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why not?

I may have worded this badly - large vehicles, especially HGV's, have massive blind spots for cyclists. you have to ride alongside them sometimes, but things like riding in close, stopping alongside them at junctions, undertaking buses, etc. It's not purely the cyclist's job, but understanding and minimising hazards is a part of staying alive on city roads on a bike, esp. as a cyclist will nearly always come off worse than a motorised monster.

i'm not sure what you mean by this.

Safer cycling infrastructure - cycle lanes, safe junctions, etc. In fairness London has been getting slightly better in this department. Your comment about motor traffic being funneled in with cyclists is an example.

they are.

Cool, didn't know that. With the number of night-time cyclists with no lights on, I'd assumed it was only recommended, like helmets.

nope. see operation 'safeway'

Actually, that is eactly the sort of thing I'm in favour of :). Dangerous motorists will almost always be the bigger danger, but neither group should get a free pass on behaving like a prat. Or just being irresponsible.

other than that, you're on the money :)
eh, 0/4 isn't bad, right? ;)

when they should clearly be promoting enforcement and the provision of usable infrastructure

Agreed, on both. Cyclists need to be aware of the rules of the road, and how to ride safely (don't ride alongside HGV's and buses for a start); safe routes, and lights for night-time cycling should be a legal requirement.

High vis is good, simply because I've seen for myself the difference it can make in spotting a cyclist from a vehicle, but it can't be the whole solution.

Motorists need educating in also obeying the rules of the road, especially those relating to cyclists - awareness, respecting cycle lanes/stop areas, safe driving, and the fact we have a legal right to use the roads.

The police need to land on both groups when they break the laws.

It's not the law, so, it is up to the individual..

All I can say is helmets will not make you invincible. They can't and won't protect you against every kind of damage. But I've had at least one crash in my life that wasn't my fault, had nothing to do with my skill as a rider, and if I hadn't worn a helmet would have cracked my skull open (head at speed onto the sharp, cornered edging of a deep concrete ditch.). As it was most of the helmet stayed wedged around the concrete edging.

A skilled and attentive rider will always be safer than an unskilled or foolish one, but sooner or later there will come a time when all your skill doesn't save you from the unexpected, or simple bad luck. A helmet can't guarantee your safety, but your chances with it once that happens are better than without it.

If anyone else watches 24 Hours in A&E, the staff on there have commented several times that from their own experience treating downed riders, that helmets really do make a difference.

@Mule Manning - thanks; though I can't claim rock-jawed heroism :) I didn't really think about it at the time, just snapped when i saw the rider go down in traffic.

@Sugoi - hehe, I don't think so - I don't remember seeing such a memorable set of features!

If this is the wrong place, I apologise, but to the folks who cycle old kent road - try using the CycleStreets app to find alternatives. I've been able to cut Old Kent out of my London commute entirely, except for crossing it at a junction.

To the cyclist, I hope and pray you're ok, whomever you may be.

While ago now, but on the London commute two bikes abreast in front of me - road bike on the left and little folding job with a short older bloke riding on the right. Left-hand muppet starts screaming and swearing at the other rider, started turning into him, pushing him, then kicked him into the road.

...in peak morning rush hour London traffic. Not the no cars moving version, but busy main three-lane road with green lights ahead.

Fortunately the guy was ok - there was a gap in the traffic and the bus coming up managed to slow down enough for him to get clear, but I just snapped, shot up and cut the road-rage cyclist off, started screaming "the hell you think you're doing? you want to kill him?!", so on - he just turned and said "I'll f*****g have you too, mate, let's go"

I was saved by the mob of other angry cyclists behind me who jumped in (5 in all), solid rugby looking type just folds arms and casually asks me "he giving you trouble, mate?" The speed the bloke shot off across the pavement and down a side street was a thing to behold :). I just wish I understood why people do that..

To the folks who saved me from a morning bashing by backing me up (unasked and unlooked for) in my call-out, in case they are reading this, thanks - it's good to know most London riders are decent people.

If calling out was the norm, I suspect it would act as a deterrent just from the fact most people don't like being thought of as a fool.

What exactly is that bike for... Step-through, front sus, mudguards, chainguard... ???

My misses rides one (not the pictured one!) - it's a very smooth, fun ride, and we've taken it off road a few times with no issues. Of course, I'm not a bike expert.

Eh - an unplanned bike-less state would certainly be a learning experience :)

Given the security consciousness of the riders on here, and the horror stories on the Stolen Bikes thread, I thought this might be of interest:

http://content.met.police.uk/Article/Cycle-marking-events/1400005859885/1400005859885

• Thursday 11th October 2012 - 4-7pm - London Bridge junction with Tooley Street, SE1 - outside Evans Cycles
  
• Thursday 11th October 2012 - 3-7pm - East Central Cycles Exmouth Market EC1R 4QL
  
• Thursday 18th October 2012 - 7.45-10am - Manor House junction with Seven Sisters Road, N4
  
• Thursday 25th October 2012 - 4-7pm - Manor House junction with Seven Sisters Road, N4
  
• Monday 29th October 2012 - 4-7pm - Mitcham BMX Club, Acacia Road, CR4
  
• Wednesday 31st October 2012 - 7.30-10.30am - Wellington Arch, W1J
  
  
  

Police have told me that even when they recover stolen/suspect bikes, they often can't trace the owner. Best case, this means the bike is sold off, worst case, they can't charge the thief and he may even get the bike back again.

Besides, anything that makes your bike less attractive to thieves has to be good!

Ndeipi muface, pamberi neSpok, pasi nekuvengana

Mangwanani, shamwari - Ndineurombo, but my Shona is very limited. It has been a looong time since my last lesson!

Although I'm learning mandarin now, if you speak that? ;)

Hey, it even showed in Zimbabwe too, lord knows which back-end boondocks CB grew up in.

A fellow Zimbabwean? Good to know there's still some around!

In case you can;t find any from the users here, Cycle Surgery will price-match online shops, so you might be able to save some money that way. Pitlock themselves also ship direct, they tend to be cheaper than most UK re-sellers that I've seen.

Thank-you for the feedback. (My pitlocks are new ones, so I hope that I've avoided the mysterious-sounding pitlock problem.)

Just like to get some advise from all the (vociferous ;)) lock experts on the forum. I'm using a single Abus Granit 54 around the frame, but with wheels and front fork/handlebar assembly secured by Pitlocks. Is this an acceptable solution for London?
I tend to do a ot of random cycling as well (parks, random roads, offroad, etc), and don't want to carry more wieght than I need to.

(This thread is heckuva useful, by the way. I tip my hat to the originator).