Search found 37 matches

by mmcnay
27 Apr 2021, 9:07pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Kindle and Maps
Replies: 46
Views: 2910

Re: Kindle and Maps

Jdsk wrote: 27 Apr 2021, 5:42pm
simonineaston wrote: 27 Apr 2021, 5:36pm Oh - and the essential partner for a Kindle (or any other e-book reader) is of course Calibre, top-notch e-book management software, seen here.
I have several eBook programs, but I don't use any of them routinely. I do use Kindle's email convert facility, as upthread.

What do you use it for, please?

Thanks

Jonathan
I use Calibre. Excellent and very powerful. It can convert epub to mobi, and pdf to mobi - so you can read stuff outside of the Amazon world, on the Amazon device. I now have a Kobo, which I prefer as the less I have to do with Amazon the more I like it.
by mmcnay
14 Nov 2020, 9:25pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Gilles Berthoud saddles - any users care to comment?
Replies: 37
Views: 2723

Re: Gilles Berthoud saddles - any users care to comment?

pwa wrote:
yostumpy wrote:I believe a circular hole is require at each end, to prevent tearing.

Which makes me think slow, careful drilling might be the start point, making the two circles that can then be joined by cutting. Anyone tried drilling holes in leather? Does any particular type of bit work best?


I drilled some lace holes in a B17 using a 5mm wood bit, the type with a pointy end. The pointy end made sure the bit was steady, and went in where I wanted it to. Worked a treat.
by mmcnay
1 Aug 2020, 4:25pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Upgrade on gear shifters help!!!
Replies: 10
Views: 564

Re: Upgrade on gear shifters help!!!

My wife has a cheap commuter she got from her aunt - 21 speed twist grip shifters. It wasn't running very well. I'd been meaning to sort it for ages, but never got round to it. At the start of the lockdown, I gave it a good scrub. Then I changed cassette, chain, brake blocks - and all the cables. About £35 it cost. And a couple of hours work.

She says it is now running lovely.
by mmcnay
1 Aug 2020, 10:58am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Touring food
Replies: 72
Views: 3829

Re: Touring food

leftpoole wrote:
Paulatic wrote:I carry plenty of oats and dried noodles and a bar of chocolate for desert.

You do realise Wee Jimmy Krankie you refer to wasn’t popular enough to become First Minister took the hump and won’t help you one iota.
8391E6CD-2E2A-4A0F-BC60-A27A3498745D.jpeg


My most polite name for the person being mentioned is, 'poison dwarf'. If anyone recalls TVs Dallas?
No racism intended!


The First Minister is a credible leader who seems to have integrity. These are not adjectives I would use for the current occupant of Downing Street.
by mmcnay
12 Jan 2020, 8:12pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Why wear black?
Replies: 784
Views: 33766

Re: Why wear black?

mattheus wrote:
Cugel wrote:
The utility cyclist wrote:Last edited by Graham on 11 Jan 2020, 10:20pm, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: Analogy outrageous

Why is the analogy outrageous I wonder?


I agree - it was a suitable analogy despite the scale of the harms being much lower for the cyclists. The point about such analogies is to show that exactly the same attitudes and consequent behaviours underlie the issue being discussed as underlay another issue that escalated to a horrendous degree in the past.



Thankyou sirs!

I don't see that an analogy is flawed simply because the scales are different - the principle can very much be the same. And I did state the scale problem quite clearly!

If The Mods - or anyone else - can suggest an "acceptable" analogy, do please let me know! Kthxbai :)


The analogy was deeply flawed and offensive. Cyclists don't get their homes smashed up, or walled up in ghettoes, forced into extermination campes, or their children murdered.

Shame on you for trying to use the murder of millions of innocents to prop up your argument.

Occasionally cyclists are knocked over, often accidentally - they aren't systematically murdered, or even abused. (Your analogy falls here)

But, unlike the Aryans who abused Jews, most drivers are, or were, cyclists. (Your analogy falls here.)

And, before you start frothing and accusing me. I am a cyclist who has come across bad driving, who has had 'words' with the odd driver. I know what cyclists are up against. The odd idiot who is a bit careless and doesn't realise how dangerous his car is. It is nothing like antisemitism, or racism. Don't ever think it is.
by mmcnay
7 Jan 2020, 12:16pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Why wear black?
Replies: 784
Views: 33766

Re: Why wear black?

RickH wrote:It's a shame when a reasoned view amounts to, even if not deliberately, "I'm OK, s*d everyone else".

