Cycling

[Audax]

That was the real heyday of cycling, Holdsworth had the conversion kit to turn the bike into a trike.

http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/components/trike-conversion-components.html

http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/bikes/carpenter-olympic-rb.html

Really make my bikes look like a beater bike.

Edited October 13, 2015 by Audax

[JC4LAB]

Like Raleigh..For years had a Raleigh royal ,then a Raleigh pioneer trail both made in Nottingham... for big tours,now have an old Dawes galaxy tour but prefer the Raleigh Royal..I like folding bikes nowadays ..... can take on planes trains buses and in a taxi..and just keep em in the car boot

Edited October 24, 2015 by JC4LAB

[Audax]

Pendle Witches Vintage Velo Bike-Ride held every Spring is cancelled for 2016:

http://pendlewitchesvintagevelo.co.uk/

http://www.cyclosport.org/event/05-Apr-2015/UK/pendle-witches-vintage-velo.html

Info from the 2015 event:

The Pendle Witches Vintage Velo 2015 is now in its sixth year and a firm favourite with vintage and modern alike.

There are Two routes 56 mile and 13 mile (for the beginner )

The 56 mile route is a tough ride taking in the classics Black Hill/ Nick O' Pendle /Waddington Fell as used in previous Tours Of Britain

The 13 miler is still challenging taking in the climbs of Crown Point and Burnley Brew'

Starts and Finishes in The Craven Heifer Pub Burnley Road Rawtenstall (Real Ale) and free Pie and Peas to all riders at the End.

All proceeds go to Charity Stepping Stones Childrens Hospice and Petal Cancer Research Charity

Vintage and Classic machines /Wool and Acrlic are our preferance but carbon and lycra are most welcome.

Maximum 200 riders it always gets full up so register early.

Read more at http://www.cyclosport.org/event/05-Apr-2015/UK/pendle-witches-vintage-velo.html#7U7gAUMtHxGmEsrU.99

[SAS]

Been away from the site for a while but its good to see people still keeping this thread alive.

Had a crash recently, taxi came out of a side road straight into my 2 month old Cannondale Synapse ultegra.

Gutted to say the least.

Do any of you guys have insurance for your bikes?

[Paul]

Sorry to read this SAS, hope you're OK? From your remark above I guess the bike has suffered damage? If so you have a valid claim against the driver for both the bike and any injury you may have suffered. In a similar situation I received £3000 from a driver who hit me, breaking my hand and snapping the tendon which holds the thumb in place. There are several ways to approach this. If the damage is severe I'd want new for old with a new bike such as yours.

1. Are you by chance a member of British Cycling and/or the Cycle Touring Club (CTC)? If so both will take up your case free of cost to you. Many cyclists belong to one or both organisations as the insurance benefits included in the membership fee are unbeatable

2. If you are not a CTC member I have read on many occasions if you join they will still take up the case. I'm not 100% on how this works but it would be worth contacting them. http://www.ctc.org.uk

3. Go to a solicitor who specialises in accident work - not an ambulance chaser, no win/no fee - as you should get costs awarded. I followed this route and it worked well but with hindsight I think going through CTC or BC would have been better. At the least ask BC or CTC for a recommendation.

4. Do you have household insurance? If so your bike may be covered against accidental damage, obviously that depends on the individual policy

You asked about cycle insurance, this is what I have:

Household contents covers all my bikes but I have to declare the value and those three years old require a valuation certificate from a reputable cycle shop. Most good insurers will include cycles and compared with cycle specific insurance even if you have to pay a higher premium it represents good value. I got a quote for cycle specific insurance which was over £800, my house contents is less then £400 including cycles anywhere in the world.

My cycle club membership covers me for third party issues, effectively public liability, if I'm out with the club

My British Cycling membership covers accidents, legal assistance and third party up to a level in the millions

I also have cycle recovery insurance, £15 pa, from Lex Insurance which is basically the AA for cyclists. Any breakdown which the rider could not be expected to fix at the roadside, effectively only punctures, and Lex will organise for you to be rescued and taken to either home, railway station, cycle repair shop or bed and breakfast as appropriate. One can make three claims a year. I have friends who have used it and everything promised happens. Usually a taxi turns out to collect you.

So much for cyclists not being insured!

Edited November 19, 2015 by Paul

[SAS]

So your insurance for house and your bikes is £800?

I got a quote with pedal cover which worked out at £30 a month.

I'm pretty eager to get insurance.

The bike was a write off so I bought a new one for the same value of 2k.

I've had to go through a injury solictitor as the drivers insurance would not entertain me. Still no resolution and its six months since. Very frustrating.

I just got cuts and bruises from the crash but I've been suffering with back and neck problems since. The two weeks after the crash was very painful. I understand whiplash is a real thing now.

[Paul]

Sorry if I didn't make myself clear. I got a quote to cover my bikes only, 3, from a specialist insurer which was over £800 - I can't remember exactly.

My household insurance, buildings and contents, which includes my bikes is £388 pa or just over £30/month.

I had similar difficulties. The driver refused to respond to me or the solicitor so we couldn't get insurance details. Eventually my solicitor was able to track down the insurers who paid up after a reasonable period of investigation which included them going to the driver for confirmation - that must have been interesting. The whole process took more than 12 months.

I presumed from your original post this was a more recent event. I expect your solicitor has advised this but you need to claim for the whiplash and potential future medical issues resulting from the accident.

Good luck with it.

[SAS]

Cheers for the advice Paul. I think I'll plump for the quote that I got from pedal cover. It covers me for all my triathlon kit when competing too.

[Paul]

It's official cyclists who also belong to a cycling club are a better car insurance risk than the average driver and are therefore by definition better drivers.

"We have been able to demonstrate to motor underwriters that cyclists, who are part of a club, are better car insurance risks than the average driver due to their enhanced spatial awareness, road alertness and healthy lifestyle"

http://www.bikebiz.com/news/read/cyclists-to-get-cheaper-car-insurance/018747

Says it all.

Edited December 1, 2015 by Paul

[Norbert Rassragr]

It may sound strange but when I used to cycle to work, the HGV drivers gave you more space than cars. Mind you, in Coventry a lot of drivers are retards who think indicators and traffic lights are optional.

[Paul]

I'm not surprised by this and have much the same experience. HGV drivers are professionals trained to control a huge vehicle. I watch the guys who turn up at to make collections and deliveries and their driving skills are tremendous.

Car drivers are trained once and then left to behave exactly as they wish. Crazy.

[ABBEY]

And cyclists especially in Preston are total morons .

The training cyclists have is. a test at junior school and that's it . Thursday in rush hour London rd , I checked mirrors to change lanes and this brilliant cyclist was hurtling down the middle of cars . Unluckily I missed the idiot.

Cycle lane empty . Two lanes of traffic and cyclists use the middle of cars . Amazing .

[Norbert Rassragr]

Those people are stupid. Just asking for an accident.

[VinjayV4]

Saw this posted on twitter for anyone who hasn't seen it...

[Audax]

There's a movie coming out on Lance Armstrong and the whole doping saga that looks kind of good; surprised me.

I could tell by the scenes in it, the other cyclist must be that Floyd Landis fellow:

Looks like the film is called "The Program", Dustin Hoffman in it? Maybe he is the doctor that supplied that EPO, or could he be playing David Walsh? The reporter who helped to expose Lance Armstrong.

I read David Walsh's book, 2 times, a page turner. I guess a lot of people never thought they'd catch up with Lance.

[Baz]

Its Le Tour de Chorley marque deux this weekend....

https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/springcup/article/20160320-Motorpoint-Spring-Cup-begins-with-Chorley-Grand-Prix-0

[Paul]

I'll be helping marshal this event along with 14/15 other volunteers from Chorley Cycling Club.

[Audax]

Belgium lost 2 professional cyclists in the span of a few days, sad. The beeb or your favourite cycling news source probably has a better story than below, I just pulled the below up randomly.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/myngheer-demoitie-deaths-double-blow-belgian-cycling-002139707--spt.html

Edited March 31, 2016 by Audax

[JC4LAB]

http://www.goskyride.com/

Spring now coming up..Anyone wanting to try safe and easy guided bike rides for about 2 to 3 hours can try these....

[Audax]

http://dnishchhal.blogspot.com/2014_07_01_archive.html Apparently from this website.

Mountain bikers ride along the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland, known as one of the most terrifying bike paths in the world.

Edited April 8, 2016 by Audax

[only2garners]

Last Tuesday, lovely day, so i decided to get the train to Lancaster and cycle back to take advantage of a northerly breeze. Went out to Caton and then over Jubilee Tower and the Trough, then decided to go to Chipping via the Inn at Whitewell for a change (I usually go past the Wild Boar Park). I didn't realise that the road south of the Inn has been closed for some time because of a landslide so i followed the diversion up and over Hall Hill.

Just coming over the top I swerved to avoid a big pot hole, went off the tarmaced surface and ended up in a heap in the middle of the road with blood everywhere. With the help of two very kind people I was airlifted to Royal Preston. The injuries looked a lot worse than they were because of the blood - I had a deep gash in my knee and a deep cut on my lip and some minor road rash. Two days in hospital and a session in theatre being patched up and I am now at home recuperating. On reflection it looks like my knee was probably cut on the bike, probably by the chain ring as it was a very clean cut, unlike if I had hit the tarmac.

We went up to the Inn on Friday to collect my bike, which they had kindly stored there. The road being used as the diversion is in a terrible state so I would advise anyone else not to cycle up there unless they really have to (and I can't see why you would).

[Clitherover]

Last Tuesday, lovely day, so i decided to get the train to Lancaster and cycle back to take advantage of a northerly breeze. Went out to Caton and then over Jubilee Tower and the Trough, then decided to go to Chipping via the Inn at Whitewell for a change (I usually go past the Wild Boar Park). I didn't realise that the road south of the Inn has been closed for some time because of a landslide so i followed the diversion up and over Hall Hill.

Just coming over the top I swerved to avoid a big pot hole, went off the tarmaced surface and ended up in a heap in the middle of the road with blood everywhere. With the help of two very kind people I was airlifted to Royal Preston. The injuries looked a lot worse than they were because of the blood - I had a deep gash in my knee and a deep cut on my lip and some minor road rash. Two days in hospital and a session in theatre being patched up and I am now at home recuperating. On reflection it looks like my knee was probably cut on the bike, probably by the chain ring as it was a very clean cut, unlike if I had hit the tarmac.

We went up to the Inn on Friday to collect my bike, which they had kindly stored there. The road being used as the diversion is in a terrible state so I would advise anyone else not to cycle up there unless they really have to (and I can't see why you would).

I went up there yesterday, again following the the diversion, you can usually get past those with your bike but the whole road is fenced off. That road is extremely dangerous and even worse if you are coming down from Cow Ark direction.

Edited June 7, 2016 by Clitherover

[wolfie]

Last Tuesday, lovely day, so i decided to get the train to Lancaster and cycle back to take advantage of a northerly breeze. Went out to Caton and then over Jubilee Tower and the Trough, then decided to go to Chipping via the Inn at Whitewell for a change (I usually go past the Wild Boar Park). I didn't realise that the road south of the Inn has been closed for some time because of a landslide so i followed the diversion up and over Hall Hill.

Just coming over the top I swerved to avoid a big pot hole, went off the tarmaced surface and ended up in a heap in the middle of the road with blood everywhere. With the help of two very kind people I was airlifted to Royal Preston. The injuries looked a lot worse than they were because of the blood - I had a deep gash in my knee and a deep cut on my lip and some minor road rash. Two days in hospital and a session in theatre being patched up and I am now at home recuperating. On reflection it looks like my knee was probably cut on the bike, probably by the chain ring as it was a very clean cut, unlike if I had hit the tarmac.

We went up to the Inn on Friday to collect my bike, which they had kindly stored there. The road being used as the diversion is in a terrible state so I would advise anyone else not to cycle up there unless they really have to (and I can't see why you would).

Really sorry to hear O2G, hope you're on the mend and back in the saddle soon.

[Paul]

Sorry to read this John. Hope you're recovering well. Have you reported the pothole to the local authority? As a club we do quite often and a surprising number get filled.

On a lighter note. Anyone want to guess who turned up to ride one of the local 10 mile Time Trials last night?

None other than Sir Bradley Wiggins!!!!! Clocked 18.59 on the Rainford bypass alongside a bunch of ordinary everyday club cyclists.

What a man!

[Audax]

I'm so sorry to hear about this accident. That's a bad one.