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not sure what to say.
we followed the signs, which inevetiably meant a busy main road. so we tried finding alternative routes where the map indicated it was possible/convenient, with mixed success.
(the more we ignored this map : https://www.heritage-house.co.uk/isleofwightcyclingmaps – the better. arguably, it was worth buying the map to see where not to go)
Yep, I’ve done the round island route on a hybrid and there was a fair number of busy roads. The bit round Blackgang Chine and onto Ventnor in particular.
The military road up from freshwater is at least fairly straight and wide with good visibility. I did do the Yarmouth to freshwater cycle path and the Ventnor to Shanklin cycle path and along the prom to Sandown, which were good (on a hybrid). There were some nice quiet lanes too (late May).
If you want an island ride with less worry about route choice, go for the Isle of Arran in May. Only three roads to worry about, so no route choice dilemmas! Plus traffic comes in bursts (when the ferry drops off). So when some cars approach, just pull over and have a drink and a snack whilst they pass. Then you’ve got the road to yourself for a while again…
Mudguards are a must for
Mudguards are a must for starters.If your commute is through a city and relatively sheltered from the wind, try a poncho type rain cape. Otto London do one that is relatively compact and won’t be a billowy bin bag like the cheap plastic ones you can get.
If your commute is on exposed roads, then I would accept you are going to get wet. Softshell type top and a mid priced hard shell for those really bad days. With quick drying bibs / leg warmers with a water repellent coating (can be sprayed onto existing kit) and overshoes. Keeping a dry set of base layers at work in case they get soaked through.
Depending where you are based, it might not actually rain during your commute that often. If you can be a bit flexible with your start/leave times, you can often wait for a shower to pass before setting off.
I always think of this when I
I always think of this when I see flood water…There are a couple of places on my commute that flood occasionally, so I’ve checked them when dry for drains and manhole covers (also noted the camber on the road and where the highest point is). With this knowledge, I do ride through carefully when it floods.
Just done a google. Adelaide
Just done a google. Adelaide is 404 per square km, Copenhagen 6,800.It’s not how big the
It’s not how big the population is, but what the housing density is like. Some newer cities are designed for the car and very spread out.Glad that a bit of bike
Glad that a bit of bike induced exercise and social interactions at work are having a positive effect. Plus the boost of a new bike purchase!I’ve similarly lost a lot of fitness and decided to take the bike computer off the bars, as I was getting a bit annoyed at my lack of speed. I’m now just focusing on getting time on the bike and enjoying it, knowing that the fitness will follow.
Passed driving test first
Passed driving test first attempt 4 weeks after my 17th birthday. Had driving lessons on a airfield perimeter road when 16, so could control a car properly before I was let loose on the roads. Lucky enough to get a hot hatch for my 17th bday. Had a car ever since. Done IAM advanced driving test in my 20’s.Now got 2 brand new SUVs on the drive. Last 10 years had a new car every 6 months. Never mind the “road tax”, that’s a lot of VAT.
Thanks all. So what is used on TCR for example? Is this something that the organisers/entrants pay for, so that their tracker is always ‘on’ as it were?according to Wikipedia:
“Racer positions are monitored using GPS satellite-based tracker devices mounted on all participants’ bikes that upload their positions every 5 minutes.[11][13] This information is then posted on the Trackleaders website for racers and followers to view. Many participants also update followers on their progress using social media websites.”
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transcontinental_Race
EDIT: the Trackleaders site mentions a couple of devices, SPOT and Delorme. Delorme was taken over by Garmin for their inReach devices. The SPOT devices appear to have less functionality, which might make them better for your purposes, but they still require a subscription, so possibly not cheap.
Not too expensive at £150 for the unit and approx £15 a month. They communicate with a satellite, so as long as you can see the sky, you’ve got coverage.
Much more reliable than mobile phone coverage, especially in remote areas. (battery life better too)
https://www.findmespot.eu/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=5&products_id=31&language=en
Perhaps Boatsie is an A.I.
Perhaps Boatsie is an A.I. Bot and this is a taste of the future of Internet forumsWhat else will you do with the time spent sitting in your self driving car? May as well have a pointless conversation with an algorithm.
Well, before you splash the
Well, before you splash the cash on the Varia, try one of these…Not only does it give you a heads-up on the upcoming traffic, it will also let you know if it’s a tractor, lorry, that chav that always close passes on your commute etc…
Good luck.
Good luck.I’m planning our family hols in The Netherlands this summer, to check it out. I’m also keen to abandon Britain. Only problem is I would feel bad about uprooting our kids from their friends and schools they are happy at. But then again, I read an article that put teenagers in The Netherlands as the happiest in the world…
5G mobile phones also use
5G mobile phones also use 24GHz, it’s nothing unusual or to be concerned about. I’m a comms engineer, so well versed in polar plots! The dB scale is logarithmic, so a 15dB drop represents a reduction in signal power of nearly 97%.
This is the likely radiation
This is the likely radiation pattern that will be firing back down the road. Not much directed at the rider.
The 24GHz radar will be
The 24GHz radar will be highly directional and very little radio energy will be directed at the rider anyway.
The 2.4GHz is just the Bluetooth/ANT link. No different to the phone in your pocket.
In fact the phone in your pocket will have a much higher radio energy in the 1-2GHz spectrum for the the mobile signal, but again, not a health issue.
That’s the long way of saying don’t worry about it!
This is not the best time of
This is not the best time of year to get enthused about cycling. It’s been a throroughly drab winter down south. Your handful of rides into work matches my recent strava activity!Rather than cycling into work, why not get an adult scooter or skateboard and combine with the train (have a look at Decathlon)? Could get out at lunchtime for some fresh air and a bit of excercise, without having the faff of all the cycling kit.
If working from home, make sure you get out for a walk at lunch. Listen to a podcast or audiobook. Something like https://drchatterjee.com/the-stress-solution/
or find your ikigai https://medium.com/thrive-global/ikigai-the-japanese-secret-to-a-long-and-happy-life-might-just-help-you-live-a-more-fulfilling-9871d01992b7
If the doctor prescribes you some head meds, be aware it can take a while to find the one that works for you. I’ve had to try four different ones before settling on sertraline (and the branded version at that, as the generic caused problems).
As for the Dunwich Dynamo, just do it, it’s good to have a goal. Any riding you do beforehand is a bonus – it’ll be an adventure whether you race there with the fast riders or bail out half-way after a few pub stops!
