Your rants here.

hopkinb

Cruff wrote:

Slowbike wrote:

Cruff wrote:

Slowbike wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

First day of the year with double digit temperature in the morning; specialized allez parked in my spot at work.

Nothing wrong with an Allez ....

Thousands of pinky ring and hockey sock wearing c0ckwombles can't be wrong...

well - it's not an f'ing cheating ebike .... :roll:

You should be dropping ebikes on the flat, just like scooters. Use 'em as motorpacing, then come round for the final 100 metres. Job done.

Agreed, I've not met one I've not been able to drop...yet. Traffic lights are a great help though, as holding >30 mph for longer than a minute in anything but the strongest of tailwinds is not something I can do...

cruff

hopkinb wrote:

Cruff wrote:

Slowbike wrote:

Cruff wrote:

Slowbike wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

First day of the year with double digit temperature in the morning; specialized allez parked in my spot at work.

Nothing wrong with an Allez ....

Thousands of pinky ring and hockey sock wearing c0ckwombles can't be wrong...

well - it's not an f'ing cheating ebike .... :roll:

You should be dropping ebikes on the flat, just like scooters. Use 'em as motorpacing, then come round for the final 100 metres. Job done.

Agreed, I've not met one I've not been able to drop...yet. Traffic lights are a great help though, as holding >30 mph for longer than a minute in anything but the strongest of tailwinds is not something I can do...

Me and a clubmate were pootling back from an evening ride last year and one came past us like a rocket. Took us a good 300 metres to reel him in, but it was fun to see the look on his face when we went round him on opposite sides, then sat up at the next set of lights and waited for him. Good sport, we then sat behind him for ages doing basically sod all work - was like a three mile leadout. Having them on a hill though really isn't fair.

timothyw

First time I've ever wished I had a camera for my commute - probably best for all parties that I don't though.

So there I am riding up a long drag on the A1000, sitting in secondary, some complete cunt decides to overtake travelling the opposite direction. Can't have been more than a metre away, probably doing fifty odd as he passes.

If he'd hit me, I'd be very much dead.

Fortunately I was too busy chewing my bars to see the numberplate.

Absolute fucking cunt.

vpnikolov

TimothyW wrote:

First time I've ever wished I had a camera for my commute - probably best for all parties that I don't though.

So there I am riding up a long drag on the A1000, sitting in secondary, some complete **** decides to overtake travelling the opposite direction. Can't have been more than a metre away, probably doing fifty odd as he passes.

If he'd hit me, I'd be very much dead.

Fortunately I was too busy chewing my bars to see the numberplate.

Absolute ******* ****.

On that note...

Vauxhall Bridge - approaching lights from Grosvenor Rd, going hard to catch the green light. Lights switch to yellow just as I am about to pass. Small van in front of me proceeds to make a left turn, almost halfway through the turn decided to come to a complete stop (already in the junction and absolutely no obvious reason to stop). Can't pass on the right as a cyclist blocked the gap (stopped as a result of this w*nker stopping). No choice but to undertake, at which point he decides to proceed making the left.

And of course shortly after at Millbank roundabout... cycling through a green light at the temp pedestrian traffic lights, traffic queue on the right. Pedestrian jumps from between the cars, almost crashed into her.

#Londoncommuting

slowbike

Cruff wrote:

Slowbike wrote:

Cruff wrote:

Slowbike wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

First day of the year with double digit temperature in the morning; specialized allez parked in my spot at work.

Nothing wrong with an Allez ....

Thousands of pinky ring and hockey sock wearing c0ckwombles can't be wrong...

well - it's not an f'ing cheating ebike .... :roll:

You should be dropping ebikes on the flat, just like scooters. Use 'em as motorpacing, then come round for the final 100 metres. Job done.

use them for motorpacing? I'd have to apply the brakes!

dinyull

Wolfsbane2k wrote:

Talking to a bunch of local riders today at lunch implies that despite it being half term, the amount & closeness of close passes has been horrific this week.
4 of them walked off to buy fly6 cameras.
This is not what cycling should be like.

