Search found 411 matches

by Ruadh495
14 Dec 2017, 3:14pm
Forum: Helmets & helmet discussion
Topic: School trying to make helmets compulsory
Replies: 312
Views: 29485

Re: School trying to make helmets compulsory

My comment was more about the possession (rather than use, though arguably it was doing as much good where it was as it would be on his head and didn't present a strangulation risk) of the helmet than anything else, though the riding on the pavement was illegal and the lack of lights would have made riding legally on the road more dangerous than it would have been with lights. The carrying of a helmet suggested to me that the school was concerning itself with helmets but not with lights or training (both of which are IMO more important)

Should perhaps add that I rather approve of his approach to school helmet rules (assuming that was the reason), high vis etc, though personally I'd use lights and ride on the road rather than the pavement.

As far as I know I've never failed to see an unlit cyclist while driving a motor vehicle (where did that dent come from... ) but I have had a couple of near misses cycling recently. Narrow badly lit cycle paths after dark, cyclists coming the other way quite fast without lights. Got me wondering what would have happened if I had also been unlit.
by Ruadh495
14 Dec 2017, 12:28pm
Forum: Helmets & helmet discussion
Topic: School trying to make helmets compulsory
Replies: 312
Views: 29485

Re: School trying to make helmets compulsory

I'm not sure it was after sunrise, legally it might have been but there certainly wasn't much light and I wouldn't have considered riding without lights in those conditions myself.

Lacking lights I think riding on the pavement was a good choice.
by Ruadh495
14 Dec 2017, 10:50am
Forum: Helmets & helmet discussion
Topic: School trying to make helmets compulsory
Replies: 312
Views: 29485

Re: School trying to make helmets compulsory

Saw a pupil on his way to school yesterday; riding on the pavement on the wrong side of the road, dark clothing (school uniform), no lights, but he did have a helmet... hung from the side of the saddle.

So I guess one of my local schools has a similar policy.
by Ruadh495
13 Dec 2017, 4:46pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Should having the right to a home be enshrined in law?
Replies: 26
Views: 1215

Re: Should having the right to a home be enshrined in law?

Tiny homes are a great idea, but it's finding a site that's the problem. And planning, of course.

I'd like to see a right to reside on your own land, without implying any right/permission to erect permanent structures. So an individual can buy cheap land and live there in a tent, but building a bungalow would still require planning permission.

Wales does have a permission system for low impact dwellings and I believe Scotland also has something (hutting?) but nothing in England.
by Ruadh495
8 Dec 2017, 1:11pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Minimum Standard of Living
Replies: 102
Views: 3540

Re: Minimum Standard of Living

One of the big problems in the UK (IMO) is that rents are so high, and so much higher than mortgage costs. That's partly down to low interest rates, but also due to landlords being speculative investors who are themselves borrowing most of the capital. So the rent has to cover the mortgage plus landlord's profit. I believe the market rent has to be the mortgage repayment plus 30% before a buy-to-let mortgage will be considered?

That makes it significantly cheaper to "own" (mortgaged) a property than to rent one (assuming you can come up with the deposit). High rents compared to wages make it impossible for renters to save a deposit, so they can't avoid renting and rents can rise without restriction.

If only there were a socially minded "landlord" that people could rent property from at a reasonable rate. The government perhaps, or maybe local authorities...
by Ruadh495
8 Dec 2017, 12:41pm
Forum: Helmets & helmet discussion
Topic: School trying to make helmets compulsory
Replies: 312
Views: 29485

Re: School trying to make helmets compulsory

I have Schwalbe "Snow Studs" which are even cheaper (the trick is to buy them in May...) Currently on their second winter so getting on for 2000 miles on them. I lost a few studs early on (I've got the tool too) but none recently. You do need clearances for 622 X 40 though.

They are draggy (but no worse than a set of Sensamo "Speed"), noisy (good for alerting sleepy peds) and generally horrid. Most of the time they aren't needed, but if you do encounter ice they become invaluable and you never know where you might find black ice... Does that sound like another piece of kit?

There's really no way to know how many falls studded tyres prevent, since you don't even notice the ice. The only way you can tell is when you get off and promptly fall over...

I'm not sure about the advice to avoid cycle paths in icy weather. I can see why it's given, carriageways are usually clear (and gritted), but if cars are losing grip you really don't want to be around them. So use facilities where available but carry your own grit in the form of studded tyres. You are also likely to be going slower in icy weather, which can make shared use paths more acceptable. Crashing off a cycleway is better than ending up under a car (Natural Ankling might not agree at the moment).

