Search found 16 matches

by thehappycyclist
21 Feb 2012, 10:58am
Forum: On the road
Topic: Another dead cyclist, another blinded by the sun defence
Replies: 77
Views: 9632

Another dead cyclist, another blinded by the sun defence

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... -home.html



Another dead cyclist, another blinded by the sun defence
I live on a longish sweeping bend on the edge of a village surrounded by flat fields. Every morning in the winter, when the sun is out just above the horizon, I stand on the edge of the pavement to watch the approaching cars for a gap, so that my missus can get off our drive safely on the school run. I watch car after car driving past at 30- 40 or so with the driver squinting into the sun.
The vast majority have two things in common.
1, They hardly reduce their speed, if at all, even though I know from my own experience that they cant see more than 5-10 yds due to the sun.
2 They nearly jump out their skin when they see me all of a sudden.
When the sun is higher I am visible for at least 50yds. If I were a cyclist 3ft out from the kerb and not some bloke standing on the edge of the kerb, there is a very good chance they would hit me.
How many times will people be killed and drivers be allowed to use the sun excuse when so few slow down to a speed that they can stop in the distance they can see?
There was another one last month, same excuse.
Maybe a much bigger emphasis in the written test on slowing down if you cant see. God knows it should be common sense but from my experience common sense and other peoples safety don't always go together.
by thehappycyclist
21 Dec 2011, 10:05am
Forum: On the road
Topic: A realistic sentence
Replies: 26
Views: 2292

Re: A realistic sentence

IIRC isn't it illegal to sell alcohol to anybody already drunk? At three times over the limit I would expect her to be clearly showing signs of drunkenness.
How long can pubs go on washing their hands of their part in all these cases?
by thehappycyclist
15 Jul 2011, 7:54pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Punch-up
Replies: 101
Views: 8333

Re: Punch-up

Whats all this slapping the panel malarkey? I find a squeezy bottle with paint stripper works much better. :D
By the by, shouldn't this thread be entitled "Assaulted?"
" Punch-up" implies two protagonists punching. There was only one thug here. :evil:
by thehappycyclist
2 Jul 2011, 9:59pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Cyclists revenge, good stories, thoughts etc.
Replies: 224
Views: 26567

Re: Cyclists revenge, good stories, thoughts etc.

About 10 years ago I was on my way home passing a side road when a car pulled up to the line with four young lads in it. The driver smiled and I dont know why but my Spider senses started tingling and sure enough ,at the last possible moment ,he pulled out forcing me to slam on and nearly go over the bars. He then shot off with the two lads in the back looking at me ,laughing their heads off and giving me the finger.
I pedaled after them as fast as I could but lost them over the next half a mile. I was livid and started to slow down and bimble the last mile home to try to calm down. Five minutes later, in the shadows as I crossed the local civic centre car park, who should I see locking their car up under a floodlight then crossing the road with cues in their hands to the local poolhall, but our four young heros. I stood there for a minute trying to decide what to do, then walked over to the car, let all four tyres down , hopped back on my bike and cycled home.
When the rain woke me up lashing the bedroom window at about 11.30 , I must admit the thought that they would be getting back to their car about then sent me back to sleep with a nice warm feeling in my tummy. They say it's best served cold...they're right.
by thehappycyclist
26 May 2011, 10:48am
Forum: On the road
Topic: Ignorant lock use, fallout to another cyclist
Replies: 41
Views: 3335

Re: Ignorant lock use, fallout to another cyclist

I cycle into Southport about once a week and there are three Sheffield stands right outside Cafe Nero. Whenever I am locking my bike up, it always warms my heart that there any number of customers sitting at tables a few feet away, watching what I am doing. I think this is the best deterrent that you could have with thieves as they don't like being watched.
Then a few weeks ago I locked up as usual and went about my business and came back about an hour later. There was my pride and joy, where I left it. Smug in the knowledge that I was so clever I unlocked my bike and went to walk away. That's when I realised that I couldn't. Some numpty who'd parked on the other side of the stand had managed to lock his bike with a cheapo cable lock round the stand and my seat stay.D'oh!
After a bit of head scratching and rubbish lock picking I decided to go for a wander, not least because those self same Nero customers that warmed my heart earlier were now watching my frustration with great amusement. I came back half an hour later and the other bike was gone, so I could leave.
So it turns out that it's smugness not pride that goes before a fall. :¬)
by thehappycyclist
1 May 2011, 6:34pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Hit and run
Replies: 16
Views: 1796

