D )

I am so used to riding with a helmet. I think the last time I rode without was just up our street whilst checking the gears were indexing correctly.

When on Bikeabiliity, we obviously have to wear helmets all the time as we have to set an example to the kids. We are allowed to take them off if it’s hot weather and we are off the bike teaching the kids, but we can’t pedal a millimetre without wearing a helmet.

On our annual training day, we even have to sign a consent form to do the practical part and we are only on the back streets near the office.

Yeah glacial pace. I have a Diesel engine, not fast but I go forever.

Same here.

I’m slower than a tax rebate but can pedal all day

Just seen them coming through Standish about 8.45 pm

The weather is certainly on their side tonight, Dry, very light winds and about 6 degrees

Have they any back up vehicles with them ? I didn’t see a follow vehicle but there was a camper van further up in a lay by, might have been with them.

FWIW, I regularly get 40+ mpg in my 2.0L Trafic LWB

Same here. I drive like a granny these days but the power is 115 bhp on the Vivaro which is great for overtaking

I have a SWB Vivaro and my insurance is £398 through Brentacre.

Don’t forget to disclose any modifications, especially if you get a panel van and add seats Windows etc. Might be worth getting a quote for a crew cab then getting a quote for a panel van with modifications.

Insurance for modified vans is generally not provided by Direct Line, Aviva etc and tend to just be available through Brentacre, Adrian Flux and other specialists. My Van has extra window in the side door and alloys.

DPD have different levels of employment including self employed on their Lite franchise. These drivers tend to have a small Transit Connect instead of a Sprinter.

I’ve always found them to be the best, but recently they just seem pushed to the limit.

Not because I’ve ordered anything recently but the way they are screwing the vans around. Saw one parked in a sprinter yesterday so far at the end of a street it looked like he was waiting to come out the junction until I realised there was no driver in it. Another Transit Connect turned Right instead of Left on a One Way section just to avoid an extra 10 seconds going round a roundabout.

Good luck and big respect to them.

Let’s hope the weather isn’t too bad, the A6 over Shap is closed completely at the moment due to snow.

These lines also run across my driveway.

A couple of years ago, the council wanted to put yellow lines at the side of my house, just where my neighbours and I park. Think they wanted to go 15 metres in from the main road which would have put the yellow lines straight across my drive.

After some advice from here, think it’s was Onzadog, I got them trimmed back to 10 metres only so I can block my own driveway off. Might sound stupid, but the yellow lines won’t stop anyone parking there but I’m in a bit of a catch 22 situation as, if my car is in the drive, I block the drive with the van and vice versa.

The guy at the council understood fully. When I’m out, I block my own drive off so I can get back in.

Amount of times I’ve been blocked despite it being a dropped kerb and massive ” keep clear ” signs on the gates is ridiculous. I think that as they are big double gates you cant see the other side of, people just think it’s not in use.

I’ve even had it where I’ve just jumped in the van, which was parked across the drive, and only gone up the street to turn round then park up again and some idiot has come and parked across the drive. I even had the Hoover on the footpath which is the reason I was turning the van round.

I now open the gates in those situations so that they can see a car is on the drive

simmy, our local force did do this

I forgot to say, I’m in Manchester

What area are you ?

My mate has had this issue recently so I asked the local traffic cops and got this response

Hi,

If a vehicle is blocking a legal driveway with a drop kerb and there’s no car on the drive it can still be issued with a TOR for unnecessary obstruction we call this more an inconvenience. If a car is blocking a drive and there’s a car on the drive that needs to get off it’s issued with the sane TOR but we can also tow it away.

Cars blocking drop kerbs especially with tactile paving can also be issued with a unnecessary obstruction TOR. This does not include driveways from kerbs.

Just 6 miles going to Nan’s grave then back through the woods.

I’ve been neglecting my riding recently and it was the first time I’d been on the MTB for ages as I normally use the Hybrid so, despite only a short ride, it was brilliant.

New Years Resolution is to get out on the MTB more like I used to.

Big respect to anyone who looks after people and has to deal with this.

Makes sure Mrs Danny is looked after later.

I have worked for myself for nearly 10 years now. The main issue is getting the balance right.

There is always the niggling feeling that I just have to take that next student on in case work dries up and then I end up with more work than I can realistically handle which wears me out.

I am hoping this next year to be able to stop working Saturdays and to drop the evenings to just one per week.

