A mixed weekend and a little rant...

[Chris71]

Got on my mountain bike for the first time in six months over the weekend. All the road riding has really improved my fitness (well, gone some way to restoring it at least). Going back to the MTB geometry feels downright alien after the hybird, but following a couple of months of hopping off kerbs and such like (5 days a week rather than on the occasional weekend) I think my balance has improved too. I was starting to really get into it. Couldn't believe just how good it felt to be back, going weightless momentarily over the bumps and feeling the bike slide around in the corners. And then the chain snapped... at the very furthest part of the woods about 5 miles away from the car park, the first ride after I'd spent a mahoosive ammount of money on servicing, including a new chain.

The chain was unfortunate, but what really wound me up was what happened before we left...

In the car park we started unloading the gear and stuck a few bits - helmets included - on the top of the car. A woman who was apparently a professional dog walker stroud over and struck up a conversation with the guy parked next to us. "I was nervous as soon as I saw the helmets - I got run over by one of those last week," she told him, making sure we were in earshot. I probably shouldn't rise to stuff like that, but given I try very hard to be a good ambassador for the sport (and neither me nor the guy I was riding with had been there in months) I couldn't help pointing out that making any sort of generalisation about mountain bikers would be stupid, ignorant and misrepresentative.

I happen to really like dogs and so I was quite chuffed when two big alsations and a rottweiler in her care came up to sniff around, but some people would have been scared stless by that. Maybe I should have pointed out that suggesting all mountain bikers run down pedestrians is a bit like suggesting all big dogs maul children?

Anyway, I digress. It just really boiled my piss that someone would go out of their way just to atagonise complete strangers. I couldn't believe it - it was an utterly malicious act intended to provoke people who were nothing at all to do with the (presumably exgerated or plain made up) incident. Arrgh.

Then, this morning I cycled to work as usual. I look like the love child of a ninja and a power ranger in my new cold weather commuting gear, which is nice. What's not so nice is that I had my hybrid serviced at the same place and its tendancy to refuse to change from the middle to the inner chainwheel at the front has got even worse.

So a mixed weekend, but all worth it. The feeling of getting back on the trails on Saturday was priceless, and the smugness from going past the traffic rather than sitting in during the week it still hasn't worn off.

[ewenm]

I've been stopped on a bridleway before now by a walker to be told I was riding illegally. I politely showed him the bridleway designation on the map, so he changed his complaint that I was riding dangerously, but then couldn't be any more specific than that. Some people are just difficult and contrary.

Whenever I encounter walkers I give a cheery "Excuse me" or "Good morning/afternoon" and do slow down. Many people seem so unaware of their surroundings that someone cycling towards them doesn't trigger their senses until you're on top of them.

Edit: P.S. I always include a chain tool in my toolkit for rides. You can usually take a link out of the chain without too much difficulty although you might not be able to use the big ring/big sprocket combo (not that you should be anyway). Derailleur adjustment is fairly simple to do at home so I'd recommend that rather than trusting it to the bike shop (unless you know them well).

Edited by ewenm on Monday 5th October 11:30

[Chris71]

Definitely - same here. If nothing else I just grew up in the sort of environment (i.e. safely away from London) where you tend to say hello to people anyway. The problem is that Broxbourne, where I was riding, is swarming with home counties types.

Nowt wrong with a bit of generalisation when it comes to knuckle dragging socially retarded city dwellers.

[hman]

HA! Try greenlaning on a motorbike if you want to see angry pedestrians (and cyclists), The only lanes I travel on are legal byways open to all traffic- which are roads subject to the same policing as anywhere else and yet the amount of abuse I get is ridiculous.

However,

Last week I had a woman on a bicycle flag me down (I thought she was in distress) to discuss whether or not I was breaking the law!.

I showed her the map with the BOAT route marked up - and again she then changed her complaint from illegal riding to feeling intimidated by a motorcycle being on the same track as her.

She wouldnt listen to the legalities nor the fact that the lane was big enough to drive a farm vehicle down so I summised that she was ignorant to the laws of this road and that her intimidation was indeed her own issue - one which only she could deal with.

The rambliars hate cyclists and motorcycles and SOME of the cyclists hate motorcyclists, the motorcyclists dont hate anyone, they just hand out a royal roosting to the complainants!

