tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27951508053745423262024-03-05T04:48:21.720+00:00KarmaCycle"All of us are in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the cars".
A cycling blog.KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.comBlogger183125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-10321536877093425662011-09-08T18:08:00.000+01:002011-09-08T18:10:46.482+01:00The strange case of the disintegrating bike rackI always thought bike racks were pretty tough. I give them some pretty heavy punishment, with some hefty paniers and a rough ride sometimes along my commute. But I wasn't expecting this:
Yup, first one side cracked away, and then after about another two weeks, while going over a pretty big bump on the Regent's Canal, the other side went. I had to carry my panier in a most awkward fashion half KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-47838316006918758212011-09-03T21:45:00.001+01:002011-09-03T21:45:11.545+01:00Reebok white kids bike stolen todayMy daughter's nearly new bike got stolen today - from Broadway Market in London. Here's what the bike looks like:
I've put my post code in several places on the bike. Most likely it will turn up on EBay or Gumtree, and I'll have a look around the local markets. It's registered with the police, and reported as stolen.
I'd be very grateful though if people could look out for it on the web.
A KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-34315354179954207222011-06-06T11:27:00.001+01:002011-06-06T14:42:13.756+01:00A good reason not to think about your pension while cyclingI admit it, I was deep in a day dream. I was thinking about my pension. I was (to be frank) thinking about my boss's pension too, and some questions I'd like to ask him. Then suddenly, whack! I had that slow motion thing. But unlike the cockroaches you see in slow-mo on nature films, where they find a foot coming towards them laughably slow and can take evasive action, I was unable to do KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-70606592072333017962011-05-16T14:55:00.000+01:002011-05-16T14:55:18.123+01:00Cyclists: Beware open car doors - not for the reasons you'd expectI can't restrain myself from describing this one - though I warn you, it's not a pleasant story.
Karmacycle was doing a bit of nipping and weaving through stationary traffic on the Pentonville Road, up at Islington, heading West.
A few yards ahead, I saw a van door being opened, and then left wide. My immediate thought:
"Arg, idiot for opening his door with bikes coming." Then ...
"Oh well, KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-31479780265902356392011-02-21T10:43:00.000+00:002011-02-21T10:43:46.706+00:00Boris bike users - an alternative user's guide?I was struck - OK, let's face it, irritated - by a chap this morning who got on a Boris Bike and was taking the same route West through Tavistock Square etc as I was. Full credit to him for using two wheels. But the irritation was that at every traffic lights, while all of the rest of us queued like good people, he sauntered past in the other lane, coming to rest at the red light in front of us KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-30221163744452483032011-01-27T16:20:00.000+00:002011-01-27T16:20:02.457+00:00A very strange digital and real life biking coincidence ....There are few things more tedious than someone boring you about an amazing coincidence. Bumped into your boss in the Amazon rain forest etc etc. But I'll just test you out on this one to see what you think, then you can ignore me.
I have a friend. Let's call him Ed. Because that's his name. I haven't talked to him for about 12 years. I know he's a cyclist though as I did see him in the KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-53014257733809826972011-01-17T13:30:00.000+00:002011-01-17T13:30:51.979+00:00Quietly coming back to lifeI'm just really sneaking in a post to keep my blog from getting the digital equivalent of cobwebs and to let you know that karmacycle is still alive and well, cycling through London. As ever, I've been tweeting more than blogging but it is nice to come "home" to the blog every now and then.
Like thousands of Londoners at this very moment, I'm hoping my bike clothes might just dry out before KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-3292564240682242962010-11-24T16:09:00.000+00:002010-11-24T16:09:05.786+00:00Extreme nose blowing and a new invention - the "third sock"This is a compilation of odd observations:
* Up til this morning, I have never seen a person blow their nose on a leaf.
* In the park, I saw a couple - on two bikes - holding hands as they biked along. Dangerous, but nice.
* And strangest of all. I saw a police car flagging down a car which had gone late through red lights. Fancy that - the police actually stopping a car for a minor KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-31071038365545283132010-11-22T13:56:00.000+00:002010-11-22T13:56:49.888+00:00Give your paniers a pit-stop. Cycling tip du jour, MondayMy bicycle paniers were a disgrace. "Stuff" gets shoved in at the beginning and end of every day. I'm good at removing clothes and food, but bits of paper, batteries, lights, old puncture repair bits, inner tubes, remnants of burst sweet packets, plastic bags, coins, straps, nuts and bolts - you name it - remains in there from week to week.
Can anyone else claim to have more "rubbish" inKarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-55589435997639120902010-11-18T16:11:00.000+00:002010-11-18T16:11:36.481+00:00Who's been struck in the head by a pigeon, while biking? It happened to me this morningI can't resist telling you this one - perhaps it's a common occurrence for cyclists.
I was cycling gently through Victoria Park this morning, near the lake by the Pavilion. My 3 year-old daughter was in the child-seat behind me.
Suddenly a flock of pigeons flew across the path - towards the water. I was right in the middle of the flock. Normally you'd expect them to avoid you. That's what KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-49565317394538944072010-11-16T16:14:00.000+00:002010-11-16T16:14:19.113+00:00Don't bother changing your cycle clothes - cycling tip du jour, Tuesday
Nicole Jackson at the office in her cycling clothes
Photograph: Martin Godwin/guardian.co.uk
Source - article about forgetting clothes
I've done this by mistake today, but quite like it. If you're not too stinky and not too wet from your ride into work, why not just keep your cycling clothes on all day? Today I had a few informal meetings and no-one seemed to mind my get-up. In KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-44187946234048567952010-11-15T13:33:00.000+00:002010-11-15T13:33:50.768+00:00Cycling tip du jour, Monday. How to stay warm on your bikeAny soldier will tell you that the sure way to demoralise an army is for the men and women of the forces to have cold, wet feet.
Cyclists and soldiers need
dry warm feet. Source
Personally, I'm a complete wimp about my hands - the moment they start getting cold, I'm misery.
And the final part of the anatomy - ears. I once arrived in Canada in the midwinter with boots and a coat, but nothingKarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-57188236971875472612010-11-12T13:46:00.000+00:002010-11-12T13:46:23.221+00:00Cycling tip du jour, Friday. How to calm down after a near miss or angry incident
They should be our friends! Source
Motorcycle News
I needn't dwell on the details, but I had a terrifying moment yesterday - a little bit of politeness on my part - allowing a fellow cyclist to go ahead of me - with me slowing right down - nearly saw me mown down by a motorbike rider who'd shot off from nearby lights at full throttle. Of course he swore at me because as far as he was KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-78335908997000349862010-11-11T14:03:00.000+00:002010-11-11T14:03:37.136+00:00Cycling tip du jour, Thursday. Spotting and dealing with sudden gustsThe UK is currently being battered by high winds. In the cities, the wind is barreling through the streets, then eddying in unexpected directions when it hits a brick wall or enormous building. It comes in waves and can be frightening - especially if you're on a bike and being blown around the road in traffic.
On my journey this morning, I realised that I could to some extent anticipate the KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-64671695805379476762010-11-10T14:47:00.000+00:002010-11-10T14:47:53.977+00:00Cycling tip du jour, Wednesday: Never trust people to give-way
This means: give way to traffic
on major road. A full guide can be
found on the Highway Code
website
Had a nasty little scare on the journey in this morning. I was cycling along George Street just West of Marylebone High Street. Manchester Street was coming up on my left, where there's a set of give-way markings - meaning, of course, that anything coming out of Manchester Street should give KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-4721178517984550572010-11-09T13:52:00.000+00:002010-11-09T13:52:02.823+00:00Cycling tip du jour, Tuesday. How to arrive at a set of traffic lights.This is kind of light-hearted but I suspect there's more than a grain of truth in it.
First of all, ask yourself: are you a slow, medium or fast cyclist? Are you expecting to pull away from the lights quickly or slowly?
