Search found 18416 matches

by Vorpal
5 Feb 2024, 10:45am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Should I be concerned
Replies: 31
Views: 2507

Re: Should I be concerned

That is not normal. I would not ride that until it's checked.
by Vorpal
2 Feb 2024, 11:30am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Which bike would be a better buy?
Replies: 40
Views: 1897

Re: Which bike would be a better buy?

similar topics merged by moderator
by Vorpal
1 Feb 2024, 1:26pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: On pedantry?
Replies: 81
Views: 4560

Re: On pedantry?

I am an incomplete pedant.

That is to say, I only engage in pedantry regarding things that are incomplete.

:wink:
by Vorpal
30 Jan 2024, 1:35pm
Forum: People, Events & Rides
Topic: RULES for posting about EVENTS ( charity or otherwise )
Replies: 27
Views: 74547

Re: RULES for posting about EVENTS ( charity or otherwise )

lagansfoundation wrote: 30 Jan 2024, 11:57am Hello, i'm looking for a little bit of support with these rules, I was told by a member of staff over the phone last week that I could post our event in the forum. I have added Lagan's Cycle Challenge to your event section awaiting approval.
Thank you
Welcome to the forum, Can you please say how the event is related to Cycling UK?

Also, can you send a message to me or slowster about who approved the post?

Thanks
by Vorpal
22 Jan 2024, 11:22am
Forum: On the road
Topic: Winter cycling photos and writeups
Replies: 205
Views: 24152

Re: Winter cycling photos and writeups

Cowsham wrote: 19 Jan 2024, 1:32pm How do you keep your water bottle from freezing Jon?
Most people in Norway either use Camelbak type things between layers of clothes, or they use insulated bottles & start with warm or even hot water. I tend to take a herbal infusion, instead, with a little honey in it, as that is the only drink I like both warm & cold. Although I sometimes just take a water bottle, and a small insulated flask with tea in, and drink the water until it freezes, then switch to tea. I have an Ocean Bottle that fits in my bottle cages.
by Vorpal
22 Jan 2024, 11:07am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: The name of the warning gadget
Replies: 78
Views: 4376

Re: The name of the warning gadget

gaz wrote: 21 Jan 2024, 1:50pm
Pinhead wrote: 21 Jan 2024, 11:55am That is about 2' long and sticks out from the back side ...
Thagomizer?
Best answer.
by Vorpal
22 Jan 2024, 10:55am
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Why does Trump lie so much?
Replies: 235
Views: 13639

Re: Why does Trump lie so much?

djnotts wrote: 22 Jan 2024, 9:16am How the Democrats cannot find better (and younger, more mentally capable and cleaner) than Biden DOES surprise me.
The biggest problem with the Democrats is same as for the Republicans. They pander to money. They will never put forward any significant candidates who are not palatable to big donors. The party leadership have a significant influence on who is selected, and they are all corporate moderates. The party has swung to the left with both younger members and the more recently elected representatives at both state and federal level, but the leadership haven't. I guess it's only a matter of time, but I hope that it isn't too late by then.
by Vorpal
22 Jan 2024, 10:32am
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: How's your weather?
Replies: 1943
Views: 94261

Re: How's your weather?

After getting almost a meter of snow since Christmas (30ish cm last Wednesday), we are at 6 degrees & had a little rain overnight, so everything is slush & ice.

I'm working from home today, but will have to go out this afternoon to take Youngest to a cafe to talk about work experience that he is supposed to do next week.
by Vorpal
16 Jan 2024, 8:19am
Forum: On the road
Topic: In ride entertainment
Replies: 50
Views: 3300

Re: In ride entertainment

A friend that I used ride quite a bit with & toured with a couple of times in my younger days used to recite Shakespeare as we went along.

He was quite good at it; He was best at the comedic monologues, and better at the poems & sonnets than the dramatic stuff. Other people's reactions to it were often amusing.
by Vorpal
15 Jan 2024, 8:36am
Forum: Health and fitness
Topic: Covid again!
Replies: 59
Views: 3795

Re: Covid again!

Locked due to conspiracy theories, etc.
by Vorpal
21 Dec 2023, 1:30pm
Forum: Cycling UK Member Groups and Affiliates
Topic: How close do you ride to each other
Replies: 24
Views: 9468

Re: How close do you ride to each other

It depends an awful lot on the group, the purpose of the ride, how fast, and other things which we have no idea about.

