Cycling UK Forum

Do we really have to get into the semantics ? I'm sure most people will have seen the point I was making but fair enough . . . . . .. . . . he was a cyclist of the non law abiding variety. Pity we all get tarred with the same brush though because of the actions of idiots like him.

Why is this moron being described as a 'cyclist' ??????? He is merely another bike rider with no respect for the highway code and no regard whatsoever for the safety of others it would seem. His past criminal history as revealed to the court ( battery ) and his foul mouthed outburst directed at the police and prosecution barrister tell me all I need to know. Thug on a bike - certainly not a 'cyclist'. These are the totally irresponsible people who give genuine cyclists a bad name.

Roadster wrote:It really is intolerable when close family members engage in emotional blackmail to persuade a cyclist to wear a helmet against his better judgement - there ought to be a law against it!
The OP must dismiss the trivial concerns of his wife, daughter and grandchildren as totally unfounded, and instead adopt the views of better-informed strangers who regard the wearing of helmets as not only unnecessary but also undesirable. Accordingly, he should immediately reverse his decision to buy a helmet and reprimand, nay punish his family for their unwarranted interference in his cycling affairs.

Yes ! I like this one !
Seriously though, I obviously DO realise that their concerns for my safety are valid and genuine. I've agreed to begin wearing a helmet for that very reason. It was not my intention to start a debate about the rights and/or wrongs of helmet wearing, simply to elicit views / opinions on the lid in question. Having said that I really have enjoyed reading all your responses and thank you all for them

Hi All
I have never worn a cycling helmet before but my wife, daughter and grandchildren have begun 'pressuring' me to do so now that I have again returned to fairly regular 2 wheel jaunts ( work commute and occasional weekend day rides )

I know it's going to feel weird but I guess I'll get used to it so have ordered a Brookes 'Island' helmet. I was just wondering if anyone has any experience with this particular helmet and your opinion as to its pros / cons

I chose it because of its inconspicuous looks more than anything - at 64 I don't really want to be wearing anything too flashy and most of the helmets I see look like they owe something to Ridley Scotts 'Alien' creation

Hi All
I have never worn a cycling helmet before but my wife, daughter and grandchildren have begun 'pressuring' me to do so now that I have again returned to fairly regular 2 wheel jaunts ( work commute and occasional weekend day rides )

I know it's going to feel weird but I guess I'll get used to it so have ordered a Brookes 'Island' helmet. I was just wondering if anyone has any experience with this particular helmet and your opinion as to its pros / cons

I chose it because of its inconspicuous looks more than anything - at 64 I don't really want to be wearing anything too flashy and most of the helmets I see look like they owe something to Ridley Scotts 'Alien' creation

[Moderator's note - this topic has been split in two - this one left for answers specifically about the question, and another one created in the Helmets sub forum for discussion about whether or not helmets are necessary, whether people's families should influence their decisions, etc etc. Please bear this in mind with regard to future posts as we wouldn't want you to go to the trouble of typing out reams on the pros and cons of wearing a helmet only to see it disappeared faster than Lee Nelson at a tory conference. Thank you]

Thank you all for taking the time to respond Much appreciated.

Hi all,

Does anyone have any experience of taking a bike on the train from Snow Hill to Stratford upon Avon ?
Is it restricted in any way regarding times allowed / not allowed ? I will be eligible for the free bus/train pass in a few months and was thinking of using train / bike sometimes when I go to visit my daughter & grandchildren there.
I have checked on trainline.com but info isn't that clear. Chiltern Rails website is clearer but I think the Snow Hill to Stratford service is run by London Midland.

Would be grateful for any input folks

Colin

Si wrote:Whereas just down the road in small heath i had people driving along the pavement to get past on coming cars, people indicating left then turning right, and people treating red lights as a sign to accelerate.

Wish id been in coleshill

I find that driving standards are generally 'area specific' and, no doubt, I will be soundly castigated for daring to say this but Small Heath is just one area of Birmingham with a very high asian population and in general I find their driving 'skills' range from appalling to suicidal. The examples of driving you have cited are but the tip of the iceberg believe me !!
Before anyone entertains the notion that I am in any way ethnically biased, my wife is of Indian extraction and hails from Trinidad in the West Indies and she would agree entirely with what I am saying. We have driven through this area every Friday for the last five years so my observation is not based on a single or limited number of occurrences.
My advice would be to ''expect the unexpected'' !! Driving through here is bad enough but cycling ( properly ) would be taking ones life in ones hands

Ahh ! I see - thanks guys for the responses.

To be fair, I have never personally heard of, or researched the possibility of a connection between cycling and Prostatitis so I must 'bone up' on it. Prostate enlargement occurs in most males over time. The fortunate few never experience symptoms. The decline from a normal flow to a trickle occurs so insidiously that most men don't pay attention to it. I was diagnosed with an enlarged prostate in 2011 when one day I ceased to be able to pass urine and wound up in A&E being catheterised and drained of 1.5 ltrs !! It was excruciating. To cut a long story short I was managed thereafter on a daily tablet of Tamsulosin and I resisted the suggestion that I undergo a surgical procedure called TURPS as one of the possible side effects was impotence. In 2014 my consultant told me that unless the procedure was carried out, there was a likelihood that I would suffer serious bladder problems further down the road. I reluctantly agreed and underwent the procedure. I was in hospital for 3 days but happily I can report that I returned to 'full working order in all departments'
I would urge any sufferers to have this procedure done as it is considered the 'gold standard' according to the consultant I was under.
I would hate to think that cycling, which I love, was in any way a contributory factor in my case but I shall do a little research on the topic now

Colin

Many thanks for your prompt responses folks - clearly the person doing the reviewing was wrong. I shall go ahead and order one

I have just thrown away the tattered remains of my VERY old carradice longflap saddle bag and have been looking at a replacement. On their website I saw the 'Bagman Support which comes in fixed or quick release versions. One of those would be ideal I thought, but then I saw a customer review which said that it will not fit on the rails of a Brooks B17 !! The website blurb says : Other features:
Fits to most saddle rails.
Steel Saddlebag support.
Holds saddlebag vertical and reduces swing.
Maximum load - 10kg
Suitable for Cadet, Nelson, Nelson Longflap, Camper Longflap and
Super C Saddlebags.

The Brooks review from someone who bought a B17 on Wiggle says : "Wanted the retro look to go with my steel tourer. Surprisingly comfortable straight out of the box and more so as it gets broken in. Bit of a pain having to keep rain off and the rain cover supplied only just fits. Also doesn't work with Carradice bagman saddle bag supports. But overall brilliant english craftsmanship - love it!"

Does anyone know of a similar bag support that WILL fit the rails of a B17 or attach in some other way ?

Thanks in anticipation

Colin

I am aware that some changes have been made to the site and, to be quite honest, I haven't been on here for a LONG time, but looking at my profile page, it says that I joined in 2007 and have made zero posts. In actual fact, I joined it in 2005 and have made numerous posts which can still be accessed. What happened ??????

Colin