Too bright?

Posted on 22nd Oct 2015 by essiep

Are modern cycle lights too bright? I’ve just taken delivery of a Knogg Blinder. At 44 lumins it’s nearly double the brightness of the light it replaces.
Great, I feel safer. But. Is it a problem for anybody else, you know- drivers?

What prompted this is a comment by somebody at work. They complained that it bike lights are too bright and are annoying.
They can’t be as bright as an Audi, so are cyclists aiming their lights carelessly?
I suspect so. I fit two front lights, one aimed at eye level. The other, a brighter one, points downwards to pothole level. Sometimes, I turn the light left if on full power when there’s oncoming traffic. Also, there is no need for full beam in towns. Modern led lights are bright enough to ‘be seen’ on lowest power. Some riders do blaze away, probably unaware of how drivers see them. Drivers have a much lower eye-level than a cyclist, a factor that is worth considering.

Rubbish.

Posted on 21st Oct 2015 by essiep

I rode Arrow with MapMyRide+! Distance: 11.51mi, time: 47:27, pace: 4:07min/mi, speed: 14.56mi/h. Slow.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/1218989531
Mediocre ride with the energy sapping virus’s return the culprit. 12 days feeling ill, some at home. On a return to health, pent up energy poured out in a few fast rides. Now I’m all weak, trembling and pathetic.

Turning right at a roundabout, a young guy cut me up. I hate pulling the brakes on a sharp turn. He argued that I was not in the right lane. It doesn’t matter, you give right at a roundabout. Simple.

Diesel engines can be unlocked am a company like Revo. Apparently, the engine is detuned in the software for lower powered cars in the range. The manufacturer gains because their range of engine models is smaller. We can gain fuel economy, power and delivery through the Rev. range. The car is not really built for the higher power, not the gearbox suspension or brakes. But, if you drive normally, you get the benefits at no loss. I will wait until VW have removed their emissions cheating software first.

A roller-coaster journey.

Posted on 8th Oct 2015 by essiep

14°C, sunny but fresh.

Drove the car today. I’m not well enough to cycle.
A spider was busy on the wing mirror through the whole 10 miles. With up to 40 mph headwind, I could see her attempting to build a Web. I could steal a glimpse of those finger like legs pulling at threads in the buffeting. Next, the car hit a bump and she was gone.
I was devastated, after all that work had she dropped under the wheels of a following Vauxhal? A mile later, the lights were red. Then she came out from the mirror! The relief! That feeling set me up for the whole day.
Grins.
Last summer, I brought a spider back 300 miles from Scotland that way. You’ve got to admire tenacity when you see it.

2nd New lodger.

Posted on 1st Oct 2015 by essiep

I rode Arrow with MapMyRide+! Distance: 29.1mi, time: 01:56:19, pace: 4:00min/mi, speed: 15.03mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/1193551675
Extended tonight’s ride since Parents’ Evening prevented me cycling yesterday. The route was the same as Tuesday’s. This time was a little later, taking me into Bat Time.
Got myself another lodger, that makes two. A young bloke who seems like a true gentleman. After I met him on Monday and showed him the room, I was hopeful that he would accept. He has.

Fruit of my labours. Scrumped from the same tree I pass every evening on the route home.

Ride into the sunrise.

Posted on 26th Sep 2015 by essiep

4°C, clear and still.
I rode Cross with MapMyRide+! Distance: 15.8mi, time: 01:25:29, pace: 5:25min/mi, speed: 11.07mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/1185515511
Relaxing way to start the weekend. This ride, along my favourite canal loop is always different. Today, these wispy cones of mist rise from the still water. I tried to think of a word for them, what about ‘mist-maidens’?

13st*13

Posted on 19th Sep 2015 by essiep

6°C, sunny start, warm later.
On the scales, the unexpected. I weigh less that the start of term, 3lbs less. Didn’t see that coming, I even thought it would read a slight increase. Still under the magic 14St 4. barrier (200lbs) and now under 13st. Six months ago I touched 15st.
A few things have changed in my mind to lead this way.
1, don’t be afraid of occasionally feeling hungry,
2, smaller portions,
3, eat until I don’t feel hungry rather than eat until I’m full.

