Search found 101 matches

by mike_dowler
31 Aug 2015, 6:52pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Children's Bikes
Replies: 66
Views: 4536

Re: Children's Bikes

We started with a Specialised MX16 - similar to your Halfords one, but the attraction of a brand name. Big mistake.

As the children have got bigger, we moved to an Islabikes Beinn 20L and then a Frog 62. Love the Islabikes, but their recent price hikes mean that the larger models are just silly money. Frog seem to be just as good quality, though not *quite* as lightweight.

The 16 inch single speed spesh is heavier than the 24" geared Frog. How the children ever managed to ride it, I don't know. It's also fairly poor quality, and hasn't lasted well. I would definitely recommend a Frog or Islabike model. Look after it well, and you can recoup much of the cost when it's time to sell on.
by mike_dowler
7 Aug 2015, 10:19pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Newbie considering cycling in London - help!
Replies: 39
Views: 3306

Re: Newbie considering cycling in London - help!

My preferred route is via King St and Queen St to Southwark bridge, which has a nice cycle lane. Then right into Southwark St, right on Blackfriars Road then immediate left to go along the South Bank. Through St Thomas' hospital and over Westminster bridge. From Parliament Square it's fairly easy to get to Victoria. Should take about half an hour.

For planning, use http://cycle.travel
by mike_dowler
18 Feb 2015, 7:00am
Forum: On the road
Topic: Filtering and pedestrians
Replies: 13
Views: 2758

Re: Filtering and pedestrians

Use your bell. I used to get this regularly when riding in a cycle lane up the inside of stationary traffic. Unless you are on a 'bent, most cars are not too much of an obstacle to los. Buses, however, are a real problem. Keep your speed down, your eyes open, and expect a pedestrian anywhere that you can't see.
by mike_dowler
21 Jan 2015, 7:53am
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Deterrent sentencing for pavement cycling?
Replies: 90
Views: 11463

Re: Deterrent sentencing for pavement cycling?

It seems to me that there is a real risk that this case could backfire, in that (as many on here are calling for) it might result ultimately in deregulation of pavement cycling. This would do nothing to improve the image of cyclists in the eyes of the general public, and would reduce any incentive to create good infrastructure.

Cycling on the pavement is a genuine problem. We want more traffic enforcement, not less. Absolutely we should not be encouraging road users who dislike rules to simply flout them.
by mike_dowler
13 Jan 2015, 3:11pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Cycle Schemes - are they still worth it?
Replies: 33
Views: 9201

Re: Cycle Schemes - are they still worth it?

I bought a Brompton (approx £950) as a higher rate taxpayer. Left at the end of the year and was taxed on a nominal value of £250. So, I saved the tax on £700 of the cost.
by mike_dowler
12 Jan 2015, 5:14pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Cycling into the River/Canal
Replies: 70
Views: 5594

Cycling into the River/Canal

I confess that I have fallen into the Regents Canal in London. I had a squash racquet in my rucksack, and the handle caught on the underside of a bridge as I was cycling through. Gave quite a fright to the couple having a romantic picnic on the bench just past the bridge!
I gave up cycling on then towpath in Birmingham because of a number of slippery brick sections where it would be all too easy to take a dunking. That, and the general state of muddiness.
Edited to correct typo.
by mike_dowler
26 Dec 2014, 12:39am
Forum: On the road
Topic: Awful, awful cycling and I feel totally incensed
Replies: 20
Views: 3348

Re: Awful, awful cycling and I feel totally incensed

Indeed, how many times have you had to brake because a car moved in an unexpected way? Did you feel the need to post a rant each time then?
I'm not condoning bad cycling, but I don't subscribe to the view that a cat driver needs a medal merely for taking action to avoid running over another road user.
by mike_dowler
10 Dec 2014, 3:23pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Children on the back the front and everywhere else
Replies: 11
Views: 1496

Re: Children on the back the front and everywhere else

You can't really put them on a bike until they are 9 months or so - unless you have something like a Circe Morpheus where you can mount a car seat on the front. By that stage, you may find that the current child is able to ride themselves, at least on a trailer bike. We have a Roland Add+Bike, which has its own rack and allows a child seat to be fitted as well. This would work quite well for your set up.
by mike_dowler
8 Dec 2014, 9:19am
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: They tend to drive at what they consider to be a safe speed
Replies: 43
Views: 5746

