Your rants here.

veronese68

Remember wing mirrors are designed to fold inwards not downwards.
My rant: having had a bike nicked from outside work last summer we got prices for gates over the bike shelter and various other options. Company wouldn’t pay. So I now use my D lock and a big chain I used to use for my motorcycle. Had a call from the MD this afternoon to say a bike had been stolen. Went to his office to look out the window and check cctv and had a moment of panic before I remembered I’d driven in today. Then realised a colleagues Synapse disc had been taken. It was only a couple of minutes earlier so we jumped in the car and went looking for them. Unfortunately to no avail. My bike will be kept inside for the foreseeable.

gbsahne001

gbsahne wrote:

Close pass on a flyover bridge this morning; wing mirror brushed my elbow....gave chase, as I knew they'd get stuck in queuing traffic but they must have turned off.....

the evening ride wasn't any better.....guess I'm wearing my invisibility cloak today

cjcp

anonymousblackfg wrote:

pangolin wrote:

cjcp wrote:

pangolin wrote:

anonymousblackfg wrote:

Quite amazing that he gave you a functioning telephone number!

It is really! I called him as he gave it to me so would have been awkward if not...

You been paid the £62?

Not yet. He finally rang me after his sister in laws insurance got involved. I told him I'd stick with going thorough insurance at that point. Esure were good on the phone, she ran through the incident from my point of view, I provided a couple more images. She said that frankly my account made a lot more sense than the sister's (esp given that by her own admission she wasn't present, and had let someone driver her car uninsured). So, waiting for them to pay me. Apparently only a couple of weeks for such a small claim as they prefer to just clear them off their books, we'll see.

Nice to see how a small easy to settle process for him is turning into a painful mess his end.

If he's uninsured, one for the local constabulary?

cjcp

gbsahne wrote:

gbsahne wrote:

Close pass on a flyover bridge this morning; wing mirror brushed my elbow....gave chase, as I knew they'd get stuck in queuing traffic but they must have turned off.....

the evening ride wasn't any better.....guess I'm wearing my invisibility cloak today

Amazes me how drivers slow down to a crawl for horses because they don't want to startle them and cause injury to the rider, but they don't give the slightest of f**ks about cyclists because, presumably, people aren't startled.

tgotb

cjcp wrote:

Amazes me how drivers slow down to a crawl for horses because they don't want to startle them and cause injury to the rider, but they don't give the slightest of f**ks about cyclists because, presumably, people aren't startled.

I suspect that, on the whole, horse riders and cyclists are probably similarly easily startled. However it's hard to argue that horses aren't nervier than bicycles...

seajays

TGOTB wrote:

cjcp wrote:

Amazes me how drivers slow down to a crawl for horses because they don't want to startle them and cause injury to the rider,

However it's hard to argue that horses aren't nervier than bicycles...

More likely they're worried about their precious car being kicked, or half a tonne of horse dancing on their bonnet.

cjcp

Seajays wrote:

TGOTB wrote:

cjcp wrote:

Amazes me how drivers slow down to a crawl for horses because they don't want to startle them and cause injury to the rider,

However it's hard to argue that horses aren't nervier than bicycles...

More likely they're worried about their precious car being kicked, or half a tonne of horse dancing on their bonnet.

You do wonder, yes.

Fair point from TGOTB. It's just dumb that they think it's ok to pass close to the cyclist.

drhaggis

I must be doing something wrong.

4 weeks after my ligament injury, and after a very tense week at work, decided enough was enough. Weather looked OK, and I deserved a calm ride to the office followed by calm work on the things I actually enjoy. Life had other plans for me.

Just as I left home, I was hit by a sudden shower. 50 meters later, on the first road I had to cross, a blue Passat joining with less priority than me was looking somewhere else and almost wiped me. A bit later, on a shared path on Inverleith Park (near Edinburgh Botanic gardens), on an otherwise empty path, a dog owner decided to throw a ball towards me, and what was probably a spaniel darted towards me, with me still thinking about the passat, and knocked me out of the bike.

I immediately felt pain in my knee, my hip and my shoulder. Was clearly bleeding from left thumb and knee. So yes, I shouted at the owner (female) "It's your fault it's your fault, your dog should be under your control", which then prompted a man to run towards me and abuse me, throw my backpack, and almost throw my phone to the floor. As soon as I called 999, they disappeared, farking hell. No chance I could identify these bastards. And no, I didn't feel well enough to get into my farking bike again, and even less to get hurt by one of those idiots.

Good news? Apparently I have nothing broken other than my pride and my confidence.

Bad news? Wounds on left shoulder, hip and knee. Left little finger is cut, and I still feel pins & needles, so probably some (hopefully minor) nerve damage.
Damaged 1.5 y.o. Castelli Perfetto, with tears on left shoulder.
DHB bib tights with proper ventilation.
Damaged boa dial and fabric on some Bontrager Velocis that were being worn for the farking third time.
Bent left drop on the handlebar.

