Search found 35 matches

by thegirlfrommarz
8 Jul 2014, 4:55pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: One year ban for aggressive use of car
Replies: 10
Views: 5371

Re: One year ban for aggressive use of car

I saw a driver overtake a horse and rider far too close and too fast on my commute home the other day. The horse was clearly unnerved, and was skittish, but the rider managed to get it under control. Don't usually see horses on the roads where I live, but I hope most people would have more sense than to blow past a horse at speed. A fast, close overtake on a bike is no fun, but at least my bike doesn't get spooked (the rider is another matter). :)
by thegirlfrommarz
3 Sep 2010, 3:29pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: How easy is it to fit panniers?
Replies: 27
Views: 1487

Re: How easy is it to fit panniers?

Thanks so much for all your help! I will be buying some panniers to go on the existing rack and having a go at fitting them myself. I'll let you know how I get on...
by thegirlfrommarz
1 Sep 2010, 3:58pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: How easy is it to fit panniers?
Replies: 27
Views: 1487

Re: How easy is it to fit panniers?

Okay, the advice is pretty much unanimously to go to a good local bike shop and have a chat about it, so I will do that - plenty to choose from in Oxford! Thanks for the help - much appreciated, especially as I am new to doing bits of work on the bike myself, but v. much enjoying the bits I've done.

Here's the closest pic I can find:
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/ridgeback/meteor-2010-womens-hybrid-bike-ec021107?query=ridgeback%20meteor%20ladies%202008
This is not exactly my bike, as mine is the 2008 Ridgeback Meteor Women's bike in white, not the 2010 model, but unless I go down to the work bike racks and photograph the bike (which my boss might not appreciate), this is the best I can do.
by thegirlfrommarz
1 Sep 2010, 2:37pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: How easy is it to fit panniers?
Replies: 27
Views: 1487

Re: How easy is it to fit panniers?

No, I haven't ever had panniers before! Thought there was more technical difficulty to it than just clipping them on... but if that's not the case, I'll order some now. :oops: Thanks!
by thegirlfrommarz
1 Sep 2010, 1:33pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: How easy is it to fit panniers?
Replies: 27
Views: 1487

How easy is it to fit panniers?

Okay, I have checked the Too Good to Lose area and searched the board, and can't find the answer to my question, so please forgive me if it's been asked before!

I have a hybrid bike that I use for commuting to work and for country rides. I feel like a bit of an idiot with my handbag in my bike's rear basket when out on day-rides, and would like to get panniers instead (plus could take more stuff). How easy are panniers to fit yourself? The basket is already on a rack, so I presume the panniers could go on to this instead, so I wouldn't have to fit the rack. My technical ability is fairly low, but I can change my own brake blocks and replace tyres (just don't ask me to put up a shelf!). Could a technical dummy like me fit my own panniers?
by thegirlfrommarz
17 Aug 2010, 10:59am
Forum: On the road
Topic: Speeding in Oxfordshire up 88%
Replies: 261
Views: 11580

Re: Speeding in Oxfordshire up 88%

I'm an Oxford resident and occasional lurker here, as I get more into cycling! I had to take the car this morning (had some stuff to carry in to work) and halfway there was overtaken on a 20mph limit side street by some idiot who obviously thought me obeying the speed limit (and also not scraping up the bottom of the Audi TT on the speed bumps) was far too much of a bore for someone as important as him. He then sped off past the hospital and school at 40+mph in a 20mph zone.

Anecdata, but while most Oxford drivers seem to be driving as well or as badly as they always did and most of them are obeying the limits, there are a few who seem to have taken all the press coverage of the speed cameras being turned off as a licence to drive like idiots.
by thegirlfrommarz
6 Jul 2009, 6:23pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Oxford - London Road Cycle Lane
Replies: 6
Views: 803

Re: Oxford - London Road Cycle Lane

I cycle this route most of the time - I live on the outskirts of Headington and work in the city centre. I can't say I'd noticed the bumpiness of the cycle lane, but that's because I haven't used it yet - I'm sticking with the bus lane rather than have to give way and all the side roads. I haven't yet had any grief from bus drivers, but maybe I've just been lucky so far - I do try to go at a reasonable clip so I'm not holding them up.

What a lot of numpties commenting on the Oxford Mail article (or maybe it's just that one bloke, Zimmer)! I can't imagine any driver would actively choose to stop-start their way along a road, giving way to side roads all the time, when there was an alternative available - why would anyone think a cyclist would do it by choice?
by thegirlfrommarz
10 Nov 2008, 4:59pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: stooping to their level, part 2...
Replies: 46
Views: 4389

dan_b wrote:Hmm. It's not an argument I particularly like. I have before now heard "Don't use the ASLs because I find it annoying having to overtake you in my car repeatedly when you've overtaken me by filtering past when I'm stuck in a queue", and I possibly have more sympathy with that POV, because it's even harder to overtake safely in a wider vehicle than it is on a bicycle.


dan_b - what, even if the person has jumped a red light to get ahead of me, while I stop at the red light and wait for the lights to turn green so I can proceed without breaking the law?

