vader
Part of things
Posts: 425
Club RR Member Number: 93
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Updated Highway Codevader
@vader
Club Retro Rides Member 93
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I do think cyclist should have insurance, what happens if one rides into your pride and joy and damages it? Who pays?You? The person who damages it needs to pay, just because you have no insurance policy, it doesn't make you any less liable for damages. Also many serious cyclists have stand alone cover and as I said previously most home policies you are covered for 3rd party damages away from the home. Err, I don’t get that one. I never said anything about a test, conveniently or otherwise. i am actually another disliked road user myself, I’m a biker. Which I did take a test for. Apologies I don't know where the test thing came from, its a usual rant by anti cyclist folks. I am curious though as a biker, whats your problem with the cyclist? Don’t get this one either, I don’t think I said I fund the roads. You said cyclists pay nothing to use the roads, nothing apart from all the tax we pay, same as all the tax you pay and all the tax everyone pays. You don't need to pay anything over and above your taxes to use the public roads mate. If I drive my modern or ride my motorbike with out road tax, or VED as it is now, I’ll be on the road illegally, that was my point. Some one just posted there’s lots of bad tempered car drivers on here, aren’t car drivers allowed a say? Trust me I’ve seen lots of arrogant cyclist on the road by where I live and where I work in London. Yes, I’m tarring all cyclist with the same brush as I’m sure there are decent ones out there, just like car drivers. I’d better leave this thread.
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Triumph Stag Ducati Supersport Shanks’s Pony
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If I drive my modern or ride my motorbike with out road tax, or VED as it is now, I’ll be on the road illegally, that was my point. Some one just posted there’s lots of bad tempered car drivers on here, aren’t car drivers allowed a say? Trust me I’ve seen lots of arrogant cyclist on the road by where I live and where I work in London. Yes, I’m tarring all cyclist with the same brush as I’m sure there are decent ones out there, just like car drivers. I’d better leave this thread. No need to leave the thread, nothing wrong with some healthy debate. You have no need to pay VED for your vehicles, its just that the ones you drive / ride are pollutants so you need to pay the levvy for that, had you chose an EV for example then you wouldn't be paying any VED. A bicycle is a zero emissions vehicle and as such would be VED exempt, same as many other vehicles on the road. Id be willing to bet that there has never been road tax during your lifetime, its been abolished for 84 years now. Tarring all cyclists with the same brush is a very common thing, I don't doubt that there will be some poor cycling in London as there is all over, just as there are bad pedestrians, bat motorcyclists, car drivers etc etc. Truth is that humans are often not very nice people and very selfish, and when engaged in travelling/commuting it brings out the very worst in them. I mean London is/was rife with kids on stolen motorcycles running about throwing acid in folks faces and stealing all their stuff. Do i think that all motorcyclists are subhuman scum who will rob you in the blink of an eye, obviously no.
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Last Edit: Sept 7, 2020 7:10:52 GMT by henspeed
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melle
South West
It'll come out in the wash.
Posts: 1,981
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www.saabv4.com'70 Saab 96 V4 "The Devil's Own V4" '77 Saab 95 V4 van conversion project '88 Saab 900i 8V
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Just to put it out there before I comment. I am a cyclist, I own many bikes. I also have a driving license for both cars and motorcycles.
All those ones you've posted there look more like they're trying to make a point than be an actual usable vehicle. A bike is not the right answer in every situation. You'd be OK if the job you were going to was less than say 10 miles away, but that's not always going to be the case. They also take up more room than a normal bike, so you're not going to be able to filter in traffic. You're going to sit there.
The problem is, although the highway code has been updated, there are still people who think the car is king, despite the car being on the road by privilege and bikes/pedestrians/horses are there by right. Too many people are injured on the road by car drivers not paying attention, or generally not caring about anyone else but themselves in their leased Audi's and Mercedes. Some of these people who are cycling have more important jobs than you and are in just as much as a rush. If getting to work a minute later than you would have done makes that much of a difference, set off earlier. If you're late, you're late. A few minutes isn't going to make that much of a difference.
None of this is a difficult concept really. If there is a cyclist that you absolutely must pass, go fully on the other side of the road. If you can't get on the other side of the road, it's not safe to pass. Some people haven't ridden a bike since they were a child and don't fully grasp what the issues are that cyclists now face. Next time you take a train, stand a bit close when it goes past at speed and see what it feels like. That's what it's like when cars pass too close.
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Last Edit: Sept 7, 2020 8:49:45 GMT by Soopahfly
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melle
South West
It'll come out in the wash.
Posts: 1,981
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All those ones you've posted there look more like they're trying to make a point than be an actual usable vehicle. They work for many plumbers, couriers, window cleaners, painters etc. in cities in e.g. Denmark and the Netherlands (I've seen the odd one in UK cities too). I own three transporter bicycles (a '50s postal service tricylce, a '70s Short John and a '90s Long John) and two trailers. They've done a lot of hauling for me when I still lived in NL. One of the trailers I built myself; it has a detachable box, a detachable bike rack for two upright bikes or recumbents, and an interchangeable extended drawbar and a ladder rack. A bike is not the right answer in every situation. I agree, and I think cars are usually not the right answer in cities, there's just not enough space. You'd be OK if the job you were going to was less than say 10 miles away, but that's not always going to be the case. Of course, but electric assist helps solve that issue. They also take up more room than a normal bike, so you're not going to be able to filter in traffic. You're going to sit there. Yes, as long as the majority still opt for half empty vans. It's a bit of a paradox, but if no one breaks the deadlock nothing will ever change. Fortunately I see more and more delivery work being done by bike here in (hilly) Bath. It's a real shame that some companies, like Royal Mail, give the wrong example by trading in their bike fleet for vans.
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www.saabv4.com'70 Saab 96 V4 "The Devil's Own V4" '77 Saab 95 V4 van conversion project '88 Saab 900i 8V
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Sept 7, 2020 10:00:28 GMT
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All those ones you've posted there look more like they're trying to make a point than be an actual usable vehicle. They work for many plumbers, couriers, window cleaners, painters etc. in cities in e.g. Denmark and the Netherlands (I've seen the odd one in UK cities too). I own three transporter bicycles (a '50s postal service tricylce, a '70s Short John and a '90s Long John) and two trailers. They've done a lot of hauling for me when I still lived in NL. One of the trailers I built myself; it has a detachable box, a detachable bike rack for two upright bikes or recumbents, and an interchangeable extended drawbar and a ladder rack. A bike is not the right answer in every situation. I agree, and I think cars are usually not the right answer in cities, there's just not enough space. You'd be OK if the job you were going to was less than say 10 miles away, but that's not always going to be the case. Of course, but electric assist helps solve that issue. They also take up more room than a normal bike, so you're not going to be able to filter in traffic. You're going to sit there. Yes, as long as the majority still opt for half empty vans. It's a bit of a paradox, but if no one breaks the deadlock nothing will ever change. Fortunately I see more and more delivery work being done by bike here in (hilly) Bath. It's a real shame that some companies, like Royal Mail, give the wrong example by trading in their bike fleet for vans. I've enjoyed doing my smaller shopping by bike while we've had lockdown, It's a slog through as I live in one of the highest places in Sheffield, and the shops are at the bottom of a big hill, although if it doesn't fit in my rucksack, then I have to go in the car. I'd love some sort of E-cargo bike for doing local stuff, but they're still too expensive for what they are IMO, and I've nowhere to keep one and it would get stolen.
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melle
South West
It'll come out in the wash.
Posts: 1,981
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Sept 7, 2020 10:11:53 GMT
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Soopahfly , there are always more reasons for not doing something, than for trying something new. Humans are intrinsically inert it seems, even if they might benefit from change. I have a £400 second hand Raleigh ebike that always lives outside. It's locked to the railings with few decent locks and I take the battery inside, so stealing it would be pointless anyway. It is 10 years old and still has a 20+ mile range, and we have pretty decent hills in and around Bath too.
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www.saabv4.com'70 Saab 96 V4 "The Devil's Own V4" '77 Saab 95 V4 van conversion project '88 Saab 900i 8V
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Sept 7, 2020 11:55:32 GMT
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If getting to work a minute later than you would have done makes that much of a difference, set off earlier. If you're late, you're late. A few minutes isn't going to make that much of a difference. None of this is a difficult concept really. If there is a cyclist that you absolutely must pass, go fully on the other side of the road. If you can't get on the other side of the road, it's not safe to pass. Some people haven't ridden a bike since they were a child and don't fully grasp what the issues are that cyclists now face. Next time you take a train, stand a bit close when it goes past at speed and see what it feels like. That's what it's like when cars pass too close. Thats sums it up perfectly. don't forget, its not the bloody cyclists that made you late for work. Its the fact that you left home too late to make the journey. If you fancy doing it faster, then get a bike, they are magic for cities, and you can work off your titties.
