Search found 117 matches

by jmaccyd
11 Jul 2011, 3:13pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Getting to Harwich?
Replies: 3
Views: 480

Getting to Harwich?

Cycling to Harwich from Hertfordshire. The route out looks a bit A road based, the A120 looms large, and I assume it is a road you do not want to be cycling on if you can help it. Any tips for a good route out to Harwich that avoids too much traffic? Thanks
by jmaccyd
5 Jul 2011, 3:13pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Bar bag?
Replies: 13
Views: 1405

Re: Bar bag?

Ambler wrote:So John, this is what you are up to now no longer in MBS.
Miss your posts on BKF as they were always helpful.

I would go for the bigger bag, after all you can half fill a bigger bag but not double fill a smaller one.

Peter, another beekeeper.


Thanks for the advice - not me I'm afraid you are mixing me up with another chap, no doubt as dashingly good looking as myself!

Bigger bag just worried by the affect it will have on steering but would allow a better balance of weight as I will be using back panniers only. I have 'extenders' on my sti cables to allow the fitment of it. But, smaller bag will be useful too. Ho hum probably end up buying both!
by jmaccyd
4 Jul 2011, 8:00pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Bar bag?
Replies: 13
Views: 1405

Bar bag?

Planning a three week tour with two back panniers and carrying tent and stove. I have done mini-touring and have not really needed a bar bag but have recognised that they would be handy for readly required stuff on tour. So, since I have Ortlieb panniers that look superbly made what one of their bar bags would be a good choice? Do I go for the bigger on the Ultimate 5 - http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ortlieb-ultimat ... e-bar-bag/

Or the smaller one the the Ultimate 2?
by jmaccyd
26 Apr 2011, 8:38pm
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Jenny Jones (Green AM London) sez taxis are a menace
Replies: 23
Views: 2938

Re: Jenny Jones (Green AM London) sez taxis are a menace

thelawnet wrote:
jmaccyd wrote:


BUT the key point, even if you rather strange view of social injustice come true, still seven people will die on our roads a day because what kills - speed, carelessness, drink, with a dis-honarable mention for unlicensed/uninsured drivers is unaffected. Your stuff is a distraction from what we really need to do to ensure less dead and seriously injuries on our roads and pavements.


Which is what? Black box recorders in cars and other motor vehicles?

Concern about black cabs in London is legitimate and on-topic for this site - government figures show they produce 20% of London's air pollution, a relevant consideration for cyclists, while a certain type of cyclist (judging by the photo) finds them to be threatening; personally I don't, but I do think they cause unnecessary congestion in central London. It's not a reasonable to respond to criticism by saying 'I'm a cab driver and I therefore think you should find something else to complain about'.


Noe of your earlier stuff is worth comment and I am just back from a very nice and enjoyable bike ride and I have a Henning Mankel novel to star (sorry off forum topic a bit) .

More speed cameras to enforce limits, stricter drink driving enforcement, proper prosecution of drivers who carelessness causes collisions, mobile phones whilst driving, more ANPR cameras to spot the 1 in 10 uninsured, and so on. An agenda most drivers (minus the minority who make a lot of noise), cyclists, and pedestrians can fully back. All come with viable predictions of substantive cuts in death and injuries on our roads. I'll take you figures for pollution at face value, quite how the drivers get the blame for that is strange. They do seem to smoke, they are serviced as per-the book, I use quality fuel (ie non-supermarket) and they have been fitted with thousands of pounds worth of emission kit. Not sure what the deal is, either the kit is not up to it, or the servicing is doing something wrong en masse. But I suppose it gives you something else to beat cab drivers over the head with.
by jmaccyd
26 Apr 2011, 3:26pm
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Jenny Jones (Green AM London) sez taxis are a menace
Replies: 23
Views: 2938

Re: Jenny Jones (Green AM London) sez taxis are a menace

copy of email sent to Jenny Jones,

Jenny, as a twenty year long member of the London Cab trade I read your latest article with some interest and sadness at the way some members of my trade have treated you on the road in the last few months or so. Such driving and lack of concern for your safety is really shocking and at the very least ungentlemanly. Take it form me, for what its worth, that I completely reject such conduct on the road and I offer my apologies to you as a fellow human being using the road that you have suffered so badly at the hands of some members of my trade.

