UK and Europe · Public discussion

FAQ?

Just Zis Guy · 2003-09-05T22:32:35+00:00

Here is an attempt at a slimmed-down FAQ. Feedback please. I'm sure it has a fair way to go - either much less or much more (or both ;-P) Guy uk.rec.cycling Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) List Last updated: [x] This FAQ is edited and maintained by [x] Updates and additions should be sent to [x] 1. General information 2. Technical questions 3. UK Cyclcing Organsiations 4. Where do I get... 5. How do I get my bike insured? 6. Safety 7. Jargon and in-jokes 8. Bike adjustment 9. General information ====================== uk.rec.cycling is a USENET group for the discussion of topics relating to cycling in the UK and (to a lesser extent) Ireland. Discussion of all aspects of cycling and human-powered transport is welcome. The scope of the group (and this FAQ) is purposely restricted to issues relevant to cyclists in the UK and Ireland. For more general discussion you might prefer rec.bicycles.misc. uk.rec.cycling may contain traces of irony. But first, some housekeeping. Etiquette and style ------------------- This is a text-only newsgroup: please do not post HTML, MIME or binaries to this group. Most servers won't carry binary content anyway. If you use Microsoft Outlook or Outlook Express be aware that by default it does or encourages three things which seriously irritate many people: - html / MIME posting - top posting - untrimmed quoting In general when you are replying you should trim from the quoted text anything which is irrlevant to the point you are making, and any signatures. You should reply below the text to which you are replying, using a standard quote delimiter (> is the most common). http://www.faqs.org/faqs/usenet/writing-style/part1/ is worth a read. Test messages (to see if your newsreader / server are working) should go to uk.test or your ISP's tech support group. Advertising and personal messages --------------------------------- If you are selling or auctioning a bike or related item *in the UK* a single post with the subject starting "FS: " (for sale) or "FA: " (for auction) is generally acceptable. Occasionally. From people who also contribute in other ways. Occasional brief personal messages are also generally tolerated. If you are trying to carve out a career as an eBay bike tycoon, please take it to rec.bicycles.marketplace. Or somewhere. Anywhere. Commercial `spam,' `Make Money Fast' and pyramid schemes (illegal in the UK) are as welcome as a fart in a space suit. Crossposting and trolling ------------------------- Crossposting is posting the same message to multiple newsgroups simultaneously. Crosspoting to non-cycling newsgroups is rarely a service to humanity. In particular, cross-posting to uk.tosspot (sorry, uk.transport) will normally degenerate into a slanging match almost immediately. Trolling is posting deliberately controversial statements in the hope of provoking an argument. A prolific offender in the past has been the resident troll, Paul Smith, a.k.a. Mohammed Saeed Al-Smith ("There are no speeding related deaths! Never!"). He runs a speeding apologist website and thinks that speed cameras kill more people than speeding does. His finest hour was probably the attempt to prove that we could have a rigidly enforced 12mph speed limit and still have as many deaths on the roads, although his thread claiming that motorists are vulnerable road users because more car drivers manage to kill themselves on the roads came a close second. Flaming is posting bad-tempered, rude or offensive messages, generally personally attacking the orginal poster. We strongly discourage it. High quality invective is of course welcome ;-) Bad language is generally unnecessary and unwelcome. The standard of debate on uk.rec.cycling is generally high for Usenet, and when we hurl insults we try at least to be creative. Helmets ------- IMPORTANT: Read the section on helmets below before making any comment regarding helmets on uk.rec.cycling. Don't say you haven't been warned. The public service announcement having been dealt with, we move on to the real information. 2. Technical questions ====================== The regulars on uk.rec.cycling are a right bunch of know-it-alls who love to parade their superior cycling knowledge. To save your blushes you might want to start by visiting this site: http://www.sheldonbrown.com What Sheldon Brown doesn't know about bikes is probably not worth knowing. For more specific queries regarding individual components and techniques, Googling rec.bicycles.tech can provide satisfaction. 3. UK Cycling Organisations =========================== The following organsiations are active in promotion of cycling. Some provide, as part of theiur membership package, insurance and legal services. This list is not exhaustive. * Cyclists Touring Club (CTC) http://www.ctc.org.uk/ Brtain's oldest and largest cycling organsiation, with over 80,000 members and a local and regional structure which means there is probably a District Association (DA) near you. Membership benefits include insurance, technical information and an excellent magazine. * London Cycling Campaign http://www.lcc.org.uk/ * AUDAX UK http://www.audax.uk.com/ * British Cycling Federation (BCF) http://www.bcf.uk.com/ * British Cyclo-Cross Association (BCCA) http://www.cyclo-cross.com/ * Trail Cyclists Association http://www.trailquest.co.uk/ * British Mountain Biking http://www.bmb.org * Road Time Trails Council (RTTC) http://www.rttc.org.uk/ * British Schools Cycling Association (BSCA) http://www.bsca.org.uk/ * Tandem Club http://www.tandem-club.org.uk * British Human Power Club (BHPC) http://www.ihpva.com/ * The Rough Stuff Fellowship http://www.rsf.org.uk 4. Where do I get... ===================== Bikes can often be upgraded and kept going indefinitely., On the other hand, buying a new bike is a great buzz. Britain has no large-scale cycle manufacturing, though a few big names still assemble bikes here. We do have a thriving craft bicycle building industry, and some of the best-known are listed below. Many of these will also recondition, repaint, rebuild and upgrade frames, prolonging the useful life of your comfortable old bike. Good quality steel frames can often be adjusted to fit modern 8- and 9-speed gearing. Online bike shops are often cheaper than your local bike shop (LBS). But take care: if you don't lose it you'll lose it, so make sure you give your LBS the opportunity to sell you that bike, and don't forget to include VAT and shipping when comparing prices. If you buy a bike from Bikes R Us via the web, don't be enormously surprised if your LBS doesn't want to deal with any warranty issues. Bike shops also generally provide a free tune-up after the first few weeks. No warranty is impled or given in these listings: they may be good or bad. Shop around and caveat emptor. Framebuilders ------------- * Argos Cycles http://www.argoscycles.com/ * Paul Donohue http://www.donohuecycles.co.uk * Bob Jackson http://www.bobjacksoncycles.co.uk * George Longstaff http://www.longstaffcycles.co.uk * Mercian Cycles http://www.merciancycles.com * Chas Roberts Cycles http://www.robertscycles.com * Brian Rourke Cycles http://www.brianrourke.co.uk * M. Steel Cycles http://www.msteelcycles.co.uk * Thorn http://www.sjscycles.co.uk * Joe Waugh - see M Steel * Graham Weigh at http://www.deesidecycles.com * Dave Yates - see M Steel Online bike shops ----------------- * Bonthrone Bikes * CTC Shop * St John Street Cycles * Sdeals * Spa Cycles * Wiggle 5. How do I get my bike insured? ================================ As with any insurance, it pays to shop around. You can generally get cover for bicycles on your house contents policy for a reasonable price, but watch out for small print and in particular restrictions or exclusions based on: * lists of approved locks * overnight storage requirements * foreign touring * component only theft or damage * damage only * wear and tear deductions The CTC have a bike insurance partner, as do some of the other cycling organisations, which can be a better option particularly for exotic bikes. Racing and courier work are generally excluded from cycle policies. Third-party cover is free with the membership of some cycling organisations (again, notably the CTC). Do consider this. Cyclists can injure and kill, and you don't want to be left out of pocket. Many insurers will try to supply you with a notionally equivalent bike from their nominated bike shop. Beware! Horror stories abound of lower quality bikes shoddily assembled. If you have a friendly bike shop, talk to them about your insurance replacement and get the insurers to send a cheque direct to them. 6. Safety ========= Cycling is a very safe and healthy activity, provided you do it right. The BMA says regular cyclists live a decade longer than the average, counting mortality from all causes. Traffic is more scary than dangerous. So you'll want to make sure you are fully trained and properly equipped. which is a bit of a problem... These are the things which you should know about in order