tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27951508053745423262012-01-25T10:57:44.074ZKarmaCycle"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.comBlogger1831100tag: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 anythingKarmaCyclehttp://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-31479780265902356392011-02-21T10:43:00.000Z2011-02-21T10:43:46.706ZBoris 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-30221163744452483032011-01-27T16:20:00.000Z2011-01-27T16:20:02.457ZA 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 distanceKarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-53014257733809826972011-01-17T13:30:00.000Z2011-01-17T13:30:51.979ZQuietly 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-3292564240682242962010-11-24T16:09:00.000Z2010-11-24T16:09:05.786ZExtreme 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 traffic KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-31071038365545283132010-11-22T13:56:00.000Z2010-11-22T13:56:49.888ZGive 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" in KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-55589435997639120902010-11-18T16:11:00.000Z2010-11-18T16:11:36.481ZWho'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-49565317394538944072010-11-16T16:14:00.000Z2010-11-16T16:14:19.113ZDon'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 fact it KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-44187946234048567952010-11-15T13:33:00.000Z2010-11-15T13:33:50.768ZCycling 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-57188236971875472612010-11-12T13:46:00.000Z2010-11-12T13:46:23.221ZCycling 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 concerned KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-78335908997000349862010-11-11T14:03:00.000Z2010-11-11T14:03:37.136ZCycling 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-64671695805379476762010-11-10T14:47:00.000Z2010-11-10T14:47:53.977ZCycling 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-4721178517984550572010-11-09T13:52:00.000Z2010-11-09T13:52:02.823ZCycling 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-55766653875031868062010-11-08T11:45:00.000Z2010-11-08T11:45:16.796ZCycling 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-30643524078805800082010-11-02T13:57:00.000Z2010-11-02T13:57:58.363ZCycling 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-13138663118434998732010-11-02T13:34:00.000Z2010-11-02T13:34:50.447ZBeautiful 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-33181967581069215972010-11-01T10:19:00.000Z2010-11-01T10:19:52.382ZCycling 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 Londonist websiteKarmaCyclehttp://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
The lovely 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.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-63553635776930035772010-10-21T12:55:00.000+01:002010-10-21T12:55:01.235+01:00Don't go in the bike lane. Bring the bike lane with you.This is such an interesting idea - almost certainly completely impractical, but what do you think?
The bike lane that travels with you. Source
Thanks to @nextbikerider for pointing this one out.
Wanted to show you cute Halloween kitten too but clearly my internal editing system has decided that it's not relevant to the blog and should not be uploaded!KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-35122445423197541202010-10-11T15:35:00.000+01:002010-10-11T15:35:36.779+01:00Does your bike feel like it's flagging? Time to give it some air.My previous post was all about speed. I have a little update. I changed my front tyre last night as I happened to have a spare Schwalbe Marathon in my shed (long story). I finally checked what the make was of my existing tyres, and it turns out they're called Maxxis Detonators - or, as I now know them, pin cushions. They seem to absorb glass and nails as methodically and surely as a sponge soaks KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-71394361200344921522010-10-06T14:52:00.000+01:002010-10-06T14:52:42.034+01:00What makes a cyclist go faster?I had an odd experience on the canal a couple of days ago. (I know, this sounds like the beginning of a dodgy story possibly involving unsavoury characters, a heron, and a canoe). But read on, it's cycling related, I promise.
This is not the Regent's Canal! Source
OK, so in the very quiet bit just West of London Zoo, I see a long stretch of empty towpath. It's dry and I can go as fast or slowKarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-69473352055077839192010-10-05T13:54:00.000+01:002010-10-05T13:54:43.441+01:00My blog's lost its mojo - can anyone help it?Hi - I'm sorry to say that I'm going through another period of what we bloggers would call "blog doubt" if anyone had actually bothered to think up a name for it. I'll list a few reasons why I haven't updated recently, and perhaps you could then advise on whether I should:
a) stop the blog
b) make it change direction or focus
c) carry on regardless
So here's why I'm despondant:
1) I like KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-2097430406748161202010-09-24T16:20:00.000+01:002010-09-24T16:20:50.647+01:00A bike quote not quite by Oscar WildeI was proud of making this one up on my bike this morning .With apologies to Oscar Wilde:
Bikes: "we are all in the gutter but some of us are looking at the cars"
Probably time to get back in my box.
KCKarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-90437968700710155872010-09-23T11:34:00.000+01:002010-09-23T11:34:16.350+01:00The Chicken bike, a cool bike wine label, and the best graffiti I've ever seen ...I don't want to chat much today, so I'll just pop up some photos - which are better than a thousand words. Perhaps even ten.
I drank this bottle (not alone!) and loved the label:
Wine is l'echappee du ventoux by Paul Jaboulet - from the Wine Society - design due to fact that Tour de France goes past the vineyards
Next, a bike dressed a chicken (I thought it was an owl at first) at the KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-48954854803179836182010-09-15T13:32:00.000+01:002010-09-15T13:32:35.486+01:00The mother of all punctures - on my London bike commuteCan you see the screw sticking right into my tyre, like someone hammered it in? Well, I got that just as I was cycling along the bike lane off Tavistock Square. Clang clang clang, thought something had got caught in my wheel. One very long screw. Here it is again.
I wrestled with the puncture for half an hour, putting patches on the inner tube, but failed as it had been KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-43481249493743305662010-09-13T13:39:00.000+01:002010-09-13T13:39:33.157+01:00A few cycling updates for you to have a look atI've been spending more time on Twitter than the blog recently so have not been as "regular" as I should - for which, apologies. I also thought it might be worth me putting in a few more links to things related to cycling, rather than just banging on about my own experiences in London. As ever, feedback welcome.
But first, Me
It's always me me me isn't it. Well, I can safely say that my "KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-682217696053267362010-09-06T12:15:00.000+01:002010-09-06T12:15:22.596+01:00Quick - get on that bike, there's a tube strikeWith the tube strike due to hit London at 5pm today, surely now's as good a moment as any to dust off that bike you've been keeping at the back of the shed, check the tyres and brakes, and get going - perhaps tomorrow morning would be best.
There's a timely link on the cycle site road.cc advising anyone who hasn't ridden in London before to check the site cyclestreets.net to see a likely route.KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-17816243936235535982010-09-02T15:43:00.000+01:002010-09-02T15:43:38.837+01:00Doctor's orders - a cocktail of drugs, and get back on your bikeMore attentive readers may have observed me banging on in my Twitter feed about how sick I am, how I'm now in my third week of having a cold and generally whingeing about not being on my bike.
You know how men are alleged never to visit the doctor? Well, that felt like a challenge to me, so I decided that I would buck current trends and go and see one, and at the very least have a good moan KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-60484270244834985292010-08-25T11:47:00.000+01:002010-08-25T11:47:47.940+01:00Altercation with a van - driver suddenly goes muteI had a bit of a tricky situation on my way home yesterday. There's a bit of road - for those of you who may know London a bit - which comes down past the Brunswick Centre in Russell Square - it's called Bernard Street. To get into Grenville Street at the bottom, you have to go right, which is normally fine. But another road filters into Grenville Street too from the opposite direction. Now in KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-42339658174507135952010-08-23T12:56:00.000+01:002010-08-23T12:56:26.391+01:00Would you stop to help someone whose bike has a puncture? A London bicycling insight ...I'm back. Forgive the blog silence but I've spent the last few weeks looking after my lovely kids rather than scything my way through London's mean streets. And for the record, it was a superb time though I am now far more tired than I've been in years and I've got a terrible cold I can't shake off. I never normally get them. Is there a connection between cycling inactivity and sickness? Yes.
KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-10315962201709904392010-07-29T15:52:00.000+01:002010-07-29T15:52:14.656+01:00"Wish I'd started earlier..."Nice comment in the showers at work (sorry for putting that image into your heads) - colleague in his 40's, after we'd had a bit of a chat about our cycle in and compared notes on bikes (God we're dull aren't we?!), he said: "I only wish I'd started biking to work years ago". I assumed he was talking about physique. "You mean - in terms of fitness?" I asked. "No", he said, "so I wouldn't have KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-50566635062514679252010-07-23T15:57:00.000+01:002010-07-23T15:57:06.815+01:00I've biked too much in London recently ... is it OK to have a break from 2 wheels?I'm wondering if it's just a sign of old age, or whether a commuter can occasionally get "bike fatigue". I've been deligently cycling back and forth across what feels like most of London for weeks, and I just feel knackered.
This is about how tired I feel ...
I was going up a pretty long and steep hill behind a fellow cyclist yesterday. When we got to the top I said "Wow, that was some good KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-4937110747056525592010-07-02T14:51:00.000+01:002010-07-02T14:51:58.563+01:00Man gives car driver a sound ticking off. He deserves a medal.This isn't strictly bike related, but I did see the incident while on my bike, and is also about road users, so indulge me, please.
