Your rants here.

1485486488490491583

Comments

  • slowbike
    slowbike Posts: 8,498
    Driving back home yesterday - couple of young riders came out of the sideroad without looking - I'd already seen them and had anticipated it, so no danger - tooted my horn and suggested they might want to look in future - shortly afterwards the parents were heard to say "look, he's parked over there" ... but carried on ..
    Shame - because you could've come over and talked to me and I would've explained that the kids in front of you need to learn some roadcraft because if they don't, they will get knocked off by someone not anticipating their actions... I wasn't in the vaguest bit "cross" or "angry" at them - they're kids - they need to learn ...
  • inbike
    inbike Posts: 264
    mrfpb wrote:
    When I moved down south, the london "outer fringe" weighting (for a nationally set wage scale) was around 10% of salary. House prices were 100% - 200% more. I doubled my mortgage for a smaller house. I was way better off (from a dispsable income p.o.v.) when I lived in the north east.

    In my field (technical) salaries are more than double in London, and progression is much faster.

    If I had stayed up north I'd have been lucky to earn 2x my starting salary 10 years in. Mote likely I'd have been made redundant in one of the many waves of downsizing that happened at my first employer. More employers in London means more options.

    I wouldn't mind swapping my flat for an authentic castle though, so the north has that going for it :lol:

    So it isn't clear cut.
  • cruff
    cruff Posts: 1,518
    inbike wrote:
    mrfpb wrote:
    When I moved down south, the london "outer fringe" weighting (for a nationally set wage scale) was around 10% of salary. House prices were 100% - 200% more. I doubled my mortgage for a smaller house. I was way better off (from a dispsable income p.o.v.) when I lived in the north east.

    In my field (technical) salaries are more than double in London, and progression is much faster.

    If I had stayed up north I'd have been lucky to earn 2x my starting salary 10 years in. Mote likely I'd have been made redundant in one of the many waves of downsizing that happened at my first employer. More employers in London means more options.

    I wouldn't mind swapping my flat for an authentic castle though, so the north has that going for it :lol:

    So it isn't clear cut.
    Really? I took less than a 25% cut when I moved up here from London, and I'm reasonably high up the food chain technically (which is generally where most of the salary difference is)

    Might make a difference what sector you're in I suppose?
    Fat chopper. Some racing. Some testing. Some crashing.
    Specialising in Git Daaahns and Cafs. Norvern Munkey/Transplanted Laaandoner.
  • inbike
    inbike Posts: 264
    Cruff wrote:
    Really? I took less than a 25% cut when I moved up here from London, and I'm reasonably high up the food chain technically (which is generally where most of the salary difference is)

    Might make a difference what sector you're in I suppose?

    I could probably take an internal move North with this company without a pay cut. But then I wouldn't get a payrise for the next infinity years as I would be "out of band" and no real options for a next step apart from moving back to London.

    I think my field is similar to quite a few others - there are jobs everywhere, but the specialised and well paying jobs are either in London, or with only one employer in the region who can hold you captive on uncompetative wages.

    When I started about 10-15 years ago new grads in the north were on about £20-25k and those in London were on £40-50k. Middle management were on £50k up north, and around £100k in London. I don't think salaries have changed a huge amount since then!
  • rower63
    rower63 Posts: 1,991
    Top tip for you fettlers: don’t pick up your bike by gripping the seat-tube while the rear wheel is spinning fast. OUCH – my knuckles briefly became a brake.
    Dolan Titanium ADX 2016
    Ridley Noah FAST 2013
    Bottecchia/Campagnolo 1990
    Carrera Parva Hybrid 2016
    Hoy Sa Calobra 002 2014 [off duty]
    Storck Absolutist 2011 [off duty]
    http://www.slidingseat.net/cycling/cycling.html
  • First.Aspect
    First.Aspect Posts: 17,189
    inbike wrote:
    Cruff wrote:
    Really? I took less than a 25% cut when I moved up here from London, and I'm reasonably high up the food chain technically (which is generally where most of the salary difference is)

    Might make a difference what sector you're in I suppose?

    I could probably take an internal move North with this company without a pay cut. But then I wouldn't get a payrise for the next infinity years as I would be "out of band" and no real options for a next step apart from moving back to London.

