Search found 1071 matches

by downfader
18 Aug 2014, 8:47pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Eventful ride last night
Replies: 3
Views: 1055

Re: Eventful ride last night

Dont worry about the rabbit. They're a hardy animal. And anyway they're vermin to a lot of land owners, farmers and gardeners.
by downfader
18 Aug 2014, 8:27pm
Forum: Cycling Goods & Services - Your Reviews
Topic: Cree light batteries - fire
Replies: 10
Views: 8317

Re: Cree light batteries - fire

Just to clarify? Are these a set of those cheap Ebay cree lights? Or a more well known make available in proper UK shops?

Most of the decent lights I use tend to have a form of mobile phone battery in them (eg Exposure, which I love). They're also encased within the housing of the light.
by downfader
24 May 2014, 8:02pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Motorcyclist knocks down cyclist - video
Replies: 17
Views: 9371

Re: How dumb do you have to be?

beardy wrote:The MET will act.


If and only if, this video appears on the mainstream press.

So I am just bumping the thread to the top again. :mrgreen:


It needs people to contact the press newsdesks with all the evidence, plus copies of the video and screen grabs of his comments. If enough people contact them they have published things before: the Guardian and Indi, and later The Times covered the Emma Way situation because of this interest. Also a number of peeps got in contact with journos via twitter and gave them the run down.
by downfader
24 May 2014, 7:43pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Vote UKIP...
Replies: 200
Views: 22296

Re: Vote UKIP...

kwackers wrote:
TonyR wrote:and a Chinese environmental policy - get rid of the green subsidies and invest them in fracking.

I think that's an insult to the Chinese. They're massively ramping up their renewables expenditure whilst we're cutting ours.


The bad thing about the Chinese and renewables is the potential of them exploiting cheap labour, as they did with building and factories. They have the power to flood their country with them cheaply, and benefit quickly from both the generation and the export of the electricity. They have no fear of patents or copyright.

Which if it happens could be bad for developing new technologies. The original creators wouldnt see a penny or their reputation could be damaged by consumers being mislead into inferior copies.
by downfader
24 May 2014, 3:56pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Vote UKIP...
Replies: 200
Views: 22296

Re: Vote UKIP...

beardy wrote:
BNP, EDL or UKIP


It is easy to type all three in one list as if they are the same thing.

However, they are not are they?

UKIP is only asking to put a halt to net immigration (including from within the EU)
just as Labour, Lib Dem and Conservatives want (excluding the EU).

BNP and EDL want something quite different, like repatriation* of non-whites.

* A bit of a silly word as they all come from the UK and have done so for more generations than myself (A true Brit).


Rightwing they still are. We know this from their recent talk of:

- removing maternity leave rights
- abolishing the human rights act
- support for the TTIP deal
- trying to get a blogger arrested
- privatising the NHS
- Remember that banking deregulation that lead to financial collapse in 2008? UKIP want more deregulation and lower taxes for the rich.
- Fox hunting?

Image
by downfader
24 May 2014, 3:45pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Vote UKIP...
Replies: 200
Views: 22296

Re: Vote UKIP...

grani wrote:I'll just say that as an immigrant in Britain it is getting increasingly uncomfortable here. I think I have contributed significantly to society in the 10 years I have lived here and paid my taxes.

The people I work with and socialize with are generally fine but the media is generally full of stories how I should be gotten rid off. The mere suggestion that you can vote UKIP and claim any sort of moral or political excuse is an insult to anyone's intelligence.

When I see this thread or any mention of BNP, EDL or UKIP it makes me fear for my future as a provider for my family and a citizen of this country. Hope that is clear enough.


At least 4 of my friends are immigrants. They've all said the same as you, and they all fear the scapegoating thats started to happen. One is muslim, two are devout christian. Parts of my family are immigrants.

I often wonder, of those who do hold objectionable views how many think that they would get some of the spoils in reward should things go their parties' way? History tells us many sympathisers often fall by the wayside.
by downfader
24 May 2014, 3:19pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Vote UKIP...
Replies: 200
Views: 22296

Re: Vote UKIP...

al_yrpal wrote:Its hilarious to see all the big political names furiously back peddling and giving respect to UKIP voters. They hadn't realised that calling UKIP racists instantly infuriated anyone who sympathised with controls on immigration and unfairly branded them racists too. I voted UKIP to kick these people in the nuts. They promised referendums which they reneged on, they dragged their feet on EU reform too, as Farage says they are just a load of PPE grads who don't live in the real world. Although I have voted all my life I don't feel I have ever had anyone to vote for.

Al


May I ask - then why vote UKIP if there are more people-centric parties? For example the Green Party - pro working rights, fair trade deals, fair pay, anti the large corps power grabs, whilst they havent implicitly agreed to an EU referendum they are open to it.

If you vote for a party you dont support the ideology of does that not risk causing wider implications? Not that UKIP were ever going to take over Britain thursday there have been issues with a few of their councillors in the past.
by downfader
24 May 2014, 3:13pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Vote UKIP...
Replies: 200
Views: 22296

Re: Vote UKIP...

Bicycler wrote:
downfader wrote:
Bicycler wrote:And I agree with Mick. We are not going to have a UKIP government after the next general election. However, if enough people vote for UKIP then the main political parties will have to start acknowledging the concerns people have.


Sometimes those concerns can be wrong. Look at the Yougov polls on how the UK sees immigration: people have a perception that defies reality..

