Outrage a 0% fare rise for cyclists...

Rail passengers and car drivers were today outraged by the unfairness of the transport system, as it was annouced that cycling fares would rise by a paltry 0% in 2012, remaining at £0.00. Rail fares are to rise by 5.9% in January, while petrol prices remain as high as drivers’ stress levels.

M. Iserable, a spokesperson for People Who Don’t Cycle, told Cycle Lifestyle magazine: “I don’t see why cyclists should get such a good deal. Cycling already costs nothing, and now prices have been frozen at nothing.  When you consider the fact that cyclists also benefit from getting fitter, healthier and happier, the 0% fare rise is a real slap in the face for other transport users. With average commuting distances only 8.5 miles in Britain, it seems that just about everything is geared towards helping cyclists.”


No cyclists were available to comment – because they were all too busy pedalling joyfully through the streets for free.

Thanks for seeing the lighter side people!  Brought to you courtesy of Going Going Bike Blog & the lovely people at Cycle Lifestyle magazine:  ;-D

Bamboo biking from Africa to the UK...

A bike made of bamboo is being given a tough test ride, all the way home to the UK from Africa.

Jack Morris, a local lad from the nearby town of Witney, is on his way home in an eight-month expedition on the machine, designed by a team at Oxford Brookes University.

His trip, which started earlier this month, will take him through Africa, then on to Europe and Istanbul before heading back towards West Oxfordshire.  By the time he gets home he will have covered 5,000 miles.

Writing on his blog, he said: “Take into consideration that my cycling experience maxes out at a foray into France and you might get an idea of how challenging this bike ride will be for me. I expect the tour to take eight months, cost me a small fortune and provide no shortage of sunburn.  “It should be brilliant.”

Mr Morris hopes his ride will raise awareness for Abingdon’s Rotary Club of Abingdon and Solar Aid, which provides funds for solar replacements for kerosene lamps in Kenya.   Dr Shpend Gerguri and Dr James Broughton who devised the bike, road-tested it on an eight-day trip through the Alps before it was put on the market by RAW Bamboo Bikes.

RAW managing director Rachel Hammond said: “This will be another great road test for the bike. We look forward to following Jack’s progress and hearing how the bike performs.”   Bamboo was chosen because it has a higher tensile strength than steel and adds vibration-absorbing qualities to a bike frame.

Jack's progress can be followed at his blog here - check it out, it is well worth a read.  All at SMB Bearings wish you the best of luck on your adventure!

Brave or stupid?

You decide!



You certainly wouldn't catch me up a ramp that big (without the aid of coma-inducing levels of alcohol)... :0)

Toby Newman, downhill skater...

Our friend Toby Newman has put together this little video edit for us...



Thanks for sharing Toby, it's always great to see enthusiastic young talent - keep up the great work!

Instructables Christmas...

Have a few minutes to spare at work?  Things a bit quiet at the moment?  Never at SMB, but I image there must be a parallel universe where these things occur... :0)

Check out Instructables Christmas list of things to make and do... snowflakes, pop-up cards, christmas trees - they tell you how to make it all!