I was moaning earlier in winter about the amount of close passes in the dark, how people don't seem to give any extra wiggle room. But this past week as the light returns I've had a few real close encounters, one last night from a bus that started pulling in on me as we approached a traffic island. I wouldn't care as I was nudging 30mph (in a 30 zone), but the impatient f*cker couldn't wait 10 seconds to pass the island instead deciding to squeeze me through it.

30 seconds later he pulled into a bus stop and got the full force of a tirade which helped me feel better.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I can't believe how some "professional" drivers are so willing to risk their livelihoods for the sake of a handful of seconds.

kingpinsam

Fairly common one but saw this multiple times this morning, people who roll over the line while trying not to unclip to save time and then can't see the lights!

dinyull

A rant at our own.

Commuting home last night, coming down a steep bank with traffic lights at the bottom. Light turns from green to amber and decide it's safer to shoot through the amber.

Bloke on his bike sat at the opposite side of the junction see's his light go red to amber and proceeds to aim straight for me (it's a tight bend) I can only assume to inflict some sort of punishment pass.

Now, aside from me going through an amber because I thought it would have been safer than throwing the brakes on, this prick was sat waiting for the lights to change 10m ahead of the Stop line, sat on the apex of a tight curve. If he had been waiting where he should it would never have been as issue.

This morning at the same junction (opposite directions this time around), I spotted the prick bang to rights RLJing. Didn't want to waste my time with him so could only laugh at him looking sheepish.

jds_1981

Sealskins gloves. Thought supposed to be good, but as soon as mine get wet my hands freeze.

Tashman

The numpty walking along with his eyes glued to his screen last night who walked straight into me as he wasn't aware of the world around him. I hope the screen didn't break when you dropped it bouncing off of me

rhodrich

Found my bike where I left it in the work garage this evening, along with the 'wings' of one of the rear wheel wingnuts lying next to it, an almighty scuff on the Brooks saddle, damage to the bar tape, and the seatpost slightly twisted. Someone's knocked it over HARD, and the damage is so bad that I wouldn't be surprised if it had been run over by a car. Not happy. There doesn't appear to be any damage to the frame or wheels, and it's riding OK, but nevertheless, it would have been nice to have a note from whoever did it. That's £85 worth of saddle, £10 worth of wingnuts, and £15 worth of bar tape damaged.....

The area is all covered by CCTV, so I've asked security to retrieve the tapes. Hopefully, we'll find the culprit.

MrSweary

Rhodrich wrote:

Found my bike where I left it in the work garage this evening, along with the 'wings' of one of the rear wheel wingnuts lying next to it, an almighty scuff on the Brooks saddle, damage to the bar tape, and the seatpost slightly twisted. Someone's knocked it over HARD, and the damage is so bad that I wouldn't be surprised if it had been run over by a car. Not happy. There doesn't appear to be any damage to the frame or wheels, and it's riding OK, but nevertheless, it would have been nice to have a note from whoever did it. That's £85 worth of saddle, £10 worth of wingnuts, and £15 worth of bar tape damaged.....

The area is all covered by CCTV, so I've asked security to retrieve the tapes. Hopefully, we'll find the culprit.

That's not on - from what I remember of where you kept your bike sounds like it would almost have to have been deliberate.

rower63

Rhodrich wrote:

... in the work garage this evening ... Someone's knocked it over HARD, and the damage is so bad that I wouldn't be surprised if it had been run over by a car. Not happy....

A few months ago I was collecting my bike from the work basement, where there are in summer perhaps 300 bikes quite tightly packed. There are also 15 or so car spaces down there. That day, one car did a 3 point turn to get out of his space, overdid it, and reversed quite hard into a packed row of bikes. He then did the last leg of the three pointer, ie drove away from the scene of the accident. Only at the last moment, as he was about to drive into the car lift, did he see me standing there, obviously with some sort of expression on my face. THEN he got out and did the whole oh my god did I cause any damage thing. Trouble was, he was the CEO.

vpnikolov

Rhodrich wrote:

Found my bike where I left it in the work garage this evening, along with the 'wings' of one of the rear wheel wingnuts lying next to it, an almighty scuff on the Brooks saddle, damage to the bar tape, and the seatpost slightly twisted. Someone's knocked it over HARD, and the damage is so bad that I wouldn't be surprised if it had been run over by a car. Not happy. There doesn't appear to be any damage to the frame or wheels, and it's riding OK, but nevertheless, it would have been nice to have a note from whoever did it. That's £85 worth of saddle, £10 worth of wingnuts, and £15 worth of bar tape damaged.....

