sirweste

Don't quote statistics!? The world is run on stats, and while they can be used to deceive they are after all facts! Anyhow, I didn't use statistics. Bizarrely you've used something not like for like in the same paragraph as your criticism of my runner v rider. 3rd party insurance for a 1 - 2 tonne machine is fairly unquestionable, it is not the same as needing insurance for a 0.01 tonne bike! The reason I use runners as an example (though kids on roller blades could also be used) is to show that it is a risk averse thing to do in my opinion. If bikes are to have 3rd party insurance then what's to stop runners (or roller skating kids) to need it too? What about people playing contact sports such as rugby or football, shouldn't each of them have insurance incase they inadvertently hurt someone? etc etc I don't think that the risks justify insurance. In addition while it's relatively inexpensive insurance now, if it were mandatory it would undoubtedly increase in price very quickly. I don't know if this has been covered before but we shouldn't be creating obstacles that hamper people getting out of their 2 tonne cars and onto bikes. Previous generations have totally fecked the planet, we desperately need to limit this.

I've always thought this. I definitely leave more gap between me and rider than I would me and car. But a whole lane is excessive. When I'm on my bike I will often wave drivers past if there is what I deem to be a safe gap, I'm not precious about being passed. If there's not a safe gap and I'm riding on a hedged road then drivers will have to wait, part of life, as much as I love to beat that google maps eta time when I'm driving there are many things in this world that will make your plans adjust. If a driver does, try to, push past me I will (if I can) catch up and make them aware in a very polite way. But politeness and reason argumenting will slow their journey further.

Yes, you've got that right. It's all about statistics, the chances of my bike getting stolen are higher than the chances of what you describe. The same reason a runner doesn't take out third party insurance when they go running in a shared space. There are many many risks in life, if we didn't each accept them we'd never go out and we wouldn't have evolved. Pedestrians accept these risks when they go near roads or use shared paths. There are many instances where people put third parties are risk with no insurance cover. I've suffered a (mildly) life changing injury in the past which could have been argued was due to negligence in maintenance. But I accepted there were risks when I started and as such didn't feel it was right to go after a pay out.

Yep, but the same would be true if I went running, or playing golf, or football. I'm not interested in insurance that I don't have to have. the insurance I was referring to was for the value of me bike, obviously my wires were crossed.

Mine aren't insured, it's too damned expensive to justify. I'm sure there's stats about joggers causing injury. The bloke on london bridge for example. But my point was that if you're insuring off road bikes which could cause injury (well the 10st bag of water would) then you should also be insuring out else tat could cause injury. It's overly risk adverse in my opinion.

A pity that people use bikes!? As we slowly drive this rock into a uninhabitable waste land any "emission free" form of transport should be encourage with all our hearts! Insurance is a tricky one. If you have to insure horses then I'd agree. But insurance on the tow path is a bit much, you may as well insist on insurance for joggers then too. Yes obviously broken / dangerous vehicles / animals shouldn't be used

Simple ain't it. Look before you step onto a right of way perpendicular to the flow of users. Bikes are a bloody glorious thing and should be used more. Obviously they should be ridden safely, but as a balance against the risks (as per everything else) i.e. a flat 5 mph limit as someone suggest is ridiculous. You shouldn't be getting annoyed about getting stuck behind one, or blaring your horn due to annoyance. The laws already exist, they just need to be enforced. There are pillocks in all walks of life, wearing lyrca and riding a bike doesn't automatically make you one. I don't personally think there's a greater ratio of pillocks on bikes as there is in cars / vans. Personally on the roads I take more risks on my bike than most would, but that's because I'm the one at greater risk on the whole (to state the obvious; I'm not taking about increasing risk to pedestrians). I don't take the same risks in my van as that weighs two tonnes and could kill several people. I don't think there's really cause for any new laws. Other than the introduction of being able to go left on a red light.

Agreed. There's a fantastic messenger function that folk could bicker on y'know

They haven't really narrowed the section above (south) of grove, but the mesh and stakes look like a very unusual choice to me.

This. Bought my boat in Ely in January. The Ouse and Nene (in flood) meant that once I arrived on the canals I was amazed to find that the boat did exactly what I wanted all of a sudden....then I was bored

In my opinion it's a fair bit shallower than I recall that stretch being.

Col, a couple of weeks back (when we were both in Marsworth, you're now moored directly behind me (hello!)) they were digging away north of grove lock every day of the week as I cross the bridge to go to work. Yes I found the pound south of church lock a pain still, but I guess they are on with it.

I jump across half a double lock, one gate close the other open, though it's rare as I only ever open a single gate; but on occasion they have both been left open and be buggered if I'm walking all the way around! If I'm moored up at Ivinghoe do this quite a lot as the short pound top gates don't stay closed very well. I tend to leave my boat in neutral slowly gliding out of a lock, then i's a bit of a run around to get the gate shut and jump back aboard before it's got too far into the cut.

I've smashed into a lock gate before, twas on the Nene, in winter, powering into a lock to beat the side on current from the weir and as I went into idle the engine stalled. Couldn't re-start as the old start needs a 2lb clout 50% of the time. I hit the lock gate with such force it bounced open briefly, everything that was on anything in the boat was on the floor, even the cooker and kitchen units moved! It also opened the bow somewhat! Mistakes happen, move on with your life and don't make assumptions about folk.

A thread about the noise modern bike bells make.... Because this wound you lot up last time; I don't have a bell, I don't like em, I think they are rude. I will instead if there is no way past I will politely ask to get by using the voice that evolution gave me. The other method is that I just whip past unheard unseen if the situation allows, as I feel this is often a very safe way of passing folk as they won't unpredictably move around, and certainly not to the verge / canal edge where I'm passing. I love bikes, I love going fast on em. Apparently she even stepped "back into his path". But yep he should have had a front brake too. And he certainly seems like a right pr1ck

Yer I was happy to, felt bad leaving it on, but I'd got guests coming so was trying to get the batts as high as poss

bloody cool vid that

Yer, The lass in the end house politely asked me if I could switch me engine off (after I'd turned around (previously she didn't say out when the engine was at the bridge) and the back end was outside her balcony most likely stinking of exhaust). It is a weird set-up, you defo feel like you're in their back garden!

Just to confirm that the pump out is working just fine. They were plenty of rings to tie to and it looks like they's installed a couple of new ones (to replace old removed ones?) by the old crane.

Picked a couple up from HQ, quite a faff as was told someone would be there from 8:10 and unfortunately they weren't (and I forgot to get their name). But still, staff were all very helpful and got sorted in the end.

From CRT office in MK

After a snippet of info, need a pump out card as I'm full up (yummy). I cannot find anybody that sells them, the online and postage route isn't useful. Anybody know of a seller around the Leighton Buzzard area? Cheers

Yer I may do, it's just after 8 a few mornings a week, this week when I saw it they had loads of expired food like cucumbers and grapes. So I guess it's a local shop perhaps. To swerve wildly off topic (as per CWDF MO); why the hell aren't there any recycling points. Drives me mad, I end up taking all me plastics and paper to work colleagues houses, right faff.

I'm moored there at the minute. There are bins are at the red lion, (though a white van keeps turning up every few mornings and filling em up to the brim!) The pump out looked like it was in working order when i opened the door to check. Hopefully getting a card from a marina tonight so I'll be able to pump out tomorrow afternoon.

Oh and for the module efficiencies have a google around, there's a few sources. In summary then, it seems that until now nobody has the info that I'm looking for, so I will put in the leg work myself and post up what I find for people searching in the future