Search found 106 matches

by theenglishman
26 Jul 2012, 6:53pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: If the dog dazer thing works?
Replies: 51
Views: 13107

Re: If the dog dazer thing works?

pete75 wrote:If there are two of you you only need to out speed your companion not the dog. :twisted:


This. Much cheaper as well. :P
by theenglishman
26 Jul 2012, 6:14pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: Be Safe, Be Seen.
Replies: 181
Views: 14677

Re: Be Safe, Be Seen.

Ron wrote:Lights on approaching vehicles are a dangerous distraction from real hazards which can be closer to the cyclist.


..which is why it's now a legal requirement for all newly registered motorcycles to have a front light that is permanently on.

I don't understand what you wrote. Unless I've read you wrong?
by theenglishman
26 Jul 2012, 4:07pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Road signs... confused!
Replies: 7
Views: 2030

Road signs... confused!

Taken from the current issue of our beloved charity's magazine. I'm a bit perplexed over the meaning of this one...

Image

Wracking those brain cells that were last used nearly 30 years ago when I did my driving test the best I could come up with was no no cycling, or 'cycling!', which is a good thing, right?

http://www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg ... 070644.pdf

Or is it just me?

P.S. - does anyone know where that road sign actually is? :oops:
by theenglishman
21 Jul 2012, 11:48am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Cycle Parking at the Olympics
Replies: 14
Views: 6002

Re: Cycle Parking at the Olympics

Cable locks are very easily defeated and should not be used. As another poster said use as small a U lock that will fit with as small an amount of gap as possible so the thieves can't burst the lock with a small bottle jack. 16 or 19mm D locks are a must.

Bromptons are high priority targets in London as thieves know they're valuable.

Olympic security is there to stop terrorists not cycle thieves, IMO. They won't bad an eyelid at a thief cutting a cable lock and heading off on your precious.
by theenglishman
21 Jul 2012, 11:40am
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: blame culture?
Replies: 9
Views: 6130

Re: blame culture?

You missed out world peace!
by theenglishman
15 Jul 2012, 7:33pm
Forum: On the road
Topic: First Aid Kits
Replies: 32
Views: 4372

Re: First Aid Kits

I attended an excellent first aid talk from a motorcycle trauma doctor who operates in Hampshire

Anyway, As emergency service access is pretty much immediate in this country what the roadside 'first aider' needs to know is how to first of all call the emergency services, then 'secure' the accident area - i.e. - stand a few hundred yards down the road and try and warn/get traffic to slow down and not get any more people injured. What not to do and what to do regarding getting a non breathing person breathing/starting mouth to mouth/removing helmets/cpr etc etc. Then how to stop bleeding. Then a bit of reassurance etc.

Regarding First Aid kits all you need, if you think about it is :-

A pair of latex free or plastic gloves - you'd be amazed what gore people will put their hands on/in of they're separated from it by a thin layer of plastic
A mouth to mouth face mask - again, it's more appealing giving mouth to mouth if you're face isn't getting smeared in the patients gore/vomit/blood etc
A NATO bandage - shove this on any leaking bits. They're fairly big, but are sterile, cheap and do what they say on the tin.

Anything else 'required' can be improvised or made on the spot. Or just isn't necessary. If the ambulance is 10 minutes away is there really any point in putting on your triangular bandage, most likely causing the patient unnecessary additional pain? Do you really think those rusty scissors are helping the infection process? If they're laying there and breathing why move them?
by theenglishman
14 Jul 2012, 3:32pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: Touring: Advice on essential kit
Replies: 56
Views: 13727

Re: Touring: Advice on essential kit

leelovesbikestoo wrote:Batteries/charger
Bivvy bag (for extra bag protection. It's Scotland, remember)
Clothes (warm/wet
Cook utensils (Bottle/tin opener, stove, fuel, collapsible cup, spork,etc)
Dry bags
Food (assorted dry food, tin etc, most to be bought on the way as needed. And tea bags/coffee sachets)
GPS
Insect repellant
Lights
Lock - lightweight
Maps
Sleeping bag
Sleeping mat
Space blanket
Tent
Tools/tubes/etc
Torch/headtorch
Travel towel
Wash kit


In addition??? :shock:

1. Why take a bivvy bag AND a tent? If you don't trust your tent, either get one you do trust or stay in a B+B. Or just sleep in a bivvy bag.
2. Batteries/charger? You're camping. 13A sockets don't just appear in the middle of the road, do they?
3. Lights. Small cycle lights, perhaps but your front light doubles up at a night time torch. Why take lights and a torch?
4. Sleeping mat? What's wrong with pitching your tent on some long grass?
5. Lock? In Scotland, in the middle of nowhere? Are sheep *that* villainous?
6. GPS? It's Scotland, there's not that many roads. 1 sheet of laminated road atlas is plenty.
7. GPS AND maps? Seriously? What are you doing? A geological survey?
8. Take some lightweight trainers - wear these as opposed to your (wet)cycling shoes when you're off the bike (and in the pub)
9. Food. Just take breakfast and buy everything else. And so ditch the cooking stuff.
10. Take a decent leatherman/Swiss Army knife and a spoon. Sporks don't do anything well.

