More ways to tax motorists

[jenkinsbrynmair]

when you are a weekend warrior is negligible and you look a fool slipping around the pub loo in cleated shoes and Lycra when you are 20kg overweight.

There's a transport cafe on the old Cardiff road on the downs at Cowbridge which has been a mecca for cyclists since year dot, we used to call in there regularly to recharge on our way back to Swansea after a stupid shift at the airport.
One day we witnessed the arrival of a 'veteran' cycle group - the youngest probably touching seventy, most were dressed in a rather sensible way ranging from tracksuits or Bermuda type shorts to one gentleman togged out for Sunday - tweed plus fours, Norfolk Jacket, the works. Apart from one - well into his seventies, lycra struggling to cling to his wizened form and resist the call of gravity on said cyclists swinging dangly bits. It took a few years for me to be able to retell the story, the image being so vivid.
On a festive note, it was like looking at the last turkey in the butchers on Christmas eve.

 

[Millet]

I read an interesting article suggesting the energy saving of Lycra is a few percent (in Watts) when you are travelling at pro peloton speeds so makes a difference if travelling for 8 hours over mountains but the savings at 10 mph when you are a weekend warrior is negligible and you look a fool slipping around the pub loo in cleated shoes and Lycra when you are 20kg overweight.
If you are trying to lose that weight baggy clothes and wind resistance will help you shed it more quickly will it not?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

You got a chuckle out of me with that even though it is so true..

 

[Madge]

That's not defensive cycling - it's offensive, and you wonder why people get p!ssed off with cyclists

Not at all. A motorist trying to squeeze past a cyclist on a narrow road forcing you into the gutter or to fall off a bridge is 'offensive'. A left turn on a narrow road or by a roundabout is particularly dangerous to a cyclist. To avoid being squashed to death (as has happened), a cyclist should cycle defensively.

 

[domino]

I read an interesting article suggesting the energy saving of Lycra is a few percent (in Watts) when you are travelling at pro peloton speeds so makes a difference if travelling for 8 hours over mountains but the savings at 10 mph when you are a weekend warrior is negligible and you look a fool slipping around the pub loo in cleated shoes and Lycra when you are 20kg overweight.
If you are trying to lose that weight baggy clothes and wind resistance will help you shed it more quickly will it not?

Most people wear it for comfort. Personally, I wear the mountain biking kit because it looks far more casual and is easier to walk around in.

 

[Beefriendly]

Not at all. A motorist trying to squeeze past a cyclist on a narrow road forcing you into the gutter or to fall off a bridge is 'offensive'. A left turn on a narrow road or by a roundabout is particularly dangerous to a cyclist. To avoid being squashed to death (as has happened), a cyclist should cycle defensively.

Spot on , used to have negotiate the Elephant and Castle and Waterloo roundabouts on a daily basis. You needed to be in front and highly visible to get straight across and you weren't slowing any one down (much) as cycle speed was about the same as the cars due to the traffic density...Although as the roads and roundabouts were often grid locked you could get around quicker on the pavements ....I jest.
And yes I did carry Bike insurance against theft and for any third party damage that I might accidentally cause to other vehicles.

The only accident (plenty of near do's...) I had in nigh on 20 years of daily cycling was in the middle of Waterloo bridge in the cycle lane where I was legally undertaking the stationary traffic which was at a standstill when bus driver decided to open his doors right on the middle of the bridge, no where near a bus stop and I ran straight into a passenger who didn't look when he got off....he had no insurance to pay for the damage he caused my bike!

 

[Millet]

Not at all. A motorist trying to squeeze past a cyclist on a narrow road forcing you into the gutter or to fall off a bridge is 'offensive'. A left turn on a narrow road or by a roundabout is particularly dangerous to a cyclist. To avoid being squashed to death (as has happened), a cyclist should cycle defensively.

The best remedy for that is get some good lights and cycle in the twilight hours, lets say between 1am to 5am in the morning when all the other sensible road tax paying folk are in the land of nod, or better still buy a peddle powered microlight to get you up in the air away from folk most of them who have to make a living from driving.

 

[Ely]

The best remedy for that is get some good lights and cycle in the twilight hours, lets say between 1am to 5am in the morning when all the other sensible road tax paying folk are in the land of nod, or better still buy a peddle powered microlight to get you up in the air away from folk most of them who have to make a living from driving.

Or maybe just be sensible and understanding towards all road users no matter what vehicle you happen to travel to work in. Ignorant and superior attitudes just cause more problems.

 

[Millet]

Or maybe just be sensible and understanding towards all road users no matter what vehicle you happen to travel to work in. Ignorant and superior attitudes just cause more problems.

Or maybe sensible and realistic , if one person only is riding a bike/goat or whatever, i do not have a problem with one, if ten people ride each other with enough space in between for a car to slip in during overtaking i also do not have a problem with that.. it is when you get 10+ lycra clad clowns thinking they own the road that causes problems and death i am sure from these idiots..
I am safe in my car but these pretend wannabe tour de france people are not and even more so one member on here who refers to cycling defensibly is far from safe on the roads i drive regularly.

 

[Ely]

if one person only is riding a bike/goat whatever,if ten people ride each other with enough space in between for a car to slip in

Now that would be a sight for sore eyes. Are we still talking cycling or have we strayed into dogging now? I have no idea on the rules with that. First come first served?

 

[Millet]

Now that would be a sight for sore eyes. Are we still talking cycling or have we strayed into dogging now? I have no idea on the rules with that. First come first served?

Google the Horror film Centipede i may not see you ever again if you fine the original film..

 

[MartinL]

The only accident I had in nigh on 20 years of daily cycling was I ran straight into a passenger who didn't look when he got off....he had no insurance to pay for the damage he caused my bike!

So you were unaware of the othe road users & traveling too fast to stop?

 

[Beefriendly]

So you were unaware of the othe road users & traveling too fast to stop?

No time to react to something that shouldn't have happened no where near a bus stop...no bus lanes where bus stops are!. A door suddenly opens and a guy gets off...get real.

 

[Millet]

No time to react to something that shouldn't have happened no where near a bus stop...no bus lanes where bus stops are!. A door suddenly opens and a guy gets off...get real.

Don't try to explain some folk live in lala land.. best remedy is ignore.. .. i'm gathering lala is a knob jocky traffic type copper..

 

[Beefriendly]

Don't try to explain some folk live in lala land.. best remedy is ignore.. .. i'm gathering lala is a knob jocky traffic type copper..

Possibly different experiences of how fast you can drive around a roundabout in rural Britain and one in central London. Yup with you there...Lala land....

 

[domino]

Quoting for truth.

Don't try to explain some folk live in lala land.. best remedy is ignore.. .. i'm gathering lala is a knob jocky traffic type copper..

 

[Millet]

Quoting for truth.

Explain please..

 

[bontbee]

...I am safe in my car...

Are you, really?

Or maybe just be sensible and understanding towards all road users no matter what vehicle you happen to travel to work in. Ignorant and superior attitudes just cause more problems.

 

[user 6228]

We could impose a higher tax on car drivers who havent passed their full bike test. We could then move on to making bicyclists and horse riders pass a test.

 

[Beefriendly]

We could impose a higher tax on car drivers who havent passed their full bike test.

Puzzled...why should a car driver need to know how to drive a motor cycle?

 

[domino]

Puzzled...why should a car driver need to know how to drive a motor cycle?

If they ever get caught in Wales they can jump the wire fence into England. Best to be prepared.