Doing the maths, I can get away with doing 20 hours a week which, with travelling time, will be about 30 – 35 hours.

My mates insurance went up for a couple of years after his parked car was hit.

Despite it obviously not being his fault, he was asleep at the time and it being the local councils van that hit his car, they said he was more at risk

Personally, I wouldn’t be without a spare wheel.

Imagine being in the middle of nowhere and the slime or whatever not working.

What car is it for and is there anywhere in the boot to put a spare wheel ?

I got a cheap kit off eBay and the screen stopped working after a few months. They refused to replace it so I just bought another kit, £19 and if it’s breaks again I’m going to get a better screen.

In terms of the need for a camera, I am now confident with the camera to squeeze into parking space I wouldn’t attempt without it.

I’ve only got a SWB Vivaro so it only takes the same space up as a large car, but knowing how far back you can go is really helpful.

Tan lane should only be entered by vehicles which are too long to go around the roundabout using the normal Tarmac.

Most of these are built and marked up with a solid white line between the tan and normal Tarmac which no doubt will be worn away now as no one gives a crap about lane discipline so will just go in the tan bit even if they are driving a smart car.

I often have a wee at the end of the flagstones up there. I’ll face the other way in future.

I wouldn’t worry too much. having a wee is quiet discreet compared to other activities I’ve seen being performed up there 8O :D

A lad I know told his son that the TV transmitter at Rivington was actually the North Pole sticking out the ground and that Santa could see everything you was doing from the top of it :lol:

Not seen but heard.

Night ride on Rivington about 4 years ago. It was about 11pm and we were climbing upto Georges Lane from the back of the school. I was ahead of my mate and I heard the sound of a kids playground, the kind of noise you would hear at playtime in a Primary School.

I thought I was going mad. I stopped to let my mate catch up and upon him reaching me he said ” I know, just keep ****ing pedalling ”

We never worked out where it came from.

I actually know of a Driving Instructor who took drugs as payment for lessons 8O

My mates missus does Juice Plus so I will speak to her. I won’t be taking her customers as she is 200 miles from me

Northern Rail is generally crap but they have a very relaxed cycle policy so you might be able to work out some sort of bike – train – bike commute.

I got on one of the northern services from Victoria back to Bolton the other day and, despite going into the train through the door with the Cycle stickers on it, there was nowhere to put the bike.

Ended up blocking 3 of those drop down seats and getting evils of other people.

Some are private security search dogs for drugs, explosives etc

A girl I know is a security officer who has 2 dogs, an Alsatian type that guards building sites overnight and a lab which does drug searches at raves etc.

It’s very debatable how close they come to looking like Police without actually saying Police on the vans, uniform etc….

I like playing Roulette in the casino but I have an addictive personality so I don’t go very often to them and when I do, I take in £20 only, spend that and any winnings are a bonus.

Seeing some other people happily throw what would be a weeks wage to me on a colour and not flinch when they lose makes you think where the money comes from.

Yeah, it’s a hybrid 700c disc wheels.

I know what they are saying and my MTB is pure Hope everything, but it’s overkill for this bike. I just need reliable and not too expensive.

I can do a bit of maintenance but at the moment, I’m just so busy I can’t take the time to tinker which is why I took it to the shop.

Right, been back today and they replaced the spoke, checked the rest of them and trued the wheel, cost me £18

The mechanics reckon the wheels that the bike came with are rubbish and they are not capable of carrying the weight of the panniers etc. They recommended new wheels with 32 or 36 spokes, built with good quality spokes and a decent rim.

They were talking about hope hubs which I know are good as I have them on my MTB but I’d rather not spend that kind of money on this bike as I take as much care of it as possible, but I have to leave it locked up in places that are not the best security wise due to my job.

Can anyone confirm their school of thought regarding 32 or 36 spokes and recommend either a wheel pre built or a Hub, spokes, rim combo I can buy and have built up ?

Thanks

Thanks for the replies.

I use the bike for work as I teach Bikeabilty and when I lock it up, it’s just to railings etc.

I’m gong to have this spoke replaced and check how tight the rest are and if this keeps happening, I will just get another wheel. Merlin have some suitable, Deore hubs, Mavic rim for about £75.

I get mine from Next as they have their name on so the ladies know which item of clothing to remove.

OP, when you say Chorley services, do you mean the ones on the M61 ?

