http://karlmccracken.sweat365.com Bicycle Blog Tue, 07 Feb 2012 07:14:10 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en A couple of quotes about flying - just substitute the words "fly" for "ride", or "aircraft" for "bike" etc.: "Flying in itself is not inherently dangerous. But to an even greater degree than the sea, it is terribly unforgiving of any carelessness, incapacity or neglect." Captain A. G. Lamplugh, British Aviation Insurance ... http://karlmccracken.sweat365.com/2012/02/07/riding-a-bike-is-just-like-flying/ A video from the ever prolific Lewis Dediare, a.k.a. Traffic Droid: As Lewis admits in his own commentary, "I was on the inside lane on the red route lines and shortly after the boxed junctions. As I was riding I suddenly noticed this truck veering slowly into my lane,...he left his indication somewhat ... http://karlmccracken.sweat365.com/2012/02/04/this-is-how-cyclists-get-killed/ I've done well - it's now 13 months since I last fell off a bike. That was when I discovered a patch of black ice and the front wheel went out from under me like a jolly fast thing on a very slippy surface. Since then I've been extremely wary of ... http://karlmccracken.sweat365.com/2012/02/04/cold-weather-cycling-injury/ I went for pretty much six months without a single flat. Then the post-Christmas weather sent everyone's recycling bins blowing along our back alley (not a euphemism), scattering broken glass everywhere. In the last two weeks I've had five flats, including this morning... ...A puncture in my Pashley's Schwalbe Marathon Plus ... http://karlmccracken.sweat365.com/2012/02/03/visited-by-the-puncture-fairy-again/ Before we begin, a jolly big "well done" to all of you who entered last week's contest. The clear winner was Tlatet, who correctly identified that this was an escaped maths lecturer from the Open University. But most of the rest of you did really quite well, so you have ... http://karlmccracken.sweat365.com/2012/02/03/friday-caption-contest-mystery-component-edition/ There's no doubt about it, the car industry is very successful at marketing. It sells us a dream of driving along the open road... The Dream: The Reality: The Alternate Reality (do watch this one 'till the end!): They tell us about the sporty playfulness to be had in towns and cities: The Dream: The ... http://karlmccracken.sweat365.com/2012/02/02/the-alternate-reality-feared-by-the-auto-industry/ First there was this on the front page of The Independent last April: Then today, this in The Times (do visit their page and sign up): So now we eagerly wait to see if the other opinion-forming newspapers will fall into line. Rumour has it that The Daily Mail will be next ... http://karlmccracken.sweat365.com/2012/02/02/newspaper-cycling-safety-campaigns/ Yesterday there was a whole lot of twitterings about this Ross Lydall article. It's all about how a lorry driver got off scott free after running over a cyclist. James Moor suffered horrific injuries after Nigel Gummer turned his lorry left across Moor's path, dragging him under the vehicle: 'Mr Moore ... http://karlmccracken.sweat365.com/2012/01/31/advanced-stop-lines-an-accident-waiting-to-happen/ First up, a big "well done" to everyone who entered our last competition. Sadly it was too hard to pick a single winner, so you all have permission to go out for a Jolly Nice Ride this weekend. Take some sandwiches, pack your Thermos, and make sure you're all back ... http://karlmccracken.sweat365.com/2012/01/27/friday-caption-contest-hi-viz-edition/ ...after this dramatic footage of a child abduction was released by kidnappers: As you can see, the plucky kid makes a break for it at 1:30, but was brought down by the pack of Lycra-clad snatchers. The kidnappers have issued their demands: "We want some great carbon wheels, ceramic bearings ('cos, they totally ... http://karlmccracken.sweat365.com/2012/01/26/police-are-appealing-for-witnesses/