would be a quadracycle with one wheel removed, one wheel with beautifully crafted spokes by Thomas Chippendale (with the brakes permanently on), one wheel rotating the opposite way to the others, and one looking suspiciously like it belongs to a 1990 diesel Sierra.

I thought N Som had reversed their decision not to join following the last council elections?

Increased cycling is IMO good for the community at large, and not just for those who cycle.
Less traffic congestion, less pollution, less noise.

I have recently observed an increase in cycling.

So have I, partly because I have been cycling more.

One thing that surprises me is that there is, without doubt, a subset of the human race who find it really, really outrageous that anyone should have the temerity to take to the roads on a bicycle. But then there are those who really hate rail, too.

Hey ho, life would be dull if we were all the same...

I am too old and fat to cycle, and don't really trust any vehicle with only two wheels. It looks inherently unstable, and when I tried cycling I found the machine to be as unstable as it looked.
Three wheels is the minimum for stability, and four looks safer.

So am I, which why I started cycling again.

Here is the Broadgage-cycle. One's butler propels the machine while one sits at the rear in a comfortable chair with a rug over one's knees. Please note the small wicker basket in front of one's knees, ideal for holding a bottle of port.  :D
(http://beamishtransportonline.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/IB-Visiting-tricycle-with-trailer-1024x768.jpg)
From: http://beamishtransportonline.co.uk/2020/05/beamish-transport-objects-in-focus-number-4-part-4/

Reminds me of Roger Bacon, of Flight International. When asked why he always insisted on flying in four-engined aircraft, he explained "because there are no five-engined aircraft".

If you think a bicycle looks inherently unstable, what do you think when you see an aeroplane?  ???

I don't much trust aeroplanes either, "keep up thy airspeed, lest the ground riseth up and smites thee"

Splendid, but should perhaps be propelled by the gardeners boy, who might be younger and fitter than the butler.
I do rather like the port compartment :)

Not quite Mayor Tim Bowles in his finest lycra riding in the trailer chair but in disguise, give away, the grin still that of a Cheshire Cat !!!!

Well spotted martyjon!!!

Would that be enough to hold a "sufficiency"? Cycling is, as I know, thirsty work.

...which led me down an interesting avenue. Well, I think it's interesting:

Cycling back to Bristol from Monmouth the other day, I got through 1.5L of water. The journey was around 50km, I weigh 90kg and my bike adds 15kg to this (I was on my mountain bike, for my sins). By my reckoning that gives me a water consumption of 28L/100km/t

I wonder if you can guess where I'm heading?

A decent-sized steam locomotive gets through around 190L/km, and weighs in at around 60t, giving a water consumption of 317L/100km/t

What does this prove? Not much, but if you think cycling is thirsty work you should try being an A1 pacific...

Edit: To make this fairer, and since I added the weight of my bike, perhaps I should have factored in a rake of 10 Mk.1's! That would be about 340t, so 400t for the whole ensemble including loco, giving a consumption of 47.5L/100km/t. Still a bit thirstier than a cyclist, but in the same order of magnitude..!

Wow, I don't think I've ever got through 1.5l in 50km. At least, not of pure water; I diagnose a lack of tea stops in your journey!

According to British Cycling (https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/knowledge/nutrition/drinking-on-bike/article/izn20140514-Nutrition-Hydration-101-0) you ought to be drinking 375-750mL per hour, though if you are out for more than an hour they suggest adding electrolytes and stuff.

Another factor is the pace you travel at.  I'm one of those cyclists that those more likely to favour lycra will rapidly overtake.  Consequently, a day out the bike requires a smaller water tank, although this does mean my range is duly reduced.

Perhaps you should make this a per passenger calculation. To be fair to the steam train, it carries more people than your bike.

This one doesn't! I didn't factor in the weight of any passengers...

The gardeners boy propelling the machine should be restricted to water, lemonade or perhaps "small beer" to avoid accidents. Although the formal drink driving limits don't apply to cycles, it is both unwise and an offence to cycle whilst unfit through drink.
The port is for the use of the person being conveyed, and looks sufficient. Even the passenger should avoid excessive use of alcohol.