May I make two points to you about the substantive of what you have proposed. First of all in terms of 'cycle awareness' training for all cab drivers, I argue, as you do yourself, that the majority of cab drivers do behave correctly towards cyclists - its the minority that don't that need to be identified and trained. Don't punish the majority for the actions of a minority. By all means Jenny put the drivers that made your cycle journey so traumatic through 'cycle awareness' not the majority that caused you no problem on your cycling journies. Secondly I think its important that we (concerned road users) are not side-tracked from what really kills and causes injuries on the road - speeding, drinking, carelessness and the untaxed/uninsured. These are the issues that really need to be addressed, I remain unconvinced that 'cycle awareness' training for cab drivers would have any impact on the toll of death and injury on our roads.

The LTDA need challenging on their attitudes to cyclists as well Jenny. If they interview you other your plans, do yourself a favour dig out the last two years of 'Taxi' (their paper to the cab trade) to see what they have saying about cyclists and they attitudes they promote. Perhaps you should do that anyway!

Once again sorry for what has happened to you, and safe and happy cycling - regards J
by jmaccyd
26 Apr 2011, 2:04pm
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Jenny Jones (Green AM London) sez taxis are a menace
Replies: 23
Views: 2938

Re: Jenny Jones (Green AM London) sez taxis are a menace

Si wrote:I'm afraid that time might be limited on this thread unless we can reign in their exuberance and show a little more respect to others.

It is quite ironic given the often portrayed stereotypical image of the typical cab driver's aggressive behaviour, that those who come here to complain about such behavior find themselves erring toward the same sort of expression. If we can't be polite and considerate to others on a mere internet forum, how can we blame cab drivers* for getting over-heated out on the very difficult conditions of the road? :wink: Let's all chill, eh?


*or, at least, the minority of poor ones.


Here, here sir, and mirroring my thoughts exactly I often think what is required is some sort of CabCycle scheme (or with a trendy catchy title), you know something with a kind of ten commandments, a window sticker that you put in the back of your cab that says you sign up to it and believe in it. A kind of voluntary 'cycle awareness' scheme. Maybe I should write to this lady at the Green party and suggest doing it, maybe via Roadpeace or Boris Johnson.

Getting back to the original poster. I too can get mega-angry about over-privalge in our society, hence my 'brusque' response- that is a Royal Family, crooked MPs, private education and hospitals and bankers and their ilk. Your anger is the privalge (this would be bus lane use and no congestion charge I assume) enjoyed by the London Cab trade? Not sure in the grand scheme of great injustices in our society that you have got your pecking order quite correct. But that is your right to express it, and my right to disagree with it - THATS what my Grandfather and quite possibly yours went to great trouble to defend and should never be forgotten.

BUT the key point, even if you rather strange view of social injustice come true, still seven people will die on our roads a day because what kills - speed, carelessness, drink, with a dis-honarable mention for unlicensed/uninsured drivers is unaffected. Your stuff is a distraction from what we really need to do to ensure less dead and seriously injuries on our roads and pavements.
by jmaccyd
25 Apr 2011, 10:02pm
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Jenny Jones (Green AM London) sez taxis are a menace
Replies: 23
Views: 2938

Re: Jenny Jones (Green AM London) sez taxis are a menace

thelawnet wrote:
jmaccyd wrote:24,000 drivers with 18 000 cabs serving a city of 8-10 million with the biggest airport in the world. Not sure I would call that 'excessive'


Well no that's not really an accurate depiction of the situation. I live 13 miles from said busiest (by certain measures) airport, and a black cab from Heathrow to home is £75. A minicab is £25, so the black cab is no use for me at all.

