Your rants here.

wolfsbane2k

New bike arrives at the lbs, but it's chipped, and it'll be another circa 2 months before another is available. Hmm

rhodrich

Boiler has broken down, just as the weather's getting a bit chilly. Family have had to huddle round the fire in the Living Room, as if in a scene from a Charles Dickens book.

Guess who never got round to ordering more wood for for the wood store this summer........

slowbike

peeled off from the club ride for the 3 mile ride home - all going fine until the final mile - when some idiot decides to tailgate me - (felt like) 1ft from my rear wheel and we're doing ~20mph ... not had that behaviour for a long time - yes I did raise my voice ... just a little!

drhaggis

Brexit means brexit. 25mm does not mean 25mm. It's easy, really, 0.025 times the distance light travels in 1/299792458 seconds.There is this place in Teddington, just north of Bushy Park, where people might know a thing or two about it.

I might have ranted about the Crud Roadracers MkIII not fitting my bike + Michelin Pro4 Endurance v2. Well, I got giant's own mudguards for my Defy but, Alas, after an hour fiddling it was clear that the tolerances of _everything_ were slightly off, and that, with my ability, I wasn't going to be able to fit these things properly in a reasonable amount of time. Bugger.

awavey

why is it whenever local media outlets are presented a fairly straightforward thing like OperationClosePass, dont overtake cyclists too close, when they report it back it inevitably descends into that nonsense world of equivalence about if we are going to lecture motorists about not trying to kill/maim cyclists, we must also stop and educate cyclists into using PPE as well...because thats fair right :evil:

gbsahne001

idiot in a Range Rover overtakes me directly in the path of an oncoming car; both the car and I had to stop in order to let f*ckwit through, rather than have a head on or be squished against the side of the road respectively.

2 more close passes for the rest of the journey but none as notable as the first.

wolfsbane2k

awavey wrote:

why is it whenever local media outlets are presented a fairly straightforward thing like OperationClosePass, dont overtake cyclists too close, when they report it back it inevitably descends into that nonsense world of equivalence about if we are going to lecture motorists about not trying to kill/maim cyclists, we must also stop and educate cyclists into using PPE as well...because thats fair right :evil:

Which show was that on? I'm trying to grab a copy of any coverage of this weeks #bikesmart campaign from brake.

dinyull

People who don't know how lucky they are.

Son was rushed into hospital this weekend via ambulance. Ambulance was there in a matter of minutes and got him to hospital in no time at all.

All is good with the little man, viral infection caused a fit putting the sh*ts up us!!!

Anyway, when the Dr's had seen him we were in a ward waiting for son to "provide" urine sample there was another family with son at similar age (1). They were complaining to all and everyone about the dr's, the hospital etc.

Their son had been left unsupervised and burnt the palms of his hands on a radiator. I don't like to judge, but they were like a shameless family - nothing was their fault, complaining the Dr's wouldn't bandage his hands up asking how they were meant to keep his hands clean. HOW ABOUT SOME F*CKING PARENTING!!!

And then to top it off, as we were leaving the hospital there is a panda police car, police van, security guards to protect Dr's and Nurses and a few drunken f*ckwits sat drunk spitting away at the entrance. I wanted to kick them in the balls.

Here is a service that jumped into action at the drop of a hat to help us out when we needed it most, in the same week that my dad started chemo and you have a load of louts that don't know they have it f*cking made.

Hospital isn't the place for good times anyway, but always leave raging because there is always a load of cretins that deserve none of it.

slowbike

Dinyull wrote:

viral infection caused a fit putting the sh*ts up us!!!

It's not nice when that happens - and it's almost impossible to remain rational - thank god for our NHS - specifically the Paramedics & A&E staff

dinyull

Slowbike wrote:

Dinyull wrote:

viral infection caused a fit putting the sh*ts up us!!!

It's not nice when that happens - and it's almost impossible to remain rational - thank god for our NHS - specifically the Paramedics & A&E staff

Apparently it's fairly common (4 in 10 children the paramedic told us), but we'd not heard of it before and can't pretend we weren't both thinking the worst - especially as he suffered with apnoea during the episode.

