We are joining the Times in their 'Cities Fit For Cycling" campaign. If you watched breakfast news today you will have heard that cycling injuries and deaths are up by a huge 8%. Only a few weeks ago we were blogging about the Revolights concept and the latest statistics are showing just how important cycling safety should be on our roads.

If like us, you are married to your bike and are intent on cycling to work, you will know of the hazards and that you need eyes everywhere. The Times have launched their campaign and rather than simply espousing boring rhetoric which is all we ever seem to hear, they have encouragingly come up with 8 points which if achieved, would seriously improve cycling safety on our roads. We urge everyone who loves 2 wheels to get behind this campaign and stop the needless deaths and injuries from turning HGVs, vans and all other hazards us cyclists contend with.

We will leave you with this thought. In the last 10 years, more than 27,000 cyclists have been killed or seriously injured on British streets. That's the equivalent of a decent sized football stadium of people! Get behind this campaign.

The link to the Times campaign is here.

Thank you to Condor Cycles for providing this guest blog about the Maratona. We still have a few spaces left on our Maratona trip and you can click here to find out more about it.

Condor Cycle's guest blog on the Maratona

The Giro d'Italia has often let its riders play their games in the mountains of Northern Italy. The Dolomites mountain range, found just north of Venice has seen some of the greatest battles and for 2012, the race organisers are planning more of the same. Stage 17 of the 2012 route sees the circus move over the Passo Valprola and the Passo Giau, the same climbs as those found on the fabled Maratona Dles Dolomites.

The Maratona is held in such high regard in Italy that it could be classed as Italy's national sportive. The event's route doesn't change year on year as per the Etape, as the three routes around the Dolomites have proven to be a winning formula, attracting riders from all over Europe. In fact, we've ridden the event a few times, consistently going back to the region because of its infectious enthusiasm for cycling culture and the tasty mix of Austrian-Italian cuisine. We can certainly recommend an early morning leg spin followed by a coffee and slice of apple strudel!

The summer sun in Italy is strong but up in the mountains the temperatures are a few degrees lower and much friendlier to the riders that converge on Covara, the starting point of the race. The event itself is superbly organised. The organisers include small details which add up to a great experience. For instance, at the top of each of the climb you'll receive a text letting you know you overall place, how you're faring in your category, and your climbing times. Within hours of the event finishing the organisers invite you to tap in your rider number on their site and watch yourself cross various check points along the mountains. It's not quite like being a pro but there's something very satisfying in being able to watch yourself climbing the very mountains climbed by the legends of cycling. Some of those legends actually participate in the Maratona as last year's celebrity riders included Mario Cipollini and former pro British rider Jamie Burrows.

It is the time of the year when we all begin to plot our next challenge so we can dine off the stories from the ride at café stops and pub lunches for a year or so after. We can certainly recommend the Maratona as the perfect Italian sportive for those stories.

Entry is limited for the event and the lottery has already taken place for 2012's race. However, Love Velo provide an excellent experience and one of the recommended tour operators for the event, have just a few spaces left on their Maratona experience. They can guarantee entry so if you like the sound of the ride, check them out.

About a year ago, I was riding through Hertfordshire on a lazy Sunday evening. The sun was beginning to set, the temperature was warm and the green fields of Bovingdon and Chippenham looked glorious in the late summer haze.

I turned my lights on as I was still a good hour from home and dusk and then night fell. I turned on to a winding country lane towards the main roads and it was then that I saw out of the corner of my eye a car approaching on my right, coming out a T junction. It hit me fast and before I could swerve or react in any way, I was tarmac surfing. Fortunately for me, all my injuries were no more than skin deep and I was able to pick myself up and dust myself down.

What struck me though was that the driver could not see my forward facing lights and my reflective jacket obviously didn't register with the driver either.

However, I have recently stumbled across Revolights. I think this is the next generation of bike safety and felt I had to put this on our blog for everyone to see.

Check them out here.

Lee Bibring, Love Velo Director

How do you begin to sum up a Tour De France as good as the one we have just witnessed? From crashes and mountain duels to the greatest sprinter of all time and a 1st ever victory for someone outside Europe of the US. Here is our pick of the 2011 Tour de France.

Crashes

No other start of the Tour has been defined by the sheer number of crashes.

Stage 1 saw a spectator get too close to the riders and cause a huge crash which decimated the peloton. Contador amongst others was caught in the pile up and unfortunately for him, found himself caught in further pile ups in the first week. He never really recovered and went on to finish 5th this year.



Bradley Wiggins, who's form was as good as it's ever been was denied a shoat at the GC when he came off worst in another pile up. A broken collar bone put his Tour de France to an end.

Neck and Neck Finishes

Stage 4 saw Cadel Evans win by a hair's breadth and taking the Maillot Jaune for the first time this year. it was to be a good year for the Australian!

The Norwegian influence

The giant Thor Hushovd had a tour to remember and was in great shape on Stage 16. Charging across the line in front of his compatriot Edvald Boasson Hagen of Team Sky, the big man later remarked "It was a bit like the Norwegian championship!"  The Norwegian corner just off the Champs Elysees will be an abiding memory of this year's Tour.

Greatest in Green?

Are we witnessing the greatest ever sprinter in his peak? Cav rode across the finish line first on the Champs Elysees to win the final Tour stage for the third year in a row, complete his 20th ever stage win but most importantly for him, win him his coveted green jersey. Special mention has to go to his incredible leadout train who deliver him exactly where he needs to be.

Cadel Evans

After coming so close in the last couple of years, Cadel Evans has become only the 3rd person outside of Europe to win the Tour de France. We get choked up watching him get choked up on the podium!! Fought like crazy throughout the 3 weeks. Cadel, congratulations, you are a true legend.



This Tour has been so full of incident that we couldn't possibly put it all into one blog so special mention goes to Geraint Thomas for wearing the white jersey and holding it for most of the 1st week. This rider will be a force to be reckoned with. Lets also not forget some of the incredible stage routes including the Galibier and Alpe D'Huez.

Bring on next year!

Plans for this Saturday night? Well here's a novel idea, go to the cinema. Not that novel? Well how about powering the cinema by cycling!

This idea is the brainchild of the Magnificent Revolution Cinema and will be at the Open City Film Festival in London this weekend. For just a £1 donation, you can go and enjoy some cracking documentary films whilst you pedal on your bike (or you could just sit down and let others do it for you if you want to be really lazy!)

The event takes place today, tomorrow and Sunday and features pedal powered cinema and an outdoor food market….well you need something to keep the legs going right?

For an amazing and not to mention cheap night out, click here.