Well, Bear, current legislation does specify a brightness. I can’t remember what it is but think it may be couched in terms most would not be able to translate to what their light is achieving from looking at it. How it could be tested by police I don’t know. Don’t think the legislation specifies a distance at which a reading would be taken but may be wrong – I suspect it is “at the light” so to speak.

Yes.

You’ll find that hotels offer deals to include the ferry so should be able to get one of those still. It is possible to bus and tram it round (you’ve no chance of getting a hire car) some of the island. You can get the railway up to the Bungalow from Laxey which is reached from Douglas by tram. Three of us stayed with a family many years ago (this option may still be worked by the Tourist Board) and they loaned us a car.

“Sportives aren’t a competition.”

The general impression given in coverage of these is that a lot of the participants don’t share that ethos. But your point only enhances the one I made.

“One of the main points of the objections to the charter are that the cyclists are being asked to show numbers front and rear. If you ride a motorbike on the road you only need one plate.”

You are not comparing like with like, these events are not really people “just using the public road” are they.

You can’t use the public highway for competition purposes with a motor vehicle. If a motor club wanted to use the public highway purely to link the areas of private land where the competitive element of a motorcycle trial took place the riders would be restricted to 180 in total, would not travel in bunches and be subject to all sorts of rules and regulations such that it takes the best part of a year to sort it all out with the various bodies and individuals. Even if there was only a handful of participants. And the bikes struggle to top 50 mph so speed ain’t the problem.

The proposed rules could be a lot worse. Personally I think that the organiser of any event of any sort anywhere, cycling or otherwise, that concentrates anything like a thousand participants on to roads like those in the Forest is guilty of selfishness in the extreme.

I’d be tempted just to paint over the powdercoat. Cheaper, and you still have the protection of the coating?

One for Esselgruntfuttock’s appreciation.

Many years ago my brother rebuilt the rear suspension units on his Montesa but one of them came apart at the next day’s trial – funnily enough the bike rode better with just one unit for the rest of the event.

The next year, at the same venue, I realised I had missed the flagged route and stopped to look around for flags. At my foot was the spring and adjuster from the Montesa so the rebuild was once again completed.

You’d get away without the latest trials tyre which would wear too much at full retail price. A TS 125 is not going to overpower one of the older fashioned trials tyres on the road (still produced in tubed form for the older bikes but not by Michelin). Do a bit of Googling and go for one of those berated by us trials guys as not providing enough grip for competition use – it’ll be comparatively cheap.

A trials tread (made of ebony in comparison with the stuff now available) worked perfectly well in decades of the ISDT until they allowed knobblies so will provide all the grip you need for sensible trail riding.

The alternative is to use modern stuff discarded by trials riders when the blocks get a bit rounded – you can have four from me at a tenner each!

Ah yes towzer, I remember the good old Barum “pineapple” – but it was cheap from Bill Brown.

Do any of these fantastic lights have a setting that makes them suitable for cycling in a group or does the poor cyclist behind just have to suffer?

Many ignore that one as a matter of course ojom. Haven’t seen the camera van there in a while.

I think I can beat this one. A workmate bought a new bike (much lighter than his old one)to take part in a combined running/mountainbike event at which he’d been timed out the previous year.

On enquiring how he’d fared I was told he’d timed out again but was considering taking the bike back to the dealer as it was not as fast as it should have been. He was serious by the way but I think my laughter persuaded him otherwise.

“Regulations” demand that a number plate is produced by some sort of approved manufacturer whose name must appear on the plate. I suspect your signature in felt pen will not comply 🙂 You’ll need the registration document before such a supplier will make a plate.

This was introduced to prevent plates being made to suit stolen vehicles.
How effective is it? I’m not aware of a significant fall in car theft since this was introduced. Work out for yourself the likelihood of thieves putting a made up name on a plate.

Though if you are driving a classic then you could get away with a hand made black plate with white letters of course.

Back to motorcycle enduros then? Where you can still wear an open face helmet.

The sit-in chippy is pretty good.

What about trying multifocal contact lenses? None of this jump between focal lengths, it’s just like normal eyes. And not affected by rain – ideal on the bike.

A dangerous age – a lot of people in rock who went prematurely died at 27. Hendrix, Joplin etc.

As far as I’m concerned ordinary porridge is instant. I take a plastic screwtop container with the oats and milk (or just use water if I’ve run out) and microwave for two minutes after putting in to a large mug. I do the same at home but use a bowl. Pan-made I have as a treat when I can be bothered as the spirtle needs to be used occasionally.

Thanks guys – I’ve had problems before where the PO would not accept an MOT certificate that was in my hand as it was fresh that day and not on the system, hence my worry about procedure. The seller is my brother so I know all is OK with the car, if not then I know where he lives!

I take the battery out of a motorcyle over the winter and keep it in the kitchen cupboard so it is not subjected to freezing temperatures (well, not very much). It does not have a large capacity but I give it a quick charge in spring then it’s fine for use.

