Went and had a look myself last night 🙁

It looks like the work must have been done a few months ago (Oct/Nov time).

A thick (20-40cm) layer of graded fines throught to fist size lumps of mendip black rock (limstone) have been used to level the trail from bank to bank, across it’s full width, on top of the boulders and loose rock that was there before. In doing so they also ‘flattened out’ the old natural steps.

So over the length that they’ve resurfaced (I’ll measure it properly) that must still mean they’ve used I imagine 300-404 tonnes?

An unsophisticated and relatively cheap “solution” to what might (I stress might) have been seen by some to be a trail in poor condition that needed ‘re-surfacing’

It’s clearly rained since the surface was laid (!) and as pointed out above, deep ruts have already formed, some of them washing away the fill completely in places already.

In some places there are two Landrover wheel sized ruts on either side of the trail. On other sections the water has flowed across the trail. In other sections the ‘fill’ that has been washed down the hill has formed loose mounds.

So, yes it is now arguable more ‘rideable’ (we flew down the first bit then someone hit one of the ruts and got a double pinch flat!).

One of our group said he preferred it that way (!) but he was out voted by the rest of us who liked the ‘unrideable’ 😉 challenge it was before.

I’ve emailed the IMBA rep for the South-West (who many will know and who’s also fairly local). Also the Trail Riders Association to ask what they think. Not yet the Ramblers or local Horsey reps.

Will update this thread as things develop.

As already said, if nothing else then we should at least aim to stop this happening to the other similar local trails.

Someone somewhere must have asked for this ‘improvement’ and someone must have approved it. Can we hunt them down for an official explanation.

I’m on the case 🙂

Blimey, hope the chap above was OK.

There are some of his X-ray pics on their site too. Looked nasty!

Is this trend a side effect of the Landfill Tax credit scheme?

Not so sure about here but I think almost certainly elsewhere. Some of the trails between Frome and Shepton Mallet (around the big limestone quarries for example?)

Paradoxically there are trails in the locality that have been ruined by continual use by a (pony) Trekking Centre (again locals will know where and who I mean). Several years ago I got in touch with the Council and (separately) the proprietor to point out the condition of the trails and ask if they would do something to improve drainage / limit use etc. The Council’s answer was ‘no money’ and ‘nothing we can do to limit their use even though it’s commercial’ and the owners comment (not directly to me) “why should I? Deep mud doesn’t stop the horses using them”

As in all cases there is a question of balance I guess.

Searching the IMBA web pages Colin Palmer and IMBA have done some work on this to identify Best Practice (i.e. how it should happen):

http://imba.org.uk/public-rights-of-way/improvement-plans/

The stone pitching solution Mr Agreeable identifies above, coupled with perhaps looking at drainage issues would seem the obvious solution (most costly in the short term, more cost effective in the long term).

Pipehouse is a boat, not a bridleway, at least that is what OS says. Not that it makes much difference I guess.

Yes it is a BOAT – number is BA12/34 – does make a difference in that as a BOAT the trail riders are (legally) allowed to use it of course.

http://www.bristoltrf.org.uk/gallery.html

Nosey Cows:

(Can be ridden in either direction but we normally do it this way around, instead of the (very cheeky) roll out through Newton Park (now Bath Spa Uni) an alternative would be to climb the track from Newbridge up to Newton St Loe or roll out along the lanes from Twerton:

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Bath-MTB-Weds-Night-26-5-10

Twinhoe Descents:

There’s two Twinhoes (Upper and Lower) and two ‘downs’. I think it’s the descent from Upper Twinhoe down to Combe Hay Lane you’re thinking of. We call it ‘Rocky Horror’ – sharp left at the bottom of the farm track, drop in, gets wet. It’s similar to Pipehouse but not as steep overall or as long and (strangely enough) not as rocky. Yes, you remember correctly llama it’s the one that ends with the ‘rubber’ bridge crossing over Wellow Brook.

(The descent from Lower Twinhoe drops down a loose wide track under the old railway line).

Can’t see the ‘before and after’ pics yet (blocked from work) but planning to get up there and have a look on Weds night.

Will have a think then about how to play this with the Council and the horsey lobby.

You’re right of course Mr Agreeable unless we make our voice heard we can’t complain they don’t listen. If I had more time I’d like to get involved with the JLAF – there seems to be no-one representing us.

Above photos are of a couple of different trails:

Here’s a couple of Pipehouse as it was courtesy of agentdagnamit 🙁

it may well make up for it by being a pretty fast descent instead of a technical pick-around that it was (maybe, possibly, hopefully….).