The road I live on has a 20 MPH speed limit. It has a sign which flashes "20!" when people go over 20. But probably more often than not, it's ignored. Some motorbikes (sorry fellow 2-wheelers, I know most of you are very decent!) seem to see it as a challenge to KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-41045142911276992782010-06-25T14:04:00.002+01:002010-06-25T14:04:52.741+01:00Link to that video?Next you'll be actually wanting to watch that video ... here's a link to YouTube where you should find it. Sorry. KCKarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-61814991118929167732010-06-25T13:10:00.000+01:002010-06-25T13:10:48.530+01:00Still a bit of confusion over "two tings" bike guidance on the Regent's Canal, LondonI had a funny experience on the canal this morning which I can share with you as I had helmet cam on. Being the good citizen I now am, I was dutifully tinging away as I made my merry way down the canal in the beautiful sunshine.
I went past the two lady joggers you see first with no problem. But when it came to the men - well, it was just odd that the reaction on hearing the tings was to run KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-77132020173307527542010-06-24T22:00:00.000+01:002010-06-24T22:00:20.415+01:00Pinkie on its way back to rude health after bike accidentGood news from bro-in-law (injured this week after going into the back of a car) - he had surgery (a general anaesthetic no less) but didn't need to stay in hospital overnight. Has huge cast which should come off tomorrow. The main worry now of course is ... how the hell to type and use a mouse when your finger is wrapped up. And even more important - how soon do you get back on your bike after KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-39671293336173312612010-06-23T14:36:00.000+01:002010-06-23T14:36:36.077+01:00Thoughts to brother-in-law with broken finger in London bike accidentAs they possibly say on the radio still - a big shout out to my famed bro-in-law who is the oracle on this blog for anything to do with bikes and biking - he had a nasty accident yesterday in Homerton, London - while cycling very gently behind a car on a quiet street, the car rather suddenly came to a halt, and he went into the back of the car. He was more concerned about the car and the driver KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-940819860639048002010-06-23T14:19:00.000+01:002010-06-23T14:19:39.047+01:00Clever trick of freezing your bike water bottle - but be careful!I thought I would be extra clever as I knew it was going to be what we British call a "scorcher" here in London (29 degrees forecast) - so I put my water bottle in the freezer overnight. I cleverly didn't fill it up all the way, as any fool knows that water expands and didn't want my water bottle to explode.
I took it out before the school run, thinking by the time I started my "commute proper"KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-53492073134196094502010-06-18T09:48:00.001+01:002010-06-18T09:49:47.917+01:00Karma theory in practice ... occasionally it does workAttentive readers (i.e. close family) might remember that a while ago I wrote about being wracked with guilt after not dismounting at a tricky pedestrian corner and nearly bumping into someone, and being shouted at. If you can bear to read about my experience, here's the post. Anyway, ever since then, I've approached that same corner with great caution and invariably dismounted when I see the KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-12825544850303164652010-06-17T20:44:00.000+01:002010-06-17T20:44:32.100+01:00Meet your "canal ranger" and spread the love on London's Regent's canal ...I went to a slightly unusual press conference this morning on the Regent's Canal, just by King's Cross, London. Unusual because it was really just a couple of us standing on the towpath with some very nice people from British Waterways. The message was - cyclists, "take it easy on the towpath". But I did also learn that there is a message for pedestrians too - when you hear the famous "two tings"KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-21810390036780832412010-06-15T13:50:00.001+01:002010-06-16T10:50:10.175+01:00The ultimate in bike desirability - silenceI had to make a pretty big detour on my way into work this morning. It was partly because large sections of the Regent's Canal seem to be shut down for repairs at the moment. But also because I was being driven slowly mad by the rattling of my bike rack. It was fitted to my lovely new bike when I bought my LCM (London Commuting Machine, actually a Giant Seek Zero) from Chamberlain's in Camden. KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-1687932798847407112010-06-04T18:06:00.000+01:002010-06-04T18:06:06.171+01:00Not slacking, just away ...Since you ask I am in Rye where it's truly the summer - people really are swimming in the sea - but where there are few bikes. I have noticed the occasional sturdy mountain bike cruising down to the beach, and there does seem to be a new bike route between Rye and Camber Sands, little used. It's definitely not the biker's paradise I saw on the Isle of Wight. Anyway, I'm not sorry to be out of theKarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-16573521925730632162010-05-28T11:58:00.001+01:002010-05-28T11:59:40.819+01:00Possibly the worst place for a cute bunch of ducklings to roost - the towpathYou would have thought a group of young ducks would have enough to worry about without their parent deciding that the canal towpath is clearly the "des res" of the decade. I'm pleased to say that as I cycled up to this group, all the cyclists were slowing down and giving them a wide berth - as were the pedestrians who all stopped to have a good look. The ducks seemed completely oblivious to any KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-63909873149218664582010-05-25T15:47:00.000+01:002010-05-25T15:47:36.170+01:00That London "heatwave" - part 2Thanks to those of you who pointed out that the best way of getting over the heat is to ... wait for a day, and watch London go back to being rather cold and British. And also to those who noticed that 30 degrees hardly constitutes a proper heat wave - perhaps 40 would be more like it. Still, us British have got to dream at least that we live in the tropics every now and then.
