Search found 3736 matches

by Tonyf33
19 Aug 2016, 6:06pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Ouch
Replies: 19
Views: 4517

Re: Ouch

you need to chill out, I pointed out that signalling wasn't required nor would it have changed how things ended up, one hand off the bars signalling to exit which the person driving would have ignored anyway would have seen the rider in LESS control.
by Tonyf33
17 Aug 2016, 12:51pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Are old bikes better?
Replies: 30
Views: 3579

Re: Are old bikes better?

Old bikes are better and worse, it's all in the eye of the beholder and also with respect to how you as an individual put value of 'better' on certain things like efficiency of components, how much care a bike was put together or just rolled off a factory in the hundreds of thounsands can impact how good/'better' or bad' it is to you as an individual.

That's not to say that a mass produced Raleigh say with chrome rims, (comparatively) heavy steel frame and basic gears wasn't fun, or exciting, nor was it bad, in fact it was bloody fantastic, it was 'better' than the last bike I'd had.
It's all very very subjective, and in that it doesn't really matter. Most importantly you're on a bike, that's the best bit of it, what it is, how 'better' or not really doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things, individually it can matter a lot to that person of course.

But we have choices, that's the other great thing, we don't have to simply have one thing and one thing only, certain people who feel they have to denigrate others for their choices, have to conjure up some story to try justify their viewpoint which is a sad reflection on that person.

From a looks point of view many older bikes look a lot nicer than 'modern' bikes, that said new bikes can be made quite appealing, that's how fashion and changing styles happen and peoples changing thoughts/attitudes. And because of choice you can replicate what is nicer or 'better' for you from 10/20/30/40/50/60+ years ago if you so wish.

does that mix of old look with some modern influences make it better or worse, does it really matter. No. Ride a bike, enjoy it, if it breaks, fix it or replace it. Advice to help with making things 'better' or safer are always welcome, telling people they are simply wrong in their personal choices is just pathetic.
by Tonyf33
17 Aug 2016, 11:58am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: 25+ year old bike - how much would modern cost?
Replies: 27
Views: 3260

Re: 25+ year old bike - how much would modern cost?

Like the colour, I couldn't see an M-trax in the catalogues, I always thought the M stood for Mountain for MTB frames. There were dyna tech badged or just plain Raleigh on the down tube for 853 frames.
the forks are superlight too for steel jobs, I had the same straight legged jobs on my Raleigh titanium, given how these fantastic frames were being made by Raleigh it's hard to grasp how they went belly up at least in their SPD. :?
by Tonyf33
15 Aug 2016, 2:18pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Double Chainrings Odd / Even Teeth
Replies: 6
Views: 964

Re: Double Chainrings Odd / Even Teeth

On my old commuter bike I ran a 49/39/30 and it shifted just as well as the original 52/39/30. I've also had a 53/40, 55/38
I NEVER dropped a chain or had skating.
by Tonyf33
15 Aug 2016, 11:59am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Full Carbon Fork
Replies: 6
Views: 944

Re: Full Carbon Fork

mynameisrichard wrote:I'm replacing a carbon fork with alloy steerer and considering buying a full carbon fork. Is there anything I need to be wary of? Can I continue to use the same headset and stem?

Currently I have a FSA No.10AY internal/integreated threadless headset and 3T alloy stem.

Thanks!

There's absolutely nothing to be wary of, I've been using full carbon forks for years and never had any issues, rock solid in fact even with my 100+kg on board.
So long as the fork measurements (base/fork crown and steerer) is the same yes you can use the same headset.
by Tonyf33
13 Aug 2016, 11:42pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Why so few "sidelights" for bikes?
Replies: 22
Views: 1865

Re: Why so few "sidelights" for bikes?

Side lights, same as reflectives, what actual hard evidence is there of them doing anything with respect to motorists not stopping at a junction/pulling out of a driveway in the dark?
And for those that don't have a 'side' light, what then, condemnation, which sems apparent especially from the 'British standard' brigade which is so massively out of touch. What next outcry against those not wearing hi-vis, helmets..oh wait. :roll:
by Tonyf33
13 Aug 2016, 10:53pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: 25+ year old bike - how much would modern cost?
Replies: 27
Views: 3260

Re: 25+ year old bike - how much would modern cost?

