Cycling UK Forum

Biscuit wrote: Is the cycle track across the IOW trike friendly? Anyone? I have a ICE Qnt............
60 odd or a 100 miles - seems like a good plan to end it in a pub........

Yes it is Trice friendly. I took my Trice on the 55km route two years ago. It is nearly all hard surface. There was just one place on the Sandown/Newport stretch where I had to squeeze the Trice through, but it wasn't difficult, and mines not an NT.

FWIW I think the short route is much more enjoyable than the full route.

When wild camping in France I had laid out the groundsheet and crawled into the sleeping bag just as it was getting dark then enjoyed a supper of cheese and red vino. As the moon came out I needed to visit a bush, so got up and went to the nearby undergrowth.
There, just the other side, was a private graveyard with a dozen or so gravestones lit by the moon.
No way was I going to stay. It sent the shivers right through me.

I rapidly rolled up the bag, threw some clothes on and chose another hedge to sleep behind a mile further down the road.

glueman wrote:

jake wrote:My point is that I think us cyclecampers could learn a lot from the ultralight backpacking fraternity.

True to a point but bikes are the beast of burden, not your shoulders. On longer trips we found extra room in the tent, especially in wet spells, is worth a lot.

Tent? Whats a tent?

yaxu wrote:
Also I'm trying to work out whether to go for baby seat or trailer. Is a baby in a baby seat likely to make contact with the road if a bike tips over?

We've used both and the trailer wins hands down for handling, visibility, stability ...and fun.

If you go the seat route remember not to kick youngster's head when mounting the bike. They don't like it - they really don't

This is appalling. I hope the offender receives a visit and hopefully a prosecution.
I agree it reflects badly on cycling and also on those so-called safety experts who are quoted...

"PC Barrios added that the cyclist could have been arrested for dangerous driving had he been spotted by a police officer"

That just goes to show what a car-centric culture has developed - and also how blind some police must be if they can't tell the difference between a cycle and a motor vehicle

dennistheclown wrote:I am thinking of going to their shop near Exeter to try the 46cm for size but having spoken to them on the phone I think it will be too small but I think I'll give it a go just in case it does fit.

My daughter at 5'1" has the 46cm steel 631 model and it fits her like a glove.
It is too small for me at 5'7".
I think it will be far too small for someone of 5'10".

Biscuit wrote:All I've got to do now is get over the anxiety I have, of my booking residing in somebodies head or being on the back of an envelope 'somewhere' on a desk/down the back of a radiator!

Don't worry at all.
Kite Hill is an enormous field and there's always somewhere for a small tent.
May will see it with acres of space, although there could be groups of scooterists.

The only prob with Kite Hill is the lack of a decent pub

I tend to camp on a farm site at Northwood near Cowes - just yards from the Travellers Joy with eight real ales to sample
http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~tjoy/Beer.htm

Beware engineering works - again

All lines through Basingstoke are closed 3-5 May so that probably means no trains in the And0ver/Reading/Woking/Winchester area.
(which means once again no trains at all through my local station)

Has anyone managed to get a Trice on a replacement bus service

Paul Power wrote:
I think you've misinterpreted my post. I am/have laying the blame firmly at our local authority's door.

As for the funding available, supposedly millions has been made available by the government for NS training. However, I have continually asked where these millions have gone, and have yet to get a satisfactory answer.

Where public funding has been made available for cycling, it should be available for everyone, and not based on the prejudices of each local authority.
Paul

See today's news.
http://www.cyclingengland.co.uk/pressoffice.php
I would have liked CTC to have ensured all instructors knew about this rather than coming across it by accident...but that's another story.

I wonder how many LAs will apply on behalf of independent instructors and how many will just put their fingers in their ears.

andymiller wrote:Me too. I'm going to try phoning.

Dont forget to use:

http://www.saynoto0870.co.uk/search.php

Its a very useful site

Paul Power wrote:What I can't figure out is why they even bother with cycle training to begin with?

Local Authority Officers and Politicians Rule No.1:
Tick a box.

Moi? a cynic?

Paul Power wrote:£6-7 per hour??
Tell them to shove it.
Can't imagine any teacher working for £6 an hour, can you?

Our LA allows Instructors to claim the National Minimum Wage (£5.52 I think). But then they are highly experienced and qualified instructors, as they a undertake comprehensive training programme of two and a half hours in a meeting room on how fill the paperwork in!

But what about riding bikes with the trainees?
Heaven forbid - no that is definitely not allowed.
Far too risky.
And don't even think about reconnecting little Johnny's brake cable.
Send him off to ride home.

pigman wrote:Most people seem to be attacking the original poster, saying that in reality a car is a necessity. I agree with this.

Having a car is a choice.
No one is going around forcing people to use them.

BentMikey wrote:

barney473 wrote:
Bikes aren't green, they are simply less polluting than cars.

And those who choose to use cars choose to pollute more.

gaz wrote:The one I got from ICE on the recommendation of Keepontriking is a full length single mudguard. Perfect for my needs.

Pleased to be of help.