Search found 623 matches

by DougieB
30 Mar 2009, 7:58pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Tinted windows
Replies: 60
Views: 3721

Re: Tinted windows

Lawrie9 wrote:Making eye contact with motorists and motor cyclists is vital for cyclists and therefore tinted windows and crash helmets must be outlawed.


cyclists therefore should be banned from wearing sun-glasses.
by DougieB
23 Mar 2009, 7:47am
Forum: On the road
Topic: Undertake Overtake???
Replies: 24
Views: 2446

Re: Undertake Overtake???

Pete Owens wrote:I would always recommend overtaking as the default option.


You have to be careful with this, especially in slow moving/stopped traffic. People get frustrated and will do a u-turn from stationary, or turn right down a side street. both of these manouvres will be done at speed (due to frustration), and they won't be expecting a two-wheeler to be riding down the outside.

Pete Owens wrote:There are a few idiots about - and your white van man seems to be among them. But, it is extremely rare for drivers to deliberataly run folk over


I was riding in London, along past Kings-X, on the motorbike. Two lanes of stationary traffic, so I was slowly filtering down the middle. A taxi driver saw me, and pulled into the middle of the lane to block me. This obviously left a large gap on the left, which I worked the bike round and used. As I pulled back round in front of the taxi, crossing in front of his bonnet to go back to the middle of the lane, he drove forward straight into me. All other traffic was stationary. It was all really slow speed, and no damage. But it took an age for him to reverse off my ankle (the bumper had trapped my ankle against the bike). One of those weird situations where I could quite believe he'd actually driven into me on purpose, so I didn't really know what to do. Except laugh a lot and ride away.

whirr-of-campag, it wasn't a dark grey car with a large rear window was it ? A few days ago I was 'buzzed' by such a car down in Stockbridge. The girlfriend was fully turned in her, looking out of the rear window, laughing. Baby in a child seat in the back. As it's a thirty, but with traffic more like a twenty, I was behind them all the way to the traffic lights. At the traffic lights, a volley of abuse from them as I cycled past (ignoring them).
by DougieB
22 Mar 2009, 6:59pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Map Reading
Replies: 31
Views: 1486

Re: Map Reading

I use this up here:

IMG_0802.jpg


not sure if you'll get an England version. You can pick them up in petrol stations here. It fits easily into a back pocket, and has most minor roads (though no gradients, touristy stuff, etc). I use it only for working out rough directions (ie, I need to follow signs to X, but I'm not in a rush), and to find a quick way home if it's getting late.

it's a 1:400 000 backup.
by DougieB
16 Mar 2009, 9:15pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: banana guards, do they work?
Replies: 5
Views: 362

banana guards, do they work?

just packing the saddle bag for tomorrows audax, and I'm deliberating over whether to bother chucking in a couple of bananas. I'm not keen on mushy bananas, or the mess. has anyone used the banana guards, and do they actually work? do you have to take it to the shops, trying out various bananas to get the best-fit?


cheers,
Doug
by DougieB
16 Mar 2009, 5:34pm
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: It's official. You're asking for it if helmetless.
Replies: 22
Views: 1535

Re: It's official. You're asking for it if helmetless.

gilesjuk wrote:I don't think I've ever been passed by a motorcyclist in a 60MPH zone who has been doing less than 50MPH. Often exceeding 60MPH.

There are two main groups of riders that interventions should be focussed on.
The first is young and inexperienced riders of smaller capacity machines such as
scooters, and the second is older, more experienced riders of higher capacity
machines. Both the skills and attitudes of these riders need to be addressed.
.............
Motorcyclists have an especially poor safety record when compared to other road
user groups. Their killed and serious injury (KSI) rate in the UK, per million vehicle
kilometres, is approximately twice that of pedal cyclists and over 16 times that of
car drivers and passengers. Motorcyclists make up less than 1% of vehicle traffic but
their riders suffer 14% of total deaths and serious injuries on Britain’s roads (DETR,
2000).


So to me it seems Motorcyclists on high powered bikes overtake too much, too fast and try to go around corners too fast.


It's telling that your ire is directed solely at those riding too fast, and you completely ignore the first group. Two years ago there was a similar report, and it showed that of all accidents involving powered two wheels, well over half happened within the square mile in London. The primary candidate likely to be killed on a PTW is an office worker on a scooter within the square mile. Ditto for injuries. These are the ones that push the 'motorcycle' figures sky high in comparison to other vehicle groups. Remove that group from the stats, and you start to see motorcycling in a truer light. There's not much "Shock, Shock, Horror!" in a suit on a scoot in the square mile though. And frankly, down there, these people are a pest for ignoring road rules. For which they get much stick from regular motorbikers. Wrong way up one-way streets, RLJ-ing, wrong side of the road, up the inside of left turning lorries/buses, mobiles stuck inside the helmet. And all way too fast for the traffic in that area.

But, to get away from this anti-motorbike thing, it's really not about the vehicle you're in. Cyclists can be a nightmare on the roads too, because anyone can jump on a bone-shaker and ride without due care and attention. But, I guess, you wouldn't call them proper cyclists. It's the person in control of the vehicle, not described as cyclist/motorcyclist/driver, but simply the person that's causing the problem. Anything else is simply prejudice, and that's a non-reasonable stance which cannot be rationally argued with.

Incidentally, I saw two cyclists crash yesterday. Into each other, head-on. Both txt-ing at the time :roll:
by DougieB
15 Mar 2009, 8:30am
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: another killer driver let off
Replies: 76
Views: 12040

Re: another killer driver let off

thirdcrank wrote:I understand that some posher cars are fitted with the technology to slow the car if it is too close to the one in front - something else that would upset the 'driver's judgment' lobby.


what I feel is wrong with these driver aids is that they further dumb-down the act of driving. if you are not capable/interested/able to use your 'drivers judgement' you should not be allowed a driving license. There's the possibility of arriving at a situation where, "the car let me do it."
by DougieB
14 Mar 2009, 9:41pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Bicuits
Replies: 14
Views: 1373

Re: Bicuits

Mick F wrote:These are peculiarly British in recipe and design, and I often wonder about their origins.

Digestive


were they not (quite literally) originally sold as helping with gut problems (helping with your digestion)? Can't remember where I read that, on here, in a cycle mag, or somewhere else, but I did read it recently.

EDIT: must've been in a local paper:

"The digestive biscuit was invented by McVitie's in Edinburgh in 1892 by Alexander Grant. Although they were advertised as aiding digestion, subsequent scientific research has concluded this is untrue and that they are, humorously, a laxative."
by DougieB
13 Mar 2009, 7:55pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Computer help needed
Replies: 5
Views: 254

Re: Computer help needed

you should be able to go to Control Panel / Add/Remove Software. And it should be listed there. try removing it, do a few reboots, pray a bit, and wait for the update to re-install itself.
by DougieB
13 Mar 2009, 3:46pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Pictures of your bike(s)
Replies: 1924
Views: 583827

Re: Re:

chris667 wrote:NOOO!
If it's a new saddle, don't tighten it until you absolutely have to. I put a half turn on my first Brooks B17 about 5 years after I bought it. Once you reach the end of that bolt, it's a new saddle.


second hand saddle, but doesn't look much used (but I don't know that). it had been slackened all the way to the end of the bolt (ie, no threads showing at the nose of the saddle), or I guess never tightened. It was beyond feeling like a slack hammock... I tightened it up a little, so now around 1 cm of threads showing at the front. Feels much better, very comfy on long days. It's my first Brook's, and the previous owner threw it in with the bike as he hated the saddle. Maybe I'm just very heavy :D
by DougieB
13 Mar 2009, 11:25am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Mix and match cranks?
Replies: 9
Views: 384

Re: Mix and match cranks?

have you been down to the bike recyclers on Causewayside? it's pretty impressive, and they have many, many second-hand parts. worth a rummage through their drawers.

cheers
by DougieB
12 Mar 2009, 4:15pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: An impressive increase in speed
Replies: 9
Views: 539

Re: An impressive increase in speed

is there a (non-facetious) word/phrase for someone who enjoys cycling in traffic? I think I am a virtual courier, and just nip out on the streets for a blast when I need to get away from the screen. Out a couple of times a day, just hacking about in town trying to think if there're any errands I need to run. I love it, racing between lights, etc.

I also have a breakfast run. Which is more about staying sane while working from home, than exercise. I find preparing the night before helps, and an early enough start means you're brain hasn't wakened up enough to put you off the ride.
by DougieB
12 Mar 2009, 10:12am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: How do I make my bike more road-friendly?
Replies: 10
Views: 653

Re: How do I make my bike more road-friendly?

the simplest way is to stick some Fat Boy tyres on, pretty fast rolling.

after that, the money you're looking at spending would probably be better spent on a second-hand road bike. £100 for new wheels, £30 for tyres, £5 inner tubes, etc, etc. And then if you get into changing chainsets it gets silly.

I'm at the chainset stage. :roll:
by DougieB
11 Mar 2009, 2:49pm
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: Think Bike?
Replies: 9
Views: 922

Re: Think Bike?

gilesjuk wrote: So many of them get killed through their own stupidity (ie. adrenalin fuelled speeding)


do you know the first thing about riding a motorcycle on the roads in the UK? Or is this opinion formed from government statistics peddled through the media?

the reason Think Bike! exists is because there were so many motorcyclists being killed by drivers pulling out of junctions, the same as happens with cyclists. It was an initiative (I believe) instigated by the motorbike press and lobby groups.

friends of mine who've been wiped out were neither stupid, nor speed-freak adrenalin junkies. But lost their lives for the sake of a driver who didn't look, or didn't care. It's an insensitive remark, which adds nothing to your question.
by DougieB
11 Mar 2009, 11:10am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Cyclo X V Road Bikes ....... FIGHHHTTTTT
Replies: 18
Views: 2963

Re: Cyclo X V Road Bikes ....... FIGHHHTTTTT

my Cross-Check takes me down stairs, over potholes, jumps off kerbs (36h hubs, normally x28 tyres). I don't treat it all that carefully, 'cause it doesn't feel fragile. I'm not a light-weight (though not clydesdale either), just sort of average. have taken the bike off-road on x32 tyres, and done a 9/10 hour audax. comfortable from day 1. great for hacking round town too. worth a try to see if it suits you.

it's more comfortable than my thorn audax, which I rarely use now the Surly is built.

cheers,
by DougieB
10 Mar 2009, 2:36pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: New York to San Francisco
Replies: 9
Views: 1730

Re: New York to San Francisco

Hey,

I have a stag-do in Vegas late in the year (probably November), not my stag-do. I'm not really a fan of the US entry situation, so wouldn't really choose to go there. But I'm thinking of taking advantage of this time that I have to go, and maybe do some cycling. I've never been to NYC either, which I'd quite like to do.

How's your route planning coming along? Got any rough timescale sorted? And have you investigated the flight in to NYC with the bike?


cheers,
Doug