Search found 1890 matches

by Pebble
28 Mar 2024, 12:35pm
Forum: Health and fitness
Topic: Calculate avg speed on a flat ride
Replies: 8
Views: 229

Re: Calculate avg speed on a flat ride

i would of thought your ride of a 1,000' ascent every 12.5 mile was a fairly hilly ride, my typical is 1,000' evey 20 mile
I would have thought your av for that ride puts you in a fairly fit group. I would guess you could comfortably av 17.5mph on flatish terrain (ie 1,000' ascent evry 40 mile)
by Pebble
26 Mar 2024, 1:52pm
Forum: Electrically assisted pedal cycles
Topic: Not pedalling
Replies: 48
Views: 2907

Re: Not pedalling

Psamathe wrote: 26 Mar 2024, 12:37pm I'm confused by this thread. Several saying law is wrong/bad/out-of date but nobody saying what it should be changed to.

If I get my 250cc ICE motorbike 0-60 in 3 secs and put pedals/chain on it should I be able to use it on shared use cycle paths and not need insurance? If my high performance 2-wheel machine does 0-60 in 10 secs but is battery rather than hydrocarbon powered (and has pedals that do nothing) again, shared paths also used by push-chairs filled with babies and me not needing insurance?

etc., etc.

A line has to be drawn. I assume the line drawn on the basis of safety, utility and impact on others. Plus, that law has to be relativelyt easy to enforce eg if a suspected machine requires specialist testing only done in Manchester costing £2000 then the law cannot be realistically enforced.

So what do those suggesting changes want things changed to?

Ian
the law surrounding eBikes is simple, but like everything else on the road enforcement is just a joke.

If someone is going up hill without pedalling and they are not wearing a motorbike helmet.....
by Pebble
26 Mar 2024, 10:54am
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Air Pollution - Will They Act Now?
Replies: 151
Views: 8952

Re: Air Pollution - Will They Act Now?

reohn2 wrote: 26 Mar 2024, 10:28am
ANTONISH wrote: 26 Mar 2024, 9:53am
reohn2 wrote: 25 Mar 2024, 1:01pm
She's an idiot like the rest of the Tories who've ruined this country!
I note that there is a row of parked cars in the background all partly on the pavement - presumably she isn't against that.
I wonder if her car is among them?
Probably....
apparently, according to facebook (I can't get on to facebook to check) she has a 4 litre diesel range rover - that should help limit any unwanted clean air.
by Pebble
25 Mar 2024, 12:34pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Air Pollution - Will They Act Now?
Replies: 151
Views: 8952

Re: Air Pollution - Will They Act Now?

pwa wrote: 24 Mar 2024, 9:28pm
Biospace wrote: 24 Mar 2024, 5:21pm
pwa wrote: 23 Mar 2024, 6:11am
That article is all over the place and raises more questions than it answers. But regarding Irish homes burning wood and coal, I have been in a few Irish homes that have been definitely affected by smoke from open fires or faulty stoves and flues.
...
You can allow fumes into your home if you burn wood, but it isn't compulsory or inevitable that you do it to a significant degree.
Yes, I agree. The pollution from wood burning stoves has grown as energy bills have increased, it hasn't helped that they've been promoted as an environmentally friendly way of heating the home - which it is for some, less so for others.

I've witnessed someone in a modern home with typical minimal ventilation, but with the obligatory vent installed with the stove allowing an icy blast directly into their living room. The stove was running with the vents open ("we like to see flames") so very possibly resulting in a net cooling of the centrally heated house.

I fear this is an all too common scenario, with food wrappers and contaminated wood adding to the problem, I hear of more situations in which people are complaining to EH about smoke nuisance aggravating asthma and other conditions. If they don't fall out of fashion for those who see them as a lifestyle accessory, with ever greater population densities there is likely to be legislation mooted.
I agree that population density is an important factor. Some of the worst cases I have heard of seem to be where (not in the UK) there are whole towns where wood burning is the main source of heating. At the opposite end of the spectrum, I know of isolated houses surrounded by countryside, where any fumes are dissipated long before they can reach neighbours. I lean towards the "smokeless zone" approach myself.
I'm all for smokeless zones too, I'm the top of the hill with prevailing winds blowing over vast acres of farmland, my near neighbours both burn wood, so I doub't my few hours an evening on the colder winters days is significant.

This is quite funny (sorry twitter link) Tory Mayoral Candidate for Manchester is campaigning against clean air...
https://twitter.com/LauraEvansTeam/stat ... 2362319110
pledges "we will not have any of these clean air zones in manchester"
by Pebble
18 Mar 2024, 11:53pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Just how long will it take to turn this ship around?
Replies: 103
Views: 2938

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

djnotts wrote: 18 Mar 2024, 9:10pm ^ simonineaston: "I don’t think on the whole, people have grasped how utterly desperate things are…
I have sympathy with that idea - after all, who want to go like oh that’s it then - my kids will likely die of war, famine or heat...."

