The Cycling Chat Thread

[Mation]

This is a bit of a problem with bells. Or possibly just a problem with the UK... there is no real cultural perception of a bell being something other than a substitute for shouting 'out the way, fucker'.

A nice gong sound? The tinkling of sleigh bells?

That's interesting.

I do use my bell, but never to say 'get out of the way.'

I use it, e.g. if there is room to pass but I think walkers may not have noticed me and might veer unpredictably into my path, or if someone has stepped into the road without looking.

I ding once, smile and say thank you as I pass, even though they haven't needed to get out of the way. (I hang back without dinging if there isn't room to pass.)

Not had any negative responses to the bell. Had quite a few apologies, even before my thank you.

Where are you finding the bell-haters?

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

What do people think of cycling across non-toucan pedestrian crossings? I know it's against the Highway Code, but is it illegal?

I've seen lots of cyclists doing it, e.g. here, to get to the road that runs along the right side of the Tesco. (Cyclist in this streetview pic has dismounted.)

View attachment 264309

I did it once, having come out of the park just behind the cyclist in the pic, and sheepishly following someone else, but it didn't feel right and I've worked out another way to get across, here.

But in terms of general principles, is it dangerous and shite?

I feel it is fine if there are not many peds using it and you go slowly and let peds have 100% priority.

 

[Cid]

That's interesting.

I do use my bell, but never to say 'get out of the way.'

I use it, e.g. if there is room to pass but I think walkers may not have noticed me and might veer unpredictably into my path, or if someone has stepped into the road without looking.

I ding once, smile and say thank you as I pass, even though they haven't needed to get out of the way. (I hang back without dinging if there isn't room to pass.)

Not had any negative responses to the bell. Had quite a few apologies, even before my thank you.

Where are you finding the bell-haters?

Oh I don’t have much actual evidence... I always feel rude when I pass people, it probably doesn’t help that I’m usually on a mountain bike or gravel bike and look ‘serious’, even though I’m going very slowly. I do also have a tendency to overthink these things. Everything.

That and I realised when I was in China it felt a bit rude to be constantly dinged at, even though in practice it’s just standard alerting and I got used to pretty much leaning on the bell once I’d worked out bike hire.

 

[Cid]

Had a bit of an owie.

Spoiler: Bandages applied, some blood

 

[Cid]

Gravel. I like gravel bikes, not so much a fan of actual gravel.

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

Had my first off on the new bike on Wednesday, at 2mph

 

[sleaterkinney]

You can't cycle on the pavements. Mation

 

[likesfish]

a week later from my DIY pannier effort find a brand new complete with tags Alutra urban pannier for 20 quid in a charity shop so now I have 2

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

 

[Artaxerxes]

You can't cycle on the pavements. Mation

Your not supposed to but police don't enforce it and good luck especially with telling the kids doing so to ride in the road.

It's absolutely fine as long as your not being a fucking dick doing it or cycling through mad crowds

 

[miss direct]

I'm so pleased to have my bike back. It's had a complete service, brakes and chain fixed, new handlebar grips and a pannier rack fitted, and I only paid £16 thanks to the government voucher. Now I just need to build up my fitness and start planning some trips.

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

Update on e-bike, had it just over a month and have notched up 370 miles over 13 rides, an average of 28 miles per ride, virtually all off road and all done with a massive grin on my face.

Oh yeah, and am now half a stone lighter than when I got the thing

 

[BigTom]

What do people think of cycling across non-toucan pedestrian crossings? I know it's against the Highway Code, but is it illegal?

I've seen lots of cyclists doing it, e.g. here, to get to the road that runs along the right side of the Tesco. (Cyclist in this streetview pic has dismounted.)

View attachment 264309

I did it once, having come out of the park just behind the cyclist in the pic, and sheepishly following someone else, but it didn't feel right and I've worked out another way to get across, here.

But in terms of general principles, is it dangerous and shite?