Increased visibility of some can mean increased danger to others.

I think I've shared this before but it is relevant - one dark evening I was driving along a poorly lit narrow road in the dark near home. The speed limit is 20 & there are speed bumps so I was driving slowly (not everyone does). As I came round a slight bend, around 100-200m away I spotted a dog walker in the road (there is no pavement). They were easy to see as they had a bright torch, wore relfectives & the dog had flashing lights on its collar. They were plainly visible & had my attention well before I needed to take any (minor) action to avoid them. A second or two later I realised there was a second dog walker much closer to me with no torch, no reflectives & no flashing dog. I would probably have spotted them earlier if my attention had not been drawn to the highly illuminated dog walker further away. Now I was going slowly & neither walker was in any danger from me but it did strike me that the further dog walker got themselves noticed to the potential detriment of the other person.



You have two problems with your line of argument. The first is that your point proves that hi-viz works - it made one dog walker more visible than the other. Your other problem is that you are suggesting that if a driver avoids someone in hi-viz and subsequently hits someone not in h--viz then the wearer of hi-viz is to blame. Following that argument, then the user of a rear light is to blame if the driver avoids the reaer light user and hits someone who has no light.

And don't come out with statements that my view is 's'd everyone else.' That's an assumption that really isn't true.
by mmcnay
7 Jan 2020, 9:47am
Forum: On the road
Topic: Why wear black?
Replies: 784
Views: 33766

Re: Why wear black?

mjr wrote:
mmcnay wrote:But hi-viz does make one more visible, (I'm not going to argue about this point, as far as I am concerned it is a fact.)

Another hi-viz advocate whose blind faith trumps evidence that it's more about contrast and shapes and that wearing dazzle camo can be a bad idea in some settings. Why do you want to keep using plastic clothes to distract people from the basic problem that the most dangerous drivers are the ones who don't see because they don't look properly?


I agree with you that the basic problem is dangerous drivers who don't look properly. But, I'm the one going to get hurt if they hit me. In a utopian future we'll all be on bikes, and there will be few drivers, and they will drive like angels. But in the meantime, I don't want to be under a car.

By the way, I am highly educated. I don't live by blind faith. You are trying to make your argument more valid as if you have thought it through more than me. I appreciate you have your view. I have mine. I have thought about mine and come to a reasoned decision.
by mmcnay
7 Jan 2020, 7:41am
Forum: On the road
Topic: Why wear black?
Replies: 784
Views: 33766

Re: Why wear black?

The utility cyclist wrote:What happens with unlit debris in the road, what about a fallen branch/tree, what about an animal, what about a broken down motor vehicle with no electrics, sounds like you and a few others are going to slam straight into these, what with having no hi-vis or lights on them ... :roll:


I'm not going to slam into them, because I am a careful driver. And a careful cyclist. What I realise is that not everyone is as careful as me. I want them to see me in plenty of time, so that they can make the decision to avoid me.

Crap on the road, brown and green stuff like bits of tree often don't show themselves until one is closer, than for example when there's a bit of builder's old hi-viz lying on the verge.

I'm not saying hi-viz is a magic solution, and of course drivers should always pay good care and attention. But hi-viz does make one more visible, (I'm not going to argue about this point, as far as I am concerned it is a fact.) And I want all drivers, careful and careless, to see me in enough time to avoid me.
by mmcnay
6 Jan 2020, 9:58pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Why wear black?
Replies: 784
Views: 33766

Re: Why wear black?

mjr wrote:
Lights are necessary to see with in unlit areas. They're not necessary to be seen. Loads of stuff without lights on can be seen. I see them. Trees, animals, kerbs, walls... Why can't you?


I was talking about night time, or times of low visibility. I can of course see things during the day. But, not bein an owl, I can't at night. Well not when I'm riding a lane in the country. A rear light is only about being seen, isn't it? Hi-viz is like a reflector, lights up like a road sign when car lights hit it.
by mmcnay
5 Jan 2020, 4:45pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Why wear black?
Replies: 784
Views: 33766

Re: Why wear black?

Lights are necessary, to see and be seen. If you agree lights are necessary, then why not hi-viz? (Unless you are a fashion victim that is.) Hi-Viz improves the be seen aspect. I live in the country and cycle home in the dark. I see other riders more clearly when they have hi-viz - so I assume I am seen more clearly. When I drive, I see hi-viz walkers and dogs more clearly.

