Cycling UK Forum

Harpsta22 wrote:https://chilli-tech.com/content/new-bullet-action-camera/

I've one of these. Not bad for the money. Runs for about 3.5 hrs on one charge. No problems when it gets rained on. Picture is not bad mounted on handle bars.
My two quibbles - the bar mount isn't the best ( I've made my own replacement). Every time I upload the vids to my pc it resets the date/time to 2015. Not a major issue but annoying.

I've found this problem quite a lot while doing bikeability. Often caused by the noodle not being put all the way into the hole, so that the end of the noodle sits against the 'lips' of the yoke and when the brake is pulled on it bends them.

I have seen some instructors bend them back into shape with pliers. My view is that once bent the cheap ones are weakened and may fail catastrophically, and thus fall back on the rule that instructors are not allowed to fix bikes and refuse to do it.

Both the photos in the OP are a lane wide so there should be no issue with moving away from the pavement. The other photo that was there before showed IIRC a temporary cycle lane marked with cones, thus any cyclist who wanted to move away from the pavement just checks over their shoulder and nips through the cones into the next 'lane' just as they would if there was no cycle lane there at all. Overtaking other cyclists can work in a similar way.

I agree that some of our crappier infra (such as narrow shared use pavements) will cause problems with distancing (just as they would cause problems for two peds passing). But I don't think that people are calling for crappy infra. I did both of the blue routes in Birmingham today and had no more problems with distancing than I did on the road bits, and it certainly felt safer than being on the A38 and A34 dual carriageways with the boy racers.

As an aside, I noticed something interesting: on the road I've had several joggers launch themselves off the pavement in front of me over the last few weeks - they appear to be trying to distance themselves from other pavement users and assuming its safe to go into the road as they can't hear cars coming. On the segregated cycle paths I found that the joggers were much more likely to look before leaping - perhaps they are expecting cyclists to be there and so check for them.

Good quality infra stops motor vehicles getting in amongst the cyclists, not the other way around.

My 2p's worth...

The 'safety in numbers' is an example of a high profile campaign aimed at getting cyclists to use roads, the idea being that drivers become used to cyclists and so behave better, and also the number of cyclists creates a traffic calming effect. It was heavily promoted by CTC (CUK). CUK has since realised that it doesn't work and instead now prefers high quality infra.

It's noticeable that those Northern European cities where cycling is popular have lots of infra and don't rely on chucking the cyclists into the traffic. That's not to say that cyclists don't also use the roads where they feel comfortable.

Speaking as a bikeability instructor who has worked for years in schools and with adults, teaching them to ride safely on roads, my experience is that it comes a very poor second to good infra, and does little to promote cycle use.

There are plenty of cyclists who have no issues with riding on roads of all shapes and sizes, but remember that what we want is everyone on bikes, not just the elite. Look at that busy urban road that you have just ridden down comfortably....would you be happy with a seven year old riding on it by themselves?

As for putting infra in now...very good time to do it as low traffic levels mean that there is less resistance to it, and if it gets lots more people out on their bikes and using it they are more likely to make a fuss about keeping it after lockdown. Plus, although traffic levels are currently lower, in many cases it's faster, and there are a lot of people using bikes for the first time in years.

PH wrote:

Si wrote:site tracked!

Is site tracked a technical term

It's them darned cookies.

I use it for work, along with various historic maps sites and Google earth historic AP. Can spend hours getting side tracked!

Not sure that you can actually get the Crixus any more - although listed on halfords site it doesn't come up with price...unless i'm doing it wrong?

Previously discussed here: viewtopic.php?f=6&t=134144

I was doing some work that required using the NHLE website recently (https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/) - tempted to try to ride to every listed building in my area!

Endurance road bike? Bike that is good for riding long distances on the road, in comfort, at a reasonable speed? Recumbent bike, innit?

My fave is probably one of the cheapest in my collection. It came on my first adult sized road bike, back around 1990, which was a very cheap starter job with bargain bucket components. But the saddle is so comfie. And, by nice coincidence, it was off a Giant bike and my current best bike is also a Giant so the branding on the back isn't out of place.

Thinking about it, although it was a bargain bucket 1990s bike, I do have a fair bit of it still going: one of the wheels (converted to fixed to the rear brake isn't used much), the brake callipers, the brake levers, the chain set (dunno what it's made from but the teeth haven't hooked yet), steel handle bars (converted to cow horns), etc

Worst saddle? Brooks Colt.

Is it just me?

When I go out for a leisure ride I tend to stick to a mish mash of mostly quiet roads, parks and cycle paths. But the last three weeks all the parks have been jam packed with people - impossible to keep 2m apart plus need to ride very slowly. Thus having to re-access my 'go-to' routes and have started using my old commuting routes that I was on 10-15 years ago before the new paths were put in. On many of them the traffic is lower than normal...and riding around Brum city centre is just spooky.

But it is strange - wanting to ride somewhere local and having to scratch head and think about the route before setting out.

I want compensation from my tablet for eating the reply I just typed

Have been asked to moderate thread. I can see why people might find it distasteful, however as the majority of replies have used civil, reasoned arguement to dismantle the OPs proposition, I'm of a mind to pretty much leave it as is.