I am bias I know, but we really do know how to live life!

Una vera gioia di vivere (joie de vivre)

>> Nonna Lina extreme freeride

So sweet as the guy overtakes her, as he has no bell, he goes “non si emozioni signora che la saluto, arrivederci!”, which would roughly translates to “don’t jump dear lady, I just wish you a good day”… ahhh gallantry (and from a lycra rider, incredible!)

‘Ambassadors’ (minus the Ferrero Rochers) from all over Britain are congregating in London this week end to ‘bash out’ as much as time allows, ideas and debates about cycling infrastructure and what that should be here in the UK, of course always looking at already successful infrastructure models from our European cousins and over the pond too (think Portland and to be honest Chicago is truly getting its act together too!).

I have been assured a live Twitter feed… follow the hashtag #CEoGBBash (you can write it all in small letters too, don’t matter).

In the meantime, don’t forget it’s Wheelers’ Brunch today here in Manchester! We are meeting at the Deaf Institute at 12pm and since Grosvernor Street has the only little bit of decent infrastructure (contraflow), in spirit of the #CEoGBBash, we can have a poke at its quality, strengths and weaknesses.

And did I say? It’s sunny!!!!! So you have NO excuses not to join us for brunch!

The last Saturday of this month is fast approaching and with that our monthly Wheelers’ Brunch meet up! The first of this 2012 : )

We are meeting next Saturday, 28th of January, at 12pm at the Deaf Institute on Grosvenor Street (within the MMU campus).

{image via}

There’s plenty of seating, so just turn up! You will find bike racks near the MMU All Saints library and outside the student union, as well as outside the Sugden Sports Centre.

See you then!

Map of MMU campus - The Deaf Institute, on Grosvenor Street (opposite bank more or less)

{map courtesy of GoogleMaps}

{found via}

Thank you all for reading, taking part in discussions and for (fellow Greater Manchester cycling people) being some of the best people I have met in 2011! I hope your New Year has started well. Here’s to a 2012 of cycling blogging and more adventures.

You can view the complete report by clicking here.

Yet, another 12 months have come and gone, bringing a fair bit of adventures and good memories. A year of historical tumult across the whole world, which will be hard to forget.

But I can’t hide my personal excitement for the year ahead, I have never worked so hard (but with so much passion) in my entire life as in the year of 2011, and this will continue in 2012 but I can already see the benefits and rewards.

Cycling wise, I have been pleased with the initial contact with TfGM that as GMCC I have made, together with other members, and I hope to be more involved also with Love Your Bike too as they do amazing work and they are a really nice bunch of people you know?! ; )

I was toying with the idea to train for the Manchester 100, but it falls too close to a rather important date for me… so I am going to look for another cycling ride (if anyone is taking part in anything, do let me know!).

I am also looking forward to plan and try my hand at cycle touring, starting small.

In the meantime I say farewell to 2011 in my usual cycling year retrospect of pictures… mostly panda shots – I had to include my beautiful motherland sea – and some original shots from Manchester Cycle Chic (which we need more photos/volunteers for!! So don’t be shy!).

!!I wish you all a wonderful, successful and adventurous 2012!!

Talking of Italy, I am back after some lovely festivities with my famiglia back home. I can vouch that a merry time was had by all.

We even indulged in a spot of touristy travelling… by visiting Pisa for the day.

Does it lean?????? You ask…

Just a bit!

I could show lots of pretty pictures, close up of the tower… but you know… this is a cycling blog after all…

And guess what I found!

Lots and lots of cyclists!!!!! I would have never had thought A delightful surprise.

{last minute Christmas shopping}

{bridge crossing}

Old bikes and new bikes.

Young and old cyclists.

{due chiacchere tra amiche – underneath Garibaldi}

{us tourists must be quite a spectacle}

All looking very relaxed and at ‘home’ on their bikes.

{ready for deliveries!}

{heading home for lunch – quite possibly}

Dedicated cycling infrastructure? Nope! None at all… Amazing uh?! But what Pisa has it’s an extensive pedestrianised city/town centre. I also got the feeling that everyone cycles, whether on a bike on that day or in a car… and that, makes all the difference!

{simply.just.cycling…that.is.all}

However the britishness in me was [pleasantly] surprised at the sight of so many bikes and so little specific infrastructure… and yes… few times my heart did stop as I thought a few crashes would unravel before my eyes, but silly me… of course, they all seem to rather fit in this chaotic at times but equally chilled out and charming, chic city.

