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Live blog: Study says 20 mph limits work, W Mids Police say golden age of the motor vehicle is coming to an end, pancakes and more

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@Smoggysteve While I follow that not all parts are equal, there are also lots of really good Chinese wheelsets, some of them using hubs from well known brands, and being much cheaper at the same time. (And there are also good Chinese and Taiwanese hubs out there.) Personally, I think "Where is that extra money going? its the hubs." is the wrong conclusion. Wheelsets with similar components can still have a huge price difference. And manufacturers buy components against OEM prices, usually with an extra discount when they buy in bulk . Well, then, where does the extra money go? Many extra costs are possible: the profit of the contracted factory that makes the rims or even the entire wheels; potentially higher production standards and better QA; profits for shops and middle-men; extra logistics; marketing/PR/sponsoring; extra R&D; covering for warranty cases and customer service; a boatful of middle-managers; extra profits for shareholders...
@Smoggysteve So its down to hub qualilty mostly, imo... Agreed, and we have Hope and KoM. I've been very pleased with my Hope Pro 5, but I've only had them for 9 months. I'm staying with them on my Fairlight Secan because I'm convinced spares will remain available.
Don't look at me, but I hear a certain Mr Pogačar can put you in touch with a decent agent.
@Mr Blackbird Mine is registered to the mayor of London!
I've got a couple of cloned tabards in the cupboard ready for the day they become law.
@Global Nomad "I''m still disappointed by some of the comments. I wonder if products from the US of Trump will get the same doubts, and perhaps we’ll soon be wondering about Germany too" Here is my take. There are lots of chinese wheels available nowadays, to the point its becoming over saturated with choice. And there are a lot of wheelsets that look a bargain and it would , on the face of it, appear so. But, I mention hubs as being an area that never spoken about, I almost think deliberately so. I will use this brand as an example only because they are one with a good reputation. - Roval CLX III retails price £2998 per set. Roval CL III retail price £1008 (prices from Specialzed website) Now the differences between the CLX and the CL? Spokes and hubs. That is it. The CLX have carbon composite spokes and proprietry hubs and the CL have steel round spokes with DT Swiss 350 hubs. Now the spokes will not be cheap but they aint costing 2 grand more. Where is that extra money going? its the hubs. The rims are identical. Same as they were on the CLX II & CL II . So if one brand can have a 2 grand difference in its wheelsets from the premium to the 'affordable' where do you think the Chinese brands are making their big savings? And when they are not branded and generic hubs you could pick up off Aliexpress its no wonder. So its down to hub quailty mostly, imo, and we have been told for years if not decades, a set of rims laced to top quality hubs - possibly handmade- will provide the best performance. Or was this all a lie?
@kingleo Not to condone not stopping, as I always stop, but no vehicle driver/rider actually has to stop if pedestrians are waiting to cross, it's a "should" not a "must" in the Highway Code and not stopping is not an offence. If pedestrians are on the crossing then it becomes a "must" and it is an offence not to do so. It's a confusing distinction and in my opinion could well be done away with to make it compulsory to stop in both instances, but at the moment it's not. (HC Rule 19, zebra crossings: "Drivers and riders should give way to pedestrians waiting to cross and MUST give way to pedestrians on a zebra crossing.")
I hope the third rider recovers ok. But they will always remember that day. I think the motor cycle and car driving tests Should include a practical test that lorry drivers do to (SUD) appreciate how vulnerable you are as a cyclist. Put everyone on a cycle stationary with your food on the kerb and have a vehicle drive past them at various speeds 20/30/60mph at 1.5 meters from the handlebars.
@mdavidford Pay me the same money for cycling as an MP, lawyer or banker and I'll take the hatred…
@belugabob Shurely numbered tabards, speed limits, licencing and insurance?
4 thoughts on “Live blog: Study says 20 mph limits work, W Mids Police say golden age of the motor vehicle is coming to an end, pancakes and more”
Wow! That blog by the West
Wow! That blog by the West Midlands Police is the best thing that I’ve read about traffic for ages.
Great WMP blog “only poor
Great WMP blog “only poor incompetent drivers complain about enforcement campaigns” Nice!
They also said it a year ago,
They also said it a year ago, when it was published.
Yeah the WMP blog post really
Yeah the WMP blog post really is great, if more police forces took this attitude then I think there’d be a lot nicer places to ride and drive. Not sure who the team are behind it but they seem to really have some common sense to them, I hope more forces read this and change the way they think.
Good work WMP, as usual.