The Velotard Thread.

[lemonjelly]

Birmingham City Council are consulting on proposals to improve the cycling and walking around Pershore Road / the Edgbaston cricket ground. You may remember that this is where Suzie Bull was killed last year. It would be great if cyclists you know could share this information and also go online to provide comments and feedback on the proposals. It's a really bad junction for drivers but it's even worse for pedestrians and cyclists.

The Council would like to know what people think about the proposal and this web site includes a link to an online survey to allow that feedback.
https://www.birminghambeheard.org.uk/economy/pershore-road-highway-junction-imp/

Or visit their exhibition at Cannon Hill Park inside The Midlands Arts Centre (MAC) on 22nd Oct between 09.00 and 12.00, 23rd Oct between 13.00 and 16.00 or 24th Oct between 16.00 and 19.00.

If you have any queries, please contact Tanweer Araf on telephone number 0121 675 4414 or email at transport.projects@birmingham.gov.uk We would welcome your comments by no later than 2nd November 2018.

These are preliminary proposals and may be subject to change depending on responses received to this consultation. Subject to final approval it is anticipated that works will commence in spring 2019.

 

[lemonjelly]

https://news.sky.com/story/drivers-could-have-to-give-way-to-cyclists-and-pedestrians-under-highway-code-shake-up-11528398

Pretty unenforceable I'd assume, unless processes are developed. Currently the highway code states drivers are supposed to give cyclists 1.75m gap, but a lot don't. I cycle down a road with speed humps, and cars regularly weave to minimise the impact of the humps on their cars, and I've had a few near misses as drivers aren't looking around them. Indeed when that road is congested, it is actually safer to cycle in the middle of the road.

The issue around giving pedestrians the right of way would be interesting.

 

[Tyrannosaurus Dan]

I didn't know whether to post in here or the kids thread but opted for this one...

My daughter will be 7 in March and can't ride a bike yet (poor parenting on our part, I know!) We did get her a bike when she was 3/4 but it was a really crap one and she could never get the hang of pedalling it. We probably should get her a bike for her birthday so we can get her to start learning to ride but I was just looking to see if anyone had any advice/recommendations of what sort of bike to get.

She is probably just under 120cm tall so I guess 16" wheels as it will essentially be her first bike? We'd be looking to spend around £200 if that is realistic. I had a quick look online and found a Pinnacle Koto 16inch bike with stabilisers for £200 which looks ok?

My son is 4 in January too so we should probably start looking at a bike for him too. Bloody kids cost a fortune!

 

[Tredman]

I struggled with this too - one of our twins took to cycling really quickly, the other took a lot of time to peddle and even longer to take the stabilisers off.

Only advice I would say is to keep at it and don't spend too much on a bike - at that age they will grow out of them very quickly, in a year or two you'll be getting a new one - might be worth taking a look on ebay.

 

[SLA]

Not sure they existed then, but I kind of wish we'd gone for balance bikes when ours were toddlers - https://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/balance-bikes
I see little kids whizzing around on them and it seems so much less stressful.
Your daughter's probably too old now, but might be good for your son. Cheaper too.

 

[Tyrannosaurus Dan]

Yeah, we've looked at a balance bike for our son - I didn't realise they were actually that cheap.

I might check out eBay for a 2nd hand bike for our daughter to get her started off and then get her a proper one once she's got a bit of confidence.

 

[Keef]

Loads of cheap kids bikes on eBay,just filter the results to 5-10 miles and take your pick,tbh I'd go used first,then buy decent further down the line

 

[Tredman]

Anyone have any suggestions for breathable scarves / face covers? Felt like my nose was going to fall off this morning, a dripping wet beard from the mist is not a good look either.

 

[machin05]

Anyone have any suggestions for breathable scarves / face covers? Felt like my nose was going to fall off this morning, a dripping wet beard from the mist is not a good look either.

Nope, everything I've tried makes me feel claustrophobic so I just put up with it. It's my ears that I struggle with - they really start aching if they get too cold, so I have a snood/neck warmer thing from Decathlon that i pull up over them in low temps.

 

[Tredman]

Nope, everything I've tried makes me feel claustrophobic so I just put up with it. It's my ears that I struggle with - they really start aching if they get too cold, so I have a snood/neck warmer thing from Decathlon that i pull up over them in low temps.

That's not good - I was hoping there would be some sort of special 'thing' out there.

The beard is the worst for me, was sopping wet this morning.

 

[SLA]

Motorbike helmet? Wouldn't look at all silly, honest.

 

[Tredman]

You joke, but there is a guy who wears a motocross style helmet to ride to Stafford station every morning. He rides on the path too..

 

[lemonjelly]

I'd guess that some form of balaclava is what you're after tredders.
Like machin, I just put up with it, as nothing works, and breathing heavily through a scarf just makes your face warm, and the material gets damp.

On the ears (which I noticed last friday) I wear a small hat under my helmet that keeps the ears bearable.

 

[The Bear]

I used to have a Buff years ago.

https://www.buffwear.co.uk

It was a fleece neckwarmer with a thinner material at the top for pulling up over your face/head. They seem to have all sorts of different stuff on there now. I'm sure there'll be something that suits.

Nowadays I just do what Machin does and pull my snood up over my nose/mouth. And wear a wooly hat on top.

Edit - The one I had was a "Polar Buff" like this - http://www.buffwear.co.uk/new-aw-18.../aw18-new-polar/cashmere-blackblack-new-polar

 

[Keef]

What about an anti pollution mask? Or even one of those white ones with the elastic

 

[SSB]

Cycling retailer Evans Cycles which has 60 stores across the UK has been sold to Sports Direct as part of a pre-pack administration

 

[Tredman]

That is a surprise. thought they were more safe than that

 

[Keef]

Hoping to keep 50% of stores open,but have said some stores will close

 

[Kenny]

Anyone like the idea of cheaper Car Insurance if you attend a cycling awareness course?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-46294511

 

[machin05]

Anyone like the idea of cheaper Car Insurance if you attend a cycling awareness course?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-46294511

It's a decent idea, imo. Although massively undermined by the horrendous lack of cycling infrastructure in the Midlands, at least.

The amount of drivers who simply don't know how to deal with cyclists is shocking, and that's before you try and tackle poor driving/speeding/mobile phone use etc in general. So anything to raise some awareness of that should be encouraged.