Dr Ferrari's Camper Van (off-topic discussion)

BX 19 wrote: »

Cyclist nabbed for speeding in Australia - well deserved imo

"Well deserved" depends on the circumstances IMO. The report states that it was a time when parents and children, "were reasonably likely" to be crossing, but it seems to avoid stating that it was during school hours.

If it was 7am on a Sunday or 10pm on a schoolnight, then "well deserved" might be pushing it. "Unlucky" is what I'd say.

Though in any case it's a silly move on his part. You can't get done over here for breaking the speed limit, but there is a downhill section between Donard and Glenmalure with a big "CAUTION SCHOOL" painted on the road that I'm careful to slow down for. If only for my own sake rather than anything else.

seamus wrote: »

Though in any case it's a silly move on his part. You can't get done over here for breaking the speed limit, but there is a downhill section between Donard and Glenmalure with a big "CAUTION SCHOOL" painted on the road that I'm careful to slow down for. If only for my own sake rather than anything else.

Agreed. I cycle downhill past a school entrance on my morning commute and have seen some of the daftest manoeuvres there. I could easily hit 50 km/h but I tend to free wheel and stick to about 30 km/h.

One wet and slippery morning a woman overtook me with the intention of left hooking me to turn left into the school entrance, so I braked and went wide to pass her on the right as she turned. Instead she saw a bus waiting to turn right across her path and stopped to let him through leaving me hung out to dry. Fortunately the bus driver saw me coming and stopped leaving me enough room to squeeze through. When I turned round to go back for the chat after nearly filling my shorts I found the bus driver already having a word with her. As she saw me approach she started apologising. I just could not believe that she had moved wide to overtake me and then claimed that she never knew that I was there. :mad:

Jawgap wrote: »

Second para in says

"....56km/h through a children’s crossing outside St John’s Primary School in Scarborough during morning peak hour earlier this month......"

That sounds like a stupid speed to be doing at that time of the morning.

I agree that it is stupid, but how can it be illegal when the cyclist has no legal onus to have a working, calibrated speedometer? That prosecution would never fly under Irish law, I wonder how it can be justified under Australian law.

Captain Havoc wrote: »

If I got it, the ticket would be framed and hanging on my wall with pride of place. I might even ask the officer to take a photo with me and his speed gun.

I've tried several times to set one off on the N4 at Islandbridge but as yet have not succeeded.

Both the Tour of the Basque Country and San Sebastian are under threat because the Basque regional government can't provide sufficient funding

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/feb/25/cycling-basque-tour-threatened?INTCMP=SRCH

I get the impression that the police in Australia, like much of the rest of the population, regard cyclists as an intolerable burden on society (though this particular ticket might be well merited for all I know).

Speaking of intolerable burdens on society, 4FM seemed to be having a discussion about "dangerous" cyclists, but I've a very low tolerance for demagogic topics on radio shows. Before I continued browsing the stations for something more edifying, I did catch something about a bus driver texting in to say that only bus drivers could understand how dangerous cyclists really are or something like that. I did wonder whether it was eggball.

Is that beasty on his new bike? :P

rich.d.berry wrote: »

Are you serious?

Do bicycles come with calibrated speedometers?

I cannot see that standing up in an appeal court.

Given the time of day and the close vicinity to a school, yea I hope the book is thrown at him.

I don't know how much road sense a child has.

Anyways, if its was anywhere else, I'd frame it on the wall.

Gasp, wheeze, pant, puff........ :pac:

Haven't done it in about 5-6 months but still made it in on time. It was strange though, from about Santry into town I thought there were hardly any cars or cyclists on the road. Has it quietened down out there?

Vladimir Kurtains wrote: »

Spotted in the window of my local bike shop. Bianchi Pista track bike. With a pie plate.

Calling petethedrummer. Will petethedrummer please report to the Camper Van. petethedrummer to the Camper Van.

hope you all been doing this all winter

My tyre died this week





And the tyre has less then 400k on it.

ednwireland wrote: »

400 km ? looks like the brake blocks rubbing the tyre not the rim IMO

Damage from a rather large drain cycled through, rim survived happily ( It was horribly out of true though). The brake pad was rubbing for less then ten minutes before I copped it. Ahh well another 25 quid down the drain.