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About LinkBacksSorry about the triple post but this one deserves its own, if the mods want to merge my two above that's cool
Uncanny timing@: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-12604639
(Quite nasty footage if you're squeamish)
Sorry about the triple post but this one deserves its own, if the mods want to merge my two above that's cool
Uncanny timing@: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-12604639
(Quite nasty footage if you're squeamish)
I, too, can decelerate at 38g on my pedal bikeOriginally Posted by roachcoach
(Assuming 25mph and 6 inches)
It was damned close, though I concede I never measured it as such stops were true energency numbers, like when a buggy-pusher decided to walk out into the traffic.
Hammer the front brake, lean back to maximise loss of force as the back wheel kicks up, ride it as high as you can/dare, feather the front brake to stop you going right over. That bleeds so much speed its eye watering. You can stop really fast (not at a downward angle) if you have to.
Last edited by roachcoach; 01-03-2011 at 11:53 AM. Reason: fixed smiley
Ah critical mass gone wrong, it is absolutely horrible what happened. The guy in the orange top kinda sees it coming and sort of dives out of the way.
More info
Although bbc took ages to even put a copy of that footage up considering it happened on the 25th and they only had a video up on the 28th.
Exactly,
It's a shame I see more 'moron' cyclists simply because I live in an area where there are more cyclists about.
It certainly does. When I ride my bike I despise car drivers and always try to get where I'm going as fast as possible ignoring most of the rules/highway code and annoying drivers as much as possible. Then when I get in the car I remember what a b'stard I was on the bike so decide to be very unkind to all cyclists to even it out See it cuts both ways, Bwahahahahaha.
"Reality is what it is, not what you want it to be." Frank Zappa. ----------- "The invisible and the non-existent look very much alike." Huang Po.----------- "A drowsy line of wasted time bathes my open mind", - Ride.
Jesus I hadn't seen that. Unbelievable no one was killed.
I've been a car driver for 21 years and a (proper) cyclist for 23. There is nothing like riding a bike on the road to teach you how to treat the more venerable road users when driving. Most people who cycle, drive aswell, so there isn't an excuse. I've never had an accident involving other users whilst riding mostly because I'm all too aware of what's going on around me, and fitness permitting, ride accordingly. I don't understand the Us and Them mentality.
Courtesy should be the name of the game. Even when riding off-road there is a "hierarchy": Horses, walkers, cyclists because horses get spooked and walkers are only doing 4mph max.
People often complain about "cyclists" but cyclist is a catch all from the 6 year old having a pootle to the teenager on the path to the serious lycra clad roadie. You can't pigeon-hole them all just as you can't motorists.
"Reality is what it is, not what you want it to be." Frank Zappa. ----------- "The invisible and the non-existent look very much alike." Huang Po.----------- "A drowsy line of wasted time bathes my open mind", - Ride.
The issue lies with the misguided idea of 'rights'.
No-one has the rights to the road, they have responsibilities in using it. Hence everyone should technically give others the respect they crave themselves.
My issue is the largest problem on the c2c route is the cyclists believing in a right to the road, but not willing to take on the responsibility. I respect them, but gain nothing from a large group of them.
Can;t we all just get along, without getting in each other's way.
Unfortunately, no we can't and we never will if that footage is anything to go by.
I'm testing a new riding technique at the moment: I'm obeying the highway code; all of it. So, at traffic lights I filter to the front and sit in the middle of the advanced stop lane. The disadvantage I've noticed so far is that I never see the lights change before the motorist immediately behind me, who lets me know with a friendly beep of the horn. Horrified at my error, I turn and apologise profusely and it's smiles all round. The whole incident is complete with just enough time for me (and noone else) to get through the lights.
And you know what, you're absolutely right. I feel so much better for being nice. I have a whole city of opportunity to be nice ahead of me.
Correct me if i am reading this wrong but peds, cyclists, horse riders all have the right to use the roads. It is only Motorists that have to be licensed to use the road.
Easy to categorise, the ''lycra clad roadie'' you are referring to are known as cyclists, all others are known as Bicycle riders.
And pay road tax, insurance and fuel duty. I think that's where a lot of grievance and poor attitude come into it. The "I pay for it, therefore it's mine" syndrome. (Often seen on the motorway by the "Centre Lane Owners Club" - don't get me started!)
Back in the early days of mountain biking both the leading magazines had a list of dos and don'ts for off-roading printed in each edition (I believe they still do), which were a mixture of common sense and courtesy. Every club I've ever cycled on the road with will have a short briefing before setting off in a group. 60 club riders on a training ride feels like the Tour de France! and the main focus was staying safe. You had a responsibility for your own and others safety. 2 abreast was common, but even at speeds approaching 30mph are slow by car standards so leaders would often signal to single file in heavier traffic (which is sometimes difficult because towards the end of the ride the front man often drops off and then the next front man will drop off after a while to keep speeds up so you end up with 2 abreast but not the whole length of the bunch). Motorists seem to particularly dislike larger groups.
"Reality is what it is, not what you want it to be." Frank Zappa. ----------- "The invisible and the non-existent look very much alike." Huang Po.----------- "A drowsy line of wasted time bathes my open mind", - Ride.
Thats also were the problems start to come in as VED (road tax as it is also know as) doesn't actually directly pay for the roads, it just goes to central government, iirc roads are funded by council tax. This means cars tend to use/damage and impact the roads a lot more than cyclists, which cause minimal damage to infrastructure, compared to how much they pay for the roads.
As you say, local roads are local authority funded; motorways and trunk roads by central government.
Last time I looked, cyclists can't use motorways at all and I would say most cycling is done on local roads to which we all contribute via council tax.
Bicycles cause no damage to infrastructure, ease congestion and help with the general fitness of the population, especially our children. Something radical needs to be done to make it safer.
Mr Clegg could redeem his recent plunging popularity with a little initiative; he'll be able to suck up to his (cycling) boss at the same time and Boris.
I don't know if I could cope if the cars magically transformed into bikes overnight. It can be bad enough on a bike with other bikes now...
The enlightened accept that unaffordable motoring is an inevitability and are getting on with developing their cycling skills, their lungs, their health and their bank balance. The bicycle is the second most efficient machine ever invented; the first is of course the efficiency of the banking system in haemorraging money
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