Search found 453 matches

by Mrs Tortoise
9 Jun 2013, 5:33pm
Forum: Cycling UK Member Groups and Affiliates
Topic: Guest Riders
Replies: 2
Views: 98715

Re: Guest Riders

Thanks Gaz, seems I'm not quite as senile as I thought.
by Mrs Tortoise
8 Jun 2013, 7:12pm
Forum: Cycling UK Topics and Discussions
Topic: membership
Replies: 77
Views: 150047

Re: membership

I'm a member of both CTC and BC, I might be reinventing the wheel but for a cyclist that's possibly good. I see my fee as an investment in both the sport and leisure pursuit I love. It's a personal opinion but there's room for lots of organisations if they gets people cycling and make the roads safer and more bike friendly and help the future Cavs, Wiggos and Pendletons continue to reap gold medals at cycle races.
by Mrs Tortoise
8 Jun 2013, 7:02pm
Forum: Cycling UK Member Groups and Affiliates
Topic: Guest Riders
Replies: 2
Views: 98715

Guest Riders

I have it in my head that guest riders can come on 5 rides without joining but after that they are supposed to join. I can't find it amongst policies and procedures so did I dream it or is/was this the case, and is it still extant?
by Mrs Tortoise
31 Dec 2010, 10:17pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Illiteracy in the media
Replies: 106
Views: 5344

Re: Illiteracy in the media

Goodness, when I started this I had no idea it would go on and on. As a half Scots Welsh woman who resides in England, I think I can say I'm British (unless Wales are playing). I believe the term British related to the Romano-British, who were the ancestors of the Welsh and Cornish. It was reintroduced after the Hanoverians to try and calm things down in Scotland after the Stuarts were forced to leave and the various attempts to reinstate them by the Jacobites. In reality, it's about as authentic as the tartans are to Scotland, though we cling to our cultural prejudices to validate ourselves.

At the end of the day, we're all hybrids as we'd find out if we were able to trace our family histories and we all have our blind spots in literacy and numeracy. My original gripe was the slipshod way that much of the media is thrown together today and wasn't intended to insult any who may feel less than comfortable with written English: however, journalists should surely take more care when writing or do they have no pride in their profession these days? (I do wonder when I read the corrections editor in the Grauniad).

Thanks to all who contributed and expanded this theme, I wish you all a Happy 2011 and safe cycling - Blwyddyn Newydd Dda.
by Mrs Tortoise
27 Dec 2010, 9:42am
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Illiteracy in the media
Replies: 106
Views: 5344

Illiteracy in the media

I don't claim to be the world's greatest expert on grammar and spelling, but the reliance on spell-checkers, shows how inadequate a large number of people are in terms of literacy. This is perhaps to be expected on the internet where people write things and don't check them, but supposed professional writers should know better. On the main CTC homepage, there is a section of bits from the media relating to cycling. Policing Today talks about Police peddling their way to fitness. I know it's about coppers buying bikes for coppers, and homophones aren't detected by spellcheckers, but why doesn't this person know the difference between peddling one's wares and wearing one's pedals? :roll:
by Mrs Tortoise
30 May 2010, 5:34pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Warning on crud road race mudguards
Replies: 8
Views: 1030

Warning on crud road race mudguards

I had a front mudguard explode when riding on a newly gritted road, as the clearance between tyre and mudguard is very small. So if you've fitted these to a road bike, be careful on grit.
by Mrs Tortoise
27 May 2010, 8:51pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Car Bike rack
Replies: 6
Views: 683

Re: Car Bike rack

It seems the roofbox company don't do one for my model of Megane (2003). The difficulty with my old rack is that the edge of the door on the hatch is folded under and the straps prevent the locking of the door which is flush on the bottom edge. Oh well back to the drawing board, thanks for the suggestions.
by Mrs Tortoise
26 May 2010, 8:00pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Car Bike rack
Replies: 6
Views: 683

Car Bike rack

Can anyone suggest a bike rack suitable for a Renault Megane - the one with the bump on the back. Sadly my old one doesn't fit it, and I don't have a tow bar. I don't really fancy a roof one, partly because I'd have to lift the bikes up there and I have a back problem. :(
by Mrs Tortoise
23 Apr 2009, 9:59pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Have you seen this sign?
Replies: 33
Views: 3664

Re: Have you seen this sign?

It also depends upon how fast you're moving, trucks and lorries don't appreciate that you might be doing twenty or more mph, and cut in in front of you. I nearly ran into the back of one the other day who'd cut in just ahead of me. But for the biscuit, see my entry on happy slapping.
by Mrs Tortoise
23 Apr 2009, 9:50pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Happy Slapping
Replies: 50
Views: 3809

Happy Slapping

Yesterday, while cycling up the South Dorset Ridgeway (A354) from Weymouth to Dorchester, I felt a bump on my right butock a car very near beeped twice and shot off up the hill before I could register the make or number. It took me a moment to realise I'd been happy slapped, though I was anything but happy about it. Thankfully, I wasn't hurt nor did I fall off, but continued my riding.

I had given no provocation for the assault, which this is, and can't in my wildest imaginings conceive why it happened, in other words I don't understand what they get from it.

So be warned this disease appears to have spread to south Dorset.
by Mrs Tortoise
16 Mar 2008, 8:32pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Do you cycle alone or in company?
Replies: 33
Views: 4834

I do both, alone for pleasure or to get from A to B. I also go out with our local CTC saturday group, which is a gentle ride taken at the speed of the slowest rider, often me. Got my revenge yesterday, I led it.

As we get members coming from areas of other groups, eg Somerset and Bournemouth, I take it we must be doing something right or are just such a nice bunch (all bonkers of course).

We also have gentle sunday rides twice a month.

see http://wessexctc.org/ and click on West Dorset for our programme.
by Mrs Tortoise
16 Mar 2008, 8:19pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Young female cyclist stabbed to death
Replies: 10
Views: 1918

what is most frightening, is the casualness with which knives seem to be carried and by women as well as men, and I don't mean penknives.
by Mrs Tortoise
16 Mar 2008, 8:11pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: you don't pay road tax !
Replies: 34
Views: 4582

it's an old chestnut

but the vehicle excise licence (car tax) doesn't fund the roads, only the elegibility of that car to be driven on the public highway. Road building comes from the general exchequer.

Cyclists have the right to use the public highway unless it says not, eg motorways.

If motorists think we are getting something for nothing, maybe they should try doing the same and get a bike.
by Mrs Tortoise
16 Mar 2008, 9:30am
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Do the test
Replies: 7
Views: 1211

Do the test

Have you seen this, it's quite effective?

http://dothetest.co.uk/
by Mrs Tortoise
17 Jan 2008, 6:36pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Losing my nerve?
Replies: 12
Views: 2306

The first time I got over Hardy's Monument hill in Dorset, I crawled over it at about 3 or 4 miles an hour. I had an old camper van behind me, and he couldn't overtake as there was a car trying to come down on a very narrow stretch. He stalled about three times, but I was determined to keep going having failed on the hill twice before. Apparently, he was swearing at me but I didn't stop.