Your rants here.

always_tyred

Since the government banned filament bulbs, the use of indicators has become illegal.

biondino

Not specifically a cycling rant - the postman has now twice left a box outside my front door after attempting to deliver when I wasn't there. Last night it was a large Wiggle box containing nothing but a pair of £18 handlebars - not too much of a disaster (though if they had got nicked it would have been a PITA trying to figure out what happened) - but previously it was a sodding Wii! And they left it in the rain, which saturated the delivery box and damaged the Wii packaging itself - not great for an Xmas gift.

Now I come to think about it it's quite possible that the one internet-purchased Xmas gift which was "lost in the post" could well have been nicked from outside my front door, which faces a main road and a bus stop often used by the local thieving yoof (they've nicked my car and my moped in the past, the fcukers). It's obviously not a post office decision as, thankfully, I usually get cards telling me I have to go pick the package up from the PO. But it's not on.

itboffin

I suggest you wait in for the postman or woman then give them a piece of your mind RE their total disregard for your mail, I'm sure after a stern talking too they'll realise the error of their ways and take much better care in the future. :shock:

always_tyred

biondino wrote:

Not specifically a cycling rant - the postman has now twice left a box outside my front door after attempting to deliver when I wasn't there. Last night it was a large Wiggle box containing nothing but a pair of £18 handlebars - not too much of a disaster (though if they had got nicked it would have been a PITA trying to figure out what happened) - but previously it was a sodding Wii! And they left it in the rain, which saturated the delivery box and damaged the Wii packaging itself - not great for an Xmas gift.

Now I come to think about it it's quite possible that the one internet-purchased Xmas gift which was "lost in the post" could well have been nicked from outside my front door, which faces a main road and a bus stop often used by the local thieving yoof (they've nicked my car and my moped in the past, the fcukers). It's obviously not a post office decision as, thankfully, I usually get cards telling me I have to go pick the package up from the PO. But it's not on.

My new bike (>£1000) was left in my greenhouse in a box with "bicycle" written all over it.

It saved me a trip to the depot and the hassle of putting the roofrack on, but come on!

itboffin

Always Tyred wrote:

biondino wrote:

Not specifically a cycling rant - the postman has now twice left a box outside my front door after attempting to deliver when I wasn't there. Last night it was a large Wiggle box containing nothing but a pair of £18 handlebars - not too much of a disaster (though if they had got nicked it would have been a PITA trying to figure out what happened) - but previously it was a sodding Wii! And they left it in the rain, which saturated the delivery box and damaged the Wii packaging itself - not great for an Xmas gift.

Now I come to think about it it's quite possible that the one internet-purchased Xmas gift which was "lost in the post" could well have been nicked from outside my front door, which faces a main road and a bus stop often used by the local thieving yoof (they've nicked my car and my moped in the past, the fcukers). It's obviously not a post office decision as, thankfully, I usually get cards telling me I have to go pick the package up from the PO. But it's not on.

My new bike (>£1000) was left in my greenhouse in a box with "bicycle" written all over it.

It saved me a trip to the depot and the hassle of putting the roofrack on, but come on!

Greenhouse you say...! so what have you got growing in there young man...?

always_tyred

itboffin wrote:

Always Tyred wrote:

biondino wrote:

Not specifically a cycling rant - the postman has now twice left a box outside my front door after attempting to deliver when I wasn't there. Last night it was a large Wiggle box containing nothing but a pair of £18 handlebars - not too much of a disaster (though if they had got nicked it would have been a PITA trying to figure out what happened) - but previously it was a sodding Wii! And they left it in the rain, which saturated the delivery box and damaged the Wii packaging itself - not great for an Xmas gift.

Now I come to think about it it's quite possible that the one internet-purchased Xmas gift which was "lost in the post" could well have been nicked from outside my front door, which faces a main road and a bus stop often used by the local thieving yoof (they've nicked my car and my moped in the past, the fcukers). It's obviously not a post office decision as, thankfully, I usually get cards telling me I have to go pick the package up from the PO. But it's not on.

