Stolen Stands.

Its not just bikes that get stolen! 

Cycle Stands do too.

At a new shopping complex on a housing estate in Ashford the developer generously provided 8 new, high quality, stainless-steel cycle stands.   Not so clever was the fact that these stands, (fixed to the paved area by rawl-bolts)  were located too close to the kerb of the car-park.  This fact was reported to the site manager, but argued that they were located as per their position shown on the drawing, and that is where they would stay.

How is it then that there are only three stands visible in this picture; and not eight?  The answer to that is that it is quite easy to unbolt such stands, and there must be a market for Stainless-steel tube, and no questions asked..   

Eventually, like the Little-Piggies, they all went off to be marketed.

However there is another point worth noting; had all the stands remained been  complete , then should a lot of bikes arrive at the same time, then shoppers would not have been able to get to and from shops and cars because bikes and  stands would have obstructed them.  

  In practice, of the short period of time that the stands were in a complete, state, the only bicycle I saw chained to these stands, belonged to yours truly. 

Folders

Folders.

I bought my first folding bike I bought in the 1990s, it was a Giant with derailleur gearing, but even in the highest ratio my legs were going like bee’s-wings.  I realised that there is a problem with small wheels and derailleur gears, due to the wheel’s 20” diameter and the relevant circumference being that much less; so I took it back to the shop and got my money back. 

In about 1992 I took a chance and bought a Brompton, with Sturmey Archer 5spd, cylindrical gearbox.   I used it when I was carrying out surveys of prototype potential national cycle routes in East Kent and Sussex for Sustrans and district and the county councils.  The Brompton was easy to slip into the car and then get to survey starting points.   The Brompton enabled me to cycle every inch of each potential route at least once.  Some of those routes/cycleways are apparent in Bexhill and Hastings.  The front bag proved most useful. 

My Brompton had a carrier over the rear wheel, which is almost useless, and the bike had a habit of making the initial stage of the folding process unintentionally.   20 years later I find that Bromptons have incorporated a safety catch, which is good.

The ride isn’t too bad for such small (16” dia.) wheels, but the big snag with a Brompton is the difficulty of repairing a puncture in the rear wheel, and that hasn’t changed over time.  The design of the pedal that folds could have been improved.

The seat-post that came with the bike was too short for me (32” inside leg), and I had to order a longer one.  

The 22 year old Brompton, with the longer seat post, in Germany by the River Weser on a 40km. journey. 

For such a sturdy little machine, capable of carrying a sizeable adult it folds up very nicely.

Twenty years on we have bought another Brompton, but 3 peed this time.  The gears on the 5 speed does slip at times, and is difficult to adjust to correct that fault. 

Bromptons are not cheap!    BUT, they are sturdy and functional.

There was a time, just when I was looking for another 5 speed Brompton, when one was under the impression that Sturmy-Archer would cease as a company, and another company would be supplying the gearing, but only in 3 speed form.

Then I got wind of a new folder that was going to be imported into this country. which had a large range of multiple gears, something like as many as 28 gear, using a combination of hub and derailleur gears. 

This was the Dahon “Speed-Pro”.   I was offered two, each with extended seat pillars, as a special offer if I would review of them and submit my report.   So I fell for it.  But I found that these bikes did not feel at all robust.  Things kept falling off, one day I was out on a ride when the right crank lever fell off.  Although I carried basic tools I didn’t have a spanner big enough to fit the hex. hd screw.   I had to retrace my steps back up a hill, where I was lucky enough found to find the offending screw lying in the road.

    I rode the 12 km home using one pedal.  Not good!

    There was nowhere on these bikes to position or fit a drinks bottle.  If one placed anything on the carrier one’s heels struck the object as one pedalled.   A rucksack was the only practical option.  The derailleur jockey-wheel was too close to the ground, and very vulnerable.   With the seat pillar more or less fully extended, on the slightest incline, the relative position of the seat itself became positioned so that it was back from the centre of the rear wheel’s hub.  Thereby creating a tendency for the bike to go over backwards!   If one was not careful.

The folding was not as good as the Brompton, except for the pedals both of which folded better, but one had to wonder how robust they were. 

Mending a puncture, even in the rear wheel is easier than with the Brompton, but it did not fold so comprehensively.  

There was no suspension at all, and the frame felt shaky.  

A Dahon Speed-Pro in the foreground.

The saddles supplied looked smart, but they were very uncomfortable.

The net result is that I eventually bought another Brompton. 

We still have the Dahons stored on the Continent, with different saddles, which we do use rather occasionally we are when on a short term visit.  

We feel that neither the Bromptons, or the Dahons, are suitable for riding any distance; 50 km is about the absolute limit.   Certainly not designed for touring, luggage carrying being just one consideration.  

