@Morningsider, that is the best way to look at it. Life is better than money as Martin Finucane (the Influencer) always says.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Debate!
Today's rubbish cycling
(4520 posts)-
Posted 4 years ago #
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@Morningsider
What size of wheel is it? Disc or rim brakes?
(I hammered my rear back vaguely round after a beemer rear-ended me. Can't read the guy's reg I wrote down cos my hands were shaking so no cash there either.)
Posted 4 years ago # -
@IWRATS - annoyingly, its a roller-braked dutch wheel. Only real option is to extract the hub and lace up a new wheel. Happy to leave that the the experts.
Posted 4 years ago # -
@Morningsider
Wise. Galling outcome, but you have the trusty MTB as back up?
Posted 4 years ago # -
not really rubbish, but going up Orchard Brae earlier this week, I realised the cyclist in front had no rear lights, which seemed odd as from what I could see, it was a well-kitted bike, with a good front light.
when I got much closer, i noticed two rear lights; one as part of the helmet, but so high up it could only really be seen from a higher vehicle, and the other a really cool loop around the right foot--which was unfortunately blocked 80% of the time because the pannier was large and on the right side.
Posted 4 years ago # -
We were skirting a large puddle on a land-rover track in Abernethy that only left about 60cm of dry ground when a guy battered past partly in the heather on a big electric mountain bike.
No bell, no friendly word, no slowing down. No apology. Basically using a nature reserve as an electric race track.
Posted 4 years ago # -
A woman cycled into my bike this morning as I waited to cross the road. I honestly couldn't believe that someone could be so blind/stupid. No apology :(
Posted 4 years ago # -
@wishicoldgofaster from behind? Seems a bit rum not to even offer a cursory apology?
Posted 4 years ago # -
Chap on the canal towpath this morning, using the bell as an intimidation weapon with persistent tingling and no attempt to slow down. I was the first to suffer a close pass when I slowed down behind a dog walker because there was no point in overtaking them so close to a bridge; when I emerged from under the bridge, I saw him go straight for the small gap between @chrisfl’s other half and a couple of other parents they were chatting to, both of the latter with dogs, then scatter pedestrians on approach to the next bridge.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Two youtz doing a clever manouevre on the Kirkgate last night: skidding the rear wheel with great precision so as to project the contents of a puddle at great speed towards a target.
Clearly thinking of targeting me and I daresay that day will come.
Posted 4 years ago # -
A peculiarity appeared behind me and to my right at the Charlotte St lights heading east along Princes St, in a manner suggesting he had not arrived legally. He trundled straight through the red at Castle St., rolled over the stop line at Frederick St., peered at his brake as if doing that ("oh, I meant to stop, but my brakes must obviously be duff") thing but then rolled ahead anyway. I somehow reached the red opposite Waverley Bridge before him, but he trundled to a stop just in front of me and then set off again well before the green. He was then in the next stop box to continue east, so I stayed well away from him and ended up taking a non-ideal route across the tram tracks. When I set off again he had disappeared.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Yesterday evening, not today, but I encountered a chap on a bike going up Church Hill on a road bike at about 20:45. No lights to the rear, dark trousers and grey jacket. Would have been nigh invisible had it not been for his pedal reflectors (there was no red rear reflector on the bike). Had a quick check behind after passing him and he had no light to the front either. All in all a tad inadvisable on a dark, rainy night I thought (although at least it wasn't as windy as it has been).
Reminds of another near incident the other week. On this occasion I had driven down to Alien Rock and parked on the opposite side of the road, with one of those small Transit vans to my rear. I was about to get out of the car having checked my offside mirror and looked over my shoulder when my spidey sense started tingling. I looked again and saw a bike coming past with two very bright lights to the front, one flashing. The reason I hadn't seen him before was because he was riding so close to the parked vehicles and was actually hidden by the slightly wider van behind me until he pulled out to go round it. Note that, despite the retina-searing power of his two lights, the light they cast was not readily recognisable as a bike against the background street lighting and headlights of passing traffic (although I think it might have been enough to make me take that second look - other drivers would likely not be so alert).
Posted 4 years ago # -
Oh, that reminds me. Yesterday, I was cycling up Dalry Road away from Haymarket when someone cycled between me and the parked cars, and continued on their way very close to the parked cars. No lights either, IIRC.
The really annoying thing is that some drivers would say that I was the rubbish cyclist...
Posted 4 years ago # -
Me this time. Cycling north uphill in the bus lane on Mayfield Gardens, traffic stopped in car lane. Pedestrians crossing. I have to brake suddenly as they threaten to cross in front of me (but don't). Front wheel slip as I front wheel brake on ice (road ungritted). Fortunately th tyres gained traction just in time but some words left my mouth in front of the family. Action to self: remember to use rear brake in icy conditions.