Oh - and throw half of what you do decide to pack away as you'll never use most of it.

And have fun :D
by theenglishman
14 Jul 2012, 10:19am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Cycling through Stratford during Olympics
Replies: 2
Views: 1518

Re: Cycling through Stratford during Olympics

The website 'they' (LOCOG) are promotion is Get Ahead Of The Games - http://www.getaheadofthegames.com/

Every second announcement on the trains etc seems to be selling this website. PGood Luck! and personally, I'd advise against cycling along an Olympic route with a rucksack on your back while wearing a headscarf :cry: I get the feeling security is going to be over the top.
by theenglishman
12 Jul 2012, 11:58pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Wind proof headphones
Replies: 30
Views: 3620

Re: Wind proof headphones

Wear some really fluffy ear muffs to lessen the amount of turbulence across your ears. I saw some really funky ones in Camden Market today!
by theenglishman
12 Jul 2012, 11:56pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Zip off trousers
Replies: 19
Views: 4828

Re: Zip off trousers

Ann Summers had some zip off trousers in the Westfield store in the sale.

Or so I heard.
by theenglishman
11 Jul 2012, 8:28am
Forum: Cycle Camping sub-forum
Topic: Dumbo camper seeks cooking kit tips
Replies: 29
Views: 2950

Re: Dumbo camper seeks cooking kit tips

The last time I did anything like that it was a bakery for breakfast, stop around 11am (before everything closes for lunch) to buy a picnic lunch then cycle a bit further to find a nice place to stop and actually have lunch. Dinner was in a restaurant or more usually the others in the campsites felt sorry for the lone cyclist with the tiny tent and invited me to their dinner/BBQ.

I have to say it was a fantastic 2 weeks doing that. Looking tired and a bit knackered, along with a touch of patheticness worked wonders :D And I met a lot of very nice, kind people.

Oh - and do a bit of fettling on your bike before you shower etc - You're bound to get a few bored husbands wander over to chew the fat and reminisce about the good old days. And they nearly always have a spare cold beer. :D
by theenglishman
10 Jul 2012, 11:35pm
Forum: Touring & Expedition
Topic: lightweight touring.
Replies: 50
Views: 14605

Re: lightweight touring.

I saw a very good talk at a Horizons Unlimited meet (ok it was aimed at motorbikes, but the principle is the same) where the speaker talked about want vs need. He took a very lightweight bag, a tarp, a water bottle and ate cold food, so no need for a cooker/stove. One pair of clothes and one pair of shoes. He carried more in the way of tools than he did camping stuff - and he didn't have many tools! And had some serious adventures, including the Sahara.

Now ok - humming like a fresh turd and no hot food sounds like the tour from hell to me, but he's right - you don't need lots of stuff, but you might want it.

I wish there was a similar gathering for bicyclists as there's much info to impart/soak in on such weekends.
by theenglishman
10 Jul 2012, 1:42pm
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Good Locks - Are They Worth It?
Replies: 30
Views: 2694

Re: Good Locks - Are They Worth It?

Alex L wrote:Not true. I left my bike cable locked to a tree. When I came back, someone had tried to saw through the lock. The plastic was a mess but the metal inside was fine. If they had bolt cutters it would be gone but since they were ill equipped, all they did was cosmetic damage.



They were amateurs and you got very lucky

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFaLmVqQibo

There was a guy on BBC watchdog or something similar a week or 2 ago who used much smaller cable cutters that fitted in his pocket to cut through a chunky cable lock. In seconds, not minutes.

Hence I don't use cable locks anymore.

And yes, thieves really do go out with 14" cable cutters and 42" record bolt croppers. Although these days serious crims go equipped with a battery powered angle grinder so you're screwed there no matter what you've got.

As a rough guide, I spend about 10% of the value of something in security so yes - I think good locks really are worth it.

P.S. - I was the donor of that Abus Steel o flex
by theenglishman
10 Jul 2012, 11:04am
Forum: Bikes & Bits – Technical section
Topic: Good Locks - Are They Worth It?
Replies: 30
Views: 2694

Re: Good Locks - Are They Worth It?

Personally, I'd get a lock that can't be cropped with hand tools. So you're looking at 16mm chain or a 16+mm U shackle. Cable locks are worthless.
by theenglishman
10 Jul 2012, 12:04am
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: How can I look like a "real" cyclist?
Replies: 41
Views: 4977

Re: How can I look like a "real" cyclist?

Alan D wrote:
And also the streamers on the ends of the handlebar, the reflectors on the spokes and the pink dolls carrier behind the seat! :D



You forgot a peg clamped to the rear stay holding a bit of cardboard from the top of a cereal packet so you get that authentic 'clack' clack clack clack clack clack clack' sound from the spokes as you ride :lol:

That wasn't just me, was it?