But anyway - I'llKarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-19538215392599359202010-05-24T16:00:00.000+01:002010-05-24T16:00:28.169+01:00How to keep cool on your bike in this London heatwave30 degrees, they say. I've just come from a meeting and had ten minutes outside. I nearly fainted with heat and I'm not doing any excercise. On your bike, you're generally a bit cooler because the wind is like a fan. But what else can the cyclist do?
1. Carry a bucket of ice around on your bike and plunge your head into it at every traffic lights:
2. The bucket might not be practical. You have KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-21101013654345484292010-05-21T13:54:00.000+01:002010-05-21T13:54:57.894+01:00Hilarious - 12 (real) new products for your bikeBrilliant photos of new products you never knew you wanted for your pride and joy, like this. They can be found at ToxelKarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-28658523998491371652010-05-21T13:27:00.000+01:002010-05-21T13:27:14.827+01:00Glory, Glory ... and talking to strangers on bikes in LondonDays like today are what cycling was invented for. A perfect sunny day but not boiling hot. It was all I could do to stop myself greeting every fellow cyclist with a cheery wave and a "good morning" ... actually perhaps I should start that and see what happens. Somehow the idea that you can actually talk to a fellow cyclist seems a bit unlikely. Have you guys ever tried it? As documented in blog KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-8568437867450464032010-05-20T10:08:00.001+01:002010-05-24T16:04:04.908+01:00Banksy is not the messiah - he's a very naughty boy
I'm loving some of the graffiti along the Regent's Canal in London. This one is just West of Camden Market. I'll put up a couple of others I've spotted over the past few months. Links to sites which show more would be appreciated!
and here are the others:
KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-82221985865778400132010-05-12T11:14:00.003+01:002010-05-12T13:57:18.286+01:00Dave Cameron has a new problem: he can't cycle to work any more. We offer him tips The only reason I'm reasonably fit is because I cycle to work, then home again. The ride is exciting, often dangerous, occasionally infuriating, exhilarating and, let's face it, mostly a lot of fun. While on my way to work, my mind gradually empties of domestic issues and I arrive feeling ready to focus on matters of the office. On the way back, work worries slowly disappear as the more KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-74047215107257611102010-05-11T14:35:00.000+01:002010-05-11T14:35:21.561+01:00Is it OK to notice what other cyclists are wearing?Had a lovely cycle in this morning along the Regent's Canal in the sun. I was struck by how co-ordinated this cyclist was - she had a suede coat with a furry trim, a fancy looking leather saddle - and the thing that really caught my attention - a matching handbag on her left handle-bar, apparently co-ordinated to go with the saddle! Now that's what I call class. If you're the person who was KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-23864456281636964672010-05-07T16:04:00.000+01:002010-05-07T16:04:11.245+01:00First glimpse of new bike ...I wonder if I'm alone in thinking that having your first ride on your new bike is an almost religious experience? Hopefully not because you're uncomfortable on a hard pew, but because there is something amazing about being the first person to ride on a new machine. You have to meet each other, get used to quirks, foibles, fumble awkwardly looking for the place it keeps its gears ... I think I'd KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-66681318473006743012010-05-07T13:36:00.000+01:002010-05-07T13:36:58.292+01:00Bus on fire this morning - CamdenThe road was closed this morning in Camden - turns out a bus was on fire. I arrived in the "aftermath":
KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-16646035749395407522010-05-07T13:30:00.001+01:002010-05-07T13:31:26.373+01:00Pink explosion after hailstormRemember the big hailstorm the other day? I took a couple of pictures showing how the hail had caused an explosion of pink blossom - in this case on this car.
KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-40350342822051887922010-05-04T22:38:00.000+01:002010-05-04T22:38:37.733+01:00Keeping your jacket smart in a backpackI know the entire www was in a fever of anticipation after yesterday's entry about smart clothes. So, the trick with a jacket is to put it in plastic - the kind you get at dry cleaners - then fold neatly and flat much like a shirt. Try to keep it flat as it goes into the backpack. I think I looked almost smart today and not crumpled. And if you knew me you'd be surprised by that.KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-43284878334565342212010-05-03T22:09:00.003+01:002010-05-03T22:15:56.659+01:00Smart clothes ... In your backpack?Slightly worried - have to wear jacket and tie at lunch tomorrow - is it possible to get all your smart clothes in a backpack without looking crumpled and scruffy? Don't really want to tube it. Any tips? Otherwise will let you know what happens tomorrow. KCKarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-69079228986486517282010-04-30T15:52:00.000+01:002010-04-30T15:52:11.853+01:00Man surprised to read about his own death on a cycle forumI was reading the very well known Bike Radar forum and was depressed to read about another fatality - this time in Leeds. There was a moving tribute thus:
Hate to get all maudlin, but saw the worst of sights yesterday on my cycle to work. Was happily freewheeling down the Otley Road into Headingley, then just past Woodies there it was – some poor guy over the bonnet of a VW Polo, sheet over himKarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-22216560641507821672010-04-29T15:30:00.003+01:002010-04-29T15:33:32.166+01:00This floating footbridge really tested my karma ...I've got the old helmet cam working again - has anyone been down on the Regent's Canal recently and come across this walkway? You're expected to dismount and obviously most don't. Would you? BTW - some people may be offended by the T-Shirt the woman in front of me is wearing. I thought it took a bit of guts to sport something like that!KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-34527757757846608482010-04-28T21:08:00.003+01:002010-04-28T21:14:21.004+01:00Don't trust me - I'm just a bloggerA nice anonymous person just pointed out very politely that I'd completely got my terms muddled. I've been happily banging on about "fixies" as if I knew what they were, but of course it turns out that I don't. I kind of thought that anything on wheels with just one gear was a fixie - but in fact a fixie is one where you can't freewheel and (I now think) has the brake as part of the pedal system KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-7147182739196446262010-04-27T13:42:00.002+01:002010-04-27T13:44:22.524+01:00Now that's what I call a commute ...Happened across this - a perfect antidote to all of us London commuters moaning about traffic!pleasant commute from lucy Martin on Vimeo.KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-302372140599767532010-04-27T10:01:00.002+01:002010-04-27T10:07:41.265+01:00Where do cycling accidents actually happen?This is a depressing post I'm afraid - but my attention was drawn to this map on a site called City Beast. Many of you may know about it already. But it logs all the fatalities and serious accidents which have happened in recent years, and shows the roads where most collisions have taken place.I wasn't too surprised to discover that Theobold's Road, which I've blogged about quite a lot, is one ofKarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-22996573269168274442010-04-26T13:33:00.009+01:002010-04-26T13:51:56.467+01:00My bike has now got just one gear ... it used to have 24This one's really for Paul, but may have some interest for others wondering what to do with a knackered old bike ... I've gone on before about the idea of converting a multi-gear bike into being a "fixie". My main reason was that I was getting a new bike and it didn't seem like it was worth the money to buy a complete set of gears, chains etc. So my oft-mentioned brother-in-law did a conversion KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-15598225159155295192010-04-16T15:42:00.003+01:002010-04-16T15:49:00.968+01:00Volcanic ash making London quieter?I keep expecting to breathe in gobfuls of Icelandic ash, which is apparently spewing out of a volcano and blanketing Northern Europe in dust.Well, the net effect for me is - there are no planes, and London is suddenly quiet! It's rather lovely. (sorry, people who were booked on once-in-a-lifetime holiday taking off today).In other news, I'm now back on my first ever London commuting bike - my KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-74540250754084819242010-04-15T10:04:00.009+01:002010-04-15T10:19:09.858+01:00I do still exist, just been awaySorry about the radio silence folks. I thought I'd done a clever update from my travels on my new phone - but clearly it's not quite as clever as I thought.Status update: my increasingly frustrations with my old Specialised hybrid have led me (see previous posts) to take a radical step and I've now ordered ... a new bike on Cyclescheme.With these things, I always worry that you guys out there KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-46693353110481280712010-03-25T13:32:00.004Z2010-03-25T13:38:22.053ZI turned my 24-gear bike into a fixie for a morning ...My chain is slipping. Whenever I accelerate hard, it slips, rattles, crashes, crunches. It's driving me nuts. I've fiddled about with all the settings, and relucantly realised it's because the spikey bits are so worn. But I also realised that on the lower two sets, and especially the lowest one of all, the wearing is less pronounced. So I decided this morning to stick to one gear the whole way - KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-58090448015060238072010-03-19T16:04:00.004Z2010-03-19T16:14:33.376ZCyclescheme and a new bike?I feel a certain amount of disloyalty saying this, but I'm thinking of buying a new bike. The problem is that my current one needs: - new wheels & tyres- a new chain and set- a new seat- possibly new brakes and gearsThe time comes when you think - well, that will probably cost about the same as a new bike. But inevitably I'm looking at spending a bit more than just the cost of repairing my KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-15133608374728336362010-03-15T11:05:00.002Z2010-03-15T11:08:48.525ZHelmets now compulsory for under 18s in JerseyInteresting development in Jersey - they've changed the law to get young people to wear helmets. Here's a report on the BBC website:KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-48049484550863057502010-03-11T12:01:00.004Z2010-03-11T12:08:46.476ZI had an accident this morning - and it's on helmet cam. I'm OK, by the wayI had a miserable commute in this morning. I was told by a van driver that I needed to learn how to ride a bike within 3 minutes of leaving home. Then this happened. I was riding along the very busy Bayswater Road quite happily. Suddenly, as I tried to accelerate after a light, my chain completely slipped and I was peddling on air. I completely lost my balance and knew I would crash. By some KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-30124033627971191682010-03-10T13:50:00.003Z2010-03-10T13:54:16.053ZAn example of poor indicatingI feel like a bit of a grumpy old man since I've been using my helmet cam - perhaps I should stop it. Anyway - I can't help showing you this van. It wasn't really that dangerous but it shows how important it is to indicate. I had no clue what he was doing or when and he kind of drifted into the middle of the road. It's on that really fast bit of road going down Theobold's Road towards Farringdon KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-82614238450502839342010-03-08T12:31:00.002Z2010-03-08T12:37:53.663ZOyster card - tipI know this is nothing to do with cycling. I took the bus at the weekend and tried to swipe my Oyster Card. It didn't work. After holding up the bus for about 3 minutes and getting a bit flustered, I used real money. The bus driver looked at my card and pointed out that there was a small cut in the card, which made it impossible to swipe. God only knows how it got cut, but it did, and now it KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-60780593223565487592010-03-04T14:39:00.002Z2010-03-04T14:43:55.812ZThe most dangerous part of my journey ... just got confusing tooI find that the little cycle lane which goes along the edge of Tavistock Square in WC1 is incredibly dangerous. Cars turn across the cycle path without looking - all the time.Now, they're digging things up too. And it's just ... chaos. Pedestrians are meant to go over to the other pavement, but of course they don't. It makes for quite a comic ride. I recorded me going through it - and apologies KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-47863736759904254052010-03-04T10:08:00.004Z2010-03-04T10:21:49.096ZTraffic lights - new evidence that actually we're quite law abidingI blogged on Tuesday about how most cyclists in London now ignore red lights, unless they're going into the path of oncoming traffic (in other words, the principle of waiting at reds has gone, it's all just about expediency). But today I went to the exact same set of lights at roughly the same time of morning - and lo and behold - I counted 6 cyclists (including me) all waiting patiently for the KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-12327525231205234202010-03-03T14:17:00.005Z2010-03-03T21:21:59.707ZNew canal-side cafe opens ... will it be used?Very excited to see a new cafe on the Regent's Canal between Victoria Park and Islington. It seemed to be called "The Towpath". I'm guessing you buy a coffee or croissant and then ... cycle off? Or maybe stop for a few minutes. Perhaps not great if you're commuting, but you could see that if you're taking a leisurely stroll or cycle, it could be very nice. Needless to say, I took some video as I KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-90124640513381939182010-03-02T15:39:00.006Z2010-03-03T14:04:26.381ZThe majority now ignore a red light. But should we hold on to the principle?I was struck on my journey in this morning that unless there's a dangerous situation, the norm is now for people (cyclists, that is) in London to go through red lights. Cyclists do stop if they're going to get run over by traffic coming the other way - but when it's merely a matter of principle, we/they chose to run