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Sept 7, 2020 13:04:15 GMT
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I've always gone with the view that if you're going to be 1 minute late, you may as well be 10 (in most non emergency cases). You might as well be hanged for a sheep as a lamb and all that, plus in any regular daily travels nothing is worth breaking the speed limit/driving like a t**t for. If I'm going to be late, I'll just roll down the window, stick The Jam on and cruise.
However, it steams my clams when cyclists get the hump because I don't pull fully into the opposing lane for them. It's a bicycle, not a Sherman bloody tank. I'm all for safety but it needs to be proportionate and it's just getting ridiculous, not to mention impractical. Half the time these are the lycra brigade who refuse to use a cycle lane, even though it had been put there at extreme expense after they campaign to have it installed and then claim they aren't the cyclists it was put there for. There's a particular, very busy A road near here where this very thing happens and one lycra clad tool is often the cause for a two mile tailback when there's a cycle lane three feet to the left of them. They've also installed a 'pop up' cycle route here, right through the middle town which no cyclist uses, yet the council refuse to accept it's pointless and the lycra brigade moan like a two dollar wotsit at the suggestion that the thing they don't use needs to be removed as it's causing massive traffic issues.
I feel dirty now, I didn't even post a picture a penance.
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melle
South West
It'll come out in the wash.
Posts: 1,981
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Sept 7, 2020 13:21:06 GMT
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I feel dirty now, I didn't even post a picture a penance. Go on then, let me post one on your behalf!
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www.saabv4.com'70 Saab 96 V4 "The Devil's Own V4" '77 Saab 95 V4 van conversion project '88 Saab 900i 8V
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Sept 7, 2020 13:23:22 GMT
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I feel dirty now, I didn't even post a picture a penance. One without lycra would be preferable. Just popping my face in again to remind everyone to keep it on a nice even keel (which it has been so far for a relatively emotive subject) or step out if it is going South. I've not been in since February, but apparently The City (of London) has been massively overhauled with areas for riding now. Which makes sense really, the roads needn't be as busy as they are there, most of the traffic is delivery vehicles, taxis (of various sorts) and buses, all intermingling with cyclists. I came out of Bank station one day to a crowd in the road, apparently a cyclist had been hit by a massive truck, which resulted in this protest and new road scheme : www.standard.co.uk/news/london/bank-junction-traffic-to-be-banned-from-busy-junction-this-week-after-cyclist-death-a3543726.html ... I have to say it improved the area immensely from a pedestrian point of view too and the cabbies soon adapted. Anyway that having been contributed I'd also suggest this thread lacks cool old cars (but does contain some cool Scandi delivery bikes )
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melle
South West
It'll come out in the wash.
Posts: 1,981
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Sept 7, 2020 13:59:16 GMT
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Anyway that having been contributed I'd also suggest this thread lacks cool old cars Let me fix that.
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www.saabv4.com'70 Saab 96 V4 "The Devil's Own V4" '77 Saab 95 V4 van conversion project '88 Saab 900i 8V
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Sept 7, 2020 14:31:32 GMT
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I've always gone with the view that if you're going to be 1 minute late, you may as well be 10 (in most non emergency cases). You might as well be hanged for a sheep as a lamb and all that, plus in any regular daily travels nothing is worth breaking the speed limit/driving like a t**t for. If I'm going to be late, I'll just roll down the window, stick The Jam on and cruise. However, it steams my clams when cyclists get the hump because I don't pull fully into the opposing lane for them. It's a bicycle, not a Sherman bloody tank. I'm all for safety but it needs to be proportionate and it's just getting ridiculous, not to mention impractical. Half the time these are the lycra brigade who refuse to use a cycle lane, even though it had been put there at extreme expense after they campaign to have it installed and then claim they aren't the cyclists it was put there for. There's a particular, very busy A road near here where this very thing happens and one lycra clad tool is often the cause for a two mile tailback when there's a cycle lane three feet to the left of them. They've also installed a 'pop up' cycle route here, right through the middle town which no cyclist uses, yet the council refuse to accept it's pointless and the lycra brigade moan like a two dollar wotsit at the suggestion that the thing they don't use needs to be removed as it's causing massive traffic issues. I feel dirty now, I didn't even post a picture a penance. A cyclist gets aggrieved at a close pass because they are bloody terrifying, you may not see the need to pull into the opposite lane to overtake, and thats fine. I don't see the need to give away so much of my earnings in taxes but hey ho, its the law of the land we live in so we comply. I like how the old "lycra brigade" gets pulled out as a slur on a cyclist, would you slag off bloke playing Sunday league football for wearing a football kit or a swimmer for wearing a swimsuit? Whilst I do agree that nipping about the city wearing a full Team SKY one piece lycra suit and aero helmet is a bit much (no worse than having rally spec livery on a road car IMHO) the use of suitably padded cycling shorts is essential in comfort and sweat wicking properties. Re the use of cycle lanes, we don't have any where I reside but when I used to cycle in Aberdeen regularly, I found the lanes were not fit for purpose and very much an afterthought. They would stop suddenly, and be full of debris and potholes, so so save from swerving in and out of lane I would simply ride on the road. Cant say I had many issues on the road, could maintain a 20mph speed fairly comfortably, the main time cars seemed to be upset would be when filtering, but that was just jealousy as they have to wait in line. Oops nearly forgot the cool retro cycles