A club ride, or a group of trainees who are required to stay together, is completely different from a led ride, which may include beginners, returning cyclists, people who have never before been on an organised ride, etc. A led ride is yet again different from a Critical Mass or protest ride.

What are they trying to depict? I would guess not a sporty image of cycling?
by Vorpal
21 Dec 2023, 8:57am
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Fountain pen use
Replies: 34
Views: 1569

Re: Fountain pen use

I keep a notebook & write things, mostly about work, because I remember them better if I write it by hand.
by Vorpal
18 Dec 2023, 8:36am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Sixties....no padding....now padded saddles and shorts....why?
Replies: 193
Views: 69641

Re: Sixties....no padding....now padded saddles and shorts....why?

I hardly sat on my BMX saddle though? I was mostly standing to pedal & hopping stuff, going over jumps, etc. I pretty much only sat down when I was using it as a chair.
by Vorpal
15 Dec 2023, 10:32am
Forum: On the road
Topic: A car hit my locks. incident.
Replies: 121
Views: 142553

Re: A car hit my locks. incident.

cycletilde wrote: 10 Dec 2023, 12:17pm I locked my bike up in a uk council bike lock rack. The standard high street type.

I took my shopping home, then came back the next morning for my locks and a car had hit my locks
and bent the rack. it must have hit them at 40-50 mph.

My poor locks were damaged, including a squire and abus.

I found out it was a hit and run, the driver ran away. So likely not the drivers car.

I wonder if anyone can any please advise on a good path to take?
If there is a case registered regarding the incident, you might be able to reclaim from the car owner's insurance. The car should be covered for that & the damage to the racks, even if it was stolen. Maybe the local council, or owner of the racks can tell you how they are reovering the cost?

Otherwise, your home contents insurance may cover it, but locks may be less than the excess, anyway.
maximus meridius wrote: 13 Dec 2023, 10:49pm I don't get the "bike locks left on stands are a big problem" thing. I just don't get it.

I leave mine on a bike stand at work:

Now then, the stands at work aren't "public". They are in a key-code access cage, in a corner of an underground car park. But the ones out on the street next to the same building also have a few U locks attached.

I can't see how any of those locks are going to stop somebody else locking a bike up.
They don't prevent someone from using sheffield stands, but locks left in the wrong place on some other types of stands can prevent others from using them. In addition, many people see locks on the stand, especially in a private bike storage, as claim on that parking space and will be reluctant to lock up there.

My current and previous job both have had secure, indoor bike parking with a rail on the wall for lock storage. We aren't allowed to leave locks on the stands. We are welcome to leave a lock, but it has to be left on the lock rail, or security will remove it.
by Vorpal
13 Dec 2023, 2:44pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Sixties....no padding....now padded saddles and shorts....why?
Replies: 193
Views: 69641

Re: Sixties....no padding....now padded saddles and shorts....why?

I have one pairs of cycling shoes. clipless systems don't really work me, so the cycling shoes get used form spinning bikes when I use them in the winter.

When I started 'serious' cycling in the early 80s, the only special gear I had besides my bike were net-backed cycling gloves. I couldn't really afford the clothes in the bike shop, but I don't recall being uncomfortable. I did have a fancy Avocet saddle, but it came with my road bike, which I bought used.

I bought my first cycling shorts in 1993. I still have them. While they aren't suitable for polite company, I wear them under other stuff. Because they are still the most comfortable cycling shorts I own. They are lycra(ish) with a thin fake chamois, and they were made by Pearl Izumi. The fake chamois is in surprising good condition after all these years & when the rest of the material dies, I plan to sew it into another pair of shorts. Or make a new pair of shorts to go with the pad :lol:

The thing is, when I was young, it seems like I could ride for miles on almost any bike and saddle, and never suffer for it (youth, eh? :lol: )

These days, if my saddle isn't in *exactly* the right position, or doesn't fit me, I can barely ride across town :cry:

I don't really like modern padded shorts, but I do like the lack of seams in padded shorts. Seams next to my skin bother me & have done so, at least since I had babies, so cycling in normal outdoor wear, or work clothes without cycling shorts is a problem for me. Some women's merino boxers also meet this criteria, though they are not as comfortable for long distance as cycling shorts with no / a thin pad. They are more comfortable than the thick pads on many cycling shorts.