to ride safely on the road. 7.1 Skills & Training --------------------- The National Cycling Proficiency scheme has been replaced in most areas by locally controlled schemes. Adult cycle training could most charitably be described as "patchy" ("shambolic" is altogether closer to the mark, though). There are some commercial cycle training schemes in London and elsewhere. The best way to learn good cycling skills is to read Cyclecraft, by John Franklin (http://www.lesberries.co.uk/ccraft/ccraft.htm). This book is a mine of useful information. You should also read, learn and inwardly digest the Highway Code (http://www.highwaycode.gov.uk). And you could do worse than meet up with your local cycling club to learn from the hoary old-timers who have managed half a century of road riding and lived to tell the tale. 8.2 Maintenance --------------- Before riding make sure your brakes, steering, tyres, pedals, gears and such are in proper working order. Never ride a bike with defective brakes or steering. Learn to maintain your bike, it will save you money and it's great fun! 9.3 Conspicuity and lights -------------------------- When riding on the road, especially after dusk and in the winter, it makes good sense to be as conspicuous as possible. Reflective jackets, arm and leg bands ("Scotchlite" brand and others) increase your visibility, as do fluorescent clothing. Always use lights at night or in poor visibility. Audax riders often ride all night so if you want to know what's good in the lighting market a visit to http://www.audax.uk.net/lights/ can get you started. Flashing LEDs permanently fitted to the bike are currently illegal. They are also four times more visible than steady lights of equivalent brightness. Received wisdom is that one of each, steady for legality and flashing for conspicuity, is the way to go. Still illegal, but we don't know of anyone who's been prosecuted, and a revision of the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations (RVLR) is in process. RVLR: http://www.hmso.gov.uk/si/si1989/Uksi_19891796_en_1.htm Important notice: LAWYERS ARE WEASELS. If you are hit by a car at night and you and your bike do not conform to the letter of the law, the weasels will try to make out that it's your fault (contributory negligence). It is best not to give them the option. 10.4 Helmets ----------- Probably the single most contentious topic among cyclists. There are two entrenched groups: one says helmets should be made compulsory because some studies show that they reduce the probability of head injury or death following a crash; the other says that helmets should be a matter of individual choice because in no country in the world has promotion or compulsion of helmets ever delivered a measurable reduction in cyclist injuries. Any comment about helmets based on "common sense" is *absolutely guaranteed* to get you flamed. Here is the Received Wisdom: * The likelihood of serious head injury when cycling is extremely small, and hugely outweighed by the health benefits of cycling. * If worn correctly, a cycle helmet may afford some protection against minor injuries to the head. * A helmet is unlikely to offer protection against more serious or life-threatening injuries. * You may be more likely to hit your head in a crash if you wear a helmet. * You may be more likely to crash in the first place, particularly if a helmet makes you feel better protected. * A helmet may increase the very small risk of the most serious brain injuries that lead to death and chronic intellectual disability. * Helmets are designed to protect at speeds up to around 12mph. Any road traffic crash will be outside the design parameters of a bicycle helmet. * Children using their bicycles for play may benefit more from helmets. Whether you wear a helmet or not is entirely your own choice, but if you do you should still ride as if it were made of meringue covered in eggshell. 6.5 Cycle routes ---------------- Signed cycle routes are generally quiet routes, and they can be more pleasant than riding on busier roads. They can also make your journey slower and longer. All other things being equal, a cycle route is a more pleasant place to be. Sustrans http://www.sustrans.org.uk maintain a network of mainly offroad cycle routes which are great for leisure cycling. They also look after the National Cycle Network, which is a series of waymarked low-traffic or traffic-free routes. Cycle facilities are a mixed blessing. Shared use pavements are between five and ten times less safe than the road, mainly due to issues at junctions. Cycle lanes teke us out of the main sight-line of drivers, and often run out at the point of greatest danger. The best advice is to read Cyclecraft and ride as if the cycle lane were not there. You are not compelled to use cycle lanes or tracks. A "mandatory cycle lane" means one which cars may not use, not one which cyclists must use. People have been trying to get cyclists out of the way of cars for about seventy years, usually citing safety concerns. This claim is bogus as the same people seem quite happy to put us on pavements, where cycles definitely should not be due to the disparity in speed and manoeuvrability between pedestrians and cyclists. Remember this: cyclists use the road by right of way, motorists use it under licence. 7. Jargon ========= There is an unofficial FAQ with details of some of the jargon and in-jokes at http://www.chapmancentral.com/urc Some common terms you'll hear on uk.rec.cycling: AASHTA: As Always, Sheldon Has The Answer Brompton: A folding bike - http://www.bromptonbicycle.co.uk C2C: Coast-to-coast (England) - http://www.c2c-guide.co.uk/ Cheese: Material from which cheap bike components are made Dark Side: Recumbent cycling - http://www.bhpc.org.uk/ End-to-End: Land's End to John O'Groats LE-JOG: Land's End to John O'Groats PSF: Paving Slab Fairy, aka Helen Simmons 8. Bike Adjustment ================== Bike adjustment is the difference between a comfortable bike and an uncomfortable one. If you are suffering sore knees, hand, elbows, wrists, shoulders, back, neck... well, you obviously need to move to the Dark Side, but you might put off the inevitable for a hwile longer by fixing the fit of your bike. At http://www.wrenchscience.com there is a very handy bike fit measuring system. Here are a few general pointers: Sore knees ---------- Usually due to the saddle being too low. Try adjusting the saddle height so that when you sit on the bike with your heel on the pedal aty the bottom of its stroke, your leg is straight. You probably won't be able to put your feet on the ground without moving forward off the saddle. That's quite normal, and not dangerous - but do practice starting and stopping. If your hips rock when you ride, the saddle is too high. This is rare: most people have the saddle too low. Sore hands / wrists ------------------- Generally down to hand position. If you use flat bars, try bar ends. If you have drop bars, check they are the right width (see the wrenchscience site above) and experiment with the brake lever position on the hooks. Sore shoulders / neck --------------------- Often a sign that your handlebars are the wrong distance from your saddle. As a rule of thumb, with your elbow resting on the nose of the saddle the tip of your fingertips should touch the handlebars Saddle soreness --------------- Saddle soreness is usually caused by soft saddles and exacerbated by having the saddle at the wrong angle. Try tilting the nose of the saddle down very slightly. The aim is to carry your weight on your your ischeal tuberosities ("sit bones") not your perineum. "Gentlemen's problems" ---------------------- You may have heard that cycling can cause impotence or penile numbness. This is, for the most part, tosh. But there is, as ever, a grain of truth in there. A soft saddle is worse than a hard one. Soft saddles compress the soft tissues of your perineum and restrict blood flow; hard saddles do not. The more you ride, the more likely you are to benefit from a good quality leather saddle like the Selle San Marco Rolls or the Brooks B17. Not evryone takes to them, but audax riders (who know a thing or two about saddle comfort) mostly seem to favour one or the other. Comfort cycling --------------- If all else fails buy a recumbent and say goodby to sore [censored] misery for ever. The following people have contributed useful information to this FAQ (in alphabetical order): * James D. Annan ([email hidden]) * Bryan Attewell ([email hidden]) * Peter Crighton ([email hidden]) * Paul Crook ([email hidden]) * Phil Cunningham ([email hidden]) * Chris Hayes ([email hidden]) * Robert Hague ([email hidden]) * Andrew Henry ([email hidden]) * Michael Hoath ([email hidden]) * Gary Marland ([email hidden]) * Neil Marshall ([email hidden]) * David Nulty ([email hidden]) * Alan Paxton ([email hidden]) * Stewart Russell ([email hidden]) * Ian Snowdon ([email hidden]) * John Swindells ([email hidden]) * Rik Wade ([email hidden]) * Simon Ward ([email hidden]) * Matt Wenham ([email hidden]) * John B. Wilkinson ([email hidden])