If they are, they are owned by Euro Garages who only have that one service area, but have loads of small petrol stations around the North West.

Contact

It might be worth contacting them and seeing what they say. Just thinking you may get a better response off them rather than the larger service area groups like Moto, Welcome Break etc.

I’m guessing the main reason for the restrictions are people leaving their cars for ages, car sharing etc and I’m pretty sure that back when the M61 services were an absolute dive, there was a local bloke selling cars off there.

+ 1 for caramel wheel

I used to deliver body shop supplies and never believed they could work so well till I used one to take the side strips off a mates Corsa C, leaves no residue at all.

Remembered another one.

I was about 14 at the time and mum had a 1986 Escort Estate. We went to the local tip, unloaded but I hadn’t shut the tailgate fully which then came open, unnoticed till we drove under the Height Restriction.

It went with a hell of a bang and scared **** out of us as we just didn’t expect it. I’d always messed with cars as a teenager so spent the next few evenings straightening it out :roll:

I work for myself and love what I do.

I’m busy, have enough money coming in and no one bothers me. Only gripe is the DVSA moving the goalposts on the Driving test meaning at the moment on one is sure exactly how things are going to be when the new test comes in.

Don’t think I could ever work in a company or office, I’d kill someone :D

whats the discount rate on the trade card?

Varies massively from a few pence to £’s off

Most I’ve seen is £30 off a headlight bulb 8O

Trade cards are good, I have one, but still keep an eye on the website for offers as quite often the offers are still cheaper than the trade discount.

Once you have your trade card, register online with the same E Mail address on the Halfords website and you can log in and it will show the trade prices.

You can then decide if it’s cheaper with offers. British Cycling can be used with offers but can’t be used alongside trade card

Dog walked, van washed, car washed and vacuumed, decided to have a drive out for a change and take the bike in the van.

Cheeseburger and Chips from the Butty Van, 12 ish miles on quiet lanes on the bike, home for mum to pop round with some tea.

Hate the dark nights so just gonna take dog out, bath and relatively early night as this week at work is going to be stupidly busy.

Changing the wipers on my Vivaro, I had the arms upright as the wipers were a bit tight to release.

Got them off, leaned over to get the new wiper and caught the wiper arm, which at this state had no wiper on it, with my sleeve sending it smashing into the windscreen cracking it.

The windscreen guy said ” idiots doing this pay me mortgage mate ” :roll: :D

I call those 40 mph everywhere drivers ” my speed drivers ”

Having delivered Speed Awareness and Driver Improvment courses in the past, it’s amazing how many motorists don’t know the National Speed limit for their vehicle. Majority of car drivers think it’s 40mph.

Regarding reversing, about a year ago I was driving through a housing estate and a woman was reversing into her drive. She was blocking the road so I stayed well back. After a few go’s, she was clear of the pavement and still reversing further into her drive so a moved off just as she started coming out again without looking nearly going into the side of me.

As I’m a Driving Instructor, that was my fault according to her as she ran behind me and asked if I teach my students to go through when people as reversing ( like I said, I went when she was on her drive and she was still reversing….) so I explained that she was on her drive when I went so why did she move off again ?

She just kept saying ” do you teach that ” so I replied ” no love, I teach them how to reverse without taking ages, want a card so I can teach you ” she walked off then :D

For insurance, mine is modified slightly so have used Adrian Flux and this year, Brentacre

Also, I’ve only 3 years NCD as my main discount is on my car so was getting quotes of £1000 due to my postcode

Brentacre got it to £400 as they mirrored the discount from my car.

I think it’s made me a better, more patient driver as well.

I’ve a Vivaro but having a non turbo Escort van taught me that :D

I get about 38 mpg out Of the Vivaro and I love it. It’s not a crew cab but I do have dog cage immediately behind the front seat so similar size at the back and it’s fine getting bikes etc in,

What is the road tax rate for the Vivaro’s

I pay by direct debit and it’s £20.12 a month.

I’m in Bolton so a bit far way but I just want to say stick with STW.

This place is fantastic when people need cheering up or any help.

I ride alone all the time since my mates kids came along. I’ve missed loads of riding time thus year as I just CBA but I now set myself a goal to ride as much as possible.

Set myself a desination then head there with the option of train ride back. Did that last week and got talking to a young couple who where cycling who were mad as a bag of frogs :lol: