Jan and Klodi's Party Bus - part II **off topic discussion**

CramCycle

Weepsie wrote: »

I need to get a spare wheel home tonight if possible. However the problem is I'm on the bike, and not sure how to go about doing so. I've a touring bike with panniers, and could maybe tie it somehow, but is it a silly idea given the likely heavy traffic later on?

I have tied it to the rear triangle before without issue, I also regularly tie it onto my bag/backpack. This just requires the memory that I am wider with it on. Not really a problem for me as I don't tend to try and squeeze through gaps anymore, kind of like this, only I have a different bag:

tomasrojo wrote: »

The right turn at the bank into UCD off the Goatstown road has some rather bizarre antics.

I really hate to see the stupidity going on there, by every type of road user. It makes me feel as if my degree isn't worth jacksh1t if this is the callibre of people who either study or work there.

Chips Lovell

Interesting piece in the Economist this week about how traffic light robbery is a problem in Johannesburg.

Not robbery at traffic lights. Robbery of traffic lights.

tomasrojo

I love the way they call traffic lights "robots". They do that in Zimbabwe too.

Chips Lovell

CramCycle wrote: »

Have to say its been very uplifting to see a few kids cycling to school this week. Some on roads that more concerned parents (incorrectly) would not let their kids cycle on. Generally quite good roadcraft and alot less stupidity than their older counter parts heading into university.

I've noticed an uptick as well on my commute. Lots of parents too who appear to be non-cyclists / very occasional cyclists accompanying them, which is heartening to see.

You always assume that it's only regular cyclists who'd let their kids cycle to school, but there seems to be a growing cohort of parents willing to give it a go. Hopefully it lasts into the winter.

Doctor Bob

tomasrojo wrote: »

I love the way they call traffic lights "robots". They do that in Zimbabwe too.

I learned this the same day I learned that South Africans refer to (rigid) floppy disks as 'stiffies' (to distinguish them from the older, floppy floppy disks).

cdaly_

Weepsie wrote: »

I need to get a spare wheel home tonight if possible. However the problem is I'm on the bike, and not sure how to go about doing so. I've a touring bike with panniers, and could maybe tie it somehow, but is it a silly idea given the likely heavy traffic later on?

Cable tie to side of rack/frame works for me. Take out QR skewer so it doesn't catch your spokes...

smacl

Feeling old, 13 year old daughter has done more KM week to date on her bike than I have. Damn kids. Still, the weekend awaits.

brianomc

A scarecrow to ward away bike thieves. I'm glad I saw it while the basement lights were on.

Chuchote

Good letter in the Guardian today about cycling to school:

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2016/sep/14/help-children-to-walk-and-cycle-to-school

Now that millions of pupils have gone back to school, we call on the government to get more children walking and cycling the school journey.

Currently, a portion of the “sugar tax” is set to fund an extra half-hour of physical exercise a day.

(snip)

Almost a third of those aged two to 15 are overweight or obese. In addition to diet, another reason for childhood obesity is a lack of physical activity with just one in five children sufficiently active to stay healthy…

and it's signed by representatives of health charities and active travel groups in Britain, including Andrew Furber President, Association for Directors of Public Health; Andrew Langford Chief executive, British Liver Trust
Paul Tuohy Chief executive, Cycling UK, Shirley Cramer Chief executive, The Royal Society for Public Health and others.

seamus

Actually a bit chilly this AM for what feels like the first time in a year. Quite welcome. I love the heat, and we've had a ridiculously warm and dry summer. But the humidity this year has been something else. Practically begging for a few cool and fresh weeks at this point.

De Bhál

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/anger-rises-as-scale-of-strikes-hits-home-for-the-passengers-35053254.html

some people should really buy a bike

Chuchote

De Bhál wrote: »

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/anger-rises-as-scale-of-strikes-hits-home-for-the-passengers-35053254.html

some people should really buy a bike

The kid who wanted daddy to give him a lift 9km! The one who said walking to town took 45 minutes from Harold's X!!!

Jawgap

Footage shows car using path to overtake cyclists

A cycling club has released footage of what appears to be a car using a grass verge and path to overtake its riders.

Ely Cycling Club, in Cambridgeshire, says the incident happened between Rampton and Cottenham during a ride on Saturday.

One cyclist said the driver of the car shouted "if you are cycling on the road then I'll drive on the path" as he passed the group.

Cambridgeshire Police says it is aware of the footage.

