Search found 17215 matches

by Psamathe
19 Mar 2024, 12:26pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Would it be unreasonable … ?
Replies: 32
Views: 835

Re: Would it be unreasonable … ?

My impression: Probably the best one can hope for in the real world would be through an information campaigns. Make people aware of what they are doing.

Quite probably some of those with overbright lights also moan about others with overbright lights but "mine are properly adjusted ..." (1001 excuses why "me" doing something is acceptable where others doing the same isn't).

I can't see regulation have any meaningful impact as they wont be any enforcement. People who couldn't care less about others and the impact they are having will ignore regulation and just keep doing it pretty well whatever.

Ian
by Psamathe
19 Mar 2024, 11:07am
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: UK Politics
Replies: 936
Views: 72563

Re: UK Politics

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2024/mar/19/rachel-reeves-labour-rishi-sunak-keir-starmer-uk-politics-live-latest-news-updates?page=with:block-65f967218f08340fa890d5e3#block-65f967218f08340fa890d5e3 wrote:Tory party fined £10,750 by Electoral Commission for not accurately reporting non-cash donations
...
The Conservative party has been fined £10,750 by the Electoral Commission for failing to accurately report non-cash donations worth more than £200,000.
...
Anybody surprised?

Ian
by Psamathe
19 Mar 2024, 10:15am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Articles/videos with touring inspiration
Replies: 10
Views: 910

Re: Articles/videos with touring inspiration

Whole sequence of videos of talks from Cycle Touring Festival. They are videos of the talks from the festival itself so a load are released after the festival then nothing new for a year until the next event ...
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmjDRt ... KEYrGJtE2A

Lots of videos up but new ones wont be until after next festival this May? https://cycletouringfestival.co.uk

Ian
by Psamathe
17 Mar 2024, 8:45pm
Forum: Using the Forum - request help : report difficulties
Topic: Site response is slow
Replies: 31
Views: 6253

Re: Site response is slow

20:43 V v v v slow again. Had a few "Server is not responding" failures from browser

Ian
by Psamathe
17 Mar 2024, 7:34pm
Forum: Using the Forum - request help : report difficulties
Topic: Site response is slow
Replies: 31
Views: 6253

Re: Site response is slow

19:32. Suddenly back to normal.

Ian
by Psamathe
17 Mar 2024, 7:31pm
Forum: Using the Forum - request help : report difficulties
Topic: Site response is slow
Replies: 31
Views: 6253

Re: Site response is slow

19:30 Not for me. All access v v v slow )viewing & posting)

Ian
by Psamathe
17 Mar 2024, 6:09pm
Forum: Using the Forum - request help : report difficulties
Topic: Site response is slow
Replies: 31
Views: 6253

Re: Site response is slow

Jdsk wrote: 17 Mar 2024, 6:06pm Very slow.

Jonathan
For me too. For at least the last 45 mins (probably longer). Both viewing anything, not just posting.

Ian
by Psamathe
17 Mar 2024, 5:51pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Touring shoes for bunions and wide feet
Replies: 16
Views: 498

Re: Touring shoes for bunions and wide feet

scandalxk wrote: 17 Mar 2024, 5:23pm
Psamathe wrote: 17 Mar 2024, 3:08pm I suffer the bunions (one foot) and I've mostly switched to the Shimano sandals (SD5?)...
Thanks, Ian. I should have mentioned that my bunions don't hurt in themselves, but they just make it awkward finding shoes to fit around them. I am tempted by Shimano sandals, but as I will be touring in Donegal I probably need something a bit more...weather-appropriate!
I wear my SD5s all year round, always with hiking socks (which provide some padding and avoid rubbing). Right through winter. Been in some horrendous thunderstorms in them (in France) and they dry quickly (plenty of air movement).

Ian
by Psamathe
17 Mar 2024, 3:08pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Touring shoes for bunions and wide feet
Replies: 16
Views: 498

Re: Touring shoes for bunions and wide feet

I suffer the bunions (one foot) and I've mostly switched to the Shimano sandals (SD5?). The straps are velcro adjustable so can be set as lose as you want. https://bike.shimano.com/en-EU/product/ ... SD500.html

They are clipless sandals but come with a clip covers (mine did) so should also work with flat pedals.

That said, I'm finding a fair amount of my bunion pain is aggravated by big toe movement rather than pressure or rubbing on the bunion.

Ian
by Psamathe
17 Mar 2024, 3:00pm
Forum: Using the Forum - request help : report difficulties
Topic: Academic surveys
Replies: 8
Views: 264

Re: Academic surveys

Without commenting on the current survey (which I have completed), sometimes the survey designer appears not to be a cyclist and doesn't understand aspects of cycling. This comes out in the questions, revealing questions based on "cycling stereotypes" and not being relevant to groups of cyclists.

Questions can become all but impossible to answer if you are not in the inadvertently selected target group ("inadvertently " because of the cycle stereotypes the researcher considers). This can prompt reply postings about the researcher's (lack of) understanding.

Less of an issue where the research is stated as eg regular city cycle commuters.