The fact is that for the majority of those 8-10 million people black cabs are third choice after their own car and a minicab.

What I'm talking about here is the concentration of black cabs in central London - I wouldn't for a minute argue that there are 'excessive' cabs in say Uxbridge or Orpington, the problem is that central London is from what I can see, choked with black taxis.

The true hypocrites here are actually the LTDA and Steve Mcnamara as well. The LTDA through its paper - 'Taxi' - has done nothing but run what I would label as a two year hate campaign against cyclists. That only seemed to stop when several cab drivers wrote in to complain about the attitudes displayed. I stopped reading it when the editor talked of 'cyclists being top of cab drivers hate list', a thoroughly confusing concept as I don't believe in even thinking about constructing such lists. Ironically perhaps I avoid reading this forum and 'Taxi' as well (think about that one!) What I would like is to see an interview with Mr Mcnamara by a cycling organisation, with the last two years of 'Taxi' in front of them, and get him to explain the attitudes displayed within. That I would like take the time to read.

It is nothing short of a Napoleonic lets saunter off to Moscow this winter stupidity for the cab trade to 'make enemies' with cyclists. This is a straight forward equation in my book even if you have no interest in cycling - 24,000 cab drivers+ 150,000 cyclists= number of votes at elections + elected Mayor in charge of TFl who are in charge of taxis. Only one winner in that equation me thinks. Again rather ironically the actual agenda of cyclists and cab drivers, beyond the Tom and Jerry nonsense, it actually the same - SAFER ROADS. Safer roads for cyclists I am sure would be safer roads for cab drivers too, because the biggest risk that I would face daily is climbing behind the wheel


I can't disagree with you that it's hubris to be picking fights when you are IMO in an over-privileged situation that you should keep quiet about.


A truely pointless post that adds nothing to the debate other than give a true insight to your motives. And no I will not be 'quiet,' its a free country the last time I looked, and hell my grandfather went up a very heavily machine gunned beach for it too remain so. I disagree a lot about what you say and think its driven more by envy and your own disappointments in life - but even saying that, I absolutely defend your right to say it.
by jmaccyd
25 Apr 2011, 1:36pm
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Jenny Jones (Green AM London) sez taxis are a menace
Replies: 23
Views: 2938

Re: Jenny Jones (Green AM London) sez taxis are a menace

24,000 drivers with 18 000 cabs serving a city of 8-10 million with the biggest airport in the world. Not sure I would call that 'excessive'

The true hypocrites here are actually the LTDA and Steve Mcnamara as well. The LTDA through its paper - 'Taxi' - has done nothing but run what I would label as a two year hate campaign against cyclists. That only seemed to stop when several cab drivers wrote in to complain about the attitudes displayed. I stopped reading it when the editor talked of 'cyclists being top of cab drivers hate list', a thoroughly confusing concept as I don't believe in even thinking about constructing such lists. Ironically perhaps I avoid reading this forum and 'Taxi' as well (think about that one!) What I would like is to see an interview with Mr Mcnamara by a cycling organisation, with the last two years of 'Taxi' in front of them, and get him to explain the attitudes displayed within. That I would like take the time to read.

It is nothing short of a Napoleonic lets saunter off to Moscow this winter stupidity for the cab trade to 'make enemies' with cyclists. This is a straight forward equation in my book even if you have no interest in cycling - 24,000 cab drivers+ 150,000 cyclists= number of votes at elections + elected Mayor in charge of TFl who are in charge of taxis. Only one winner in that equation me thinks. Again rather ironically the actual agenda of cyclists and cab drivers, beyond the Tom and Jerry nonsense, it actually the same - SAFER ROADS. Safer roads for cyclists I am sure would be safer roads for cab drivers too, because the biggest risk that I would face daily is climbing behind the wheel
by jmaccyd
21 Apr 2011, 8:52pm
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Jenny Jones (Green AM London) sez taxis are a menace
Replies: 23
Views: 2938

Re: Jenny Jones (Green AM London) sez taxis are a menace

I drive a London Taxi and am a keen cyclist. Someone has asked to come on and defend my colleagues. Not sure what you mean, the many thousands who don't cause a problem (don't see the need to defend them) or defend the few who do cause a problem? I no more defend the problem causers then you would defend the cyclists who ignores crossing pedestrians.

