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Cycling in England 'Risking all for very little'

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Steeplechasing:
Below is an extract from and article by Barry and Margaret Williamson, full-time motorhomers for many years. They do lots of cycling. Para 2 is unusually political for them, but it shows the level of frustration, I suppose, when they see what can be done for cyclists in other countries


--- Quote ---Our initial focus is on regaining cycling fitness on the long-distance cycle paths of the Netherlands and Germany. Quite serious rides in the spring of 2014 in the Greek Peloponnese were followed by the fallow summer months in England, where to cycle is to risk all for very little return. We did ride the short stretch of a miserable pretence of a cycle path alongside Loch Lomond and that was enough. Compared with the long-distance cycle routes of northern Europe, the ‘West Loch Lomond Cycle Path’ was a travesty.

How sad it is that most people in the UK have no idea what can be achieved for and by citizens in countries with social-democratic values. Instead, too many subjects of Her Majesty live passive, inactive and sheltered lives behind walls of state and capitalist propaganda. One might say ‘screened from reality’. No surprise that Scotland tried to make its propaganda more effective by enlisting stories from a history that never was.

This is the third time in as many years that we have ridden the cycle paths that parallel the great rivers of Germany: the Rhine, Danube, Mosel, Weser, Fulda, Werra, Main, Lahn, Tauber, Neckar. During September in 23 day-rides we have built up our distance to 45/50 miles (72/80 km): not what we used to do but then we are not what we used to be! What still weaves its magic for us is the combination of the motorhome as a movable base, carrying the bicycles to ride on long-distance traffic-free paths.
--- End quote ---

teethgrinder:
Risking all?
 ???

tonyh:
It seems comparatively rare that a journey in a car is described as "risking all".

Jaded:
Good to see Loch Lomond has been colonised for England.

Regulator:
Frankly, Barry and Margaret sound like nobbers...

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