{ahhhhhh! The Italian lady, who has now been living a long time in England, was heard screaming}

December is proving more busy than I thought… juggling so many things, being more successful at some than other. Anyhow, it’s 6 days to go to Christmas! So all is good, really.

Right, now… These last two months have been pretty amazing. Amongst the chaos of juggling writing my thesis, which it’s due in end of Jan, and pushing my own work forward I have been really blessed with some great stuff!

As well as being the receiver of the best competition prize ever, thanks to CEoGB, I also received the best touring guide ever! Which also came as a big surprise!

Urban Adventure League (go check out his blog!) kindly contacted me, after I mentioned in a post that I am hoping to try more cycle touring (mini trips) next year with my Mr, saying he would give me a copy of his touring guide. Naive me I thought he was going to send me a PDF of it, but instead I received the most delightful parcel all the way from Portland, USA!

I am so impressed by his talent and kindness in sending it to me. Beautifully put together and illustrated, I also received two badges, which I was going to put on my panniers but they are too pretty to risk getting into someone else’s pocket, so they’ll be staying put, being shown off on one of my jackets.

All art copyright (c)urbanadventureleague

I really look forward to trying my hand at cycle touring, starting small. The guide is perfect in these dreary wintry days… perfect to dream of sunshine and cycle rides for the summer to come!

Thanks again Shawn! I will sure share on this blog any touring adventures I get to do, come 2012.

Photo (c)Boon - click on image to see large

I really liked her email!

… My personal opinion is that a dog doesn’t have to be on a lead to be ‘under control’. I have taught my off-the-lead dog to sit down out of the way whenever a cyclist passes, since I want to be considerate to cyclists, being one myself. I use the Floop twice a day for dog walking (to get to Highfields Park) and twice a day for commuting. I know some dog owners probably don’t care, but I’ve only ever seen one incident of dog-cyclist rage, and that was with a stray dog.

I guess one of the problems is that it can be almost impossible to hear a cyclist approaching from behind and many cyclists seem to be reluctant to sound bell, in case it’s interpreted as being rude or confrontational.

MsB expressed how as both a cyclist and a dow owner she found the vandalised mural rather offensive. I personally think that some people have either too much time on their hand or are just a little sad.

Her dog, off the lead, has learnt to listen and obey her command to sit, out of the way for oncoming cyclist. I see this often enough on the Floop and I have never had an issue with dog walkers nor their dogs.

I am a cyclist and I love dogs (one day I will have a furry friend!) I really don’t mind dogs off the lead. I rarely cycle down the Floop in a hurry anyway, firstly because it is indeed a shared route (and I like it so) and secondly because me and my bike go on adventures, not races! Also as I do love furry friends to bits, I am more than happy to slow down or even stop to let them me decide where they want to go should they be right in the middle of ‘my’ way.

I thought to open up this email conversation up to the blog as I’d be really interested in what you all think. Have you had issues with other users of the Floop? And most importantly do you ring your bell when approaching walkers (dog and non)? I always do, Pashley’s bell is rather delightful and make people smile, which is nice. The tourer hasn’t got one, so I usually always shout a cheery “morning!” or “afternoon”, which always does the trick and I seem to get a smiley response back (it helps no doubt that I usually, if not always, wear normal clothes which shows I am going somewhere rather than in a ‘sport’ activity plus one big smile always helps too!).

For me it is down to sharing (I mentioned the very same thing in a post few months back). I find it depressing that we get so worked up about ‘our’ right, if we are in car it becomes a ‘driver’s right’, if we are on a bike it’s the ‘cyclist’ right’ and so on… I always feel is about showing mutual respect to one another, be us on a bike, in a car, walking, running or dog walking indeed. In the meantime Sustrans has informed MsB that they will return the mural to its original cheery and polite self, Sustrans Area Manager wrote:

 …it did originally say some thing along the lines of “please keep your dog under control”, responsible owners knowing whether than means their dog can be controlled off the lead.

The Floop is such a delightful route, not only pleasant per se but also takes you places you want to go to! I wish for some people to learn the art of sharing

Happy week end all!

Now, I am not saying this because, you know, I got the prize

I am saying it because as I have been known to cart tonnes of books around and drinking plenty of coffee to get me through deadlines, the CEoGB poster competition prize couldn’t be more perfect!

I will wear the bag with pride, who knows! It may even spark off some interesting conversations. I’ll keep you posted.

In the meanwhile if you fancy a bag or cup of your very own, then head no further than here and here. They also make perfect presents as xmas stocking fillers *hint, hint*