Plenty of ‘pretty fast’ stuff in the area (legal and non) but very little ‘technical pick-around’ tho. It was legendary for good reason, hard, but good and everyone enjoyed the challenge.

It will be sadly missed 🙁

I know the trail riders (motorbike) loved it as it was too. I can only guess it’s been ‘improved’ at the behest of the equestrian lobby.

Another of our favourites – Watery Lane into Norton St Philip was also “improved” in 2010.

Before:
(According to the horse riders) “Slippery rocks leading down into the stream bed with large boulders and overhanging vegetation making this a difficult and alarming bridleway – often impassable and flooded!!”

After:
“Newly crushed rocks, now giving a safe and decent footing for horses and walkers”

Ok I can see their point, and at least they’ve used crushed local stone, but they’re at it all over the place, without any thought for us:

Before
“Not an easy ride and you’ll have to dismount for the gate!” (Their words)

After
“That’s better”

I suppose the simple answer is it’s no good complaining and not doing anything about it. I’m in touch with the local IMBA rep and together we plan to talk to the local authority.

I’ll let you know how we get on.

Has this been done yet?

Only a coupl’a times already 🙂

Yes, headlines in the local rag this week saying that she’s been bombarded with abuse by email and phone.

Think of my have said in one of the other threads, her business isn’t actually on the road that was closed (and it was closed for the Chrimbo lights switch on which was well advertised months in advance and would have actually brought her extra trade).

And before anyone else springs to her defence the road she is blocking is the primary route for emergency vehicles across the city and by all accounts this isn’t out of character, both her and her husband are nasty little sh!ts to everyone all the time generally 🙂

I’m an IAM Observer for Bath Group.

The IAM Skill for Life course costs £139 and she would get as much instruction and practice as she’d need to get her up to test standard (My average is 12 drives of about 2 hrs each over a maximum 6 month period). Plus the book, the chance to attend classroom sessions looking at the theory / meet other drivers in the same boat etc.

The IAM is such incredible value because it is run as a charity, by volunteers who give up their time because we want to improve driving standards.

Contrary to what’s been said we take people of all standards. That often includes people who drive like your wife does. Her faults are common and easy to address. Talk to her rather than buy it as a ‘surprise’ but you might be surprised how quickly everyone becomes receptive to what we teach.

Doing it as a couple is also a really good idea. Not as a ‘competition’ but again since you’ll be able to encourage and support eachother.

Your local group:

http://www.glosiam.org/

Oh sh!t is this the Bristol gang venturing further afield again? What was the m.o? Does he know how / why he was targetted. I’m sure he’s only too well aware but if he’s not make sure he knows that they’ll try again in 6 weeks time assuming that he’s replaced the bike..

Post details here too:

http://www.stolenbristolbikes.com/

Yes, a few weeks after completing first aid training. For 20 minutes, bloody hard work. Got her back but she died the next day after being transferred to a specialist hospital.

Anyone who reads this thread and comes away thinking it’s ‘not worth me bothering then’ please remember that however slim the chance you might just save a life.

As already said, these days the ambulance control will talk you through what to do but please consider going and spending a couple of hours doing the training and practising on ‘Annie’ (the resus doll in case you were wondering!)

http://www.bhf.org.uk/heart-health/how-we-help/training/heartstart.aspx

Employers / community centres etc out there, please consider getting yourself a defib machine (we now have 8 on site and two have been used to save lives). Cost around £2000 each.

http://www.bhf.org.uk/heart-health/life-saving-skills/defibrillators.aspx

sefton – Member

might give the club a try in spring then.

Now might be the best time to join them:-)

We get the most riders of all out on club runs this time of year (often as many as 40 who split into up to 4 groups). Have discovered some great routes / cafe stops etc.

Yes, sometimes you need to ride solo at your own pace but it’s great being led (not having to worry about routes etc) and having some ‘shelter’ and people to chat to.

We meet up at staggered times at a coffee shop and some people do ‘swap’ to a slower or faster group at that point.

Bodged a mount for the bars from a simple padded out light bracket but do also use the ‘helmet’ mount out of the ‘extreme’ pack.

Hooonnnnccc! Appropriately no 101 here and that was at 9:58.

As already said, amazing demand for these kind of events. Noting that the Roadies Dragon Ride sold out (2,000 places?) in less than 2 hrs too.

Out with the roadies this morning for a final Saturday Chain Gang ride. 44 miles in 2 hours. Whatever happened to the suggestion we ‘slow down’ the winter rides???

