Your rants here.

bails87

And a good morning to you too, kind sir!

northstar

^ Someone got out of bed the wrong side asmorning....

Kieran_Burns

Here you go:

http://youtu.be/Fer0Gkdkyfc?hd=1

I would appreciate comments on what I should do with this. I can clearly see the reg. no. of the car coming the other way, so I think a witness would be available.

optimisticbiker

Had a nasty experience with a dickhead on a motorbike this evening. Stopped at lights on Great Portland St, taxi to my right and he's behind me. Lights go green and he squeezes between me and taxi, his mirror brushes my elbow so I shout out "careful". About 100m up the road he slows and pulls into the kerb. As I go past he pulls out and rides alongside me on the left f-ing and blinding and forcing me into the centre of the road. If it wasn't for the taxi hooting him he'd have forced me into oncoming traffic or run into me, but he took off through a very late amber, probably red. At least the taxi driver asked if i was ok at the lights. Frightened the life out of me! Didn't get his number as the plate was so dirty it was unreadable.

davis

Kieran_Burns wrote:

Here you go:

http://youtu.be/Fer0Gkdkyfc?hd=1

I would appreciate comments on what I should do with this. I can clearly see the reg. no. of the car coming the other way, so I think a witness would be available.

As much as I try to think "live and let live" that would have made me truly angry, and probably scared.

I'd definitely report it. I can't quite see how the cars didn't play wing-mirror conkers or you weren't hit. I'd even be tempted to get my anorak on and measure the road at that point, and subtract the width of both cars including mirrors.

I recommend reporting that one; it's actively dangerous.

bails87

KB: You make it look so calm, I'd have been effing and blinding at that, out of shock rather than anything else.

I'd report it, I wouldn't expect the police to do anything, but you can hope.

mudcow007

Kieran_Burns wrote:

Here you go:

http://youtu.be/Fer0Gkdkyfc?hd=1

I would appreciate comments on what I should do with this. I can clearly see the reg. no. of the car coming the other way, so I think a witness would be available.

feck me with a rubber duck, that was close!

speak to the rozzers!


Allergies

come into work an im a snivelling snotty mess

my asthma is kicking off so i can hardly breathe, an im all itchy

grr

eyko

Didn't get to cycle last week, but going back along Finsbury Park last night, up Seven Sisters road and some giant craters seemed to have appeared. One was nearly as wide as the bus lane!!!

jedster

This is rather belated rant, more of a salutory tale really.

A couple of weeks ago about 9pm I pulled away from some lights, I was in the inside lane of two. It was on a bend and the car behind (new C Class merc) me hadnt had to slow for the lights. It overtook me at speed then cut right across my wheel into my lane - totally unnecessary as the outer lane was empty. I gave a somewhat involuntary "whooaaaa!!!" no Fing and Blinding.

Anyway there was a red light a little further up the road and I was stopped behind the car. I said nothing but it turns out that the driver had is window open and had heard my exclamation.

Him "what's your fookin problem mate?"
Me "you cut me up" - still no swearing
Him "no I fookin didnt you c*nt, I cycle I know what I'm talking about"
Me - at this point I begin to lose it - I haven't given this guy a hard time, I haven't sworn at him and he cut me up not the other way round. I'm kind of amazed that anyone get so wound up by so little and feels the need to call me a c*nt. Then there is the "I cycle" bollocks.
"you are a fookin joke"
Cue frothing at the mouth from him and his passenger (I'd guess father and son)- fists waved even a "right I'll fookin have you". I decide that I'd better put some distance between us and try to ride off and take a turning. He veers across the road in pursuit - driving the car at me. In the end I nip across to the other side of a central reservation/railing, against the traffic (it's quiet) and he decides not to follow.

That was it but I admit every time I heard a car behind me on that journey home I made a hurried shoulder check to see if it was an idiot in a merc. And I wore a different coloured jacket the next day. I think the bloke was pond life and I could have got a proper beating or been run over. Clearly some people are not safe to be in charge of a pair of safety scissors let alone a car. I didnt get a registration otherwise I would have reported it. It did remind me how vulnerable you on a bike if you draw the attention of a nutter with a short fuse in a car. I reckon I had enough clues that this guy was a bit out of control - swearing at him may have been justified but it was not wise...

SimonAH

KB, that's shocking - I'd definitely be wanting to take action on that (but would be surprised if the fuzz do anything TBH) Let us know what response you get.

rjsterry

jedster wrote:

This is rather belated rant, more of a salutory tale really.

A couple of weeks ago about 9pm I pulled away from some lights, I was in the inside lane of two. It was on a bend and the car behind (new C Class merc) me hadnt had to slow for the lights. It overtook me at speed then cut right across my wheel into my lane - totally unnecessary as the outer lane was empty. I gave a somewhat involuntary "whooaaaa!!!" no Fing and Blinding.

Anyway there was a red light a little further up the road and I was stopped behind the car. I said nothing but it turns out that the driver had is window open and had heard my exclamation.

