Your rants here.

bendertherobot

Tangled Metal wrote:

Some guy in a range rover Evoque (pish spice Beckham's car or she launched it because it's a woman's car afterall) saw me cycling along to roadworks and filtering up the inside of the waiting traffic to get to a safer spot at the front. Oh how amused I was when he suddenly squeezed his car until it was against the kerb just as I got there.

Then I reached a set of traffic lights further on and spotted the same lady car moving to the left again as I got close. This time his left tyre was overhanging the edge of the tarmac. New build road without anything like kerb stones. By now I wasn't just amused but curious as to his thinking.

Anyway he obviously didn't expect me to filter safely to the outside of the stationary cars at the edge of town/start of the busy traffic area up to the ASL because he was in the middle of his lane.

Then I amused myself by almost taking primary so the dithering driver ahead of him was too unsure to overtake.

What is the point of completely blocking a cyclist trying to get to a safer stopping place at a junction where stationary cars are waiting for lights? These places all have good passing opportunities after them. You can see the that.from the junctions/lights. Why? Why? Why?

PS range rover Evoqe cars are not really just for women, some men have equally bad taste in cars. If you can't find a better car to but for that money you have no imagination or you're a sucker for the Beckham / celebrity hype.

The last 4 miles of my commute can be on road but I generally turn off and take the Taff Trail. Last time I did the on road route it was essentially a 4 mile traffic jam which saw me filter on the outside. It was chock full of people putting their vehicles over the white line as I was approaching in an effort to block/force me into the oncoming traffic. It's bizarre and, of course, it just doesn't work.

My ear is crackling now........I wish I could yawn more

rick_chasey

Rick Chasey wrote:

Back from honeymoon, unexpected rental car charge to the tune of €250.

3 weeks later, they haven't got back to me yet, and are stonewalling on the phone.

kingstongraham

I was slowly overtaking a traffic jam last night and a large gap (~100m) had been left in front of a car so I took it easy thinking something might be up. Looked in the window on the way past and the driver was doing her emails or something. Tapped on the window to wake her up as it might be better to concentrate on the traffic, then carried on. She then tried to overtake me so she could rejoin the queue a bit earlier.

rick_chasey

bendertherobot wrote:

My ear is crackling now........I wish I could yawn more

Might need to get it syringed.

In which case, soften it up by pouring olive oil in your ear twice a day.

dhope

Rick Chasey wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

Back from honeymoon, unexpected rental car charge to the tune of €250.

3 weeks later, they haven't got back to me yet, and are stonewalling on the phone.

Call credit card company and have them reverse the charge?

dinyull

Rhodrich wrote:

[Non bike related rant]

It appears that my energy supplier (GB Energy) has gone bust, half way through my switch away from them (Gas has gone over, Electricity hasn't). No idea what's going to happen now. I've got over £500 credit with them, which will probably take months to get back, if at all. I asked them for a refund about 2 weeks ago, and didn't get a reply. Bollox.

Gas and Elec companies are right gits, but there is no reason at all to be £500 in credit. That is pretty much a years supply for us.

rick_chasey

dhope wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

Back from honeymoon, unexpected rental car charge to the tune of €250.

3 weeks later, they haven't got back to me yet, and are stonewalling on the phone.

Call credit card company and have them reverse the charge?

Am tempted, but wonder if it'll hurt my bargaining position long term.

It's Europcar, not some out-of-a-shed chop shop.

fenix

Yeah Europcar tried to deduct cash when a mate hired a car for a scratch. I rubbed it off with a finger and it was just a bit of mud. They really do try hard to get extra revenue.

dinyull

All car hire places are the same, never had a pleasant experience to the point I don't even consider it abroad. Either receive the hard sell about upgrading when you arrive to collect, the car isn't what you've ordered/paid for or having to explain every little pain chip and scratch....despite having already been pointed out on the piece of paper they're holding as they inspect the car.

wolfsbane2k

Tangled Metal wrote:

What is the point of completely blocking a cyclist trying to get to a safer stopping place at a junction where stationary cars are waiting for lights? These places all have good passing opportunities after them. You can see the that.from the junctions/lights. Why? Why? Why?.