They were all magnificent.

gbsahne001

Dinyull wrote:

Slowbike wrote:

Dinyull wrote:

viral infection caused a fit putting the sh*ts up us!!!

It's not nice when that happens - and it's almost impossible to remain rational - thank god for our NHS - specifically the Paramedics & A&E staff

Apparently it's fairly common (4 in 10 children the paramedic told us), but we'd not heard of it before and can't pretend we weren't both thinking the worst - especially as he suffered with apnoea during the episode.

They were all magnificent.

Must be a virus doing the rounds, we were almost at the point of calling an ambulance, night before last owing to a croup type cough and our 4 yo's inability to breathe.

cruff

Dinyull wrote:

People who don't know how lucky they are.

Son was rushed into hospital this weekend via ambulance. Ambulance was there in a matter of minutes and got him to hospital in no time at all.

All is good with the little man, viral infection caused a fit putting the sh*ts up us!!!

Anyway, when the Dr's had seen him we were in a ward waiting for son to "provide" urine sample there was another family with son at similar age (1). They were complaining to all and everyone about the dr's, the hospital etc.

Their son had been left unsupervised and burnt the palms of his hands on a radiator. I don't like to judge, but they were like a shameless family - nothing was their fault, complaining the Dr's wouldn't bandage his hands up asking how they were meant to keep his hands clean. HOW ABOUT SOME F*CKING PARENTING!!!

And then to top it off, as we were leaving the hospital there is a panda police car, police van, security guards to protect Dr's and Nurses and a few drunken f*ckwits sat drunk spitting away at the entrance. I wanted to kick them in the balls.

Here is a service that jumped into action at the drop of a hat to help us out when we needed it most, in the same week that my dad started chemo and you have a load of louts that don't know they have it f*cking made.

Hospital isn't the place for good times anyway, but always leave raging because there is always a load of cretins that deserve none of it.

Yeah. I've had some pretty awful experiences with the NHS - it's not the perfect system a lot of its idealistic proponents make it out to be, by any means - but some of the absolute scum that misuse and abuse it want stringing up. Ex partner was rushed to hospital with a kidney infection at the beginning of the year (she only has one fully functional kidney, so it's a potentially life-threatening condition for her). She waited eighteen hours for a bed and during the six hours I waited with her initially I saw the absolute dregs of society abusing staff, patients, coppers, paramedics and anyone else within earshot (Wigan truly is the arse end of the universe)

I'm always reminded of the Only Fools & Horses episode where Del Boy plants Phil Cornwell - I think that scene striks a chord with anyone who's been in A&E during the evening...

rick_chasey

Yes I have had limited experience of the NHS and beyond the GP surgery it’s been patchy, but my last recent stint in hospital (not for me) is worthy of a rant.

Basically lack of care and the wrong priorities turning a minor problem into a major one.

shirley_basso

Rick Chasey wrote:

Yes I have had limited experience of the NHS and beyond the GP surgery it’s been patchy, but my last recent stint in hospital (not for me) is worthy of a rant.

Basically lack of care and the wrong priorities turning a minor problem into a major one.

Assuming this is for what I think it is, I'm really sorry to hear that. Hope all is ok / better now.

elbowloh

I have always loved the NHS, I will defend the principle of a health service that is free at the point of use till the day I die and am vehemently opposed to privatisation.

However, I have had a bad experience with the service this year, leading ultimately to the passing away of my mum earlier this year. She was fobbed off for months by her GP, saying she just had a cough, before finally being diagnosed with the big C. When she did finally get treatment, it was too late really and had spread. Some of the staff in her ward did not understand her treatment, thinking it was chemotherapy when it was in fact a form of immuno-therapy. This lead to them stopping her meds for a crucial few days when she became ill with something else, when there was no need to.