My new bike (>£1000) was left in my greenhouse in a box with "bicycle" written all over it.

It saved me a trip to the depot and the hassle of putting the roofrack on, but come on!

Greenhouse you say...! so what have you got growing in there young man...?

Its plastic and doesn't have any lights. Presently there is a growing pile of cardboard boxes in it.

The Chingford Skinhead

Always Tyred wrote:

itboffin wrote:

Always Tyred wrote:

biondino wrote:

Not specifically a cycling rant - the postman has now twice left a box outside my front door after attempting to deliver when I wasn't there. Last night it was a large Wiggle box containing nothing but a pair of £18 handlebars - not too much of a disaster (though if they had got nicked it would have been a PITA trying to figure out what happened) - but previously it was a sodding Wii! And they left it in the rain, which saturated the delivery box and damaged the Wii packaging itself - not great for an Xmas gift.

Now I come to think about it it's quite possible that the one internet-purchased Xmas gift which was "lost in the post" could well have been nicked from outside my front door, which faces a main road and a bus stop often used by the local thieving yoof (they've nicked my car and my moped in the past, the fcukers). It's obviously not a post office decision as, thankfully, I usually get cards telling me I have to go pick the package up from the PO. But it's not on.

My new bike (>£1000) was left in my greenhouse in a box with "bicycle" written all over it.

It saved me a trip to the depot and the hassle of putting the roofrack on, but come on!

Greenhouse you say...! so what have you got growing in there young man...?

Its plastic and doesn't have any lights. Presently there is a growing pile of cardboard boxes in it.

In which case hiding your bike in a carboard box in a shed full of empty cardboard boxes was a stroke of genius by the belivery person. You should thank him

downfader

itboffin wrote:

I suggest you wait in for the postman or woman then give them a piece of your mind RE their total disregard for your mail, I'm sure after a stern talking too they'll realise the error of their ways and take much better care in the future. :shock:

If its anything like our posties that might not work - you'd end up telling off the wrong person as they change routes a lot.

I would phone them up and make a small complaint myself. I've done this via email myself and local problems have all been sorted out with no fuss. Unlike some private delivery firms they do actually seem to fix things and engage with their customers

zanes

Fulcrum 5 evolutions- Out of Stock EVERYWHERE!!

That is all.

downfader

Why doesnt my mother keep her bl**dy bike clean?! I've told her several times "people wont be able to see your reflectors when they're covered in muck". Honestly, she's like a teenager, her car is the same. :?

I've just spent an hour with a rag and some soapy water cleaning the thing. Its not perfect but its better than it had been. She also needs a new rear sprocket and chain, hers are rusted to bits. They still seem structurally sound but it wont be long. I'm thinking of putting vaseline or something on there, lol. Its going to tip down tomorrow and it will get soaked.

I must nag her when she gets home tonight!

biondino

zanes wrote:

Fulcrum 5 evolutions- Out of Stock EVERYWHERE!!

That is all.

Zanes, there's a pair on the Calfee bamboo-framed bike hanging in the window in the sustainable goods shop on Chiswick High Road. Only £3,700, and you get a uniqur frame into the bargain!

zanes

Wow, Bargain!! I've pre-ordered through wiggle, they reckon on late january stock for the shimano version. Still, I suppose that's closer to the better weather.

iain_j

downfader wrote:

Why doesnt my mother keep her bl**dy bike clean?! I've told her several times "people wont be able to see your reflectors when they're covered in muck". Honestly, she's like a teenager, her car is the same. :?

I've just spent an hour with a rag and some soapy water cleaning the thing. Its not perfect but its better than it had been. She also needs a new rear sprocket and chain, hers are rusted to bits. They still seem structurally sound but it wont be long. I'm thinking of putting vaseline or something on there, lol. Its going to tip down tomorrow and it will get soaked.

I must nag her when she gets home tonight!

Something sounds fundamentally wrong about that...

Aren't mothers supposed to nag their sons about keeping stuff clean, not the other way round?

