Search found 108 matches

by EnquiringMind
2 Jan 2014, 11:59pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Bike bag on KLM / Air France?
Replies: 2
Views: 2957

Re: Bike bag on KLM / Air France?

Thanks -

"Protective packaging" would be OK, as the bag certainly counts for some value of 'protective'. Interesting (subtle) wording distinction...

I'm not so keen on a box, if for no other reason than we're flying, getting a bus to the start of our route then a bus back from the end, i.e. not a loop where we could easily pick up the boxes at the end of the trip. A bit like boxing your bike to take it to Land's End, then having to have a box to return from John o' Groats... chances of being able to buy a bike box at the airport in Cuba = close to nil I imagine?
by EnquiringMind
2 Jan 2014, 4:14pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Bike bag on KLM / Air France?
Replies: 2
Views: 2957

Bike bag on KLM / Air France?

We're flying later this month with KLM and Air France and hope to use the CTC bike bag.

We're faced with the same dilemma as this old topic - the rules seem to exclude the bike bag: "place your bicycle in a protective container (cardboard*, hard plastic)."

Has anyone flown Air France / KLM more recently who can comment? I suppose if they can go limited release it's not the end of the world, but I'm always nervous about arguing the toss at check in desks armed with random printouts, and we're going to Cuba, so it wouldn't be easy to pick up an alternative bike at the other side...
by EnquiringMind
4 Jul 2013, 9:58am
Forum: Cycling Goods & Services - Your Reviews
Topic: CycleOps Powertap Pro
Replies: 4
Views: 11605

Re: CycleOps Powertap Pro

Thanks for your feedback. I did sort of assume prior knowledge, didn't I?

I'll try to put together a primer.
by EnquiringMind
4 Jul 2013, 6:32am
Forum: Cycling Goods & Services - Your Reviews
Topic: CycleOps Powertap Pro
Replies: 4
Views: 11605

CycleOps Powertap Pro

A power meter is probably not something that many CTC members are in the target audience for, although some of the things I'm doing with mine are surely very much on-topic (for instance, I'm currently doing a controlled test of two-wheel and one-wheel trailers against panniers - watch this space :) )

It's also given me a newfound appreciation for pacing my efforts on full day rides (even when I thought I was going easy, I was actually attacking hills much too hard, for instance).

Anyway, I wrote up a CycleOps PowerTap Pro review just before we moved house last month and it's been sitting as a draft ever since - now published at last. (There are some other bits and pieces that may be interesting in the power section of my blog).

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by EnquiringMind
28 Jun 2013, 12:08am
Forum: Cycling Goods & Services - Your Reviews
Topic: X-Tools workshop stand (wall mount) review
Replies: 0
Views: 11251

X-Tools workshop stand (wall mount) review

Now that I have an actual bike prep area (all the neighbours think theirs is a garage - what a waste!) I've started the search for a good work stand.

This X-Tools wall-mounted version is really solid and very respectably priced. It's at least 3x as good as the old fold-up workstand I had before (and freecycled in disgust).

Full review on the blog.

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As you can see, I've also DIY'd it to a portable configuration using wooden post. Principally to try out a few different positions before drilling the wall of the house, but it turns out to be rather good as it is.

Recipe to follow!
by EnquiringMind
7 May 2013, 3:48pm
Forum: Cycling Goods & Services - Your Reviews
Topic: Contour Roam 2 headcam
Replies: 18
Views: 63297

Re: Contour Roam 2 headcam

I was about to protest that mine is fine (you can get a number plate at night), but then I suppose Edinburgh has decent street lighting...
by EnquiringMind
7 May 2013, 1:50pm
Forum: Cycling Goods & Services - Your Reviews
Topic: Contour Roam 2 headcam
Replies: 18
Views: 63297

Re: Contour Roam 2 headcam

Hi Greg,

Yes, I recommend the vented mount on its own. Wiggle only seem to be selling the ludicrously expensive mount pack :shock: but eBay to the rescue as ever...

I've never tried to shoot for three straight hours, however I have had days where I've ridden for about that long without charging, and no problems (i.e. extended commute at either end of the day).