Started by Just Zis Guy · 5 September 2003 · Last activity 1 October 2003 · 26 posts · 2,175 views

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Original section: UK and Europe
Published: 5 September 2003
Last activity: 1 October 2003
Original author: Just Zis Guy
Posts: 26
Discussion status: Public discussion
Total views: 2,175
Views / 30 days: 0
Topics: Bike fit Concussion and head injury Saddle sores Saddle height Brooks saddles Folding bikes Helmets Steel frames

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Original post
Just Zis Guy
Archived post

5 September 2003, 22:32 UTC #1

Here is an attempt at a slimmed-down FAQ. Feedback please. I'm sure it has a fair way to go - either
much less or much more (or both ;-P)
Guy
uk.rec.cycling Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) List Last updated: [x]
This FAQ is edited and maintained by [x] Updates and additions should be sent to [x]
1. General information
2. Technical questions
3. UK Cyclcing Organsiations
4. Where do I get...
5. How do I get my bike insured?
6. Safety
7. Jargon and in-jokes
8. Bike adjustment
9. General information
======================
uk.rec.cycling is a USENET group for the discussion of topics relating to cycling in the UK and
(to a lesser extent) Ireland. Discussion of all aspects of cycling and human-powered transport
is welcome.
The scope of the group (and this FAQ) is purposely restricted to issues relevant to cyclists in the
UK and Ireland. For more general discussion you might prefer rec.bicycles.misc.
uk.rec.cycling may contain traces of irony.
But first, some housekeeping.
Etiquette and style
-------------------
This is a text-only newsgroup: please do not post HTML, MIME or binaries to this group. Most servers
won't carry binary content anyway. If you use Microsoft Outlook or Outlook Express be aware that by
default it does or encourages three things which seriously irritate many people:
- html / MIME posting
- top posting
- untrimmed quoting
In general when you are replying you should trim from the quoted text anything which is irrlevant to
the point you are making, and any signatures. You should reply below the text to which you are
replying, using a standard quote delimiter (> is the most common).
faqs.orgpart1 is worth a read.
Test messages (to see if your newsreader / server are working) should go to uk.test or your ISP's
tech support group.
Advertising and personal messages
---------------------------------
If you are selling or auctioning a bike or related item *in the UK* a single post with the subject
starting "FS: " (for sale) or "FA: " (for auction) is generally acceptable. Occasionally. From
people who also contribute in other ways.
Occasional brief personal messages are also generally tolerated.
If you are trying to carve out a career as an eBay bike tycoon, please take it to
rec.bicycles.marketplace. Or somewhere. Anywhere. Commercial `spam,' `Make Money Fast' and pyramid
schemes (illegal in the UK) are as welcome as a fart in a space suit.
Crossposting and trolling
-------------------------
Crossposting is posting the same message to multiple newsgroups simultaneously. Crosspoting to
non-cycling newsgroups is rarely a service to humanity. In particular, cross-posting to uk.tosspot
(sorry, uk.transport) will normally degenerate into a slanging match almost immediately.
Trolling is posting deliberately controversial statements in the hope of provoking an argument. A
prolific offender in the past has been the resident troll, Paul Smith, a.k.a. Mohammed Saeed
Al-Smith ("There are no speeding related deaths! Never!"😉. He runs a speeding apologist website and
thinks that speed cameras kill more people than speeding does. His finest hour was probably the
attempt to prove that we could have a rigidly enforced 12mph speed limit and still have as many
deaths on the roads, although his thread claiming that motorists are vulnerable road users because
more car drivers manage to kill themselves on the roads came a close second.
Flaming is posting bad-tempered, rude or offensive messages, generally personally attacking the
orginal poster. We strongly discourage it. High quality invective is of course welcome ;-)
Bad language is generally unnecessary and unwelcome. The standard of debate on uk.rec.cycling is
generally high for Usenet, and when we hurl insults we try at least to be creative.
Helmets
-------
IMPORTANT: Read the section on helmets below before making any comment regarding helmets on
uk.rec.cycling. Don't say you haven't been warned.
The public service announcement having been dealt with, we move on to the real information.
2. Technical questions
======================
The regulars on uk.rec.cycling are a right bunch of know-it-alls who love to parade their superior
cycling knowledge. To save your blushes you might want to start by visiting this site:
sheldonbrown.comsheldonbrown.com
What Sheldon Brown doesn't know about bikes is probably not worth knowing.
For more specific queries regarding individual components and techniques, Googling rec.bicycles.tech
can provide satisfaction.
3. UK Cycling Organisations
===========================
The following organsiations are active in promotion of cycling. Some provide, as part of theiur
membership package, insurance and legal services. This list is not exhaustive.
* Cyclists Touring Club (CTC) ctc.org.ukctc.org.uk
Brtain's oldest and largest cycling organsiation, with over 80,000 members and a local and
regional structure which means there is probably a District Association (DA) near you. Membership
benefits include insurance, technical information and an excellent magazine.
* London Cycling Campaign lcc.org.uklcc.org.uk
* AUDAX UK audax.uk.comaudax.uk.com
* British Cycling Federation (BCF) bcf.uk.combcf.uk.com
* British Cyclo-Cross Association (BCCA) cyclo-cross.comcyclo-cross.com
* Trail Cyclists Association trailquest.co.uktrailquest.co.uk
* British Mountain Biking bmb.orgbmb.org
* Road Time Trails Council (RTTC) rttc.org.ukrttc.org.uk
* British Schools Cycling Association (BSCA) bsca.org.ukbsca.org.uk
* Tandem Club tandem-club.org.uktandem-club.org.uk
* British Human Power Club (BHPC) ihpva.comihpva.com
* The Rough Stuff Fellowship rsf.org.ukrsf.org.uk
4. Where do I get...
