Author Archives: Jack Thurston

The Bike Show: Inventing the perfect folding bicycle

The latest on moves by the London Assembly to reduce the dangers posed by lorries to cyclists. Plus an extended talk by Andrew Ritchey, inventor of the Brompton, the folding miracle that is the toast of London’s bicycle-train commuters. The talk was given over the summer at the iFest 08 in Barcelona. It tells the story of how an idea became a commercial success, largely through the vision and determination of one man. This is the last in the current season. The Bike Show will return in early 2009.

Play on links below. Other file formats (Ogg Vorbis, 64kb MP3 over here).

The invention of the perfect folding bicycle [ 29:50 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

The Bike Show: Emergency – Lorries Killing Cyclists

After a summer of fun on two wheels, we turn to more serious matters. The entire show this week is devoted to the problem of lorries killing cyclists in London. With Barry Mason of Southwark Cyclists and Cynthia Barlow, chairwoman of RoadPeace, the national campaign against deaths on Britain’s roads. We also hear from London Assembly Member Val Shawcross who is tabling a motion this week urging more action to make the roads safer for London’s cyclists.

To write to your elected representatives about this issue, visit WriteToThem.com. It takes a matter of minutes and works. You’ll find excellent coverage of the lorry/cyclist issue over at Moving Target, including some very good sample letters for inspiration.

Play on links below. Other file formats (Ogg Vorbis, 64kb MP3) over here.

The Bike Show: Emergency - Lorries Killing Cyclists [ 33:50 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

The Bike Show: The Moulton Story (part two)

The concluding episode of a two-part feature on the story of Dr Alex Moulton and the reinvention of the bicycle. We pick up the story with the launch of the Moulton space frame design (pictured left) in the early eighties. Featuring interviews with eaturing interviews with Dr Alex Moulton, Shaun Moulton, Tony Hadland, Michael Woolf, Paul Villiers, George Coulouris, Jean Dollimore, Chris Mahon, Patrick Doocey and Mog from Brixton Cycles.

Play on links below. Other file formats (Ogg Vorbis, 64kb MP3) over here.

The Bike Show: The Moulton Story (part two) [ 29:40 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Continue reading →

The Bike Show: The Moulton Story (part one)

The first of a two-parter telling the story of Moulton bicycles: the radical 1960s reinvention of the bicycle by Dr Alex Moulton that, despite some commercial setbacks along the way, continues to push the boundaries of cutting edge design. It has been feted by architects and designers, broken records and been taken to the hearts of its riders, the Moultoneers, many of whom consider it to be the best kept secret on two wheels. Over the next two weeks The Bike Show will cover the history of the Moulton bicycle, look towards its future and try to capture its unique spirit. Featuring interviews with Dr Alex Moulton, Shaun Moulton, Tony Hadland, Michael Woolf and a cast of Moultoneers. Image, left, shows the young Sheldon Brown on his Moulton Deluxe in 1971.

Play on links below. Other file formats (Ogg Vorbis, 64kb MP3) over here.

The Bike Show: The Moulton Story (part one) [ 29:45 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

The Bike Show: Bicycle Film Festival comes to town

The Bicycle Film Festival comes to London from 1-5 October. Laura Fletcher is the BFF’s London ambassador and she previews a handful of highlights from the seven screenings at the Barbican Cinema plus all the parties, art shows, polo matches and roller-racing that make the Festival a veritable jamboree of bicycle culture. Plus a very special message from the Founding Director, Brendt Barbur. Buy tickets online here.

Play on links below. Other file formats (Ogg Vorbis, 64kb MP3) over here.

The Bike Show: Bicycle Film Festival comes to town [ 22:14 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

The Bike Show: Grant Peterson on overnight trips and a visit to London’s ‘anti-bike shop’

Grant Peterson of Rivendell Bicycle Works urges us to get on our bikes for sub-twenty four hour overnight camping trips. Plus a visit to a fantastic new ‘anti-bike shop’ in Finsbury Park, specialising in classic English and Italian steel road bikes. The shop doesn’t have a name yet, but you can drop in at 74 Mountgrove Road, Finsbury Park, London N5 2LT – MAP. Some photos below, more here:

Play on links below. Other file formats (Ogg Vorbis and 64k MP3) over here.

Grant Peterson on overnight trips and a visit to London's 'anti-bike shop' [ 31:12 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

The Bike Show: Are cargo bikes the future of urban transport?

Do the rising oil price, the growing concern about man-made climate change and breakthroughs in cycle design mean we’re on the verge of a pedal-powered cargo revolution? Discussing the past, present and future of cargo bikes and pedicabs is Leslie Wacker, a Chicago native who placed second in the cargo bike race at this year’s World Cycle Messenger Championships, Buffalo Bill author of Moving Target Zine and controller at Creative Couriers. We also hear from Mark, controller at from Zero Couriers, London’s first and only dedicated cargo bike courier company about the challenges his company has faced convincing potential commercial clients to choose pedal-powered cargo delivery. 8Freight photo thanks to BikeFix.

To donate to Resonance FM, follow this link.

Play on links below. Other file formats (64kb MP3 and Ogg Vorbis) over here.

Are cargo bikes the future of urban transport? [ 32:43 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

The Bike Show: Ian Hibell – Paying respects to a legend

Remembering Ian Hibell, the world’s greatest long-distance cyclist and adventurer, who was run down and killed on a road in Greece last month, aged 74. He’d been on a ‘training ride’ which began in Hull (England) in preparation for his next trip to Nepal and Tibet. Nic Henderson talks about his friend and hero. From the Tour of Britain we hear the latest news from the Rapha-Condor-Recycling team and a protestor from Climate Camp who has something to say about energy company E-on’s sponsorship of this year’s Tour.

To donate to Resonance FM, follow this link.

Play on links below, other formats (e.g. Ogg Vorbis) over here.

The Bike Show: Ian Hibell - Paying respects to a legend [ 30:00 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

The Bike Show: Around the world the hard way (part two)

Alastair Humphreys has cycled round the world ‘the hard way’: four years, sixty countries and forty-six thousand miles. In the second of a two part special he tells the story of his epic adventure: from Mexico to Alaska, through Siberia, Japan, China and central Asia.

Thunder and Sunshine, the second volume of his travelogue is out now, published by Eye Books.

Play on links below, other file formats (e.g. Ogg Vorbis) over here.

The Bike Show: Around the world the hard way (part two) [ 27:00 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

The Bike Show: Around the world the hard way (part one)

Alastair Humphreys has cycled round the world ‘the hard way’: four years, sixty countries and forty-six thousand miles. In the first of a two part special he tells the story of his epic adventure from Yorkshire to South Africa and Chile to Colombia. Thunder and Sunshine, the second volume of his travelogue is out now, published by Eye Books.

The studio at Resonance FM is closed on 18th and 25th August so there will be no show on those dates. The second part of this two-show special will be broadcast on 1 September.

Play on links below, other file formats (e.g. Ogg Vorbis) over here.

11 August 2008: Around the world the hard way (part one) [ 30:00 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download