Search found 362 matches

by nosmarbaj
4 Feb 2024, 2:36pm
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Over-powerful LED lights
Replies: 95
Views: 6576

Re: Over-powerful LED lights

The good thing about the RAC campaigning is that they are specifically a motorists' organisation pushing for a change in motor vehicle lighting. If CUK make a big issue of it they are likely to be dismissed by some as whingeing cyclists yet again trying to curtail car drivers' divine rights, which could weaken the effectiveness of their case.
by nosmarbaj
13 Jan 2024, 4:07pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Caledonian Way vs National Cycle Route 1
Replies: 15
Views: 1174

Re: Caledonian Way vs National Cycle Route 1

ggardner wrote: 12 Jan 2024, 1:48pm Haha Paulatic,
Interestingly, one of the reasons we want to go to Shetland is because of what we’ve seen on the TV drama; rugged coast lines, quiet meandering roads, lush green hills, quaint towns…. It’s dramatically different than what we are accustomed to here in the northeast United States.
We are tempted to skip the Orkney’s (unless you think that is a mistake) so as to spend more time in the other places.
Thanks for your advice.
Happy New Year.
George
Your choice of course, but I'd say the Shetlands don't have anything the Orkneys don't. As others have said there's only one town, which isn't really very quaint; I'd describe the hills as bare rather than lush; the coast lines and meandering roads are also available in the Orkneys. In addition the Orkneys are more set up for tourism so accommodation etc. is easier, and there is a lot of really fascinating archaeology if that's of interest (Skara Brae, Ring of Brodgar, Maes Howe etc). I'm not saying the Shetlands aren't worth visiting, just that if I could visit only one set of Northern Isles it would be the Orkneys.
(By the way, I believe not all of "Shetland" is actually recorded on the islands, though it's sometimes hard to tell which bits are or aren't.)
by nosmarbaj
8 Nov 2023, 12:00pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Issue with Wiggle - Receiving gear through EvriParcel
Replies: 8
Views: 1958

Re: Issue with Wiggle - Receiving gear through EvriParcel

If you still have problems with Wiggle, there is a Decathlon in Coventry. You can get any basics you need there, though they're less good if you're looking for gear at the high end of the market.
by nosmarbaj
4 Nov 2023, 9:49am
Forum: Health and fitness
Topic: Pacemaker implantation for atrial fibrillation
Replies: 12
Views: 4596

Re: Pacemaker implantation for atrial fibrillation

Sorry for not acknowledging all responses - I haven't been here for a while. Thanks everyone.

I've done some more research and asked my cardiologist some questions - assuming nothing negative in his answers I'll go ahead with the process. I was told NHS waiting time is 2-3 months which seems very good for what in my case is an elective procedure. We'll see if that's true...

For anyone interested, I'll update as and when there's progress.
by nosmarbaj
23 Oct 2023, 5:12pm
Forum: Health and fitness
Topic: Pacemaker implantation for atrial fibrillation
Replies: 12
Views: 4596

Re: Pacemaker implantation for atrial fibrillation

Pinhead wrote: 23 Oct 2023, 4:03pm 1) The part of the heart that controls heartbeat must be destroyed so that the pacemaker can control the rhythm – so if for any reason the pacemaker fails, my heart stops
2) It’s not guaranteed to alleviate symptoms

In your heart I believe you have already answered your own questions
Thanks, but I certainly haven't decided already, though I'm leaning towards having the procedure.

Regarding point 1), people die suddenly for all sorts of reasons especially as they get older (I'm 72), and pacemakers are well-established and reliable technology, so it's not likely to happen (finding the exact failure rate is on my list of things to do).
On point 2), the consultant I spoke to was of the opinion that in my case it would help, but there are cases where it doesn't.

Another factor to consider, relating to cycling, is that modern pacemakers adjust the heart-rate according to demand (i.e. exercise). Apparently they determine this by detecting vibrations in the body. This works well for running, and rather poorly for swimming. Cycling is somewhere in the middle, plus I could stop taking beta-blockers with their negative effects on exercise.
by nosmarbaj
23 Oct 2023, 2:50pm
Forum: Health and fitness
Topic: Pacemaker implantation for atrial fibrillation
Replies: 12
Views: 4596

Re: Pacemaker implantation for atrial fibrillation

Jdsk wrote: 23 Oct 2023, 1:57pm Have they already given you the relevant background information, Patient Information Leaflets for the procedure, etc?

Jonathan
Yes they have. I believe I'm reasonably well aware of the theory, but it's always useful to know others' actual practical experience.
by nosmarbaj
23 Oct 2023, 1:06pm
Forum: Health and fitness
Topic: Pacemaker implantation for atrial fibrillation
Replies: 12
Views: 4596

Pacemaker implantation for atrial fibrillation

Has anyone any knowledge or (ideally) experience of pacemaker implantation to treat atrial fibrillation? I’ve been offered this and need to make up my mind, though there’s no great rush to do so. It’s not a cure but would probably improve symptoms and allow reduced medication. It seems the important downsides are

1) The part of the heart that controls heartbeat must be destroyed so that the pacemaker can control the rhythm – so if for any reason the pacemaker fails, my heart stops
2) It’s not guaranteed to alleviate symptoms

I’ll discuss further with the cardiologists but would be interested in any views others may have.