Him "what's your fookin problem mate?"
Me "you cut me up" - still no swearing
Him "no I fookin didnt you c*nt, I cycle I know what I'm talking about"
Me - at this point I begin to lose it - I haven't given this guy a hard time, I haven't sworn at him and he cut me up not the other way round. I'm kind of amazed that anyone get so wound up by so little and feels the need to call me a c*nt. Then there is the "I cycle" bollocks.
"you are a fookin joke"
Cue frothing at the mouth from him and his passenger (I'd guess father and son)- fists waved even a "right I'll fookin have you". I decide that I'd better put some distance between us and try to ride off and take a turning. He veers across the road in pursuit - driving the car at me. In the end I nip across to the other side of a central reservation/railing, against the traffic (it's quiet) and he decides not to follow.

That was it but I admit every time I heard a car behind me on that journey home I made a hurried shoulder check to see if it was an idiot in a merc. And I wore a different coloured jacket the next day. I think the bloke was pond life and I could have got a proper beating or been run over. Clearly some people are not safe to be in charge of a pair of safety scissors let alone a car. I didnt get a registration otherwise I would have reported it. It did remind me how vulnerable you on a bike if you draw the attention of a nutter with a short fuse in a car. I reckon I had enough clues that this guy was a bit out of control - swearing at him may have been justified but it was not wise...

+1. Nutters seem to self-select for crap driving. It's almost never worth upping the anti, just note the reg if you can, and get out of the way.

Origamist

Kieran_Burns wrote:

Quick and dirty screen print for your delectation...

This is an NSL stretch of road; the car coming the other way had to slow to an almost complete stop to avoid a head on. The video shows the Mondeo on my side actually pulling IN at this moment. I was so surprised by it all I didn't have time to react - if there had been ANY more movement from the Mondeo I would've been off.

The thing is: I swear I've seen this car a few times and he is always too close.

That's dire driving - no forward planning, a wet road, a vulnerable road user, another vehicle coming in the opposite direction = dangerous idiot who should at the very least have a visit from the police (particularly if this was not a "momentary lapse" of judgement, but part of a pattern of poor overtakes).

Kieran_Burns

Kieran_Burns wrote:

DrLex wrote:

Kieran_Burns wrote:

[...] I'm going to make a complaint to the Police [...]

Here's hoping it gets assigned to an officer who cycles and can thus "appreciate" the lack of care & attention demonstrated. Ever get a result from the canine capers muppet?

Oddly enough - I emailed them today to find out, they got back to me and are digging out the file to let me know.

I've just received a reply back from the Police about the Dog Van:

Good morning,

The results of the court hearing relating to the incident last June are as follows:

£75 costs

£85 fine

3 points

DrLex

Kieran_Burns wrote:

PoPo wrote:

Good morning,

The results of the court hearing relating to the incident last June are as follows:

£75 costs

£85 fine

3 points

Bonus, not bogus! Thought it'd be a "driver contacted; no action taken".

bails87

What DrLex said, great news. Unfortunately my cam didn't pick up the van driver I saw yesterday morning, going in the opposite direction (well over the speed limit) while putting his contact lenses in. One hand holding his eye open, the other with a lens balanced on a finger, using the rear view mirror..... The mind boggles, it really does.

evil_breakfast

After purchasing a FSA SL-K Carbon Seat Post via Wiggle for the summer steed, some internet based research showed that I'd need some Carbon assembly paste.
Fair enough I thought and so the LBS were £9 richer.
The post has just been delivered, and what do I find included?
Only a small tube of said paste, more than enough for the job.
:evil: x 1000

anonymousblackfg

jedster wrote:

This is rather belated rant, more of a salutory tale really.

A couple of weeks ago about 9pm I pulled away from some lights, I was in the inside lane of two. It was on a bend and the car behind (new C Class merc) me hadnt had to slow for the lights. It overtook me at speed then cut right across my wheel into my lane - totally unnecessary as the outer lane was empty. I gave a somewhat involuntary "whooaaaa!!!" no Fing and Blinding.

Anyway there was a red light a little further up the road and I was stopped behind the car. I said nothing but it turns out that the driver had is window open and had heard my exclamation.

Him "what's your fookin problem mate?"
Me "you cut me up" - still no swearing
Him "no I fookin didnt you c*nt, I cycle I know what I'm talking about"
Me - at this point I begin to lose it - I haven't given this guy a hard time, I haven't sworn at him and he cut me up not the other way round. I'm kind of amazed that anyone get so wound up by so little and feels the need to call me a c*nt. Then there is the "I cycle" bollocks.
"you are a fookin joke"
Cue frothing at the mouth from him and his passenger (I'd guess father and son)- fists waved even a "right I'll fookin have you". I decide that I'd better put some distance between us and try to ride off and take a turning. He veers across the road in pursuit - driving the car at me. In the end I nip across to the other side of a central reservation/railing, against the traffic (it's quiet) and he decides not to follow.

