Cycle Festival – Saturday 14th June 2025

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Planning steams ahead for the cycling festival next year. There is going to be an array of activities on the day for people to take part in, as well as (we hope) various displays, stalls, local food and more. One of the main events is a cycle parade through Newbury and we would really like to get as many Spokes people involved in this along with their family and friends. So please pencil that date in. It would be great to have Spokes members out in force.

We’ll publish more details over coming months, and assuming success then there’s a good chance it will become an annual event. If you would to be involved in the planning of the event, then please contact us.

And, to note, as its Newbury Road Club’s (NRC’s) 100th anniversary they are organising other events during the year which you may be interested in, please see: https://www.newburyroadclub.co.uk/ for more details.

Couch to 50k

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Planning continues across Spokes, NRC and Velo for the support programme to help people (18+) get back into or start cycling again. With support and encouragement to get them to a place where they can join in with any of the cycling groups regular rides, or just have more confidence and skills to cycle on their own.

We aim to have the programme ready early next year, but if you are interested or know someone who would benefit from such a programme (e.g. a non-cycling partner or friend) then please let me, William, know (email: events@westberkshirespokes.org)

Spokes Christmas 2024

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Earlier this month we had our Spokes Christmas meal, which is open to all members. Unfortunately we had several last minute cancellations, so they were missed along with all those not able to attend for other reasons. The Hare and Hounds Newbury was the venue for the event, and it was a great evening, although my wife (non-cyclist) hinted she may not come along next year… although I am sure we did talk about more than cycling!

I enjoyed my menu choices, although we did feel for Rob, whose vegetarian portions for the main meal and (cheese) dessert seemed a little mean. We had a little “fun” paying the bill at the end… the process in the Newbury last year seemed a lot smoother. Glad, this year, I remembered to get a photo of the group.

Merry Christmas to you all, safe cycling, and hope to see you in 2025.

Spokes’ Annual General Meeting (AGM)

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In accordance with our constitution, the annual general meeting (AGM) of West Berkshire Spokes will take place at 3pm on Sunday, 9th June 2024 at Newbury Canoe Club, The Wharf, Newbury, RG14 5DF.

All members are invited to attend the AGM. Below are links to the AGM papers:

If you have any items you wish to add to the agenda, then please get in touch by emailing info@westberkshirespokes.org. All committee posts are up for re-election. There are several outstanding vacancies, including vice chair, highways officer and publicity officer.  If you are interested in any of the posts, then please notify the Committee by emailing info@westberkshirespokes.org .

If you would like an informal chat in advance of the AGM, then feel free to get in touch with any of the committee (via the contact page).

Cycling Provision at New Developments

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New developments usually present an opportunity to provide better cycling facilities within the site or contribute funding towards improvements for cycling provision in their vicinity. Since the introduction of LTN 1/20 there is now government issued guidance for minimum standards to be adhered to in new cycling infrastructure. Therefore, developers have no excuse not to comply.

Unfortunately, this is not always the case as they are not always held to account.

For example, in the new housing development next to the council offices, billed as a ‘gateway to the town centre’, there is no cycling access through the site. Cyclists are directed to dismount and walk their bicycle to/from the train station, a major transport hub and trip generator for the area, or go the long way round via Cheap Street. The planning permission supposedly secured a walking and cycling path through the development, but this has not come to be realised.

Another example of a recent development falling short is the poor cycle parking provision at the former Sterling Cables site, on Kings Road. Anyone visiting the site by bicycle is obliged to use the appalling ‘wheel-grabber’ style cycle racks, which offer no security for locking a bicycle other than through the front wheel.

LTN1/20 explains why these are not fit for purpose:

“Concrete ‘slots’ or metal hoops that support only the front wheel and do not enable the frame to be secured should not be used for public cycle parking. Many cycles are fitted with quick release wheels, and this type of support increases the risk of theft.” (LTN1/20 11.4.2 pg.134)

Not only this, but the wheel-grabber racks are mounted high up on the walls so that users have to up-end their bike to secure the front wheel, which is difficult for some bicycle users who have heavier bikes, baskets, wider tyres or mudguards.

Spokes will be writing to West Berkshire Council’s Planning Department to push for these issues to be addressed.