A pity our usually coffee shop at the end was closed tho’

Here’s to more in 2012 🙂

Can I vote for this as thread of the year please?

GlitterGary – Member
trickydisco – They are guests on the road, just like every other road user.

And they were acting like knobs. No question about it.

Loathed as I am to feed the troll.

Cyclists have a right to use the road and a right to ride two abreast. It is motorists who are there by license.

Deacs is indeed a flippin hero 🙂 Good job it was his head and knuckles that took the brunt of it 🙂

I ride the path most days too and have done for more than 10 years. Have had problems but like Mr Agreeable says I wouldn’t want to put people off using it.

There are normally more problems in the few weeks after the clocks go back, paradoxically up until this incident it has been relatively quiet 🙁

I wouldn’t like to be the thieves. They’d be much better off if they turned themselves in now and opted for ‘protective custody’. There are plenty of mates of his that are all set to get down there with their night vision goggles on and set up an OP 🙂

And how many cyclists are injured in accidents caused by the fact that they have not got lights?

The answer:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/dec/15/cycling-bike-accidents-study

“The study, carried out for the Department for Transport, found that failure to use lights was mentioned 2% of the time.”

“The cyclists’ lobby group CTC said the report showed that the government needed to focus more on driver behaviour rather”

Yes, occasionally. Make the point nicely, no need to shout or swear. Do the same with riders who are on the pavement and RLJ’ng.

Do something about it too: last week we held an event with our local Road Safety Team selling low cost helmets, lights (£6 a set) and giving away hi-viz Ruck Sack covers.

To the OP and others above, ‘no lights’ also needs to be put into perspective. Yes they are an annoyance, but how many can you really genuinely “not see”? Most often I find that they are on well lit urban street and you can see them first and then pick out the fact thay they don’t have a light on.

And how many cyclists are injured in accidents caused by the fact that they have not got lights?

We’d be far more productive ranting about poor standards of driving first.

TooTall – Member
Get on your local council website – they will have something for road safety and probably regular engagement events.

You don’t want to bother with them, complete waste of time 🙂

Join the CTC, find out if they’ve got a local Rights Rep. If they have get in touch if not become one.
Join your local Cycle Campaign Group. If there’s not one start one.
Become a better driver yourself. Do the advanced test.
Get in touch with your local council and see what more you can do.

I’ve done all those. It’s always a case of three steps forward two steps back. It can be frustrating at times but at least you know you are doing something to help change things rather than just sit back and complain like everyone else.

If there is anybody out there who is serious about what you can do to help combat it (in yourself and others) I can recommend this.

trickydisco – Member
Decided to put some gears back on my bike and do the western league cyclo cross race in Bristol Yesterday. God that was hard!

Need to get some cx tyres on the mountain bike. Was losing ground on the muddy flat sections. Got used to dismounting after a few laps. Came 15th I think

A pro called Simon richardson won it who rode the tour of britain (and he was on a mountain bike)

I hear there was general carnage again. That’s the last two rounds won by a ‘pro/semi-pro’ on an MTB then (Steve Lynch – New Zealand international who won at Conham was on an ‘old’ On One)

Was off doing ‘Remembrance Sunday’ stuff – hope to get to Ashton Court 🙂

Cougar – Member

On an unmarked roundabout, if I’m going straight on, I look in my mirrors to see if someone is behind/beside me and then take the shortest route across the roundabout using both “lanes”

The “racing line” if you must.

Is there a problem doing this?

No. I was explicitly told to do it by an advanced instructor. There’s sod all point in not using all the road if there’s no-one else using it. Same with twisty country lanes when visibility is good.

A bit late, but, you need to be careful here. ‘Straight lining’ is an advanced technique and only gets taught once your observation and planning are up to scratch.

e.g. in the case of straightening twisty rural roads you need to be absolutely certain of what’s ahead (same as you would before attempting an overtake) and there should be no-one following (who might follow your lead when it wouldn’t be safe for them to do so) otherwise yes, use the full width of the road 🙂

George Leslie Stewart, Cpl., 2nd. Battalion, Scots Guards. Tank Commander, Guards Armoured Division. Killed in action near Falaise, Normandy, France – 6th. August 1944 – Buried in St. Charles De Percy Cemetery “Oh Valiant Heart – We will remember you.”

Dolcered – Member
indicating splits the camps doesnt it!

my advanced instructor told me to indicate only when it was of benefit to others, both car and pedestrian

Exactly that 😀

It’s one of those subjects that I tend to cover in detail over several sessions, signals are part of the information phase of the system (of car control) and need to be considered at every phase 😀

In other words you should always consider using a signal and in doing so think about why and if that information could be misconstrued (don’t get me started on head lamp flashing!)

