Cycling UK Forum

Fasgadh wrote: ↑8 Oct 2024, 10:00am The idea is derived from a running challenge, popular on Youtube where distances are covered in a 50m corridor of straightness and understandably irate farmers (they cross hedges and fences in a manner I would not tolerate) dodged. The one where the Fieldhouses race Geowizard, the originator of this genre, across the Isle of Man is great fun to watch - two series one from each team.

If you enjoyed that and are not already aware of them, Geowizard has set a couple of smaller straightline challenges for Storror (the parkour team) that you can find on the Storror Youtube channel, that are good fun to watch also. (apologies if you fall down the rabbithole of watching Parkour videos!)

We visited Berlin this summer, first time we have been to Germany. We had to get some supplies so were intrigued to check out Lidl, and Aldi and how they compared to back home (pretty sad thing to get excited about i admit).

I didn't think they were as well supplied or as "pleasant" as the ones in the UK - but maybe because these were small busy, inner-city stores rather than the sprawling suburban ones I'm used to.

Biggest culture shocks were the huge shelf of loose packs of cigarettes by the till in Lidl, and finding out there are actually two Aldi's, Aldi Nord and Aldi Sud, (we get Aldi Sud in the UK) so we went into a Aldi Nord- which disappointingly wasn't that different! Also Staff in the UK are alot more pleasant - always get a nice greeting at the checkout at home, in Berlin not even an acknowledgement or smile.

Your selection of gears is best driven by the ride you have either end of your commute. You probably have the option of a 2, 3 or six speed. The further/hillier the distance you're riding (or the less fit you are!) -the more gears you probably want. The 3 and 6 speed have a hub gear so will be a bit heavier than a 2 speed for carrying. A test ride may help decide what is best for you. Personally id rather have too many gears than not enough.

The easiest way to "carry" the bike is to actually leave it unfolded and just push it. At most train stations you'll probably be able to do this up to the platform and then just fold it up for hopping on the train. I think the London underground insist your bike is folded in the stations but you can still roll it folded on its little castor wheels., having a rear rack makes it more stable when you do that - but adds a bit of weight.

Would recommend you take advantage of baggage that attaches to the front block of the brompton rather than wear a rucksack whilst you cycle. You can get bags that can also be used as rucksacks/messenger bags when detached from bike. Brompton specific bags can be expensive, but are some 3rd party options and you might be able to pick up second hand on eBay etc.

Were you near Dartmoor perchance - sounds like an attack by the Hairy Hands!


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hairy_Hands

The markup function in the google photos app on my phone has the ability to type text as well as markup with a "pen", its odd that when i am in google photos on my chrome browser it only has the pen option.

Corpulent_Porpoise wrote: ↑16 Sep 2024, 2:00pm
You misunderstand me. I agree 100% that there are instances where drivers receive overly-lenient sentences and I'd be happy to illustrate cases where that has happened.

Well this is the thread for doing specifically that and yet you are derailing it with "whataboutery" and misplaced "balance"

Corpulent_Porpoise wrote: ↑16 Sep 2024, 2:00pm No, the example I gave wasn't anecdotal, it happened.

I do believe you. An anecdote is a personal story about something that happened to you, or was witnessed by you. So your story is anecdotal.

Corpulent_Porpoise wrote: ↑16 Sep 2024, 2:00pm I don't give a damn about hang-gliders, they're not relevant. Hang-glider users and car drivers aren't at loggerheads - cyclist and car drivers are and that's why I believe a balance is important.

hang gliders are as relevant to this thread as the subjects you have brought up. Hyperbole is a figure of speech that uses obvious and extreme exaggeration to make a point.

Corpulent_Porpoise wrote: ↑16 Sep 2024, 2:00pm I don't want to start a thread moaning about cyclists; I am one! I'm equally opposed to the threads on car forums where some really vicious things are said against cyclists. I very often wade in to those as well and try to strike a balance. Don't you see my point? Unless we all have a balanced view then it's hard to make positive progress. That's all I'm saying.

And yet you want to moan about other cyclists and us putting our house in order in a thread where its not relevant and isn't providing balance at all. You can moan about other cyclists - its fine - i'm just disagreeing that this is the right place to do it.

Corpulent_Porpoise wrote: ↑16 Sep 2024, 2:00pm The analogy in your final paragraph is just childish and nonsensical. Doing a wheelie is not the same as jumping a red and cycling straight across a busy junction causing traffic to brake sharply to avoid an accident.