Oh, I'm sure but the mud-slinging approach of patronisingly telling people they are just bigots and racists or they just don't understand is not the way forward. The "we know best" attitude of the main political parties is simple arrogance. It is the job of elected politicians to represent the views of the electorate, not to dictate to the electorate which views are acceptable. Regardless of where any of us stands on issues such as the EU and immigration, these are important issues to a good number of voters and therefore they should be important to politicians. That is not to say that there should be any rash decision making. There is a need for reasoned discussion of these issues, reflecting their importance to a large number of voters.


Perhaps read what John Denham said about UKIP, or even Cameron had to say recently with "I get it". If you hold on to views despite overwhelming evidence, does that not make you a bigot? No, it is not the job of politicians to represent the electorate's views, it is their job to act in their interests.

No referendum was or has been promised on the EU except by UKIP or if the Tories win 2015. If people want their view represented then they need to engage with politicians more (eg actually vote!) and tell them on-mass that they desire a greater series of referendums instead of powers delegated to MPs and Government.

After all - thats why you elect an MP - to take those decisions so we dont have to.
by downfader
24 May 2014, 3:05pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Motorcyclist knocks down cyclist - video
Replies: 17
Views: 9371

Re: How dumb do you have to be?

kwackers wrote:The Ducati Dragons forum is a good read though, looks like he gets a new one ripped...

http://hyperstrada.com/ducati-hyperstrada/663-ducati-dragons-s-youtube-channel-2.html


..and Twitter, and Reddit.. and youtube... he's deleted most of his online presence, including his business. Much of which was amusingly discussed on Cyclechat. Not only was he dumb enough to post the video, he was also dumb enough to post details of his identity.
by downfader
24 May 2014, 12:53pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Vote UKIP...
Replies: 200
Views: 22296

Re: Vote UKIP...

Bicycler wrote:And I agree with Mick. We are not going to have a UKIP government after the next general election. However, if enough people vote for UKIP then the main political parties will have to start acknowledging the concerns people have.


Sometimes those concerns can be wrong. Look at the Yougov polls on how the UK sees immigration: people have a perception that defies reality. I have to say I find it odd how UKIP seem to support the TTIP agreement... an agreement that is throwing powers away from the UK, oddly enough. At best they've remained mostly silent on TTIP.
by downfader
24 May 2014, 12:26pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Motorcyclist knocks down cyclist - video
Replies: 17
Views: 9371

Re: How dumb do you have to be?

Bicycler wrote:I can't think of a more obvious case of dangerous driving (riding?). No opportunity for blaming blinding sun or not being able to see the cyclist or the cyclist weaving or anything else. I assume a prosecution is in progress?


I understand that the Met have been notified about the incident and the evidence. Doesnt mean they'll do anything, however - like many forces there is a history of apathy towards riders (one local rider here raised concerns and was told "get off and walk, its safer" by local officers)
by downfader
2 Mar 2014, 9:36am
Forum: On the road
Topic: My cheap new Action Cam
Replies: 12
Views: 13774

Re: My cheap new Action Cam

1) Personally if nothing happens then I just delete. Sometimes I'll keep footage if something interesting is seen, or to use in a video that might promote cycling too (I dont make that many cycling videos these days).

2) Try and get hold of something like a powermonkey solar/battery charger for your travels. Something like THIS strapped on the outside of the pannier bag it will charge the internal battery during the day, plug into the camera at night and trickle charge.

When I took the SLR on holiday last year I just took loads of cards. I put a bit of scrap paper in the card case when it was filled with images and a few notes on what I'd taken.
by downfader
12 Feb 2014, 8:44am
Forum: On the road
Topic: Case law now being established against riders rights?
Replies: 31
Views: 17665

Re: Case law now being established against riders rights?

Thanks for the replies...

..I think the thing that really worries me is that this is yet another case where a legally riding cyclist has been taken down by driving that many of us would accept as falling below the standard of the charge. A lot of legal people (although not in traffic law) seem to be suggesting that the Road Traffic Act 1988 is to blame, its "poorly worded" and allows road users too much discretion in how they behave. Whilst the Judge may not have acted illegally I feel that he's part of a system that is damaging cycling...

....Its difficult to see what the CPS can now do.
by downfader
11 Feb 2014, 11:18pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Case law now being established against riders rights?
Replies: 31
Views: 17665

Case law now being established against riders rights?

Have spoken to a number of people during and after the David Irving case. Irving, as you'll know, was killed in Southampton under well documented circumstances, and the CTC/Southampton Cycling Campaign documented the trial.

Given that the Judge has directed the jury to ignore the aspect of the Highway Code that deal with low sun/glare, and seems to have suggested the rider should have been on a cycle path he may never have known existed... is there now a chance case law has been established and that riders have now effectively lost most, if not all legal protection in the courts?

I ask this because for one thing a couple of long standing riders have told me they're giving up. They feel too threatened. Another thing is that there has been an increase aggressiveness in the letters/articles in my local paper. I was subjected to two lots of road rage this week, my mother was doored on her own bike (Police investigating, driver refused to give details as well as inconsiderately parked allowing a passenger to throw a door open).

What can we/CTC now do to rectify this? To prevent these problems and crashes occurring in the first place? Ignoring it isnt working.
by downfader
11 Feb 2014, 11:06pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Wearing a camera
Replies: 23
Views: 28841

Re: Wearing a camera

Rob Archer wrote:I've been considering getting a camera for a while after a series of near misses. However I've decided against it. I think I would be subconsciously on the lookout for incidents to justify the expense! Having a camera on hat or bars would be constant reminder of the fact that I'm at a (tiny, and over-exaggerated) risk of being wiped out by an idiot.

I'd rather just enjoy my riding!


People dont just use cameras for "insurance". Theres lots of riders on youtube using them to document routes and rides.