Search found 1145 matches

by Colin63
31 Jan 2024, 9:54pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Do flashing rear lights make it easier to judge how far away a cyclist is?
Replies: 32
Views: 1529

Re: Do flashing rear lights make it easier to judge how far away a cyclist is?

Nearholmer wrote: 31 Jan 2024, 9:41pm I took roughly the green track, and the car directly behind me took the red track, resulting in it passing so close that part of it went below my right handlebar. I followed it until it parked, and asked the woman driving it (genuinely) very politely “What happened back there then?”. She said she thought I was going to turn left, and when I pointed out that I hadn’t signalled left, or done anything except follow the arrow on the road surface, her answer was “I’m really sorry; I don’t usually do that.” ……. Which I suppose is some comfort!
Really like that way of approaching a driver. Unassuming
by Colin63
31 Jan 2024, 9:50pm
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Why car drivers must wait longer at red traffic lights in Düsseldorf
Replies: 23
Views: 1479

Re: Why car drivers must wait longer at red traffic lights in Düsseldorf

That's interesting. Can you post a link to the article please. I'd like to read it.
by Colin63
28 Nov 2023, 2:37pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: What are these? Are they to do with valves/pump etc?
Replies: 4
Views: 693

Re: What are these? Are they to do with valves/pump etc?

Ah Ha! It never even crossed my mind that they wouldn't be for a bike.
Thank you. That was driving me nuts :D
by Colin63
28 Nov 2023, 2:07pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: What are these? Are they to do with valves/pump etc?
Replies: 4
Views: 693

What are these? Are they to do with valves/pump etc?

IMG_2352.JPG
I just dropped my Blackburn track pump and in doing so opened a secret compartment in the handle. It had these in it. Can somebody tell me what they are please.
by Colin63
30 Aug 2021, 8:52pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: A positive thread
Replies: 950
Views: 165024

Re: A positive thread

colin54 wrote: 29 Aug 2021, 6:07pm …a Pringle sleeveless golfing sweater, another Pound; and handy as an extra layer on the bike in the winter. Made in Hawick where my Dad was a knitter…
I drove through Hawick today, on my way back to Lancaster after a lovely weekend visiting friends ear Chirnside in the Scottish Borders. We watched birds at Budle Bay on the Northumberland coast, visited St Cuthbert's Cave, wandered the countryside in dusty clouds from the combines harvesting cereal crops and drank some beautiful French wines. I hadn't seen them since before the pandemic. A beautiful way to end summer.
by Colin63
26 Aug 2021, 8:27pm
Forum: Health and fitness
Topic: Returning to cycling after Achilles tendon rupture
Replies: 17
Views: 5407

Re: Returning to cycling after Achilles tendon rupture

I'm 58 and it's over a year since I ruptured my achilles.
With regards the injection of blood thinners I would suggest that you keep in touch with your GP as well as the hospital and make sure that you don't go without thinners for as long as your foot is immobilised. The delay in removing my boot mean't I had a few weeks without thinners and I suffered from thrombosis which spread to my lungs and nearly killed me. Blood clots are a massive concern. Demand thinners until you are certain that your foot and calf muscles are being used again.
As for recovery time. 13 months after my accident I still have a significantly weak left leg. This is a serious injury that takes a frustratingly long time to fully recover from, but on the positive side you can start cycling as soon as your physio tells you and you feel confident. I started to do gentle traffic-free rides on flat ground after about seven months, and within a couple more months I was confident enough to do hilly rides on the roads with traffic. If you can rig up an indoor trainer you can start doing gentle spinning sessions long before the leg can take your weight.
At the time it seems like forever, but you will heal.
by Colin63
18 Jul 2021, 8:21pm
Forum: Racing, Olympics, TdF, Competitive cycling
Topic: Tour de France 2021 - Spoilers
Replies: 218
Views: 16710

Re: Tour de France 2021 - Spoilers

I got home from my day at RSPB Haweswater, slightly sun burned and ready for a shower and a glass of Pinot Noir. I flicked on the computer as soon as I stepped through the door and caught the last 1500m live. Such good timing after a 50 mile drive.
by Colin63
17 Jul 2021, 6:29pm
Forum: Racing, Olympics, TdF, Competitive cycling
Topic: Tour de France 2021 - Spoilers
Replies: 218
Views: 16710

Re: Tour de France 2021 - Spoilers

I'm missing these last two days of the Tour. I've a new job and have to work most Sundays. Tomorrow I'll be at Mardale Head on the shore of Haweswater in Cumbria trying to recruit new supporters for the RSPB. There are worse places to be sent for the day!