Re: They tend to drive at what they consider to be a safe sp

Indeed. I think we rightly object when cyclists are forced onto shared paths to keep the road free for cars. A shared roadway is good for everyone.
by mike_dowler
26 Nov 2014, 10:25am
Forum: On the road
Topic: Tanker lorry, spot on driving
Replies: 20
Views: 3333

Re: Tanker lorry, spot on driving

OTOH, I had a bus driver yesterday who started encroaching on my (already narrow) cycle lane, so I banged on the doors to alert him. His hand signals in response indicated that he didn't understand the issue.
by mike_dowler
17 Nov 2014, 10:06am
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: UK road culture : Ched Evans vs Luke McCormick compared
Replies: 74
Views: 16621

Re: UK road culture : Ched Evans vs Luke McCormick compared

Bicycler wrote: It is absurd that people would be willing to look more kindly upon someone who had committed a crime or admitted to something they hadn't done than somebody who steadfastly refused to admit to something they hadn't done.

But that is just the point - legally, he has done it. At some point in the future, sufficient new evidence might be produced to demonstrate that this finding was incorrect. Until then, he cannot be distinguished from any other rapist who thinks that a drunk woman is fair game.

Beyond that, there is the question of the undisputed facts. He admits that he picked up a girl who was drunk and took her to a hotel for sex. This in itself shows fairly questionable (though by no means unknown amongst footballers) morality.

Footballers are primarily entertainers. Their job is not merely to win matches, but to play football that people will pay to see. Off pitch activity certainly affects this.
by mike_dowler
16 Nov 2014, 7:19pm
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: UK road culture : Ched Evans vs Luke McCormick compared
Replies: 74
Views: 16621

Re: UK road culture : Ched Evans vs Luke McCormick compared

But it is relevant. Clubs are dependent on the support of their fans. It's not like this is some official ruling.

By maintaining his innocence, Evans gives himself the burden of providing evidence to overturn the guilty verdict. If he succeeds, then of course he should be employable. If he had admitted guilt, then I suspect he would not have had so much opposition.
by mike_dowler
16 Nov 2014, 6:46pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Motorcyclist encounters obstructive motorist (YouTube)
Replies: 62
Views: 6910

Re: The Calm Before The Storm

I am interested in the assertion that motorcyclists have the right to filter. Does this have any basis in eg the HC? I appreciate the argument that it makes a (small) reduction in the length of the queue, but cannot see why it should be necessary. After all motorbikes are perfectly able to keep up with the traffic flow when it is moving; why should they not also wait there turn when the traffic is stopped?

The situation is rather different for cyclists since (a) most of us cannot keep up with freely flowing traffic, (b) the HC encourages cats to overtake (or at least assumes that they will), and (c) facilities are usually directed at providing a specific route for filtering. I starting thinking about this in the recent discussion about ASLs, which I am often forced to share with motorbikes.
by mike_dowler
8 Nov 2014, 10:00pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Aggressive Camden Council Driver – Worth Reporting?
Replies: 9
Views: 1701

Re: Aggressive Camden Council Driver – Worth Reporting?

mjr wrote:The only company OTTOMH that I wouldn't bother with is Addison Lee

I got dangerously cut up by one of their drivers because he was too busy fiddling with his mobile. I was fuming, but didn't manage to get the licence plate. From your comment, it sounds like it wouldn't have made much difference anyway.
by mike_dowler
5 Nov 2014, 11:15am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Alternative to spokes?
Replies: 6
Views: 1387

Alternative to spokes?

This was in the news a while back - I thought they had a kickstarter project or some such, but didn't see it mentioned in the website.

Of course, suspension is not free beer, and the increased comfort costs in terms of wasted power. I'm not sure how much I would be willing to make that sacrifice on a folder, at fairly steep monetary cost. The Brompton provides basic cushioning through use of a basic rubber block, which at least enables the degree of damping to be changed cheaply.