Posted 4 years ago # -
This morning coming out of Lochrin Place at the Home St end, the exit was blocked by a bus waiting to get to the stop at the Cameo. The cyclist in front of me decided they couldn't wait and went round the bus on the wrong side of the road, nearly colliding with a cargo bike that was turning right into Lochrin Place.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Had several of my colleagues (many cyclists) pointing out that those riding two abreast on the bike paths/routes are not giving two metres to passing pedestrians. Maybe we can go single file for a while?
Posted 4 years ago # -
There was a guy playing football with his kid on the shared path on Craigmillar Hill yesterday. Why not on the grass 100m away? Hope they're not super-sreaders.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Someone having a go on a just-eat bike - said it was their first time on a bike in years and usually just went for a run - tumbled into the railings opposite Sainsbury's on Marchmont Road as they were setting off. I hobbled over to help as best as I can in my current state and given the difficulties around proximity to others - she had a fat lip but nothing more serious. I urged her not to give up and to take advantage of the quiet streets and to try again.
That wasn't the rubbish cycling though, that was from someone else who was obviously out on a bike who wouldn't normally be - as they admitted - who admonished said person for not wearing a helmet. I found this to be enormously unhelpful and unsympathetic - the roads are clear - this is the time to be trying out cycling, and as the person's accident demonstrated the speed they were going was very much walking pace. By all means wear a helmet if you like, but let's not construct any unnecessary impediments now...
Posted 4 years ago # -
There's a Sainsburys on Marchmont Road?
Posted 4 years ago # -
@IWRATS, yeah opposite the railings, trying to break into the Marriotts/Scotmid Marchmont cartel?
Think it is a Scotmid still, on the corner. Algo will obviously be along to clear up this post which I felt had a slight dream like quality.
Posted 4 years ago # -
There's a Sainsburys on Marchmont Road.
Posted 4 years ago # -
There's a Marriott in Marchmont?
There's a cartel in Marchmont?
I am weighing out and distributing bags of flour to the neighbours at the moment so I'd better make sure I don't tread on Margiotta's patch. If they find out I've been cutting my strong white with self raising I'm toast.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Fond memories of Don Roberto shuffling round that shop in his baffies. First place I ever came across proper Yahs who could converse from one end to the other without shouting and who are now undoubtedly in government.
@algo
Great to know that Tom is getting the street gluten he both needs and craves. Stay safe, do the deal by Flinger and cryptocoin yeah?
Posted 4 years ago # -
@algo I am weighing out and distributing bags of flour to the neighbours at the moment so I'd better make sure I don't tread on Margiotta's patch. If they find out I've been cutting my strong white with self raising I'm toast.
Flour cartels are such a Covid-19 thing!
Mr Bill ordered 3x 16kg sacks of strong white Canadian stuff. Two-thirds of it is for two other b(re)aking bread pals.
I have started multiplying my slightly old and last bits of yeast for hot-cross buns this weekend.
Posted 4 years ago # -
I'm getting slightly irritated by folk on bikes passing me a bit too close for government guidelines when I'm walking on the outside edge of the pavement to provide suitable distance to peds coming the other way.
Appreciate it takes confidence to ride a bit further out into the road, but 9 times out of 10 there are no cars on the road behind said inconsiderate folk.
Posted 4 years ago # -
@bill - glad to know it's not just me furtively packing up flour parcels and stuffing them inside soft toys.
@IWRATS - when I moved here and first went to Margiotta's I didn't know what had hit me. The last place I had been was Tang Hall in York where the corner shop was very much fags and mags. I didn't realise there was a need for emergency vol-au-vent.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Good wine selection in Marriott Margiottas though this was not enough for the good folk of balerno and the Margiotta returned to Spar and is now a wee Scotmid known as Top Mid as up the hill whereas the bigger store Bot Mid is down the hill
Posted 4 years ago # -
LoL at TopMid and BotMid.
We like our local Margiotta - in fact I shall be going there for essential supplies of Biscuits For Cheese this lunchtime.
Posted 4 years ago # -
@algo
Margiottas is a shape-shifter. When I first lived round the corner it was an ordinary shop with an associated greasy spoon on the corner and a gelato factory round the side. Now they have a small property empire in New York.
Good to hear it's now a 'yikes no fizz in the fridge!' emporium.
Posted 4 years ago # -
I was amazed by Shandon Margiotta when I moved here in 2007. To be honest I'm still amazed now, even though I rarely have occasion to visit now that I've moved. Decent beer and the opportunity to buy esoteric items like actual gelatine if you'd unexpectedly run out.
It's a shame that the employee I knew as "Mr Grumpy" no longer works there. Standing in his Arran sweater by the steps up to the milk fridge, glaring balefully at the customers as they came in. Just like he'd stepped out of something heartwarming by Alexander McCall-Smith. Magic...
Posted 4 years ago #
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