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Given time everything will end up being filmed.
Insurance companies are going towards pervasive monitoring: GPS, speed, cameras, etc.
They're started with the very young (high risk) and the sports cars (high risk due to high speed) but I wouldn't be surprised if in 5 years most motor vehicles don't come with a camera and the guarantee of a lawsuit for any screwing up.
We're just in the very early days of that.
I'm sure you're right. It's saddening that some safety measures are being driven by financial economies and profit improvement; in such cases to find out who is at fault so the relevant company picks up the bill.
I remember seeing on television years ago technology aimed at vehicles that dealt with (some issues of) speeding. A transponder on speed limit signs would alert the vehicle to the speed limit it had entered, and wouldn't allow it to exceed the maximum speed for that zone.
I wonder if this will ever be introduced, and if so, will it be a safety or financially driven introduction?
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Workstand - I agree, I've thought about getting a helmet cam to film mad descents on long rides. I've spent plenty of time watching people get up and down famous hills on Youtube, before having a go at the myself. I probably wouldn't use it to film myself telling someone off for running a red light though, or if a car cut me up. I'd just take my normal approach of making an OTT gesticulation, being a bit annoyed for a minute then forgetting about it and carrying on with my day.
On the rare occasion something happens which involves some sort of response, a shout is pretty much all I do and then get on with my day. From the film of 'bikecam' clips, the viewer would imagine that this is part of the daily routine, which is nonsense.
I don't know if the two main contributors are on the forum, but it would have been good to hear from them, not only as a right to reply of sorts, but to hear if they felt their contribution was presented as they thought or were told it would be.
As regards a camera for myself, I need one which can cope with being flung about on a mountain bike at speeds way in excess of my skills level (simply as it's fun - cycling as a fun thing, now that didn't come across in the programme!) and one with a larger battery pack that can also record for a long period in low light conditions. Dunwich Dynamo 2013 for instance, assuming I can get myself to a decent standard of fitness. The Go Pro 3 Black edition seems to be the leader so far because of the improved low light performance. I'm sure this is better in a different thread, as I'd like to learn more about these cameras before I spend my cash on one.
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Yeah that HGV roundabout clip was horrible. It made me shudder. So did the clip where Trafficdroid was overtaken and undertaken simultaneously by a van and another van with a trailer.
All this has made me curious about the use of cameras on cycles. I have watched many YouTube cycle videos, some made by those featured in the programme. Many of these have been useful in showing me shortcuts across London and generally great viewing. I have thought of getting a camera myself, although it was really for mountain bike riding and the occasional trip with friends on countryside trips. I'm not sure I'd be tempted to use it in town, especially after this programme.
Catching up with someone after an event and having an exchange of views is one thing, but pointing out that it has been filmed and will be uploaded on to YouTube clearly adds more tension to a situation. The trouble is you don't know who you are dealing with, and one of these days, it could be a Class A whackjob who will get really wound up by this with horrific consequences. The last thing I want to read on this forum is that someone filming such an incident has been assaulted or run over.
As an aside, I wonder how bike sales will do this year from people who saw this programme? Judging by a conversation I had last night with a friend, I'm not expecting him to join me on a ride anytime soon.
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I had seen most of the footage before; I spent a lot of time watching YouTube and reading this forum before returning to active cycling again, and I wanted to know what I was getting myself back into.
Pretty much as I expected a 'them & us' presentation. I was disappointed that so much of the footage revolved around many of the drivers complaining that the cyclists weren't riding in the kerb (presumably where cyclists belong?), without explaining why for so many reasons that is often the last place to be riding. Without that explanation, I think a trick has been missed for motorists to see it from our point of view as road users.
Associated with that is how driving and the road networks have evolved. When I started riding on the roads in the late 1970s the state of the roads - potholes, poor repairs etc were very poor and I've really seen very little improvement, if any, in 30+ years. Cars however, have become increasingly more comfortable, easier to drive and with these advances you would have hoped this would have given more time to paying attention to what is going on outside of the vehicle. If anything, it appears to have simply released the driver to do something else as well, and most cars now seem to be an extension of their homes or offices. Added to which in this cold snap, very few motorists - near my area at any rate - seem to think that defrosting the car consists only of creating a letterbox field of view through the windscreen. So now they've not only doing something else, they can't see you either!
There also seems to be an increasing minority of people in all aspects of daily life who can cause an argument in an empty room. If you happen to have infringed their perceived personal space or caused some minor slight, they seem to go straight off the deep end and turn the insignificant to a major incident.
I'm really not sure how much further this programme gets us. My concern is that some viewers weighing up if swapping commuting from public transport to cycling is a sensible choice for them, may decide to stay on the train. What it doesn't show as it is such dull viewing, is that it is perfectly possible to have hundreds of miles commuting with nothing remarkable happening at all.
