Search found 17245 matches

by Psamathe
12 Aug 2017, 7:24pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Result!
Replies: 47
Views: 1941

Re: Result!

axel_knutt wrote:I'm not sure I'd even heard of PPI until it all hit the fan, nobody's ever tried to sell me any.....

I had some once and it was worthwhile whilst I had it. But then my status in the company changed and I wondered if I would still be covered so I read the small print and it seemed I would not. The ban concerned told me I would be until I pointed out their T&Cs so I stopped the policy.

To me the contract is based on the small print (and what you sign), does anybody really believe the words spoken by a salesman desperate to sell you something?

Ian
by Psamathe
12 Aug 2017, 7:20pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: ** The Brexit Thread ** - 'Brexit Means Brexit'
Replies: 21765
Views: 849888

Re: ** The Brexit Thread ** - 'Brexit Means Brexit'

blackbike wrote:
radek wrote:
I am worries that Brexit will indeed lead to a US model of health and well-being in which masses of people consume and consume and get sick and then become dependent of pharmaceutical companies...


I'm not worried about that at all.

When we leave the EU we will be able to choose all our laws on health care and everything else.

If we get laws I don't like I can campaign to get them changed and vote to get rid of the government which made them. We change our governments frequently and so UK politicians need to take note of public opinion.....

You mean just like you can with the EU, you can campaign to get laws changed you don't like. And just as you can vote out your MEPs if you don't like them.

So what's different other than a "label" and a city.

Ian
by Psamathe
10 Aug 2017, 11:45pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Never Appreciated I Was Such a "Slow" Cyclist
Replies: 75
Views: 7379

Re: Never Appreciated I Was Such a "Slow" Cyclist

ambodach wrote:... generally on my own tend to dawdle and look at the scenery.

I find I have to focus mostly on the road surface to avoid the potholes, poor repairs, lumps and bumps, etc. It would be great to be able to ride along watching the fields, wildlife but Norfolk Highways don't cooperate in that regard.

Ian
by Psamathe
10 Aug 2017, 9:37am
Forum: Cycling UK Topics and Discussions
Topic: CUK trademark confusion with Tour of Cambridgeshire/Ayrshire race organiser
Replies: 35
Views: 21171

Re: CUK support of Tour of Cambridgeshire race

Cyril Haearn wrote:
Graham wrote:I would prefer that ******* don't get any sort of mention on this forum.

Sooner or later I would like to move this topic out of public view.

I hope that this is not unacceptable to above posters ?


What is *******?

Answer by PM if you like, diolch yn fawr

I assume it's "We Are Cycling" or "We Are Cycling UK" (parent/subsidiary).

Ian
by Psamathe
9 Aug 2017, 4:14pm
Forum: Cycling UK Topics and Discussions
Topic: CUK trademark confusion with Tour of Cambridgeshire/Ayrshire race organiser
Replies: 35
Views: 21171

Re: CUK support of Tour of Cambridgeshire race

Bsteel wrote:To avoid posting links, a Google search on "We are Cycling" answers the questions above.

So are there We Are Cycling FR, We Are Cycling NL, etc, under the global brand ?

Ian
by Psamathe
9 Aug 2017, 9:58am
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Tower Block Disaster - Grenfell
Replies: 596
Views: 26899

Re: Tower Block Disaster

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/grenfell-tower-fire-latest-no-conflict-interest-judith-hackitt-energy-savings-trust-a7883671.html wrote:Grenfell Tower: Government dismisses conflict of interest concerns over chair of independent buildings review
...
Dame Judith Hackitt was formerly a director of the Energy Saving Trust - a body which promotes insulation products containing the material blamed for fuelling the devastating high-rise blaze that killed at least 80.
...
It is reported that Dame Judith resigned from her role at the trust 24 hours before communities secretary Sajid Javid appointed her to chair the independent buildings review.


No wonder so many think the various inquiries are a complete stitch-up.

Ian
by Psamathe
7 Aug 2017, 5:42pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: ** The Brexit Thread ** - 'Brexit Means Brexit'
Replies: 21765
Views: 849888

Re: ** The Brexit Thread ** - 'Brexit Means Brexit'

Oh dear, looks like UK net contributions to EU are less that half that claimed by Brexit campaigners back in the referendum days.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/uk-eu-divorce-bill-half-pay-brexit-leave-campaign-referendum-350-million-brussels-a7881286.html wrote:Britain is paying the European Union less than half the sum claimed by Brexit campaigners, new official figures have revealed.

The UK’s net contribution has fallen to its lowest level for five years, at just £8.1bn in 2016-17 – or about £156m a week.

The sum is under half the £350m-a-week claimed by supporters of brexit during the EU referendum campaign, which they promised to divert to the cash-strapped NHS.
...
It is the first time the UK’s payments have been estimated for the period that included the vote to leave the EU on June 23 last year.


Ian
by Psamathe
7 Aug 2017, 4:04pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Wanted. Small car.
Replies: 408
Views: 15720

Re: Wanted. Small car.

Do you really want DAB radio on your list of requirements? They are pretty cheap to buy (relative to the cost of a car). Maybe broaden to DAB radio OR standard radio fitting (DIN?) i.e. if it has a weird built-in job then DAB otherwise replacement is cheap enough (you could even use your CTC discount at Halfords!)

Ian
by Psamathe
7 Aug 2017, 4:01pm
Forum: Campaigning & Public Policy
Topic: ADVICE FOR CYCLISTS (from an employer)
Replies: 30
Views: 4112

Re: ADVICE FOR CYCLISTS

Name and shame the employer?

Contact CUK and get them to write to the employer?

Write to the Council and question the access to the site and/or write to Planning Services and question if the access planning rules are being met (i.e. to provide adequate access for e.g. cyclists). contact your councillor and get him/her to contact the company about their discouraging cyclists.

I'd expect as you are not registering any formal complaint in any of the above, your name should be able to be kept out of things so your employer need not be aware who it is raising the issues (ask those you contact to keep your name confidential as you are an employee and the employer may react badly ...)

Ian
by Psamathe
7 Aug 2017, 3:49pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Appointments
Replies: 134
Views: 8090

Re: Appointments

Edwards wrote:Last Wednesday MrsE asked me to phone to get her an appointment at the doctors, some sort of throat problems. Below is the time line.

I phoned at 9.30 all appointments gone for Wednesday phone gain in the morning.
5 minutes later got a phone call back. Could she get there for 1200 as they had a cancelation.
12.15 saw the doctor who examined her and said she would be referred for a look see with a camera.
Friday 2 pm phone call from the hospital, could she come in the next day at 3.15pm as they had a cancelation.
Saturday morning 9 am phone call from the hospital could she come in at 11am as they had another now show and where seeing people earlier.
She went in got looked at and a biopsy the results should be know in 2 to 3 weeks. Expected to be all clear.

The above shows what can be achieved if people contact the hospital to inform them to cancel the appointment if they can.

So please please either contact them if you know you can not keep the appointment. You may just save somebodies life (even routine checks can pick stuff up).

(My added highlight above)
I would agree. Couple of years ago an ultrasound for something not very serious happened to find something rather more serious; GP referred me for a CT scan (7+ weeks wait), then they took a couple of weeks examining the results then had to wait 3+ weeks for a GP appointment (GP would only discuss the results face to face not over the phone because of what it was - he's normally fine with phone "consultations") and through all that stress I kept wondering how many people had just not turned-up to appointments I could have used (or walked-out when they had to wait a bit).

Ian
by Psamathe
7 Aug 2017, 3:37pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Never Appreciated I Was Such a "Slow" Cyclist
Replies: 75
Views: 7379

Re: Never Appreciated I Was Such a "Slow" Cyclist

[XAP]Bob wrote:
Psamathe wrote:
[XAP]Bob wrote:What do you do on the flat when not confronted by a vicious headwind?

The average cyclist cycles at 15-20mph might be referring to that, rather than their overall average speed.

I haven't re-read the article but I don't remember any mention of "flat with no headwind"; and that would need clarification as when there is no meteorological wind, I ride at 13 mph and I have an apparent headwind of 13mph - so when you say no headwind do you mean dead calm meteorological wind conditions of a following wind exactly equal to your own speed, etc.

And I find road surface can make a massive difference. Many country lanes surface dressed are so lumpy, crotch shaped ice packs are more of a consideration than speed.

Edit: Having checked the article it says "An average cyclist will ride at around 15 – 20 miles per hour," which I take to mean that an average cyclist on an average trip will average between 15-20 mph. the 15-20 mph has to be an average because even Bradley Wigging at times travels at 1 mph probably several times every trip (as they set off, as they stop at a junction, etc.). So for me average conditions (sometimes following wind, sometimes headwind, sometimes flat, sometimes inclines) an overally average is the relevant figure - eliminating the weather, incline, road surface variations.

Ian



It doesn't say they *average* that, but that they ride at it.

15-20mph is going some, particularly over any distance - but it is also reasonably comfortable when on the flat on a decent road.
As MickF has pointed out - the terrain over which you ride has a serious impact on the speed you can average, but it does also depend on surface, and number of junctions at which you cede priority.

I'd feel reasonably confident (just based on the numbers) that the article is talking about 'cruising speed' on the flat and on a still day.

I'm gradually coming to the view that it is an ill-thought-out poorly written article because there are so many possible interpretations. You could be right, or it could be that your average UK cyclists does not typically have flat smooth road with no headwind. When you interpret the article you are doing so with vast experience (working out what the author meant in part from the numbers they quote). But a novice considering or starting cycling will not have the benefit of such experience for interpretation of those numbers ... and I thought it was those starting out, considering, etc. that CUK was after encouraging, not your lycra bouy suit, head down and woosh to the finish line (most of us don't even think about a "finish line", we just arrive home).

Ian
by Psamathe
7 Aug 2017, 3:16pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Never Appreciated I Was Such a "Slow" Cyclist
Replies: 75
Views: 7379

Re: Never Appreciated I Was Such a "Slow" Cyclist

NATURAL ANKLING wrote:.....
I have lost my way with the post, the OP's link was advice from a sportsperson.

My concern was that is was not qualified as such but targeted at "average cyclists". My worry being that "sportspersons" is who CUK see as the sector they are interested in - when your average cyclists is one who needs/follows such advice and meets such average speeds.

If CUK was to encourage people to take-up cycling, to make riding a normal form of transport, to shops, etc. then such unqualified articles will serve only to discourage people starting. But maybe it will encourage the sports/race enthusiasts to consider CUK "their type of organisation".

CUK needs to consider what it is out to achieve because there seems little thought going into what it is doing.

Ian
by Psamathe
7 Aug 2017, 3:05pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Never Appreciated I Was Such a "Slow" Cyclist
Replies: 75
Views: 7379

Re: Never Appreciated I Was Such a "Slow" Cyclist

[XAP]Bob wrote:What do you do on the flat when not confronted by a vicious headwind?

The average cyclist cycles at 15-20mph might be referring to that, rather than their overall average speed.

I haven't re-read the article but I don't remember any mention of "flat with no headwind"; and that would need clarification as when there is no meteorological wind, I ride at 13 mph and I have an apparent headwind of 13mph - so when you say no headwind do you mean dead calm meteorological wind conditions of a following wind exactly equal to your own speed, etc.

And I find road surface can make a massive difference. Many country lanes surface dressed are so lumpy, crotch shaped ice packs are more of a consideration than speed.

Edit: Having checked the article it says "An average cyclist will ride at around 15 – 20 miles per hour," which I take to mean that an average cyclist on an average trip will average between 15-20 mph. the 15-20 mph has to be an average because even Bradley Wigging at times travels at 1 mph probably several times every trip (as they set off, as they stop at a junction, etc.). So for me average conditions (sometimes following wind, sometimes headwind, sometimes flat, sometimes inclines) an overally average is the relevant figure - eliminating the weather, incline, road surface variations.

Ian
by Psamathe
7 Aug 2017, 2:26pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Never Appreciated I Was Such a "Slow" Cyclist
Replies: 75
Views: 7379

Re: Never Appreciated I Was Such a "Slow" Cyclist

Lilyf wrote:Yet article from CUK says an average cyclist rides between 15-20 mph! I've never managed a ride averaging even 15 mph. Maybe I should be "trying harder" and never appreciated I am "below average".

I've just re-read the first post (part of which is above)and I now think it has been interpreted wrongly.

It says 'the average cyclist rides between 15-20mph', NOT the cyclist averages between 15-20mph. The interpretation makes a vast amount of difference.
.....

I understand your distinction between "average cyclist" and "cyclist averages", but I think giving one's average speed is more indicating where you fit in the 15-20mph range. One could argue that every cyclist can never always be 15-20mph as they will regularly drop to 10, 9, 8, 7 ... 1, 0 mph as the arrive at a junction they need to stop at.

So when I say "I'm really slow and clearly not the type of cyclist CUK are interested in" because I average high 13's mph the "high 13's" positions me significantly below CUK's 15-20 mph and thus I am significantly slower than the average cyclist (or at least the average cyclist CUK seem interested in).

In some respects the CUK have confused two averages in that they talk about their (rather questionable) average cyclist and then provide a suggestion of average speed of that average cyclist.

Ian
by Psamathe
7 Aug 2017, 2:05pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: egg warning in EU
Replies: 9
Views: 1127

Re: egg warning in EU

Warin61 wrote:In Australia there have been 2 recalls of China sourced food being recalled due to hepatitis outbreaks. I don't care if the trade is 'free' or not .. I look at the source of the food .. and consider my health before price.

Wasn't it China that caused the baby milk poisoning scandal. Those carrying out the fraud (probably not a strong enough word) added melamine to baby milk to deceive the protein content tests making the milk worth more (or poorer quality product appear better quality) but also causing kidney damage and deaths. And toothpaste containing diethylene glycol (from China again).

The difficulty is that with our capitalist greed based system and where the lower income groups are more than stretched, price can become an overriding factor. When you are choosing between heat or eat, even if you are fully aware of the risks of the cheap imported food you have little choice.

Ian