But they have their uses.

A bike is a bike

A bike is a bike

Even as a bridal vehicle.

Even as a tandem made from two old bike frames welded together.  

A bike can generate a lot of fun, at very little cost, and in this case was used to commute to school.   

 Could

n't you do with a slightly larger frame Sir.

Bikes can be adapted to bring considerable mobility to the quite severely disabled.  A bike can be a great health and confidence booster.

And if you love your bike why not mollycoddle it?

Mollycoddled Bikes, encased in attractive crocheted woolen work In Whitstable, Kent.

and so on.

A bike doesn't have to be expensive or flashy to be able to provide endless pleasure.

A nonsense and deadly potholes

This is a nonsense

The scenario in the above picture is a nonsense.   The scene is a 'T' junction with traffic lights.   Cycles can only pass across this junction (on the on-road cycleway) if they have a green light, and 'we' have red.   When 'our' light is at green crossing traffic, including cyclists, will have a red, and in practice they should not cross this junction.  So why is there a sign to alert the motorist that cyclists are crossing, when they shouldn't be? 

Our roads are in a dreadful state, with our country lanes being the worst, the cyclists is obliged to keep his eyes open for potholes at all times. 

     Located on Romney Marsh.

Three more

Three more

Interestingly the middle of the three 'offending' cars is parked legally!  Probably because I stuck a 'Pavement-Parking' sticker on the windscreen a day or two earlier.  The first car is perhaps the worst offender of the three, with insufficient space left for normal pedestrian use.

But, the furthest one is parked facing the oncoming traffic.

and these wont be the last.

This scenario should have been on my cycling blog.  However, people often complain about cyclists who ride on the pavement; well they couldn't do that here.

From Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency

Official Highway Code

Cycle lanes

The Highway Code applies to England, Scotland and Wales and is essential reading for everyone.

Rule 140 These are shown by road markings and signs. You MUST NOT drive or park in a cycle lane marked by a solid white line during its times of operation. Do not drive or park in a cycle lane marked by a broken white line unless it is unavoidable. You MUST NOT park in any cycle lane whilst waiting restrictions apply. Law RTRA sects 5 & 8

Criterian

The Criterion Circuit.

That was.

Over twenty years ago, our Council (under pressure from their sports officer, a keen cyclist) built what they called:  A “Criterion Circuit”.   At that time we were desperately in need of some safe cycling routes for the masses.   But, they went ahead at great cost, and built their circuit in Victoria Park.  It is probably about 1km long. 

       It was also a footway!  

      With much publicity an event comprising a series of races was announced to celebrate the opening of the circuit.   The event took place, but as a public park it was not possible to keep the public away from wandering on the circuit, etc.  Health and Safety issues were razed.   No further cycling event has ever been run on this circuit since it was opened all those years ago.

      At one stage of the circuit, believe it or not, the Criterion track burst through some trees and shrubs turned a sharp corner and then ran across a basket-ball pitch, from one corner right across to opposite corner!  

       Just in case you don’t believe me, here is a recent picture:-

Like so.

   and yes! It is still there (or it was in April 2014)!  Though, as far as one can make out, the Basket-Ball court’s markings seem to have worn away with time, but the baskets hoops and back-board are  still there..

An earlier view from the opposite direction when the markings were still in place.

What a waste of money.

How stupid!

Things ain’t what they used to be

Things ain’t what they used to be

It is possible to transport your bikes to France with Euro-Tunnel, but when you think about it, at £16 each way, and with 2 bikes a day trip to France would cost you £64, but on top of that, you would most probably have to get to the Folkestone venue first, then find somewhere to park the car (Which I imagine one might need to use to get there), and possibly also pay for parking ~ all day.

Or get to Folkestone by train, then cycle to the pick-up point.

One used to be able to park all day in the town, but close to the Ferry Terminal in Dover for a modest fee, but that fee has been heavily increased.

One can no longer get to Ostend from Ramsgate by ferry. In the days of Sally Lines we used to get the midnight Friday ferry, sleep in a cabin for £9, but not any more.

We used to cycle to Bruges, Ghent, or up into Holland for a long weekend trip. And we used to be able to get a H P Ferry to Boulogne. I think that then a day trip to France was about £3 or £5. No more!

Sad int-tit?

There are quite often cheap, special-offer, day trips by Ferry to Calais advertised for about £3-5.

There are no ferries from Harwich to Cuxhaven any more, only from Hull, or Newcastle.

More than 20 years ago, one November, we flew to Vienna from Gatwick with 'Dan Air'.  Our bikes went in the hold free of charge.  All we had to do was turn the handlebars round (through 90º) remove the pedals, and let the tyres down a bit, and Bob's yer Uncle.   However, Dan Air no longer exists.