FFS
FFS

cjcp

Can you remember the dog? Dog owners often take their dogs to the same place at similar times because it's part of the routine, so worth keeping an eye out for it.

drhaggis

cjcp wrote:

Can you remember the dog? Dog owners often take their dogs to the same place at similar times because it's part of the routine, so worth keeping an eye out for it.

Thanks for the advice. I don't want to stray from my routine because of it, in case this could be considered stalking.

The dog seemed a non-memorable cocker spaniel. The owner seemed to me a dark-haired middle aged female, but I was almost immediately harassed by someone taller, wider and not in shock, so I remember the blonde hair and blue eyes of this man in his early thirties better.

I should possibly be happy I'm not seriously hurt.

awavey

cjcp wrote:

Seajays wrote:

TGOTB wrote:

cjcp wrote:

Amazes me how drivers slow down to a crawl for horses because they don't want to startle them and cause injury to the rider,

However it's hard to argue that horses aren't nervier than bicycles...

More likely they're worried about their precious car being kicked, or half a tonne of horse dancing on their bonnet.

You do wonder, yes.

Fair point from TGOTB. It's just dumb that they think it's ok to pass close to the cyclist.

but its so true, it was a few years back now and its probably buried in the archives of rants already, but I just remember being out on this country road when this car close passed within a foot of me who must have been doing at least 60mph, they hadnt slowed up, hadnt given me any room at all,put the absolute fear of god in me, and yet only maybe another 75-100metres up the road was a horse & rider, the same flippin car, spotted the horse slowed to an absolute walking pace crawl, and drove so far over and away from the horse,Im convinced they actually were driving on the verge/bank of the other side of the road, they could only have driven further away from the horse if theyd actually driven into the field next to the road.

and I just thought at the time,thats great you value horses clearly above cyclists then

mtb-idle

Shoot that's terrible. BOA will do a free replacement. They are easy to refit especially as you only need to replace the top cover and not mess around with the internals.

Order online

https://www.boafit.com/support

tgotb

10 years of commuting without a spill, and when I finally get knocked off it's by another cyclist. Grrrrr...

On the positive side the crash caused my front mudguard, which had been very rattly for the last couple of weeks, to detached itself fully from the stays; that provided the impetus to punch out the rivets and replace them, so the bike is now rattle-free.

rhodrich

Rhodrich wrote:

Feeling grim, coughing up my guts, and only managed about 3 hours sleep last night owing to the coughing bouts. Really, really should have taken Rower's advice not to go for a run on Monday lunchtime. My daughter's just had tests for whooping cough, and we're awaiting results. Bl**dy well hope it's not that, both for her, and for me, as that lasts for 3-4 months......
WFH in the meantime, and the whole family have been put on antibiotics as a precaution.

Tests came back positive.

Continuing to cycle, but any attempt to put down the power results in a full on coughing fit (to the extent that I coughed so much that I ended up vomming last night. Grim Grim Grim).

No running possible, and it'll be like this until May at the earliest. They don't call it the 100 day cough for nothing.

jgsi

Lunchtime errands
Major rant at second thoughtless close pass.
Job done at re emphasising drivers' perception of all cyclists being dickheads.
Sorry all.
Wont happen again , I'll just take the 'hit'.

drhaggis

JGSI wrote:

Lunchtime errands
Major rant at second thoughtless close pass.
Job done at re emphasising drivers' perception of all cyclists being dickheads.
Sorry all.
Wont happen again , I'll just take the 'hit'.

It's a lot easier to be a dickhead when the safe way to cycle is to behave like an alpha male every farking single time.

shirley_basso

Rhodrich wrote:

Rhodrich wrote:

Feeling grim, coughing up my guts, and only managed about 3 hours sleep last night owing to the coughing bouts. Really, really should have taken Rower's advice not to go for a run on Monday lunchtime. My daughter's just had tests for whooping cough, and we're awaiting results. Bl**dy well hope it's not that, both for her, and for me, as that lasts for 3-4 months......
WFH in the meantime, and the whole family have been put on antibiotics as a precaution.

Tests came back positive.

Continuing to cycle, but any attempt to put down the power results in a full on coughing fit (to the extent that I coughed so much that I ended up vomming last night. Grim Grim Grim).

No running possible, and it'll be like this until May at the earliest. They don't call it the 100 day cough for nothing.

Anti vax-er?

roger_merriman

!st world problems, the Garmin crashed on the club run, and then wouldn't lock on for 5 miles annoyingly I suspect i may have been faster up one of the local hills chasing fitter club mates up it, ah well.

redvee

Got to the area where work is a little early cause of less traffic on a Sunday so added a 1.5mile detour round the block. As I came to the turn under the railway bridge I could see something not quite right ahead . When I got there it was a fly-tip of two old sofas and other household crap so I parked the bike up and took some arty pics for the local council and had a quick rummage and spotted three torn up letters all addressed to the same company which was a property maintenance company in Bristol. Been reported to the council and pictures emailed off to them too.

pangolin

redvee wrote:

Got to the area where work is a little early cause of less traffic on a Sunday so added a 1.5mile detour round the block. As I came to the turn under the railway bridge I could see something not quite right ahead . When I got there it was a fly-tip of two old sofas and other household crap so I parked the bike up and took some arty pics for the local council and had a quick rummage and spotted three torn up letters all addressed to the same company which was a property maintenance company in Bristol. Been reported to the council and pictures emailed off to them too.