The area is all covered by CCTV, so I've asked security to retrieve the tapes. Hopefully, we'll find the culprit.

I hope your security is not as rubbish as the one in my office. I had my bike pushed over once, shifters bent, damage to bar tape and some scuffs. Never found out who did it... security did not do sh*t. :?

rhodrich

Still no word form security as to whether they've had a chance to review the CCTV yet. They weren't even sure that the area that my bike is stored is even covered. Will have to do some chasing.

The bike was stored in a difficult to get to area (taped off area underneath some air conditioning units), propped up against a wall - I can't use the racks, as they are wall racks that crush your front mudguard if you've got one. Unlikely it was deliberate though. Either someone misjudged things whilst reversing or turning their car, or else someone knocked it over when they've been using my track pump that I leave in the same place.

Here's hoping I'll get to the bottom of this. Even if I do find the culprit though, I'm not sure what I'd want out of it - I couldn't exactly ask them for £100 to cover the damage to saddle/wheel wingnuts/bar tape etc.

rick_chasey

Client "i want you to look at x"

me "I don't think x is what you want, for y reasons"

Client, "do it anyway".

2 weeks later after ball breaking work.

"me, here is x, as requested"

"nah, doesn't look right for y reasons".

joenobody

Rhodrich wrote:

I couldn't exactly ask them for £100 to cover the damage to saddle/wheel wingnuts/bar tape etc.

Why not? Seems a reasonable ask to me.

asprilla

Planned my first weekend ride of the year; a nice 60km with a relative novice mate who has a Ride100 place.

Halfway between Esher and Cobham my chain makes a break for it. No chain tool and no quick link.

Scootered back to base ruining a toe cover and a cleat in the process.

Bike change and we ended up doing Walton-Hampton-Sunbury loop. It rained.

N0bodyOfTheGoat

Wolfsbane2k wrote:

Talking to a bunch of local riders today at lunch implies that despite it being half term, the amount & closeness of close passes has been horrific this week.
4 of them walked off to buy fly6 cameras.
This is not what cycling should be like.

Our local police forces are supposed to be now following in the footsteps of West Midlands Police forces, sending out plain clothes plods on bikes and getting anyone who passes them within 1.5 metres pulled over by other plod members.

As to what penalties they are dishing out, or whether it's simply a slap on the wrist, I've no idea.

I'd love to let the police have powers to confiscate cars for say a month for first offence, longer for further offences, to make these morons realise that having a car is a privilege and not a right. A car and other motor vehicles are potentially a deadly weapon in the hands of drivers who don't get a toss about cyclists and other vulnerable road users.

The Echo ran an article about Hampshire plods starting these checks and the online responses were often laughable... Instead of writing about close passing, it was all about cyclists and Road Tax; red light jumping; insurance etc.! :?

http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/1507017 ... too_close/

We should not need to spend ~£100 on a Fly6 to feel safe on the road, but going on a few cases highlighted on here in recent years where footage was submitted by the cyclist, I have no faith in the legal system prosecuting these numpties that regard cyclists as acceptable casualties of the commuting war. :evil:

wolfsbane2k

NitrousOxide wrote:

Wolfsbane2k wrote:

Talking to a bunch of local riders today at lunch implies that despite it being half term, the amount & closeness of close passes has been horrific this week.
4 of them walked off to buy fly6 cameras.
This is not what cycling should be like.

Our local police forces are supposed to be now following in the footsteps of West Midlands Police forces, sending out plain clothes plods on bikes and getting anyone who passes them within 1.5 metres pulled over by other plod members.

As to what penalties they are dishing out, or whether it's simply a slap on the wrist, I've no idea.

I'd love to let the police have powers to confiscate cars for say a month for first offence, longer for further offences, to make these morons realise that having a car is a privilege and not a right. A car and other motor vehicles are potentially a deadly weapon in the hands of drivers who don't get a toss about cyclists and other vulnerable road users.