Legally is the same as riding on a non-shared pavement afaik.

Whether it's dangerous and shite depends on how someone does it.

 

[Cid]

I thought I’d also mention I am definitely standing by helmet usage, even for what was pretty light off road...

Spoiler: Nothing dramatic, just maybe big images

Second image may not be clear at first glance, cracked through around centre of pic, just where padding ends.

I have not so much as a scratch on the noggin, nor have I had even a headache. Kind of regret it cost £100 mind you.

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

That's great that it did the job Cid, how's the arm?

 

[Cid]

That's great that it did the job Cid, how's the arm?

Hmm... Getting there. Taking a while to scab over on the worst bit, so went into a&e (well, drop in surgery which is doing some light a&e for Sheffield centre, 15 minute wait amazingly) who prescribed me some antibiotics. Bit less swollen and a bit less red around that bit, so should be on the road to recovery. Though of course I now have to finish a one week course of antibiotics.

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

If it's any consolation, on yesterday's ride I got stung by a nettle.

 

[Winot]

If it's any consolation, on yesterday's ride I got stung by a nettle.

#thoughtsandprayers

 

[Dogsauce]

Planning a half-century for my 50th tomorrow. What would the chances be that this would be the only day this month round here that they actually forecast rain? Wankers. Still going out, fuck them.

The Mrs also ordered a fancy cake from the local fancy cake shop which now can’t supply it as they’ve had to shut down due to a staff member getting Covid. I’m definitely cursed.

 

[Winot]

Does anyone have any tips for stopping helmet straps from loosening?

 

[klang]

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

Does anyone have any tips for stopping helmet straps from loosening?

No, but for two weeks solid all I heard on every ride was folk mowing their lawns, wherever I went the buzz of lawnmowers was omnipresent, then I realised a helmet strap was twisted and above 10mph caught the wind and buzzed

 

[Cid]

Does anyone have any tips for stopping helmet straps from loosening?

Probably a different helmet tbh.

 

[Winot]

Probably a different helmet tbh.

Wouldn’t it just be a function of how the straps are set up? It’s happened on every helmet I’ve ever had to some extent.

 

[Cid]

Wouldn’t it just be a function of how the straps are set up? It’s happened on every helmet I’ve ever had to some extent.

Assuming they're running through the strap adjusters properly, they shouldn't move much. They're still tight on my Kask, despite the accident... It depends a bit on the exact strap set up too though... Is it moving through the loops? It can also be the triangle bits I think. Tidying up the loose end with an elastic band/electrical tape may help.

 

[sleaterkinney]

I always thought he was harshly dealt with in the past:

 

[Orang Utan]

Can anyone recommend a heavyish leisure/commute bike/whatever they’re fucking called? I’ve been using a Trek L100, which is great for fitness as it has a heavy frame and has a pannier rack to transport stuff for work - so I’m usually hauling myself and about 20-25 kgs of bike and bags to work and back. Over the winter I went back to my old bike, a Norco adventure bike, which is much nippier but I can’t carry much and I don’t get the workout I did on the upright heavy bike, leading to weight gain. Ideally the bike would be as low maintenance as possible and be about to carry a bit of extra weight on double panniers. I know I’m probably asking for the moon on a stick - looking to spend about £1K maybe more.

 

[Badgers]

Let me know Orang Utan

 

[Orang Utan]

Let me know Orang Utan

View attachment 265732

Had enough testicular accidents on those, so it’s a hard pass from me. Grifters were even heavier.

 

[kropotkin]

My friend bought a bunch of Conti GP5000 tubeless tyres (two each for me and him) on the cycle to work scheme from wiggle. I've had mine waiting in the shed as replacements but had worn through my front one and replaced it a few weeks ago. Had to pump the tyre up more frequently than normal, but hadn't thought much of it.
He just had his put on his new wheels by the LBS, and they called to say they are leaking. Chimes with my experience, but look at where from: the material itself appears ot be leaking air!