If you are in the medium or slow category, and there's a fellow cyclist ahead of you waiting at a light - and he or she looks like they might be quick - don't edge in front of KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-55766653875031868062010-11-08T11:45:00.000+00:002010-11-08T11:45:16.796+00:00Cycling tip du jour, Monday: post-ride bike careMost of us are so relieved to get to our destination - not to mention probably being late for something - that we lock up the trusty bike and rush off.
The poor old bike, meanwhile, sits there, perhaps pining for its owner, while the water from the rain (especially on a day such as today) slowly seeps into every possible joint, opening, corner, nut, bolt, etc etc.
A trusty rag. Source - KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-30643524078805800082010-11-02T13:57:00.000+00:002010-11-02T13:57:58.363+00:00Cycling tip du jour, Tuesday. How to stick out your hand and indicateBicycle indication appears to be a dying art. Yet if ever I'm driving a car, I find it incredibly useful to know if:
1) a bike's suddenly going to turn right
2) which exit they're planning on getting off the roundabout on
3) if the cyclist is planning on nipping round a slowing down bus or lorry
4) generally, any information is gold dust in terms of knowing what they're about to do
Well, I wasKarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-13138663118434998732010-11-02T13:34:00.000+00:002010-11-02T13:34:50.447+00:00Beautiful London morning in autumn; cycling through leaves in Victoria Park
Nuff said?KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-33181967581069215972010-11-01T10:19:00.000+00:002010-11-01T10:19:52.382+00:00Cycling tip du jour, Monday: look behind you!On my ride in this morning, I was struck by how few cyclists seem to know what's going on behind them. On a personal note it's irritating because fellow cyclists might not know that you're trying to overtake - and they're taking up half the road because of their position.
On a safety note, it's important to know how many monstrous trucks or impatient vans are revving up behind you, so you can KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-92155442397055413572010-10-28T10:06:00.000+01:002010-10-28T10:06:29.063+01:00Cycling tip du jour, Thursday. Surprise a pedestrian.I tried this on my way into work this morning:
Ride towards zebra/pedestrian crossing. Spot pedestrian loitering, showing some intent to cross.
Come to gradual halt before you reach the crossing. Nod, even smile encouragingly at pedestrian to let them know you have actually stopped for them, and they can actually cross.
They get to other side of road.
This actually becomes rewarding as theKarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-13609767100385703662010-10-27T15:23:00.000+01:002010-10-27T15:23:20.652+01:00Cycling tip du jour: using your bike as a washing lineIn this kind of weather, you can get soaked pretty quickly. So what should do with wet clothes?
Easy. Hang them up all over your bike. You'd be amazed by how many hooks there are on your bike - handle bars, back rack, main frame, even pedals. By the end of the day, assuming your bike is actually in doors somewhere (e.g. at work) you should have much drier clothes.
Tip - make sure you have KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-44887518458140973352010-10-26T14:33:00.000+01:002010-10-26T14:33:01.463+01:00Save the Hackney rabbit!I often cycle past this, and it invariably cheers me up. The Hackney Road is generally a horrid road to cycle along, and this kind of art helps make it feel a lot nicer. It's also by quite a well known artist, ROA. Some more examples of his excellent work can be found here. (also at the Londonist site). We now hear the council want to whitewash it. I've signed a petition via the KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-46319958938051743942010-10-26T13:39:00.000+01:002010-10-26T13:39:17.958+01:00Cycling tip du jour - fixing a nut underneath your mudguardThe nuts and bolts holding on my mudguards seem to fall off like leaves from an autumn tree. It's got more common since I've been pumping up my tyres harder - and I rattle around like a marble in a tumble drier. I was baffled as to how on earth I could insert and tighten a missing screw right above my rear wheel - without taking off the whole wheel.
Source: the local data company
KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-34575310784765030342010-10-25T11:14:00.000+01:002010-10-25T11:14:28.014+01:00I found the end of the rainbow and it's in ... London's Hampstead HeathTaken yesterday on the Heath:
By the way, I'm still looking for the gold
KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com2