This lady is trying to make a point about increasing dialogue so that the roads become safer for us all. As far as I am concerned Its a welcome and fair point to make. I have two problems with her approach. First of all why should the majority (the non-problem causers) have to be hauled through cyclist awareness training because of the actions of a minority. By all means identify the problems and drag THEM through the training. Secondly, can I make the point that assuming a sadly average day, seven people died on our roads (is it about 20 serious, life changing injuries). These figures are not affected by this candidates plans are they? You can cyclist awareness train to death every single taxi driver, and no doubt the hair shirted puritan that is the backbone of this forum, will feel a real sense of achievement. But still seven people a day will be dying on our roads. I can't help but think there are hundreds of road safety measures that will mean less dead people, and then less seriously injured people, that are far more important than this. She has in a way wandered through a large forest full of towering trees, gone to the very edge of the glade, and started barking up one of the smallest saplings.

There are some bad attitudes in the cab trade towards cyclists, the are some equally appalling and shameful attitudes displayed on this forum and Cyclechumps (excuse my nickname for Cyclechat) towards taxi drivers. My twenty years of driving a cab has lead me to the sad conclusion that the idiots in cars are as bad as the idiots on bikes, they kind of deserve each other. Sadly, normal people have the mis-fortune to have to share the roads with them.

Oh Lawnet, my second taxi fair today was rushing to get a train so used a cab as he needed to go and see his cancer suffering son in hospital. That was HIS reason for using a cab today. Of course in your vision of the world he is a 'rich fool'. Sorry, I just felt nothing but sympathy for him. Who uses cabs? The sick, the elderly (they don't get round as well as we do you know), the infirm, tourists, people with luggage and baggage, rich and poor. You want one, wander to the side of the road and stick your hand out. You don't want to use them I'll die in a ditch to defend your right not to, but to demean lots of decent people who do use them for all sorts of reasons it frankly typical of the hair shirted puritanism that abounds on here. I know about ten cab drivers, including me, three are regular cyclists, one other is a lapsed cyclist. I have no intention of getting into a debate about X,Y and Z happened to me, I have very little time for this forum and the attitudes displayed on it (i think I have made that clear), life is to short and I have a bike to ride. That is my ten pence for what it is worth.
by jmaccyd
9 Feb 2011, 10:27pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Incident on London's Oxford Street. Please help!
Replies: 6
Views: 881

Re: Incident on London's Oxford Street. Please help!

Depends when this happened but Oxford Street is bus, taxi and cyclist only at certain times of day. Possibly, he should not have been there full stop.
by jmaccyd
29 Dec 2010, 6:10pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Reclaim the streets
Replies: 21
Views: 1582

Re: Reclaim the streets

I have to giggle (just a little) at concerns for pedestrians by cyclists, as I work in London and get to see the shocking behaviour of some of our own towards pedestrians almost continually. After all its not just drivers of BMWs that ignore Zebra crossings whilst pedestrians are crossing. I always find it baffling that drivers AND cyclist, who both have to walk to their mode of transport, treat pedestrians so badly. A little look in the mirror is required here boys and girls!
by jmaccyd
2 Nov 2010, 5:05pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Cambridge to Iona
Replies: 9
Views: 826

Re: Cambridge to Iona

Looks fun. Please post your route and stuff when you have completed your tour sounds like one for me in the future. I have family on the West Coast and it would be a nice bragging rights to say to non=cyclists 'I cycled to see the family'
by jmaccyd
11 Sep 2010, 8:58pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: My touring bike dilemma...
Replies: 15
Views: 2868

Re: My touring bike dilemma...