£450 for the M-Trax seems a tad expensive, I paid £250ish for a new Raleigh Record Sprint in 1990 from my local bike shop in Letchworth not long after I moved into the area. R501, 2x6 Suntour accushift gearset, Weinmann (possibly alpha) black brake calipers & Aero levers, Alesa black alloy wheels, Michelin Select tyres, Olimpic XIII pedals with leather straps and clips. 23lbs I think it was for a 23.5" frame.
A similar level bike I'd expect to pay around £450-£600

As a comparison, a higher end bike from the same era that I own is a 1991 Race replica Gitane Vitus GTI triple butted with Time composite carbon forks, the frameset incl the headset is approx 2500g. It came to me with Shimano 600 8 speed STIs/dual pivot brakes likely fitted roughly a year later (given the 8 speed 600s didn't come out until early 92)
This was fairly high end by comparison to the Mtrax/Record Sprint so I'd expect to pay around £1500-£2000 for a similar level

Lower end bikes today by comparison to 25 years ago are very inexpensive
by Tonyf33
13 Aug 2016, 7:51pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Ouch
Replies: 19
Views: 4517

Re: Ouch

Flinders wrote:Looking at the shadow, the cyclist didn't seem to have signalled they were turning off the roundabout - did they signal? Or were they going round to the right and not turning at all when they were hit? I couldn't figure it out.

What has signalling got to do with anything, the rider is presumably going straight on in any case and expectation of a signal when one is not required is absolute nonsense.
The position of the rider is pretty clear, he isn't turning left and is central on the roundabout as he passes the 1st exit, this is VERY apparent whilst the [very rude word removed] in the white car is 20+metres away from the GIVE WAY line.
At an appropriate speed this is more than enough time to come to a complete stop at the give way line. The driver chose to ignore the vehicle already on the roundabout and decided to plough on into it.
Dangerous driving, end of story.
by Tonyf33
12 Aug 2016, 5:02am
Forum: On the road
Topic: Cyclist defence fund Michael Mason
Replies: 116
Views: 22768

Re: Cyclist defence fund Michael Mason

That it's careless driving is in itself an insult of disgusting proportions, by definition killing a human being with a weapon that in the hands of certain types kills thousands every year should mean dangerous is the barest minimum.
That jury's won't convict should also mean changing the law and cases like this (based on motoring standard) be taken out of the hands of such and actual driving experts decide what standard of driving was shown.
I don't imagine an onlooker saying oh, that was careless having driven over an innocent person killing them in the process.
Let's hope that the CPS don't have anything to do with the prosecution because they simply don't have a clue when it comes to getting killers behind bars :twisted:
by Tonyf33
10 Aug 2016, 6:41pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: When do you know you should stop driving ( a car )?
Replies: 45
Views: 3561

Re: When do you know you should stop driving ( a car )?

Flinders wrote:The carrot for older drivers is called a FREE bus pass


Bu unfortunately that isn't much help when the local bus service has just been cut to nothing.

What, absolutely nothing? it must be a very small isolated location and small in number that has no bus service at all.
For the vast majority of pensioners there is a regular bus service, similarly as some people pick and choose what day they decide to do X, if they are not capable of driving safely I'd rather they took public transport or a private hire vehicle or cadge a lift from a friend/relative who can drive properly.
by Tonyf33
8 Aug 2016, 4:52pm
Forum: Racing, Olympics, TdF, Competitive cycling
Topic: Armitstead missed three drugs tests.
Replies: 98
Views: 43013

Re: Armitstead missed three drugs tests.

mjr wrote:
Tonyf33 wrote:Simply let the hotel reception know X when you arrive, it should be standard practise/automatic, [...]
You as a travelling sports person know how security in hotels work, this is not an unknown factor.

So in your opinion, should she have told them to direct absolutely anyone up to her room between the hours of 6am and 7am? "According to the Daily Mail, the doping control officer [DCO] didn’t explain to hotel staff why he wanted the rider’s room number. After the staff refused to give him the information, he tried to contact her on her mobile phone, but she said that she had put it on silent while sleeping and didn’t hear it as a result. The Mail states that it appears no other attempts were made by the official to inform her about the test."

That's also odd. I understand that the minimum is for the tester to call every 10-15 minutes and to remain near the location, not just let it ring once, shrug, go away and report it as a failure. You could almost wonder if the tester wanted a scalp...

Where did I say direct everyone up, you're making yourself sound silly by making up nonsense that I've never suggested nor would happen in the thousands upon thousands of other completed tests that occur around the world with this probem. There is a simple and not too difficult way of solving your dilemma. Have a think about it.
SHE set the time for when she was available NOT the testers nor UKAD, she should know that testing for a top athlete is more common than the lower ranks, it's her responsibility to ensure ease of access, that's part of the deal.
The tester must clearly set off early doors to ensure they are at X place for 6am, you honestly think they thought sod it, I'm off after a few minutes? Your evidence/arguement that the tester tried once then went home is an article by that sorry excuse for a media outlet the daily fail. oh dear oh dear oh dear :lol:
Yep, she's officially on two missed tests...for now, it can't be long before she stuffs up again, three in, sorry, two in 9 months doesn't look great does it for a top of the line professional does it?

