The Beacon Message Board

Les Ladbury

Given recent events I'm inclined to suggest an alternative route but can anybody advise about the surface of this tow path? I'm a rider from Leipzig, Germany, and am planning to profit from a business trip with a road bike ride from Birmingham to London (Kings Langley station to avoid the city traf...

Les Ladbury

Oh Dear, I seem to have upset a few people. I'm sincerely sorry about this because it was never my intention. What I should have said in my original posting is that In my opinion competitive cycling, with the exception of a few events,is, as I understand it,is virtually extinct in the UK. I've just ...

Les Ladbury

I did compose a rather rambling reply to my critics but but it appears to be lost and I'm not going to re-do it. However, briefly. I didn't say that the sport is in decline. Over the last 3 weeks as well as going to the TdeF I've watched ITV4,FT2,TF2 and by far the best coverage is ITV4 My views on ...

Les Ladbury

Philip, I have been around the bike game for 60 years. I follow the sport mainly in France because competative cycling, with the exception of a few events, is extinct in the UK. I don't mean to be offensive but might I say that should you find my comments regarding BMX to be offensive you really sho...

Les Ladbury

Has anyone noticed that that there is a rather interesting bike race taking place in France at the moment. It finishes on Sunday. What I have noticed the total lack lack of interest on the part of the BBC, that is until there is any mention of drugs. However the Beeb are covering some BMX event over...

Les Ladbury

I've decided to miss the walk this morning but Anne and I will be at the pub for lunch. I hope that someone reads this to avoid anyone waiting for me to turn up at the start. I would have telephoned Mick Kedian but after he gave me his contact telephone number I wrote it down and then promptly lost ...

Les Ladbury

Did anybody go to the World Cup CX at Milton Keynes on Saturday ?

Les Ladbury

It is quite simple. Andy Schleck originates from Luxembourg. It is more than a coincidence that Luxembourg is also an enthusiastic member of the EU. Philip can you explain this please. Not at all sure what you mean. This should help http://www.ukip.org/splash2?splash=1[/qu I'm not sure what the ran...

Les Ladbury

Philip Whiteman wrote:It is quite simple. Andy Schleck originates from Luxembourg. It is more than a coincidence that Luxembourg is also an enthusiastic member of the EU.

Philip can you explain this please. Not at all sure what you mean.

Les Ladbury

I've just bought "24 Months in the Saddle" and can recommend it to anyone interested in cycling. It isn't great literature but if you want that stick to Proust or Does, Doust, Dostaevski......Can't spell but you know that Russian geezer. If you can tolerate mangling of the English language so preval...

Les Ladbury

What a load of old tosh.

Please qualify. Are you referring to my observations?

Les Ladbury

Philip Whiteman wrote:Cavendish is a complete arse. End of story.

What exactly do you mean Philip?

Les Ladbury

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/kristoff-criticizes-cavendishs-sprint-style I know it's the law that you can't criticise Cav, but I have to agree and I don't think he's done himself any favours. The pressure must have been unbearable... This is a typical case of a journo creating a "story" when no ...

Les Ladbury

Subject: Birmingham Mercury CC 1950/1960 Hello, in the above years I rode with the club mentioned they where based[club house] in Church Road, Yardley, I am trying to find details of what happened to this club, after I moved from the Birmingham area. If your club or members have any details or cont...

Les Ladbury

Just back from 2 weeks in the USA and was able to follow the speed limit debate. All junctions over there have a stop sign, and the penalty for not stopping is a hefty fine, I think it is about 250 US dollars. The police are now enforcing this law more rigorously and their advice is, stop and count...

Les Ladbury

Philip. I agee with what you say about procedures. You almost certainly have greater insight into these matter than most. Are not many (most?) a case of ever mind the facts that we have hit an iceberg, are the deckchairs stacked nice and tidily? Tim. Can I expand on what I said about the incident in...

