Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[tunnie]

They started handing out fines to cyclists without lights in Reading recently - £30 fixed penalty (rescinded if you went back within 7 days with lights fitted).. not a bad idea (since I think cycling at night without lights is insanity!)

Doing that here in London too, also fine you for going through red lights and apparently going to quickly 

I've got a set of lights which has a wind up torch that mounts on the front, which also powers the back, but it can easily die without me noticing  :-/

It would be impossible to tax and police push bikes, plus it would not go down well with the drive go make us all 'greener'

I like cycling to work, its free, wakes me up in the morning and keeping me fit.

[aaronjb]

I've considered cycling to work, too - it's only 12 miles across country (via mostly 40-limit roads aside from the lovely twisty NSL section that I'm inevitably stuck behind someone doing 40 down ).. aside from the fact that I'd only get about 500 yards before having a coronary and I doubt there's a bike out there designed to support my weight

Wait.. that's probably not a laughing matter, is it 

[mrgreen]

they police cyclists over here pretty strictly down to the point of having a working bell and will fine you for riding on footways or roads for that matter if there's a cycle path, as for riding without lights that is an accident waiting to happen

[Kevin Wood]

I've considered cycling to work, too - it's only 12 miles across country (via mostly 40-limit roads aside from the lovely twisty NSL section that I'm inevitably stuck behind someone doing 40 down ).. aside from the fact that I'd only get about 500 yards before having a coronary and I doubt there's a bike out there designed to support my weight

Wait.. that's probably not a laughing matter, is it 

Same here. Last time I got my bike out I cycled about half a mile up the road for a pint of milk (OK, there was a big hill in the way). Came out of the shop and downed the pint of milk in one. Had to go back in for another one.

Long way to go before I can do the 20 miles to work.    The added bonus of living at the highest settlement in Hampshire means there's always a 200 foot climb to finish me off at the end should I survive the rest of the ride.

No, my bike is quite happy hanging up in the garage.

Kevin

[aaronjb]

mrgreen - I seem to recall the bell being mandatory in Germany, too, from my time there.. although it's a while back now and my memory is foggy!

I've considered cycling to work, too - it's only 12 miles across country (via mostly 40-limit roads aside from the lovely twisty NSL section that I'm inevitably stuck behind someone doing 40 down ).. aside from the fact that I'd only get about 500 yards before having a coronary and I doubt there's a bike out there designed to support my weight

Wait.. that's probably not a laughing matter, is it 

Same here. Last time I got my bike out I cycled about half a mile up the road for a pint of milk (OK, there was a big hill in the way). Came out of the shop and downed the pint of milk in one. Had to go back in for another one.

Long way to go before I can do the 20 miles to work.    The added bonus of living at the highest settlement in Hampshire means there's always a 200 foot climb to finish me off at the end should I survive the rest of the ride.

No, my bike is quite happy hanging up in the garage.

Kevin

That's where mine was, too, until I moved house (it'd hung there for 10 years and I've owned the bike since I was 15! ) .. now I think it's in the boot of the Nissan, at least I think that's where it got stuffed during the house move

I'm amazed it's not a pile of rust by now.

Although I thought about it the other day - the last section before work would all be downhill for me, and ditto the last section before home on the way back, so it would work out quite nicely.. if I could make it that far

I suppose I could find a bike that could take my weight (all, er, 160Kg roughly I guess!) - but I suffer from vanity.. and enormous blokes on bikes look a bit.. daft, no..

[Vamps]

I've considered cycling to work, too - it's only 12 miles across country (via mostly 40-limit roads aside from the lovely twisty NSL section that I'm inevitably stuck behind someone doing 40 down ).. aside from the fact that I'd only get about 500 yards before having a coronary and I doubt there's a bike out there designed to support my weight

Wait.. that's probably not a laughing matter, is it 

Same here. Last time I got my bike out I cycled about half a mile up the road for a pint of milk (OK, there was a big hill in the way). Came out of the shop and downed the pint of milk in one. Had to go back in for another one.

Long way to go before I can do the 20 miles to work.    The added bonus of living at the highest settlement in Hampshire means there's always a 200 foot climb to finish me off at the end should I survive the rest of the ride.

No, my bike is quite happy hanging up in the garage.
Kevin

Hmmmm, I got a bike last year to help with health, Miss Vamps says I take my bike for a walk......

[Gaffers]

mrgreen - I seem to recall the bell being mandatory in Germany, too, from my time there.. although it's a while back now and my memory is foggy!

I've considered cycling to work, too - it's only 12 miles across country (via mostly 40-limit roads aside from the lovely twisty NSL section that I'm inevitably stuck behind someone doing 40 down ).. aside from the fact that I'd only get about 500 yards before having a coronary and I doubt there's a bike out there designed to support my weight

Wait.. that's probably not a laughing matter, is it 

Same here. Last time I got my bike out I cycled about half a mile up the road for a pint of milk (OK, there was a big hill in the way). Came out of the shop and downed the pint of milk in one. Had to go back in for another one.

Long way to go before I can do the 20 miles to work.    The added bonus of living at the highest settlement in Hampshire means there's always a 200 foot climb to finish me off at the end should I survive the rest of the ride.

No, my bike is quite happy hanging up in the garage.

Kevin

That's where mine was, too, until I moved house (it'd hung there for 10 years and I've owned the bike since I was 15! ) .. now I think it's in the boot of the Nissan, at least I think that's where it got stuffed during the house move

I'm amazed it's not a pile of rust by now.

