14th June 2013, Caitriona's Diary

14th June 2013, Caitriona's Diary

Psyching myself up!

According to Caitriona:

So I decided to take part in this Operation Transportation thing. Noo...not to save money on taxi's but to get my arse into gear.

I'm looking forward to the first session tomorrow, although not so much looking forward to waking up so early on a Saturday ...

Beware people, I may not be the friendliest until after 12, especially if ye are making me exercise that early!! But well I'll give it a blast.

http://womenonthefence.com/2012/06/29/why-being-a-morning-person-could-be-the-secret-to-your-success/

 

Operation Transportation 2012 REVISITED!

Operation Transportation 2012 Revisited

Foreword BY THE EDITOR

 Remember last year's Diarists?

I've been wondering what happened after Operation Transportation ended;

So today I sent them all a few interview questions.

Here are the replies I've received so far...

Mervyn:

Mervyn waiting for his borrowed bike to get the all-clear at last year's training event.
The 2013 team will be doing this tomorrow!!

1.      How often  were you cycling before “Operation Transportation”?

Never (Ireland) always abroad

2.      How often do you cycle now? ( fee free to add details of any tapering off processes?

Once every two weeks

3.      Why do you think your cycle habits have changed? ( Skip if irrelevant)

Positive experience of cycling in cork, never cycled in city before operation transportation, bought a bike after the event

  

4.      Have you got any advice for this year’s “Operation Transportation” leaders?

A good bike, spare set of clothes at work, allow extra time for first day  

5.      Any other comments?

Good gears are very important, city area is not as “flat” as it seems when in a car

Deirdre:

Deirdre impressed us all last year with her nifty cycling skills.

1.      How often  were you cycling before “Operation Transportation”?

Occasionally, more in dry weather and long evenings but that’s probably true of all fair-weather cyclists.

2.      How often do you cycle now? ( fee free to add details of any tapering off processes?

Occasionally and sadly not much in recent months but I will try to do some more cycling from now on!

3.      Why do you think your cycle habits have changed? ( Skip if irrelevant)

The instructions we received were excellent and I still remember Darren’s advice to be more assertive on the road and not cycling close to the gutter and that cycling a bit nearer to the centre line (not on the centre line of course) gives a cyclist somewhere to retreat to.

4.      Have you got any advice for this year’s “Operation Transportation” leaders?

I know that one tip given last year was that wearing high viz jackets can annoy other road users but I would recommend them to avoid giving drivers any ammunition in saying that cyclists don’t make themselves visible enough when out on the road.

5.      Any other comments?

I’ve seen some cyclists close to where I live cycling without lights after dusk – street lights won’t help a cyclist’s visibility to other road users and bike lights are not expensive.

Is It Possible?- Real Life Batman

COMMIT To BE FIT

30th May 2013, Operation Transportation's Post

COMMIT TO BE FIT!!



 

 

From R2 Thoughts 4U: http://r2blog.com/2011/05/23/when-you-commit-are-you-giving-or-receiving/commit/

I have a confession to make:

I have read and listened to far too many books and interviews with “self help” gurus!

One of the key pearls of wisdom most of them rollout, is that if you want to change something about your life, making some sort of public commitment to follow through really helps!

The reasons why this works, are pretty obvious:

b On the one hand, I reckon most of us know we are likely to come in for some slagging if we don’t fulfil our promises.

b On the other hand, giving ourselves a deadline and specific targets helps our minds to prepare for the changes ahead.

So if you have been thinking that:

~   You ought to get fitter or

~   You ought to try cutting down on your petrol consumption or

~   You have been thinking how nice it would be to spend more time outdoors in the fresh air when you commute...

~   You would like to do something to raise money for your favourite charity



From:

   https://www.facebook.com/pedalabikemessengers



Maybe you just need to publically declare that you will undertake the Operation Transportation Challenge.

               

Maybe you need to commit to it on Facebook so all your friends and family can rally round...

Interested?

Then email me TODAY for an application form.

The email address is: bikeweek@corkcity.ie

Don’t be like this computer:

 



By Jay Munro from: http://techtoons.com/pixpage1.asp?file=2&offset=25



And guys, please help prove that this cartoon lady’s prejudices are unfounded, or at least unfair!!

What Kind of Leader will you be?

