"Absolutely unacceptable": HGV driver blocks protected cycle lane... at dangerous junction where urgent safety works followed cyclist's death; £1 donation to charity for every photo of bike lane parking; Cancellara sells a PS5 + more on the live blog

Maybe they confused it with a cycle-nazi salute?

Talking about Bristol roundabouts, Autoshenigans covered the M49 and your favourite one down that way. 

hutchdaddy wrote:

https://twitter.com/NoContextBrits/status/1596141655685582850?t=OSLgGHff... If only life was always like this....

That's quite an old one, but excellent roadcraft from the rider and driver (not so much the pedestrian for crossing in front of a big vehicle).

SimoninSpalding wrote:

UK cyclists are competent to maintain their own bike

Speak for yourself.

Steve K wrote:

SimoninSpalding wrote:

UK cyclists are competent to maintain their own bike

Speak for yourself.

I remember speaking to the bloke in my LBS recently.  I'd booked Bike A in for a new cassette and chainraings, said I'd been recommended to just do it myself and said I didn't feel competent to do it, said all I really do myself is brakes/brake-pads and changing tyres/fixingflats.  He said "Well, that probably puts you up in the top xx% of bike owners.  Many people wouldn't even do that."

(Yes, it was possible it was flattery in case I backed out of the work, but even so...).

brooksby wrote:

I remember speaking to the bloke in my LBS recently.  I'd booked Bike A in for a new cassette and chainraings, said I'd been recommended to just do it myself and said I didn't feel competent to do it, said all I really do myself is brakes/brake-pads and changing tyres/fixingflats.  He said "Well, that probably puts you up in the top xx% of bike owners.  Many people wouldn't even do that."

(Yes, it was possible it was flattery in case I backed out of the work, but even so...).

Someone on Twitter recently posted something like "I wish cyclists would stop looking at me in horror when I say I never carry a tube or pump and don't know how to fix a puncture, if it happens I go to the bike shop," she got an avalanche of support from folks saying yes, I'm just the same. Each to their own and I guess we should all be grateful that their custom helps keep the bike shops open.

When I got back into cycling7 years ago, my first bike was a boardman sport hybrid. I signed up for the maintenance cover with Halfords at the same time. Used to get them to change the puncture as they were just 200 yards away, I would have to pay for the tube anyway and they did it in 5 mins where I would take 20-30. 

I'm now fine with doing several minor repairs up to chain replacement and minor gear indexing, however the bike shop still gets several visits for servicing the bikes. 

AlsoSomniloquism wrote:

I'm now fine with doing several minor repairs up to chain replacement and minor gear indexing, however the bike shop still gets several visits for servicing the bikes. 

I can do most things, I'm not good with bottom brackets or re-mineralising disc brakes, the shop gets those jobs, so as I said, from a selfish point of view I'm very happy that others are keeping the shops open with minor jobs so they are there when I need them! (I do try and show my gratitude by buying as many bits as I can from the LBS rather than the Internet when possible)

It's straight forward on a shimano set up to do the BB. Even I can do it !

My ebike with a self extracting crank at some daft Nm is another matter...

hirsute wrote:

It's straight forward on a shimano set up to do the BB. Even I can do it !

My ebike with a self extracting crank at some daft Nm is another matter...

Maybe I'll give it a go, I think I was traumatised by trying to do one when I was sixteen, totally arsing it and having to do the walk of shame into the LBS...perhaps they've got easier in the last nearly forty (God help me!) years?

I'm no wrench but I've had a go at many bits of bike maintenance.  However I take this as a positive sign.  That's because I think this is what tends to happen where there is mass cycling.  And I'm not an elitist - I think more people cycling will also benefit me (even if I remain a "cyclist").

My logic is: where there is mass cycling bikes are treated like people treat their cars in the UK.  Most people don't spend their weekends e.g. changing the car's oil filter (is that still a thing?)

I encourage / support friends to be able to do the basics but if they just want stuff fixed for them that's fine.  And even with the small number of folks cycling today if I'm stopped it doesn't take long before someone comes by and asks if I need any kit.

chrisonatrike wrote:

My logic is: where there is mass cycling bikes are treated like people treat their cars in the UK.  Most people don't spend their weekends e.g. changing the car's oil filter (is that still a thing?)

Though I am surprised by the number of people who don't know how to change a wheel on their car, something I knew by the time I was 12 I think. Maybe cars get fewer flats these days? A number of times friends or acquaintances have complained about how long they had to wait for the AA or RAC to come out and then looked at me as if I'm mad when I said surely you could've changed it yourself? IIRC (long time since I've done it) with a good jack and socket changing a car wheel is actually easier than fitting a really stiff bike tyre.

I had to drive round to a strong armed friend for him to loosen the bolts, so calling out the rac seems quite plausible.

hirsute wrote:

I had to drive round to a strong armed friend for him to loosen the bolts, so calling out the rac seems quite plausible.

Yep, I've been defeated by bolts before, even in my rugby days when I had more upper body strength than I have now - might as well give it a go first though!

I know how to change a wheel bit I don't think I could do it on the roadside with the crappy wrench they give you and the torque they put on the bolts with pneumatic spanners in the garage

but what are her regular rides like, if she only cycles from home to the shops and the bike shop is within walking distance. why would you take spares?, when you're riding 30+miles away from the nearest bike shop, assuming its even open, then youve got to be prepared to fix a puncture, because it will happen eventually.

actually Ive got to buy some spare inner tubes tomorrow as Ive run out, and I wouldnt risk ever going on a ride without one and getting stuck. I carry spare quick links as well now ever since I had a chain snap in the middle of nowhere.

Ive replaced chains, cassettes and a rear derailluer at home, cant setup rim brakes for toffee, but I like to think Im reasonably self sufficient to handle most work on my bike without resorting to a LBS, and only use them really for servicing every so often which is more to with wheel hub & bottom bracket bearings work.

Awavey wrote:

but what are her regular rides like, if she only cycles from home to the shops and the bike shop is within walking distance. why would you take spares?

She was an American, IIRC she had a three mile commute, if she punctured she locked her bike up, got a cab, bus home then went and got the bike in her car and took it to the LBS! Seemed a lot of hassle and expense for not learning to mend a flat but every tinker has their own way of walking, as Behan used to say.

When I was a mobile bike mechanic, I was very grateful that so many people didn't even know how to fix a puncture, if somewhat surprised.

FACT. Majority of UK bike owners are a danger to themselves when it comes to bike maintenance. 

I think it's all quite self explanatory, just the usual usual y'know...

But they are delivering beer, don't you know there's a World Cup on?!

Even the esteemed BBC are encouraging us to be accomodating to selfish gits during this difficult period.

The Dutch have mastered the art of pragmatic beer delivery - the UK again demonstrating we are at cargo cult or bandit level.