No idea, but regularly get this as well at traffic lights where the path cycle path allows me to bypass the lights completely.
Perhaps their worried about someone hitting their wing mirror/scratching their car... oh, wait... does that work the other way?

kingstongraham

Wolfsbane2k wrote:

Tangled Metal wrote:

What is the point of completely blocking a cyclist trying to get to a safer stopping place at a junction where stationary cars are waiting for lights? These places all have good passing opportunities after them. You can see the that.from the junctions/lights. Why? Why? Why?.

No idea, but regularly get this as well at traffic lights where the path cycle path allows me to bypass the lights completely.
Perhaps their worried about someone hitting their wing mirror/scratching their car... oh, wait... does that work the other way?

You bike, therefore you must be behind car.

tangled_metal

Wing mirrors? I learnt the hard way to avoid them. A Bentley got too close and passing on the inside when it was stationary I hit the wing mirror. It took me out and didn't even get a mark on it. Bentley really do make solid wing mirrors.

Tashman

Tangled Metal wrote:

Wing mirrors? I learnt the hard way to avoid them. A Bentley got too close and passing on the inside when it was stationary I hit the wing mirror. It took me out and didn't even get a mark on it. Bentley really do make solid wing mirrors.

I still find they bend back nicely when cars are parked on the pavement though

tangled_metal

Bike fell apart tonight and I can't tell why. Back wheel fell off breaking chain and I ended up on the rear derailleur/chainstay sliding along with the rear wheel dragging along by the broken chain. Mudguard was bent but I think I have bent it back ok, it's a sks Chromoplastic one.

A quick check of the quick release showed it was locked closed plus it's very stiff. New chain and cassette 2 weeks ago and I'm thinking the lbs might not have put wheel on tight but I did check it within a week. It was rattling at the back so one check was undoing the qr then tightening it up again. I'm certain it was ok and secure.

So I'm angry with the fates. Trip to another lbs to get it checked out. Derailleur looked ok, don't know how. Hanger could be bent I guess? Would a new chain be worth getting to try out? Two weeks shouldn't be too long to just replace the chain, no real wear on cassette in that time. Thinking of just replacing it and trying out in case there's no real damage. What could have gone wrong?

redvee

Rhodrich wrote:

[Non bike related rant]

It appears that my energy supplier (GB Energy) has gone bust, half way through my switch away from them (Gas has gone over, Electricity hasn't). No idea what's going to happen now. I've got over £500 credit with them, which will probably take months to get back, if at all. I asked them for a refund about 2 weeks ago, and didn't get a reply. Bollox.

Read that Co-op Energy will take on GB Energy customers and honour credit but as you're in the middle of switching you might not get your credit. Pop over to MSE and see what has been written about the situation.

wolfsbane2k

Ice. 5 m of black ice. Not enough studs in the tire.

rhodrich

redvee wrote:

Rhodrich wrote:

[Non bike related rant]

It appears that my energy supplier (GB Energy) has gone bust, half way through my switch away from them (Gas has gone over, Electricity hasn't). No idea what's going to happen now. I've got over £500 credit with them, which will probably take months to get back, if at all. I asked them for a refund about 2 weeks ago, and didn't get a reply. Bollox.

Read that Co-op Energy will take on GB Energy customers and honour credit but as you're in the middle of switching you might not get your credit. Pop over to MSE and see what has been written about the situation.

Thanks - got email from them yesterday evening. Ironic, as Co-op energy were my previous supplier (I switch every year to the cheapest deal). It looks like they'll honour everything, including credit balances for existing and previous clients, so I should be OK. Fingers crossed!

rhodrich

Wolfsbane2k wrote:

Ice. 5 m of black ice. Not enough studs in the tire.