That was it but I admit every time I heard a car behind me on that journey home I made a hurried shoulder check to see if it was an idiot in a merc. And I wore a different coloured jacket the next day. I think the bloke was pond life and I could have got a proper beating or been run over. Clearly some people are not safe to be in charge of a pair of safety scissors let alone a car. I didnt get a registration otherwise I would have reported it. It did remind me how vulnerable you on a bike if you draw the attention of a nutter with a short fuse in a car. I reckon I had enough clues that this guy was a bit out of control - swearing at him may have been justified but it was not wise...

Sounds midly similar to my being chased about the street by a K9 Capers van in Kingston (probably LSE09 VSE and likeley to be driven by Andre McCloughlin) though I didn't get the reg as I was having to get up and down pavements in the wet, in the dark with a nutter behind me in a van. I reported it to the Met's road safe and got a response of 'that sounds serious, i'd report it to the police' I got little traction with the business owner though the Kingston branch van based a few streets from the incident has now shed its livery!

mudcow007

chain snapped AGAIN on my mtb

since rebuilding it, the chain has snapped 5 times in different places (i marked it the last time it snapped)

ffs

nad + stem = ouchy

veronese68

mudcow007 wrote:

chain snapped AGAIN on my mtb

since rebuilding it, the chain has snapped 5 times in different places (i marked it the last time it snapped)

ffs

nad + stem = ouchy

What sort of chain? 8, 9 or 10 speed? I can't help thinking that a 9 speed chain is bound to be weaker than an 8 speed given it has thinner side plates. Are 10 speed chains weaker still?

mudcow007

Veronese68 wrote:

mudcow007 wrote:

chain snapped AGAIN on my mtb

since rebuilding it, the chain has snapped 5 times in different places (i marked it the last time it snapped)

ffs

nad + stem = ouchy

What sort of chain? 8, 9 or 10 speed? I can't help thinking that a 9 speed chain is bound to be weaker than an 8 speed given it has thinner side plates. Are 10 speed chains weaker still?

9 speed, i think i must have a friday afternoon chain, you know when people just cant be arsed....

new one is on order grr!

bails87

Is it Shimano?

veronese68

There you go, circumstantial evidence of one chain failing. 9 speed is definitely weaker, the figures back me up. With research like that I could write for the Daily Fail.

rick_chasey

Spent most of yesterday in bed.

PT today. Shame - I like riding in this kind of muggy warm weather.

Tricycleboy

Parliament Square diversion. And those fecking sociopathic moped riders using the diversion willing to kill all in there path to get one car ahead and block the way with their wanky quadrophenia mirrors for a dozen cyclists, all of which are pi$$ed off at having to use the back streets for no bloody good reason.

Open the road back up. NOW. i couldn't give a $hit about the state opening of parliament- just take your seats and crack on.

mudcow007

bails87 wrote:

Is it Shimano?

aye

Koncordski

Tricycleboy wrote:

Parliament Square diversion. And those fecking sociopathic moped riders using the diversion willing to kill all in there path to get one car ahead and block the way with their wanky quadrophenia mirrors for a dozen cyclists, all of which are pi$$ed off at having to use the back streets for no bloody good reason.

Open the road back up. NOW. i couldn't give a $hit about the state opening of parliament- just take your seats and crack on.

This.

Ben6899

mudcow007 wrote:

bails87 wrote:

Is it Shimano?

aye

Get a KMC one.

EDIT: and join it with the KMC quick link.

bails87

Ben6899 wrote:

mudcow007 wrote:

bails87 wrote:

Is it Shimano?

aye

Get a KMC one.

EDIT: and join it with the KMC quick link.

Yup. Shimano may be good at almost everything else, but their chains are a bit dodgy.

rick_chasey

Wasn't going to post about this but I'm fed up.

Got approached for a role back in early March, similar to what I know now, only more cash, a better market to cover, and, ostensibly, a more professional outfit.

Anyway, first interview went well, second interview with the owner went well, third interview (after a 3 week wait...!) where I met the rest of the firm (all but the support staff - it was a long interview) went well too, apparently.

Got good feedback from them (literally, not through the middle man) - and was told I'd hear by the end of the week.

That was three weeks ago. Every time they keep pushing back. Since round two they've said, (and reminded me) that I'm the only person in the process. Each time it's "haven't been able to sit down to discuss" blah blah. It's an office of 20. I find it difficult to believe.

I get the impression now that the role itself is a bit more up in the air than they led me to believe.

I'm so fed up. I've even talked turkey with them, and they said it's just a case of getting the offer together.

I've been on tenterhooks for so long now.

Fed. Up.

I've made it as clear as I can without looking too punchy that I want to know either way asap.

Blacktemplar

Farking. Mental. Weather.

Again.

Feel sorry for meanredspider - it's wild enough up there without all this nonsense. It's meant to be below 5C this afternoon in the northeast FFS. In May.

Pity Southern Englandshire's full. At least the rain's a bit warmer. Might have to move in with Johnny Foreigner at this rate.