Forum Replies Created
-
Replies
-
Take a look at something like
Take a look at something like the Planet X London Road – discs, space for guards and big tyres – currently ÂŁ799 and they do 0% finance.
Evans in-house range Pinnacle do similar bikes (Arkose) at a similar price.
On eBay look for a used Genesis Equilibrium or Charge Plug or a Kinesis Crosslight – you’ll get a great do-it-all bike for around ÂŁ500.
I’m trained in mass casualty
I’m trained in mass casualty disaster management and one of the concepts covered is that what happens after the event is more important to the future well-being of the victim’s loved ones than what actually killed them. As is so often said in impact statements nothing can be done to bring them back and this is something eventually those left behind can come to terms with. What makes it harder (often impossibe) is if there is any sense of injustice or cover up or blame-shifting or victim-blaming. Take a look at the Thomas Cook carbon monoxide poisoning as an example of how it shouldn’t be done. On a larger scale, look at Hillsborough. Even on an individual level it can have an impact – people will destroy their mental and physical health (and finances) pursuing justice. Whilst my training is mainly around avoiding the civil litigation aspects of a death in a criminal case it falls upon the police/CPS/judge/jury (and even defendent) to ensure that the family feels justice has been served.
The Karkinos has better kit
The Karkinos has better kit on it than the 500SE – question is how long has it been on there and how well has it been maintained? Its only a bargain if you don’t have to replace cassette/chainrings due to wear.
I’m a big fan of the Tribans. The 500SE is a couple of years old but got very good reviews when it was released. If you can stretch the budget then the Triban 540 is a better option.
As others have said its a buyers market for a secondhand bike, and you’d get a much better bike for the money than you would if buying new.
Walk facing traffic wherever
Walk facing traffic wherever possible. Whilst driving today i encountered a woman pushing a buggy walking with traffic, and a bloke doing the same dressed in black walking a dog under tree shade. Agree we all need to share the road and not be monumental dicks around walkers/horse riders/slower cyclists etc. but if there isn’t a pavement you really should be using all your senses to be aware of your surroundings. Growing up somewhere relatively rural one of the first things I was taught about road safety was to walk facing oncoming traffic.
Newly resurfaced, West Quay
Newly resurfaced, West Quay Road in Southampton going past Ikea. Previously rutted by HGVs with huge potholes and raised ironworks, now billiard-table smooth. Will be knackered again in a couple of months because drainage is bad and there’s an insatiable export market for Range Rover Evoques & big JCB earth-moving eqpt.
Well over 100kgs and the ÂŁ40
Well over 100kgs and the ÂŁ40 BTwin shorts do the job for me. Aerofits (ÂŁ50 version) have same pad but for some reason not as comfy as the cheaper model. Previously worn Santini Slice shorts from Prendas (who cater for the larger gentleman admirably) and they’ve been absolutely fine on a 70-miler.
Jimbomitch wrote:
The Lady Place Car Park is in Alton I believe( As is Butts Road) …….. I often park in the Lady Place…….Grew up in Butts Road, Dad’s initials are BJ
endless fun…
Lower Upham always made me smile (best punctuated for comedy effect Lower, Upham)
Further afield there is a place hallowed by everyone into burly chocaholic truckers, Yorkeys Knob
Given the amount of tree
Given the amount of tree/shrub overhang on my commute there’s no way I’d ride without a lid and glasses.
Popping down the shops is a different matter but I do ride more cautiously without one – which is stupid because I know its unlikely to make much difference in a bail on a 35+mph descent
Out of the three I’d probably
Out of the three I’d probably go for the 13 at that price. Better spec than the Juliet 100. Juliet 300 lower spec than both.
13 is an in-house Halfords brand whereas Merida are a very large Taiwanese manufacturer (most frames are built in Taiwan for most brands). Merida likely to be better quality but not twice as good given the price difference.
If you’re planning on commuting are you going to be riding in all weathers? If so make sure that you get a frame that can take permanent mudguards. Most road bikes will take clip on guards but they don’t offer as much protection as a set of permanents.
As to alternatives I was going to suggest a Decathlon B’Twin Triban (520 or 540) but they seem really expensive compared to UK prices.
In a previous life I was a
In a previous life I was a boy racer and general petrolhead and the Cat and Fiddle is their equivalent of Ventoux or L’Alpe – a place to rock up with your mates just for the pleasure of travelling on it as quickly as possible.
Unfortunately such roads are also brilliant for cyclists (who unlike the drivers are unlikely to be breaking any laws).
Yes, 8 years ago my teammate was similarly killed. I was probably the last person he ever spoke to. He said his goodbyes and peeled off to do the 10 miles home and never got there. Some little git decided he’d overtake a Sunday driver and bang, one dead cyclist.Because the 18 year old driver had some disease (MS or CF, can’t remember now) he was somehow utterly excused and got the predictable, slightly inconvenient fine.
Meantime I packed up riding as my teammate was number 24. I’m up to 29 now. 29 people I was on speaking terms with killed by cars in the 35 years I’ve been cycling. The most recent in April – RIP Richard Ellis (Essex Roads CC).
That’s just awful. I did think about proposing a campaign to get Think Cyclist signs up on known busy routes for cyclists where overtaking is necessary. For example Cat & Fiddle, Snake Pass etc etc. I held back as in this time of mourning it felt innapropriate. Hearing this makes me think there is absolutely a need for it.
Food for thought.
We have “Pass Slow and Wide” signs on busy cycling routes in the New Forest.
Under signs warning of horses, cows, and deer.
Often tempted to pop out with some laminated cyclist signs
I’ll also always ask “Got
I’ll also always ask “Got everything you need?” if a see someone fixing a mechanical at the side of the road, be that town or country. As a commuter I’m well stocked with spares. Might not stop to help fix a puncture but I’ve seen people do that in the New Forest and even hand over spare tubes.
On my commute I don’t usually
On my commute I don’t usually bother acknowledging as there are so many cyclists and we’re all in get to work mode. On a weekend ride I’ll usually say good morning – and that includes horse riders and ponies/donkeys (easily spooked by fast moving brightly coloured silent objects). More often than not cyclists reciprocate. Generally I’ll get more acknowledgement from the livestock than I do from horse riders though đ
As to fat lads not responding (Unconstituted) having been there done that its probably because they’re greying out from lack of oxygen or just suffering so much that nothing external exists beyond the bike and the road. Abiding memory of early days back on the bike is struggling up a hill at 5mph (9% section) and getting passed by a group tapping out around 15mph – they all said Hi and I had no capacity to say anything apart from internalise the shame and file it away as motivational material đ
The road in question is th B3349 in Hampshire. I’m hoping for some blistering hot days and a few passing 18-wheelers to smooth it out a bit! Fortunately it’s not a long stretch between my entry and exit points.Bloody hell, I wouldn’t cycle that road if you paid me. Complete bloody racetrack in my experience.
Should bed in after a couple
Should bed in after a couple of months, local council do it round here and its horrible. Would hate to take a tumble on it, road rash would be evil.