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Last Edit: Sept 7, 2020 14:32:40 GMT by henspeed
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Sept 7, 2020 14:58:45 GMT
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However, it steams my clams when cyclists get the hump because I don't pull fully into the opposing lane for them. It's a bicycle, not a Sherman bloody tank. I'm all for safety but it needs to be proportionate and it's just getting ridiculous, not to mention impractical. Half the time these are the lycra brigade who refuse to use a cycle lane, even though it had been put there at extreme expense after they campaign to have it installed and then claim they aren't the cyclists it was put there for. There's a particular, very busy A road near here where this very thing happens and one lycra clad tool is often the cause for a two mile tailback when there's a cycle lane three feet to the left of them. They've also installed a 'pop up' cycle route here, right through the middle town which no cyclist uses, yet the council refuse to accept it's pointless and the lycra brigade moan like a two dollar wotsit at the suggestion that the thing they don't use needs to be removed as it's causing massive traffic issues. I feel dirty now, I didn't even post a picture a penance. You should be in the other lane, not blowing the doors off the cyclist. The air pressure difference if you're closer than 1.5ish meters is mental and pulls the cyclist towards you. It's irresponsible and dangerous. I've taken to "Taking the Lane" riding in the middle of the lane when I don't think it's safe enough for someone to overtake, which I'm fully entitled to do. Also, the cycle lane argument is an easy one to turn over too. It's at the side of the road, people park in it, all the rain runoff goes there and pulls all the dirt and debris into it. It's full of broken glass, bolts and stuff that has fallen off cars, it's where all the leaves go. It's where the drains are. Basically, the worst possible place for a cycle lane. When you get shared spaces on the pavement, there's always some zombie in it with headphones on staring down at their phone wandering all over the shop. We are under no obligation to use cycle lanes. We can use all of the lane. I do generally believe there should be more policing and fines/endorsements for those who don't give the more vulnerable road users (Horse riders, cyclists, pedestrians) the respect they deserve.
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Last Edit: Sept 7, 2020 14:59:36 GMT by Soopahfly
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duncanmartin
Club Retro Rides Member
Out of retro ownership
Posts: 1,320
Club RR Member Number: 70
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Updated Highway Codeduncanmartin
@duncanmartin
Club Retro Rides Member 70
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Sept 7, 2020 15:02:46 GMT
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As a regular pedestrian and occasional bicyclist I think some level of insurance and mandatory helmet is a good idea (are they mandatory now I still see cyclists without them). I'd also like some way to identify a cyclist (in the way cars have number plates) as I've nearly been run down a couple of times (not just a rant at cyclists, vans and yes bikers have done the same at red lights to me in London) Helmets are not mandatory. It's been demonstrated (pretty much everywhere they have made helmets mandatory) that it reduces the number of people cycling (by as much as 40%), and as a result is detrimental to the general health of the population (and increases the risk to the remaining cyclists). Personally, if I put my bike shoes on then I'll put a lid on, if I'm just getting on a bike then I won't. It would also completely hose Boris bikes and the like. There have been studies about cycle identification - it generally causes a load more problems than it solves. Do you need a V5 for a bike, that you have to send to Swansea when you buy/sell/swap one? What about kids bikes,homebrew bikes, parts bin bikes? Number plates don't seem to deter motorists from the sort of thing that cyclists get complained about, so I fail to see how adding all that bureaucracy actually solves anything. In general, I think I see more red light jumping by drivers than cyclists, and about an equal amount of stupidity across all transport modes. Idiots will be idiots, whether they are driving a bus/car/taxi/van/motorbike or walking, cycling, or e-scootering. The only mode of transport that virtually guarantees lunacy IMO is an e-skateboard, I don't think I've seen one being ridden sensibly yet! I got 8/9 on the highway code thing, foiled by the question about letting people across the road in slow moving traffic. Edit - adding modern retro cycles - should be something for everyone:
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duncanmartin
Club Retro Rides Member
Out of retro ownership
Posts: 1,320
Club RR Member Number: 70
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Updated Highway Codeduncanmartin
@duncanmartin
Club Retro Rides Member 70
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Sept 7, 2020 15:09:00 GMT
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Anyway that having been contributed I'd also suggest this thread lacks cool old cars Let me fix that. Is that an Optima Baron? Cool recumbents, as well as the Saab.
