To the cyclist on the yellow and black Carrera

[ERic Stokes]

I understand that you may have felt the need to catch up to me when we met at Asda in Kimnel Bay, but that does not permit you to be very close to my rear wheel and nearly rear end me when we both turned right left onto the prom.
You may have thought that you were considerably faster than me, but as you noticed from your frequent shoulder checks, you did not drop me.
Another point is that yes, you may have lushious locks of wavey hair, but that does not replace a helmet.

I suspect you were a first-time cyclist as you had toe straps on your pedals, you were not the most stable of people, and you only had running shorts and top on.

Tips for the future:
I dont mind being drafted, just not that close unless I am with a large group.
You did good at filtering at the traffic lights but you need to hurry up and get to the ASZ before you get caught out, I had to slow down behind you.
You were doing a decent speed (17-18 mph) but try to change your positioning for junctions (you need to indicate and take primary).

On the up note, I was happy to see someone else in shorts on a bit of a cold day, and I would have happily SCR you up to where you seemed to pull in, I do hope I see you so that I could give you some encouragement but I suspect that you are on here as a bike just like your was advertised here recently.

Question: it's not a 'clip less moment' unless you actually fall over, right?

I'm thinking that you too have experienced that carefully considered moment when you felt you might need a foot on the ground, prepared for it by disengaging, then found your body on the deck after you felt it safe to click back in but you were wrong ?

Just signed up on here, yours was the first mail to catch my eye, you sound experienced in the current sense to respond to my dilemma. It might help if I admit I did put together the best parts I had for mountain bike riding in 1962 during the days of toe clips and plates to control float, which I mention only to convey imagination and long experience and to admit to despair over cleats. Such experience and continuous thought has not saved me from the broken bones in the hand I'm now painfully aware of due to cleats. Those fitted are as slack as possible to maintain usefulness, my peddles are Time ATAC alium.

As I'm responding to your mail for your advice, as well as being hopeful of advice from all members. I should say that I was caused to smile upon reading your comment that you suspected the guy was a first time cyclist as he had toe straps fitted !

I know when I need to prepare to get a foot on the ground,with toe clips I just slacken a strap, thereafter no problem, instant foot on ground if required! With my cleats when progress is instantly denied, such as when about to cross a busy road with limited range of visibility, a mega fast car appears I'm stuffed, there isn't time to disengage from my cleats. I never had this problem with toe clips even when my shoes were fitted with plates which served admirably to control float.

I am confused and as admitted hurt by all this "progress" can you, anyone make a case for cleats over plates and toe clips and or offer advice to this old man what to do to avoid more broken bones?

PS Just a wind up, a decent speed when I was 40 years younger was 18-22 mph, maybe our gismos were suspect ?

 

[Matthew_T]

BTW Matt, where's the vid?

Camera has broken, awaiting a new one.

BTW I am 18

 

[Matthew_T]

PS Just a wind up, a decent speed when I was 40 years younger was 18-22 mph, maybe our gismos were suspect ?

Hmmm, well it all depends on the road, and circumstances (traffic, etc). With stopping for lights, etc, my average is about 16/15 over a 15 mile route in about 1.2 hours.

 

[subaqua]

I understand that you may have felt the need to catch up to me when we met at Asda in Kimnel Bay, but that does not permit you to be very close to my rear wheel and nearly rear end me when we both turned right left onto the prom.
You may have thought that you were considerably faster than me, but as you noticed from your frequent shoulder checks, you did not drop me.
Another point is that yes, you may have lushious locks of wavey hair, but that does not replace a helmet.

I suspect you were a first-time cyclist as you had toe straps on your pedals, you were not the most stable of people, and you only had running shorts and top on.

Tips for the future:
I dont mind being drafted, just not that close unless I am with a large group.
You did good at filtering at the traffic lights but you need to hurry up and get to the ASZ before you get caught out, I had to slow down behind you.
You were doing a decent speed (17-18 mph) but try to change your positioning for junctions (you need to indicate and take primary).

On the up note, I was happy to see someone else in shorts on a bit of a cold day, and I would have happily SCR you up to where you seemed to pull in, I do hope I see you so that I could give you some encouragement but I suspect that you are on here as a bike just like your was advertised here recently.

how do you manage to do a left and right turn at the same time.

 

[Matthew_T]

how do you manage to do a left and right turn at the same time.

Mistype.

 

[subaqua]

I was just about to say it's possible to turn left, right! Stop nit-picking just for the sake of it you lot


Let he/she who was not a pita at 18 cast the first stone.








OK ... who threw that

wasn't me !

 

[wiggydiggy]

Don't you just love these 'Dear x on y doing a z' posts, the good ones are very good (cockwomble) and the bad ones (this one) are still good just for the wrong reasons lol

 

[fossyant]

Can't believe I've missed this thread till now.

SPD's on a road bike are just sooo wrong Matthew, screams 'beginner' My real road bikes have Looks, my fixed has spd cos I have to walk up and down stairs with said bike, and between buildings.

Well your helmet isn't stopping you getting into bother with motorists is it? I suggest going out, but leave both the helmet and camera at home. Bet you'll have a better ride (experiment no. 1) !

 

[subaqua]

Can't believe I've missed this thread till now.

SPD's on a road bike are just sooo wrong Matthew, screams 'beginner' My real road bikes have Looks, my fixed has spd cos I have to walk up and down stairs with said bike, and between buildings.

Well your helmet isn't stopping you getting into bother with motorists is it? I suggest going out, but leave both the helmet and camera at home. Bet you'll have a better ride (experiment no. 1) !

or in my case Cheapskate, as it menas not having to buy another set of shoes and pedals and cleats . i can then spensd this on other shiny tat for one of the countless bikes i have .

 

[totallyfixed]

In the Rhyl Journal, yesterday by Hywel Rees Jones Edwards:
" In what used to be a quiet area of North Wales another strange week, indeed several months now since unexplained incidents involving what appears to be a lone cyclist running amok and causing chaos. Eyewitness reports talk of " a young man in shorts screaming like a banshee through car windows, [several of which were parked up and unoccupied]." One elderly lady who did not want to be named claims " I saw a young man [again in shorts despite the freezing weather] beat another cyclist about the head with a helmet shouting "wheel *ucker!". The head of the Parish Council said "the Police are doing nothing and we are concerned that someone may get seriously injured"
In other news Rhyl Cycling Club are moving their HQ to Wrexham some 40 miles away, a spokesman said that over recent months there had been a number of unusual incidents involving cars and felt it was no longer safe for junior members, He added that they were sad to leave having been there since 1977 and would review the situation at a later date.

 

[totallyfixed]

In todays Rhyl Journal;
The police have issued a statement saying that they now believe that because of the large number of incidents being reported that they are pursuing the line of enquiry that more than one person is involved.
When asked if there was any truth in the rumour that a beat bobby was yelled at to get his helmet on they refused to comment.

 

[fossyant]

or in my case Cheapskate, as it menas not having to buy another set of shoes and pedals and cleats . i can then spensd this on other shiny tat for one of the countless bikes i have .

Opportunity for N+1 in shoes and pedals - did you not know this !

 

[subaqua]

Opportunity for N+1 in shoes and pedals - did you not know this !

rather put it towards N+1 bike #sssshdonttellthewife

 

[fossyant]

rather put it towards N+1 bike #sssshdonttellthewife

She'll never notice shoes and pedals that cost £300

 

[Glow worm]

" One elderly lady who did not want to be named

It'll be that Mrs Trellis again