=====================
Bikes can often be upgraded and kept going indefinitely., On the other hand, buying a new bike is a
great buzz. Britain has no large-scale cycle manufacturing, though a few big names still assemble
bikes here. We do have a thriving craft bicycle building industry, and some of the best-known are
listed below. Many of these will also recondition, repaint, rebuild and upgrade frames, prolonging
the useful life of your comfortable old bike. Good quality steel frames can often be adjusted to fit
modern 8- and 9-speed gearing.
Online bike shops are often cheaper than your local bike shop (LBS). But take care: if you don't
lose it you'll lose it, so make sure you give your LBS the opportunity to sell you that bike, and
don't forget to include VAT and shipping when comparing prices. If you buy a bike from Bikes R Us
via the web, don't be enormously surprised if your LBS doesn't want to deal with any warranty
issues. Bike shops also generally provide a free tune-up after the first few weeks.
No warranty is impled or given in these listings: they may be good or bad. Shop around and
caveat emptor.
Framebuilders
-------------
* Argos Cycles argoscycles.comargoscycles.com
* Paul Donohue donohuecycles.co.ukdonohuecycles.co.uk
* Bob Jackson bobjacksoncycles.co.ukbobjacksoncycles.co.uk
* George Longstaff longstaffcycles.co.uklongstaffcycles.co.uk
* Mercian Cycles merciancycles.commerciancycles.com
* Chas Roberts Cycles robertscycles.comrobertscycles.com
* Brian Rourke Cycles brianrourke.co.ukbrianrourke.co.uk
* M. Steel Cycles msteelcycles.co.ukmsteelcycles.co.uk
* Thorn sjscycles.co.uksjscycles.co.uk
* Joe Waugh - see M Steel
* Graham Weigh at deesidecycles.comdeesidecycles.com
* Dave Yates - see M Steel
Online bike shops
-----------------
* Bonthrone Bikes
* CTC Shop
* St John Street Cycles
* Sdeals
* Spa Cycles
* Wiggle
5. How do I get my bike insured?
================================
As with any insurance, it pays to shop around. You can generally get cover for bicycles on your
house contents policy for a reasonable price, but watch out for small print and in particular
restrictions or exclusions based on:
* lists of approved locks
* overnight storage requirements
* foreign touring
* component only theft or damage
* damage only
* wear and tear deductions
The CTC have a bike insurance partner, as do some of the other cycling organisations, which can be a
better option particularly for exotic bikes. Racing and courier work are generally excluded from
cycle policies.
Third-party cover is free with the membership of some cycling organisations (again, notably the
CTC). Do consider this. Cyclists can injure and kill, and you don't want to be left out of pocket.
Many insurers will try to supply you with a notionally equivalent bike from their nominated bike
shop. Beware! Horror stories abound of lower quality bikes shoddily assembled. If you have a
friendly bike shop, talk to them about your insurance replacement and get the insurers to send a
cheque direct to them.
6. Safety
=========
Cycling is a very safe and healthy activity, provided you do it right. The BMA says regular cyclists
live a decade longer than the average, counting mortality from all causes. Traffic is more scary
than dangerous. So you'll want to make sure you are fully trained and properly equipped. which is a
bit of a problem...
These are the things which you should know about in order to ride safely on the road.
7.1 Skills & Training
---------------------
The National Cycling Proficiency scheme has been replaced in most areas by locally controlled
schemes. Adult cycle training could most charitably be described as "patchy" ("shambolic" is
altogether closer to the mark, though). There are some commercial cycle training schemes in London
and elsewhere.
The best way to learn good cycling skills is to read Cyclecraft, by John Franklin
(lesberries.co.ukccraft.htm). This book is a mine of useful information.
You should also read, learn and inwardly digest the Highway Code (highwaycode.gov.ukhighwaycode.gov.uk).
And you could do worse than meet up with your local cycling club to learn from the hoary old-timers
who have managed half a century of road riding and lived to tell the tale.
8.2 Maintenance
---------------
Before riding make sure your brakes, steering, tyres, pedals, gears and such are in proper working
order. Never ride a bike with defective brakes or steering. Learn to maintain your bike, it will
save you money and it's great fun!
9.3 Conspicuity and lights
--------------------------
When riding on the road, especially after dusk and in the winter, it makes good sense to be as
conspicuous as possible. Reflective jackets, arm and leg bands ("Scotchlite" brand and others)
increase your visibility, as do fluorescent clothing.
Always use lights at night or in poor visibility. Audax riders often ride all night so if you
want to know what's good in the lighting market a visit to audax.uk.netlights can
get you started.
Flashing LEDs permanently fitted to the bike are currently illegal. They are also four times more
visible than steady lights of equivalent brightness. Received wisdom is that one of each, steady
for legality and flashing for conspicuity, is the way to go. Still illegal, but we don't know of
anyone who's been prosecuted, and a revision of the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations (RVLR) is
in process.
RVLR: hmso.gov.ukUksi 19891796 en 1.htm
Important notice: LAWYERS ARE WEASELS. If you are hit by a car at night and you and your bike do not
conform to the letter of the law, the weasels will try to make out that it's your fault
(contributory negligence). It is best not to give them the option.
10.4 Helmets
-----------
Probably the single most contentious topic among cyclists. There are two entrenched groups: one says
helmets should be made compulsory because some studies show that they reduce the probability of head
injury or death following a crash; the other says that helmets should be a matter of individual
choice because in no country in the world has promotion or compulsion of helmets ever delivered a
measurable reduction in cyclist injuries.
Any comment about helmets based on "common sense" is *absolutely guaranteed* to get you flamed. Here
