The Tyne and Wear Commuter Thread

Long_Time_Lurker

The commutes have been pretty good and I haven't been caught up in any horrendous storms (maybe I got lucky - or my memory is failing).
However, the trails have remained wet all year. In the last 4 or 5 years we always had a couple of months where the trails were bone dry.
I haven't bothered taking the mud tyres off of one of my bikes this year. Last year I swapped the tyres 3 times.

Initialised

Captain Slackbladder wrote:

Bit of a chill in the air this morning...just about got away without the lights at 06-45. Dont recall a day last year when the conditions prevented a commute? More of the same this autum/winter please.

There is a cure for this weak mindedness, they are known a Schwalbe Winters/Ice Spikers/Snow Studs last time I checked Start Cycles had them in stock.

Bring on the snow!

Long_Time_Lurker

Initialised wrote:

Bring on the snow!

I second that motion!
I bought some in the summer 2 years ago becuase they were stupidly cheap.
Haven't needed to use them yet...

xbnm

Had my winters a few years were most useful 2011 and 2012. Its surreal cycling past people on sheet ice when there struggling to stand up.

Had them on a couple times last year just as a precaution the start and end of my Friday commute can be significantly different weather wise (Washington isnt Stanley) . The one thing they definitely do is give you some good winter training with a 700c tyre weighing nearly a kilo.

markhewitt1978

Been a bit concerned about what they are doing with the Northlands Roundabout in Chester-le-Street for a while. Seems my concerns were justified http://cyclingsouthtyne.blogspot.co.uk/ ... paint.html

xbnm

Since the start of the works i've been using the road only to cross the roundabout, the new cycling infrastructure is quite frankly rubbish, and dangerous in places. The cycle lane south bound with the give ways that leads to traffic light poles on the corner both black are quite frankly crazy if not downright dangerous in the dark. Its virtually impossible to use the paths in any case till the traffic lights are actually functioning. Might reassess then but i feel a damn sight safer on the road.

The same householders that now have give ways at the end of their drives would be the same ones that frequently blocked the previous infrastructure by parking on it

jongooligan

Initialised wrote:

Bring on the snow!

Give your head a shake man! Snow is OK on Christmas cards and in the Alps. It shouldn't be allowed anywhere else.

Initialised

markhewitt1978 wrote:

Been a bit concerned about what they are doing with the Northlands Roundabout in Chester-le-Street for a while. Seems my concerns were justified http://cyclingsouthtyne.blogspot.co.uk/ ... paint.html

Routes like that are for new cyclists, kids and leisure riders. They are a place to ride until you're fast enough and confident enough to ride in traffic.

I haven't been down that way for a few weeks, stick to the road, when it's busy you'll be as fast as the other traffic anyway. Nothing compels a cyclist to use cycle lanes (especially when they are designed to slow cyclists rather than slow traffic) and if you're travelling over 18mph most cycle paths become dangerous.

In the mean time I suggest reporting each obstacle on the path as a hazard using Fill That Hole. Then when some one does bust a wheel or a bone the council may rethink their cycle calming measures.

Initialised

jongooligan wrote:

Initialised wrote:

Bring on the snow!

Give your head a shake man!

That'll make dandruff not snow!

jongooligan

Initialised wrote:

jongooligan wrote:

Initialised wrote:

Bring on the snow!

Give your head a shake man!

That'll make dandruff not snow!

Initialised

XBNM wrote:

Since the start of the works i've been using the road only to cross the roundabout

So why change once the works are finished if it doesn't get you where you want to go any faster?

xbnm

Prior to the works i would not have considered using the road at peak times the east west traffic was too fast and the roundabout entrance spacing too close and had too much a direct route allowing quick acceleration to excess speeds for cars due to the layout off peak it wasn't so bad.

Future use all depends on how it all works when the works are completed, the giveway going north before the roundabout makes me nervous the viewing isn't great and has a pinch point then two lanes of traffic crossing and merging into 3 in a relatively short space a lot will depend on how it works in practice here and what effect the lights create when they are eventually operational. Southbound i will be using the road.

Ultimately though we are talking about how poorly the new segregated features have been implemented for less confident and newer cyclists i perhaps would be still using public transport rather cycling if this roundabout looks they way it does now 5 years ago when i first started commuting by cycle.

jongooligan

XBNM wrote:

at peak times the east west traffic was too fast

Which made it extremely difficult to cross the road using the designated cycling route. Not sure whether the new layout will make this worse.

XBNM wrote:

Ultimately though we are talking about how poorly the new segregated features have been implemented for less confident and newer cyclists i perhaps would be still using public transport rather cycling if this roundabout looks they way it does now 5 years ago when i first started commuting by cycle.

It does now look complicated and I can see how some newbies would be intimidated when trying to navigate through. The new segregated features won't encourage anyone.

On a positive note, I cross this junction twice a day, five days a week so I've seen it evolve over the last few months and it seems that the sight lines have improved (I could be wrong - they may be just the same). At the times I use it (6:15 ish and 3:20 ish) getting through has been a doddle. Approaching from the South it's easy to see in plenty of time whether you are going to have to give way. The main concern here is the traffic coming down the A693 but again you can see what's coming from a long way off and adjust your approach accordingly.
It's a little more difficult approaching from the North and the new filter for C-l-S took some getting used to but I haven't had any real problems here either.

Captain Slackbladder

Well its that time of year - numpties without lights.

06-50 this morning, still fairly dark with fog and rain etc along the A187 Wallsend one young lady with a death wish :roll:

Captain Slackbladder

Well its that time of year - numpties without lights.

06-50 this morning, still fairly dark with fog and rain etc along the A187 Wallsend one young lady with a death wish :roll:

Long_Time_Lurker

Yep - passed 4 cyclists today. Only one had lights. :x

Captain Slackbladder

Nimbys.... :roll:

Hopefully North Tyneside Council will ignore the pitchfork mob....

http://www.newsguardian.co.uk/news/loca ... -1-6834410

Initialised

Why bother, that road is wide enough not to need a cycle lane.

On the other hand don't the residents realise what good cycling infrastructure can do for house prices?

http://theconversation.com/bike-lanes-economic-benefits-go-beyond-jobs-6081 wrote:

The ongoing benefits of bike infrastructure were illustrated in a recent media report which showed that new Sydney cycleways have had a positive effect on property prices. This account indicated that having a bike path right outside your front door increases the value of your house.

Long_Time_Lurker

That's where I live. The aim is to provide safe cycling to the schools in Tynemouth and Cullercoats.
(Although in reality, I think the council are just spending their end of year budgets - they have built a load of cycle paths where no one uses them.)

jongooligan

XBNM wrote:

Prior to the works i would not have considered using the road at peak times the east west traffic was too fast and the roundabout entrance spacing too close and had too much a direct route allowing quick acceleration to excess speeds for cars due to the layout off peak it wasn't so bad.

Future use all depends on how it all works when the works are completed, the giveway going north before the roundabout makes me nervous the viewing isn't great and has a pinch point then two lanes of traffic crossing and merging into 3 in a relatively short space a lot will depend on how it works in practice here and what effect the lights create when they are eventually operational. Southbound i will be using the road.

Ultimately though we are talking about how poorly the new segregated features have been implemented for less confident and newer cyclists i perhaps would be still using public transport rather cycling if this roundabout looks they way it does now 5 years ago when i first started commuting by cycle.

Traffic lights are operational now. This junction is much safer now IMO. The biggest hazard was always joining traffic and this is now controlled by the lights.

It's still complicated and ill thought out but I've no qualms about riding through on the road and ignoring the stupid 'cycle friendly' add ons.

andy9964

Any recommendations for a bike fit around South Tyneside/Newcastle area?
I've been diagnosed with flat feet and a tight ITB, that is causing knee problems. As well as the suggestions for this by my physio, I'd like to get a fit done.
I was looking at somewhere in Newcastle near the Haymarket, earlier in the year, who did a full gait analysis with video review etc followed by the fitting, but I can't seem to find them. Peacocks comes up in the search, and they look like they're in the right area, but there's no mention of cycling on their site
http://www.peacocks.net/podiatry-and-chiropody

Long_Time_Lurker

Bike science in Newton Aycliffe do a retul 3d refit. Haven't used them myself, but know someone who has. Seemed to sort out his back problems after he was 'fitted'.
Not cheap, but is very thorough and uses motion capture.
http://www.bike-science.com/pages/north ... t-bookings

There is a place in Jesmond too...don't know anything about it, but they do Retul:
http://www.physiohaus.co.uk/retul/

deffler

Canny frost going on in Houghton at 6:40am this morning, anyone else enjoy it ?

Long_Time_Lurker

deffler wrote:

Canny frost going on in Houghton at 6:40am this morning, anyone else enjoy it ?

Nope - I'm still in bed 8)
'Working' from home.

xbnm

Yesterday 5C and frosty on the roofs and cars had to get the winter jacket and cap out today 15c and Humid back to a summer jersey isn't our weather great.

Captain Slackbladder

XBNM wrote:

Yesterday 5C and frosty on the roofs and cars had to get the winter jacket and cap out today 15c and Humid back to a summer jersey isn't our weather great.

I'm not compaining, its been great all summer.

Roll on another mild winter...

andy9964

Long Time Lurker wrote:

There is a place in Jesmond too...don't know anything about it, but they do Retul:
http://www.physiohaus.co.uk/retul/

Looks like a good bet, apparently, the guy who runs it is quite well regarded.
Cheers

jomoj

Initialised wrote:

Why bother, that road is wide enough not to need a cycle lane.

You're missing the point a bit here. It might be ok for you but is it ok for an 8 year old to ride to school on, during rush hour? Is it ok for someone who wants or is unable to ride faster than 10mph with a basket of shopping? is it even ok for a family to ride on at the weekend?

If the baseline for cycling safety is the ability and confidence of young, athletic males (which you may or may not be ) then the best we can hope for is the same old crappy painted line in the gutter. Think bigger!

Captain Slackbladder

jomoj wrote:

Initialised wrote:

Why bother, that road is wide enough not to need a cycle lane.

You're missing the point a bit here. It might be ok for you but is it ok for an 8 year old to ride to school on, during rush hour? Is it ok for someone who wants or is unable to ride faster than 10mph with a basket of shopping? is it even ok for a family to ride on at the weekend?

If the baseline for cycling safety is the ability and confidence of young, athletic males (which you may or may not be ) then the best we can hope for is the same old crappy painted line in the gutter. Think bigger!

Pretty much agree.....sometimes it isn't just about 'Roadies'

Initialised

Captain Slackbladder wrote:

jomoj wrote:

Initialised wrote:

Why bother, that road is wide enough not to need a cycle lane.

You're missing the point a bit here. It might be ok for you but is it ok for an 8 year old to ride to school on, during rush hour? Is it ok for someone who wants or is unable to ride faster than 10mph with a basket of shopping? is it even ok for a family to ride on at the weekend?

If the baseline for cycling safety is the ability and confidence of young, athletic males (which you may or may not be ) then the best we can hope for is the same old crappy painted line in the gutter. Think bigger!

Pretty much agree.....sometimes it isn't just about 'Roadies'

Segregation is how you discriminate against second class citizens, whether they happen to be jewish, black, gay or ride a bike.

In that respect there's a case for simply relaxing the rules about pavement cycling. The problem comes when drivers can see a nearby cycle route and expect all people on bikes to use it, thus perpetuating the problem, off road infrastructure has it's place and that is not alongside existing roads, widen the road and make a lane wide Bike Lane. If cars are going too fast for it to be safe for an 8 year old (assuming they've done Cycling Proficiency or Bikeability training) then control the speed and danger imposed by the cars, don't segregate, integrate.

Will the off road path have the same surface quality as the road? Will it get swept as regularly as the road? Will the wet leaves get cleared in autumn? Will it get gritted in the winter and ploughed if it snows? No. Will it get used by dog users and pedestrians in general? Probably. it's a token gesture that compounds the motorist's view that cyclists are second class road users.