A double use bike would be ideal. Something that I could tour on, carrying required camping gear, and then something I could use for the winter cycling club run with my cycling club. I do not have a winter machine at the moment, I tend to use a cylo-cross bike but it's a bit of a bodge really.
by jmaccyd
11 Sep 2010, 6:47pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: My touring bike dilemma...
Replies: 15
Views: 2868

Re: My touring bike dilemma...

willem jongman wrote:Yes and no - it depends on what you mean by winter bike, and on how heavy you are yourself. A total luggage weight of 13-15 kg is quite possible for camping tours in temperate Europe. On my recent trip to Norway with enough serious cold weather gear and a quite large tent I had 18 kg, but in a milder climate it would have been 15 kg. Spend some more and it could have been 13 kg, without any discomfort. You could still have a roomy tent like a Helsport RIngstind 2 Light, a comfortable and warm matress like an Exped Synmat Basic, and a Trangia 27 stove. If you want to reduce the weight even further, this can be done, but you would need to use a smaller tent, like a Laser Competition, use a more basic stove, and cut a finer line with clothing. One of the others in our group only had two lowrider panniers, fitted on a light rear rack. So yes it can be done, and it also makes for more spirited riding. As for my own bike and luggage, see here: http://picasaweb.google.nl/2010noorwegen/Anneke# It is the bike on the left in picture number 6.

You mention a tent, and a light 1-1.8 kg tent is important, but as important are a light and compact mattress and sleeping bag. The wet and dirty tent will usually go on top of the rack, but the rest will all need to fit inside the two panniers. So for mattres my recommendation would be a Thermarest Neoair for warm weather, an Exped Synmat Basic for cooler and an Exped Downmat for really cold weather. PHD Design do the best down sleeping bags (sale now on!), and Alpkit do such stuff for a more modest budget. Quality down bags are very compact. For clothng I have a 150 gram down vest rather than a gigantic fleece jacket. Ask for more tips if you are curious. Panniers also differ enormously in weight. This is my personal favourite now: http://www.outdoorworks.de/index.php?si ... ng&lang=en It is a special edition trial by Ortlieb to produce something with lighter materials. Weight about 1400 grams (the website is incorrect here).

If you wanted to use a bike like the Thorn audax, this load is still on the heavy side unless you yourself are very light. Also, a bike like that usually only allows 30-32 mm tyres, and that is on the narrow side for interesting tours. A bike like the Thorn Club Tour would be better, if you don't mind it as a winter bike. It can handle more weight, and it can take wider tyres (also good for winter riding).

Willem


Willem, thanks lots of useful info here. The winter bike option is ali framed and max tire width would be 28mm touring type tires. I am also a large rider (14 stone), so the bike would have my weight plus the gear to carry. My only other thought was the Condor Heritage, it seems to be sold as something that is just a bit more 'sporty', so would be usable stripped of racks and with perhaps lighter wheel tyre combination of doing service on the winter club run. ps the tour you where on, is that an organised group type tour? Thanks john
by jmaccyd
11 Sep 2010, 5:13pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: My touring bike dilemma...
Replies: 15
Views: 2868

Re: My touring bike dilemma...

This is an interesting thread for me too (apologies to the original poster for a little bit of highjacking) I intend to start doing some Europe touring and was thinking of going the full touring bike route because I assumed you would need both back and front panniers to carry your tent and sleeping kit. So, reading some of the posts here am I correct in thinking with some judicious spending on kit, it is perfectly feasible to tour with good sized rear panniers and a bar bag? Ideally could I get away with a good sturdy winter bike frame, with a triple, that could serve as a tourer (required for maybe 3/4 weeks touring a year) that could also double as my winter training bike (also required for ...well months) The saving to me would be in not needing two bikes, so a little bit more cash spent on more lightweight tenting equipment would be more than offset by the cost of two separate bikes. Thanks John