is the Received Wisdom:
* The likelihood of serious head injury when cycling is extremely small, and hugely outweighed by
the health benefits of cycling.
* If worn correctly, a cycle helmet may afford some protection against minor injuries to the head.
* A helmet is unlikely to offer protection against more serious or life-threatening injuries.
* You may be more likely to hit your head in a crash if you wear a helmet.
* You may be more likely to crash in the first place, particularly if a helmet makes you feel
better protected.
* A helmet may increase the very small risk of the most serious brain injuries that lead to death
and chronic intellectual disability.
* Helmets are designed to protect at speeds up to around 12mph. Any road traffic crash will be
outside the design parameters of a bicycle helmet.
* Children using their bicycles for play may benefit more from helmets.
Whether you wear a helmet or not is entirely your own choice, but if you do you should still ride as
if it were made of meringue covered in eggshell.
6.5 Cycle routes
----------------
Signed cycle routes are generally quiet routes, and they can be more pleasant than riding on busier
roads. They can also make your journey slower and longer. All other things being equal, a cycle
route is a more pleasant place to be.
Sustrans sustrans.org.uksustrans.org.uk maintain a network of mainly offroad cycle routes which are
great for leisure cycling. They also look after the National Cycle Network, which is a series of
waymarked low-traffic or traffic-free routes.
Cycle facilities are a mixed blessing. Shared use pavements are between five and ten times less safe
than the road, mainly due to issues at junctions. Cycle lanes teke us out of the main sight-line of
drivers, and often run out at the point of greatest danger. The best advice is to read Cyclecraft
and ride as if the cycle lane were not there. You are not compelled to use cycle lanes or tracks. A
"mandatory cycle lane" means one which cars may not use, not one which cyclists must use.
People have been trying to get cyclists out of the way of cars for about seventy years, usually
citing safety concerns. This claim is bogus as the same people seem quite happy to put us on
pavements, where cycles definitely should not be due to the disparity in speed and manoeuvrability
between pedestrians and cyclists. Remember this: cyclists use the road by right of way, motorists
use it under licence.
7. Jargon
=========
There is an unofficial FAQ with details of some of the jargon and in-jokes at
chapmancentral.comurc
Some common terms you'll hear on uk.rec.cycling:
AASHTA: As Always, Sheldon Has The Answer Brompton: A folding bike -
bromptonbicycle.co.ukbromptonbicycle.co.uk
C2C: Coast-to-coast (England) - c2c-guide.co.ukc2c-guide.co.uk Cheese: Material from which cheap bike
components are made Dark Side: Recumbent cycling - bhpc.org.ukbhpc.org.uk End-to-End: Land's
End to John O'Groats LE-JOG: Land's End to John O'Groats
PSF: Paving Slab Fairy, aka Helen Simmons
8. Bike Adjustment
==================
Bike adjustment is the difference between a comfortable bike and an uncomfortable one. If you are
suffering sore knees, hand, elbows, wrists, shoulders, back, neck... well, you obviously need to
move to the Dark Side, but you might put off the inevitable for a hwile longer by fixing the fit of
your bike.
At wrenchscience.comwrenchscience.com there is a very handy bike fit measuring system.
Here are a few general pointers:
Sore knees
----------
Usually due to the saddle being too low. Try adjusting the saddle height so that when you sit on the
bike with your heel on the pedal aty the bottom of its stroke, your leg is straight. You probably
won't be able to put your feet on the ground without moving forward off the saddle. That's quite
normal, and not dangerous - but do practice starting and stopping.
If your hips rock when you ride, the saddle is too high. This is rare: most people have the
saddle too low.
Sore hands / wrists
-------------------
Generally down to hand position. If you use flat bars, try bar ends. If you have drop bars, check
they are the right width (see the wrenchscience site above) and experiment with the brake lever
position on the hooks.
Sore shoulders / neck
---------------------
Often a sign that your handlebars are the wrong distance from your saddle. As a rule of thumb, with
your elbow resting on the nose of the saddle the tip of your fingertips should touch the handlebars
Saddle soreness
---------------
Saddle soreness is usually caused by soft saddles and exacerbated by having the saddle at the wrong
angle. Try tilting the nose of the saddle down very slightly. The aim is to carry your weight on
your your ischeal tuberosities ("sit bones"😉 not your perineum.
"Gentlemen's problems"
----------------------
You may have heard that cycling can cause impotence or penile numbness. This is, for the most part,
tosh. But there is, as ever, a grain of truth in there.
A soft saddle is worse than a hard one. Soft saddles compress the soft tissues of your perineum and
restrict blood flow; hard saddles do not. The more you ride, the more likely you are to benefit from
a good quality leather saddle like the Selle San Marco Rolls or the Brooks B17. Not evryone takes to
them, but audax riders (who know a thing or two about saddle comfort) mostly seem to favour one or
the other.
Comfort cycling
---------------
If all else fails buy a recumbent and say goodby to sore [censored] misery for ever.
The following people have contributed useful information to this FAQ (in alphabetical order):
* James D. Annan ([email hidden])
* Bryan Attewell ([email hidden])
* Peter Crighton ([email hidden])
* Paul Crook ([email hidden])
* Phil Cunningham ([email hidden])
* Chris Hayes ([email hidden])
* Robert Hague ([email hidden])
* Andrew Henry ([email hidden])
* Michael Hoath ([email hidden])
* Gary Marland ([email hidden])
* Neil Marshall ([email hidden])
* David Nulty ([email hidden])
* Alan Paxton ([email hidden])
* Stewart Russell ([email hidden])
* Ian Snowdon ([email hidden])
* John Swindells ([email hidden])
* Rik Wade ([email hidden])
* Simon Ward ([email hidden])
* Matt Wenham ([email hidden])
* John B. Wilkinson ([email hidden])