A sad fact that we will have to get used to- they wont listen to reason as they are ignorant.

Next time I wont be stopping for anyone whether on my MTB or on my motorcycle.

[Chris71]

The thing is though I hadn't just ridden past them. Even by their own warped standards I'd not done anything whatsoever - I hadn't even put my front wheel on. She actually physically walked over with the sole aim of starting an argument.

I'm going to continue to try and be nice to people because I realise you can't generalise walkers any more than you can cyclists - I love taking the dogs for a walk whenever I head back home for a weekend and I'm still the same person as I am on the bike. Hasten to add I've also ridden motorbikes off road (TS125X ...get me! ) and even horses in the past and have no problem co-existing with either. I realise there's a need to live and let live, I just wish more people would.

[Gooby]

We had a guy who was determined to block us from passing. It was a small sheep track on the side of a steep hill so imposible to go around and he walked the path blocking us. He blocked us for 20 mins as we asked nicely and reasoned with him, In the end I threw the bike in front of him and while he tried to get round the bike cornered him between the front wheel and a bramble bush. I let everyone pass then cycled off. The incredible arse tried to threaten us with his dog (a collie!!!!) untill he saw that I had my dogs with me.... Who in thier right mind uses a dog as a weapon?

[Chris71]

Gooby said:

Who in thier right mind uses a dog as a weapon?

See above!

It was obvious the dogs in question were quite friendly and the only threat was to the Mars bar in my camelback. I don't think I was supposed to realise that though.

[Mandog]

Don't worry about the little things, they're not important.


Well worth learning some basic bike maintenance skills. You'll get so much more enjoyment from your hobby.

[hman]

Mandog said:

Don't worry about the little things, they're not important.


Well worth learning some basic bike maintenance skills. You'll get so much more enjoyment from your hobby.

this guy talks sense, adjusting your gears is something you can do easily.

[mikee boy]

ewenm said:

Some people are just difficult and contrary.

No they're not.

[gbbird]

I find anglers on canal towpaths hit and miss, often likely to pass a wayward comment about other legal towpath users causing them to shift their equipment. I am normally very pleasant and polite, asking how many they have caught, always slowing down and sometimes even getting off my bike to carry it over their rods strewn across the goddam path. However, on several occasions i have heard them moan and groan at an approaching bike, even when i give them ample warning of my impending arrival. On one occasion I heard one angler complain to his mate how there were too many @#!!@~# bikes nowadays, as he very begrudgingly and very slowly got up and began to move his equipment so i could pass along. I was not in the mood for such wisecracks, bearing in mind i had just put up with well over a mile of towpath upon which there were seated anglers who clearly believed towpaths were invented for propping up large rods. So, after ensuring my rightful way of egress ahead was not impinged by further large rods or other fishing paraphernalia, and after he had finally shhifted his gear (just) i had to retort in a similiar vein to his original comment on the number of cycles. I pedalled past, accidentally catching his tub of maggots with my pedal, which i can only guess went everywhere. I pedalled on speedily to the ever decreasing sound of further abuse, anger and general maggot catching as i got further and further away.

Edited by gbbird on Monday 5th October 19:43

[hman]

gbbird said:

I find anglers on canal towpaths hit and miss, often likely to pass a wayward comment about other legal towpath users causing them to shift their equipment. I am normally very pleasant and polite, asking how many they have caught, always slowing down and sometimes even getting off my bike to carry it over their rods strewn across the goddam path. However, on several occasions i have heard them moan and groan at an approaching bike, even when i give them ample warning of my impending arrival. On one occasion I heard one angler complain to his mate how there were too many @#!!@~# bikes nowadays, as he very begrudgingly and very slowly got up and began to move his equipment so i could pass along. I was not in the mood for such wisecracks, bearing in mind i had just put up with well over a mile of towpath upon which there were seated anglers who clearly believed towpaths were invented for propping up large rods. So, after ensuring my rightful way of egress ahead was not impinged by further large rods or other fishing paraphernalia, and after he had finally shhifted his gear (just) i had to retort in a similiar vein to his original comment on the number of cycles. I pedalled past, accidentally catching his tub of maggots with my pedal, which i can only guess went everywhere. I pedalled on speedily to the ever decreasing sound of further abuse, anger and general maggot catching as i got further and further away.