:P

lost_in_thought

biondino wrote:

zanes wrote:

Fulcrum 5 evolutions- Out of Stock EVERYWHERE!!

That is all.

Zanes, there's a pair on the Calfee bamboo-framed bike hanging in the window in the sustainable goods shop on Chiswick High Road. Only £3,700, and you get a uniqur frame into the bargain!

Where is said shop? I wish to prod said bicycle...

always_tyred

biondino wrote:

zanes wrote:

Fulcrum 5 evolutions- Out of Stock EVERYWHERE!!

That is all.

Zanes, there's a pair on the Calfee bamboo-framed bike hanging in the window in the sustainable goods shop on Chiswick High Road. Only £3,700, and you get a uniqur frame into the bargain!

Someone should probably mention to the sustainable sandals shop that the high demand for bamboo has lead to widespread deforestation.

biondino

LiT, I can't remember exactly where but it's on the main stretch of the Chiswick High Road, in a street corner plot, on the south side of the road. These bikes are bespoke, ten year warranty, and they do look beautiful. I have no idea how they ride.

itboffin

Why not build your own :?

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to- ... o-Bicycle/

Truly the ugliest bike ever

themoog

Aaahh! Drivers that shout abuse at you when they do something wrong...yes, of course it's my fault because I'm a cyclist, it couldn't possibly be because you are a carp driver who doesn't know the highway code. Grrrr - got that one off my chest

simple_salmon

themoog wrote:

Aaahh! Drivers that shout abuse at you when they do something wrong...yes, of course it's my fault because I'm a cyclist, it couldn't possibly be because you are a carp driver who doesn't know the highway code. Grrrr - got that one off my chest

Leave the fish out of this

geekraver

Hi, I'm a new member, been lurking a short while until I realised that you're not all in London

I could rant all day about my commute to work, I got knocked down by a driver earlier this week, he decided I was no impediment to his need to turn left before I'd got through a junction. The swine didn't stop either, so I've got the rozzers involved.

Anyway it lead me to this forum, looking for some kindred spirits, and following some other topics here I've ordered myself a helmet cam. In future I'll be recording my commute in case I get into another scrape like that.

Reading some of your rants in this thread, it seems most of you are very restrained when dealing with bad road users. Are you all being coy, or am I the only one who spends a lot of my journey swearing and kicking cars that get too close?

ride_whenever

We aren't restrained at all, we just don't say anything incriminating online...

simple_salmon

Hi geekraver

I'm also a Leicester commuter; where do you go from and to?

geekraver

simple_salmon wrote:

I'm also a Leicester commuter; where do you go from and to?

Knighton to the train station, then to Loughborough by train, then from Loughborough train station to the university.

The Leicester part isn't too bad as I can avoid most of the roads, but Loughborough is awful, the drivers there really are mental. Train journey is ok, but the attitude of the railway company towards cyclists would be the subject of another rant.

How about you?

simple_salmon

Countesthorpe to DMU where I help to promote sustainable transport, including cycling.

I spent 10-years as a student and then member of staff at Loughborough Uni so I know the area well.

The Uni does have a Travel Plan - although I can't find a person responsible for it. You can see it on the Facilities Management part of the website. You could try contact through there since they may have some sway with Charnwood BC or the County Council. Campaigns to make improvements have to start somewhere.

Don't let's get started on EMT!!

Ride Safe.

downfader

geekraver wrote:

Hi, I'm a new member, been lurking a short while until I realised that you're not all in London

I could rant all day about my commute to work, I got knocked down by a driver earlier this week, he decided I was no impediment to his need to turn left before I'd got through a junction. The swine didn't stop either, so I've got the rozzers involved.

Anyway it lead me to this forum, looking for some kindred spirits, and following some other topics here I've ordered myself a helmet cam. In future I'll be recording my commute in case I get into another scrape like that.

Reading some of your rants in this thread, it seems most of you are very restrained when dealing with bad road users. Are you all being coy, or am I the only one who spends a lot of my journey swearing and kicking cars that get too close?

