Cycling: issues/noticeboard

[Ladymuck]

You are welcome Katie1997. I've been cycling for a LONG time. However, when I first started I was in my late 30s (I had never been taught as a child). I taught myself but could only cycle with confidence with the saddle positioned so that my feet were flat on the ground when stationary. This is far too low - I didn't realise this till many years later (when excruciating pain in my knees forced me to the physios). I raised the seat - and within a few weeks the pain was completely gone. No pain now.

[katie1997]

Ladymuck Wrote:

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> Just found this.

>

> Katie1997, when you are stationary, how much of

> your foot touches the ground?

Ooer ... I am not getting any of the numbness thankfully ;)

I cannot remember how much of my foot touches the ground - I spend my time at the traffic lights trying to sort my hair out (joking). Will test it out tomorrow!

[karter]

thanks LM, did you guys not get any sleep then? :-S

[Ladymuck]

Pleasure karter. Have fun on your new wheels.

Sleep? What's that then?

*rubs bags under eyes*

[bbug]

Just posting something on legality of riding on pavements (to stop another thread being bogged down). Ignore it if you are not interested.

Riding on pavements

The pertinent bit, re children, reads:

"The DfT view, from discussions with Home Office, is that the law applies to all but the police can show discretion to younger children cycling on the pavement for whom cycling on the road would not be a safe option."

The age of criminal responsibility is 10 so, technically, only children below this age can cycle on pavements without fear of redress.

While adults are not allowed to cycle on 'footways' (see definition above), children up to the age of 16 cannot be prosecuted for doing so, see text above for clarification.

[Ladymuck]

bbug Wrote:

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> Just posting something on legality of riding on

> pavements (to stop another thread being bogged

> down). Ignore it if you are not interested.

bbug,

When I started this thread, it was precisely for this kind of thing as opposed to another "cyclists v drivers" exchange of insults thread (though the latter, in moderation, can result in some good entertainment:))).

What you have posted is useful and informative and I'm sure there are many who will be interested (not to mention appreciative).

Last time I heard, the fine for riding on the pavement was ?30.

[Applespider]

I have a question - does anyone know of a cycle maintenance course locally? Or anyone who is good at cycle maintenance who could share a few tips in exchange for a drink or two? I'm conscious that if I'm commuting, I should be more aware of what might go wrong and what's easily fixable.

[jimmy two times]

I think George michael will be riding a bike from now on.apparently he crashed his car into happy snaps cos he wasn't getting enough exposure.

[Ladymuck]

Applespider Wrote:

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> I have a question - does anyone know of a cycle

> maintenance course locally? Or anyone who is good

> at cycle maintenance who could share a few tips in

> exchange for a drink or two? I'm conscious that

> if I'm commuting, I should be more aware of what

> might go wrong and what's easily fixable.

Cycling Training do maintenance courses. They can come to your house. Alternatively you could PM mlteenie...he charges very reasonable rates for bike maintenance/repairs/instruction. When he did my bike MOT, he was keen to show me some basic maintenance stuff. He is very professional and reliable as well as good value and very pleasant. He gets very good feedback on this forum - indeed this is how I found him. Failing that, you could ring the London Cycling Campaign and ask them. They are very helpful. Better still, become a member (you get free third party insurance in the event of an accident).

[Ladymuck]

jimmy two times Wrote:

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> I think George michael will be riding a bike from

> now on.apparently he crashed his car into happy

> snaps cos he wasn't getting enough exposure.

Next!

hee hee

[jimmy two times]

tough crowd again

*sticks two fingers up and runs away giggling*

[Ladymuck]

On yer bike Hatchet Boy!

[jimmy two times]

Lol no offence ladym you know I love you really:))

[Ladymuck]

Actually, this one is just for you Hatchet Boy:

A tandem rider is stopped by a police car.

"What've I done, officer?" asks the rider.

"Perhaps you didn't notice sir, but your wife fell off your bike half a mile back..."

"Oh, thank God for that," says the rider - "I thought I'd gone deaf!"

[jimmy two times]

oh gawd ladym you never told me you had met my ex missus !

* piss my pants laughing *

[Ladymuck]

A pedestrian stepped off the curb and into the road without looking one day and promptly gets knocked flat by a passing cyclist.

"You were really lucky there," said the cyclist.

"What on earth are you talking about! That really hurt!" said the pedestrian, still on the pavement, rubbing his head.

"Well, usually I drive a bus!" the cyclist replied.

[Ladymuck]

LATEST ON BORIS' PARIS-STYLE CYCLE HIRE SCHEME:

The High Court have now rejected the recent legal challenge put forward by a local Mayfair resident: latest.

[tarafitness]

Long shot here but is anyone on this thread riding in this year's Etape du Tour?

My other half is doing the public tour de france stage this Sunday so would be interesting to know if anyone local is doing likewise

Also, without trawling back through the previous pages (although I'm sure they're very interesting :-) ) are there any serious cyclists who'd be willing to take my nutty cyclist b/f under their wing and out on weekend rides? He did the etape last year but pretty much gave up cycling for 6 months following and lost a lot of fitness, so is keen to avoid the same thing happening again!

Thanks

Tara

['bout now]

Tara

send him to Dulwich Paragon cycling club. Rides on Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

That'll learn him!

www.dulwichparagon.com has all the info.

['bout now]

The truth

http://www.newsbiscuit.com/2010/07/11/police-to-tackle-bike-crime-with-new-indifferent-squad-320/

[Ladymuck]

'bout now Wrote:

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> The truth

>

> http://www.newsbiscuit.com/2010/07/11/police-to-ta

> ckle-bike-crime-with-new-indifferent-squad-320/

Nice story 'bout now, though I wasn't quite sure whether it was a joke - it sounded as though it could be. Interesting because further research brings up this from the Guardian's own Bike Blog. Don't think they are the same schemes. Strange...but good.

[Ladymuck]

One for the diary:

Sat. 7th August

Southwark Healthy Ride

Meet 10.00 am Decathlon Cafe

2-hour exploration of local area on bike

Open to all

Also:

for other rides and events in/around London click here

[citizenED]

The London Hire Cycle scheme got up and running today. I was in town and there seemed to be a lot of interest.

[northlondoner]

citizenED Wrote:

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> The London Hire Cycle scheme got up and running

> today. I was in town and there seemed to be a lot

> of interest.

Great. More people wobblng randomly through the traffic. Just what we need.

[Sandperson]

I think it's a magical time to be a cyclist and I love the scheme.

I hope there's several people wobbling randomly over Northlondoner.