Search found 258 matches

by Thermostat9
25 Nov 2017, 8:05am
Forum: Helmets & helmet discussion
Topic: Government consultation on compulsory Helmets & Hivis for cyclists
Replies: 54
Views: 3534

Re: Government consultation on compulsory Helmets & Hivis for cyclists

Psamathe wrote:Only thing of interest (and something that was already raised and obvious) is that the Headway organisation is going to be putting up a real fight

I thought the Headway drone was full of opinion and very short on facts. Put him in front of someone like Chris Boardman and he would crumble.

Psamathe wrote:I'm no expert but from what others (with far more knowledge than I have) have posted here, the guy from Headway was talking at least some untrue stuff.

To put it mildly. He spouted evocative conjecture.
by Thermostat9
4 Apr 2016, 8:05pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: My New Bike
Replies: 362
Views: 17783

Re: My New Bike

Mick F wrote:Big dinneplate of a chainwheel eh?

Not my Moulton, but one with a proper chainwheel! :shock:

Image
by Thermostat9
20 Mar 2016, 5:15pm
Forum: Helmets & helmet discussion
Topic: Glad I had a lid.
Replies: 127
Views: 7868

Re: Glad I had a lid.

Tangled Metal wrote:All in a thread about helmet saving the original posters life.

Really? Banging his helmet on the ground 'saved' the OP's 'life'?
by Thermostat9
21 Jan 2016, 4:24pm
Forum: Helmets & helmet discussion
Topic: People take more risks when wearing helmets.....
Replies: 20
Views: 1495

People take more risks when wearing helmets.....

Has this been posted? (I can't see it)

Science Magazine reports - People take more risks when wearing helmets, potentially negating safety benefits.

Who would have thought it? :mrgreen:
by Thermostat9
9 Jan 2016, 9:56am
Forum: Non-standard, Human Powered Vehicles
Topic: Folding recumbent-Whats available?
Replies: 32
Views: 12011

Re: Folding recumbent-Whats available?

Geoff.D wrote:
[XAP]Bob wrote:I'm not convinced that I could spot any exact changeover points (except the step change as you get to "Non-UCI"), but I think that there is a progression which is worthy of an intermediate label...


I think there's a progression, too. My view is that, when set up correctly for leg length from saddle to pedal, an upright is too tall to get both feet flat on the ground when stationery. This is fine for most, but not necessarily for commuters or people who would need more stability when stopping.

There's a "foot forward" configuration where the bottom bracket is moved a few inches forward of the seat tube (eg the Electra Townie......... http://www.electrabike.com/bikes/townie ). In this arrangement, for the same saddle to pedal length, the saddle is nearer to the ground, allowing two flat feet when stopped. I've had a go on one in America and it's true.

Then there's a configuration with the B/B more forward again (eg the Rans.....http://www.ransbikes.com/bicycles/bicyc ... rward.html). This is still referred to as foot forward (or crank forward) and with the seat even lower. But still the saddle looks more or less conventional, even if a bit bucket shaped.

Then there are swb and lwb recumbents (eg Bachettas....... http://www.bacchettabikes.com/recumbent-bikes/) with feet so far forward that some sort of back support is needed.

The change from f/f to semi recumbent lies between the configurations of the Rans and the lwb Bachetta. My own feeling isnt that the definitiion lies directly with the forward distance of the B/B but with what happens when you stop. If you stop and you're still essentially sat on a saddle, with your feet down but without the need for a backrest, then your on an upright, crank forward or F/F bike. If you're stopped, feet down but are still being supported by a back rest, then you're on a semi-recumbent (or if feet are level with hips or above) a recumbent.

The point with recumbent (FF) motorcycles is that the seatback becomes part of the control feedback loop. You need a seatback to ride the thing (and, if you've ever had a 2CV with a broken seat as I had once, you really need them to drive a car too!) but they are not necessary for the horse riding position of a traditional bicycle.

Actually I tend to agree with Alex Moulton, in that the riding position of traditional bicycles is pretty much optimised for everything other than going fast. (Obviously traditional bicycles also are lumbered with huge wheels and no suspension as well as appalling luggage carrying capacity that make them as obsolete) and have no great experience with recumbent bicycles at all (I've only had Moultons since the mid-80's having picked a Chopper over a Mk3 in 1970! :wink: ) but am intrigued by the recumbent as devices for long distance touring and obviously their velocar derivatives ought to have a place in the transport systems of the future.
by Thermostat9
9 Jan 2016, 9:42am
Forum: Non-standard, Human Powered Vehicles
Topic: Folding recumbent-Whats available?
Replies: 32
Views: 12011

Re: Folding recumbent-Whats available?

simonineaston wrote:I live round the corner from the venerable Royce Creasey, although I haven't see his yellow creation for ages - he must be getting on a bit now-a-days.

He's 71 now.

This was at his 70th birthday, a few of us got together! (Mine is the white one)

Image

His Yellow Voyager has been off the road for a year or so while he was working on a radical chassis for an electric race bike. But you should see it bopping about in a month or so.

simonineaston wrote:I remember reading about Quasars in Bike magazine, too and thinking Wow...

I remember sitting watching the Quasar on 'Bike Matters' on Channel 4 on a Saturday morning and thinking I had to get one of them. :mrgreen: Never did (there is a problem with a motorcycle with limited headroom!) but I had a Malcolm Newell built Phasar before I bought the Voyager.
by Thermostat9
8 Jan 2016, 10:51am
Forum: Non-standard, Human Powered Vehicles
Topic: Folding recumbent-Whats available?
Replies: 32
Views: 12011

Re: Folding recumbent-Whats available?

[XAP]Bob wrote:There is a middle ground, more usually called crank forward, they tend to still have a saddle of sorts, albeit large, and often a seat back, but the cranks are substantially lower than the seat, and the seat is substantially upright.

Its more sitting up than sitting back I suppose??

I speak from a long time in the rarefied world of FF motorcycles..... Where the modern proponents decided some time ago that a single track vehicle with a low seat (< 24") and a supportive seat back would fit the definition (and custom bikes wouldn't!) From there it appears to me that people are looking for definitions of bicycles that are not entirely necessary - It's lower than a safety bicycle (and far lower than an Ordinary!) and you need a seat back? It's a recumbent of sorts - no matter where your cranks are. :wink:
by Thermostat9
7 Jan 2016, 5:39pm
Forum: Non-standard, Human Powered Vehicles
Topic: Folding recumbent-Whats available?
Replies: 32
Views: 12011

Re: Folding recumbent-Whats available?

simonineaston wrote:I've been advised, too, that technically, it's not a recumbent, but a feet forward or semi-recumbent. ;-)

How does that work? If you are not head first you are feet forward.

But what is 'semi-recumbent'? Does it need a seat back? It's a recumbent.
by Thermostat9
27 Dec 2015, 10:28am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Japan
Replies: 14
Views: 916

Re: Japan

DaveGos wrote:Somebody said that Japan is much the same size as the UK . Its half as big again as the UK in area, and as its long and thin you tend to do bigger mileages I did well over 2000 miles on as JR rail pass and only covered about half of it in 2 weeks

I did. Sorry, Honshu (the main island, where most Japanese live) is about the same size as the UK - and still most of it is mountains!

DaveGos wrote:If I were touring I would definitely go for some sort of GP device with mapping. I took my mobile phone and was going to get a data package , but failed with this and for my purposes there were plenty of wifi hot spots to use

Free w-fi - I used NTT's Japan Connected. You'll find there is plenty of free connectivity without that as well.
by Thermostat9
23 Dec 2015, 7:43pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Japan
Replies: 14
Views: 916

Re: Japan

mnichols wrote:I'm planning on touring there next September so all hint, tips and observations are useful

I'd like to do an end to end. Are all areas accessible? I was planning of flying in and out of Tokyo and get trains to and from the start - is that possible?

Trains are easy and just about the only way to get around (buses aren't bad either). Do remember that Japan is about the size of the UK, with double the population, who manage to live on about ⅛ of the land area - because the rest is MOUNTAINS! :shock:

mnichols wrote:What is the weather like early September? Or possibly take the wife and kids in August Or October holiday - they would rent a car and I would cycle

Early September would be pretty warm, August could be damn HOT, it was in the high 30's in July and folk told me it would get hotter. October would be lovely in the countryside.
by Thermostat9
23 Dec 2015, 5:34pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Japan
Replies: 14
Views: 916

Re: Japan

John Holiday wrote:Rode my Moulton around Tokyo quite happily, & rather less of an adrenalin rush than London!

I would love to take my Moulton over there, a chap I know took his New Series in a suitcase and then went to the Japanese Moulton Club weekend a few years ago although I know the Moulton dealer in Nagoya quite well so might be able to blag a bike or two for a bit if we want one. :wink:
by Thermostat9
23 Dec 2015, 5:29pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Japan
Replies: 14
Views: 916

Re: Japan

tyreon wrote:Liked to have known about accommodation: the places you stayed,cost,ease of booking. Also,prices...comparison to say,UK.

Japan at the moment (I was there most recently this summer) is pretty cheap - the pound is strong against the yen so everything seems pretty reasonable.

Staying - try Airbnb (seriously!)
by Thermostat9
23 Dec 2015, 5:24pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Japan
Replies: 14
Views: 916

Re: Japan

DaveGos wrote:I was surprised how much cycling there is but nearly all seems to be for Transport . Though I read somewhere they have a chain of cyclists hostels.
I think they do more commuting by bike than any other country outside Scandinavia / Holland

They cycle slowly , in normal clothes , sometimes with an Umbrella ( they love Umbrellas which they sometimes give you for free and every public place has a massive Umbrella rack)

They have a big variety of non sporting bikes

Fantastic isn't it? Cycling by normal people and not dominated lycra wearing Strava mentalists with stupidly bright headlamps.
by Thermostat9
6 Dec 2015, 10:33am
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: The problem with segregated cycle routes
Replies: 179
Views: 10308

Re: The problem with segregated cycle routes

I don't particularly like that sort of road design - not for the problems of vehicles turning but because I think it encourages cycling at that sort of speed in the dark (and wet) and gaining on the vehicle that is going to turn at that sort of speed differential is asking for trouble.

I would suspect that with a lot of cyclists using dazzling Cree headlamps that even if the injured cyclist specifically was identifiable in the cars mirrors as they approached the turn (which I doubt) the driver would have not been able to judge their speed of approach. The reflections from the roads would add to the dazzle problems as would steamed up or rain splattered car side windows.

I suggest that riding slower, remove the stupid overly bright lamps and expect to meet distracted drivers who don't look. (This will not go down well with the cyclists who imagine that every other road user is 'at fault' and that their behaviour has nothing to do with the consequences they end up with.)
by Thermostat9
1 Dec 2015, 8:12am
Forum: Helmets & helmet discussion
Topic: Neuro surgeon states helmets saves lives!
Replies: 41
Views: 2203

Re: Neuro surgeon states helmets saves lives!

Tangled Metal wrote:It's a BBC programme so might be on iPlayer later.

This one I think.