Again - me being a bit hyperbolic.

Apologies but you did get my goat a bit and I have now contributed to derailing this otherwise worthy thread with my condescending mansplaining!
No ill will intended, and wishing you safe cycling.

Corpulent_Porpoise wrote: ↑16 Sep 2024, 12:19pm

deeferdonk wrote: ↑16 Sep 2024, 11:10am

Corpulent_Porpoise wrote: ↑15 Sep 2024, 4:01pm I think this thread should also illustrate some of the spectacularly stupid things that some cyclists do...

Repectfully strongly disagree - the title of this thread is "A place to record lenient sentencing for motorvehicle....". Thats a pretty well defined subject. How about starting your own thread called "spectacularly stupid things that some cyclists do" to discuss this completely separate subject?

Simple, because I believe there should be a balance. Both parties do some stupid things and I think all threads like this do is fuel anti-cycling hatred. I don't like the word 'hate' it's a very strong emotion, but it is one seemingly felt by both motorists and cyclists against one another. The main reason I don't think this thread helps us is because it comes across as rather pious. I'm not arguing against some of the motoring offences, or defending the drivers, I just think there should be a balance for our own sakes as much as anything else.

Again respectfully - you are not being balanced at all. This thread is "A place to record lenient sentencing for motorvehicle". There's lots of posts and links to news stories where drivers of vehicles have killed or maimed people and got away scot free, or with arguably minimal punishments.

You posted an anecdote of 2 cyclists you saw going through a red light.

I could understand if you posted in this thread an incident where a cyclist caused a death and got a lenient sentence - that would be balanced - and almost on topic. Or posted disagreeing that a sentence was lenient for x,y, or z reasons.

There's nothing to stop you starting a thread or multiple threads listing all the stupid things you've seen cyclists, pedestrians, hang-gliders doing for balance.

I can't help but think the cycling world needs to get its own house in order, or at least strike a balanced stance, before launching off in a generally anti-car thread.

Ok lads - none of you condemn that lenient sentencing for that drugged driver who killed those kids - i saw a scally doing a wheelie down the high street, so we're all just as bad as each other

Corpulent_Porpoise wrote: ↑15 Sep 2024, 4:01pm I think this thread should also illustrate some of the spectacularly stupid things that some cyclists do...

Repectfully strongly disagree - the title of this thread is "A place to record lenient sentencing for motorvehicle....". Thats a pretty well defined subject. How about starting your own thread called "spectacularly stupid things that some cyclists do" to discuss this completely separate subject?

Means testing is inefficient and leads to people in need falling though the gaps whether is heating allowance or free school meals, yet the answer is simple. Tax the rich. It doesn't matter if a billionaire is getting £300 heating allowance if they are paying £300+ more in tax as well.

I wonder what impact the rise in delivery riders for Ubereats/deliveroo etc had on the cycling statistics.

Its a bit hard to understand why there might be a drop in cycling without it broken down into which type of cyclists. Could be more people are riding bikes recreationally but just less people are ordering takeaway!

i got some cheap photochromatic sunglasses for £7.99, from the middle of Lidl. So they are clear in the dark and low light but darken when exposed to light. They are not the best sunglasses, but a useful compromise and keep the flys out of my peepers.

Playing devils advocate, I found capes rubbish (no offense to those who they work well for) . I got one because they sounded like a good idea, for keeping dry and not overheating. But ended up feeling encumbered and buffeted by wind and passing traffic, gave up on it after a couple of rides in exchange for a less waterproof but snugger fitting jacket.

So sorry for your loss.

This is not directly cycling related, but I had a very sedentary period of my life and wanted to get active - so can tell you what helped me.

I started to do some jogging and did the couch to 5k plan from the NHS.

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/g ... uch-to-5k/

When i did it, there was a podcast you played that played music and a nice lady told you when to run or walk and gave words of encouragement, looks like they now have similar in an app.

I found the structure, encouragement (albeit from a disembodied voice!) and the obtainable achievement of running for half an hour was exactly what i needed to get me started. More running, cycling, swimming led on from that as i got into the habit of exercise.

My tsr with alfine 11 hub has forward facing diagonal dropouts has white washer on RH side, and silver on LH side.

The late Michael Mosely did an episode on one of his radio shows about this that is still available to listen to:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0016ppn

I've got some beetroot tablets because i find the juice a bit nasty! With all the other variables in my life, I don't know if they do make a difference but I've got in the habit of taking them with my daily multivitamin.