CramCycle

Weepsie wrote: »

If it takes you 45 minutes to walk into town from Harold's cross you must be a bit slow. It's a shade over 3km ffs

Apparently* the average human walking speed is 5kmph. At a 3km distance, that is 40minutes, I don't think its terribly slow (although I think I would be faster).

*according to wikipedia

Alek

We the cycling kind often forget how long does it take to walk a given distance on foot. I started walking more recently and was quite surprised a few times how bad my judgment of ETA was... :P

robyntmorton

If we were meant to walk, we would have never invented wheels... And drivetrains... And carbon frames...

ThisRegard

Jawgap wrote: »

Footage shows car using path to overtake cyclists

I also saw this today, at least one police force in the UK are starting a crackdown on close passes of cyclists by motorists, there's a number of clips in the video of some hairy ones. (close passes that is, not filth)

https://www.facebook.com/skynews/videos/1458191374195455/

Doctor Bob

Alek wrote: »

We the cycling kind often forget how long does it take to walk a given distance on foot. I started walking more recently and was quite surprised a few times how bad my judgment of ETA was... :P

I've had the opposite experience, but was similarly surprised. Cycling daily makes everywhere in town seem very close and it's by far the fastest way for me to travel, but the effect of that is to make everything else, including walking, seem really onerous by comparison. I had to walk from Harold's Cross bridge to Westmoreland Street recently and gave myself an hour, but I made it in half an hour- a distance of exactly 3km (with a wheelie suitcase in tow).

tomasrojo

I assume any journey takes three or four times as long on foot as on bike. Seems to work. On the outskirts of town, with fewer stops, it takes maybe five times as long.

Chuchote

What surprises me with the bus strike is that no one is hitching. What a change this is from similar strikes in the 1970s, etc, when people would stand at bus stops and people with cars would pick them up. Haven't seen that happening. Have we got stingier, less trusting, or more hostile to each other?

Miklos

Set aside twenty minutes and watch this! The 1962 Tour in glorious colour!

Luxman

Miklos wrote: »

Set aside twenty minutes and watch this! The 1962 Tour in glorious colour!

Bloody brilliant, beer raids! Love it.

magicbastarder

Seen for the first time today - in Portugal, waiting at pedestrian lights, a cyclist on a road bike stuck at a red, cycled in very small circles instead of unclipping or trackstanding. I would guess you'd need to know the light sequence well so as not to be caught going the wrong way when it goes green.

RobertFoster

Chuchote wrote: »

What surprises me with the bus strike is that no one is hitching. What a change this is from similar strikes in the 1970s, etc, when people would stand at bus stops and people with cars would pick them up. Haven't seen that happening. Have we got stingier, less trusting, or more hostile to each other?

I'd never hitch, I could be picked up by a weirdo!

I'd never stop for a hitchhiker, they could be a weirdo!

Chuchote

RobertFoster wrote: »

I'd never hitch, I could be picked up by a weirdo!

I'd never stop for a hitchhiker, they could be a weirdo!

Yeah, that's the way people feel now. No more or less weirdos around than before, but distrust is universal.

Wishbone Ash

RobertFoster wrote: »

I'd never hitch, I could be picked up by a weirdo!

I'd never stop for a hitchhiker, they could be a weirdo!

I hitched for years in the 1980's when money was tight.

I'd very rarely stop for anyone now while driving myself though.

Diarmuid

Miklos wrote: »

Set aside twenty minutes and watch this! The 1962 Tour in glorious colour!

That was great.

I think it's time to bring in a helmet ban. Especially for the motorbike riders....

Chuchote

From July last year; wonder what happened to this:

it is understood that the Department of Transport is considering allowing cyclists to use one-way streets in an effort to provide more safe routes across the capital. Many of the one-way systems are located in residential areas, and the plans would allow cyclists to travel in both directions.

ThisRegard

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

I hitched for years in the 1980's when money was tight.

I'd very rarely stop for anyone now while driving myself though.

First, and only time, I picked up a hitcher was an old lady who lives in one of those cottages on the bends just after the bridge at Anamoe as you head towards Roundwood. I was coming back from Glendalough one morning during the winter and saw her so dropped her off in Roundwood.

I always think when you see a lone hitcher there's another 5 or so hiding and will appear once you pull over. Plus I'm not into small talk so not really cut out for being a hitcher or hitchee.

Chuchote

I used to hitch all over the country. Nice way to travel.