There is no excuse to abuse staff however who are pretty-much all just doing their best in often pretty shitty circumstances.

cruff

elbowloh wrote:

I have always loved the NHS, I will defend the principle of a health service that is free at the point of use till the day I die and am vehemently opposed to privatisation.

However, I have had a bad experience with the service this year, leading ultimately to the passing away of my mum earlier this year. She was fobbed off for months by her GP, saying she just had a cough, before finally being diagnosed with the big C. When she did finally get treatment, it was too late really and had spread. Some of the staff in her ward did not understand her treatment, thinking it was chemotherapy when it was in fact a form of immuno-therapy. This lead to them stopping her meds for a crucial few days when she became ill with something else, when there was no need to.

There is no excuse to abuse staff however who are pretty-much all just doing their best in often pretty sh!tty circumstances.

Sorry for your loss

That is, literally, the exact same experience a friend from my club had this year. His mum spent months being fobbed off, then being sent for a scan (the wrong type of scan) before finally going private and being given three months (in the end it was less)

Still better than being held to ransom your entire life, like in the US

slowbike

Whilst I generally rate the NHS - this is as a whole - and not on the individual level.
We have a GP we actively avoid. He contradicts NHS guidance, asks us (the parents) what we think the illness is, advocates doing nothing - without giving reason for non-action - basically, fob off.
Conversely, the nurse we saw (at the GP surgery) for the little man's flu shot did a diabetes check for him after we reported his drinking habits (massive intake previous days) - quick easy & no fuss (she suggested the test - not us) - fortunately, clear.
NHS at an individual level does really depend on who you get ...

seajays

Slowbike wrote:

NHS at an individual level does really depend on who you get ...

I think that applies in every walk of life, and is certainly not limited to the NHS!

veronese68

elbowloh wrote:

There is no excuse to abuse staff however who are pretty-much all just doing their best in often pretty sh!tty circumstances.

Couldn't agree more.

awavey

Wolfsbane2k wrote:

Which show was that on? I'm trying to grab a copy of any coverage of this weeks #bikesmart campaign from brake.

ITV news Anglia
https://www.itv.com/news/anglia/update/ ... ide-berth/

Also popped up in the EDP https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/norfolk-po ... -1-5786274

wolfsbane2k

awavey wrote:

Wolfsbane2k wrote:

Which show was that on? I'm trying to grab a copy of any coverage of this weeks #bikesmart campaign from brake.

ITV news Anglia
https://www.itv.com/news/anglia/update/ ... ide-berth/

Also popped up in the EDP https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/norfolk-po ... -1-5786274

:? :evil: :roll:

wolfsbane2k

Went to fit panniers to the 3 day old diverge ready for it's first commute. Of course that doesn't work because specialised use their own "hidden" mudguard mounts, meaning you have to buy their mudguard sets which include the adaptors, and instead, the shop have used the rack mounts slots to fit the mudguards.

undo the mudguards mounts and realise the shop haven't fitted washers between the guards and the frame, so it's scratched & chipped all around the mounts.

Take pictures in annoyance, and then twig i don't have long enough bolts to mount panniers and guards onto the same mount.

FFS.

Fit the rack (with washers) and take the rear guard off fully.
Can't seem tobuy the adaptor set by itself

elbowloh

Wolfsbane2k wrote:

Went to fit panniers to the 3 day old diverge ready for it's first commute. Of course that doesn't work because specialised use their own "hidden" mudguard mounts, meaning you have to buy their mudguard sets which include the adaptors, and instead, the shop have used the rack mounts slots to fit the mudguards.

undo the mudguards mounts and realise the shop haven't fitted washers between the guards and the frame, so it's scratched & chipped all around the mounts.

Take pictures in annoyance, and then twig i don't have long enough bolts to mount panniers and guards onto the same mount.

FFS.

Fit the rack (with washers) and take the rear guard off fully.
Can't seem tobuy the adaptor set by itself

...and complaint made to bike shop?

