Clwydian

Most recent activity

• Expert Witnesses

  in National Standard Cycle Training • 11 years

  

  I'm pretty sure expert witnesses are registered. A quick Google search seems to confirm this.
  There are quite a few specialising in road traffic collisions and accidents.
  Your solicitor will have an understanding of how the system works.

• Which foot do you start cycling with?

  in National Standard Cycle Training • 11 years, 2 months

  

  What does this mean?
  I have a problem with the use of the word 'safe' since it tends not to say anything helpful.

  (EG I can tell a person to go when it's 'safe' or say 'Go when there is space and time for you to move off'.)

  I think leaning slightly to the right into the traffic by starting with left foot gives a rider more visibility and makes them more visible so could be considered marginally better. I don't think the bdifference is enough to dictate to a trainee which foot to start with

  Fortunately I didn't use the offending word.

  What it means is that I believe a rider is more stable with their foot planted on the kerb prior to starting and less likely to fall into the road while looking behind them before setting off. I also believe the outcome of a starting wobble is less likely to result in a pedal hitting the kerb if the right foot is used for the intial pedal stroke.
  I think these difference are enough to dictate to a trainee which foot to start with.
  As I said, I believe this strongly enough to modify my own behaviour when cycling on the right.

  Considering some of the other responses to your question this seems like an odd choice to start taking issue with.

• What do you do at red traffic lights?

  in National Standard Cycle Training • 11 years, 3 months

  

  If there's an ASL I use it. It not, I join the queue.
  I am virtually guaranteed to be the only bike at the lights.
  Contrary to most peoples opinion, we don't have many sheep at traffic lights in North Wales.

• Which foot do you start cycling with?

  in National Standard Cycle Training • 11 years, 3 months

  

  I start with my right. Fortunately this is my preferred foot but if it wasn't, I would have changed it by now to ease starting at the roadside and make it a little safer. When riding on the continent I consciously switch to left foot starting which feels a little awkward for a while but on a loaded touring bike I'm a lot more likely to have a bit of a starting wobble at the kerb so it makes perfect sense to switch.
  Plus, it's what I tell my trainees to do so even if I feel competent to start with the left, I would be showing a poor example. I'm sure many of us are able to start perfectly safely from either foot in any situation but it doesn't necessarily follow that that's what we should be teaching beginners.

• Any question answered...

  in Miscellaneous and Meaningless • 12 years, 8 months

  

  I asked this before but because of the useless search in this forum, couldn't (or unable to find the right word) to search for it again.

  Is there's an automatic clue sheet generator where I can easily pop a GPX files that convert into a clue sheet?

  If possible, a London to Brighton cluesheet would be great, heading out tomorrow with the g/f on her dutch bike.

  http://www.lfgss.com/thread77319.html

  Not that it was very helpful.

  It would be useful to find something and a quick internet search suggests that there's loads out there but I suspect you'll find a longhand method quicker than wading through it all if you need something for tomorrow.

• Revision of The National Standard for Cycle Training

  in National Standard Cycle Training • 12 years, 9 months

  

  e-mail sent. Thanks.

• Mountain bike leader training

  in National Standard Cycle Training • 12 years, 10 months

  

  It's not too difficult as long as you're dealing with adults. Currently there are other factors involved in dealing with children although there are rumours that this will be binned by the government - a bad move. This all depends on definitions of "adventurous" and "remote".

  It will take a bit of research on your part to decide which qualification route to follow as BC have just muddied the waters by abandoning their support of the SMBLA scheme in favour of their own. You'll need to consider the sort of terrain each one covers and how well recognised they are by insurance companies.

  Insurance at the moment costs about £400. You will need your own insurance on top of what's provided under the terms of your scheme to be completely covered for personal liability.

• Running

  in Miscellaneous and Meaningless • 12 years, 10 months

  

  I've been meaning to drop this link into here for a while. There's some really good stuff - especially the Joss Naylor 60 in 60 film.

  http://www.trailrunning.tv/

• Primary position

  in National Standard Cycle Training • 12 years, 10 months

  

  The one thing he disagreed with was how to manage an oncoming driver on a narrow street. I suggested that riders should hold their line forcing drivers to slow down and negotiate for space. He though that 'playing chicken' with drivers was not a good idea and that cyclists should always defer to drivers and pull in as early as possible.

  To be fair, I'm sure he would give the same advice to a car driver in the equivalent scenario - a larger vehicle coming in the opposite direction. Avoiding potential conflicts is a cornerstone of the IAM philosophy.

• Any question answered...

  in Miscellaneous and Meaningless • 12 years, 10 months

  

  Has anybody used one of those knee-support things to help with knee-pain from cycling? If so, was it any good? Or should I try something else instead?
  (This sort of thing: http://www.boots.com/en/Boots-Pharmaceuticals-Neoprene-Knee-Support-Large_1121305/?CAWELAID=551425822&cm_mmc=Shopping%20Engines-_-Google%20Base-_---_-Boots%20Pharmaceuticals%20Neoprene%20Knee%20Support%20Large)

  

  If you try this one, it's unlikely to do any harm.
  BUT
  Knees are too complicated to diagnose from a few lines on an internet forum. You need to see someone competent to diagnose the cause of knee pain from cycling.