Report
Jon Rogers
Archived post

5 September 2003, 22:56 UTC #2

In article said:
Here is an attempt at a slimmed-down FAQ. Feedback please. I'm sure it has a fair way to go -
either much less or much more (or both ;-P)
Guy

As a long time lurker, and very rarely a poster, I liked it.
Not only an FAQ, it's a damn good read too.
Thanks for your effort.
--
Jon
____________________________________________
jondotrogersatntlworlddotcom
============================================

Report
Doesnotcompute
Archived post

5 September 2003, 23:13 UTC #3

Just zis Guy said:
Here is an attempt at a slimmed-down FAQ. Feedback please. I'm sure it has a fair way to go -
either much less or much more (or both ;-P)
s'good - don't make it tooo much longer, as it'll become fa too cumbersome.
Would you like me to create an HTML version once you have completed the plain text? It is essential
to offer both standards.
--
Dnc

Report
Just Zis Guy
Archived post

5 September 2003, 23:32 UTC #4

Doesnotcompute said:
Would you like me to create an HTML version once you have completed the plain text? It is essential
to offer both standards.
No, I can handle all that thanks - I need someone to tell me how to post it using cron and PERL
('cos I'm a Linux newbie) or mail-to-news, and I need to refine and improve it a bit with the help
of all concerned - more shops, for example.
I think, according to the definitoin of FAQ, I have answered the most frequent questions, but even
there I might well be missing some.
Guy
===
** WARNING ** This posting may contain traces of irony. chapmancentral.comchapmancentral.com New!
Improved!! Now with added extra Demon!

