Cycling UK Forum

Update - as suspected, no text from the bill.
I have filled out an on-line crime report thingy but it doesn't allow me to upload the photos.
My guess is that if it happens at all, the cops on the ground won't get sight of the pictures for a couple of weeks.

[img][/img]Walking through the centre of Bristol today - 5:35pm and my attention is drawn to two blokes looking furtively around as they walked up to some bikes chained to railings at the Council City Hall. Then one produces a battery powered angle grinder from an old Sainsburys carrier bag and starts to grind away at the shackle lock securing the red bike.
Amazingly it seemed as though I was the only person seeing this so I very visibly got out my phone and started taking pictures. The guy with the grinder soon spotted me and told me he didn't appreciate my taking his picture. Not wishing to get punched, I stopped taking photos but told him that it looked to me like he was stealing the bike. He told me that he owned it, the keys were at his mum's and called me a lemon!!!? I said that I was going to call the police and walked away. The fact that they then left suggests to me that their claim to own the bike was very dubious so I called the cops on the 101 number. 15 minutes later I got to talk to someone - gave a detailed description and offered to send them the pictures. I was told that they would text me a report number and an address to send the images to..................still waiting for that.

Trading anecdotes about inconsiderate horse riders or cyclists doesn't progress the discussion very far.
As a cyclist I have always harboured a fear of horses - in my experience they seem unpredictable and often difficult for their mount to control but I'm beginning to understand that their erratic behaviour is due to their fear of me.
Choosing as I do to cycle the quiet country lanes it is quite common for me to come across a horse rider doing the same; enjoying a ride. I have learnt that to slow right down, even stop. To call out to the rider, making my presence known and if necessary to ask them when it is OK to pass - seems to be a good strategy. What is more, a smile and a bit of consideration adds to the pleasure that both parties are getting from being out in the countryside enjoying the activity that they love.

[XAP]Bob wrote:Tiger bitten is a member of these forums, he certainly has a decent beard, and is regularly found on long tours. I spotted his trike, and then found him in a nearby cafe, having breakfast, a couple of weeks ago in the furthest reaches of Cornwall.

He'll likely be heading back towards the Midlands, having set off east, got to Kings Lynn and turned right along the coast...

He is often in shorts - so it kind of fits...

It's an ICE trike, with a streamer fairing, and some fairly impressive gearing. A carry freedom trailer with a box attached complete the outfit.

Oh, and only one arm

Thanks for this very interesting info. Shame I didn't get a chance to have a good look at his machine or a chat with him. Hope he has a good journey

Was it a trike with fairing and all box on a trailer behind?

It certainly had a nose cone type of fairing and could well have been a trike - not a standard recumbent (if there is such a thing)

Can Tiger have got that far north?

Tell me more!

Does anyone know who the almost naked (I think he may have been wearing a pair of Speedos) recumbent rider is?
I saw him sporting an impressive Sheldon Brown style beard and an all over deep tan, cycling an intriguing recumbent through the lanes of Somerset today.
Sadly I was cycling in the other direction so only able to offer a cheery wave to the guy.
If he sees this - RESPECT!!!!

I've just taken out a policy with CyclePlan to cover me for bike theft and accident cover.
As a cycle specific insurance it seemed pretty good and very straight forward to select the cover I wanted.
The big question is - How good is it when you make a claim?
Anyone had any experience?

She is right about some cyclists behaviour, its often appalling

Agreed - but I was walking down a pavement the other day and a pedestrian, texting on their phone walked right into me and they don't even need an MOT to walk around town - I think its diabolical - they should have to take a walking test etc etc etc etc etc

On BBC2 yesterday - Janet Street Porter vs Andrew Gilligan

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03tm40m

Afraid its the usual illogical rant which goes from congestion - danger - increased pollution! caused by cyclists.
Gilligan does well by countering her hysterical ranting with a measured and sensible argument.

Thanks so much for posting this Mick F
I have spent far too much time looking at these beautiful designs - captivating!

How was the biker blocking you? Why couldn't you slot in next to the biker?

There is no inside cycle path approaching it so you have to come down the outside of the stationary traffic in order to enter the ASL.
The road has two lanes, a filter right and a straight on/turn left.
The motor bike was in the filter right part (although he went straight on) There was not enough space for me to weave behind him to get to the left hand part of the ASL and I didn't want to be in the right hand part when the lights changed as I would be in the wrong lane. Unlike the motorbike, my acceleration isn't sufficient to get away on the green light faster than the cars.

I regularly see bikes and cars using ASLs and it's true, there may well be instances where a motorbike could use an ASL without inconveniencing a cyclist but then there may be times when parking on a pavement, yellow zigzags, just before a zebra crossing, driving over 30 etc etc aren't causing a danger to anyone but if everyone decides which laws they want to adhere to and which ones they choose to ignore - life becomes complicated.

FWIW, I don't have anything against motorcycles using cycle boxes.

I'm afraid I do.
I ride a motorbike as well as cycle and would never use infrastructure that is designed and provided for cyclists.
Motorbikes have no problem keeping up with or overtaking motor traffic - they do not need to be at the front at a red light.

cycling home yesterday, approaching traffic lights on red. Overtaken by a motorbike who's rider was wearing a hi vis tabard like this.
He then road into the advance cycle stop area infront of the lights, making it inaccessible to cyclists.

at only £20 it could be worth a punt

Hmm - having just read some reviews you would be better off spending £20 on beer. This isn't a viable bike tracking device as it only uses Bluetooth.

I just came across this http://techiefans.com/how-to-track-your-bike-in-case-of-theft-using-your-smartphone-uk/?IM=A02&TT=T01&sxid=l74088ev40j4
haven't tried it - but at only £20 it could be worth a punt