This Land is our land for cycling

Many cyclists in the South East will remember a month or so ago that a group of residents in the New Forest started accusing riders of all manner of things (mostly being middle aged and wearing Lycra) and started a campaign to get a Wiggle Sportive curtailed. We have also heard various complaints from Surrey residents about closed road events and their view that their neighbourhoods are being treated as a race track. Even having the tour coming through seems to be cause for unhappiness to some.  While as a cyclist it is pretty clear which side of the fence I am on some recent debate about the housing shortage rather hardened my view.

A number of commentators have suggested that the London housing shortage is in part the result of the greenbelt. Land for housing is at a premium because planning rules that protect the greenbelt ensures a shortage of supply. This means that we all pay higher prices for housing because of it.  Now, I am not about to suggest I want the Surrey Hills or the Ashdown Forest turned into a new town but there is an interesting point at stake here. We, the masses of city dwellers are paying a premium for housing in part because there is a consensus that a greenbelt is a good thing. The implication is that the greenbelt does not only 'belong' to those who  have the good fortune to live there, but to mangle the words of Leon Rosselson, 'to be a common treasury for all.' The roads, the paths and the hills exist in their wonderful greenness because we want to retain this playground for walking, riding, cycling, or simply for the sake of the environment. But it is a gift we all pay for in sky high prices for our cramped urban homes. For those fortunate enough to be able to live in this place, accepting a few closed roads and making a few allowances seems a small price in exchange.

Goodbye Lance, well his glasses at least.

A few years ago I went to Vision Express and asked if the did prescription glasses for cycling. I think I was there for an eye test and was sick of going off course in TT's because I couldn't see where the marshal was sending me. The young man got very very excited and told me about the great Oakley flak jacket glasses. He came back with these. He was so thrilled to have a cyclist in the shop to sell them to I felt mean rejecting them simply because they were Livestrong. ( random thought, I think I remember David Attenborough explaining in life on earth that in nature yellow and black = poisonous, ie wasps). Also I was too lazy to go elsewhere and the bird in the hand thing.... Anyway, I purchased and after I managed to ride over my normal glasses by mistake, the Lance glasses became my main pair. Time moves on, and Lance has confessed (ish)  and  now some years down the road I just can't be doing with it anymore.  I love the Oakley's but have ordered a nice plain black frame this time. So goodbye to Lance, his glasses at least.