Search found 207 matches

by londoncommuter0000
7 Jan 2019, 11:38am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: How do you carry your camera?
Replies: 29
Views: 4221

Re: How do you carry your camera?

mnichols wrote:When I'm touring I normally just use my iPhone for taking photos - it's small, robust, has good battery life and has no moving parts

but, on my next tour I want to take a proper camera as it promises to be very scenic. In fact I have bought a camera specifically for this tour. It has an optical zoom and therefore has moving parts.

Cameras tend to be delicate so how do you carry yours to stop it from getting damaged or just shaken to pieces?

Many of the roads on my tour will be unsealed so it could get shaken about.


I realise that this is an old topic, but if you're interested: I carry my Nikon D810 (with a 35 mm Nikkor lens) in an Arkel handlebar bag.

And yes - it's insured. :-)
by londoncommuter0000
7 Jan 2019, 11:32am
Forum: On the road
Topic: Shoulder Barged By Pedestrian On A Cycle Path
Replies: 60
Views: 7072

Re: Shoulder Barged By Pedestrian On A Cycle Path

I've had pedestrians scream [ abuse ] at me, when I've been on shared paths. So I stop. I very politely point at the [ obvious ] bicycle logo painted on the path. The response is usually the same - a repeated bellowing of [ abuse ].

The most recent - and worrying - incident was in the Square Mile about a month ago, when I stopped at a set of red traffic lights near to St Paul's. I was inside the ASL, fully legal. A young boy - I'd say about ten years old - who was crossing with an adult male in front of me, kicked my front tyre, spat at me and snarled 'pay [ abuse ] road tax!'

Cyclist hatred is mainstream.
by londoncommuter0000
7 Jan 2019, 11:26am
Forum: On the road
Topic: London - on the spot fine
Replies: 95
Views: 15998

Re: London - on the spot fine

horizon wrote:Before commenting further, I'm wondering if anyone could tell me what was achieved by this penalty notice.


Punishing someone who has dared not to conform to societal norms.

Hope this helps.
by londoncommuter0000
7 Jan 2019, 11:25am
Forum: On the road
Topic: London - on the spot fine
Replies: 95
Views: 15998

Re: London - on the spot fine

thirdcrank wrote:
Jon Lucas wrote:So, getting back to the issue raised by the OP, this interpretation of the law seems to suggest that if you are cycling along a road towards a traffic signal with a right turn filter lane, and don't have the confidence to move across into the right turning lane, but instead choose to stop at the red light, walk across to the right turn lane, and remount, you have committed an offence. Absolutely bloody daft.

And if you did it five yards before the red light, filtering your way through the stopped traffic? Would that be allowed?


I'd say the key point is passing the traffic light: you must obey the signal. And my interpretation is that you must obey the signal whether you are riding or pushing the bike.


Your interpretation is wrong. It is not an offence to push a bicycle through a red light or a stop sign. Since a cyclist pushing a bicycle is a foot passenger, then making it illegal to push a bicycle through a red light or stop sign, would be creating the offence of 'jaywalking', and the courts don't make law in this country (with some narrow exceptions, cf statutory interpretation).
by londoncommuter0000
7 Jan 2019, 11:22am
Forum: On the road
Topic: London - on the spot fine
Replies: 95
Views: 15998

Re: London - on the spot fine

mjr wrote:
thirdcrank wrote:Is somebody pushing a pedal cycle propelling it? I think so.

And several others of us think not, with various examples showing absurd consequences if it is. In the absence of statute or precedence, it seems like it might be worth challenging.


A cyclist pushing his or her bicycle is not 'propelling' it any more than a pedestrian walking down the street is 'propelling' himself (or herself) - at least for the purposes of the Road Traffic Acts.

The decision in Crank v Brooks [1980] RTR 441 concerned a pedestrian crossing, but the decision on a cyclist being 'a foot passenger' is NOT limited to pedestrian crossings.
by londoncommuter0000
7 Jan 2019, 11:18am
Forum: On the road
Topic: London - on the spot fine
Replies: 95
Views: 15998

Re: London - on the spot fine

Redrhino wrote:Arrgh. The pain and the shame. Cycling from the City to Paddington on the Embankment Cycling highway, many cyclists are perhaps familiar with the right turn into Nortumberland Ave.

See my picture. I saw the Police officer monitoring the junction so was particularly careful. I dismounted by the circle and re-mounted at the triangle. The right filter traffic light was green so I cycled off - only to be stopped 50m on and issued with an on the spot fine for cycling through a red light.

The Police officer said I shouldn't have walked through a red light. I said cyclists who walk are pedestrians so can ignore signals.
Then she said I should have walked across the whole carriage way (to the red cross).

All captured on the officer's video. Both sides were polite even as I received a £50 fine. If I was reckless or dangerous I could more understand the officer's concern. No cars were passing, it was day light and no one was at risk.

