The Cycling Chat Thread

[Cid]

If you signal left to make the turn, the driver should expect you to slow to make the turn. They might hopefully spot the pedestrian and know you are going to stop but at least they know that you are about to do something.
I wouldn't expect any driver to know any of those group cycling hand signals.

The 'slow down' one is actually in the highway code for motorbikes/cars without signals. But 99% of drivers will have forgotten that regardless.

 

[Cid]

I'd say that if there was a potentially dangerous situation with a pedestrian (or quite often a sheep in the peaks) I would generally just do my best to point it out. Directional pointing I think will tell someone there's something unusual they need to be aware of. I think I've probably also just raised a hand if I think there's a car too close near a corner (again, usually out of town). Obviously not in the corner, you have to anticipate to signal safely I think.

Would definitely say it's worth practicing signalling though. I really want other road users to know what I'm doing, and most road users won't have a clue from general body language. Not least because turning on a bike starts with a slight turn in the opposite direction.

 

[weepiper]

Short sleeved jersey

 

[Orang Utan]

If you crash into a stationary car with your bike, are you legally obliged to pay for the body work? A mate did this yesterday and I was surprised that he was paying for the paint job. He didn’t say if the owner was present, but I’d have scarpered if they weren’t there and just apologised and cycled away if they were in the car, assuming their insurance would cover it. But apparently that’s frowned upon. I’ve never scratched or damaged a car by accident, so I haven’t given it much thought before.

 

[nick]

If you damage someone else's property, through no fault of their own, then there is a moral imperative for you to put it right

 

[Orang Utan]

If you damage someone else's property, through no fault of their own, then there is a moral imperative for you to put it right

Is there? I’m not sure I agree.

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

If you crash into a stationary car with your bike, are you legally obliged to pay for the body work? A mate did this yesterday and I was surprised that he was paying for the paint job. He didn’t say if the owner was present, but I’d have scarpered if they weren’t there and just apologised and cycled away if they were in the car, assuming their insurance would cover it. But apparently that’s frowned upon. I’ve never scratched or damaged a car by accident, so I haven’t given it much thought before.

Morally yes, legally no. I think.

 

[Cid]

Legally it's just 'have they suffered a loss that can be valued and did you cause that loss', so think there's a legal duty there. It's just civil shit though and there may be a bunch of qualifiers. Basically if you knock out the tail light of someone driving a mid 2000s ford to work, nice to do something. If it's anything new, particularly Audi/Merc/Bimmer etc just fucking book it.

 

[Sweet FA]

If you crash into a stationary car with your bike, are you legally obliged to pay for the body work? A mate did this yesterday and I was surprised that he was paying for the paint job. He didn’t say if the owner was present, but I’d have scarpered if they weren’t there and just apologised and cycled away if they were in the car, assuming their insurance would cover it. But apparently that’s frowned upon. I’ve never scratched or damaged a car by accident, so I haven’t given it much thought before.

It's a shithouse trick.

 

[Orang Utan]

I never have any money, so if I crashed into someone’s car and dinged it a little bit, there’s no way I’d have the spare cash to pay for a cosmetic fix, and why should I pay for something that a profit-driven organisation could pay for instead?
My bike is covered in scratches and I don’t give a fuck either way - why is it such a big deal for a car owner?

 

[Orang Utan]

Morally yes, legally no. I think.

I don’t see the moral issue either

 

[Sweet FA]

I never have any money, so if I crashed into someone’s car and dinged it a little bit, there’s no way I’d have the spare cash to pay for a cosmetic fix, and why should I pay for something that a profit-driven organisation could pay for instead?
My bike is covered in scratches and I don’t give a fuck either way - why is it such a big deal for a car owner?

You don't get how insurance premiums work.

 

[Orang Utan]

You don't get how insurance premiums work.

no I don’t. Insurance is a weird thing to me. It’s like gambling but even less interesting

 

[Sweet FA]

I never have any money, so if I crashed into someone’s car and dinged it a little bit, there’s no way I’d have the spare cash to pay for a cosmetic fix,

Well watch where you're fucking going then.

 

[nick]

Join a cycling organisation.
It will come with 3rd party insurance.
Then you don’t have to worry about having to cover the cost of other people’s costs if you are the cause of that loss

 

[Orang Utan]

Well watch where you're fucking going then.

I will, and do. Can’t really imagine a situation in which I’d damage a car, unless I mean to.

 

[Orang Utan]

Join a cycling organisation.
It will come with 3rd party insurance.
Then you don’t have to worry about having to cover the cost of other people’s costs if you are the cause of that loss

Then I’d be out of pocket for no reason. Fuck that.

 

[Sweet FA]

Anyway, I'll leave it. I like you but you're pissing me off with your selfish 'never mind if I fuck someone else's shit up' schtick.

West Ham are absolutely massive and I've had a couple of lagers.

 

[Orang Utan]

Anyway, I'll leave it. I like you but you're pissing me off with your selfish 'never mind if I fuck someone else's shit up' schtick.

West Ham are absolutely massive and I've had a couple of lagers.

I’m not being selfish, just optimistic

I support East Hamchester Tuesday myself. Up the browns!

 

[nick]

You’re on a troll run mate

 

[Orang Utan]

You’re on a troll run mate

Who, me? I’m really not. It’s something I’ve never thought about until my mate posted about his accident on FB yesterday. He has decided to retire from riding his bike as this is his second accident in a very short time.

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

Sign up to Cycling U.K., you get 3rd party insurance which covers you for damage to cars and also lifetime care for anyone you hit and paralyse.

 

[Cid]

Then I’d be out of pocket for no reason. Fuck that.

That's sound logic, I'll cancel my car insurance.

I don't actually have bike insurance, but probably should. It's one of those areas where insurance probably makes sense; the chances of a high value accident are very low, but they are there and the outlay is minor. Cycling uk membership is £50pa, and comes with £10m third party... And if you want personal injury and theft you get £50 off their insurance partner. For my £1600 bike that would be £90 (£140)pa.

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

Yeah, Cycling UK is worth joining, if only so you can tell the “but cyclists don’t have insurance…” dickheads to fuck off.

 

[DJWrongspeed]

For Londoners joining the London Cycling Campaign gives you free 3rd party insurance.

Another unrelated point is cycling , in London, behaviour worse now, people are copying the mad eBike death mission delivery cyclists?

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

After yesterday's ride I can report with a fair degree of certainty that 15% gradients are not much fun when the temperature is past 25 degrees.

 

[DJWrongspeed]

After yesterday's ride I can report with a fair degree of certainty that 15% gradients are not much fun when the temperature is past 25 degrees.

25% at 15C is also hard.

 

[Orang Utan]

My policy is to never go up a hill that needs a warning sign with a % on it. Also to only go up hills that you can get up whilst remaining in your seat.

 

[weepiper]

I've got up 20% gradients while remaining in my seat.

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

After yesterday's ride I can report with a fair degree of certainty that 15% gradients are not much fun when the temperature is past 25 degrees.

After yesterday’s ride I can report that when the temperature is past 25 degrees 15% gradient is dreamy, so long as you are going down it.