Safe Speed Forums

I live about half a mile from work. Up until last summer I had a scooter for nipping backward and forward to work. When we are not in the field, I like to come home at break times for a fresh cup of tea and some peace and quiet.

The scooter was bought cheaply for 300 notes, cost nothing to run and built up some rather nice no claims for a bigger bike. The scooter ran really well but the commuting took its toll and the frame had rotted out, so even though it sailed through and MOT I decided that having bought a bigger bike I would pension it off.

The high cost of fuel seems to have resulted in scooters getting very expensive, so I thought I'd press the bicycle into service as it's not far.

The trouble with biking is that even though it is flat around here, it is windy and wind really effects the journey time. Then there is zero weather protection. Even a motor bike has mud guards and won't soak the rider, not a bicycle. My scooter had a back box which I could chuck a days supplies into and chuff off to work. No such luxury on a bicycle, I need my rucksack and having my cool box bouncing off my spine is not something I look forward to.

People say that it keep them fit. B*llocks. I've not been able to run through injury and biking has done the some total of f*ck all to maintain any fitness. Besides, I am on my feet all day burning up to 4000 calories though work and really don't look forward to riding home.

People harp on about urban journey times. The only reason bicycles get across town quick is because they ignore most road traffic rules. If anyone would like to organise a race between me on my motorbike and whoever the best Tour de France rider is across town, bring it on!

The only thing about cycling is that is is cheap, but some people spend the kind of money on a race bike that I would want a motorbike for. these people clearly have mental issues. If I come into any money the first thing I will do is drive to my local Honda emporium and purchase an SH125. The second thing I will do is chuck my mountain bike in the skip at work, where it belongs.

I HATE CYCLING!

Don't sit on the fence - if you don't like cycling just say so!

I cycle to and from work as often as I can, since April last year.
My blood pressure has come down, and I have lost a little weight - although I am not sure where from!

However, I am not doing a job where I get a LOT of exercise - just running up and down stairs, so I suppose I DO get more benefit than you.

Sound's like you need a better rucksack - I get all sorts thrown in mine, and it has never been a problem - £5.99 in ALDI a few years ago - there is a similar one in Lidl's motorcycle sale this week for £9.99.
I get more time to admire the view when cycling...


Who want's to fly by that in 1 second?
Also this week, the first lambs are appearing in the fields, and the daffodils are coming up - only a short while before the 45mph gusts and driving rain I experienced last night, are replaced with sunshine!

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Time to take responsibility for our actions.. and don't be afraid of speaking out!

You're dislike for cycling doesn't mean it is for loosers (or losers).
Not everyone burns 4000 calories every day; not everyone needs to travel with a toolbox.

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Views expressed are personal opinions and are not necessarily shared by the Safe Speed campaign

And you can fit mudguards and carriers on bicycles. The fact is that Adam as chosen the wrong machine for the job.

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When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race. H.G. Wells
When I see a youth in a motor car I do d.c.brown

I took Adam's words with a pinch of salt.. the weather here HAS been awful the last two days!
Not just low temperatures, but a real searching wind!

I'm sure if the weather was better, he wouldn't notice those little niggly things that bother you when you are knackered!

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Time to take responsibility for our actions.. and don't be afraid of speaking out!

Half a mile "journey". What's the right machine?

I must admit that although I love cycling it does not keep me fit in the same way aerobics or running did but I think I know why...

If I remember correctly, you do not get into the aerobic zone where you start to burn fat until after 20 minutes of exercise, so half a mile isn’t going to do much for you really Adam. I have a similar problem in that I am 4 miles from work which I do in ~18 minutes, so just as I’m about to burn fat I’ve arrived at my destination.

I think I’m also right in saying the Tour de France cyclists have the largest hearts and amongst the lowest pulse rates of any athlete. So cycling can and does keep you fit but you do have to put the miles in.

If I won the Lottery I have to admit I would blow thousands on the ultimate bicycle. In fact when I needed more money for a deposit on my house 28 months ago I had to sell my Specialized Stumpjumper with disc brakes and triple overhead underhang for just £750 on eBay for which I paid £,1800 only a year before.

I’m with you on the Honda although I would prefer proper gears for better economy

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The views expressed in this post are personal opinions and do not necessarily represent the views of Safe Speed.
You will be branded a threat to society by going over a speed limit where it is safe to do so, and suffer the consequences of your actions in a way criminals do not, more so than someone who is a real threat to our society.

Pair of stout shoes and a backpack. Walking stick optional.

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When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race. H.G. Wells
When I see a youth in a motor car I do d.c.brown

And the highest rate of early deaths Actually I don't know if that is true - boxers are probably worse - but Fausto Coppi died at 41,Laurence Fignon at 50, Jagues Anguetil at 55. But the greatest of them all, the Cannibal, is still alive at 66.