Ian
by Psamathe
17 Mar 2024, 2:52pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Just how long will it take to turn this ship around?
Replies: 41
Views: 964

Re: Just how long will it take to turn this ship around?

Carlton green wrote: 17 Mar 2024, 2:02pm ...
The country can turn around but it will take time and I suspect that there’s going to be pain too. ...
My worry is that with Starmer and his current direction the pain will be endured by those already struggling. Lower down the income scale and more in meed will be endure more of the pain. Bit those at the top will continue not even being aware there is pain. Bankers getting their unlimited bonuses, company bosses enjoying no tax increases, etc.

But Starmer seems to be pursuing votes rather than good governance and doing what the country meeds.

Ian
by Psamathe
17 Mar 2024, 11:55am
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Just how long will it take to turn this ship around?
Replies: 41
Views: 964

Re: Just how long will it take to turn this ship around?

I agree.

In terms of getting the economy back on its feet, we fighting hard against self-imposed obstacles (Brexit).

In terms of getting some sort of ethical behaviour back into our governance, I can't see it happening with the current incumbents in Westminster. Conservatives happy to accept vast sums from people who feel it acceptable to throw out racism, misogynistic abuse and suggest MP are shot! Where Government Ministers suggest they'd be using violence against Civil Servants going about their business (Keegan). Where Government Ministers post untrue, unfounded defamation against innocent people on their personal Twitter account and get taxpayer to pay for compensation (Donelan).

And Labour have major issues eg 11+ months to investigate 8 sentences (Dianne Abbot). I had great hopes for Labour when Starmer took the Leadership but now they seem to be happy to do anything for a vote eg very happy with unlimited banker bonuses, dropping environmental budgets, dropping most commitments, etc. They now seem to be Conservatives under a different name.

My hope is for a hung Parliament. I don't thing that would be a good outcome but I suspect it might be the least worse option.

Ian
by Psamathe
17 Mar 2024, 11:18am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Loire campsite recommendations?
Replies: 1
Views: 79

Re: Loire campsite recommendations?

Campsite in Angers (Lac du Maine) recently changed ownership and I've not stayed under new ownership but was warned off by others - expensive, not very good and only useful if you are doing something on the lake. I stayed a short distance to the north in Avrillé (not much in the town except shops/restaurants but nice campsite, good for cyclists).

Campsite at Amboise is massive and it's a touristy town. Campsite can get busy but they have a separate no vehicle area for tents. The town is nice to wander around and not horrendously crowded when I've stayed there. Book ahead online.

A lot of French campsites are now using the online booking services which charge a booking fee and some (eg Amboise) wont even accept telephone reservations but say to go online). For 5 maybe less of an issue but as one person the booking fee can be a significant amount on top of the overnight fee. also, when booking day before the online booking systems are a nightmare as you book in the evening and get "We're checking your reservation and will let you know when it's conformed as available" ... then next day arrive, check-in, get setup, make coffee, etc. then get the e-mail from the booking service "Your reservation is available and confirmed". I try to phone ahead.

But on a shorter trip I'd expect your camp sites to be determined by daily distance rather than the site itself ie start end end points defines, given number of days so you'll want sensible distances between overnights not a fee 10 mile days and then a massively long day.

Ian
by Psamathe
16 Mar 2024, 9:51pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Should the BBC be privatised?
Replies: 114
Views: 4350

Re: Should the BBC be privatised?

Mike Sales wrote: 16 Mar 2024, 8:55pm
Psamathe wrote: 16 Mar 2024, 8:38pm
Mike Sales wrote: 16 Mar 2024, 7:56pm

Podcast?
Two minutes?

Yes. It's BBC. I pay ie it's not advertising funded. Independent podcasts sometimes ask for donations to cover costs. Some podcasts I listen to have an ad free subscription version as well as a free version with/funded by advertising again to cover costs. BBC is license fee funded so they have no need to be pushing stuff through ads.

Comparing to TV commercials is not a sensible comparison as TV program making is expensive and commercial stations depend on ad revenue. BBC mostly license fee funded and we are discussing audio content already created anyway for radio.

Ian
I make a distinction between a trailer and an advertisement which you refuse to recognise.
...
I don't refuse to recognise it. It may be a relevant distinction for you but to me it's all unwanted irrelevant pushing something I don't want (and something most listening to the podcast wont be interested in based on subject genre). I'm sure some others see it the same way as you and I'm sure some others see it the same way as me.

My comment is it's excessive irrelevant and they ate not dependent on it as s funding source. If it were shorter (and not multiple ads) and/or for something even slightly related then not do bad but long and unrelated makes it something I object to.

Ian
by Psamathe
16 Mar 2024, 8:52pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Bike recommendation or considerations
Replies: 35
Views: 831

Re: Bike recommendation or considerations

TheWho wrote: 16 Mar 2024, 7:05pm ...
Looks like I'm not getting out on to any tracks for a long while.
Don't give-up. If you want to resume cycling and from your other thread one option is to reconsider the type of cycling. If you are really set on getting out on tracks then maybe less specialised, less niche bike. Or reconsider your reasons for avoiding roads?

Ian