The Right Way to Cycle for all the Right Reasons

We're delighted to see adverts in the local press of the upcoming "Ride the North" bike ride in support of the urological cancer charity UCAN.

Details of this "supported cycling" event can be seen on their website here. ("Supported" means that there's a van following.)

Proud Sponsors

We support this initiative because it serves a triple purpose:

1. It supports charity. This is the Big Society in action.
2. It supports it's sponsors: Gas and Oil Technology.
3. It helps to demonstrate that cycling is a "special", unusual and noteworthy activity. It requires special permission, planning, preparation, sponsorship, "support" and a very good reason. 

We have to hand it to G.O.T. - this event is a perfect choice for them to sponsor. Recent initiatives which might promote mass-cycling in Aberdeen "City and Shire" have the potential undermine their client base by lessening demand for petrol, but this "Ride the North" event both helps G.O.T. to seem all "green" and "environmentally friendly" by appearing to support cycling, while all the time helping to keep cycling firmly in its place. Yes, cycling is a recreational activity only, a special activity, an activity which requires "support" - it is DEFINITELY NOT a serious mode of independent utility transport for everyday use as some people seem to think. We congratulate G.O.T. for this subtle bit of PR.

The website also says:

If your aspirations for 2011 involve ... learning more about what lies down those back-roads of the beautiful North East, then this might just be for you.

Thanks very much for that, we'd never have bothered otherwise, but now that it's for a good cause...