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...and that's the bit of info I was missing. Makes sense. Still enjoyed taking part, with a little added excitement!
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I bet no 24 Workstand is chuffed, the winner never appeared on the final list, unless I am missing something.
- Roymund
- hms
- chatters
- hbmagpies
- Dramatic Hammer
- eei
- timmmah
- Khornight
- Marco
10.chris gee
11.harold - ough
- Wingnuts
- Mrs Wingnuts
15.Pauliepie
16.Thoma
17.Taba - ExTra
- Chris Jones
- Brixton Jones
- Magpie
- Taxo
- Timwiththebo
- Workstand
- Ed Von P
- Scilly Suffolk
27.jribbons - DGFirth
- roolbg
- Zebs
- Adroit
32.DariusJones - Taliesin
- leftmebehind
- kal_yxo
- antlers
I've only looked in now and again on this thread after buying a ticket on the 12th. I thought I'd find out who the winner was, as it was put back a day. Yes, I was momentarily delighted when I saw No. 24 had won, but then someone else wins the bike? I'm obviously missing something too.
- Roymund
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God I'm a slow mover. Was going to invest but didn't get it done in time (I thought it'd take you longer).
I hope you all remember me when you're billionaires.
I got a little closer than you but with the same result! Identity check page froze on me this morning and wouldn't allow me to scroll down. Raised it as a query, but it's irrelevant now.
Anyway, I don't want my comment to come across as sour grapes. It became fully subscribed so quickly because it's a good idea, and I hope it proves to be a great success for all involved.
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SSCX rocks, if the hill is too long and you loose momentum, come off and leg it, that's the whole point of cyclocross, everyone will have to eventually, geared or not. Ride the mud/sand and hop the barriers to compensate.
Found one. Hopefully collect this coming Friday - and if I can work out how to post pictures I'll do so.
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Fantastic story and a great build, no wonder she was delighted.
I lurked here for a good while before posting and was mightily impressed at the knowledge here, which has already helped me in so many ways with my cycling.
I love these older frames and if I had the space, I'd certainly build one up myself.
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No, but I thoroughly abused an Alfine 8 and it performed flawlessly.
I'd go for the Eight for XC* given the commentary on 'tinternet regarding the Eleven.
That said you may have no problems with an 11 at all...
- I have a brand new unused one hand built into a Open Pro - PM me in case you decide you'd like to buy one.
Thanks Howard. I've just discussed this with a friend over the 'phone and he thinks I'm going completely the wrong way with this. Rather than something different, I should be looking at something less complicated to get filthy and clean up. He thinks a single speed CX is a better option. I've reluctantly agreed that losing more weight and getting fitter will deal with the hill issue. It's good advice and I'll take it although it isn't what I wanted to hear, and as this is a fixed gear and single speed forum I'm pretty much stuffed. Still, it brings it back on topic for the thread as these can be found for well under a £1000, which really is a bonus.
It is also a reason to acquire another bike although I'm sure my wife will have a very different view.
- I have a brand new unused one hand built into a Open Pro - PM me in case you decide you'd like to buy one.
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This week have fallen (back) in love with the Boardman CX.... To be honest, trying to get the brakes working to a level I was happy with was a royal pain in the arse.
Now with road BB7s front and rear, new cables (lightly lubed to reduce friction), removed cross top levers, travel agent on the front and having trued the (very wonky) discs...Braking power is great. Actually great, not just ok.
Might even be tempted to put knobblies back on and go ride it how it's meant to be ridden, didin't have faith enough in the brakes to do so before.
The upgrade to BB7s sounds a great thing to do. I've got the brakes on my CX to an acceptable standard, they're OK and they do the job, but my preference is for brakes to be well above OK!
All in all I'm very pleased with the CX but I think the weather this year and the coming bad weather months is giving me second thoughts. I ride on single track and bridleways through Epping Forest regularly; not so much as a destination but a method of cutting busy roads out of longer journeys. A hint of bad weather at any time of the year here and the place turns into a boggy mire.
I'm seriously thinking of replacing it with a Genesis Day One Alfine 11 but the reviews are mixed, and I see from the latest specs that the 2013 bike is having BB5s fitted and not BB7s as on the 2012 version. Most of the reviewers use their bikes for commuting, so I don't know how it deals with loads of mud. The weight issue isn't important as any bike comes back in this weather with about 2 to 3 Kg of clay soil on it, which acts like a grinding paste on the drive train. Having a hub drive train in principle seems to be easier for maintenance, particularly for cleaning stacks of mud off. I am concerned though that I might simply be swapping one set of problems for another. I'd like a bike I can use and spend more time riding it than cleaning it, and because of where I ride elsewhere, it has to have gears. I walk enough hills as it is....