    I think my field is similar to quite a few others - there are jobs everywhere, but the specialised and well paying jobs are either in London, or with only one employer in the region who can hold you captive on uncompetative wages.

    When I started about 10-15 years ago new grads in the north were on about £20-25k and those in London were on £40-50k. Middle management were on £50k up north, and around £100k in London. I don't think salaries have changed a huge amount since then!
    That's pretty extreme I think. In my field also the SE to rest of the world salary differences are at most 20-25%. Perhaps when you were earning £25k up north, you thought the people at the same level as you were earning £50k, but in reality they weren't?
  • kingstonian
    kingstonian Posts: 2,847
    Politely told a woman on a sit-up-and-beg that it looked like she might have a puncture in her back wheel, seeing as it looked completely flat. Was told there was nothing wrong with it.............she pulled away from the lights and you could hear the rim on the Tarmac, so I sodded off up the road thinking at least I'd tried to do a good deed
  • itboffin
    itboffin Posts: 20,064
    if you can wrangle it work in London and live way outside the commuting belt, you need to have a senior enough job that isn't 9to5 clock watcher, able to flexi work or just WFH is a bonus.

    fingers crossed i can find another one
    Rule #5 // Harden The Feck Up.
    Rule #9 // If you are out riding in bad weather, it means you are a badass. Period.
    Rule #12 // The correct number of bikes to own is n+1.
    Rule #42 // A bike race shall never be preceded with a swim and/or followed by a run.
  • Rear wheel has gone, decided to replace with a new wheelset (Gipiemme/PX discs) and upgrade my brakes to TRP Spyres. Forgot to order a spacer for my cassette as the new wheels are 11 speed. Check chain, worn beyond belief, order a new one. Fit spacer (which a nice chap at the PX physical shop gave me for free when I dropped in) and new chain, ride off into the sunset... to find that, of course, the cassette has worn and most sprockets don't work with the new chain.

    So riding with just the three smallest sprockets... good training but hard work and moving off from the lights is tricky!
    FCN 7
    Porridge and coffee - the breakfast of champions
  • shycho
    shycho Posts: 18
    Cycling home today, I must be the odd one out, thinking we drive on the left, so on shared usage paths we'll cycle on the left.
    Everyone coming the opposite way today insisted on either cycling on the right, or swerving violently right to go around me onto a grass verge instead of just simply cycling on the left.
  • andy9964
    andy9964 Posts: 930
    Ar$ehole in an Audi. Started to pull out of a T-junction, decided he couldn't make it and reversed back into my front wheel, Archetypes left a nice 35mm crease in his bumper as he tore off up the road without stopping to check, and are unblemished :D
    Silver lining and all that ............
  • dinyull
    dinyull Posts: 2,979
    Monday night, fettling with the disc brakes on the commuter I notice quite a lot of the nipples on the wheel disintegrated. Covered by warranty so should be ok but will have to commute on the summer best till sorted.

    This morning, few hundred yards from work the freehub on this set of wheels decides it doesn't want to play anymore. This set was ordered a year ago to the day so should be under warranty but will wait to see Planet X's response.
  • wolfsbane2k
    wolfsbane2k Posts: 3,056
    Reflection incident this morning on a down hill section towards some lights. Saw peds pressing the button, started to slow knowing the light was about to go red, and slipped/skidded/wobbled for approx. 10 meters trying to stop without throwing myself over the handlebars, Managed to stop after breaking the line, after the peds had already started walking over.

    Considering the road is a 40mph road, riding down it needs to be done at speed to minimise conflict and is normally ok.
    Going to have to re-consider speed down that road now.

    Peds at the crossing had a "should stop for reds" argument... :groan:

    reviewed video.
    I'd spotted the peds looking to press the button, shoulder and rear checked who was behind me, at which point returning to look forward the lights changed from amber to red. Time for looking over the shoulder & checking for tailgaters? 1 second.
    So that's from Green to Amber to Red in less than a second. That seems incredibly short.
    Intent on Cycling Commuting on a budget, but keep on breaking/crashing/finding nice stuff to buy.
    Bike 1 (Broken) - Bike 2(Borked) - Bike 3(broken spokes) - Bike 4( Needs Work) - Bike 5 (in bits) - Bike 6* ...
  • timothyw
    timothyw Posts: 2,482
    Wiggle taking forever to get my warranty replacement bike in stock. Getting silly now. I'm getting an upgrade of sorts so can't complain too loudly, but has taken about two months and I still don't have a replacement bike....