Haha great effort at covering their tracks! I suppose they may have hired someone else who did it.

Knocked on a drivers window asking him to put his phone down (after he sped through a zebra that a woman with a pram was trying to cross). He was fuming

rhodrich

Shirley Basso wrote:

Rhodrich wrote:

Rhodrich wrote:

Feeling grim, coughing up my guts, and only managed about 3 hours sleep last night owing to the coughing bouts. Really, really should have taken Rower's advice not to go for a run on Monday lunchtime. My daughter's just had tests for whooping cough, and we're awaiting results. Bl**dy well hope it's not that, both for her, and for me, as that lasts for 3-4 months......
WFH in the meantime, and the whole family have been put on antibiotics as a precaution.

Tests came back positive.

Continuing to cycle, but any attempt to put down the power results in a full on coughing fit (to the extent that I coughed so much that I ended up vomming last night. Grim Grim Grim).

No running possible, and it'll be like this until May at the earliest. They don't call it the 100 day cough for nothing.

Anti vax-er?

Quite the opposite. My wife's a GP. Apparently, the vaccine is a lot less effective than it used to be, and even if it works, it wears off after about 5 years.

Over 30 kids in my daughter's school have now been confirmed with it - seems to be turning into a bit of an outbreak....

rick_chasey

a year in to owning a car since I don't live in London, I went for a full service (£200) on Friday - needed a new wheel bearing (£250), and MOT (£50). Car is only 4 years old, so have been sold a pup, clearly.

DVLA haven't sent out the reminder letter with the deets required to renew the tax and the other form I need I can't for the life of me find despite not having chucked anything way. (£25 replacement, plus whatever car tax there is).

Just found out someone has keyed my car - 3 panels. Presumably because it was a bit shiny after being cleaned.

shirley_basso

Probably too bling.

£250 in service repairs after 4y is pretty cheap.

slowbike

Service - oil & filters change - check other bits too ... standard cost and you'd expect it.
MOT - yes - if the car is >3yo it needs one.

New wheel bearing - ok - bit unlucky I guess.... depends on the car and how it's been driven.

DVLA tax renewal - you can do it with the V5C - as we discovered when driving up to see family on the last day of the year - to realise that we should've taxed the vehicle and didn't have the letter, but had the V5C doc with us....

Keyed panels - you obviously either live in a dodgy area with kids going round keying cars, or a good area where kids from the dodgy area go round keying cars ...

tgotb

Rick Chasey wrote:

a year in to owning a car since I don't live in London, I went for a full service (£200) on Friday - needed a new wheel bearing (£250), and MOT (£50). Car is only 4 years old, so have been sold a pup, clearly.

DVLA haven't sent out the reminder letter with the deets required to renew the tax and the other form I need I can't for the life of me find despite not having chucked anything way. (£25 replacement, plus whatever car tax there is).

Just found out someone has keyed my car - 3 panels. Presumably because it was a bit shiny after being cleaned.

How many miles has the car done?
How many miles do you typically get out of a bicycle before having to replace one of the bearings? (For the purpose of answering this question, replacing an entire wheel counts as replacing the bearings).

rick_chasey

Car has done 30,000.... since I bought it, about 5,000.

Either way the whole joke has cost me £800 (including annual insurance)to keep it in shape and road legal, before i look at the vandalism...

Feels like a money pit. Whole thing only cost £6,500 (not because it was a pup but mainly because it's a tiny car with an even tinier engine).

shirley_basso

Cars are mentally expensive and it's not straightforward working out what one *should* do (brand new, second hand, bangernomics, finance, HP, PCP etc)

For that money though you could have bought an e-cargo bike as my friend keeps telling me, and has now convinced my wife that we need. We just bought a brand new car. FFS

slowbike

Rick Chasey wrote:

moan moan rant rant

Oh ... it is the right thread

rick_chasey

Shirley Basso wrote:

Cars are mentally expensive and it's not straightforward working out what one *should* do (brand new, second hand, bangernomics, finance, HP, PCP etc)

For that money though you could have bought an e-cargo bike as my friend keeps telling me, and has now convinced my wife that we need. We just bought a brand new car. FFS

I’m not cycling my 6 month old up to Yorkshire!!

slowbike

Shirley Basso wrote:

Cars are mentally expensive and it's not straightforward working out what one *should* do (brand new, second hand, bangernomics, finance, HP, PCP etc)

For that money though you could have bought an e-cargo bike as my friend keeps telling me, and has now convinced my wife that we need. We just bought a brand new car. FFS

Our (or rather my) CarEnomics are - buy a reasonable car - service it once in a while, do the legal stuff required and keep on top of the required repairs - can't complain on my car - can't recall the last service date - it's "over due" - but I intend to keep it until it doesn't run, and it's a diesel - resale is minimal and it does what I need...
Oh - on insurance, keep the miles down to the minimum needed - keeps cost down too