No doubt the experts will tell me I’m doing it all wrong but the battery seems to survive OK and has done for 14 years.

Worth trying?

Thanks CF – that size would feed me for a week! I’ll investigate further.

“As for type of slow cooker, if you get one with a pot that can go on the hob as well as the slow cooker base, you can do all your browning, sauce reduction etc in the same pot. Useful.”

I agree but have been looking in vain – does anyone still make them? I end up tipping it all in to a pan which is a bit annoying.

On Any Sunday.

Do you have a pair of scissors? If so a large patch can magically become one, or even two, tiny ones.

I always thought it was a mistake to change the Countryside Code to “leave gates as you find them” from “always shut gates”. Now when I find an open gate it’s impossible to know whether it is legitimately open or not. Might these have been for some reason?

My inclination is to close it on the basis that a closed gate is potentially likely to cause less inconvenience than an incorrectly open one. But if a repeatedly closed gate is causing inconvenience to a landowner then surely it’s not beyond the wit of man to hang a temporary sign on it requesting it be left open.

I think the way this will be seen as potentially unjust is that there’s plenty of poor cycling behaviour about (there’s a cycling forum with a lengthy thread for “today’s worst cycling”, and we all see it most days) which is what will cause controversial incidents, rather than deliberate scamming.

Though ultimately an innocent motorist will be cleared by the courts, assuming there are witnesses of course, he will still have to suffer years of loss of no claims bonus – the claim will have been paid out so I can’t see insurance companies reinstating the bonus (and, on a side issue, I think insuring against loss of no claims bonus should not be permitted as that can’t help improve driving standards generally).

I’m not against the proposal per se but don’t feel it will produce the cycling nirvana that some seem to think it will. There are other, more cultural, reasons why continental cyclists fare better.

If it’s work related then they should have carried out a risk assessment and published it.

Hi-viz? The reflective bits effectively only work when it’s dark and headlights are in use. The dayglo bit only comes in to its own in that half light period at dawn and dusk, outwith then it’s no better or worse than any bright colour (possibly not even as effective as a “different” colour which would stand out from the norm, as opposed to “just another light green top”).

I’m in Edinburgh if that’s of any use.

Whereabouts are you Wiggles? My Berlingo will be up for sale in a couple of weeks or so.

Small Claims Court? Credit card company?

Sorry, the insurance is a red herring. The law demands that all vehicle policies cover the driver for injuries to passengers in the car. There was quite a stooshie when this was introduced in the 60’s.

Thanks guys. Although the brake seems solid enough when it bites I’ll try a bleed.

My first motorcycle (a 1950’s job) had upside down forks but “modern” motorcycles have seen upside down forks come and go, as fashion dictated, over the last thirty years. It’s doubtful if any difference can be felt by the majority of users in terms of it affecting how they use the bike, which I would guess will also apply to the pedal cycle version.

Laggan provides good climb/descent value (I’ve only done the red) but is a bit distant, as stated above. I’d leave it to next year and combine with a trip to the soon to be opened Glenlivet trail over a couple of days.

“Barely. 27″ rims were 630mm diameter. 700c rims are 622mm.”

Don’t tell anyone that for goodness sake or it’ll start another new marketing wheel size niche.

I had this earlier in the year. It’s caused by mould. I had to get a new seal and do the boil wash with the magic cleaner twice, then a few rinses to get rid of the last of the loose mould. Google it and there’s info there.

Modern low temp washes and liquid detergents are a part of the problem amd the plastic drums are worse. Dry the seal and leave door and drawer open after use to prevent recurrence.

Here’s a summary of the rules Welfare Regs

Seems the desk is OK providing it’s big enough, not good is it?

As I recall things, the Employer must provide the means to make a hot drink. If hot food is available nearby there is no requirement to provide means to heat food. Eating place away from desk is only required where the desk is in an area “visited” by the public. Otherwise, eating at the desk is the norm, though not best practice. I don’t think “food” is defined so it may even apply to KFC:-)

Does your Employer provide an oven and/or an eating area?

Cinnamon Girl, in essence I agree that should be the situation and normally nothing occurs but the essential words in your post are “years ago”.

Having the names, no signature necessary, gives the CTC leader protection with the CTC’s insurers and the claim probably would not come from a participant but an affected third party.

“I don’t want to have personal responsibility for others and be placed in a situation where legal action could be taken against me as an organisor.”

Actually the CTC gives such cover to those leading runs provided basic steps are taken.

It sounds to me like you are leaving yourself wide open in your STW rides activity “having organised plenty”. Signatures or not you will be identifiable as organiser so whether you want the personal responsibility or not, you have it.

It’s not something you should have to worry about in an ideal world but sadly nowadays even fellow cyclists are looking for someone to sue when things go wrong.

I saw a recent report of a case going through the courts where a cyclist seems (to me) not to have been paying enough attention/not allowing sufficient space or reaction time and is now sueing others in the group.

There was a similar one a few years ago where the chap was successful but I reckon he’ll have difficulty finding riding chums now?