Back to the car for me from January....

gtvlusso

Yes, sadly my commuter boots will be locked away in the cupboard under the stairs for a period of time, thankfully January, February and March.

As I have a pregnent wife I will be on red alert for the arrival of gtvlusso junior (of the female kind!) - hence I will be driving the old car back and forth to work. As I have done very little car driving in the last 10 years, I am an awful driver!

Give me some tips and hints that will keep me from causing chaos to my cyclist brethren - you know the sort of thing: make space to let cyclists keep moving on hills!

Thought a list of helpful stuff from you guys (aww you guys!), may be...well, helpful!

I now have the exciting conundrum of buying a second car again....do I upgrade the old BMW to a Nissan X Trail or keep the old BMW estate and get a small car like a Toyota iq.....answers on a postcard! Or get an X Trail and an Iq.....?!?!?!/

DonDaddyD

Can't you get a tandem, or a 'pregnant wife carrying pannier' or a trailer... :shock:

Why must you go for a four-wheel-drive-suv type hybrid. It's still a hybrid and recieves as much scorn as the bicycle counterpart.

My only other comment is when at the lights, wait three seconds for the cyclist to move off first. Never just go with the cyclist. Annoys the hell out of me when motorists do that.

bigmat

Congratulations!

But why stop biking? I cycled home from work faster than ever before when my wife went into labour, way quicker than driving or the tube would have been (but maybe that's just London?)

secretsam

Keep the beemer if it's decent, from a CO2 perspective a well-maintained old car may use more juice and pollute more than a new car, but the CO2 impact of production of a new car (especially the Toyota Pious) is massive.

Car wise - treat the bikes like another car, give them plenty of space, be courteous, and watch your blind side

Re-kids: congratulations, do you have other jr GTVs or is this no.1?

el_presidente

I kept cycling too although considerately she went into labour on a Saturday

mudcovered

gtvlusso wrote:

Give me some tips and hints that will keep me from causing chaos to my cyclist brethren - you know the sort of thing: make space to let cyclists keep moving on hills!

Just use all those observational skills that have kept you from getting flattened on the bike.
The big one I forget after a long time with little driving is to do regular mirror checks. :oops:
Basically don't let the metal box shut you off from the world too much and you are already ahead of the curve compared to some drivers.

Mike

DonDaddyD

Oh yes and Congratulations!

I would be mighty scared being the boy/girl/person who attempts to date your daughter... you might just stuff'em in your car drive em to the nearest supermarket and throw'em in the bin....

Seriously, Congratulations!

Gussio

MatHammond wrote:

Congratulations!

But why stop biking? I cycled home from work faster than ever before when my wife went into labour, way quicker than driving or the tube would have been (but maybe that's just London?)

+1 for sticking with the bike. Missus packed me off to work back in July with "minor twinges" only to call me back within 5mins of getting to my desk because the twinges had developed into full blown contractions! The ride back home was excellent - legs still stretched out from the ride in and adreneline pumping like crazy. Little baby girl arrived later that morning.

You will hate being in the car.

cjcp

Think Greg66 has a story about this...

Kept cycling when no. 2 came along (wasn't doing it when no. 1 was due), but it's quicker than the train. OT, but the good lady wife went into labour as I was cleaning the bike on a Saturday night ready for a ride the following morning. Obviously.

bigmat

cjcp wrote:

Think Greg66 has a story about this...

Kept cycling when no. 2 came along (wasn't doing it when no. 1 was due), but it's quicker than the train. OT, but the good lady wife went into labour as I was cleaning the bike on a Saturday night ready for a ride the following morning. Obviously.

Did you still go on the ride?! :twisted:

gtvlusso

I am on gtvlusso jr no. 3 - though my 2 other are with a previous g/f - an exotic lifestyle one might say!

The SUV is a bit of an excuse if I am honest.....the BMW gets so full with Wilma, other kids + luggage when going away on hols or to the parents, a car seat + buggy is gonna be another load to lug! Hence a big truck type thing to carry everything about in!!

As for the labour stuff, I am a bit "reckless" on the bicycle and it would be just my luck for wife of to go into labour and I have a bloody accident on the bicycle! So, I will trust my judgement in the car!!

gtvlusso

Cheers for all the congrats! It is gonna be a beautiful day very near my birthday!

prawny

Prawny Jnr No 2 is due on the 29th Jan too, I'm going to keep on riding until I get called away, can't afford to lose the miles on the stats race :twisted: I've got a child seat fitted to my MTB so I can 'take the eldest out of the way' while I'm on pat leave.

I explained this to Mrs Prawny as that if she calls just after a train has gone I'll be waiting around for 30 mins for the next one 8)

Wooliferkins

This guys thread is worth thinking about. We see what we are looking for at junctions. Once , twice, bike I think is the old public info film thing. Congrats. Kiddie back tandem+tag along+trailer! Family transport.

Wooliferkins

A few big pillows and a Goretex blanket I bet you can get Mrs gtv around in this.

gtvlusso

Could weld the old rusty wheel barrow to the fixie bars?!

cjcp

MatHammond wrote:

cjcp wrote:

Think Greg66 has a story about this...

Kept cycling when no. 2 came along (wasn't doing it when no. 1 was due), but it's quicker than the train. OT, but the good lady wife went into labour as I was cleaning the bike on a Saturday night ready for a ride the following morning. Obviously.

Did you still go on the ride?! :twisted:

But the conversation on the Saturday night in question went something like this:

Wife: something's happening.
Me (fettling at the time and getting the gear ready): You're kidding me?

It was two weeks before the Dragon Ride.

EDIT: GTV - yes, congrats!

Wooliferkins

Wood's warmer and more aesthetically pleasing

Kieran_Burns

back behind the wheel after 10 years? I'd phone up a local Driving Instructor and ask for a refresher course.

Get some professional advice and help, you'll also get live feedback from someone who knows and can show you while you drive.

gtvlusso

Rusty wheel barrow helps with immune system build up.......quite lterally!

Flasheart

MatHammond wrote:

cjcp wrote:

Think Greg66 has a story about this...

Kept cycling when no. 2 came along (wasn't doing it when no. 1 was due), but it's quicker than the train. OT, but the good lady wife went into labour as I was cleaning the bike on a Saturday night ready for a ride the following morning. Obviously.

Did you still go on the ride?! :twisted:

Yeah ..about nine months previously :twisted:

I'll get me coat

redvee

In the week leading up to the birth date drop her off at the hospital on the way to work, just round the corner from home, and hope they don't phone your mobile if it's on the Orange network
Your driving skills seemed OK to me when we went to RP, it was my navigational skils that let the side down :oops: . In all honesty try a few local driving schools and see if they can offer refresher courses as the driving test has changed dramatically since you got your licence.

tailwindhome

GTVLusso in a car :shock:

It won't last a week