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When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race. H.G. Wells
When I see a youth in a motor car I do d.c.brown

Yes, sadly. But let’s face it, the sport is rife with drugs where whole teams pull out because one of them had a little something they ought not have in their blood. So we shouldn't blame cycling itself here eh?

An old favourite of mine died even though he never actually tested positive but his blood still looked like it could have come from an alien; dear ole Marco Pantani.

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The views expressed in this post are personal opinions and do not necessarily represent the views of Safe Speed.
You will be branded a threat to society by going over a speed limit where it is safe to do so, and suffer the consequences of your actions in a way criminals do not, more so than someone who is a real threat to our society.

I have a bought mud guards for it, the one on the frame fits fine, the one on the stem seems more a case of do you want a light or a drier back. I selected the light. Water still goes up my trouser legs. But what is the right machine for the job, other than an SH125 or Innova? Slow, but at least you don't have to pedal the ing thing

You need to get some better ones, my back mudguard works perfectly.

I used to have a front one which even kept my feet dry but it won't fit with my new forks.

But as others have said, for half a mile is there any point with a bike? It must take more effort to get it out of the garage/shed than walking would.

My personal experience of cycling is, I am fitter (though that's more to do with cycling on my days off than commuting), it's quicker than taking the car (even when it is windy), easier on the legs than walking. If I needed to carry more than a small netbook then I would invest in a set of panniers, or even a trailer. I only do a mile and a quarter to work so don't even break a sweat. The only days I have left the bike at home have been when we have had heavy snow, I have found that it is then quicker to walk.

I have a very useful bag on the back of mine which is great for just throwing your wallet and condoms in but it also folds down into panniers. I could almost get a week’s-worth of shopping in there. The mudguards are quite well valanced, if that’s the right word, and extend far down the wheels, as opposed to the simple poser clip-on type I used to have which are next to useless.

I feel a picture coming on..

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The views expressed in this post are personal opinions and do not necessarily represent the views of Safe Speed.
You will be branded a threat to society by going over a speed limit where it is safe to do so, and suffer the consequences of your actions in a way criminals do not, more so than someone who is a real threat to our society.

Get over to LIDL on Monday!

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Time to take responsibility for our actions.. and don't be afraid of speaking out!

I thought they re-stocked on Thursdays Ernest?

Here's what ya need Adam.. Rode in on it today, not using the Primary Position "Don't open that door again!"

Not a very good pic but you can see the pannier folded down and proper mudguards.

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The views expressed in this post are personal opinions and do not necessarily represent the views of Safe Speed.
You will be branded a threat to society by going over a speed limit where it is safe to do so, and suffer the consequences of your actions in a way criminals do not, more so than someone who is a real threat to our society.

MONDAYS and THURSDAYS.
Get yourself on the emailed updates list!

This is handy if you have a bit of stuff to carry...


Note the outriggers which support the bike at rest - you wheel the bike back over the bar, and they swing over to face forwards - deters car drivers from getting too close when passing I'll bet!

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Time to take responsibility for our actions.. and don't be afraid of speaking out!

How do you see your way home at night then Tone? Specially in the wet!

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Time to take responsibility for our actions.. and don't be afraid of speaking out!

It does have lights. The front is an old Cateye with five big fat LED’s and the rear is quite a high intensity five LED thing. I also have an old Lupine on my helmet which is good because you can shine it where you want to look. Unfortunately the battery’s knackered and I can’t afford to replace it, which is also why I did less miles over the winter this time.

If it’s raining hard I pop my contact lenses in for the day but that makes me even more handsome and I find myself fighting the women off me.

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The views expressed in this post are personal opinions and do not necessarily represent the views of Safe Speed.
You will be branded a threat to society by going over a speed limit where it is safe to do so, and suffer the consequences of your actions in a way criminals do not, more so than someone who is a real threat to our society.

So buy an electric bike.

You don't have to switch the power on if you're using it for fitness and when it's really windy just flick the switch. That's what I do.

Bonus is that my boss lets me charge it at work !

The bike has full mudguards and a back rack for strapping your docky bag to.


My bike

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The Box said "Windows XP or better" ... So I installed Ubuntu

I have the same Cateye 5 LED unit - in black!
I have a Cateye 3 LED on the helmet, but both are eclipsed by my LED Lenser P7 which has just a single LED!!
see here

I bought a Fenix bar mount for it which is chunky but very well made and fully adjustable.

You could have got a Lenser X7 for the price of your Lupine which runs on D cells!
Look it up on YouTube!
I very near blinded myself with one because I accidentally operated the switch and didn't know the batteries were in as I looked at the LED array!

Don't forget to check out Lidl tomorrow!!

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Time to take responsibility for our actions.. and don't be afraid of speaking out!