Simon Balsom

REAL HOPE. REAL CHANGE. An average of 27 children have been killed in Gaza every day since October 7, 2023. An entire classroom of children murdered, every day, for 646 days. Source: UNICEF Green Party Promoted by Chris Williams on behalf of The Green Party, both at PO Box 78066, London SE16 9GQ

Since 7 October 2023 an average of 27 children have been killed in Gaza by Israel every single day.

A whole classroom of children wiped out everyday by a genocidal regime, even while queuing for food and water.

And still the UK government sells them weapons. Shame on them.

That Alfasud though 👌🏻

It’s a beautiful day.

Did Lime switch to bike tyres ‘less suitable for London's roads’? The company denies the change to cheaper Chinese tyres on its e-bikes was a cost-cutting measure, as more Londoners come forward with severe injuries.

“London Centric has seen Lime’s rider insurance policy, which requires users to be permanently disabled in a severe manner such as the “complete loss of one kidney” before it will pay out.” @londoncentric.media #lime #limebiles

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A valuable restoration in Fitzrovia. The facade bears the legend The Middlesex Hospital Radium Wing at third floor level, while the signage above the door reads The Meyerstein Institute of Radio-Therapy. Behind it, sits Fitzroy Place. #architecture #fitzrovia

a) why ask me how many people were killed by bikes? b) don’t you see it’s possible for e-bikes to be dangerous without killing people? c) wouldn’t you be happier over on Twitter?

Idiotic response.

You make the crucial point here 👌🏻

“Yet another hatchet job on cycling” Is it? Have you seen it yet? I’m a cyclist in London and concerned for my safety when there’s an e-bike-toting Deliveroo rider in my vicinity. I’d love to see controls on their sales and use. A show and a law that distinguish between me and them is a good thing.

Swift recovery fella 👌🏻

I think it has also worked evil on your spelling of casquette. What a world we live in.

Although never ones to be overly superstitious, we felt a flicker of unrest when Friday the 13th revealed itself as the day we’d complete the deal on the new bakery & deli. But, as someone far wiser than us once said, every day is a good day to start a new journey.

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The p*ncture fairy pays the cruelest of visits. New tubulars, 6km in. Don’t ride tubulars, kids.

+ The Vatican 😇

32. Comfort over speed 👌🏻

Fully paid-up member of the Soggy Arse Club 👍🏻

I read somewhere that this is what happens when the tyre logo isn’t perfectly aligned with the valve.

The Jackal survives. Or doesn’t. One or the other.

Time to revive the skill of map reading?

“Google Maps tourism precludes moments of serendipity”. Wise words here from Monocle’s Alexis Self.

monocle.com/minute/2024/...

London Spy’s bike theft map of London.

The London Spy created this admirable ‘bike theft map’ of London. Use it to find the hotspots near your work or home.

biketheft.thelondonspy.co.uk

1. Wear kit you know will keep you warm or keep you dry. Preferably at the same time.
2. Know your route. Getting lost on a 🌧️ January morning isn’t the same as getting lost on a 🌞 June evening.
3. Go ride in the knowledge that by stepping outside you’ve already overcome the day’s biggest hurdle.

Boston Wheelers 300 Mile Sports Relief ride. Match 2014.

Thoughts begin turn to cycling goals for 2025. Aiming to better this 24-hour ride from 2014. Tracing the original route of the A1 might make for a tasty weekend challenge.

Map courtesy minimalmaps.at

The purpose of every chair in every bedroom. “I’ll get another wear out of that”.

Rider Resilience - The Film YouTube video by Rider Resilience

This is a great short film about how cycling helps develop Resilience 💪🏻

It resonates on some many levels. I highly recommend a watch ❤️

#cycling #bikelife #resilience

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The Unwanted Cultural Appropriation of Lebanese Cuisine — The High Llama Bakery & Deli — The High Llama Bakery & Deli We’re as fascinated by the cultural history of the Levant as anyone, and we’re open to learning new facets surrounding the genesis of our tabbouleh, hummus, and za’atar staples (although, to be clear,...

“The further 🇱🇧 cuisine travels from Beirut the easier it seems to stretch its cultural connections. By the time fattoush arrives in London it would appear to have originated in any of Lebanon’s neighbours.

It’s about as wild a thought as an ‘English curry.’”

www.thehighllama.co.uk/lebanesebaki...

Post-ride, every ride.

www.instagram.com/stories/simo...

I've been trying to write this article for the past 6 weeks, but sadly it was spiked. Well done #CamillaCavendish and @data.ft.com @mliebreich.bsky.social for getting it out there.

Venice, the original 15-minute city, where every ‘journey’ is punctuated by human interaction, friendly smiles, a whispered “scusi”, and time to be perfectly present.

“Let’s save the rim brake”