Nice to meet you Geekraver... some advice on helmet cams: try not to bring attention to it, if you post vids on youtube (even the non "this driver cut me up" type) be prepared for trolls to try and slag you off and make you look like a berk, and if you show footage to friends of any accidents or dangerous drivers be prepared for them to shrug their shoulders and go "whats wrong with that" if they dont cycle.



Hope you recover from your off. Were you injured?

elvisthelonerider

The worst one was the left hook from the Chevy in July. Hungarian nat'l with no American license driving someone else's car with a huge crack across her windshield. Turns at me in broad daylight when I'm passing through the intersection going straight.

Coppers let the car go without getting insurance info despite me asking them directly if they did and being told yes. Then took a month to track down the driver and owner. Police spelled my name wrong on the police report cover page and I was given the run around for weeks, told that since a car wasn't damaged it wasn't an "accident". A blunt letter to the chief got them to listen but holy heck, talk about idiocy.

Lesson learned: Never count on the cops for anything at an accident scene. Get the info yourself no matter how rattled you are or how much you'd rather leave it to the "professionals".

Anyhoo, finally had the shoulder surgery to correct the damage done -- stiches come out in 2 days, Yeah!
- Elvis

elvisthelonerider

Fat Kid wrote:

Unusually this is a rant against cyclists.

Why do some (a small minority granted and generally roadies with a superiority complex) insist on riding two abreast when they know it inconveniences other road users?.

I see this a lot from people who are great athletes but sadly don't use cycling for transportation a lot. They ride often on open roads, not so much in traffic. I explain it to myself this way;

On main country roads they spread out, since there is no obstruction to doing so. Also, they sometimes find this useful; Riding two abreast presents twice as much surface area so when that infrequent car does come along he is more likely to see you and not plow into you. But this only works if you are paying attention and as he overtakes, merge single file. And it generally does not work at all in city traffic... or on rotories.

Of course, a lot of them may simply not be aware that this is a hazard in heavy traffic -- or not care.

My biggest gripe with people on bikes is idiots who ride on the wrong side of the street. Being a cyclist I can usually spot them but lot of good that does me if they are on a collision course; one of us will have to go into traffic to dodge.

el_presidente

itboffin wrote:

Why not build your own :?

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to- ... o-Bicycle/

Truly the ugliest bike ever

also, it's a nightmare with all the pandas following you round

zanes

Can someone explain car drivers to me?

I rode to uni today in full rush hour, and had some of the most considerate, respectful car drivers around me. Eg- White van who waits until it's clear to overtake, then pulls right into the other lane, overtakes quickly and gives me plenty of space when he's past. Ka driver who, where others would normally squeeze past, waits a good distance behind me until I pull into the right turn lane and then steadily goes past. Pedestrians that see me coming, and wait before stepping off the pavement. Car drivers who hesitate to pull out of junctions I'm indicating to turn right into, until I wave them through.

Now, why is it if it's late at night/clear/mid-morning/afternoon do I have people giving me literally six inches (if you're the renault driver who overtook a roadie in a high vis jacket just before bath uni last week, be b***** glad I got held up at the main entrance, and went into the east car park looking for you, and couldn't find you- I assume you were in such a hurry campus speed limits didn't apply to you.) of space whilst overtaking, pull out, cut me up etc? I could almost understand it in rush hour, we're all just trying to get to work right?

geekraver

downfader wrote:

Nice to meet you Geekraver... some advice on helmet cams: try not to bring attention to it [...]

Hope you recover from your off. Were you injured?

Thanks - no serious damage done, hurt my elbow and I think the back wheel might be a little warped but otherwise ok. I reported it to the police but didn't get the driver's number plate, but they're going to check out the CCTV that overlooks the junction. They took it more seriously than I was expecting, but whether they'll actually bother to follow it up I don't know.

I'm almost more pissed off about the driver behind who drove around me as I was lying in the road!

Anyway, just got my ATC3K so if I encounter any other friends of humanity like those, I'll at least have some evidence. Might put something up on YouTube later this week, but won't be after sympathy from the great unwashed YT audience