The Great Big [REDACTED] Opening Weekend Round-up

It's actually been a something of a quiet week in blogging terms. In the wake of last week's Tour de France win, this week has seen lots of talk of what it might mean for transport cycling in the UK. Dave Horton uses it as a platform to take a closer look at those other cycling heroes; pavement cyclists. As Easy As Riding A Bike looks the unusual relationship between cycle-sport and transport cycling in the UK and how it can be both a blessing and a curse and Chester Cycling writes a guide for those inspired to take to two wheels by Wiggins et al.

Winged cyclists featured in Danny Boyle's well received opening ceremony, but at the same time there was trouble outside the stadium as Police arrested 182 cyclists on the monthly London Critical Mass ride, although at least the Manchester ride retained its usual peaceful character. At least Cycalogical notes the Games Lanes are having the expected positive effects which come from road capacity reduction, and Pedestrianise London takes look too. It's almost a shame they are only temporary. Meanwhile, our own Sally Hinchcliffe got back into the swing of riding in London to watch the Olympic men's road race. Thankfully, ibikelondon had written a guide for cycling in London during the games.

The Alternative Department for Transport reads between the lines of TfL's cycle promotion material whilst As Easy As Riding A Bike has a baffling discussion with a council media officer who is apparently under the impression that councils across the land are 'bending over backwards' to accommodate cycling. North of the border, Magnatom gets to see a glimpse into the mind of Glasgow City Council and also takes a look at what is going on at Transport Scotland.

The People's Cycling Front of South Gloucestershire seem cautiously optimistic about a new cycle path, whilst the city of Bristol commits to roll out 20 mph. Meanwhile, Bicycle Dutch is just showing off.

Copenhagenize takes a look at cycle infrastructure in small town Sweden and is pleasantly surprised and also shows us how Copenhagen communicates its infrastructure to citizens. Similarly our own Jim Davis finds a piece of modern Britain in Corfu whilst Mad Cycle Lanes of Manchester takes a look at Newcastle's cycle hire (and advertisement bikes). 

At War With The Motorist takes a look at the darker side of vehicular cycling as an ideology and finally, Naturally Cycling hands over the reins to Georgie (who I'll forgive for rubbishing the Sturmey Archer AW hub) for the first part of a guest post.