it. I know it's a pretty boring debate, well-rehearsed, but I was struck by it atKarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-58328107242837470212010-03-01T14:12:00.005Z2010-03-05T10:15:36.920ZThe dozy dogYou can tell I've got a new toy - yet another piece of video. Here's an encounter with a dog along the Regent's Canal - it was pretty funny as the dog just wouldn't move out of the way. The owner was very good about it - not saying "lousy cyclists" but "sorry, get out the way you dozy dog" (and I'm pretty certain he wasn't talking to me). You just have to slow down and wait in those circumtances.KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-15177740925011343922010-03-01T13:37:00.005Z2010-03-05T10:18:38.197ZThe roundabout of deathThis morning I risked the roundabout of death. Some of you may know it - it's a very very strange cycle path which runs along the edge of a roundabout on the edge of Victoria Park - intersecting Grove Road and the Old Ford Road. The main problem with it is that you're actually going the opposite way to traffic, and traffic does not expect you to be crossing their path just as they're trying to KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-86920440913221467972010-03-01T12:00:00.003Z2010-03-01T12:02:39.517ZDon't be too shockedSorry, I was just fiddling about with the blog templates, and decided to give an outing to a different design. I quite like the comments being nearer the top - I know it's unlikely to cause many ripples in the online world, but hey, it's good to change things sometimes. If you're new to the blog, you won't know what I'm on about - I just changed the design. Welcome.KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-2904307501839113592010-02-25T21:28:00.003Z2010-02-25T21:34:12.959ZNever, ever take the tube ...I made a vow to myself yesterday. "I'll never take the tube again." I needed to go by tube for complex reasons, and found myself trying to get on to the Central Line. I waited for train after train after train, all packed. I could feel the stress taking over my body. I found myself muttering out loud. I wanted to scream with frustration. Other people waiting by other doors seemed to be getting onKarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-49696798646676671152010-02-23T15:13:00.003Z2010-02-23T15:24:34.598ZExample of poor cyclingI've been mucking about with a camera on my helmet. You'll have to forgive the very poor editing but I thought I would show you this incident where a cyclist just pulled out right in front of me. Bear in mind I was wearing a very bright reflective sash, and had a light with brand new batteries flashing - and that he actually looked at me before manoeuvering right into my path. Nice work! I don'tKarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-36664229706876633422010-02-22T10:16:00.003Z2010-02-22T10:27:54.719ZHow many bike shops would mend a child's scooter?There was something faintly ridiculous about going into a bike shop with a little blue scooter meant for a 3 year-old. But the steering mechanism had gone wrong and I couldn't for the life of me get the main bolt off to have a good look at it. So I found myself rather sheepishly entering an establishment just off Broadway Market to ask if they would mind having a look at it. I am fairly convincedKarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-64486851849466111202010-02-19T10:21:00.003Z2010-02-19T10:30:16.769ZWhat's the point in a Pusha ... bike?I was intrigued to see a small group of people in Victoria Park, East London, walking along next to a shiny new looking white bike. There was a woman on the bike, kind of riding it, but making very heavy weather of it. When I looked at the bike more closely (well, it didn't need to be that close, to be honest, as it was pretty obvious) I saw that the bike had no pedals. Just a sort of running KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-32001066243934350632010-02-15T22:57:00.002Z2010-02-15T23:02:55.297ZFelt a bit blocked ... now free???I have been cycling quite a lot and had a lovely ride in this morning. Cold, fresh, very little traffic on the streets - something to do with half term. But I have been a bit reluctant to write. I've realised that it's because I've put a few people on the email distribution list for this blog - and I now see that I've been worried about clogging up people's email with my ramblings. So from now onKarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-31051572266395693222010-02-03T13:42:00.003Z2010-02-03T13:47:48.023ZPenguin feet - for NatI said I'd post up evidence of how much I look like a penguin when I wear my new waterproof overshoes ... (see "How to Waterproof your feet"). Well, in some secret recording in the shower room, here's evidence taken by me looking down at my feet. Or should I say - flippers:
KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-44818213316592932352010-02-03T13:33:00.000Z2010-02-03T13:33:05.930ZBest tyres to avoid punctures?I don't normally post twice in a day, but I haven't been on for a few days and I have a few things stored up. This one relates to tyres too (see below). I regularly got punctures and I remember it being miserable - I got so many, in fact, that it almost put me off cycling.