For example: you intend to take the second of two junctions close on the left and there is a car pulling out of the first, don’t indicate left before the first one, the car may pull out.

On this basis I always teach you should signal when:

1. .. it would benefit another road user
2. ..you are changing direction or speed and need to make your intentions clear
3. ..to do so would comply with the Highway Code
4. ..to do so as part of a systematic approach of dealing with an unpredicatable environment
5.. it leaves nothing to chance
6. ..it takes account of the ‘critical man’ (i.e. someone looking out of a window who say’s “look at that police car it didn’t indicate at that junction”)

Signalling ‘indiscriminantly’ can be as bad as ‘not signalling at all’

No one involved in promoting Road Safety would want to try to capitalise on this incident but if it does make people think again about their driving then at least something would have come out of it.

Thousands are killed and seriously injured every year yet it takes an incident like this to bring things into focus.

Re prosecutions for exceeding 30 in a 30.

http://www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/LocalPages/NewsDetails.aspx?nsid=24484&t=4

ACPO Guidance now revised and it’s up to local forces when they prosecute. Avon and Somerset have recently decided they are going to prosecute everyone doing over 30 in a 30 but offer the option of the course to everyone doing up to 39.

The IAM has recently introduced a scheme where you can go for an assessment as a potential pre-cursor to taking the advanced test.

Cost is just £40 refundable against the cost of the ‘Skill for Life’ course (which includes the book and as many on road sessions as he’d need, plus the test for an incredible £99.

http://www.iam.org.uk/momentum.html

Yep, turning into a classic this thread

Ok, I admit I might occasionally..

Crank up the volume and pretend I’m playing to a crowd of thousands

Twist the bars and make a ‘revving her up’ sound

Sing the ‘Hawaii Five-O’ theme tune whilst twisting through technical singletrack

And week before last.. when youngest (11 yr old tom boy) daughter asked if I would help her and her mates with their den in the woods build: had so much fun I had trouble not showing myself up as secretly wishing I was 11 again. Especially seeing the looks on their faces when we found a badger skeleton. Cool!

rondo101 – Member
Have you been riding AC/LW & ridden home Boxfish?

A couple of lads from our club thought they were followed home the other night.

I’ve mentioned it before but be aware it’s been suggested people have been followed by someone on a moped.

Mr Agreeable, if Frank is no longer dedicated to working on bike theft is anyone else? Anything we should be doing to make sure they give it the attention it continues to deserve.

We did get some interest after the spate of high-value thefts in Bath and it was suggested it was the same gang. I put them on to Frank but it all went quiet.

sounds like Janesy has sorted you out but just in case this is what you are looking for:

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Bath-MTB-Weds-Night-21-7-10-Lansdown-Looops-With-xtra-looops

Lots of potential to drop out of Upton Cheyney or Northstoke down to Bitton or Swineford and pick up the old Railway Path back to the Marina (it’s right next door).

Have fun!

I know! I know!

Was it an owl flying low over sea 3 miles off Hartlepool!

1.

As I said in *that* thread the sport and this forum are all the better for the fact that women participate and I’ve no problem with some positive action being taken to encourage more.

Even BC have got the idea 🙂

http://www.goskyride.com/breeze

Sorry to see you go Sue. If you’re in Bath and fancy a ride you’d be more than welcome to join us 🙂

Which I guess is kind of the point, our group, in fact all of the groups I’ve ridden with, include a mix of men and women and IME are all the better for it.

geoffj – Member

not trolling as I’m 6’1″ but why does she want a high driving position

She likes the better visibility of being higher up, making it easier to park etc.

Err, no offence to your wife but wouldn’t she be better off learning how to park first before blaming the vehicle / seat position?

And as already said there is a lot more to ‘being easy to park’ than a high driving position.

BTW Tell her, if she can’t park a vehicle safely and properly (or reverse, hill start, etc etc) then she shouldn’t be driving.

This one still running?

Once again another depressing thread demonstrating just how many drivers who think they are ‘awesome’ are sadly far from it.

Interestingly enough there’s been some new case law recently on exactly this subject. Previously riders injured in filtering collisions have been able to claim 100% compensation, even if speeds and differential speeds were high (up to 50mph in one case).

However, a couple of weeks back a new case was reported on appeal where because of the high speed, the rider was held 80% liable with the car driver held only 20% liable.

Each case will still need to be considered on it’s merits but this sets a new precedent.