Just so. I fear that the deportations, camps for indoctrination into true "British values", the torture cells.... will all come first. And quite soon. As much as I will miss them I am urging those of my family who can do so to leave here ASAP.
Leave Britain or do you mean planet earth ? and if you mean leave britain where are you recommending?

And are things really 'utterly desperate', I see lots of wealth everywhere, yes there will be some poor, but most people seem to be awash with money. I go past the local primary school, so many of the kids are getting dropped off in 30, 40, 50k giant SUVs. Are folk just brainwashing themselves into thinking they're poor?
by Pebble
18 Mar 2024, 9:08pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Can you judge hub quality by how long the wheel spins freely?
Replies: 15
Views: 9048

Re: Can you judge hub quality by how long the wheel spins freely?

I remember messing about with this years ago (wish I could remember the figures) But one way to get the wheel to spin for a long time was clean all the grease out and just use a little thin oil, and tighten the cones up less than normal (keep a little sideways play) this removal of the grease possibly doubled how long it would spin for. Then I managed to fill the tyre with water for a bit of angular momentum. Seem to remember getting it to spin for 20+ minutes may be 30 (can't quite remember)

Of course niether of these tactics would be very wise on a bike you were about to ride - esp the no grease bit.

But getting back to the original post. I would guess your cones are a little tight, I like to have them so there is a tiny bit of play
by Pebble
18 Mar 2024, 6:31pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Just how long will it take to turn this ship around?
Replies: 103
Views: 2938

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

I hope whoever gets in will be disliked by both the left and right.

I had hoped Rishi would have done this, I think he is a clever and decent enough bloke, but he is weak and can't control his party. Lets hope Starmer is stronger, keeps in the centre and boots out the left wing that infest Labour
by Pebble
17 Mar 2024, 12:46pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Just how long will it take to turn this ship around?
Replies: 103
Views: 2938

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

Starmer will be alright if he can sail in a straight line, but there is a lot of crew that want to tack heavily to port, if that happens we will flounder on the rocks, we're in treacherous waters


(i'm under several warnings so could disappear at any moment, if so, bye all and I have enjoyed your company)
by Pebble
14 Mar 2024, 6:23pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: The "Royals" Thread
Replies: 1350
Views: 54884

Re: The "Royals" Thread

toontra wrote: 14 Mar 2024, 1:33pm
Indeed. It's really playing the public for fools. Middleton is saying she edited the photo herself. I would suggest that's a lie. There isn't just one edit - there are numerous, some relatively sophisticated and some clumsy, either done manually or by AI. I simply don't believe she had the time, knowledge-base or inclination to have done this.

As you say that raises a whole host of issues - all varyingly grades of bad for the royal's standing. No-one likes being lied to.
Why ? I believe she has had quite an interest in photography for many years, and I would guess she has plenty of time and resources to spend on whatever hobby she chooses. Modern photoshoping is not that difficult, even I can manage it - I guess many f the pictures of my bike have been edited to some extent.

She's a young women wanting to look at her best, and there is nothing remotely unusual in that. I wish her well.

These bleating newspapers seem quite happy to run adverts and stories with celebs that will be editted beyond our imagination, but that must be alright?

If you want to pick on someone, have a pop at Katie here, could this be the 345th time she has been caught without a licence?
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/a ... rance.html
No one seems to be complaining that her appearance and photos may have been altered, a lot
by Pebble
11 Mar 2024, 1:39pm
Forum: Electrically assisted pedal cycles
Topic: Night p*nct*re scenario comes to pass
Replies: 23
Views: 1048

Re: Night p*nct*re scenario comes to pass

Cowsham wrote: 11 Mar 2024, 1:23pm
Pebble wrote: 11 Mar 2024, 12:24pm
mjr wrote: 11 Mar 2024, 10:42am

Just carry a back-up light. Headtorches are never suitable for riding by, because they show a white light, which means front, to the rear when you look backwards. Most of them also dazzle whoever you are looking at, which is illegal whether or not the light is attached to a bike, and a really dumb idea when the victim can injure or kill you.
aye - but it might mean you can continue to ride on an unlit road if the main light fails and you are miles out in the countryside. (you can always stop and get off if a car comes along)