Filtering up to an ASL is a different thing altogether - any motorist who tells you not to use the ASLs because they don't want to have to overtake you is being a prat. Using an ASL is perfectly legal - jumping a red light is not. I am annoyed by people jumping red lights in general, and I find it especially annoying when it means I get stuck behind a cyclist I've already overtaken once.

P.S. Just explaining why I find it particularly annoying in this situation. Don't mind being stuck behind slower cyclists in other circumstances, and will wait till it's safe to overtake before doing so.
by thegirlfrommarz
10 Nov 2008, 12:36pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: stooping to their level, part 2...
Replies: 46
Views: 4389

thirdcrank wrote:I've seen all sorts of pro's and cons for RLJing - and I thought I'd seen them all.


Hmmm, suspect I haven't been clear here. What I mean is "I find it annoying to have to overtake the same person several times in one trip because I'm stopping at the lights and they aren't"? Surely that one's come up before?! :)
by thegirlfrommarz
10 Nov 2008, 12:07pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: stooping to their level, part 2...
Replies: 46
Views: 4389

You probably did the right thing in ignoring him, but I've voted for (a) as I find this really annoying.

I'm quite a fast cyclist - well, probably not compared to anyone on this board, but compared to a lot of other cyclists on the road - and I hate going to all the trouble of overtaking someone (not easy on some of the roads, where there's a lot of traffic), only to have them pass me by jumping a red light so I have to do the whole thing again. I have a really nice downhill on my way to work that is the most fun part of my journey and if I have to brake all the way down it because I've been overtaken by someone who jumped a red light and then is too scared to go at speed... well, grrr! :evil:
by thegirlfrommarz
6 Nov 2008, 11:04am
Forum: On the road
Topic: Hi Viz, cheapo or label?
Replies: 29
Views: 3353

My fluorescent vest is a year old and doesn't seem to have faded yet. I tend to keep it in a plastic bag when it's not in use, rather than hang it up - maybe that helped to keep it bright?
by thegirlfrommarz
3 Nov 2008, 4:48pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: It makes my blood boil.....
Replies: 94
Views: 7857

The police in my area were stopping and fining unlit cyclists on two occasions recently - they tend to do a crackdown when the clocks go back (not sure it'll last into the depths of winter...). So maybe there is a chance that the police might be doing something similar in Alan's area.

Alan - I think it was good of you to try to warn the cyclist that he was difficult to see, although I'm not surprised you didn't get a good response. I guess no one likes to be told they're doing something wrong! If you're going to approach someone to tell them they aren't visible enough, I think you have to recognise that you're criticising them, even if it's constructive criticism coming from the best possible motives, and that they probably won't like it. If you're going to approach someone (and I probably wouldn't myself), it would be best to be conciliatory and make sure you couch it in terms that make them feel like you're just trying to offer some help, not telling them they're doing something wrong. I know before I started driving, I didn't realise how invisible cyclists are to cars in the dark with no lights, dark-coloured clothing and no reflectors, so teenagers and non-drivers may not realise that they don't stand out as much as they think they do. So that might be a good place to start a conversation.

You can't make someone take good advice, however, so if the other cyclist isn't interested, give it up and let it go.
by thegirlfrommarz
3 Nov 2008, 3:30pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Clothing Advice
Replies: 12
Views: 1511

I'm only a commuter so can't advise on off-road gear, but have found a good quality waterproof walking jacket (I have a Berghaus one with a microfleece zipped into it) and a hi-viz vest like this one from Altura works for me:
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Cycle/7/Altur ... 360009457/
It's very flexible as I can wear the jacket when I'm not cycling.
by thegirlfrommarz
28 Oct 2008, 6:47pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Cycling in slow moving / stationary traffic
Replies: 15
Views: 2409

All of the above - although I'm more likely to stop and wait with traffic if there's no room to filter on the inside than I am to overtake on the outside.
by thegirlfrommarz
28 Oct 2008, 6:46pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Hi Viz, cheapo or label?
Replies: 29
Views: 3353

I have an Altura hi vis vest to go over my waterproof and I like it a lot - only cost £20 and is fluorescent with reflective stripes (invaluable now that the nights are drawing in!). I haven't tried any of the cheap ones, though.