Although I thought about it the other day - the last section before work would all be downhill for me, and ditto the last section before home on the way back, so it would work out quite nicely.. if I could make it that far

I suppose I could find a bike that could take my weight (all, er, 160Kg roughly I guess!) - but I suffer from vanity.. and enormous blokes on bikes look a bit.. daft, no..

I'm 125kg and my racer takes my weight fine, plus i do triathlons on it.  The first week or so of cycling to work would be the worst, you'll be amazed at how quickly it beomes easier and who knows you may lose a few of those 160kg on the way   

[aaronjb]

I'm 125kg and my racer takes my weight fine, plus i do triathlons on it.  The first week or so of cycling to work would be the worst, you'll be amazed at how quickly it beomes easier and who knows you may lose a few of those 160kg on the way   

Interesting.. I did some reading last night, but while some places reckoned any 'good' unsuspended steel frame with properly inflated tyres would be alright, other people reported spokes popping and/or wheels deforming unless you ordered (expensive) specialist bikes I could only find in the US..

I bet Halfords wouldn't have a clue if I walked in and asked though 

[Kevin Wood]

I bet Halfords wouldn't have a clue if I walked in and asked though 

Nor would they if you asked about the weather, in fairness.

Kevin

[Lizzie_Zoom]

Just picked up on this thread Del.

Sorry to hear you have had problems.  

I have got to ask, how was the cyclist?  Even if he was apparently unhurt, I would make sure you report the incident to the police if you have not already done so.  It is all too easy for the cyclist to claim all sorts of things after the event and seek money in some form or another.  I'd cover your back now Del

[Gaffers]

I bet Halfords wouldn't have a clue if I walked in and asked though 

Nor would they if you asked about the weather, in fairness.

Kevin

In all fairness my bike came from halfords and cost £400.  I have spent about another £400 pimping it out with tri-bars, aero drink bottle, forward bent seat post, lights and some Gippeme wheels with some good continental tyres which grip like nothing I have ever had before.

If people are having spokes pop then they are not servicing the bike properly.  My wheels get a cursory check by me every month and a yearly service by the local bike shop, it's only £20 and they are much better at it than I am.  Tyres are checked weekly as well as brakes.  It's like anything in life, brown smelly stuff in = brown smelly stuff out.....

I sometimes carry well over 30Kg of kit commuting to work as I have computers, uniform and the like and the bike takes it all plus me no problem.  So I dont see any issue with you getting something similar.  Plus dont forget you will no doubt start dropping weight within weeks of starting cycling as long as you keep it up.  Or you could go for a touring bike which has some dampening which may be easier on you and the frame certaily with the bumps and potholes.

As you are just down the road, I am happy to help choose and teach you some bike maintenance if you wish 

[tunnie]

I'm 125kg and my racer takes my weight fine, plus i do triathlons on it.  The first week or so of cycling to work would be the worst, you'll be amazed at how quickly it beomes easier and who knows you may lose a few of those 160kg on the way   

Interesting.. I did some reading last night, but while some places reckoned any 'good' unsuspended steel frame with properly inflated tyres would be alright, other people reported spokes popping and/or wheels deforming unless you ordered (expensive) specialist bikes I could only find in the US..

I bet Halfords wouldn't have a clue if I walked in and asked though 

I've considered a road bike, as i currently use an 20 year old mountain bike. Some of the single gear bikes are rockets and super, super light, no gears, no other crap to make it heavy, i was amazed how light they are, less than 1/4 the weight of my bike.

I weigh 70kgs though, so bit of extra weight on the bike for stability is actually a good thing. Seen some folk go flying when hitting a big pot hole on their sporty road bikes

[Kevin Wood]

My dad has a 1952 Humber bike that he's had since new. If you want some exercise you want to try riding that! break me, is it heavy.

Rod brakes front and back, 4 speed sturmey archer hub gears with built-in dynohub. It appears to have armour plating around the chain so you don't get oily trousers. It rolls along with the sort of reassuring whirring noise that you get from a Land Rover or an armoured car. In reality it means that about 50% of your effort is going to waste somewhere.

Won't break in a hurry though.  (or brake, for that matter)

Kevin

[tunnie]

My dad has a 1952 Humber bike that he's had since new. If you want some exercise you want to try riding that! break me, is it heavy.

Rod brakes front and back, 4 speed sturmey archer hub gears with built-in dynohub. It appears to have armour plating around the chain so you don't get oily trousers. It rolls along with the sort of reassuring whirring noise that you get from a Land Rover or an armoured car. In reality it means that about 50% of your effort is going to waste somewhere.

Won't break in a hurry though.  (or brake, for that matter)

Kevin

I'll use it, plenty of pedestrians to slow me down 

[aaronjb]

As you are just down the road, I am happy to help choose and teach you some bike maintenance if you wish 

Much appreciated

I think the first hurdle I have to get over is the feeling of "I'm a fat bloke on a bike, that's just silly" .. digressing a little but that probably goes back many, many years - when I was 16 I used to cycle (10 miles each way) to my first job.. back then I was much, much thinner (almost a normal weight, really, about 16st) and had people drive past me yelling insults about my weight..

As the years have gone by that's happened repeatedly, I just wasn't on a bike (walking down the street, heck even filling up my car at the petrol station!) .. aaaanyway I digress far from bikes. Back to bikes.