Are you too scared to cycle in London?

checkski

Damn. Lost rant. No time for more, except to say hear hear to Detritus. For once I agree with him!<br>

Detritus

Bloody hell! Lol

djmattyoung

I agree with Detritus. Pavements are for walking and roads are for riding/driving. 

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Stella

Shame summer is over and we're most likely to cycle in the rain often. :-(<br>Soon it's going to take about 10 minutes to even get warm on the bike. Still better than being squashed into public transport.<br>

Idoru

My very soggy ride home yesterday was brightened up by the appearance of a rainbow <br>

Sutent

I have a 7.5 mile ride to Chelsea daily. The regents canal is very dark in the morning and I have to try very hard to run over people who are sleeping by the canal. It can be quite tricky

yagamuffin

I'm sure the Police will be happy that you are trying, how many do you get a day?<div><br></div><div><br></div><div> </div>

djmattyoung

I find when cycling in the rain that everyone (motorists, cyclists and pedestrians) get really stupid and pay even less attention then when the sun is out. 

Stella

You have to try very hard to run over people ...? Err ... I hate cycling at the canal when it's dark, it's so uneven and I'd probably end up swimming.<br>

Stella

Matt: quite right. I cycle much slower in the rain, especially when it's dark, as I can't see too well. Then I have glasses which doesn't help. Time to get the contacts out, methinks.<br>

kreuzkav

<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/bike-blog/2013/oct/15/cross-the-line-cyclist-safe">http://www.theguardian.com/environment/bike-blog/2013/oct/15/cross-the-line-cyclist-safe</a>;

Peter Crumb

Alot of idiots ride bikes. I asked on here a few weeks ago about where to position yourself at lights and it seems we all know what we're talking about. Surprised at the amount of people who go as far left as possible when they're turning right! Especially on a one way street. Another was a woman who was constantly overtaking over cyclists in really dangerous places - on corners on cycle paths, at junctions etc. I really think we need some kind of national agenda for bike lessons.

Detritus

It genuinely baffles me that there is no test for people on a bike, not to see if they can ride but to see if they understand the rules of the road.

yagamuffin

To be fair there are just as many stupid motorists, the driving test does nothing to weed them out...

vetski

I saw some kids being given on-road cycle training in CE this morning, and I had to do cycling proficiency when I was a kid. A lot of it's practice though - totally agree with @yagamuffin, I was a lousy driver straight after I'd passed my test, but like to think I'm better now!

Detritus

I agree, but surely some kind of road awareness training simple things like where to position your bike is better than nothing at all.

vetski

Oh absolutely - some level of training should be given to all road users (even pedestrians...the number who only <u>start</u> to cross when the lights go green is remarkable!). But what I meant is that real proficiency develops over time and with practice.

Stella

Speaking of tests: As of today I can call myself a certified bike mechanic. <br><br>I find that motorists, who almost drive into the back of your bike, because they think you are small enough to make space for them rather annoying. Particularly if it's a narrower road/street. If I drove a car, they just would accept they can't overtake--in most cases.<br><br>In general, I think if everyone applied common sense, the roads would be much safer for everyone.<br>

Peter Crumb

Stella do you do private services etc?

Stella

Not yet, Peter. It's not that straight forward as I'd need a public liability insurance. Not that I think I'd send people straight to death, but I'd rather be on the safe side. Plus, I need some more experience. <br><br>What needs doing?<br>

Peter Crumb

Nothing at the moment! Just going to need a service before I do the coast to coast later next year.

Stella

Ah, I see. PM me in time (a month or two weeks before you go). I'm sure we can arrange something. I'll probably have more than enough experience by then. My guess is a proper strip down and put together service. So it's nothing major, just a matter of making sure everything's in good working order. <br>

Peter Crumb

Do you work in a bike shop full time then?

Sutent

Stella I need a service as well. Can you look at my bike as well. How much do you charge?<div><br></div>

Stella

Peter, yes, I do work full time in a bike shop, but I'm mainly looking after (servicing) our bikes (second hand Japanese bikes), preparing them for sale. I've only recently started with customers' bikes, because I'm still in training, despite the certificate. The course I've attended gives me the tools, now I need to get the practice in. I'm only touching bikes in the shop, because I know Noah's there to help if I get stuck. I'm well aware of the responsibility, and I'm not taking that lightly. <br><br>Sutent: see the above. I can look at your bike and assess what needs to be done, which will give you an idea, but I will not touch any bike unless it's something I've got lots of experience with. Hope you'll understand that. <br>

Stella

I think I saw a guy on a light blue Viscount today. Too fast, or I would've called after him. Dammit!<br>

djmattyoung

<font face="Arial, Verdana" size="2">there was a terrible accident the other day in Camden involving a bike and lorry. Hope the lady is ok. Hard to say what happened as the report suggest the lorry indicated to go left and the cyclist went round the lorry to the right but somehow got clipped, what a nightmare.</font><div style="font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 10pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><br></div><div><font face="Arial, Verdana" size="2"><a href="http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/woman-cyclist-suffers-life-changing-injuries-after-crash-with-tipper-truck-in-camden-8895992.html">http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/woman-cyclist-suffers-life-changing-injuries-after-crash-with-tipper-truck-in-camden-8895992.html</a></font></div><div><br></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: small;"> Be careful out there fellow cyclists especially now it gets darker earlier (during rush hour) & the weather is bad. </span></div>

djmattyoung

on another point, yesterday I was cycling behind another cyclists who I wanted to overtake but I had to hold back as he just couldn't keep a straight line, I had to shout out to him 'please keep a line I want to overtake'. <div>Who gets on a bike on the road if they can't even cycle in a straight line? I see it quite often. </div>

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