Questions:
Are you allowed to dismount and walk through red lights? I thought so.
Do I have a case? The pink fixed penalty slip says pay or go to court.
Is that the procedure? I would have thought a simple inspection would see the case is surely so minor and throw it out.
Expert views welcome.

[img]Untitled%202.jpeg[/img]


Coming late to the party, and there may be other responses, but .. DO NOT PAY THIS FINE!

If you genuinely were pushing your bicycle through the red light, then you were a pedestrian (Crank v Brooks [1980] RTR 441), and there is no offence of 'jaywalking' in England & Wales.
by londoncommuter0000
7 Jan 2019, 11:14am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Tubeless Rims on a Tourer?
Replies: 9
Views: 501

Re: Tubeless Rims on a Tourer?

reohn2 wrote:Your enquiry begs the question why are you experiencing "punctures every couple of days"?
I puncture maybe twice a year and ride gravelly bridleways and off road tracks on quite flimsy slick supple tyres.
What tyres are you riding,what pressures do you ride them at,and where do you tour?


Sorry, 'begs the question' isn't the same as 'raises the question'.

I know, I know ... pedant! Sorry. One of my pet peeves. Ignore me. :D

Anyway, to answer your questions: I have Schwalbe Marathon Plus. Pressure: I'd say around 5 bars. Where do I tour? Mainly Europe, with the occasional foray into SE Asia.
by londoncommuter0000
7 Jan 2019, 10:51am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Tubeless Rims on a Tourer?
Replies: 9
Views: 501

Tubeless Rims on a Tourer?

Hi,
I have a Surly LHT with Alex rims, and fancy converting it to run tubeless. The prospect of doing a tour without punctures every couple of days, is definitely attractive.

But on the Alex rims website, I don't see tubeless rims. Can someone recommend good 26" rims, fully tubeless and reputed sturdy enough to run on a fully laden LHT?

Thanks.
by londoncommuter0000
18 Jul 2018, 11:16am
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Which touring bike . .again probably !
Replies: 37
Views: 2193

Re: Which touring bike . .again probably !

newbuild100 wrote:Folks, I spend a few odd weeks in the year using an old bike for touring about on. (No camping gear, I hostel it or B/B with small ish panniers and a handlebar bag. ie travel fairly light)
As I have just enrolled on our bike to work scheme, i want to spend a bit on money, maybe £1300/£1400.
I first looked at Dawes and Ridgeback bikes, and whilst I realise Steel may be best for a touring frame, im a bit put off by the weight and the fact that those bikes seem to have running gear/brakes that arent the "Shimano's finest" (Not that im a parts snob, but I was a bit shocked when i saw the components lists !)
I dont mind a bike with discs on, but id like to have my gear changers on the brakehoods and not on the bars (It seems a few do)
One other bike that I like the look of is the Ribble CGR. Its alloy, seems to have better components than those above, but doesnt seem to be an out and out tourer.
Theres too much choice out there !!!!!!
Can anyone comment on the above please, or any helpful tips at all ?
Thanks guys


Surly LHT.

Is there any other?
by londoncommuter0000
18 Jul 2018, 10:46am
Forum: On the road
Topic: Police and Punishment Passes
Replies: 45
Views: 11407

Re: Police and Punishment Passes

BrianFox wrote:
You can't assume no tax disc means not taxed - tax discs are no longer required/issued as its on a central database.


I checked the online database - not taxed. I don't think tax discs still exist, do they?


I reported a driver who was ignoring red lights, no entry signs and who had no MOT and no VED. The police ignored it. Six times, six reports over the course of two weeks. A month later, I checked the DVLA website and there he was - still no MOT and still no VED.

A letter to the Chief Constable followed, copied to the Police and Crime Commissioner and my MP.

Two weeks later, fancy that - he'd 'taxed' and insured it.
by londoncommuter0000
18 Jul 2018, 10:41am
Forum: On the road
Topic: Who are the best/worst drivers on the road?
Replies: 273
Views: 43459

Re: Who are the best/worst drivers on the road?

robing wrote:I think most lorry drivers are excellent. Many times I'll have one patiently waiting behind until it's safe to pass, and when they do they give me a very wide pass. Could teach other drivers a thing or two. (However in France I had a number of very close passes by lorries where I almost got sucked into their slipstream.) Worst drivers? Hard to say - wvm, mini cabs, 4x4s all candidates.


Taxi drivers - And any driver who earns his crust from driving. If you see a van with ladders on top, you can be absolutely sure that the driver will do something ****.
by londoncommuter0000
18 Jul 2018, 10:38am
Forum: On the road
Topic: Given a girly slap by a motorcyclist on the railway path.
Replies: 41
Views: 3609

Re: Given a girly slap by a motorcyclist on the railway path.

[XAP]Bob wrote:A slap has a high chance of causing an off, so that should go straight to the police.


Yes, so they can ignore it.