Search results for:

This morning it was "fuck you google maps you fucking fuck." Was using it to get to work this morning on my phone as I've recently moved so I'm unsure of the route.

When it says "In eight hundred feet..." and doesn't finish it's sentence as you're quickly getting rid of that eight hundred feet, it can be quite frustrating. Especially in central and you're surrounded by buses, pedestrians, nodders, The Addison Lee cyclist extermination squad and cars.

IN EIGHT HUNDRED FEET WHAT?! TELL ME YOU FUCKING WHORE!

I need a cigarette.

Respect for not being douchebags and making me feel like a bigger knob than I already do.

Appreciated.

Oh. I'm wondering how you come to your conclusion that "road tax" pays for the roads, in that case.

Not so much a conclusion. I suppose I always assumed that that's what road tax was for. I don't drive a car or motorbike so have never paid it and never looked in to it.

Point taken.

Note to self; research what I'm talking about before posting (especially authoritively) on the Internet.

You write authoritatively on this subject - can you point me in the direction of the numbers that show the maintenance costs for Highways Agency maintained and Council maintained roads, and the cost / income of the DVLA, who administer "road tax".

Probably too authoritatively. In answer to your question, no I can not.

What is the tax actually for, we know that income tax/council tax pays for roads?

And if taxing bikes why not tax skateboards, scooters etc,. Really can't understand why anyone would even mention tax on cyclists other than some sort of punishment for daring to cycle and hold up a driver in some way.

Income/council tax doesn't go in to roads/highways. That's what road tax is for.

Helmets shouldnt be mandatory, as apparently I'm more likely to be hit wearing one

The one thing they don't take in to consideration is a cyclist's own mistakes. Studies might show that XYZ, doesn't mean that riding without a helmet is safe(r). I know that's not what you're saying, just adding/contributing.

I'll be honest, I have no idea how everyone recognises each other on here.

I think a good alternative would be larger penalties. Ride like a dick, get fined. Hard. I know it's not necessarily a practical approach, but being taxed is fucking ridiculous. That's precisely one of the reasons I ride a bike instead of driving.

I can't speak for everyone but I can't afford tax, insurance and all that kind of stuff. Some of the main reasons for me riding a bike.

DM'ing you mate.

I don't suppose anyone NW3 has a bike pump I'd be able to use later? Small valve. Gonna be in gospel oak but will happily walk to hampstead, tufnell park, Kentish town kinda areas.

Gotta fix the puncture first and not there yet (making things difficult) - will owe the saviour a beer next weekend.

I don't suppose anyone NW3 has a bike pump I'd be able to use later? Small valve. Gonna be in gospel oak but will happily walk to hampstead, tufnell park, Kentish town kinda areas.

Gotta fix the puncture first and not there yet (making things difficult) - will owe the saviour a beer next weekend.

I wouldn't buy everything else new, you can get some bargains on here for seatposts, stems, bars, saddles, brakes etc.

You're absolutely right. I just love internet shopping and getting things in the post a bit too much.

i believe it does, and i think it's the perfect set if you're after a commuter that can handle some speed once i a while..
since it's in your price range (remember it comes with headset, seatpost and clamp) i would just buy a new set

http://www.dolan-bikes.com/Track%20FrameSets/Aluminium%20Track%20FrameSets/FXE?product_id=605

My mistake. That's saved me £100 haha. Good eyes, Nicolai.

Just made a list of all the components I'd like. More expensive than I thought it'd be. Gulp.

Second dibs on spacers?

Just had a look at the langsters. The frame sets are a little out of my price range unfortunately. While they probably offer more by way of spec, I've just come across the Dolan FXE Matt frameset (thanks to Loctez' Dolan suggestion). Looks affordable and isn't plastered with logos which I like.

Only problem I can see with it is that it doesn't have an eyelet for a front break.

Is that an easy fix/something I could do myself or would it be worth seeking out a different frame?

Cannondales are you friend if you want gears.
If you are looking for fixed gear (I presume) then have a look at meilec bikes, they are awesome and very cheap for a bespoke Alu frame. With forks may cost a little more than £200 but its a worthy compromise.
http://www.bikemielec.com/en/ostre_kolo_szosa.php
Or something like a Dolan pre cursa/ track champ if you don't care about snobbery.

Thanks, Loctez. Will be building a fixed gear, yeah. Circa £200+ with forks is very reasonable.

Apologies for the vague OP, but I'm still new at this haha.

Noted.

Fast, aluminium, up to £200 for the frame itself. Not necessarily interested in a vintage bike. The frame is probably the only thing I'd buy second hand. Everything else new.

Right now I've got a bike which falls very comfortably under "beater" I guess. While I love it, I would like a more aesthetically pleasing bike so I thought about building one.

First things first: frame. Is it worth buying a completely new frame, or second hand?

I probably wont start building until October when I've got some more room but I figured being prepared is probably best.

Any tips/advice are more than welcome.

Edit: I don't even know where to buy fixed gear frames from either.

Last night around 7:45pm on commercial street heading North, a bunch of morons on Boris bikes (probably for the banter and cause the Facebook photos will be hilar), some cunt rides across the road without looking for traffic, cue his girlfriend riding out in front of me about 20 yards ahead. I managed to shout "watch your back" in time for her to stop, me to swerve and luckily not hit any of them. Had no choice but to swerve right, nearly in to the other lane as all their idiot friends decided to follow them out single file. Managed to shout that she was a fucking moron before I got out of earshot.

You'll get used to riding fixed fairly quickly. I find it offers a lot more control. I went back to single speed for an evening because one of my toe clip cages broke. It was horrible; severe lack of control and I felt wobbly.

I was so happy last night on my way home that when a chap on the pavement in front of me put his hand out to hail a taxi I could not resist shouting "High Five" and then completing the action with a high 5.
One of my cycling ambitions created. Next project - multiple high fives along a bus stop

I've tried this twice with bus stops. I tried to high five a guy, but only our fingers touched. I called it "The E.T" and told myself it was still an achievement. Tried to high five another guy on Tufnell Park Road but I'd gone by before he realised what was going on, regardless of me shouting "high five!!!"

His girlfriend found it funny though.

Some bellend on holloway road around 6:45 last night in hi-vis, a helmet and a face mask on a bianchi jumping the lights and then slaloming invisible cones while turning right. Makes me wonder why he'd bother with "safety gear" if he's going to ride like such a prick.

Healthy budget breakfast:

You can get a bag of Meusli for less than a quid, a bunch of bananas for a quid and tesco sell these small low fat fruit yoghurts for 15p. Buy ten yoghurts (not bad for £1.50 really) and all the above for a week's worth of breakfast.

Meusli, a chopped banana and two of those yoghurts in a bowl is a damn good breakfast. Aside from the bag of Meusli, that's £3.50 for five meals. The bag of cereal will last a good few weeks as well.

Whoever DAS'd me on Old Street roundabout around 6:30pm last night, I hope you were doing so ironically. Otherwise, you should see someone.

Blond woman with a red helmet on a sky blue single speed over Southwark bridge around 16:45, nice bike!