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Sept 7, 2020 15:14:31 GMT
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We are under no obligation to use cycle lanes. Then don't waste taxpayers money building and maintaining routes nobody uses. Before you, or anyone else, gets all hot under the collar and passive aggressive about an opinion that's contrary to your own, I cycle and I don't disagree on many of your points or that many drivers are t***s, equally though it's not the fault of drivers exclusively and some of the demands that many cyclists seem to think are 'reasonable' are, quite frankly, ridiculous and just deliberately confrontational. I concede though, that they come pretty much exclusively from the 'Team Sky' lycra types.
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Sept 7, 2020 15:23:28 GMT
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We are under no obligation to use cycle lanes. Then don't waste taxpayers money building and maintaining routes nobody uses. Before you, or anyone else, gets all hot under the collar and passive aggressive about an opinion that's contrary to your own, I cycle and I don't disagree on many of your points or that many drivers are t***s, equally though it's not the fault of drivers exclusively and the demands that many cyclists seen to think are 'reasonable' is bloody ridiculous. I'm not, I'm just joining in the discussion. We had one of those temporary cycle lanes in Sheffield that was quite contentious. It took up an entire lane of a main trunk road. The way Sheffield is laid out, there's only a few ways out of the city onto the Motorway. This took up one of the main ways out of the city, on a route that was already pretty busy, and as you said, no-one used it. There's a big government push to isolate motorists and make more space for alternative modes of transport. As a motorist we will be getting more and more inconvenienced, in favour of pushing people onto public transport, and cycling. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing. Most people work in one location, within 10 miles of their house and public transport or cycling could be a great way of reducing the environmental impact, improving fitness etc but people won't consider it without being massively inconvenienced. I used to cycle from Sheffield out to Dinnington, around 15 miles each way. Took the same amount of time as driving. Wasn't sweaty when I arrived and my fitness rapidly improved. I'm no eco-hippy, but something has to change.
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Sept 7, 2020 15:36:13 GMT
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We are under no obligation to use cycle lanes. Then don't waste taxpayers money building and maintaining routes nobody uses. A motorist has a plethora of choices of which roads and routes they can take to get from A to B. Why shouldnt the cyclist also? After all we pay for them too. All that is required from all parties is a little consideration for each other and everyone will be happy. A good lesson to take away from the roads to general life also. In reality a cyclist may hold you up for 30 seconds or so, you may have just passed him and the at the next set of lights he blasts by you to the ASL, does it really matter, maybe you would have been as well just following him in the knowledge that your pass will be pointless in a few seconds time anyway. I live on the NC500 route which is also the final leg of LEJOG and I do find myself getting annoyed at large peletons, but on the whole they are quite rare, most of them spread out and ride in a group of 4 or so, but of you come across 15 to 20 of them in a bundle they are a pain to pass. But nowhere near as bad a 3 or 4 camper vans end on end
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melle
South West
It'll come out in the wash.
Posts: 1,981
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Sept 7, 2020 15:42:36 GMT
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Re the use of cycle lanes, we don't have any where I reside but when I used to cycle in Aberdeen regularly, I found the lanes were not fit for purpose and very much an afterthought. They would stop suddenly, and be full of debris and potholes, so so save from swerving in and out of lane I would simply ride on the road. Cant say I had many issues on the road, could maintain a 20mph speed fairly comfortably, the main time cars seemed to be upset would be when filtering, but that was just jealousy as they have to wait in line. I lived in Aberdeen for a couple of years a little over a decade ago; I agree on the condition of the roads (you wonder where all that oil money went!). I once had a chap in a car overtake me on Union Street, he slowed down, wound his window down and shouted 'F*cking tourist!' at me. I thought it wise to reply with just a friendly 'nice car mate'.
Both are Optima Stingers, they're a bit shorter than the Baron. The red one is my girlfriend's racer on its winter tyres, the blue one is my commuter. Both last in use before we moved from NL to Aberdeen, but they're still there waiting for better days. The photo was actually taken when they went into storage.
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www.saabv4.com'70 Saab 96 V4 "The Devil's Own V4" '77 Saab 95 V4 van conversion project '88 Saab 900i 8V
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