Personally I'd put tyre studs above helmets as a precaution (engineering measures should always be considered before PPE), but you can always do both. I don't, I find a helmet encourages close passing and prevents the use of more useful headwear, but that's me.
by Ruadh495
4 Dec 2017, 10:51am
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Canoe
Replies: 51
Views: 4946

Re: Canoe

I let my BCU membership lapse years ago. I'd have kept it for the waterways license but there's no waterways around here that are on it. Plenty of canoeing, all on tidal water.

I was never an Instructor, so lapsing isn't a problem. BCU Instructor qualifications are voided if your membership lapses...
by Ruadh495
1 Dec 2017, 3:37pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Canoe
Replies: 51
Views: 4946

Re: Canoe

Vorpal wrote:For anyone considering canoing, I recommend some practice righting a canoe in open water. Even experienced canoeists sometimes tip or get swamped, and it was a 'test' I had to pass before I was allowed to canoe on my own when I was young (early teens?). Also, keep any valuables, such as phones and wallets in something water tight, either attached to your body, or in something floating.


I'll second that bit. It's not easy, especially the getting back in bit. Even a small canoe looks like an oil tanker from the water... Make sure you practice not just with any canoe but with your canoe. Many canoes as sold are difficult to impossible to recover in deep water.

That's canoes; inflatables and sit-on-top kayaks should be much easier (while traditional kayaks are almost impossible, unless you roll successfully). It's probably not very relevant to someone who only wants to paddle on a canal though. Swim to the side is going to be the most viable method of recovery in a canal.
by Ruadh495
1 Dec 2017, 3:17pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Canoe
Replies: 51
Views: 4946

Re: Canoe

PH wrote:What do canoes do at locks? Get out and carry I suppose?


IIRC (which I might not), the BCU "license" doesn't cover use of locks, so yes, exactly that. Small trolleys are useful.
by Ruadh495
1 Dec 2017, 2:41pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Canoe
Replies: 51
Views: 4946

Re: Canoe

Why fanciful? You might want a trailer though, even for an inflatable. They are moderately bulky when deflated.

I did hear of someone doing a fairly significant tour (think it was in Canada) with a folding tandem and rigid aluminium canoe on a trailer. The bike could tow the canoe and the whole lot, bike and trailer, folded into the canoe.
by Ruadh495
1 Dec 2017, 2:07pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Canoe
Replies: 51
Views: 4946

Re: Canoe

There's a few folding canoes and kayaks about which generally outperform inflatables. They do tend to be expensive.

That BCU membership includes insurance as well. They do remind me of British Cycling, though (or rather British Cycling reminds me of the BCU). There's no non-competitive recreational body in canoeing which provides insurance (CTC equivalent).

I had a go on a Stand Up Paddle board this summer. Those take up a lot less space than canoes (and inflatable versions are probably less disadvantaged), but (like an inflatable) it was really slow into the wind.
by Ruadh495
1 Dec 2017, 1:45pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Canoe
Replies: 51
Views: 4946

Re: Canoe

"Pack rafts" are something else again and some people are combining them with cycling. Either a folding mountain bike carried on the bow or a fat bike towed behind (apparently the tyres have sufficient volume to float the bike... must play havoc with the drive train).

Decathlon do an "adult and child" inflatable which looks a cut above the pool toys and would make a nice economy pack raft. I've got too many toys though... Canoes are just like bikes; with a few exceptions you need to pay 4 figures or close to for a decent one, you "need" N+1 but beware D-1 (where D is the number which causes divorce).
by Ruadh495
1 Dec 2017, 1:32pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: A retailer requests my personal details
Replies: 22
Views: 1548

Re: personal details

Halfords. Again the excuse is an e-receipt and since I was buying a number plate I had to give all kinds of details anyway...

but they do use the email to send spam.
by Ruadh495
30 Nov 2017, 2:30pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Harry is marrying Ms Merkel?
Replies: 316
Views: 18831

Re: Harry is marrying Ms Merkel?

Has she passed her "Life in the UK" (or whatever it's called) residence test? Signed up for her English language course and "shown progress"?
by Ruadh495
29 Nov 2017, 3:14pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Canoe
Replies: 51
Views: 4946

Re: Canoe

Pity, they're a lot of fun. The canoe vs kayak debate reminds me of recumbent vs upright...

I'm in the canoe camp myself, though I started in kayaks. Tried going back to kayak a few years ago and was surprised how tiring it was, particularly across the shoulders. The paddle weighs twice as much as a canoe paddle and the weight has to be supported throughout the stroke. A canoe paddle floats through most of the stroke. I suppose kayak style might be handy if it's windy, but if there's a breeze canoes can be sailed. Now that's a bit like e-bikes for igniting debate...

Oh and I joined the CTC (as was) because my experience in canoeing led me to avoid a sports "governing body" (ie BC).