One nice thing is that it does fail gracefully, i.e. when you run out of battery it saves a valid clip then shuts down. My previous POV.1 camera would often just create corrupted clips...
by EnquiringMind
5 May 2013, 7:54am
Forum: Cycling Goods & Services - Your Reviews
Topic: Contour Roam 2 headcam
Replies: 18
Views: 63297

Re: Contour Roam 2 headcam

@RedVee, thanks for an informative answer! :)

easyroller wrote:Just checked, the Contour Roam 2 is currently on special at Amazon


Alas, Amazon don't pay tax on their UK earnings... at all. Not for us on a matter of principal (although I can understand that some won't care) :)
by EnquiringMind
4 May 2013, 8:11am
Forum: On the road
Topic: Pedal on Parliament: May 19th
Replies: 1
Views: 469

Pedal on Parliament: May 19th

Just a reminder that May 19th is Pedal on Parliament this year, and you really must be there if at all possible... http://mccraw.co.uk/pedal-on-parliament-2013-biggest/

Last year was massive. This year is going to be bigger - especially as some Edinburgh schools agreed to promote the event to that all-important demographic...

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See also the PoP website.
by EnquiringMind
4 May 2013, 7:25am
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: "Cyclists use cameras to capture dangerous drivers"
Replies: 33
Views: 7185

Re: "Cyclists use cameras to capture dangerous drivers"

FYI - I linked up a review of my video camera in the reviews forum after a few people asked me for a recommendation...
by EnquiringMind
4 May 2013, 7:11am
Forum: Cycling Goods & Services - Your Reviews
Topic: Contour Roam 2 headcam
Replies: 18
Views: 63297

Contour Roam 2 headcam

After the furore recently (see here) a number of people have asked me what camera I use and/or would recommend.

I've been shooting for a few years and currently I use the excellent Contour Roam 2. I thought I'd put together a review with sample video for interested parties.

http://mccraw.co.uk/contour-roam-2-review/

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I made a separate post recently with my general thoughts on camera use, for whatever that's worth.
by EnquiringMind
3 May 2013, 10:24am
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: "Cyclists use cameras to capture dangerous drivers"
Replies: 33
Views: 7185

Re: "Cyclists use cameras to capture dangerous drivers"

^ that's a big advantage of camera use in my opinion.

There's long been a strange undercurrent that people who buy dashcams to fit to their car, or headcams for their helmet are somehow going out to manufacture collisions and conflict.

Although I agree that there's probably quite an interesting social psychology paper or two to be written about what people choose to upload to YouTube and how they present it, a growing number of pretty mundane people have cameras (no insult intended!) - apparently sales are soaring.

In my case, I know for certain that recording myself has rounded off more than a few rough edges (on the bike and in the car).

I linked to the camera I use from the article in the OP. At around 2.5 tanks of fuel I can understand that it's not the cheapest investment, but I compare with the value of our no claims bonus and justify it easily that way (with the bike as a welcome bonus).
by EnquiringMind
3 May 2013, 10:07am
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: "Cyclists use cameras to capture dangerous drivers"
Replies: 33
Views: 7185

Re: "Cyclists use cameras to capture dangerous drivers"

I think it strongly depends on what the camera is being used to claim. For instance, it's hard to judge distance with any camera that doesn't include both road users in its field of view (i.e. junction CCTV), so I'd be loath to use it to claim anyone cut me up unless I hit or had to obviously fend off the vehicle.

On the other hand, use of a mobile or a clear infraction such as failure to stop at a stop line or driving through a red light is pretty much open and shut...
by EnquiringMind
2 May 2013, 5:42pm
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: "Cyclists use cameras to capture dangerous drivers"
Replies: 33
Views: 7185

Re: "Cyclists use cameras to capture dangerous drivers"

Shootist wrote:Helmet camera evidence is no different from any other camera evidence. What is different is that on a number of occasions the camera footage doesn't prove what the user of the camera perceives it does. That and bone idle police officers.


This is a good point. In the case of the particular driver referenced in the OP, the video is not evidence that they were using the mobile at the time of the near-miss, however much I'd like it to be (from the PoV of getting it taken seriously).

Even though in my opinion it's very clear from the latter part of the footage that the mobile is being used, I could happily accept, indeed never expected, anyone to haul the accused up to the High Court. It would have satisfied me if their ear was bent by the local constabulary and they accepted a note had been placed on their record.

To be honest, it would even have satisfied me (relatively speaking) for a police officer to give the accusation enough time of day to watch the footage. Just once. :roll:
by EnquiringMind
2 May 2013, 4:39pm
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: "Cyclists use cameras to capture dangerous drivers"
Replies: 33
Views: 7185

Re: "Cyclists use cameras to capture dangerous drivers"

Great point.

Whenever I see an HGV turning left without indicating I imagine a potential cyclist death. It would be easy to use camera monitoring to check for use of indicators at trouble junctions, for instance, then slam offenders with a fixed penalty for driving without due care.

Instead we wait for a death and then essentially have to take the driver's word for it that they weren't doing anything wrong (the very idea that we've seen drivers who kill twice boggles the mind)