Cycling UK Forum

Jules59 wrote:And I thought it this going to be about flying the other sort of kites.
When my kids were young we had quite a collection of different kites which we took on our caravanning holidays.

So did I
Before we were married - very many years ago - we used to make kites to fly on Primrose Hill in London.
We made some monster box kites, but these days I just keep a shop-bought frameless kite in my saddlebag in case I see a likely field.

I'm a trendy consumer. Just look at my moto g(30) using hovercraft full of eels.

It dissappeared from my app. I had to search for it and resubscribe using my existing details.
It's working fine.
Thank you for sorting it

I'm a trendy consumer. Just look at my moto g(30) using hovercraft full of eels.

Thank you.

So it's not just me!
Tapatalk access has been flaky for me for a while - some days it works, and then it doesn't. Now it's stopped completely.

Splendid write up of a good ride.

I've been a signed up member (without realising) for many a long year, and although I no longer ride with the Nocturnal Section I do have very fond memories of their forays.

Perhaps we won't meet on the road somewhere.

foxyrider wrote:
In short, my advice is to not take an extended break from the bike, its a much shorter journey to summer fitness if you are already fit. If you are doing 250 miles a week i can't see the need to do any more for your trip.

I'll second that.
When I was commuting daily by bike all year round I could take any ride I wanted at the weekend.
When I retired due to ill health, and stopped riding daily (or even weekly) my fitness levels dropped off a cliff, and I've never recovered 12 years later.
I strongly feel that for the sort of riding you are considering, very regular cycling is vital, and all year round. I think the old blokes used to say that 'winter miles make summer smiles'!

When I had an airzound for commuting, I just pumped it as hard as I could - I didn't realise there's a suggested pressure!

I stopped using it as it was contributing to my behaving like an idiot on wheels. A bell and better observation was the alternative for me.

There's a previous thread called "Map Showing Public Showers in UK?" which covers similar ground.

Cowsham wrote:

We need cycle paths with every road -- that would take us off the roads altogether then no need for road licencing etc.

Nice in theory, but consider the implications of that simple statement.
Do you ban cycles (& e-Scooters) from roads with no path?
What about Country lanes? Or historic city centres? Do you ban the cars or the bikes?
Who pays and how?
How is it enforced?
How is cycle sport impacted by this suggestion? (Time trialing, training etc)
It's a battle the CTC fought maybe 80 years ago, we don't want to be repeating history do we?

Richard Fairhurst wrote:CRT have asked people not to buy the eBay ones after a few incidents of them snapping off in the locks (though I guess they would say that!).

A similar thing happened with copies of copies of Radar keys a while back.

As a CRT volunteer I've not heard of any incidents of broken locks / keys locally. Neither have I ever been aware of misuse of locked CRT facilities around here.

A few years ago I was in Menorca on a non- cycling family holiday and developed what I was convinced was a chest infection.
I felt seriously unwell and had trouble breathing.
I sought advice from the local pharmacy who were completely useless. My next port of call was to my travel insurance through Nationwide.
They directed me to a private clinic where I was examined, x-rayed and assured it was viral. All by English speaking staff (Dutch & Philipino as I recall).
In a strange twist of fate, my brother in law developed similar symptoms a few weeks later on Majorca. He didn't have private insurance so went to the main hospital with his EHIC. He was examined and x-rayed and assured it was viral. The difference was that the only English speaker was the doctor who discharged him, and his description of the waiting areas was more like the NHS than my clinic experience.

So, in summary, that snapshot shows that in those examples, the only difference was in the 'ambience' rather than the care or treatment. (A bit like NHS vs private surgery in the UK)

I received that and wasn't really sure what to make of it.
I'm feeling generally very cynical at the moment and it made me wonder if they're softening me (subscribers) up for a huge price rise or a sale of the business.
In a different frame of mind, I'd probably taken it at face value as homespun end of year niceness.

I really, really like the RideWithGPS software and app, and have been a paying user for a lot of years.

However the added challenges, ambassador programmes, and social elements leave me stone cold. I wonder if it's me that's out of step, and the world of cycling is passing me by, or, if RwGPS are too wrapped up in the North American gravel bike fad to see the wider world-wide picture.

It's great that they're promoting cycling, and encouraging folk onto saddles, but I can't relate to the philosophy.

briansnail wrote:Dear Millimole.Good point. The originator of the post is clearly a moron, imbecile and cretin. Clearly can't get his facts right. Would you like me to thump him?.
Really ? You were not supposed to say that............................Ouch that hurt!

It's fine I'm in a benevolent frame of mind, and tend towards non-violence.
I do get a tad grumpy when assumptions are made about 'stuff' where there are factual inaccuracies that might be checked by framing a question rather than stating a wrong fact. (eg Do railway manager really get free travel?)

My strongest ire is reserved for those spouting nonsense about NHS pay & working conditions, of which I have considerable experience. You passed that hurdle, although do remember - for the sake of good form - that the healthcare system involves a lot more than just doctors & nurses!

Seasons greetings (remove that hair shirt)

briansnail wrote:To be fair most UK Motorists are considerate and give lots of room to cyclists. Its usually carelessness when in a hurry and dark rainy that accidents happen.
Also motorists use the horn a lot as a (friendly) Warning. A lot of cyclists interpret the horn as a hostile noise. Wrongly.

I tend to agree.
It's human nature to remember the wrong 'uns and forget the tenfold that don't bother us. It's true in all walks of life.

Since I've retired, and started working with the general public, I've realised that most people, most of the time, are mostly OK.
I think that's true of drivers.

I tried to get rid of my motorcycle to one of these schemes.
They weren't interested.
In the end I got an astonishingly good trade in price as p/ex for an electric moped.