Les Ladbury

I read somewhere last week that the proposal was for all roads in Birmingham. What you read was incorrect Les..... Which roads in Birmingham would be affected by the change? The 20mph speed limits would be introduced mainly on residential roads, which account for around 90 per cent of the roads in ...

Les Ladbury

Les 5years ago before i started cycling and before i had kids i would have agreed with you 100% but I now totally support this proposal. If my 5 year old is hit crossing a residential road by a car traveling at 35mph I will be going to his funeral, if he's hit by a car traveling at 25mph I probably...

Les Ladbury

Unless I've missed something, it's about making residential streets 20 mph zones, not reducing the speed limit on dual carriageways? I read somewhere last week that the proposal was for all roads in Birmingham. In France they have a 20k/h limit outside schools and, I think, hospitals. I find that t...

Les Ladbury

I’m totally, totally, totally opposed to this proposal for many reasons. It will do nothing to prevent the loonies who speed whether it is a 20 or 30 mph limit but it increase the frustration experienced by drivers who have to drive along a dual carriageway which now has a 40 limit. This is just one...

Les Ladbury

My response to incidents like this is (was) to ride in the middle of that section of road and make them wait behind me. That tends to make it impossible for them not to see me, and causes necessary (and slightly vengeful) inconvenience to the drivers. Richard, What do you hope to achieve by doing t...

Les Ladbury

George wrote:
Les Ladbury wrote:There is a story behind this but in view of the fact that I don't want "Lawyers R Us" knocking on my front door I couldn't possibly comment.
You drive a hard bargain, Les. I'll buy you half a mild at the Dinner.

Noted George.

Les Ladbury

George wrote:
Les Ladbury wrote: ... those who know the true story ...
Come on, Les. Stop teasing us.

George,

There is a story behind this but in view of the fact that I don't want "Lawyers R Us" knocking on my front door I couldn't possibly comment.

Les Ladbury

Just finished reading "Reg Harris: The rise and fall of Britain's greatest cyclist" by Robert Dineen. An interesting book about an interesting champion and a nice easy read. I'm not sure nowadays whether he is “Britain’s Greatest Cyclist” when you consider the achievements of Tommy Godwin, Tom Simp...

Les Ladbury

Has anyone seen the photograph of Froome in todays Telegraph ?
I consider this to be one of cyclings outstanding pictures.

Les Ladbury

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQojh-wqL04 or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWyfb3H7LEg 2 great moments, which I can barely remember - right at the start of my (then passing) interest in Le Tour. It's sad that when I look back over the last 20 years or so, I can't help thinking that most of the me...

Les Ladbury

Tim wrote:That was great viewing. Best stage ever?

The best stage ever was the 20th stage of the 1964 Tour when Jacques Anquetil and Raymond Poulidor climbed the Puy-de-Dome together.

Les Ladbury

Can't see Froome winning. My money is on Contador. why didn't Froome get up to the break yesterday. Cav saw what was happening and did something about it. Having said that it's easy to say from where I am, in a bar.

Les Ladbury

I have been reading with interest the recommended preparation for the forthcoming ride to Weston and back. In the old days the racing season would finish around the end of Sept or early October. That is except for those who competed in hill climbs or cyclo cross. This heralded the start of the socia...

Les Ladbury

"If poetry is like an orgasm, an academic can be likened to someone who studies the passion-stains on the bedsheets." — Irving Layton

I like it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Les Ladbury

http://veloviewer.com/blog/the-climbs-of-stage-2-of-the-2014-tour-de-france-part-1/ http://veloviewer.com/blog/the-climbs-of-stage-2-of-the-2014-tour-de-france-part-2/ If that is the final route then it could have a small influence on the final overall. I looked at these, interesting, but what was ...

Les Ladbury

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/report-armstrong-subject-of-criminal-investigation Looks like it could end up with prison Interesting. Even if the US authorities don't manage to nail him, he is likely to be subject to French criminal conviction and could run the risk of being arrested if entering F...