Cycling is more fun now, especially on the climbs. But, I don’t want to get any lighter.

Later; car shopping. After lunch, I will test drive an Audi A4 Avant. Then it’s a decision between it and the Volvo (from last week).

Audi A4 Avant.

Volvo V60

Posted on 13th Sep 2015 by essiep

18°C, heavy showers, then sunny.
Poor car, it needs some work, but the cost could be equal to a new replacement. If not new, nearly new. Therefore, I’m shopping around. First way to eliminate a car is to sit in it. Almost all cars are too small. Most cars have too little headroom. I don’t want my hair brushing against the ceiling, what happens over a speed-bump?
1, Audi A4, fits and promises good handling. Not able to test drive today, but it remains high on the list.
2, Skoda, related to VW so should meet the first criteria. Slightly ugly.
3, Volvo,
4, Seat, another VW clone. Better looking than n.2.

The salesmen often ask what colour I want. It doesn’t matter, I can’t see the colour from inside. And I am not going to stand around looking at it from outside, I have better things to do. I explained how I’m too selfish to care what other people think of my car. I want it to be fabulous inside- where I will be.

Volvo were willing to do a test drive, in the end, two. The first was the big V70, bigger than my Passat. It felt big but refined. It stood a little uncertain on the road, but nothing like the wallowing motion I have to live with currently.
Then V60, a slightly sporty version with stiffer suspension and it was immediately obvious that it was great. The D4 engine was probably more powerful than I need but the R-design suspension was excellent. I had the fizzy feeling!

Online reviews have said the R-design’s ride is too hard. Are they written by middle-aged men who’s core strength makes the shaking a problem?

How to make a mistake.

Posted on 8th Sep 2015 by essiep

I commuted with MapMyRide+! Distance: 9.91mi, time: 41:00, pace: 4:08min/mi, speed: 14.51mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/1158327043
An ordinary ride but for the thick fog. About a quarter of drivers think it’s fine to drive in dense fog with lights switched off. I shouted at one who was also clutching her phone. She wound down the window and clearly didn’t realise her lights were off, only the daylight running lights were on at the front. She didn’t know how to put the lights on because they are automatic.
You have to question automation, it has undesirable side-effects. More automation makes people think less.
Here is the seed of errors.

Pigeon?

Posted on 5th Sep 2015 by essiep

I rode Arrow with MapMyRide+! Distance: 16.42mi, time: 01:03:53, pace: 3:53min/mi, speed: 15.42mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/1153061165
Not a long ride, but add on 10 miles from this morning’s commute.
Speaking of that, something strange seen on the way to work. Under the railway bridge, a bird standing in the road. I veered round it and it didn’t even flinch.
So I stopped.
Ruffled feathers suggests a youngster, perhaps he took wing too soon. The Bird just stood there, blinking.
What could I do, I scooped it up in my gloved hands and placed it in a garden.
With luck, somebody will do something more useful, something before a cat gets there.

A wasp struggling after getting stuck in the car.

Canals are getting squidgy

Posted on 2nd Sep 2015 by essiep

I rode The Jake with MapMyRide+! Distance: 16.25mi, time: 01:23:20, pace: 5:08min/mi, speed: 11.70mi/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/1148282977
I have a pair of summer cyclocross tyres on order. They have a faster rolling file surface in the middle, and blocks at the sides.

However, the towpaths are soft again and quite muddy in parts. It’s seems that I don’t need these tyres this year.
The latest news in cycling is Gravel Bikes. They are like ‘cross bikes but for different geometry. The also make excellent commuting machines, most come with eyelets for guards and rack.
Gravel racing isn’t going to take off here, it’s not dry enough.

Micycle

Mike thinks b/hikes

Category Archives: Travel