I'm not cynical, I'm logical about stuff, I'm also one for people taking responsibility for their actions, like what you put in your mouth, ensuring I do things correctly, making awkward sometimes unwanted situations be as smooth and as painless as possible for all concerned. I don't make up sad excuses about X and use that to make out I'm innocent.
Your viewpoint doesn't fall into my line of what being a responsible professional in whatever field should be, my viewpoint is also backed up by other professionals and many other people too.
Maybe I expect too much when it comes to drugs in sport and those that say they have "never failed a drugs test"
by Tonyf33
8 Aug 2016, 4:33pm
Forum: Racing, Olympics, TdF, Competitive cycling
Topic: Armitstead missed three drugs tests.
Replies: 98
Views: 43013

Re: Armitstead missed three drugs tests.

Postboxer wrote:What about the fact that she had someone at British Cycling to keep a check on her, but he left his post without anyone telling her, any sympathy for that?

What about having some family medical emergency? Any sympathy for that?

That has being shown to have nothing to do with her with respect to the missed tests.
by Tonyf33
8 Aug 2016, 12:45pm
Forum: Racing, Olympics, TdF, Competitive cycling
Topic: Armitstead missed three drugs tests.
Replies: 98
Views: 43013

Re: Armitstead missed three drugs tests.

The onus is on the athlete to be contactable, absolving yourself from ensuring you are easily contactable is not how things work, that's not just for pro sports people with a career on the line. So, you are pro-active, that's part of the responsibility you take on as part of fighting against drug cheats. Simply let the hotel reception know X when you arrive, it should be standard practise/automatic, set reminders for these extremely important matters if you are a dippy sort, whilst forgetting to take the right right supplements/eat the correct foods or forget to train correctly might be acceptable, not doing the right thing with regards to your responsibility regarding drugs is not, however you are given three chances to take into account that no-one is perfect.
The first missed test was with other team members, not just some random out the way nowhereville on her own,
You as a travelling sports person know how security in hotels work, this is not an unknown factor. You know how you can contact/update your whereabouts and how easy that is to do.
I've not an iota of sympathy for her and her dog ate my homework excuses and that CAS have overturned the first one on some dodgy premise is not going to change that view.
by Tonyf33
8 Aug 2016, 2:37am
Forum: On the road
Topic: When do you know you should stop driving ( a car )?
Replies: 45
Views: 3561

Re: When do you know you should stop driving ( a car )?

Everybody to have eyesight tests as part of your annual tax/MOT/Insurance, obviously those dodgers which number over a million in the UK won't bother with this in any case.
Make driving with a medical condition a criminal offence with automatic jail sentences for those caught driving with X undeclared medical issue that cause anything other than a minor bump, any injury to an innocent party should be sentenced as aggravated assault ABH/GBH etc. Deliberate act of using a known killing weapon whilst you have such a condition that can effect your control of killing weapon.
OR
Doctors to reveal medical issues to DVLA, doesn't have to have specifics, just X person has a condition, this is likely to make them susceptible to X, lose control, not react/see etc. Is the life of another human being worth that small amount of privacy, no it absolutely is not.

The carrot for older drivers is called a FREE bus pass, the carrot for any driver that is not capable of being in full control/be able to react/understand hazards is that they won't kill/seriously injure anyone, what bigger carrot do you need than that? :x

Driving is taken almost as a god given right, it's too easy to get a license in the first place and then no testing/medical checks afterwards is a culpable act that kills and injures far too many! It's disgusting that government just ignore these deaths/serious injuries and will not do a single thing to change things.
The sooner we make laws to stop so many poor drivers allowed on the road the better it will be for everyone, it'll certainly increase cycling numbers.
by Tonyf33
8 Aug 2016, 1:07am
Forum: Racing, Olympics, TdF, Competitive cycling
Topic: Men's Olympic Road Race
Replies: 29
Views: 12874

Re: Men's Olympic Road Race

She got the corner all wrong, really, really wrong. She was too fast and at too sharp an angle on approach so couldn't appreciate the bend despite the white line disappearing off almost at a right angle, she then panic braked locking her back brake then seemed to lock the front up also so over she went.
The riders knew beforehand that there was absolutely no run off and no barriers so many riders respected this and rode with an element of caution and finished the race just fine including the US rider described several times by the commentary team as a 'poor descender' :roll:

Chris Boardman said he was angry and it was dangerous, it was only dangerous if you pushed to the max and didn't respect the course and if you make a big mistake what do you expect, it's not like crashing on other races never happens with dire consequences does it? All those riders that come off in the TdF, Giro, Vuelta etc on fast descents, all dangerous :roll: :roll:
I respect Boardman's opinion on pretty much everything but he is wrong on this occasion.