28th May 2013, Operation Transportation's Post

What kind of Leader will you be?

We need all sorts!:

I saw this cartoon on http://leadershipspirit.wordpress.com/2012/10/19/are-you-a-visionary-leader-look-out-for-shiny-things/ but the original artist is Tom Fishbourne. His website is: http://tomfishburne.com/ and  his Facebook page is: https://www.facebook.com/Marketoonist

b Will you inspire us all with your Vision of a safer, healthier cycling future?

b Or will you be the Operator type, who reads all the training manuals and passes on precise instructions about when and how to get into a central position at junctions? ( For more on this see: http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/cycling-skills-and-safety-turns-and-junctions)

b Or maybe you will be the Compromising type who starts each post by acknowledging that “even though you know cycling isn’t feasible for everyone, you were surprised yourself to discover that it was much easier to take up the cycling habit than you had first supposed...”

b On the other hand, maybe you’ll be the Sergeant major type who orders all your children to rise at dawn for an early morning cycling-bootcamp and insists that all in your company join you to cycle when storms reach their peak- “to build character”?

b If your new mantra is:

“Operation Transportation

Is my chance for Transformation,

Gooooooo CYCLE”.

Then maybe you are more of the Cheerleading type...



From the blog: http://ladyfleur.wordpress.com/category/dirt-trails/



b Or maybe in the tradition of Isaac Newton and Mark Twain you like to “Stand on the shoulders of giants” or you believe that “those who do not want to imitate anything, produce nothing.” Then we’ll expect you to sagely parrot lots of interesting quotes, facts and figures to help motivate us all to cycle more!

b Mostly we are hoping for a few windbags or at least people who like to share their thoughts and ideas and daily cycling experiences.  Philosophers, amateur psychologists and those who have kissed the Blarney stone are most welcome to apply!

b The odd coach would be useful too, to keep us all focused and motivated!!

So please comment below and tell me what kind of leader you would be?

Are there categories that Tom Fishbourne missed out on? Are there leaders more specific to Facebook or Cycling??
Your thoughts and ideas are most welcome...

 

P.S. The first person to give feedback clicks on the words "No comment",

the second person clicks on the text; "1 comment", the third person clicks on "2 comments" etcetera etcetera....

Some Reading to get you going!

Thinking about it?

Here  are two inspiring blogs to help get you going:  
http://leah-findingmyskinnygirl.blogspot.ie/2011/07/bike-riding.html

and

http://www.aviewfromthecyclepath.com/2011/02/all-those-myths-and-excuses-in-one-post.html

Transform and Transport Yourself into a New Way of Living in 2013

OPERATION TRANSPORTATION 2013

Would you love to Transform your life?

Take up our Ten day challenge and tell us how you change in body, mind and soul!

It is easy. All you have to do is cycle for a mere ten minutes each day and send in a report on your progress...

The Set-up:

The mission of “Operation Transportation” is to get at least 6 people in Cork, who normally don’t cycle regularly, to pedal a bike for 10 minutes a day over 10 days (June 10^th to 19^th, 2013).

You can join, or get introduced to these brave cyclists and follow their progress, or sponsor their charities on http://www.facebook.com/OperationTransportation  

The Challenge:

Every day, the “Operation Transportation” Team will each cycle for at least 10 minutes a day and will deliver a report to their Facebook fans on the joys and tribulations of their cycling adventures.  Diary Entries will be cross-posted to the blog: http://operationtransportation.blogspot.ie/  and videos may be uploaded to the Youtube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/OperationTransport

The Recruitment:

So if you, or someone you know, is a couch potato, who would drive to the corner shop..

Or if you are scared stiff of cycling and have nightmares about bikes...

Consider volunteering for the “Operation Transportation” Team.

CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS IS: May 22^nd 2013

Operation Transportation Leaders will get a free fitness check, free cycle safety training, opportunities to participate in fun group cycles and a chance to raise money for your favourite charity!  Plus there is also the satisfaction of proving to your friends and family that you can rise to challenge!

HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED:

b Become a member of the “Operation Transportation” Team by filling in the Operation Transportation Application Form which you can find attached/by contacting sarah_danaher@corkcity.ie

b Become a friend of the “Operation Transportation” facebook page and follow or sponsor the team or your favourite team leader.

b Take part in some of the National Bike Week events!