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That'd be most likely be people going down to Camberwell for a pint after playing at Newington Gardens (Harper Road, SE1) on Wednesday evenings, usually from around 6pm to 9pm. What kind of bike do you have?
Is that the park behind the Courthouse?
S.E Premium, track bike, don't think I've got the right gear ratio or bars for it.. but that can be changed easily if I felt this was for me :D
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I'd certainly like to give it a go but haven't got the equipment and I don't think my bike is upto it?
I'm down New Cross. I saw a few cats with their mallets cycling away from Burgess park a while back, you got a spot down there you use? What times you meet?
Love to come down and see what it's all about.
Cheers m'dears :D
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Why do you think SPD are not as safe as toe straps and clips? This is a genuine enquiry, cos I find that if I tighten the straps I can't get out quick, but if I don't I can't get the same power out of my (magnificent) leg muscles. Am I doing something wrong, or is there a set-up to toe clips that I haven't seen?
I wouldn't say that clip less pedals themselves are dangerous. It's more about the environment in which you use them.
I run CB Eggbeaters on my XC have done for years and they are great. I have the tension set quite high as I don't like my foot to float about too much. I swapped them recently on to my fixed for a bit, just to see how it felt as I'd been running DMRv12's and wanted a little bit extra drive up hills and speed on the flat.
Clipped in and moving at speed feels wonderful and you are certainly more efficient, Though what worries me is not my proficiency and confidence whilst clipped in, It's other road users that I might tangle with.
Nutty drivers in London take the piss and it would only add insult to injury if bike and I were sent flying. I can imagine some serious damage being done if I couldn't get me feet to disengage. So, that makes me feel wary of using them. Cross country is one thing, but London rush hour is something else entirely.
That's not to say all people will be endowed with the similar fear, I see couriers using SPD pedals all the time and the Lycra brigade with their colorful 'Look' pedals. Much respect to both parties, but I feel there is most definitely a time and a place.
I've put the Eggbeater's back on the XC bike now and running Sofus Fransico Titan straps, which as long as you haven't overtightened allows the foot to slide in/out quickly if need be. You also get a decent amount of drive upwards through the rotation. Good for hills! good for speed, feeling that they are a good middle ground and give me peice of mind. Apparently those straps were perfected in San Francisco, so go figure.
Largely, I think it more about personal preference more than anything, I certainly don't mean to knock SPD.
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Putting other in harm's way just for your own amusment is not worth having a laugh, in fact it's pure stupidly.
Peds have right of way, if you were caught attempt assaulting a peds, they'll throw the book at you and...
Don't be stupid.
I don't think assaulting and harming people for the fun is such a good idea. I don't condone it in the slightest.
However, something has to be said about the large number of people that clearly don't follow safe highway practices because it is more convenient for them not to. that includes all us cyclists that jump light or cycle on the pavements and also include Taxis and buses that don't indicate when lane changes, turning or pulling over.
Every mornings on Waterloo Road or on Ludgate Hill, in the evenings at Rush hour, it's a nightmare, not only are peds using the crossing, mostly ignoring the little green man that is in place for their own safety.
You see people crossing fifteen or twenty yards from the marked crossing or walking out from behind the buses or parked cars or just simply stepping out without looking, whilst texting or with a phone to their ear is a personal favorite of mine. So even if you've cleared a crossing you still have to run the gauntlet as this bell-end plays frogger whilst fiddling with their iPod. Which as me all know is great fun until.. SPLAT!!!!
I understand, if I hit a pedestrian I'm at fault and I'll take my punishment. Having said that, what recourse is there if a ped steps out; you take avoiding maneuvers and get hit yourself by something bigger like a van or a buses (as happened to me not a week ago)
I hasten to add that not only pedestrian not stop to check I was alright, the woman that walked out in front of me was completely oblivious and carried on texting or doing whatever it was that had distracted her.
It was left to the driver of the bright red 'Transport for London' van to get out and check and peel me off the tarmac (I was alright, winded, minor cuts and bruises). I might add, that he was one of the nicest and most understanding van drivers I've come across in London. He gave me a big hug (which was appreciated at the time - thanks mate :D)
Still, I hope we can all agree that riding in London is crazy, it seems to be a bloody free for all out there some nights and mornings. It needn't be like this! If everybody, cyclist included thought about what they were doing and took others into consideration London roads would be a much safer.
If you've been caught flagrantly doing something you shouldn't then it's fair dos isn't it. Man up, pay your fine and don't do it again. No point digging your heels in, as it draws a lot of unwanted attentions.
Unfortunately Police only see that law they try to understand it, but they are simple folk and they've been brainwashed, so you have to forgive them alright for being mindless robots devoid of personalities and sense of humor. There is no grey area at all... ever. Fair enough. Paying the fine is much easier than a day in the magistrates court and losing a days pay, believe that!
Surely the biggest deterrent having been fined (on a couple of occasions myself) would be the patronizing tone of the officer or the time they take issuing your ticket Perhaps even humiliation of when they enact there stop and search policy and you have your scrotum being tugged on in public. As they check you're not carrying anything you shouldn't. Don't quite know how being stopped for running a light is grounds for a search, but there you go. They clearly know best.
All of us here at some point or another have ridden on the pavement or run a flashing amber or ever a red or too. There was an occasion that I was caught blasting all the red light on Old Kent road at three in the morning, didn't realize I had a cop car up me arse the whole distance. Of course I was fined. I tried to argue that there wasn't anything on the road, I had assessed the risks and I did it anyway. Didn't help my cause any.
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I just got my first singlespeed bike but I'm unsure what gear ratio I should use. currently it's 42/16 but I dunno if that's the best bet for me.
the bike is only meant to be a pub bike and for the odd blast about town.
as the bike (se draft lite) is a cheap hack I don't want to spend too much on it so I'll probably stick with the 42 chainring for now but will I improve the ride at all by moving to a different freewheel (will also have a crack at fixed when I eventually get some spd's sorted) if so what sort of tooth count should I go for? more or less than 16?
I'm sure all the boutique riders would disagree but I have to say there is nothing wrong with S.E duder :P I have a Premium Ale myself.
Great BMX heritage and they used to build frames and forks for S&M Bikes back in the day. I love it to bits, can't really say a bad world about it.
Started on a 46:17 (factory stock) recently swapped for 48:16 as stock parts were wearing badly. One thing you have to watch with S.E's: Well built frames shitty component parts.. Rip as much of the stock shit off as you can.
You'll find 42:16 is sweet enough for riding around town, enough to get up to some good speed should you want to. Beware the transition from single to fixed, it's very different, you'll find it unusual at first, it will be natural to stop pedaling when your legs get tired Don't... unless you fancy doing your best Superman impression..
When you feel that ratio isn't pushing you hard enough try a 48:16. It requires a bit more 'pump' but once up to speed the results are worth it..
Clip-less pedals, on London roads. Have to say, you if are thinking off going this direction, especially on a fixed, you are a braver man than I. I've just taken mine off and gone back to straps.
After being knocked off by a van a couple of weeks ago. Going over the arse over apex is one thing, but when the whole bike comes with you because you can't get the old feet to disengage quick enough, that's something else entirely. Lucky escape during rush hour traffic. Not something I would want to repeat regularly.
Much respect all the nutty couriers and racing snakes that are running clip-less pedal's but they are not for me. I was always much more confident with me straps, least you can get your feet out quick.
Good luck, be safe :D
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Dibs on soma bars. In E2 near Victoria park