Road Cycling Essentials

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Dimple said:
I have at least one person a day stepping off the kerb without looking and I usually go past and say 'I can still kill or maim'.
The worst was last week where a young bloke was walking the same way I was riding and he just stepped off and walked straight into the road and I had to make a hard swerve and nearly came off.
If I had been a car he would have been seriously hurt.
I think it goes without saying that every one of us in this thread have a sixth sense when watching for pillocks in vehicles & pedestrians.
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I think you need a Hornit!!

http://www.thehornit.com/
 
Dimple said:
I have at least one person a day stepping off the kerb without looking and I usually go past and say 'I can still kill or maim'.
The worst was last week where a young bloke was walking the same way I was riding and he just stepped off and walked straight into the road and I had to make a hard swerve and nearly came off.
If I had been a car he would have been seriously hurt.
I think it goes without saying that every one of us in this thread have a sixth sense when watching for pillocks in vehicles & pedestrians.
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I'm always watching people on the pavement in case they do something stupid. I had some girl step out not far ahead of me just recently. I had a bit of time to think before I would have had to swerve so I just yelled "OY OY OY OY OY" and she leapt out of the way. Obviously all the lights and reflective bits that I strap on are for naught.

It is somewhat concerning that we've transitioned so easily from a dog not knowing the green cross code to nearly running into fully grown humans on a regular basis.
 
Dimple said:
I have at least one person a day stepping off the kerb without looking and I usually go past and say 'I can still kill or maim'.
The worst was last week where a young bloke was walking the same way I was riding and he just stepped off and walked straight into the road and I had to make a hard swerve and nearly came off.
If I had been a car he would have been seriously hurt.
I think it goes without saying that every one of us in this thread have a sixth sense when watching for pillocks in vehicles & pedestrians.
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try central london.. they look STRAIGHT into your eyes and step on the road when you're like 5 meters away from them.. i wish it was one or two pedestrians.. but noo its 10+ trying to cross the damn street when the light clearly shows RED
 
Draeger said:
Ah right, not the little £1.99 twin pack one then, albeit from the same seller:-

zrW7A.jpg
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how bright/powerfull is it ? got a link ?
early mornings on London streets can get you in many potholes...


I have a damn cold that I can't shake off ... monday evening was worst...thought that my nose will fell off :/ and that my throat will set on fire...
need to go to a GP to get some antybiotics as it is way too long for a cold to hold on to someone...
 
Have you guys just got the one light at front and one at back?
Going to be commuting back from work tonight, first time riding in the dark really. My lights were just ones I picked up from Halford s a while ago. Do you have anything else to help you be seen?

I'm picking up a think she'll jacket in either white or yellow today so that should helP.
 
I've got a two lights on the front to see, a Diablo (very good!) and an ebay job (good but cheap, that's my backup light. I've also got a cheapy thing which just flashes, to be seen.

I've also got two lights on the back. Again, ones a backup just in case.

But then I cycle 15 miles through dark country lanes, so seeing and being seen is just as important.

Oh...I've also put some strips of retro reflective tape on most areas I can. My bike is white, and the tape is a very light colour, so it doesnt look a mess.
 
I'm lucky mr_tommo that my commute to the hospital and back from Blurton is all lit but my main threat is pedestrians walking in front of me when I ride through Stoke Town centre.
I've still got flashing front & rear lights, bright lime green jacket plus I've put several of those spoke things on I got from the Aldi sale.
 
Yeh the Cree is my backup, but to be honest....from just one ride last night, it's prefectly usable as a main light. I think the wide angle lens will make it much better though.

At the moment, I have my Diablo on all the time, and the little flashy light to be a bit more visible from the front.

I have just the one rear light on at the moment, but it's pretty bright, so I think I'm ok from the rear too.
 
Vonhelmet said:
You don't need antibiotics for a cold.
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bad chest infection and trouble breathing - short breath, can be easily cured by antibiotics...as I said, it is with me for way too long and doesnt want to go away..

after over 1 year after quitting smoking, I still have cough and trouble breathing now and then...
 
grudas said:
cold? its not that cold yet :o
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Perhaps it's because I've just returned from Florida but I've found my morning commutes really cold already this year, it could be that I'm far less fat than last year?

Also constantly cycling along the coast in the morning means lots of cold wind coming in of the water which really is chilly, but that's Guernsey for you!
 
I've got the Cree light as my main light (wide angle lens arrived yesterday but haven't fitted it yet) and a Decathlon one as a back up.

I have two rear lights, one on constant and one flashing.

However I have also bought some reflective tape, spoke reflectors, a new rear light, a high vis vest and a couple of small lights I intend to fix to my helmet so should have no problems being seen soon!

Anyone use a chain cleaning tool?
 
Yes I use the Park Tools one.
If you can still get the full kit (inc brush and cleaning fluid) for around £25, it's THE best cleaning product you can buy. Period.

I've used it on my MTB, and road bikes....each time the chain looks brand new afterwards. Dead simple to use too.

The only issue is you do get through the cleaning fluid a lot if you use it often. So I only use it when I really need to.
The cleaning fluid smells really nice too! You can use fairy liquid in plain water too, but the results arent as good as the proper cleaning fluid.

Buy one!!
 
Dimple said:
I'm lucky mr_tommo that my commute to the hospital and back from Blurton is all lit but my main threat is pedestrians walking in front of me when I ride through Stoke Town centre.
I've still got flashing front & rear lights, bright lime green jacket plus I've put several of those spoke things on I got from the Aldi sale.
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I guess you can't account for idiots! My route is well lit for most of the journey - Sneyd Green through Blurton then finishing up in Barlaston. It's mainly the country lanes in Barlaston that will be the problem. Still getting used to cycling on the road this is my first road bike. I think I worry about annoying drivers too much by staying too close to the curb finding every pot hole on the road!

Shadowness said:
Yeh the Cree is my backup, but to be honest....from just one ride last night, it's prefectly usable as a main light. I think the wide angle lens will make it much better though.

At the moment, I have my Diablo on all the time, and the little flashy light to be a bit more visible from the front.

I have just the one rear light on at the moment, but it's pretty bright, so I think I'm ok from the rear too.
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Ok thanks I will see how my light cope tonight. To be honest I've tried to do all this on as small budget as possible. Off to Swinnerton cycles today to get winter proof with clothes etc.
Will probably order another couple of light tonight just to be safe.
 
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