Oh dear - did you come off?

dhope

UKMail

Because they can't read the number on the front door and left a card next door saying I wasn't in.
Well, no, I wasn't sitting in my neighbours house. I was in mine though.

Not surprised, seems pretty much inline with everyone else's opinion of them. Oh well

MBCaad8

There have been no new posts on Bender's review page since Monday - come on people what gives, it's my favourite part of the day, the anticipation of logging in to see what people have posted there. Yes, I know I am sad (no offence Bender).

bendertherobot

People who rant at me not updating my page when I have a BLOCKED EAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(I'll sort it later, I have a few things to write about..................)

fat daddy

People who use ailments of unrelated body parts as an excuse to why they cant use their fingers to type new posts on Benders review page

bendertherobot

People...........

dhope

bendertherobot wrote:

People...........

/thread

wolfsbane2k

Rhodrich wrote:

Wolfsbane2k wrote:

Ice. 5 m of black ice. Not enough studs in the tire.

Oh dear - did you come off?

Yep. Slow tumble at 10-11 mph, kept catching grip as the studs bit in and oversteering, tank slapper style. Managed to get my foot down, only to loose grip on that too!
Best part about falling on ice is no gravel rash... silver linings and all that jazz.

dinyull

Dinyull wrote:

Getting properly fed up with Tredz now.

Ordered a bike, received a couple of days later.

Bike came with damage to fork, emailed pics off and the email was passed from pillar to post. In the meantime, left shifter stopped working and left crank arm developed a horrendous creak. After a few days still waiting to speak to someone I went on live chat and they agreed to replace bike if I emailed in photos to prove bike hadn't been crashed. Emailed pics off and few days later I'm still waiting to hear back.

What is so difficult about responding to an email?

This still isn't sorted. I first got in touch with them 2 and a half weeks ago and have literally had to contact them at every step of the way for them to make any progress. I returned the bike almost a week ago now and was promised I'd receive a replacement early this week. They had already offered to reduce the price and a voucher on top to apologise but I've got to the point I want nothing to do with them so planning on asking for a refund. That will no doubt turn into a ball ache too.

rower63

Dinyull wrote:

Dinyull wrote:

Getting properly fed up with Tredz now.

Ordered a bike, received a couple of days later.

Bike came with damage to fork, emailed pics off and the email was passed from pillar to post. In the meantime, left shifter stopped working and left crank arm developed a horrendous creak. After a few days still waiting to speak to someone I went on live chat and they agreed to replace bike if I emailed in photos to prove bike hadn't been crashed. Emailed pics off and few days later I'm still waiting to hear back.

What is so difficult about responding to an email?

This still isn't sorted. I first got in touch with them 2 and a half weeks ago and have literally had to contact them at every step of the way for them to make any progress. I returned the bike almost a week ago now and was promised I'd receive a replacement early this week. They had already offered to reduce the price and a voucher on top to apologise but I've got to the point I want nothing to do with them so planning on asking for a refund. That will no doubt turn into a ball ache too.

I had a similar problem with Storck's UK distributors. I only got action when I copied in Germany Head Office. It turned out, so they said, that my initial emails were going straight to their Junk folder.

dinyull

The latest annoyance isn't down to them not responding to an email - they haven't even bothered to tell me if they've received the bike and what they plan on doing now they have it. Just sat in limbo.

Going to ask for a management email address when I do speak with them though as I'd like to send them the email thread to show just how useless they've been.

dinyull

Apologies about keep going on about this.

Just arrived home to an email at 10 past 5 to say they've despatched the bike to be delivered tomorrow. Now this should be a yay moment, however no one is going to be in the house tomorrow.

When I ordered in the first place they called to arrange a convenient day, why couldn't they have done that this time too? I could have arranged a morning/afternoon off if given any notice. Absolute fuckwits.

bendertherobot

My apologies as well, still blocked.

Might be 1% better now though.......waiting for that moment where it crackles and blows.

I might even cry a bit when that happens......