Edited by gbbird on Monday 5th October 19:43

erm ok,

firstly what you did to the anglers is inexcusable, it wasnt an accident if you intended to do it and that sort of behaviour does nothing for the reputation of the cyclists out there - what did you hope to achieve by kicking over their equipment ?.

secondly, I hope you bought a permit to cycle on the towpath. Yes you need one from the council and they cost about £15 ish, get stopped without one and the fine is much higher.

Sorry to be harsh but you did yourself no favours there.

[Gooby]

hman said:

gbbird said:

I find anglers on canal towpaths hit and miss, often likely to pass a wayward comment about other legal towpath users causing them to shift their equipment. I am normally very pleasant and polite, asking how many they have caught, always slowing down and sometimes even getting off my bike to carry it over their rods strewn across the goddam path. However, on several occasions i have heard them moan and groan at an approaching bike, even when i give them ample warning of my impending arrival. On one occasion I heard one angler complain to his mate how there were too many @#!!@~# bikes nowadays, as he very begrudgingly and very slowly got up and began to move his equipment so i could pass along. I was not in the mood for such wisecracks, bearing in mind i had just put up with well over a mile of towpath upon which there were seated anglers who clearly believed towpaths were invented for propping up large rods. So, after ensuring my rightful way of egress ahead was not impinged by further large rods or other fishing paraphernalia, and after he had finally shhifted his gear (just) i had to retort in a similiar vein to his original comment on the number of cycles. I pedalled past, accidentally catching his tub of maggots with my pedal, which i can only guess went everywhere. I pedalled on speedily to the ever decreasing sound of further abuse, anger and general maggot catching as i got further and further away.

Edited by gbbird on Monday 5th October 19:43

erm ok,

firstly what you did to the anglers is inexcusable, it wasnt an accident if you intended to do it and that sort of behaviour does nothing for the reputation of the cyclists out there - what did you hope to achieve by kicking over their equipment ?.

secondly, I hope you bought a permit to cycle on the towpath. Yes you need one from the council and they cost about £15 ish, get stopped without one and the fine is much higher.

Sorry to be harsh but you did yourself no favours there.

Eh? I am sorry bu the anglers were not asked to show thier permits, what has that got to do with it, the rods could have been placed along the path not across it. They would have to shift thier crap if there was a walker, it is a right of way not a rod display. It was common courtesy to shift the rods and an obligation not to throw them across a path. It just the same as putting rods in the middle of the road. Sounds to me like the anglers were making trouble.

We have the same problem with idiots in beach huts on the promenade, because they have a beach hut they think they can put all hier stuff all over the promenade. Sorry, it is a right of way and actually a road.

[john_p]

hman said:

secondly, I hope you bought a permit to cycle on the towpath. Yes you need one from the council and they cost about £15 ish, get stopped without one and the fine is much higher.

Err what? Most British Waterways canals you just need to download a free permit here http://www.waterscape.com/things-to-do/cycling/per...

[gbbird]

hman said:

gbbird said:

I find anglers on canal towpaths hit and miss, often likely to pass a wayward comment about other legal towpath users causing them to shift their equipment. I am normally very pleasant and polite, asking how many they have caught, always slowing down and sometimes even getting off my bike to carry it over their rods strewn across the goddam path. However, on several occasions i have heard them moan and groan at an approaching bike, even when i give them ample warning of my impending arrival. On one occasion I heard one angler complain to his mate how there were too many @#!!@~# bikes nowadays, as he very begrudgingly and very slowly got up and began to move his equipment so i could pass along. I was not in the mood for such wisecracks, bearing in mind i had just put up with well over a mile of towpath upon which there were seated anglers who clearly believed towpaths were invented for propping up large rods. So, after ensuring my rightful way of egress ahead was not impinged by further large rods or other fishing paraphernalia, and after he had finally shhifted his gear (just) i had to retort in a similiar vein to his original comment on the number of cycles. I pedalled past, accidentally catching his tub of maggots with my pedal, which i can only guess went everywhere. I pedalled on speedily to the ever decreasing sound of further abuse, anger and general maggot catching as i got further and further away.

