How was your cycle commute?

[Orang Utan]

So, what counts as 'enough effort' for a cyclist to be seen in the dark? Two rear lights, reflective arm/ankle bands, reflective bits on your jacket and gloves doesn't, according to the wifie who just undertook me as we were both turning right at a junction. Unless of course she's just a horrible selfish cow who doesn't give a toss whose life she endangers, that could be it

What's a wifie?

 

[gentlegreen]

Misunderstod???

I've had laser eye surgery. I know what lasers can do to eyes!!

But as I said, I'm selective about when I use it.

Most rear bike lights are totally over the top most of the time.

 

[weepiper]

What's a wifie?

a wee woman.

 

[a_chap]

What's a wifie?

I'm guessing it's a pet name for Weeps' hitherto unmentioned wife. A side of her we've not seen before on U75.

 

[Orang Utan]

It's deffo a Scotch thing as there is a music collective in Edinburgh who come down London a lot who call themselves Wifey. It sounds vaguely insulting - never quite worked out whether it's meant to be or not.

 

[BigTom]

So, what counts as 'enough effort' for a cyclist to be seen in the dark? Two rear lights, reflective arm/ankle bands, reflective bits on your jacket and gloves doesn't, according to the wifie who just undertook me as we were both turning right at a junction. Unless of course she's just a horrible selfish cow who doesn't give a toss whose life she endangers, that could be it

Think a lot of people have difficulties accepting that they were at fault especially when they know how bad the consequences of their mistake could have been, so being unable/unwilling to accept that they might have done something that could have killed or seriously injured someone else, thy yseek to blame the other person in whatever way they possibly can, no matter how ridiculous.
Friend of mine who was tailgated (whilst doing 20mph in a 20mph zone, riding in primary position down a road with parked cars on both sides) got told by the driver (who was on their mobile phone) that he "wasn't even dressed as a cyclist" and that he should look up the law cos he should be over to the left... the lolz of being told to look up the law by a driver using a mobile phone, tailgating and saying she wanted to pass him even though this would mean breaking the speed limit. No possibility of accepting that she was in the wrong.

 

[BigTom]

Although really, you should have had one of these on a trailer weeps, you know it makes sense (red lights though of course, or perhaps the white ones pointed at yourself).

 

[Orang Utan]

Yes, the wronger the road user caught doing wrong, the more righteous they pretend to be. They don't even fool themselves. Look in their eyes!

 

[a_chap]

Odd day today.

Was asked to appear in some sort of promo video which involved me riding the Pashley up and down the office car park pursued by a drone aircraft with a camera.

 

[Dogsauce]

A drone would be pretty good for capturing bad drivers, as you could have it trailing a few meters behind showing your (virtuous) position, signalling etc.

I have a vision of the future, everyone trailed by their personal evidence-gathering drone

 

[a_chap]

Having a drone a few metres from you is pretty damn unnerving.

 

[gentlegreen]

Totally overdressed this morning due to scary-looking radar.
If it continues like this, I may go back to shorts.

 

[a_chap]

Two more people leaving today hence a long time in the pub at lunchtime. Decided to let the team go home early (i.e. we were still in the pub at 3pm) and then wobbled slowly home on the bike.

 

[gentlegreen]

Bloody camera failed on the way home so I missed tonight's insane blind bend overtake.

On the plus side it was strictly tee shirt and combats on the way home - and I made decent progress - and no one came close to knocking me off.
If the path is quiet and I can get up some speed, I get to keep ahead of everyone but the double-overtaking team jersey brigade.

It was certainly a good idea to change my working hours.
It was still light when I left at 4.30.

 

[gentlegreen]

Was pointed to this cringe-worthy horror by the latest but one resonance FM Bike show :-



Excellent show by the way :-

http://thebikeshow.net/secret-history-of-bicycle-cultures/

 

[gentlegreen]

I made up a collage of my lighting for another forum :-



I really need to get my finger out and tidy the switches up ..

 

[joustmaster]

That top right one makes me feel like I might develop ocd

 

[gentlegreen]

That top right one makes me feel like I might develop ocd

I actually have it - ironically ...

 

[a_chap]

I made up a collage of my lighting for another forum :-

I really need to get my finger out and tidy the switches up ..

 

[gentlegreen]

It works very well though.
That lot bounces about on my bike all the time and has hardly ever gone wrong.

The latest enhancement is a double thickness of galvanised wire in addition to the inner tube for securing the bottom of the lamp cluster so it stays where I point it.

 

[gentlegreen]

After the horror of the tyre incident the other day, I now have a new tyre on the back, and the old back tyre is now on the front.
I also fitted posh "gold" brake pads after the cheap as chips Clarkes ones wore out shockingly fast.

And it's bye bye Mavic 721 rear rim - bloody crack along the line of the spokes starting near the valve hole - hardly any point drilling a stop hole.
I can only suppose Mavic's good reputation is based on wheels used in competition and trashed before the flaws show up.
Probably time to switch brands. The XT hub bearings are a bit rough too.

 

[weepiper]

you're a big guy and big guys break stuff faster gg, there's not really any getting round that.

 

[gentlegreen]

It's just that I seem to spend an inordinate amount of money on parts - plus an hour a week tinkering -and I'm not exactly downhill racing.

 

[weepiper]

yeah but you also carry tons of extra crap around with you all the time. You really need something like a Surly Long Haul Trucker or similar that's designed for heavyweight touring, because that's the kind of stresses you put on your bike.

 

[gentlegreen]

But surely an alloy-framed mountain bike with competition-grade rims should be up to the job ?

 

[weepiper]

But surely an alloy-framed mountain bike with competition-grade rims should be up to the job ?

which you are using for road commuting. Not competition mountain biking.

 

[joustmaster]

It's just that I seem to spend an inordinate amount of money on parts - plus an hour a week tinkering -and I'm not exactly downhill racing.

Do I remember correctly that you never stand up either?
On a bit of rough standing seems to help in reducing the impact on the bike. Although I'm not sure how scientifcly true that is...

 

[gentlegreen]

Never for hills, but the nature of the bike encourages trials-type manoeuvring and lifting myself off the saddle to rest my derrière on long rides.

Incidentally my rock-hard £40 Spa Cycles leather saddle now feels almost as comfortable as my Brooks did.

 

[gentlegreen]

I suppose on balance it's doing a good job - the brakes and gears work.
Certainly a lot better than the old 10 speed I used to ride with the cottered crank, Halfrauds back wheels and the under-inflated Michelin World Tour tyres.

It was in practice only a 5 speed - and sometimes only single - and the braking was largely done with my feet...

And I was 4 stone lighter back then. But I also had to walk one hill every day.

 

[Frances Lengel]

Do I remember correctly that you never stand up either?
nOn a bit of rough standing seems to help in reducing the impact on the bike. Although I'm not sure how scientifcly true that is...

I always instinctively stand up when going over any sort of bumpy bit - It somehow feels like the right thing to do in reducing impact to the bike.