I'll be hoping that Mark Cavendish wins the day, but there's a little part of me that would love to see André Greipel take the honours. He's announced his retirement today and has been as big a part of this era of sprinters as Cav. They've been rivals for over a decade since the Highroad days. If one man is to stop Cavendish from surpassing Merckx I'd love it to be the Gorilla.

I must be getting on a bit. It seems like yesterday that he was one of the up and coming riders and now we have to doff our caps as he moves on from racing.

Chapeau André!
by Colin63
9 Jul 2021, 2:28pm
Forum: Racing, Olympics, TdF, Competitive cycling
Topic: Tour de France 2021 - Spoilers
Replies: 218
Views: 16710

Re: Tour de France 2021 - Spoilers

Watching the Eurosport coverage this afternoon with Wiggo riding pillion. He's a different man when he's out there at the race - he's so happy to be in the midst of it all with his old friends - It's lovely to see. In the studio he's a fish out of water.

Anyway… It's 80km to the finish and a possible historic win for Mark Cavendish – another of the greatest generation of British cyclists.

Lancaster has connections with both riders — Cav won some of his early races as a a junior at the Salt Ayre track by the River Lune (only a couple of miles from the Isle of Man ferry port) and the Wiggins family were involved in racing there while they lived nearby (Cath sponsored women's racing events) and I bumped into Brad when he was out training in the fells.

And another memory while I write this continually-edited post is that I was once passed by Chris Boardman when in his racing pomp. I was pootling around the lanes and a GAN clad rider went past at about 2500 times the speed I was going. I managed a shout and received an acknowledging wave in return. I was on a big ride for me but as he lives 50 miles south of me I guessed his idea of a morning training ride was further than my idea of a major expedition!
by Colin63
6 Jul 2021, 6:29pm
Forum: Racing, Olympics, TdF, Competitive cycling
Topic: Tour de France 2021 - Spoilers
Replies: 218
Views: 16710

Re: Tour de France 2021 - Spoilers

I was standing by the side of the road just outside of Ambleside as the Tour of Britain came through Cumbria in 2016. A fan standing next to me said something along the lines of 'Cav looks knackered' as he rode by. The media reported it as him being a heckler, but it wasn't like that at all. The riders were passing at walking pace up 'the struggle' but I heard Cav call this fan a ***ing **** and then he stopped, turned around and gave him a hard time – it wasn't nice to see. I was quite baffled because I've watched him race for all of his career and had never seen him turn on a supporter like this. My feelings then were that he needed the right team to motivate and support him - something was very wrong. Sky had let him down badly and Dimension Data didn't have the personnel he needed. He clearly hadn't been and wasn't enjoying riding, and he hasn't won a Tour stage since… until this week.

It has been so good to watch this Tour and see him challenging for Merckx's record with a team he loves, and I think it's amazing that this is how he will be remembered. I heard that he has won 20% of all Tour sprints this century! I hope he makes it 35 on Le Champs Elysees. I will cry my eyes out!

Here's a snap of that 2016 incident which at least gave me the chance of an easy shot.
by Colin63
4 Jul 2021, 5:07pm
Forum: Racing, Olympics, TdF, Competitive cycling
Topic: Tour de France 2021 - Spoilers
Replies: 218
Views: 16710

Re: Tour de France 2021 - Spoilers

When Tadej Pogačar accelerated on the final ascent my heart went cold. There's been a generation of riders since I've seen anything like that.
by Colin63
27 Jun 2021, 3:40pm
Forum: Racing, Olympics, TdF, Competitive cycling
Topic: Tour de France 2021 - Spoilers
Replies: 218
Views: 16710

Re: Tour de France 2021 - Spoilers

I think the problem could be solved if riders were rounder.

https://youtu.be/BOOljk_LOcs
by Colin63
27 Jun 2021, 10:23am
Forum: Racing, Olympics, TdF, Competitive cycling
Topic: Tour de France 2021 - Spoilers
Replies: 218
Views: 16710

Re: Tour de France 2021 - Spoilers

NATURAL ANKLING wrote: 27 Jun 2021, 10:17am
How do you say risk assessment in French?
Joie de vivre!
by Colin63
26 Jun 2021, 8:45pm
Forum: Racing, Olympics, TdF, Competitive cycling
Topic: Tour de France 2021 - Spoilers
Replies: 218
Views: 16710

Re: Tour de France 2021 - Spoilers

Opi and Omi have been conspicuously absent from the debate about the crash.
So far the only Opi and Omi I've found on the internet are a couple of elderly Texan blackberry farmers. They don't look like the ring leaders of a gang of race saboteurs, but their silence is deafening, so I'll not let them off just yet.

https://www.omisblackberryfarm.com

edit: Apparently Opi and Omi means Grandma and Grandpa in German so I think the blackberry farmers can be let off.