My First Fall (the new commuter whose journal is now finished ;-) )
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Ok, i forgot to mention this yesterday so I thought I would now!
I was travelling on a pavement/cycle path behind 2 slow moving pedestrians (who typically took up
the entire pavement). I looked to my left (the road) and saw it was clear and thought i would come
off the kerb, go around the pedestrians, then come back on the kerb after them and off I go.
The best made plans eh..
As i dismounted the kerb i noticed it was a fairly high one (prolly half a foot or so) i JUST got
off and i noticed a car approaching, i swiftly went past the pedestrians, tried to remound the kerb
quickly, mis-judged it and my wheels scraped the side of the kerb and I went flying through the air
like superman!
I only grazed my knee slightly but i was SO embarressed. The pedestrians didnt seem concerned
and carried on past me!!!!!!!!!!!!! I got back on and had to repeat the stunt (to more success
this time).
No bones broken or damaged, only my ego!
Lee
Lee wrote:
> Ok, i forgot to mention this yesterday so I thought I would now!
>
> I was travelling on a pavement/cycle path behind 2 slow moving pedestrians (who typically took up
> the entire pavement). I looked to my left (the road) and saw it was clear and thought i would come
> off the kerb, go around the pedestrians, then come back on the kerb after them and off I go.
I find a loud but firm "good morning" or "excuse me" works wonders, followed by a louder but smiley
"thankyou".
> The best made plans eh..
>
> As i dismounted the kerb i noticed it was a fairly high one (prolly half a foot or so) i JUST got
> off and i noticed a car approaching, i swiftly went past the pedestrians, tried to remound the
> kerb quickly, mis-judged it and my wheels scraped the side of the kerb and I went flying through
> the air like superman!
Nice - sounds like 1) you hit the kerb at too shallow and angle to force the rubber up it, and 2)
you didn't get the front wheel up enough! Might be worth practising some time :)
> No bones broken or damaged, only my ego!
Glad to hear it, GWS,
--
Dnc
Lee wrote:
> As i dismounted the kerb i noticed it was a fairly high one (prolly half a foot or so) i JUST got
> off and i noticed a car approaching, i swiftly went past the pedestrians, tried to remound the
> kerb quickly, mis-judged it and my wheels scraped the side of the kerb and I went flying through
> the air like superman!
Quite a nice example of how it can be safer just riding on the road to start with. You wouldn't have
had to give way to anything or cross any kerbs, each of which introduce more danger than the chances
of being hit from behind by a motor vehicle (AIUI a very unusual accident).
> I only grazed my knee slightly but i was SO embarressed. The pedestrians didnt seem concerned
> and carried on past me!!!!!!!!!!!!! I got back on and had to repeat the stunt (to more success
> this time).
If you're not happy saying "excuse me please!" then get a bell. They really are handy if you're
using shared paths.
Pete.
--
Peter Clinch University of Dundee Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Medical Physics, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK net p.j.clinch@dundee.ac.uk
http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/
Peter Clinch <p.j.clinch@dundee.ac.uk> wrote in news:3F4DCC48.6070600@dundee.ac.uk:
> Lee wrote:
>
>> < Fell off avoiding peds :( >
> If you're not happy saying "excuse me please!" then get a bell.
>
> Pete.
For ped use don't use an air zound though, get a Mini Bell
Zound http://www.biketrax.co.uk/product/00025/70105a26d4d05126f347102530ee9091
Mini http://www.biketrax.co.uk/product/00029/70105a26d4d05126f347102530ee9091
Fragg - Random bike shop, not a recommendation.
"Peter Clinch" <p.j.clinch@dundee.ac.uk> wrote in message >
> If you're not happy saying "excuse me please!" then get a bell. They really are handy if you're
> using shared paths.
Yes, I nicked the bell off my Strida folder and find it comes in very useful. It's quite small and
produces an inoffensive "ting".
--
Simon Mason Anlaby East Yorkshire. 53°44'N 0°26'W http://www.simonmason.karoo.net (http://www.simonmason.karoo.net/)
Fraggle wrote: [Biketrax]
> Fragg - Random bike shop, not a recommendation.
Though as an occasional customer, both in person and mail order, I'll just give them a quick
"thumbs up". A good place for Sensible Bikes as opposed to featherweight racers and full-sus
downhill trail munchers you might find around the corner (Velo Ecosse and EBC, also both good in
their particular ways).
Pete.
--
Peter Clinch University of Dundee Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Medical Physics, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK net p.j.clinch@dundee.ac.uk
http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/
Simon Mason wrote:
> "Peter Clinch" <p.j.clinch@dundee.ac.uk> wrote in message >
> > If you're not happy saying "excuse me please!" then get a bell. They really are handy if you're
> > using shared paths.
>
> Yes, I nicked the bell off my Strida folder and find it comes in very useful. It's quite small
> and produces an inoffensive "ting".
So the Strida had a use after all ;-)
John B
JohnB wrote:
> Simon Mason wrote:
>> Yes, I nicked the bell off my Strida folder and find it comes in very useful. It's quite small
>> and produces an inoffensive "ting".