    Also the in laws 'downsizing' to another house, have accepted a low offer having been on the market for a mere fortnight because they were paranoid about losing the house they've had their eye on.... which has been on the market for ages.

    Will make a phenomenal profit on the transaction of £25k, which will be immediately swallowed by the stamp duty and fees on the new place....
  • DrLex
    DrLex Posts: 2,142
    ^ And that's before the Monster Outlaw starts ordering new carpets and curtains.
    Location: ciderspace
  • awavey
    awavey Posts: 2,368
    shycho wrote:
    Cycling home today, I must be the odd one out, thinking we drive on the left, so on shared usage paths we'll cycle on the left.
    Everyone coming the opposite way today insisted on either cycling on the right, or swerving violently right to go around me onto a grass verge instead of just simply cycling on the left.

    do you walk on the pavement only facing traffic too :wink:

    look on shared split paths Ill invariably be closest to the centre line that separates the footpath from the cycle path, because its the least bumpy section, there arent tree roots or surface breakdown like there is near the verge, and it has the least amount of broken glass and cut bush thorns, and I also get a good visibility on corners, and I dont have people walking into me as the route links up with other paths that people always walk out from and look shocked to actually see a cyclist on a cycle path.

    so when I ride in to work, Id be on the left side of the cycle path, but when I ride home on the same route Ill be on the right.and my view is theres plenty room either side of me for anyone to go past, and I dont see the point in getting too het up about which side people are riding on or passing on, though I do encounter some people who would rather crash and cycle into you than pass you on anything other than their right side
  • slowbike
    slowbike Posts: 8,498
    Quick blast around last night - checking out the Live strava segment feature (30 day premium trial - doesn't cost a penny!) ... did some country lanes - quick descent followed by a pothole, followed by a hiss ...
    Oh well - fortunately it wasn't anywhere dodgy, it was a nice evening and once sorted I still put 3rd best time on the flat "TT" home ... which I'm pleased with considering I did PBs on the hilly bits and the 3rd best time was 1 second behind my PB ... and I've done little training

    Crap - I've just realised that wasn't much of a rant ... :(
  • shycho
    shycho Posts: 18
    awavey wrote:
    shycho wrote:
    Cycling home today, I must be the odd one out, thinking we drive on the left, so on shared usage paths we'll cycle on the left.
    Everyone coming the opposite way today insisted on either cycling on the right, or swerving violently right to go around me onto a grass verge instead of just simply cycling on the left.

    do you walk on the pavement only facing traffic too :wink:

    I walk on the left hand side of the pavement yes. I'm also annoying and if i'm approaching someone and need to get passed them, i'll look over my shoulder to ensure I won't step out in front of a bike/jogger/faster walker.
    awavey wrote:
    look on shared split paths Ill invariably be closest to the centre line that separates the footpath from the cycle path, because its the least bumpy section, there arent tree roots or surface breakdown like there is near the verge, and it has the least amount of broken glass and cut bush thorns, and I also get a good visibility on corners, and I dont have people walking into me as the route links up with other paths that people always walk out from and look shocked to actually see a cyclist on a cycle path.

    so when I ride in to work, Id be on the left side of the cycle path, but when I ride home on the same route Ill be on the right.and my view is theres plenty room either side of me for anyone to go past, and I dont see the point in getting too het up about which side people are riding on or passing on, though I do encounter some people who would rather crash and cycle into you than pass you on anything other than their right side

    This is the rants thread, not the reasonable argument thread. I should clarify that this wasn't a split usage path but a shared usage path with no pre-defined section for cyclists and walkers. So when we have 7-8 ft of nice empty tarmac to cycle along I expect people coming the opposite way to go by on my right and not swerve violently to their right. In much the same way I expect a car coming the opposite direction on the road to follow the same logic.