Probably not the right thread to ask this, but has anyone had an Alfine 11 for any length of time and ridden it in muddy conditions?
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I get the feeling that its just frustration. When I'm called out on a stupid mistake, I have to bite my tongue. It doesn't necessarily mean the guy hasn't valued your input, it's just he doesn't know how to vent his anger with his own stupidity.
I hadn't thought of that. It's certainly a more charitable thought than I'd considered about that experience! Thanks.
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I tend to shout 'red!', call out those who perform dick moves that put me or others in danger, I'll even helpfully point out when people's lights aren't working.
To be honest very rarely do they say thank you to me for worrying about the risk they've put themselves in or the danger they present to others.
I'm toying with saying fuck all and letting some type of Noel Edmonds cosmic sorting resolve these issues. I say this because the other night cycling home I had a bit of a dick who would undertake me every now and then when I did stupid stuff like slow down because I was looking down the road and I could see trafic about to stop/ car slams on etc.
I'm not sure why I didn't say anything. Perhaps it was because he was on a Boardman and I'm prone to stereotyping people. Anyway he did it again I said nothing and I'm quite proud of myself when I didn't say anything to him other than 'Are you OK ?' as I helped him off the ground after he undertook a left turning motorbike.
Luckily no one was hurt as the motorcyclist reacted well and stopped reducing the impact considerably.
I felt really smug for the rest of the journey.
I am now going to try and keep my mouth shut and see if Noel is actually right.
My cycling mileage isn't much, but I've shouted to another cyclist in recent times who had decided to go halfway down a large truck which was in the process of turning left. He got up on the kerb and avoided being squashed and was grateful enough to give me a two fingered salute before continuing his journey. I almost never call out to any other cyclist, simply because I feel it makes damn all difference.
There is one cyclist I come across infrequently (on the Highams Park/Walthamstow borders on a grey mountain bike) who I avoid, simply because he manages to cause me an equal measure of concern, despair and deep annoyance. I am not the fittest or in any way a fast cyclist, but I manage to catch up with him constantly, despite his inability to stop for lights, people on crossings etc, whilst I comply. On the one occasion I did mention to him when alongside in traffic - more politely than I really felt - that he had been lucky not to have been sideswiped at the previous junction, he took out his miniature headphones and spat in front of my bike (Note 1), then cycled on. I assume he's had successful charisma by-pass surgery.
Part of the reason I block off worrying about the actions of others, is that one shouting moment leads to another. As I'm far from a perfect cyclist myself, I'd end up shouting at myself too and it's a quick and steep slippery slide into banshee land.
(Note 1) I was riding a Boardman CX that day. Now I've had it 9 months or so and put everything right that was wrong from the shop new, it's a fantastic ride. The grief of buying it and just getting it home without it falling apart completely, is still an open wound. I often get pitying glances when riding it, which I don't from my single speed. Spitting, however, is a bit strong.
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Sounds a great idea.
- Roymund
- hms
- chatters
- hbmagpies
- Dramatic Hammer
- eei
- timmmah
- Khornight
- Marco
10.chris gee
11.harold - ough
- Wingnuts
- Mrs Wingnuts
15.Pauliepie
16.Thoma
17.Taba - ExTra
- Chris Jones
- Brixton Jones
- Magpie
- Taxo
- Timwiththebo
- Workstand
- Roymund
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I'd looked forward to watching this and cutting across the forest to see it. Given how much rain has fallen (and is still coming down) I don't fancy coming there looking like an extra from a 1950s swamp picture. Sewardstone Road will no doubt be flooded in places too with all this, hiding the potholes which the recent 'el-cheapo' resurfacing so spectacularly failed to address.
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I had one new myself and that's probably why I'd like to have one again. Many happy memories riding it too and I must have done several thousand miles on it before I sold it. It's only in the last couple of months I found the fork had a poor reputation!
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Did this ever sell? At 190 pounds posted I'd like to have it.
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A couple of months ago I bought a set of Shimano clipless pedals. They are still in the box. About a month after I learnt to ride I was persuaded to use toe clips & straps. That's the way it's been for many years since, apart from the times I've had a mountain bike and used flat pedals. I'm currently trying to justify a reason to fit them and learn to use them. I'm hoping it would be an easy transition, as I'm obviously used to having to get a foot out when stopping.
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I've found this thread to be a real wake up call to what is out there and can happen. I regularly read this thread to keep my eyes open for anything reported stolen here.