Re: Hit and run

Hi Drogyn,
Glad to hear you are getting back on the bike. Little Crosby is on my 7 mile commute, I live 2 miles from there and after one too many near misses at that corner I always take primary as it is very tight. Little Crosby is a nice wee village most of the time, but in rush hour it is a bit nose to tail and the road is a bit narrow so I ride strong secondary through most of it, to stop aggressive overtakes. Last year I had a suit in a BMW pull alongside me with the window down and bellow " Put it on the fxxking kerb you looser" My instant response " Ooh get you!" (in my best Charles Hawtrey impression) left him looking a bit confused.
Have you had any luck tracing the lowlife that hit you? Good luck with it. :(
by thehappycyclist
18 Apr 2011, 6:35am
Forum: On the road
Topic: Hit and run
Replies: 16
Views: 1796

Re: Hit and run

Sorry to hear about it drogyn, but it's good to hear of so many people willing to help and good luck with the police tracing this low life. Whereabouts did it happen? North Merseyside Lancashire plain is my stomping ground too. Generally ( Sweeping statement alert !!! ) from my past experience, drivers don't seem quite so homicidal as those that can be observed in YouTube vids from other parts. Hope it all heals soon. :)
by thehappycyclist
14 Apr 2011, 10:12am
Forum: On the road
Topic: Single file?
Replies: 23
Views: 1778

Re: Single file?

My experience, as a cyclist and a driver, is that large groups are better forming into several pelotons, each containing 6 or 8 people riding two abreast. That way a driver can treat each peloton as a slow moving vehicle and overtake it into the next safe gap as and when. Just as long as there is a decent gap between each group of cyclists and they don't bunch up, it's safer.
Near where I live, every few weeks, a local outward bound group do a large loop which is mostly cycle paths or disused rail tracks, but at one point brings them down a road that links our village and the next one 2.5 miles away. There must be 30 or more people in this group and they ride single file without a gap so cars, overtaking, pullout and have to cover at least a hundred yds before they can pull in again, clear of any bikes. The road itself is winding with only a few straight stretches which makes idiot drivers do more and more desperate things, as cars coming the other way force them to squeeze the cyclist towards the hedge. It is only a matter of time until somebody is badly hurt. Next time they go past I might jump in the car and follow them with a video camera as it would be a perfect training video of how not to ride in a group. :shock:
by thehappycyclist
5 Apr 2011, 1:15am
Forum: On the road
Topic: Cycling Round Liverpool
Replies: 7
Views: 712

Re: Cycling Round Liverpool

Find your way down to the riverfront at Otterspool Prom then cycle the route north, on the shared path, to the Pier Head at the Liver Buildings. Check out the Three Graces, the Albert Dock and Echo Arena. Catch the ferry cross the Mersey and when you get off turn right (north) and follow the prom as it goes (with one or two road links) all the way around the north end of the peninsula to Hoylake. It will take 2 or 3 hours each way. With a lunch break at Hoylake. This will make for a pleasant day out. :¬)
by thehappycyclist
4 Apr 2011, 6:48pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Stopped by the Police again!
Replies: 92
Views: 11922

Re: Stopped by the Police again!

bought a trailer and used it for about six months to ferry my 2 and 5 year old daughters about. From day one I was never at ease with what I was doing even though I am am rock hard radical cyclist who rides 365 days a year, everywhere I go and believe cycling is the future of transport for most of us. The thought was always there that no matter how safety conscious I was, lights, dayglo colours, flags fluttering and perfect road positioning, I could never stop some distracted driver from hitting us from behind.
What made me finally put the trailer away was a near miss we had on a perfect sunny day, on a straight road, in perfect conditions. We were riding along when suddenly I heard screeching brakes and turned around to see a white faced driver swerving round us. About 200m up the road he stopped in a gateway and got out waiting for us. As I pulled up I was about to launch into him when he started a profuse grovelling apology. His voice was shaking with emotion and he was nearly in tears. It turned out that we had gone from bright sunshine to under a dark canopy of trees as the road entered a stretch of wood. He was following a car too closely and had not seen us enter the strong shadow from the tree canopy, unlike the car in front of him who pulled out past us without warning him by indicating, and he had only seen us at the last moment.
So , a combination of bad driving technique and strong contrast had nearly done for us. I used the trailer for a little while longer on cycle paths and round town where the speeds where relatively low, but my heart was never really in it after that. Funnily enough, if I had been able to get a three wheel bike where the girls went in seats in front of me ( like a stop me and buy one ) I would have been much happier to go back onto country roads again, though I'm sure even if I was hit before them, at that speed we all would have been heading to the morgue.