BURTON v EVITT (2011)

CA (Civ Div) (Sir Anthony May (President QBD), Black LJ, Kitchin LJ) 18/10/2011

PERSONAL INJURY – ROAD TRAFFIC

APPORTIONMENT : DRIVERS : MOTORCYCLES : ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS : APPORTIONMENT OF LIABILITY : INABILITY OF DRIVER TO SEE BEHIND VEHICLE WHEN DRIVING

A driver was found to be 20 per cent liable for a road traffic accident caused when he turned whilst being unable to see an approaching motorcycle being driven quickly and overtaking other vehicles. Where a driver was unable to see what was behind him it was necessary for him to inch out to gain a better view.

The appellant (E) appealed against a decision that he had been negligent and was one-third responsible for a road traffic accident involving E and the respondent (B). E was driving his car at the front of a queue of traffic. He slowed down, looked in his mirror and saw nothing except a larger vehicle behind him. E, when almost at a standstill, then started to turn right into a car park. The driver of the vehicle behind E then saw a motorcycle, driven by B, at the corner of his vehicle, overtaking. B drove forwards, collided with E’s car and sustained severe injuries. At trial the judge found that B was driving at an unsafe speed and in such a way that he could not deal with an emergency and so was negligent. However, it was also found that it was E’s duty to move his car closer to, and perhaps over, the centre of the line in the road so that, using his wing mirror, he could have seen B approaching and that E’s failure to do so meant that he was causatively responsible for the accident. It was found that B was two-thirds responsible and E one-third responsible for the accident. E submitted that although any driver should have been aware of any other driver overtaking on the outside, he had slowed down and checked just before he turned and, to require more, was a counsel of perfection.

HELD: (1) It was common ground that in driving along such a road, there was a need to be particularly aware of the presence of motorcycles and that they might overtake lines of cars. E initially acted with considerable care but, when crawling, he could not see what might be coming up on the offside. As the size of the vehicle behind E’s car meant that E could not see clearly, he should have inched out. Where a driver could not see what was behind him, he had to take that step. E’s appeal in respect of negligence was therefore unsuccessful. (2) B’s negligence was of a very high order and contributed to what happened. The issue of blameworthiness of E and B required greater analysis than it received. Proper apportionment had to take into account the different negligence issues in respect of E and B. It was appropriate to set aside the trial judge’s apportionment and replace it with apportionment that B was 80 per cent and E 20 per cent liable.

Appeal allowed in part

As always, it depends 😉

Are you sitting down to listen to music in a decent room or is Sonos style ‘on in the background’

I’ve a couple of CD players, an Arcam and a really nice Marantz CD63SE KI Sig (that I swapped with a mate for said ‘packet of jelly beans’ as he said he didn’t need CDs anymore – I’ve about 3,000 of them BTW)

Sit down and listen to either CD player in direct comparison to the ipod or ‘puter and yes I can hear the difference. Small degrees maybe and perhaps I am listening for the difference but I can hear it*

Still have all my vinyl and regularly play that too including through a pair of 1210s that I still DJ with. Well, I’m not ‘analogue’ andy for nothing 😉

*with my knackered middle aged ears!

grizzer – Member
I took delivery of a shiny new fixed pompino at 4 friday afternoon by 5 i was sitting in A&E with a broken collarbone and smashed face warning take it slow cus the instinct to freewheel is unconcious which is what you will be if your not carefull…don’t know what hurt more my head,my shoulder or my pride

Ouch!

Had some classic moments myself. Including the above mentioned buckaroo and kerb strike (in my case on the very busy Park Street in Bristol!)

Can’t do the link (from work) but I’m surprised no-one’s posted a link to that YouTube vid of the London couriers alley cat race

After many years of just wearing what came out of the drawer I took to wearing hi-viz on the commute (17 miles Bath-Bristol)a few years ago and have this year taken to daylight running LEDs too (Exposure on the front, Smart Lunar on the back).
They’re just another tool in the box alongside route choice and general Cyclecraft (riding properly, defensively, assertively etc)
But, like helmets I’m vehemently against compulsion.
Even wearing all that kit I still get too many drivers pull out on me – it’s not so much that they ‘don’t see me’ it’s that THEY ARE NOT LOOKING or they see me and think “It’s only a cyclist”.
Plus wearing ‘kit’ seems to fuel the twisted logic of some of the moron’s who deliberately give you less space or drive dangerously merely because you are there (I notice I get treated far better riding to the shops wearing jeans and a beanie).

Muvi Veho here. About 90 minutes on full charge (not quite enough for my 1hr plus each way commute but I switch it off on the cycle path bits)