Les Ladbury

I understand from a very reliable source that Sir Bradley has moved his finacial affairs off-shore. The only reason can be to avoid paying UK levels of tax.

Discus

Les Ladbury

Welcome to Mastermind. Specialist subject "The Bleeding Obvious" Well, Les, if Phil did appear on Mastermind to answer questions on The Bleeding Obvious, at least he'd score some points. By contrast, there are people who haven't always demonstrated a great command of The Bleeding Obvious. Such as t...

Les Ladbury

[In the case of Armstrong there is only one motivation: Self interest.[/quote]

Welcome to Mastermind. Specialist subject "The Bleeding Obvious"

Les Ladbury

I have also about 3-5kg drums of sodium chlorate weed killer which I purchased after the EU banned it's sale. I'd keep very, very quiet about that if I was you Les. Whoops, too late, GCHQ have probably read your post already :D http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg18424771.800-histories-farmer-buc...

Les Ladbury

But it would take a lot to convince me that the steak story wasn't a load of old bull. Neil, As I understand it Contador was found to have an amount of Clenbuterol in his system, actually below the proscribed limit. He said that the only way this could of happened was that he had eaten contaminated ...

Les Ladbury

According to Christian Prudhomme (quoted in The Guardian 13 Oct) ASO do not have the authority to strip Armstrong of his TDF titles: that rests with the UCI. He would like to see Armstrong's name removed from the records and no winner shown for those seven years. The characters at the heart of the ...

Les Ladbury

I'll ask again. By what right can an American organisation disqualify the 7 times winner of the TdeF. By what authority do that operate. It's simple question. Title to the TdeF is owned by Amaury Sport Organisation and they are resposible for organising the Tour as well as other stage races and clas...

Les Ladbury

Steve,

So the way I understand it, at the moment they do not have the authority to disqualify Armstrong beacause, for whatever reason, the findings have not been ratified.

Les Ladbury

Can someone explain to me what gives an American organisation the right to strip Lance Armstrong of his 7 TdeF wins?

As far as I am aware all rights to the tour belong to the French.

A simple question.

Les Ladbury

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p00xqj1l/Hardtalk_Tyler_Hamilton_Former_professional_cyclist/ Just got his book, should be an interesting read :? Ed, Don't believe everything you read. I once read in a book that the moon was made of cheese and lived in the bottom of a well. I'm in the Camargue...

Les Ladbury

I do not place myself at the top of Lance's fan list, however I think that it is better to reserve judgement until all the evidence has been heard and the verdict has been given. We must remember that he is innocent until proven guilty beyond all reasonable doubt. Greetings from sunny France. Well ...

Les Ladbury

Just got a book from The Works on the history of the T.D.F. It's quite a large book with some great photographs. Dont think it could happen today but has a pic of the peleton stopping to cool down in the sea (1950) and another smoking a ciggie (1929). All in all a good buy at £6-99 I saw this yeste...

Les Ladbury

George, Can I respond to your comments/observation which you have made following my post re.Lance Armstrong. 1/ You missed the point completely here. What I am saying is to win these events with the certainty of being tested afterwards would really be pushing your luck. Do you remember l'affaire Fes...

Les Ladbury

He can't be allowed to get off away with one of the biggest sporting frauds in history, just not ethical.[/quote] Ed, Do you know something that we don't. I dislike Armstrong as a person for a number of reasons but there are 3 facts beyond dispute. 1/ He has won the TdeF 7 times as well as the World...

Les Ladbury

I do think that it would be rather jolly if everyone turned up for a clubrun each with one of these, preferably the black version.

Les Ladbury

PatBoySlim wrote:Steve showed me around and informed me he was a Beaconite !

Pat.

Assuming the Steve Jones referred to is THE Steve Jones, during his racing career he achieved more than any other Beacon rider. I would go so far as to say all others put together havn't achieved as much as Steve.

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