    I agree with you if I were cycling on a much narrow dedicated cycle path, then life is a lottery and you pass where you can.
  • meanredspider
    meanredspider Posts: 12,337
    Indigo Security - had to rush my daughter into A&E at midnight. All the usual spots outside A&E were full so I used one of the upwards of 20 vacant disabled spots. Came back to park the car properly after she'd been admitted for the night to find a parking ticket from hospital security (Indigo) for parking without a valid permit. Spoke to a security guard who said "They didn't know why I might be parked outside A&E at midnight" FFS!!! Let's just add some stress I don't really need.
    ROAD < Scott Foil HMX Di2, Volagi Liscio Di2, Jamis Renegade Elite Di2, Cube Reaction Race > ROUGH
  • hopkinb
    hopkinb Posts: 7,129
    Indigo Security - had to rush my daughter into A&E at midnight. All the usual spots outside A&E were full so I used one of the upwards of 20 vacant disabled spots. Came back to park the car properly after she'd been admitted for the night to find a parking ticket from hospital security (Indigo) for parking without a valid permit. Spoke to a security guard who said "They didn't know why I might be parked outside A&E at midnight" FFS!!! Let's just add some stress I don't really need.

    B@stards, I used to have to spend a large amount of time at Kingston Hospital, and their "policing" of the carpark was very lenient for precisely the reason that it was very possible that someone would have had a traumatic experience at the hospital, and then find a parking ticket on their windscreen.
  • wolfsbane2k
    wolfsbane2k Posts: 3,056
    Kept hearing a large crick every rotation of the cranks this morning.
    Gave the bike a once over, no dice.
    Decided to test a hypothesis: feet off pedals, "mimicked pedalling. Same rotation spot - crick.
    Right leg only - crick,
    Stopped, got off bike, standing right leg pedal - crick.
    Crick Crick Crick Crick.
    Guess my knees not happy .
    Intent on Cycling Commuting on a budget, but keep on breaking/crashing/finding nice stuff to buy.
    Bike 1 (Broken) - Bike 2(Borked) - Bike 3(broken spokes) - Bike 4( Needs Work) - Bike 5 (in bits) - Bike 6* ...
  • wolfsbane2k
    wolfsbane2k Posts: 3,056
    Indigo Security - had to rush my daughter into A&E at midnight. All the usual spots outside A&E were full so I used one of the upwards of 20 vacant disabled spots. Came back to park the car properly after she'd been admitted for the night to find a parking ticket from hospital security (Indigo) for parking without a valid permit. Spoke to a security guard who said "They didn't know why I might be parked outside A&E at midnight" FFS!!! Let's just add some stress I don't really need.
    Smeg, hope your daughter got the medical attention she needed and is out of hospital again.
    And balls to the parking peeps. Hope a simple email/letter covers it :(
    Intent on Cycling Commuting on a budget, but keep on breaking/crashing/finding nice stuff to buy.
    Bike 1 (Broken) - Bike 2(Borked) - Bike 3(broken spokes) - Bike 4( Needs Work) - Bike 5 (in bits) - Bike 6* ...
  • dinyull
    dinyull Posts: 2,979
    Indigo Security - had to rush my daughter into A&E at midnight. All the usual spots outside A&E were full so I used one of the upwards of 20 vacant disabled spots. Came back to park the car properly after she'd been admitted for the night to find a parking ticket from hospital security (Indigo) for parking without a valid permit. Spoke to a security guard who said "They didn't know why I might be parked outside A&E at midnight" FFS!!! Let's just add some stress I don't really need.

    Might be less stressful to just pay in your situation, but have a word with whoever is on reception on the ward. The Mrs. is a nurse and people get stung all the time at her place, but if the hospital have a word with facilities management that usually does the trick.
  • BobMcbob
    BobMcbob Posts: 104
    My Mavic Aksium rear wheel bit the dust this morning, it's become quite buckled and well over the wear line now. Put in 18 months /6000 miles hard commuting in all weathers, spokes have broken a few times and has been re-trued twice. Disappointed they did not last longer, will go back to the trusted bombproof Shimano RS11s for commuting, these lasted 4 winters last time and were still true.
  • dinyull
    dinyull Posts: 2,979
    Bank holiday weekend full of DIY, starting to get the house ready for the new arrival.

