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by ANTONISH
27 Mar 2024, 11:46am
Forum: On the road
Topic: New funding for Kent cycling routes
Replies: 4
Views: 310

Re: New funding for Kent cycling routes

gaz wrote: 26 Mar 2024, 8:21pm
gaz wrote: 23 Mar 2024, 11:25pm Active Travel Fund 4 Extension Capital Funding
Kent £1.2m
Seems that the money will go on rebuilding the Medway tow path route between Aylesford and Allington that has been closed for about four years.

In my view,

Pros: Certainly needs fixing, not likely to attract opposition.
Cons: It's a primarily leisure focused route with a host of unresolvable issues that will prevent if from ever being more than that.
When I've ridden it - some years past - the river banks seemed to be very popular with anglers - sometimes it was difficult to get past.
Inevitably there are meandering pedestrians - not great for cycling - probably ticks a box or two.
by ANTONISH
26 Mar 2024, 9:53am
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Air Pollution - Will They Act Now?
Replies: 151
Views: 8951

Re: Air Pollution - Will They Act Now?

reohn2 wrote: 25 Mar 2024, 1:01pm
Pebble wrote: 25 Mar 2024, 12:34pm ........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"
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?
by ANTONISH
25 Mar 2024, 2:57pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: New funding for Kent cycling routes
Replies: 4
Views: 310

Re: New funding for Kent cycling routes

I assume it will be the usual disjointed system.
There will be shared use infrastructure put in where it is convenient to do so - often providing extra parking space for motorists.
I have a decently laid path near me which when not blocked by HGV's gives me the opportunity of visiting the Amazon warehouse.
by ANTONISH
25 Mar 2024, 10:05am
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Just how long will it take to turn this ship around?
Replies: 103
Views: 2923

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

Psamathe wrote: 25 Mar 2024, 9:52am
reohn2 wrote: 25 Mar 2024, 8:50am UK has the oldest housing stock the least floor space per person in Europe and pays the most for it according to an article in Sky news:- https://news.sky.com/story/uk-spends-mo ... o-13099925
A disappointing article in that whilst I can't dispute the claims it makes, the article really doesn't support its claims either. Normally such articles would have some tables listing a wide rnge of similar western countries so you can see how UK compares rather than "less than <couple of selected named countries>".

My personal view is it's poor reporting.

Ian
Not a particularly informative piece.
We have other problems in this country like homelessness and insecurity of tenure.
We are desperately short of social housing - little has been done about this since the council house sell off in the eighties.
It's also exacerbated by the large amount of immigration adding to the demand.
by ANTONISH
25 Mar 2024, 9:52am
Forum: Health and fitness
Topic: Why are the general population resistant to getting fit?
Replies: 97
Views: 4993

Re: Why are the general population resistant to getting fit?

A couple of weeks ago I had a dental checkup.
My dentist remarked that I didn't look my age and asked me what medication I took.
I don't take any medication and I explained that I cycle and walk plus lift weights a couple of times a week.
He told me that his father and uncle never took any exercise and spent a lot of their later years sitting in armchairs - both living into their nineties.
We agreed that long life was probably mainly due to genetics.
Who was it that said "whenever I feel like taking exercise I lie down until I feel better"
by ANTONISH
25 Mar 2024, 9:34am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Best tyres for touring
Replies: 27
Views: 1008

Re: Best tyres for touring

Steve wrote: 24 Mar 2024, 7:20pm
I like continental gator skins on my road bikes . No plans for tubeless .
[/quote]

I wonder what qualities you're looking for that Gatorskins don't offer?
I use them for my kind of touring (short trips mostly), in fact I just have them on all my bikes for simplicity's sake.
[/quote]

I think gatorskins are a very good all round tyre. I've used them for touring in the past - IME they are as puncture resistant as the heavy Marathon + but don't have the weight or the harsh ride.
I will concede that they are not as good at road holding in slippery conditions and I use 4 seasons in winter and for touring - better road holding but the tread seems softer and more susceptible to minor cuts.
by ANTONISH
23 Mar 2024, 9:33am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Brompton case / luggage storage at Schiphol
Replies: 5
Views: 261

Re: Brompton case / luggage storage at Schiphol

simonhill wrote: 23 Mar 2024, 12:29am Hotel or disposable is usually cheaper for any more than a few days.

€9 isn't too bad, it's £12 to15 a day at London airports. (£1.70 for full size bike in Bangkok airport).

If leaving at hotel not feasible then another option would be a bag. I bought one for my Brompton, about £20 online. It was for COVID but plans weren't possible. I do use a bag for full size bike - sides padded with bits of cardboard, almost makes it into a bike box. Bits of cardboard easier to source than a whole box. Then carry bag on tour.
Yes I do much the same - dismantle bike- put it in bag with padding - dispose of padding at other end - carry bag as luggage - doesn't add much.
Find padding on return - not too hard.
I carry such tools as I need to dismantle bike in order to be able to reassemble - that makes a fairly minimal tool kit.
by ANTONISH
23 Mar 2024, 9:24am
Forum: On the road
Topic: M2 Medway viaduct foot/cycletrack closed 19Jun 2023 - 21 March 2024
Replies: 3
Views: 553

Re: M2 Medway viaduct foot/cycletrack closed 19Jun 2023 - 21 March 2024

gaz wrote: 22 Mar 2024, 4:54pm Re-opened yesterday, some minor works continue.

