Doubling Up On Road

[montyboy]

So the Uk can turn up at the G20 summit and say "Look we're encouraging the reduction of carbon emissions by encouraging the use of these environmentally friendly cars! Although we may not actually provide the infrastructure to make them work, not to mention that electric vehicles are well out of most people's budgets."

Has got be usage based, surely.

 

[mickle]

And lorry drivers pay more VED than car drivers, but I haven't noticed car drivers falling over themselves to clear out of the way to defer to the higher tax payer.

I like what you did there.

 

[MissTillyFlop]

Has got be usage based, surely.

Sorry, thick moment here , what has?

 

[freecyclist]

You really have no idea, do you?


Closing roads for a Sportive just try to visualize the costs involved. Even Fred Whitton, arguably the best placed sportive for road closures (due to it's popularity, and dangerous nature of some of the descents) has failed to make any inroads into that particular area.

Most actual races are held on open roads, closing roads in the UK is a major, major undertaking. Surrey Classic this year is a great example of what we're talking about. Thousands of people involved.

Obviously sportives aren't races, but a lot of participants treat them thus, and the standard of riding is often shocking. I guarantee any Sunday group ride is far far better behaved and organised than pretty much any sportive. Should sportives be banned? Absolutely not.

Should you get out more, and maybe sample that cornerstone of British cycling, the Sunday club ride, before casting stones? Absolutely yes.

Well lets put it like this ; i know as much about sportives as you do about being polite and conducting a evenly tempered debate.
Despite your abrasive manner you give an interesting perspective on sportives that confirms what r2d2 previously said and raises the dilema of allowing potentially dangerous activities on public roads. My own personal opinion is yes i am inclined to allow sportives but i would advise the participants to be considerate of other road users and not partake in any arrogant inconsiderate militant unnecessary 2abreast cycling and whereever practical and safe allow faster traffic to overtake.

 

[MissTillyFlop]

Well lets put it like this ; i know as much about sportives as you do about being polite and conducting a evenly tempered debate.
Despite your abrasive manner you give an interesting perspective on sportives that confirms what r2d2 previously said and raises the dilema of allowing potentially dangerous activities on public roads. My own personal opinion is yes i am inclined to allow sportives but i would advise the participants to be considerate of other road users and not partake in any arrogant inconsiderate militant unnecessary 2abreast cycling and whereever practical and safe allow faster traffic to overtake.

That is exactly what happens at the start of a sportive, but short of following around each and every cyclist with a taser, what more can they do?

 

[montyboy]

And lorry drivers pay more VED than car drivers, but I haven't noticed car drivers falling over themselves to clear out of the way to defer to the higher tax payer.

i think we already agreed that the amount paid doesnt give you priority.

 

[montyboy]

That is exactly what happens at the start of a sportive, but short of following around each and every cyclist with a taser, what more can they do?

Taser eh? Now lets explore this one a bit further!

 

[Origamist]

Lovely collection. It must be unique.

The Swimming Moomin one (second left, bottom row) is particularly good.

That's the 2006 Summer special edition "The Dive". They tend to go for around 60/70 quid.

If I've inspired you on the Moomin front, Bicycle the Fazer mug (top tier, orange, to the right as you look) has been sold for 1800 Euros! Usually they go for a bit less than that though...

One day I will appear on the Antiques Roadshow, dressed as the Stinky...

 

[VamP]

They can be added as a modification to a none m-series car.

http://vehicles.viva...odykit/21465677

No dispute there. I even agree that some insurance companies struggle with insuring modifications. Nonetheless, there is an enormous market out there for insuring modified cars, and owners really do not struggle to get their cars insured. FWIW, I have had a number of modifications to my cars over the years, usually suspension and brake related, and while I had to inform my insurance company of this fact, the actual insurance cost was unchanged.

M cars are genuine performance cars, built by a separate division of BMW. M badged cars are run of the mill BMWs that have some M parts installed (often just the badges) in a marketing ploy to increase their attractiveness (to estate agents by your account). Seeing as both are OEM I actually think that only the very worst of insurance companies would struggle with them specifically. The likes of Alpina and AC Schnitzer a bit more difficult, but still no real issues.

 

[benb]

i think we already agreed that the amount paid doesnt give you priority.

So by what possible argument could a motorist claim that their payment of VED gives them more rights on the road than a cyclist?

 

[benb]

Well lets put it like this ; i know as much about sportives as you do about being polite and conducting a evenly tempered debate.
Despite your abrasive manner you give an interesting perspective on sportives that confirms what r2d2 previously said and raises the dilema of allowing potentially dangerous activities on public roads. My own personal opinion is yes i am inclined to allow sportives but i would advise the participants to be considerate of other road users and not partake in any arrogant inconsiderate militant unnecessary 2abreast cycling and whereever practical and safe allow faster traffic to overtake.

If you're against dangerous activities on the roads, you should be campaigning for a reduction in car use, as there is no suggestion that large groups of cyclists are dangerous.

 

[MissTillyFlop]

M cars are genuine performance cars, built by a separate division of BMW. M badged cars are run of the mill BMWs that have some M parts installed (often just the badges) in a marketing ploy to increase their attractiveness (to estate agents by your account).

How would an estate agent phrase that?

"The panache and allure of the M-Series, with a more compact and bijou engine"

 

[montyboy]

So by what possible argument could a motorist claim that their payment of VED gives them more rights on the road than a cyclist?

I believe that the suggestion was that motorists should not be excluded from using the road at the expense of the cyclist as they have paid to use it.

 

[freecyclist]

That is exactly what happens at the start of a sportive, but short of following around each and every cyclist with a taser, what more can they do?

That might not be such a bad idea . Make the 2abreast dawdlers at the back annoyoiing everybody put a proper shift in.

 

[VamP]

Well lets put it like this ; i know as much about sportives as you do about being polite and conducting a evenly tempered debate.
Despite your abrasive manner you give an interesting perspective on sportives that confirms what r2d2 previously said and raises the dilema of allowing potentially dangerous activities on public roads. My own personal opinion is yes i am inclined to allow sportives but i would advise the participants to be considerate of other road users and not partake in any arrogant inconsiderate militant unnecessary 2abreast cycling and whereever practical and safe allow faster traffic to overtake.

I am only being abrasive because you are an idiot. Normally I'd give you the benefit of doubt, but you have proven your mettle over 60 odd pages

I am, however, very glad that YOU are inclined to ALLOW sportives. Please attend a sportive near you, I am sure the participants will be only too keen to hear your ADVICE.

Do you actually know what a bicycle looks like? I have doubts.

Chapeau on your abililty to stick five adjectives in a row ahead of a verb though. That adds a wicked visual image of drooling spittle over your keyboard as you type.