Sorry for the earlier hanging post. Even though they are now eight and ten they can still manage to knock a glass of orange juice all over the table and my laptop :¬(
by thehappycyclist
28 Mar 2011, 9:35am
Forum: On the road
Topic: Stopped by the Police again!
Replies: 92
Views: 11922

Re: Stopped by the Police again!

I bought a trailer and used it for about six months to ferry my 2 and 5 year old daughters about. From day one I was never at ease with what I was doing even though I am am rock hard radical cyclist who rides 365 days a year, everywhere I go and believe cycling is the future of transport for most of us. The thought was always there that no matter how safety conscious I was, lights, dayglo colours, flags fluttering and perfect road positioning, I could never stop some distracted driver from hitting us from behind. What made me finaly put the trailer away was a near miss we had on a perect sunny day on a straight road in perfect conditions. We were riding along when suddenly I heard screecing brakes and turned around to see a white faced driver swerving round us. About 200m up the road he stopped in a gateway and got out waiting for us. As I pilled up I w
by thehappycyclist
23 Jun 2010, 6:53pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Arson about..
Replies: 11
Views: 806

Re: Arson about..

Where's the motivation? I think a clue is the alcohol. It plays a part in many anti-social / vandal scenarios. There is a bin in our villiage. Just the one. In the last couple of years it has been burnt down to a puddle of plastic and replaced three times. Each time it was drunken youths.
Boredom+young males+alcohol=stupidity. Just count the smashed bus stops and phone boxes on a sunday morning
by thehappycyclist
10 Jun 2010, 12:52am
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Acknowledging other cyclists (Tea room context)
Replies: 23
Views: 1538

Re: Acknowledging other cyclists (Tea room context)

I drove a Bay Window T2 VW campervan for 15 years until I had to let her go in 2007. One of the many pleasures that I got from having the van was the friendly
wave every time you passed another. Also every time I was stopped with the enginge bay door open ( Quite often with a 30yr old van ) Not one van ever went past without stopping to see if they could help. I think it was a feeling of commradship, of mutual respect for being involved with something out of the ordinary. Funny you should mention the reaction of the two grand bike owners. The only times I got a blank in the van was young men who had obviously payed top wack for a souped up models. Could be a coincidence.....but I doubt it.
by thehappycyclist
9 Jun 2010, 11:49pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Bad drivers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Replies: 40
Views: 2839

Re: Bad drivers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

About 10 years ago I was on my way home passing a side road when a car pulled up to the line with four young lads in it. The driver smiled and I dont know why but my Spider senses started tingling and sure enough ,at the last possible moment ,he pulled out forcing me to slam on and nearly go over the bars. He then shot off with the two lads in the back looking at me ,laughing their heads off and giving me the finger.
I pedaled after them as fast as I could but lost them over the next half a mile. I was livid and started to slow down and bimble the last mile home to try to calm down. Five minutes later, in the shadows as I crossed the local civic centre car park, who should I see locking their car up under a floodlight then crossing the road with cues in their hands to the local poolhall, but our four young heros. I stood there for a minute trying to decide what to do, then walked over to the car, let all four tyres down , hopped back on my bike and cycled home.
When the rain woke me up lashing the bedroom window at about 11.30 , I must admit the thought that they would be getting back to their car about then sent me back to sleep with a nice warm feeling in my tummy. They say it's best served cold...they're right.
by thehappycyclist
4 Jun 2010, 11:45pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: My stupid mistake . . .
Replies: 6
Views: 832

Re: My stupid mistake . . .

Last year I was driving down a local duel carriage way when I spotted ahead of me, a mate , Tony, in his old blue Citreon van. Standing out a mile with his bald head and a roofrack full of copper pipes ( he's a plumber ) As I drew past him I beeped my horn and gave him two fingers ( our usual greeting to each other )
A large bald bloke I had never seen before was glaring back at me mouthing obsenities.
I've never been more thankful for my 2 litre engine than I was that day.