Report
Garry B
Archived post

5 September 2003, 23:56 UTC #5

Quoted message said:
Feedback please.
First..I'd say it's al;ways a good idea for a ng to have a FAQ...and, ideally, one that is posted to
the ng frequently.
But, with this one, I do think there are inherent problems about what to include and exclude. I'd
say that a faq on this newsgroup need only really concern itself with uk online resources, relevant
links to other global cycling sites, various uk community cycling projects...etc
When subjects relating to bike maintenance occur, a bottomless pit opens up, what's the point? and a
site like Sheldon Browns comes into it's own.
Which is what you've just done I guess....slimmed it down.
It can only be a good thing.
Garryb
Quoted message said:
I'm sure it has a fair way to go - either much less or much more (or both ;-P)
Guy
uk.rec.cycling Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) List Last updated: [x]
This FAQ is edited and maintained by [x] Updates and additions should be sent to [x]
1. General information
2. Technical questions
3. UK Cyclcing Organsiations
4. Where do I get...
5. How do I get my bike insured?
6. Safety
7. Jargon and in-jokes
8. Bike adjustment
1. General information
======================
uk.rec.cycling is a USENET group for the discussion of topics relating to cycling in the UK and
(to a lesser extent) Ireland. Discussion of all aspects of cycling and human-powered transport
is welcome.
The scope of the group (and this FAQ) is purposely restricted to issues relevant to cyclists in the
UK and Ireland. For more general discussion you might prefer rec.bicycles.misc.
uk.rec.cycling may contain traces of irony.
But first, some housekeeping.
Etiquette and style
-------------------
This is a text-only newsgroup: please do not post HTML, MIME or binaries to this group. Most
servers won't carry binary content anyway. If you use Microsoft Outlook or Outlook Express be aware
that by default it does or encourages three things which seriously irritate many people:
- html / MIME posting
- top posting
- untrimmed quoting
In general when you are replying you should trim from the quoted text anything which is irrlevant
to the point you are making, and any signatures. You should reply below the text to which you are
replying, using a standard quote delimiter (> is the most common).
faqs.orgpart1 is worth a read.
Test messages (to see if your newsreader / server are working) should go to uk.test or your ISP's
tech support group.
Advertising and personal messages
---------------------------------
If you are selling or auctioning a bike or related item *in the UK* a single post with the subject
starting "FS: " (for sale) or "FA: " (for auction) is generally acceptable. Occasionally. From
people who also contribute in other ways.
Occasional brief personal messages are also generally tolerated.
If you are trying to carve out a career as an eBay bike tycoon, please take it to
rec.bicycles.marketplace. Or somewhere. Anywhere. Commercial `spam,' `Make Money Fast' and pyramid
schemes (illegal in the UK) are as welcome as a fart in a space suit.
Crossposting and trolling
-------------------------
Crossposting is posting the same message to multiple newsgroups simultaneously. Crosspoting to
non-cycling newsgroups is rarely a service to humanity. In particular, cross-posting to uk.tosspot
(sorry, uk.transport) will normally degenerate into a slanging match almost immediately.
Trolling is posting deliberately controversial statements in the hope of provoking an argument. A
prolific offender in the past has been the resident troll, Paul Smith, a.k.a. Mohammed Saeed
Al-Smith ("There are no speeding related deaths! Never!"😉. He runs a speeding apologist website and
thinks that speed cameras kill more people than speeding does. His finest hour was probably the
attempt to prove that we could have a rigidly enforced 12mph speed limit and still have as many
deaths on the roads, although his thread claiming that motorists are vulnerable road users because
more car drivers manage to kill themselves on the roads came a close second.
Flaming is posting bad-tempered, rude or offensive messages, generally personally attacking the
orginal poster. We strongly discourage it. High quality invective is of course welcome ;-)
Bad language is generally unnecessary and unwelcome. The standard of debate on uk.rec.cycling is
generally high for Usenet, and when we hurl insults we try at least to be creative.
Helmets
-------
IMPORTANT: Read the section on helmets below before making any comment regarding helmets on
uk.rec.cycling. Don't say you haven't been warned.
The public service announcement having been dealt with, we move on to the real information.
2. Technical questions
======================
The regulars on uk.rec.cycling are a right bunch of know-it-alls who love to parade their superior
cycling knowledge. To save your blushes you might want to start by visiting this site:
sheldonbrown.comsheldonbrown.com
What Sheldon Brown doesn't know about bikes is probably not worth knowing.
For more specific queries regarding individual components and techniques, Googling
rec.bicycles.tech can provide satisfaction.
3. UK Cycling Organisations
===========================
The following organsiations are active in promotion of cycling. Some provide, as part of theiur
membership package, insurance and legal services. This list is not exhaustive.
* Cyclists Touring Club (CTC) ctc.org.ukctc.org.uk
Brtain's oldest and largest cycling organsiation, with over 80,000 members and a local and
regional structure which means there is probably a District Association (DA) near you.
Membership benefits include insurance, technical information and an excellent magazine.
* London Cycling Campaign lcc.org.uklcc.org.uk
* AUDAX UK audax.uk.comaudax.uk.com
* British Cycling Federation (BCF) bcf.uk.combcf.uk.com
* British Cyclo-Cross Association (BCCA) cyclo-cross.comcyclo-cross.com
* Trail Cyclists Association trailquest.co.uktrailquest.co.uk
* British Mountain Biking bmb.orgbmb.org
* Road Time Trails Council (RTTC) rttc.org.ukrttc.org.uk
* British Schools Cycling Association (BSCA) bsca.org.ukbsca.org.uk
* Tandem Club tandem-club.org.uktandem-club.org.uk
* British Human Power Club (BHPC) ihpva.comihpva.com
* The Rough Stuff Fellowship rsf.org.ukrsf.org.uk
4. Where do I get...
=====================
Bikes can often be upgraded and kept going indefinitely., On the other hand, buying a new bike is a
great buzz. Britain has no large-scale cycle manufacturing, though a few big names still assemble
bikes here. We do have a thriving craft bicycle building industry, and some of the best-known are
listed below. Many of these will also recondition, repaint, rebuild and upgrade frames, prolonging
the useful life of your comfortable old bike. Good quality steel frames can often be adjusted to
fit modern 8- and 9-speed gearing.
Online bike shops are often cheaper than your local bike shop (LBS). But take care: if you don't
lose it you'll lose it, so make sure you give your LBS the opportunity to sell you that bike, and
don't forget to include VAT and shipping when comparing prices. If you buy a bike from Bikes R Us
via the web, don't be enormously surprised if your LBS doesn't want to deal with any warranty
issues. Bike shops also generally provide a free tune-up after the first few weeks.
No warranty is impled or given in these listings: they may be good or bad. Shop around and
caveat emptor.
Framebuilders
-------------
* Argos Cycles argoscycles.comargoscycles.com
