Cycling UK Forum

Looking at your diagram I find it odd that a cycle path is on the right hand side of the road, unless it's a one way sysyem?
Anyhow, the bus driver should really have given way to you out of common sense above any highway code rules/regs. You can do alot of damage eith a bus, I should know I used to drive them!.
As for contacting the bus company, a bit below the belt as while he may be a complete phallus cranium his family may not be. It's so easy to cost people there jobs these days and put a family under hard ship.
If the signage isn't clear or outright none existant then the council is the correct route.
I was told when getting my motorcycle licence that if a car etc pulls out on you, shrug ya shoulders and laugh. She it happens.

flat tyre wrote: The other thing I found that worked was the realisation that I didn't actually need to drink alcohol in order to relax in social situations.

This is gonna be a major adjustment as my sociol life (well not atm obviously) involved a drink. So gonna have to take it as it comes with that aspect.

Thank you all for the replies it does genuinley mean alot. It's good to hear that there is life after booze.
I told my other half last night and she was suprisingly supportive. She's been telling me for years I've got a problem so she's oboard which is good.
I have to have "the conversation" with family which I'm not looking forward to but that's stigma more than anything.
I have still got alot of figuring out to do but I'll get there. Thanks all and Happy Riding.

jezer wrote:I recommend giving AA another try. It can appear initially as a religious organisation, and it is common for new attendees to be put off by this. If you can see past that for a few meetings the twelve step program does work if you can follow it with an open mind. I assume there are no physical meetings as the moment, but I’m sure there are online ones. Having a sponsor within the fellowship is also very important. I have found that the AA system does work for many people, although not all of course. One thing is certain, and that is without such help the risk of relapse is very high. To give yourself the best chance of success you need to accept the program and follow it, but dial out any hint of religion. I wish you good luck.

I'll give it some serious thought as I'm no doubt going to need the support. Thanks for taking the time it's appreciated.

thirdcrank wrote:I cannot help but good luck with this. AIUI, recognising there's a problem is the first and biggest step.

Thank You

Afternoon all.
I'm posting this on this forum as I don't know any of you which likewise means I'm unonown to you guys. secondly, I love cycling and it has become a huge part of life.

It has occured to me, after yet another health damaging drink last night, that I am indeed an alcoholic. I was raised in pubs and followed suit of drinking 95% of my days. My usual drink in the house would be 4 strong beers and usually spirits ontop. When I'm out (when we could) then as many as possible.
I am functioning, employed with family and what not so an adiction isn't great. There is no off switch once I have a sip and I even male sure the beer is strong abv to get me intoxicated. These arent normal behaviours.
I tried Alcoholics Anonnymous ten years ago but it's religion based (not my cup of tea).

My lass knows I have a problem but when I try to stop she enabpes me somehow at a party or a meal etc. I'm gonna say it needs to stop tonight but I've said it before so don't know what reaction to expect.

So, Has anyone ever gone (going) through alcoholism? whay mechanisms do you use to cope when you get the urge? Has your life improved since sobering up and how? did you tell people.of your problem or just stop and keep it to yourself?

I suppose I'm posting on here because while looking at youtube videos and reading on it is helpful, it's a very lonely and isolated method of self help.

Well, thanks for reading and all the best. Ride Safe.

Evening all.
My chain and gears are making a gritty noise due to rubbish of road I imagine.
Whats the best stuff to remove grit with a brush? i've heard if you use WD40 on your casset it can strip out tje grease from the barings within?? bit beyond me as I'm not too sharp with bike mechanics.

My instinct says sprays and clean with a solvent like Carb Cleaner then relube.

Any Thoughts?

Hi all.
Bought some new pads to go with new rims and tyres, however when fitting i noticed the right hand side pad it "toed" in at the front.
I know nout about breaks, as far i know these are "horse shoe" breaks lol. I think theyre made by tektro? No markings on them. Anyhow so far the only solution i can think of is to bend the "arm" that holds the pad but im reluctant. Anyone know if this will bend and bugger my rims or is this acceptable? Is there even a solution to the issue?
Im sorry to use photobucket as the image link but images are too large to post from my phone.

http://s1021.photobucket.com/user/confe ... ml?filters[user]=137583544&filters[recent]=1&sort=1&o=1

Wow where did you come by that?

freiston wrote:With the dinky hand pump, were you pumping vigorously? .

I always pump vigorously my good man lol. I think your guess about ragging the valve about was spot on. 2 days since uaing track pump tyres have remained rock hard. Be nice to get out on the darn thing but for this infernal wind!

Whey bought a styrup pump and all seems to be well. Tyres at 93psi rather than the 67 i managed with dinky hand pump.
Wheel tape is factory as they are new. Shoudl i remove this and replace with better quality? Never hear of it being used tbh.

Eyup all.
So new Akrium rims are awesome hkwever im on my 6th inner tube in a momth or so.
As theyre 700cx23 they have presta valves and im using a little hand pump to inflate them. It seems this is kmackering the rubber around the stem.
So does anyone know is a schrader valve stem is the same diamiter as a presta? As ide prefer using schraders with a foot pump as i had no inner tube issues with mountain bikes.
Thought about a styrup pump but theyre all like 35 gabloons.

Getting to grips with strava now n what an amazing bit of kit.
Aye mike im hoping theyre ok they appear to be so think ill just enjoy the bike for a few months then have them looked over.
Just tapped each spoke with a screw driver and theyre all near eneugh pitch perfect to one and other.

Eyup all.
I can finally say I have a well sorted Road bike : a Spezialized Allez Sport with new everything including a new set of 700c Mavic Akrium wheels.

I recorded my first proper road ride on strava but theirs names for the sections like "mad bad and dangerous" "silky sprint" "school run" etc. I have the mobile version is there a way to see how others have done on these sections?? Who comes up with the names??

Also my new wheels, ah yes, every pot hole brought a wince and the sucking of air through teeth. Is their a set bedding in time before taking them to be straightened/trued up again? As i imagine now they've been used in service things may have loosened and bedded in.

Lastly, why didnt I get a road bike years ago!!! What a blast! Going up hilla waant a ball ache and the speed compared to mountain bikes is awesome!! Unfortunately, winter is on its way

Badger_Pete wrote:

Rob87 wrote:
Another example, a few months ago, I was cycling along Midmere Ave and approaching one of those traffic calming things where oncoming traffic on the other side has to give way. I was in “Primary position", there was a Bus coming the other way that by law should have stopped to give way to me. But no he carried on straight through forcing me into the kerb, then had the audacity to stop and tell me I shouldn’t be cycling in the middle of the road ! I asked him who has the knowledge about cyclist road position as per the National Cycle Training Standard him or me. And pointed towards the road sign and told him he should have stopped and waited for me to pass. He replied he was already “commited” to going through … I told him he shouldn’t have “commited” as there was oncoming traffic i.e me and he was driving without due care and attention … I think he was trying to mutter something about cyclists not been traffic, and shouldn’t get in his way.

That's correct the bus should have stopped regardless of the what type of traffic was coming through. Driving a bus is a different all game to a car and once you are "commited" that's pretty much it you are commited. One of the main reasons is you can't slow down at the same rate as a car really, whey you could but not without Dorris and her shopping going flying forward. Still, he should have paid attention to you as the signage was self explanitory.
I hear all these horror stories and wonder if the drivers are presured to keep to the schedule which may cause this. As I say I'm lucky as my gaffers insist I drive safe and late as an "incident" will cost alot more time in the end.