I got a little head torch in poundland a few years ago, (£1.50 or something) I was so impressed I went and bought half a dozen of them, have them in the van and car and tool box, bike as emergency ights... fantastic little lights, I think they all still work.
This is one of the reasons I singled out the unilite because of it's more focused beam which is good enough to light a pitch dark road well enough to get home ( did 20 miles with one of my head torches I bought about 3 more of the H2 's they are just that good -- all of them still work perfectly -- I lend them out to sons various times but always make sure they return. )

It's always the front cycle lamp that gives up first cos you need it to see the road/lane so it's on continuous -- the rear is blinking and only there for your visibility reasons so it lasts for days. So it's vital to carry a back up or a good head torch.
mine are a wide beam so not at all good for riding, maybe 10mph tops. But it would get me home on a moonless night. otherwise I would be walking
Saying that, I have never had a front light failure (never temp the devil)
by Pebble
11 Mar 2024, 12:24pm
Forum: Electrically assisted pedal cycles
Topic: Night p*nct*re scenario comes to pass
Replies: 23
Views: 1048

Re: Night p*nct*re scenario comes to pass

mjr wrote: 11 Mar 2024, 10:42am
Bmblbzzz wrote: 11 Mar 2024, 8:57am Definitely worth having a headtorch for night time punctures and other mechanicals. If it's bright enough to use as a back-up light for riding by, extra good.
Just carry a back-up light. Headtorches are never suitable for riding by, because they show a white light, which means front, to the rear when you look backwards. Most of them also dazzle whoever you are looking at, which is illegal whether or not the light is attached to a bike, and a really dumb idea when the victim can injure or kill you.
aye - but it might mean you can continue to ride on an unlit road if the main light fails and you are miles out in the countryside. (you can always stop and get off if a car comes along)

I got a little head torch in poundland a few years ago, (£1.50 or something) I was so impressed I went and bought half a dozen of them, have them in the van and car and tool box, bike as emergency ights... fantastic little lights, I think they all still work.
by Pebble
8 Mar 2024, 11:32pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Train Glasgow to Pitlochry Return
Replies: 10
Views: 626

Re: Train Glasgow to Pitlochry Return

I wouldn't worry, scotsrail seem to be quite relaxed about bikes, I often travel with bike and never book. I was on a train last week (not as a cyclist) from Livingston back to Edinburgh. There was loads of bikes on the train, I doubt any were booked. Seriously its not like it was 20 years ago when they could get all arsie like they do down in Engerland. The scot rail staff just seem to go on like normal human beings and the trains are pretty reliable.

Of course I do not know what type of train you're on, they have some 'inter-city' ones and they could well be a bit precious about those - but the standard Scotrail DMU (which seems to be 95%+) I'm sure you would be fine. Take some noise blocking headphones to combat the rattlieness of the carriages.
by Pebble
8 Mar 2024, 4:59pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Hope in Israel/Palestine
Replies: 30
Views: 1693

Re: Hope in Israel/Palestine

Psamathe wrote: 8 Mar 2024, 11:41am Is it just me or is Biden's "build a port" plan just total madness (and ill thought through)? There is already a port close by well serviced by roads - why not use that one? And the existing port could be used today rather than wait for a new port to be constructed.

Or just use the existing land distribution.

And if reports about Israel restricting aid through land routes is true, are they going to allow the US to build a port to bypass their restrictions?

I'm suspicious that Biden's announcement is more to try and counter the polling impact following the US primaries "Uncommitted" votes he's been seeing, to try and counter the negative US electorate reaction to his unwavering support for anything and everything Israel does and his continuing provision of arms.
and they are going to build this port (that needs to handle 300+ trucks daily) without an American putting a boot on the ground
by Pebble
7 Mar 2024, 2:44pm
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: A place to record lenient sentencing for motorvehicle....
Replies: 631
Views: 316190

Re: A place to record lenient sentencing for motorvehicle....

https://road.cc/content/news/cyclist-sl ... ash-307151

This idiot should be off to prison then a life long ban.

12 month ban + £340 is just a joke
by Pebble
5 Mar 2024, 7:10pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Why are bike tyres so expensive?
Replies: 56
Views: 2982

Re: Why are bike tyres so expensive?

rareposter wrote: 5 Mar 2024, 5:54pm
axel_knutt wrote: 2 Mar 2024, 12:22pm I've had 14,000-15,000 miles out of Marathon HS368s, I've also had little more than a few hundred miles out of cheapies.
I had some really rather expensive tyres once that had "road race use only" written on the side and they were only good for a few hundred miles or so - maybe up to 1000 on smoother tarmac.
They were however very very fast and ridiculously grippy - could lean them at really quite extreme angles and they'd hold on perfectly. Which was also why they wore out quickly - very soft compound.
that story reminds me very much of a pair of rock climbing boots I once bought - they were fantastic until they wore out after a few weeks.