I've been cycling seriously again for six or so months after a gap of about 25 years, although the odd bike has wandered in and out of my life in that period for a short while. Getting one stolen years ago was the cause of me giving up cycling. Nothing special, probably of little value to anyone else but it was mine.
In the last few months I've been able to draw four main observations of how cycling in London has changed.
Road surfaces are no better today.
Today's cars are much easier to drive, more comfort and more distractions with mobile 'phones etc.
Because of these points, I try to avoid main roads and take side roads, tow paths and parks wherever possible, but some of these can be no go areas at certain times of the day. So it is often a balance between poor main roads and indifferent driving against the likelihood of trouble on a cut through.
People don't care. I came off my bike recently (see Oh Shit moments thread) and whilst it was minor there were people about, none of whom asked if I was OK, even in passing. If someone had been trying to take my bike off me, I'm under no illusion that I would get any assistance.
Theft. It seems the best you can do is get two different types of really strong locks, more in the hope that it looks more hassle so some other poor devil is the victim. I'm more or less convinced that you could be really blatant in stealing a bike and nearly everyone would just walk past.
With that I'm off to the shops to buy a substantial chain and lock to supplement my D-lock.
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^^ That looks alright that does, really nice in fact, and for £200, not bad at all!
Sort out the cabling and hoods and a good service and it looks ready to go.
You planning on rebuilding it with more modern groupset or keeping much the same?
I don't know much about Suntour groupset looks relatively tidy.Thanks. Apart from some consumables, I trust that I'll find all the main components in good working order; first inspection gives me hope that all is well. My intention is to keep it period - and to use it regularly.
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Pic link doesn't work mate, least not for me. :(
Any other pics?
The link doesn't work from my copy of it, but does appear to still from the original posting. Anyway here is another link which worked for me as a cut & paste:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NIGEL-DEAN-BICYCLE-753-FRAME-/150888494364?clk_rvr_id=401681950287
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I've copied this reply from the eBay finds thread to here, as this find is now my project:
(Copy)
#43246 by t.o. 5th September, 2012
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NIGEL-DEAN...item2321a7b51c
bargain at £200 and has a nice story as well
(End Copy)
I put a bid down on this and was very surprised to find I won it for the opening figure. The story does indeed appear to be genuine, and on arrival looks far better than I thought from the pictures. I have put it in storage for the time being.
I intend to do the work over Christmas; first impressions are that with a little careful light surface rust removal, touch up paint will be all that is required cosmetically. The headset and bottom bracket are smooth and quiet and the seat post moves freely. Gears change smoothly. I'm hoping that complete disassembly and rebuilding won't bring any expensive surprises and need little more than correct adjustment and overdue lubrication. Some parts I will simply replace. I want to use the cycle regularly after this, and I think a number of components might just as well be replaced after so long in storage. The chain, brake blocks, tubs, gear and brake cables both inner and outer will certainly be swapped over for new parts. I hope the cassette has some life left in it, the bar tape I will swap for padded black tape and matching bar end caps. The saddle has lots of scuff marks but has life left in it, however, I have my old Brooks Professional saddle which I would prefer to fit.
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Wet leaves, misty damp day. Seen well in advance, I knew they were likely to be trouble but the fast moving traffic wouldn't let up to allow me the few inches I needed to avoid them. Slowed right down and got through almost all of them, when I found myself ceremoniously dumped onto the pavement in slow motion. As I contemplated another minor cycling related injury, I noticed the leaves where I came off had been hiding a huge lump of moist dog exhaust. Nice.
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Hi all, I started cycling again six months ago after a gap of about 25 years. I bought a cyclocross bike with the intention of just getting fitter and losing weight but the bug has bitten again and I'm riding much more. I want to have a go at the Dunwich Dynamo next year on a machine I've built up myself, so I'll start the search for a frame shortly.
LFGSS
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This site is supported almost exclusively by donations. Please consider donating a small amount regularly.
How true.
A couple of months back, I bought a bike described as parts only, not working and very rusty. It had spent the last decade or so in a shed after one of his kids played about with the inner tubes - and there it had sat ever since until they had a clear out. It had a few bits I wanted, so I offered a silly sum and got it.
I put in my work stand, gave it a couple of tubes and lubricated and adjusted it up, and not only did it work, it worked very well. The frame and rim had loads of surface rust, which could easily be sorted and replacing the tyres which had perished would give me a winter beater. So, not a parts bike.
Overnight I thought about it. Not a bad bike, a trip to Armourtex could completely change that frame, put some work into cleaning the rest of the parts, new cables and....
....there's the problem. I bought a bike for a few bits and I know sometime next year it will get a full renovation. I should have slapped a coat of Hammerite on the thing and used it there and then.