Edited by gbbird on Monday 5th October 19:43

erm ok,

firstly what you did to the anglers is inexcusable, it wasnt an accident if you intended to do it and that sort of behaviour does nothing for the reputation of the cyclists out there - what did you hope to achieve by kicking over their equipment ?.

secondly, I hope you bought a permit to cycle on the towpath. Yes you need one from the council and they cost about £15 ish, get stopped without one and the fine is much higher.

Sorry to be harsh but you did yourself no favours there.

In answer to your queries -
1, yes i do have a permit for using towpaths, even though i believe you no longer need them on some sections. Also, they do not cost £15, they are free.
2, as stated in my email, it was an accident that i knocked over the bait, an accident caused mainly because the angler did not move it sufficiently out of the way of me and indeed other towpath users. Perhaps it could be termed 'poetic justice'

Just to recap, i 'did' nothing to the anglers on this or any other occasion. I warned them of my approach, slowed down (in fact i think i stopped); they blatantly were not happy with the fact they had to move their stuff; in response to their comment on the number of cyclists i merely joined in the debate and profferred my similiar thoughts on the number of anglers; and i accidentlally caught their tin of bait with my pedal as they did not provide me with adequate space to safely pass.

I do not see how any of the above could be termed 'inexcusable'. Of course i wish none of it had happened, as when i go out cycling along the canal i do it to relax, destress and unwind; not to be caught up in some petty battle for towpath space or to assert my legal right of way.

[Chris71]

hman said:

Mandog said:

Don't worry about the little things, they're not important.


Well worth learning some basic bike maintenance skills. You'll get so much more enjoyment from your hobby.

this guy talks sense, adjusting your gears is something you can do easily.

One might argue after running up a bill north of £200, including a new chain and casette and a test ride at the shop, there shouldn't be much adjustment needed.

But yes, I do agree - do virtually everything on the car these days, but not quite so hands-on with the bike. Is there an up to date book (Haynes manual type thing) that's relevant to modern mountain bikes?

[gbbird]

Chris71 said:

hman said:

Mandog said:

Don't worry about the little things, they're not important.


Well worth learning some basic bike maintenance skills. You'll get so much more enjoyment from your hobby.

this guy talks sense, adjusting your gears is something you can do easily.

One might argue after running up a bill north of £200, including a new chain and casette and a test ride at the shop, there shouldn't be much adjustment needed.

But yes, I do agree - do virtually everything on the car these days, but not quite so hands-on with the bike. Is there an up to date book (Haynes manual type thing) that's relevant to modern mountain bikes?

You wont go far wrong with this book - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Zinn-Art-Mountain-Bike-Mai...

Before buying this, all i could do was remove a wheel and fix a puncture (as long as it was the front wheel mind ) Since buying this book i have build x2 MTbikes from the frame up, and undertake all my own maintenance and upgrading.

[Chris71]

Thanks, looks like what I'm after.

There are two vaguely related things I want to get - a pressure washer which has an on-board tank and doesn't need a water source (as I have to hose pipe), and (somewhat more relevantly) perhaps a work stand for the bike. It's a bit of a pain trying to do things if the bike's upside down or lent against a wall. Can you get ones which sit on the floor and pick up on the bottom bracket or something?

[gbbird]

Chris71 said:

Thanks, looks like what I'm after.

There are two vaguely related things I want to get - a pressure washer which has an on-board tank and doesn't need a water source (as I have to hose pipe), and (somewhat more relevantly) perhaps a work stand for the bike. It's a bit of a pain trying to do things if the bike's upside down or lent against a wall. Can you get ones which sit on the floor and pick up on the bottom bracket or something?

There are lots of stands out there. I got a workstand and toolkit at the same time as the book - http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/bicycle-stands-works...

Basically a tripod type design stand which suspends the bike by the cross tube, but the actual clamp is very versatile so i guess you could clasp just about any part of the frame. Stands are very handy for certain tasks, such as adjusting gears etc. And this particualr toolkit provides everything you need for the modern MTB, even tools for Hollowtech cranks

[Chris71]

gbbird said:

There are lots of stands out there. I got a workstand and toolkit at the same time as the book - http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/bicycle-stands-works...

Hmm, does look very tempting. Will see how rich I'm feeling later on - might grab that as well.