The Echo ran an article about Hampshire plods starting these checks and the online responses were often laughable... Instead of writing about close passing, it was all about cyclists and Road Tax; red light jumping; insurance etc.! :?

http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/1507017 ... too_close/

We should not need to spend ~£100 on a Fly6 to feel safe on the road, but going on a few cases highlighted on here in recent years where footage was submitted by the cyclist, I have no faith in the legal system prosecuting these numpties that regard cyclists as acceptable casualties of the commuting war. :evil:

Yep, I know. Supposedly spring they are launching, with all the current need coverage being to educate the driver's. Like that'll work.
I've actually seen some significantly better driver in general recently around me, but I tend to be a bit more vehicluar cyclist riding style, but there appears to be a very aggressive backlash by some who seem afronted by the idea, so are deliberately driving closer..

Comments on the daily echo and Portsmouth news about the events are just hysterical, if only it wasn't so frigging dangerous.

No, £100 should not have to be spent, and it's not always for the criminality of the event as much as I would like it to get,, but the insurance side if it...

rhodrich

Opened kit bag this morning, to find that I'd packed my 6 year old daughter's socks, rather than my own. Currently wearing my cycling socks at my desk, feeling a bit soggy.....

timothyw

Managed to drop one of the photochromic lenses out of my glasses this morning while shoving them in my back pocket. Went back to look for it, no sign :-(

They were relatively cheap from Planet X a year or two back, but they were good glasses.

kingstongraham

NitrousOxide wrote:

I'd love to let the police have powers to confiscate cars for say a month for first offence, longer for further offences, to make these morons realise that having a car is a privilege and not a right. A car and other motor vehicles are potentially a deadly weapon in the hands of drivers who don't get a toss about cyclists and other vulnerable road users.

Given the story last week about a couple of drivers who have managed to accumulate over 60 points on their licence without getting a driving ban (it's supposed to be a ban at 12), I would be surprised if that being available as a punishment made any difference.

wolfsbane2k

KingstonGraham wrote:

NitrousOxide wrote:

I'd love to let the police have powers to confiscate cars for say a month for first offence, longer for further offences, to make these morons realise that having a car is a privilege and not a right. A car and other motor vehicles are potentially a deadly weapon in the hands of drivers who don't get a toss about cyclists and other vulnerable road users.

Given the story last week about a couple of drivers who have managed to accumulate over 60 points on their licence without getting a driving ban (it's supposed to be a ban at 12), I would be surprised if that being available as a punishment made any difference.

They "kinda" already have these powers - S56 I think it is, but requires 2 "events" to take the car, and it doesn't have to go to court either.
The number with >12 points is the the MoJ, not the police...

MrSweary

To the muppet in the d*ck replacement BMW who revved up and tooted behind me this morning because you thought I was holding you up. You were right to look sheepish when I caught you at the next lights and pointed out that my rear light was a camera, especially as you were driving with one hand as you held a cup of steaming coffee in the other. C*ckwomble.

rick_chasey

Once upon a time if my bike broke I could take it to the nearest bike shop and they'd fix it the same day.

Earliest time I can get my bike looked at is Thursday.

F*ck cycling's popularity. It's just makes the whole thing more of a ballache.

j_mcd

Rick Chasey wrote:

Once upon a time if my bike broke I could take it to the nearest bike shop and they'd fix it the same day.

Earliest time I can get my bike looked at is Thursday.

F*ck cycling's popularity. It's just makes the whole thing more of a ballache.

Not even here: http://www.londonbicycle.com/

Guess it depends on your location but I've never had a problem with getting my bike sorted out on the day. And I rate their work as well.

Ben6899

Bring it to me, Rick.

vpnikolov

Rick - London Cycle Workshop.

http://www.thelondoncycleworkshop.co.uk/

It is not exactly where you live, but I use them quite a bit. They are amazing! And not that busy as well.

mattsaw

vpnikolov wrote:

Rick - London Cycle Workshop.

http://www.thelondoncycleworkshop.co.uk/

It is not exactly where you live, but I use them quite a bit. They are amazing! And not that busy as well.

I'll second that.

I user the Hammersmith one and they almost always sort stuff out the same day