Background: I was diagnosed with persistent AF in 2016. Since then I’ve had cardioversion and 3 ablations, the end result of which is the AF is now paroxysmal, affecting me about 35% of the time - and that percentage is gradually increasing. I get weak and breathless when in AF so I’m reluctant to go on long cycle rides or to tour, in case I can’t make it home or to my destination. It has a definite adverse effect on my quality of life.
by nosmarbaj
18 Sep 2023, 6:23pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: How intelligent is your dog?
Replies: 159
Views: 13098

Re: How intelligent is your dog?

reohn2 wrote: 18 Sep 2023, 6:18pm How about compulsory micro chipping?
In UK it has been compulsory for dogs to be chipped for years. From next June it will be compulsory for cats too.

(edit) But as with licenses, it can't easily be enforced - you need to get pretty close to a potentially dangerous animal to detect if it has a chip.
by nosmarbaj
18 Sep 2023, 2:07pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: How intelligent is your dog?
Replies: 159
Views: 13098

Re: How intelligent is your dog?

Psamathe wrote: 18 Sep 2023, 1:06pm One aspect of widespread rules for muzzles that worries me is that wearing a muzzle restricts a dog's ability to properly communicate with other dogs which will make dog/dog issues worse (small visual communications signs e.g. with mouth and tongue.

Such a step could make the situations worse rather than improving things.
Maybe so. I don't know much about domestic dogs - I'm not a 'dog person'. I do get on pretty well with most dogs I meet, but have no wish at all to own one. When I was a child ('50s/'60s) we had a family dog, a collie with mental health issues - he would fight pretty much any other dog he met, and occasionally nipped people - would quite possibly have had to be put down nowadays. We kids were always nervous if we took him for walks, worried about what might happen. Both my siblings now have very well-behaved dogs, but I was put off for life.
by nosmarbaj
18 Sep 2023, 1:16pm
Forum: Health and fitness
Topic: Covid autumn booster
Replies: 72
Views: 17972

Re: Covid autumn booster

I got a text from GP surgery on 11 Sept offering flu + covid jabs on 23 Sept. I can't do that date so phoned surgery and they gave me an appointment on 16th. Very well organised and straightforward IMO. Felt a bit feverish yesterday (17th) but normal today - suspect this was result of covid jab as I've never had any reaction to past flu jabs.
by nosmarbaj
18 Sep 2023, 12:17pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: How intelligent is your dog?
Replies: 159
Views: 13098

Re: How intelligent is your dog?

ANTONISH wrote: 18 Sep 2023, 10:39am Reintroducution of dog licences with similar restrictions to gun licences on who can own one would be useful IMO.
If that were to happen, the licence would need to cover its costs - administration, etc - which might make it a burden for less well-off owners - e.g. the little old lady whose pet Yorkie is the only thing she has left to live for. But in principle I'd not disagree.

Another idea would be a requirement for all dogs to have to pass a behaviour test with their owner, supervised by an approved expert. If owner can't demonstrate proper control, dog not allowed in public unless muzzled and on short leash. Maybe waive muzzle requirement for puppies and very small dogs. Cost of certification borne by owner.

But I think things have mostly improved over the past decades. Back in the '60s it was considered acceptable for dogs to defecate on footpaths with no cleaning up by owners; dogs were allowed to run unaccompanied around neighbourhoods; and it seems to me that more owners nowadays understand that a dog mustn't make any uninvited physical contact with strangers, however friendly it may be - at least you do usually get an apology if it occurs. Interacting with dogs is just part of everyday life and perhaps that's how it should be. Clearly aggression to humans or other dogs is not OK, but IME it really doesn't happen often.
by nosmarbaj
17 Sep 2023, 11:51pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: How intelligent is your dog?
Replies: 159
Views: 13098

Re: How intelligent is your dog?

ANTONISH wrote: 17 Sep 2023, 10:16am Personally I think it would be a good thing if all male dogs were neutered apart from those kept by registered breeders.
It seems neutering (whether castration or spaying) may not reduce undesirable behavior (except of course unwanted sexual activity). https://www.veterinary-practice.com/art ... rs-in-dogs
This isn't something I claim to know anything about - that's just a link found by a quick Google search.
by nosmarbaj
5 Sep 2023, 5:57pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Rear wheel won't go any further in dropout
Replies: 7
Views: 614

Re: Rear wheel won't go any further in dropout

It's not 100% clear to me from the pics, but it looks like the frame has horizontal dropouts and an adapter to fit a rear mech. So the drive side should be seated fully home in the dropout, but the non-drive left side should be tightened in a position such that the wheel is centred correctly. So your problem is that the axle as pictured is already too far into the dropout. In your last pic there do seem to be marks from a nut being fitted about 1cm nearer the open end of the dropout that the position of the axle (i.e. 1cm further upwards, given the orientation of the photo).

(basically what Mike Sales said, with more words.)
by nosmarbaj
5 Sep 2023, 5:28pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Chainring replacement for 3 x 9 Deore
Replies: 12
Views: 812

Re: Chainring replacement for 3 x 9 Deore

Two things worth considering if not already checked:
  • You say you replaced a 26t ring with a 24t one. Does this mean the capacity of the rear mech has been exceeded, leading to a slack chain when on a small cog and inner ring?
  • Has the front mech been bent or knocked so that it isn't in line with the diameter of the chainrings?
by nosmarbaj
4 Sep 2023, 12:35pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: CTC Polythene bike bags
Replies: 13
Views: 1327

Re: CTC Polythene bike bags

If you search on eBay for 'polythene mattress bags' you might find something suitable. (No personal experience; other e-commerce sites are available.)