I don't wear hi-viz going down the local shop, but when I'm out and about in the lanes, then I do. I know drivers should drive more slowly, but sometimes they don't. I reckon my hi-viz bib, wrist bands to improve their seeing of my signals, and also ankle bands as a moving element.

BTW I wear black under all this. I like wearing black, it suits me. But I want to be seen.
by mmcnay
4 Jan 2020, 8:26pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Why wear black?
Replies: 784
Views: 33766

Re: Why wear black?

Cunobelin wrote:
mjr wrote:
Cowsham wrote:

Couldn't find anything online so going to make something up -- just to see if it can be done -- the fibre itself won't weigh anything but may need a side entry prism adapter at the rear lamp. Good thing about it is the cable itself will only fail off.

Just mount the rear light where you can see it when you look back. I favour the rear of the rack or the drive-side seat stay. Others disagree and say just fit two lights.



I alternate lights.

Front has a pair of Exposure high power lights on the front. One in flashing, one on constant, then on the way home just swap over guaranteeing enough batter life.

Rear has a pair of high power LEDS, again one flashing, one constant and change over

Never had a failure...


The other advantage is that being inside the fairing, the lights illuminate the fairing giving a wide area to be seen.


Sounds like you're anti- hi-viz, but pro super bright lights to ensure that you are seen. Why not just have ordinary lights and a hi-viz bib?
by mmcnay
30 Dec 2019, 9:13am
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Alasdair Gray is Dead
Replies: 37
Views: 1339

Re: Alasdair Gray is Dead

Great writer. I've read quite a lot of his work, fiction and non-fiction.
1982, Janine is a masterpiece.
by mmcnay
26 Dec 2019, 10:26am
Forum: On the road
Topic: Why wear black?
Replies: 784
Views: 33766

Re: Why wear black?

I live in the country. When I go down the shop I don't wear hi-viz. I wear what I have on when I realise I need somethign from the shop. My Raleigh 20 has a dynamo, so don't worry about lights. No gloves, unless it is really cold.
When I'm out for a longer ride on my tourer, unless it is lovely and sunny, I generally wear hi-viz. I don't wear a helmet. I do have an Exposure Sirius I carry in the saddlebag. Glad of it the other week when I cycled to a town, expecting to get the train back. Trains were cancelled, so cycled along some dark lanes in proper darkness. Felt like a great adventure.
When I'm riding into the city for work or a meeting or whatever, I have to use a couple of busy roads, and cross busy junctions. Some people drive like see you next tuesdays - more so in commuting times. I wear a hi-viz bib, arm bands, ankle bands. If visability is low, a light on the back. I want to be seen as early as possible so that drivers, and especially the more careless ones, can see me. It is a preventative measure. Health and Safety is about assessing the danger, and taking responsibility for my own safety within the parameters of the environment - which might include dangerous or careless drivers.
I'm a driver myself, and believe most drivers aren't out to get cyclists. They don't want to harm people. (The odd one might, but most don't.) I'm not coming from a victim mentality - more pragmatic. The reality is that if a car hits me, then I'm done. It will really hurt, might even damage me beyond repair. So, I want them to see me.
I understand other people see things differently to me. Which is fair enough.
by mmcnay
20 Dec 2019, 5:20pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Why wear black?
Replies: 784
Views: 33766

Re: Why wear black?

Mike Sales wrote:
mmcnay wrote:
Mike Sales wrote:
What sort of opinions do you dislike hearing expressed?
Do you think the holders of these sort of opinions read as drunk?


Did I say 'dislike'? Don't think I did. Looks like I just walked into a pub filled with . . .


I just assumed that you might dislike walking into a pub full of opinionated drunks. I apologise for jumping to conclusions.


Sorry Mike. You're right, the dislike was in the subtext. Bad writing on my part because I do enjoy watching an argument develop on here. I was trying to be funny, and then became disingenuous. Looks like I'm the opinionated drunk!
by mmcnay
20 Dec 2019, 4:30pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Why wear black?
Replies: 784
Views: 33766

Re: Why wear black?

Mike Sales wrote:
mmcnay wrote:Asking any questions on this forum about hi-viz, helmets or lighting is like walking into a pub filled with opinionated drunks and asking, 'Anybody fancy a debate on political philosophy, religion or Brexit?'


What sort of opinions do you dislike hearing expressed?
Do you think the holders of these sort of opinions read as drunk?


Did I say 'dislike'? Don't think I did. Looks like I just walked into a pub filled with . . .