    Set aside 90 mins for the bike on Sunday, so went out with the intention of smashing myself to bits. Just as I was about to turn into the headwind, I hit a bump in the road with enough force to move my rear brake caliper so the rear was stuck on.

    Only, because I was turning into said headwind I didn't really notice the brake was stuck on so kept thinking "f*ck, this headwind is stronger than forecast". 2/3's of the ride done with brake stuck on before noticing, at which point my slower than usual ave speed made sense.

    Still, got a decent workout.
  • meanredspider
    meanredspider Posts: 12,337
    Dinyull wrote:
    Indigo Security - had to rush my daughter into A&E at midnight. All the usual spots outside A&E were full so I used one of the upwards of 20 vacant disabled spots. Came back to park the car properly after she'd been admitted for the night to find a parking ticket from hospital security (Indigo) for parking without a valid permit. Spoke to a security guard who said "They didn't know why I might be parked outside A&E at midnight" FFS!!! Let's just add some stress I don't really need.

    Might be less stressful to just pay in your situation,

    In some ways I'd say yes about just paying but, in a splendid conflict of interest, the security company also run the car parks - so the "security" guy writing me a ticket for parking in the "wrong" place is paid by the same company that will charge me £19 for parking more than 24 hours in the hospital multi-storey. I've paid these guys hundreds of pounds already this year.

    Anyhow, I've appealed the ticket, written to the hospital trust and had a rant at the security manager.
    ROAD < Scott Foil HMX Di2, Volagi Liscio Di2, Jamis Renegade Elite Di2, Cube Reaction Race > ROUGH
  • Man Of Lard
    Man Of Lard Posts: 903
    Clucking bell, don't they do a "deal" for frequent flyers? When my old man was in & out with his cancer he had a free permit from the hospital - had to ask though, they didn't volunteer it.
  • meanredspider
    meanredspider Posts: 12,337
    Clucking bell, don't they do a "deal" for frequent flyers? When my old man was in & out with his cancer he had a free permit from the hospital - had to ask though, they didn't volunteer it.

    Yup - so the best deal is £31.50 for two weeks - we're well over £200. The best daily deal is £3.50 but, if you have to stay over 24 hours, your best deal is a 1-week ticket at £19. There have, of course, been days when we've had two cars in there. It's an expensive business having a sick kid. And, because of her condition, she's not allowed on public transport.

    Of course, none of this takes into account that home is in the north of Scotland where there are no hospitals that could treat her.
    ROAD < Scott Foil HMX Di2, Volagi Liscio Di2, Jamis Renegade Elite Di2, Cube Reaction Race > ROUGH
  • DJFish
    DJFish Posts: 49
    Went for a bit of off-roading at the weekend (but I'm posting on here because I can't be bothered to join another forum), looked down halfway round and noticed bubbling in the lacquer on the top tube of my very new carbon framed MTB.

    However on closer inspection it turned out to be dried on mucus.

    The sore throat I was suffering from then got progressively worse and developed into tonsillitis.

    Got to the walk-in centre and they told me the person in front of me was the last person being seen that day, had a horrible night.

    Went back the next morning and had to wait 5 hours for the only chemist in town to open to get antibiotics.

    Missed my daughter's 4th birthday party as I was too ill/infectious.

    Still at least the paint on the top tube is ok.....
  • dinyull
    dinyull Posts: 2,979
    Attempted to return some wheels to wiggle last night.

    Went to the garage and boxed the wheels, when I came to lock the garage I couldn't find the padlock for love nor money. Pi$$ed about looking and re-tracing my steps for 15 mins before I opened up the box to find it had dropped in there.

    Went to local Post Office, was there at 10 past 6.....closed at 6. Missed because of the chuffing padlock.

    Pop along to another post office, open till 8 hallelujah. Join the cue, and wait for someone to transfer loads of money. Bloke behind the till took an age to count it all. He eventually gets sorted, pop my box to get weight and told box is too big. Explain it's light as a feather but he says it won't fit on the scales. It would if you moved them but he's not having it.

    I wouldn't care but I've posted a bike frame in that shop, only with someone willing to help behind the till.

    And now, by the time Wiggle receive my wheels the increased platinum discount will be over meaning the wheels I was going to replace them with will be more expensive.

    Absolute f*cking mong.