Cycling UK Forum

mattsccm wrote: ↑24 Jan 2025, 6:42pm Forgot about this. I solved the problem by using 700c alloy wheels and some short drop Weinmann 500 brakes.

Sounds by far the most sensible way.

Pete Owens wrote: ↑24 Jan 2025, 1:06am And of course the problem with that is that it is futile to attempt to solve congestion by adding capacity to the road network.

You may be able to sweat out an extra 20% capacity from a motorway by installing variable speed limits and ramp metering. You will get short term relief at the point where the capacity is added, but that free flowing motorway will attract extra traffic to clog up the next bottleneck down stream.

And we're back to the source of the problem. In fact the more capacity you do manage to add, the worse the problem becomes, because it just serves to reinforce the social domination of the motor car – and that harms everyone, including present and future drivers.

cycle tramp wrote: ↑23 Jan 2025, 9:57pm Ah, that will be me then.... and at this juncture I refere to the Sikhs for whom the helmet laws do not apply.
And if they do not apply to them, then why should they apply to me.
This is, after all my life, and on the proviso that I do not harm anyone, then why is it anyone's business if I ride my bike wearing a helmet, not wearing a helmet or a tutu or dressed as the arch-Bishop of Canterbury?

Perhaps dressed as the archbishop but wearing a Sikh turban instead of a mitre? If you wore a tutu (not bishop Desmond!) at the same time, I understand there are niche publications which would pay dearly for the photos...

Once again, 500 people travelling from London to Edinburgh in a train is far more efficient (in terms of energy, resources and probably time too) than in 250 cars.

The town exemption made sense on the "is it worth it? is it off-putting?" principle. If you're riding between towns, you're probably already "cycling" and quite likely even "a cyclist", whereas in town you're likely to be "going somewhere on your bike".

Sure, all those points about last mile journeys apply. But you wouldn't be in a convoy on those parts either.

axel_knutt wrote: ↑22 Jan 2025, 6:34pm

Cyclothesist wrote: ↑22 Jan 2025, 5:27pm

axel_knutt wrote: ↑22 Jan 2025, 5:18pm I go for the hands-free option in case both my hands are occupied with both the brakes.

+1

I can't think of a situation urgent enough to need a horn or bell that doesn't need brakes and steering more urgently, which is why I don't think I've ever used a car horn except for trivia.

Need, maybe not. But benefit from? If you ride on shared paths, such as old railways or canal towpaths, a couple of pings can be useful – courteous even – to let people on foot know of your approach. Hence the "Two tings" notices sometimes seen on towpaths.

Nicholas wrote: ↑22 Jan 2025, 7:32pm

Bmblbzzz wrote: ↑22 Jan 2025, 11:28am If deciding which side of the bars to fit your bell is too much of a dilemma, you could fit it to the stem. Or the seat post....

Chortle!

My first thought was to reply to the OP with "who cares?" but that seemed a bit harsh. Honestly though, some of these posts ...

Seat post mounting is used. Seriously. Not by me, but by at least one person I know.

This is the "Touring and Expedition" board, so thoughts inevitably tend towards that sort of riding. When on tour, you're riding deliberately and either to get to some interesting place or just the for the joy or riding. It's an intentional style of cycling. Under those conditions, it's not too hard or bothersome to comply with requirements for helmets, hi-viz, daytime lights, other PPE, or mandatory use of a designated path regardless of where it is in relation to the main highway. But if you're riding as transport, to get to work, school, friend's house, shops, etc, those requirements can become offputting. Spend five minutes arranging kit for a ten minute ride to pick up some groceries? This is why cars have their PPE built in to the vehicle itself.

[XAP]Bob wrote: ↑22 Jan 2025, 1:56pm

Bmblbzzz wrote: ↑22 Jan 2025, 9:59am AV convoys are usually spoken of as a means of saving energy not increasing capacity. But as already pointed out, in both aspects they are inferior to an actual train.

And a train is massively inferior if you want to get somewhere that isn't a train station...

Not if it has a decent cycle capacity!

If deciding which side of the bars to fit your bell is too much of a dilemma, you could fit it to the stem. Or the seat post....

Back to more generic cycle industry stuff rather than specific brands...

https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/the- ... appens-now

Some areas were faring better than others though, with Rice pointing to an obvious pick-up in the 'enthusiast' sector (more than £1,500 / $1,800) is selling far less than planned for were electric bikes, he said – to the extent that a new surplus was being created in some cases.

What?

I think this means that the enthusiast sector is experiencing a pick-up but electric bikes are selling far less than planned. But possibly the other way round? Calling a proofreader to the Cycling Weekly office, please!

AV convoys are usually spoken of as a means of saving energy not increasing capacity. But as already pointed out, in both aspects they are inferior to an actual train.

You'd have to ask the owner. But you can certainly buy genuine items on Ali Express. Whether it's genuine or not, by far the most likely cause of this failure is, as already pointed out, not closing the QR.

There's a good argument to make for separated cycle paths alongside dual carriageway, and even single carriageway, main roads, maintaining priority at junctions etc.