So I went to the bike shop and demanded the most rugged tyres they had. (Slightly reminiscent - though only slightly - of KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-45973870785309171402010-02-03T13:20:00.000Z2010-02-03T13:20:42.266ZThe strange case of the exploding Brompton tyreI was chatting to a friend at work yesterday and he relayed a strange story. He does a commute into work on his Brompton, then folds the thing up and parks it in his office. He said that - for the SECOND TIME - a tyre exploded in the office with a pretty loud bang, somewhat alarming co-workers in the area.
The explanation, he says, is that a shard of glass had probably become embedded in the KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-79689656089852366732010-01-27T08:28:00.000Z2010-01-27T08:28:49.376ZThe thingameebob has a nameMy brilliant brother-in-law took a quick look at my bike last night. I showed him the thingameebob. He fiddled with it for a few seconds. He pulled a bit off and confirmed it was broken. "What's it called?" I asked. "A spring", he answered. Ah - so there is a technical name.
The annoying thing, of course, is that it's not a simple repair job so I can see myself going to the shop. Which means KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-67251878316191808562010-01-26T16:17:00.000Z2010-01-26T16:17:34.573ZThe thingameebob got my day off to a bad startDo you ever get this? You're cycling and it feels like you're going through treacle? So hard to peddle ... well it was like that last night. I did manage to limp home, thinking it was probably just me being a bit unfit or something. But when I wheeled it through the house to the shed, I saw and felt that it really was sticking - the front brake pad was stuck against the wheel. This morning I KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-33762094945611704662010-01-25T11:54:00.000Z2010-01-25T11:54:23.745ZWhat annoys a noisy oyster most?This was an old joke from my childhood. It goes like this:
"What annoys a noisy oyster most?"
Answer: "A noisy noise annoys a noisy oyster most".
Obviously you have to say it out loud for it to have any impact. And while we're on these kind of jokes, did you ever do the one about the most number of the same words in a row? OK, here it goes. Imagine the unlikely scenario that there are two KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-21490234744204503162010-01-22T15:29:00.003Z2010-01-25T11:40:02.056ZHow to waterproof your feetHas anyone noticed? It's raining quite a lot today (in London, UK, that is. And probably elsewhere too). That fine, sneaky rain designed specifically to get into your clothing and make you feel wet and clammy. There's enough of it to leave puddles. I'm now going to (imagine some kind of online roll of drums before a magic trick) going to show you a picture of my cycling shoes, taken AFTER I got KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-60332702410638158042010-01-19T13:18:00.000Z2010-01-19T13:18:21.557ZCycling and bereavementThis is going to be a difficult one. I've just come back to cycling after a couple of weeks away. My Mum died over Christmas and we had the funeral this weekend. I won't dwell on it as this is a cycling blog, but I will say that the funeral was beautiful and uplifting - as well as deeply sad and moving.
My Mum's favourite colour was purple, so close family wore a lot of purple including purpleKarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-85266426137747818482010-01-05T11:52:00.000Z2010-01-05T11:52:50.373ZSwan ignores thin ice warning
Taken this morning on the Bayswater Road side of Hyde Park, London
KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-48697446942306764682009-12-18T10:17:00.000Z2009-12-18T10:17:40.007ZHow many of you made it in on a bike in the snow today?All I can say is, thank the Lord for ski gloves. I've written about them before but once again they've proved completely indespensible.
I had an amazing moment this morning - I left much earlier than usual and cycled down the Regent's Canal while it was still pretty much pitch black. I was wearing just enough of the right kind of clothes to keep warm. The wind, for once, was behind me. I only KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-51274417577947457082009-12-09T13:47:00.000Z2009-12-09T13:47:50.431ZReal exercise ... running not biking!Ran out of house to get to tube. Tried to relax on tube and allow sweat to dry. (Sorry). Ran from tube to work. Ran to meeting room to attend clearly very important meeting.
Now feel more exhausted than if I'd been cycling 10 miles.KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2795150805374542326.post-11360236192402369432009-12-08T15:04:00.001Z2009-12-09T14:11:46.852ZCyclists targeted as Westminster Council goes after ‘lycra louts’Was quite intrigued by this article in the Times - on several levels ... I think it's right that cyclists do behave well ... I'm not sure we deserve to be fined and punished in that way ... and I agree that we need a better cycling eco-system to stop us taking to the pavements etc.
But most of all, I wonder who this poor guy is, cycling off the pavement (!) ... although he's clearly in the KarmaCyclehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884964466372798027noreply@blogger.com6