>
> So the Strida had a use after all ;-)
Friend of mine has just got one cheap on eBay, though he looked a bit unsure when he read the
"squirms when ridden" description in the folders buyers' guide in the last issue of VV... He hasn't
taken delivery yet, but having knackered his Brom over a *very* active life thought it would be okay
as a make-do while it undergoes extensive renovation (i.e., most of the moving parts aside from the
wheels replaced!).
Do I take it from the above comment that he may have mis-spent his money?
Pete.
--
Peter Clinch University of Dundee Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Medical Physics, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK net p.j.clinch@dundee.ac.uk
http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/
Fraggle wrote:
> Peter Clinch <p.j.clinch@dundee.ac.uk> wrote in news:3F4DCC48.6070600@dundee.ac.uk:
>
>
>>Lee wrote:
>>
>>
>>>< Fell off avoiding peds :( >
>>
>>If you're not happy saying "excuse me please!" then get a bell.
>>
>>Pete.
>
>
> For ped use don't use an air zound though, get a Mini Bell
>
> Zound http://www.biketrax.co.uk/product/00025/70105a26d4d05126f347102530ee9091
>
> Mini http://www.biketrax.co.uk/product/00029/70105a26d4d05126f347102530ee9091
>
> Fragg - Random bike shop, not a recommendation.
>
I've got a cateye version of that mini bell, but since I put narrower, higher pressure tyres on my
old mountain bike (to turn it into a commuter) I found the bell is allmost constantly ringing as the
bike shakes a lot more on the skinnier tyres and the shaking knocks the 'striker' against the bell.
Is this one stiff enought to stop that? Or is there some other friendly bell that would be good for
shared paths?
Ta
John
"JohnB" <nospam@here.com> wrote in message news:3F4DD608.EE1DCE3@here.com...
>
>
> Simon Mason wrote:
>
> > "Peter Clinch" <p.j.clinch@dundee.ac.uk> wrote in message >
> > > If you're not happy saying "excuse me please!" then get a bell. They really are handy if
> > > you're using shared paths.
> >
> > Yes, I nicked the bell off my Strida folder and find it comes in very useful. It's quite small
> > and produces an inoffensive "ting".
>
> So the Strida had a use after all ;-)
Our lass won it in a competition, so it cost nothing. I've also borrowed its smart lamps. I still
use it to get home when I drop the car off at the garage for new tyres or whatever.
--
Simon Mason Anlaby East Yorkshire. 53°44'N 0°26'W http://www.simonmason.karoo.net (http://www.simonmason.karoo.net/)
Peter Clinch wrote:
> JohnB wrote:
> > Simon Mason wrote:
>
> >> Yes, I nicked the bell off my Strida folder and find it comes in very useful. It's quite small
> >> and produces an inoffensive "ting".
> >
> > So the Strida had a use after all ;-)
>
> Friend of mine has just got one cheap on eBay, though he looked a bit unsure when he read the
> "squirms when ridden" description in the folders buyers' guide in the last issue of VV... He
> hasn't taken delivery yet, but having knackered his Brom over a *very* active life thought it
> would be okay as a make-do while it undergoes extensive renovation (i.e., most of the moving parts
> aside from the wheels replaced!).
>
> Do I take it from the above comment that he may have mis-spent his money?
I must admit I have only had a 'test' ride. It was like riding a sponge with suspension through mud.
If your friend's ride is a half mile flat ride on a carpet then he'll be fine.
But look on the bright side; its better (a bit) than a Brompton with no moving parts and also no one
can have too many bikes.
John B
Peter Clinch <p.j.clinch@dundee.ac.uk> writes:
>If you're not happy saying "excuse me please!" then get a bell. They really are handy if you're
>using shared paths.
Or if you find pedestrians sharing your supposedly unshared path... Amsterdam is usually flooded
with tourists who don't understand that red lanes with a white bicycle drawn on them are for
cyclists. Unfortunately most of them don't have a clue what 'pling...pling' means either. Sometimes
the more oldfashoined 'triiiing' ones work better (haven't seem those in the UK yet but haven't
looked for them either)
Roos
"Roos Eisma" <roos@xs4all.nl> wrote in message news:3f4df8f4$0$49107$e4fe514c@news.xs4all.nl...
> Peter Clinch <p.j.clinch@dundee.ac.uk> writes:
>
> >If you're not happy saying "excuse me please!" then get a bell. They really are handy if you're
> >using shared paths.
>
> Or if you find pedestrians sharing your supposedly unshared path... Amsterdam is usually flooded
> with tourists who don't understand that red lanes with a white bicycle drawn on them are for
> cyclists. Unfortunately most of them don't have a clue what 'pling...pling' means either.
> Sometimes the more oldfashoined 'triiiing' ones work better (haven't seem those in the UK yet but
> haven't looked for them either)
>
> Roos
I think i get quite bad cycle rage at times - it REALLY annoys me as the paths i travel home along
are split, one side for peds and the other for cyclists but the peds dont seem to understand this
and regularly walk where the hell they like - wonder if they would try the road???