National Highways comms over progress on the works which were due to finish mid-November have been non-existent.
Thanks for the info gaz.
Although if minor works are continuing I'll be looking out for construction lorries and materials piled in the path. :(
by ANTONISH
20 Mar 2024, 9:18am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Fitting Shimano Cues U 4010 40/ 26 Chainset
Replies: 14
Views: 729

Re: Fitting Shimano Cues U 4010 40/ 29 Chainset

I converted a triple chainset to an alpine double - something like 42/24.
My main difficulty was finding a suitable front derailleur.
I found an old dura ace mech which worked - some chain rub on small/small but I didn't need that combination.
It was ok when I got used to it but I find a triple set up works better for my needs.
by ANTONISH
19 Mar 2024, 10:01am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Would it be unreasonable … ?
Replies: 42
Views: 1688

Re: Would it be unreasonable … ?

cycle tramp wrote: 19 Mar 2024, 9:05am
...I will say during those times when I and driving, I am alot more patient behind bike riders who aren't trying to damage my eyesight with a bloody stoooopid bright red flashing light...
Perhaps you are driving too close?
by ANTONISH
19 Mar 2024, 9:46am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Something to bear in mind when choosing a ferry company...
Replies: 1
Views: 303

Re: Something to bear in mind when choosing a ferry company...

I usually use DFDS on that account - but I think P&O are the only ferry company on the Dover/Calais route taking foot passengers - the only choice we found when we wanted to do a train trip around France ( Eurostar was having problems ).
Did anyone seriously think that this government was going to do anything to upset it's chums?
by ANTONISH
19 Mar 2024, 8:52am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Would it be unreasonable … ?
Replies: 42
Views: 1688

Re: Would it be unreasonable … ?

Nearholmer wrote: 19 Mar 2024, 8:45am
If you have a dazzling flashing front light, please don't use it on the road either.
Like the vast majority of other cyclists I see out on rural roads, I use a pretty ordinary “flasher” front and rear during the daytime. I also choose a top/jacket that is a good bright colour (I favour bright orange). And, I wear a helmet, having chosen a white one, because I’ve noticed that they seem to show up quite well too.

Now, doubtless at least some, possibly all, of those measures that I take to be seen will bring the wrath, opprobrium, or whatever, of some part of this forum down on me for some supposed sin against the interests of cyclists. That won’t alter my choices.
+1 - My front "flasher" is tilted downwards but is bright enough to be seen.
I often encounter other cyclists similarly equipped - I can't recall being dazzled.
by ANTONISH
15 Mar 2024, 10:12am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Overnight stay in France (midway between Calais and Roanne)
Replies: 14
Views: 482

Re: Overnight stay in France (midway between Calais and Roanne)

Over a number of years my experience of Campanile is mixed - generally ok if you just want a bed for the night.
They usually have an associated restaurant which I cannot recommend.
We usually use a "Logis" hotel restaurant or find a hotel with an independent restaurant nearby if it looks reasonable.
by ANTONISH
15 Mar 2024, 10:02am
Forum: On the road
Topic: Dangerous mudguards
Replies: 37
Views: 3528

Re: Dangerous mudguards

slowster wrote: 14 Mar 2024, 9:01pm Last year when setting off from a dropped kerb and making a sharp 90 degree left turn onto the road at very low speed, I hit the front mudguard with the tip of my right shoe. Because I continued to turn the handlebars left to make the turn, the right hand stay was pulled out of the SKS Secuclip by the pressure of my shoe against the side of the mudguard. I stopped almost immediately at that point, and the vibrating movement of the loose stay as the mudguard sprang back into position caused the stay to go between two spokes. No harm was done, but it brought home to me how even just a few millimetres of toe overlap can cause problems when making sharp turns at such a low speed.

I think if a stay is not a firm secure fit in an SKS Secuclip, that can be improved by removing the stay from the Secuclip and pulling the two sides apart (not at the ends, but close to where the stay is inserted into the Secuclip), which should make the stay a tighter fit in the Secuclip.
Twice I've had a Secuclip detach - which is what it's supposed to do - it's only happened at slow speed
I used to find the stays rattled in the Secuclip and I solved that by sliding some short lengths of neoprene sleeving over the stays so that the sleeving entered the Secuclip housing and stopped the rattle.
I remember over sixty years ago getting a twig lammed in my new Bluemels front mudguard - the mudguard shattered ( celluloid) - probably safer than the present tough material but more expensive than Secuclips.
These days when touring I use "race blades" - I've not had any problems with those.
by ANTONISH
8 Mar 2024, 10:05am
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Sellafield
Replies: 37
Views: 1632

Re: Sellafield

Biospace wrote: 7 Mar 2024, 10:47am
ANTONISH wrote: 7 Mar 2024, 9:15am How do you think your ideas would go down with the "consumption addicts" using your local food bank?
My thinking about energy use?
I agree that we will need nuclear energy for the foreseeable future - at least until the problem of storing renewable energy is solved.