N0bodyOfTheGoat

Pretty poor tbh for a ~£1k bike, IIRC the bike came with other paint chips too, hope you receive some substantial compensation!

drhaggis

After Crud mudguards didn't clear 105 brakes + Michelin tires, I bought Giant's own mudguards from LBS. Tried to unscrew front brake. Hex-key twisted like a candy bar. Unscrewed rear brake. Tolerances too tight with Pro4 Endurance v2. CBA'd, so I call my LBS. LBS manages to ruin another hex key, and calls me
"About those mudguards..."
Yes? [Suspecting the worst]
"Ruined hex key. The front brake long washer has seized and is bonded to the bolt. Didn't even try the rear. There are some clip-on half mudguards you might be interested..."
[I see where this is going]

Whatever. Since I bought the mudguards from the LBS, they offered to take them back, so I'd only pay the difference for SKS Raceblades. Overall, not such a great deal, but I'd rather keep them in business than those haribo-saving online retailers.

Now, when I have some spare time, let's see if the third set of mudguards actually works, or if the farking michelins will have me ranting all about 25mm again. I mean, how hard could this be?

dinyull

DrHaggis wrote:

Now, when I have some spare time, let's see if the third set of mudguards actually works, or if the farking michelins will have me ranting all about 25mm again. I mean, how hard could this be?

You mean 27mm haha?

What is it with tyre sizes being wrong? I know it's only a couple of mm, but sh*t it's almost 10%. Having similar issues with "28mm" conti's at the minute and don't want to buy replacements from a competitor only to fit them and realise they are bigger than advertised. Again.

redvee

Bike tried to leave for work before me as I left the flat today. Got the bike out of the door and leaned it against the wall whilst I locked up as I locked the door the bike was going down the stairs, luckily only two steps before hitting the wheelie bin on the landing. A quick check and all looked to be good but as soon as I started riding I could hear mudguard rub so fettled that back as good as I could at the next red light.

tgotb

Dinyull wrote:

DrHaggis wrote:

Now, when I have some spare time, let's see if the third set of mudguards actually works, or if the farking michelins will have me ranting all about 25mm again. I mean, how hard could this be?

You mean 27mm haha?

What is it with tyre sizes being wrong? I know it's only a couple of mm, but sh*t it's almost 10%. Having similar issues with "28mm" conti's at the minute and don't want to buy replacements from a competitor only to fit them and realise they are bigger than advertised. Again.

The trick is to choose a frame that will work with mudguards, rather than a set of mudguards that will work (just) with your frame. There's a good 1cm clearance all the way round my tyres, with the added benefit that the mudguards catch all the water sprayed off the wheels rather than just catching most of it...

timothyw

Amazon.... fire TV stick 4k I ordered at the weekend wasn't going to show up until late next week so I ordered one for click and collect elsewhere, collecting today - figured if I like it then I'll have both, otherwise I'll cancel the amazon order.

Got the dispatch note from Amazon today.

Well, if I don't like it, someone might be getting one for Christmas....

Anyone want to buy a Fire tv 4k for £35?

Wonder when the Echo dot (due in January) will actually appear...

drhaggis

TGOTB wrote:

Dinyull wrote:

DrHaggis wrote:

Now, when I have some spare time, let's see if the third set of mudguards actually works, or if the farking michelins will have me ranting all about 25mm again. I mean, how hard could this be?

You mean 27mm haha?

What is it with tyre sizes being wrong? I know it's only a couple of mm, but sh*t it's almost 10%. Having similar issues with "28mm" conti's at the minute and don't want to buy replacements from a competitor only to fit them and realise they are bigger than advertised. Again.

The trick is to choose a frame that will work with mudguards, rather than a set of mudguards that will work (just) with your frame. There's a good 1cm clearance all the way round my tyres, with the added benefit that the mudguards catch all the water sprayed off the wheels rather than just catching most of it...

Hindsight, 20/20, and all that. If I could tell my younger self how to buy my first road bike useful for commuting, I'd insist on mudguards from the get go and disc brakes. Trust me, it is no fun trying to brake downhill, on the cobbles, when your rims are full of mud from the shittiest roads in the world.