"Peter Clinch" <p.j.clinch@dundee.ac.uk> wrote in message news:3F4DD91A.30708@dundee.ac.uk...
>
> Do I take it from the above comment that he may have mis-spent his money?
Depends how much he spent. If it was much over a tenner, yes ;-). It has no gears and is very
twitchy. It's the sort of bike that is useful if you want to quickly bung it in your car. Having no
chain, it can be easily chucked into a back seat with no oily mess.
If I had a boat in the Marina, it would be handy to take out of a cupboard and ride to the local
shops for some wet fish for supper. As a commuter though - not unless is was only a couple of miles.
Here is a video clip of me riding it today.
http://www.simonmason.karoo.net/zstrida.mpg
Simon
Roos Eisma <roos@xs4all.nl> writes:
>Sometimes the more oldfashoined 'triiiing' ones work better (haven't seem those in the UK yet but
>haven't looked for them either)
Here are some images - they are typical on Dutch city bikes, though most of the more sporty bikes
now have the polite 'pling':
http://chaos.st.hhs.nl/~ipo_meer/studenten/3dc/images/voorbeelden/fietsbel.jpg
http://www.vanin.be/schakelweb/html/leerkrachtenmodule/archief/archief1/fietsbel/fietsbel.gif
They're a lot louder but still sort of polite... (not the 'make the pedestrian jump a meter into the
air' type of horn ;-)
Roos
"J" <John@NOSPAM.SPAMOFF> wrote in message news:jpl3b.214$bC1.183@newsfep4-winn.server.ntli.net...
> Fraggle wrote:
> > Peter Clinch <p.j.clinch@dundee.ac.uk> wrote in news:3F4DCC48.6070600@dundee.ac.uk:
> >
> >
> >>Lee wrote:
> >>
> >>
> >>>< Fell off avoiding peds :( >
> >>
> >>If you're not happy saying "excuse me please!" then get a bell.
> >>
> >>Pete.
> >
> >
> > For ped use don't use an air zound though, get a Mini Bell
> >
> > Zound http://www.biketrax.co.uk/product/00025/70105a26d4d05126f347102530ee9091
> >
> > Mini http://www.biketrax.co.uk/product/00029/70105a26d4d05126f347102530ee9091
> >
> > Fragg - Random bike shop, not a recommendation.
> >
>
> I've got a cateye version of that mini bell, but since I put narrower, higher pressure tyres on
> my old mountain bike (to turn it into a commuter) I found the bell is allmost constantly ringing
> as the bike shakes a lot more on the skinnier tyres and the shaking knocks the 'striker' against
> the bell.
>
> Is this one stiff enought to stop that? Or is there some other friendly bell that would be good
> for shared paths?
Yes, the one pictured is the one I use and it has a strong spring. I have never heard it ringing
accidentally and that's over very rough ground (farm tracks) etc.
--
Simon Mason Anlaby East Yorkshire. 53°44'N 0°26'W http://www.simonmason.karoo.net (http://www.simonmason.karoo.net/)
"Lee" <gnippernospampleasemuchly@nospampleasemuchlyverymuch.btinternet.com> w
> I think i get quite bad cycle rage at times - it REALLY annoys me as the paths i travel home along
> are split, one side for peds and the other for cyclists but the peds dont seem to understand this
> and regularly walk
where
> the hell they like - wonder if they would try the road???
I just sit back and imagine myself in a car in front of dozens of slow moving vehicles and the rage
soon goes away ;-) Simon
Simon Mason wrote:
> Depends how much he spent. If it was much over a tenner, yes ;-).
Ah well, we all make mistakes (as the Dalek said climbing off the dustbin...). I await delivery and
first impressions from the man concerned with interest!
Pete.
--
Peter Clinch University of Dundee Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Medical Physics, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK net p.j.clinch@dundee.ac.uk
http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/
Fraggle suggested:
> For ped use don't use an air zound though, get a Mini Bell
>
http://www.biketrax.co.uk/product/00029/70105a26d4d05126f347102530ee9091
Or better still, get a real bell that goes dring and sounds like a bicycle bell, rather than
one that gives a feeble ting and won't be recognised as a bike bell by the few peds who
actually hear it.
(Actually the bell on my main bike doesn't go dring, but it's a great big bell that gives a really
loud "DING DONG" and does the job even better than a dring. Fiver from H*lf*rds.)
--
Danny Colyer (remove safety to reply) ( http://www.juggler.net/danny ) Recumbent cycle page:
http://www.speedy5.freeserve.co.uk/recumbents/ "He who dares not offend cannot be honest." -
Thomas Paine
>Do I take it from the above comment that he may have mis-spent his money?
>
Wel, if it still has the freewheel at the bottom bracket (mine did), he can look forward to some
spectacular chrashes! S.O.P. is to catch your trouser leg between belt and chainring (beltring?);
the rear wheel stops, the front one doesn't, and the whole bike comes apart at the upper hinge and
the catch between lower and steering boom. At typical Strida speeds, you can -with a bit of
practice- dismount in mid-crash, reassemble the bike in seconds and be on your way again before any
witnesses even start laughing.....
Mark van Gorkom.
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