#038 Why do you need so many shoes?

Cycling - sport or transport? / My one speaking engagement of the year

Hello, and welcome, worldwide readers, to Diagram Club, Issue #038.

This week: There’s a Household Problem that I thought twice about making public, and one of my cycling cartoons provokes furious [Exaggeration - Editor] debate on Bluesky. On the plus side there’s a glimmer of hope for the redbush-tea-drinking community of South Essex.

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Cycling cartoon of the week

Taken from my book From A to B: ‘Sport or transport’. Posted following a Bluesky discussion about posture on a bike. Me: I’m all for vertical these days. My horizontal bicycle-riding era is, I think, largely behind me.

I’ve written more about this cartoon, and some of the unexpectedly-strong reactions it provoked, in the section for Paid members, below.

[I've heard there are books of your cartoons]

Household Problem of the week

It’s a daft one.

All complaints to be sent via the usual channels, etc.

A lot of ‘Can I get away with this?’ questions have been asked this week, and not satisfactorily answered.

More Household Problems here.

Admin announcements, Matters arising, Apologies, corrections and clarifications, Date of next meeting

Cafe news

Good news on the redbush tea front. Supplies are not as scarce as previously thought. But the hard-hitting poster from Diagram Club issue #036 [link to entire archive] is sure to push up demand, so get in quickly if you’re looking for what I’d describe as a sweet, earthy and naturally caffeine-free beverage.

If you live near a Wildlife Trusts / other nature reserve please support them. You could go tomorrow. Or now. Why not? LEAVE NOW*.

*Sorry - I’ve had a coffee.

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Ecclesiastical cartoon news

Off-topic but possibly of interest. A snippet from this week’s cartoon for the Church Times, on the topic of AI. You can see the whole thing here.

A reminder that my ace team continue to post regular diagrams on the Facebook page for my church cartoons, if that’s something that would interest you.

Shop news

T-shirts featuring my new design continue to fly off the shelves, but only because someone left them balanced precariously right on the edge. Shop, link to

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Soundtrack news

Last year I made a Studio Playlist for this newsletter, but having established that less than one person was interested I haven’t done so for 2025. But in the unlikely event that anyone does want to listen along to more of the kind of thing that plays while I draw, here’s one of the many playlists I listen to - some tracks from one of my favourite artists, Josh Ritter. Standard Spotify notice: Please support artists by buying music, etc. Josh Ritter DW playlist

Colour of the week (filler) and that sort of thing

Redbush packet sweet earthy orange

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Thank you for reading - that’s more or less it for this week.

However, content continues for Diagram Club Paid members below The Line. This week: I write a bit about the ‘Sport or transport’ cartoon. And I (finally) reveal what my one speaking engagement of the year is going to be.

The plan is to be back soon with issue no #039. Speak to you then.

Dave
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