* Paul Donohue donohuecycles.co.ukdonohuecycles.co.uk
* Bob Jackson bobjacksoncycles.co.ukbobjacksoncycles.co.uk
* George Longstaff longstaffcycles.co.uklongstaffcycles.co.uk
* Mercian Cycles merciancycles.commerciancycles.com
* Chas Roberts Cycles robertscycles.comrobertscycles.com
* Brian Rourke Cycles brianrourke.co.ukbrianrourke.co.uk
* M. Steel Cycles msteelcycles.co.ukmsteelcycles.co.uk
* Thorn sjscycles.co.uksjscycles.co.uk
* Joe Waugh - see M Steel
* Graham Weigh at deesidecycles.comdeesidecycles.com
* Dave Yates - see M Steel
Online bike shops
-----------------
* Bonthrone Bikes
* CTC Shop
* St John Street Cycles
* Sdeals
* Spa Cycles
* Wiggle
5. How do I get my bike insured?
================================
As with any insurance, it pays to shop around. You can generally get cover for bicycles on your
house contents policy for a reasonable price, but watch out for small print and in particular
restrictions or exclusions based on:
* lists of approved locks
* overnight storage requirements
* foreign touring
* component only theft or damage
* damage only
* wear and tear deductions
The CTC have a bike insurance partner, as do some of the other cycling organisations, which can be
a better option particularly for exotic bikes. Racing and courier work are generally excluded from
cycle policies.
Third-party cover is free with the membership of some cycling organisations (again, notably the
CTC). Do consider this. Cyclists can injure and kill, and you don't want to be left out of pocket.
Many insurers will try to supply you with a notionally equivalent bike from their nominated bike
shop. Beware! Horror stories abound of lower quality bikes shoddily assembled. If you have a
friendly bike shop, talk to them about your insurance replacement and get the insurers to send a
cheque direct to them.
6. Safety
=========
Cycling is a very safe and healthy activity, provided you do it right. The BMA says regular
cyclists live a decade longer than the average, counting mortality from all causes. Traffic is more
scary than dangerous. So you'll want to make sure you are fully trained and properly equipped.
which is a bit of a problem...
These are the things which you should know about in order to ride safely on the road.
6.1 Skills & Training
---------------------
The National Cycling Proficiency scheme has been replaced in most areas by locally controlled
schemes. Adult cycle training could most charitably be described as "patchy" ("shambolic" is
altogether closer to the mark, though). There are some commercial cycle training schemes in London
and elsewhere.
The best way to learn good cycling skills is to read Cyclecraft, by John Franklin
(lesberries.co.ukccraft.htm). This book is a mine of useful information.
You should also read, learn and inwardly digest the Highway Code (highwaycode.gov.ukhighwaycode.gov.uk).
And you could do worse than meet up with your local cycling club to learn from the hoary old-timers
who have managed half a century of road riding and lived to tell the tale.
6.2 Maintenance
---------------
Before riding make sure your brakes, steering, tyres, pedals, gears and such are in proper working
order. Never ride a bike with defective brakes or steering. Learn to maintain your bike, it will
save you money and it's great fun!
6.3 Conspicuity and lights
--------------------------
When riding on the road, especially after dusk and in the winter, it makes good sense to be as
conspicuous as possible. Reflective jackets, arm and leg bands ("Scotchlite" brand and others)
increase your visibility, as do fluorescent clothing.
Always use lights at night or in poor visibility. Audax riders often ride all night so if you
want to know what's good in the lighting market a visit to audax.uk.netlights can
get you started.
Flashing LEDs permanently fitted to the bike are currently illegal. They are also four times more
visible than steady lights of equivalent brightness. Received wisdom is that one of each, steady
for legality and flashing for conspicuity, is the way to go. Still illegal, but we don't know of
anyone who's been prosecuted, and a revision of the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations (RVLR) is
in process.
RVLR: hmso.gov.ukUksi 19891796 en 1.htm
Important notice: LAWYERS ARE WEASELS. If you are hit by a car at night and you and your bike do
not conform to the letter of the law, the weasels will try to make out that it's your fault
(contributory negligence). It is best not to give them the option.
6.4 Helmets
-----------
Probably the single most contentious topic among cyclists. There are two entrenched groups: one
says helmets should be made compulsory because some studies show that they reduce the probability
of head injury or death following a crash; the other says that helmets should be a matter of
individual choice because in no country in the world has promotion or compulsion of helmets ever
delivered a measurable reduction in cyclist injuries.
Any comment about helmets based on "common sense" is *absolutely guaranteed* to get you flamed.
Here is the Received Wisdom:
* The likelihood of serious head injury when cycling is extremely small, and hugely outweighed by
the health benefits of cycling.
* If worn correctly, a cycle helmet may afford some protection against minor injuries to the head.
* A helmet is unlikely to offer protection against more serious or life-threatening injuries.
* You may be more likely to hit your head in a crash if you wear a helmet.
* You may be more likely to crash in the first place, particularly if a helmet makes you feel
better protected.
* A helmet may increase the very small risk of the most serious brain injuries that lead to death
and chronic intellectual disability.
* Helmets are designed to protect at speeds up to around 12mph. Any road traffic crash will be
outside the design parameters of a bicycle helmet.
* Children using their bicycles for play may benefit more from helmets.
Whether you wear a helmet or not is entirely your own choice, but if you do you should still ride
as if it were made of meringue covered in eggshell.
6.5 Cycle routes
----------------
Signed cycle routes are generally quiet routes, and they can be more pleasant than riding on busier
roads. They can also make your journey slower and longer. All other things being equal, a cycle
route is a more pleasant place to be.
Sustrans sustrans.org.uksustrans.org.uk maintain a network of mainly offroad cycle routes which are
great for leisure cycling. They also look after the National Cycle Network, which is a series of
waymarked low-traffic or traffic-free routes.
Cycle facilities are a mixed blessing. Shared use pavements are between five and ten times less
safe than the road, mainly due to issues at junctions. Cycle lanes teke us out of the main
sight-line of drivers, and often run out at the point of greatest danger. The best advice is to
read Cyclecraft and ride as if the cycle lane were not there. You are not compelled to use cycle
lanes or tracks. A "mandatory cycle lane" means one which cars may not use, not one which cyclists
must use.
People have been trying to get cyclists out of the way of cars for about seventy years, usually
citing safety concerns. This claim is bogus as the same people seem quite happy to put us on
pavements, where cycles definitely should not be due to the disparity in speed and manoeuvrability
between pedestrians and cyclists. Remember this: cyclists use the road by right of way, motorists
use it under licence.
7. Jargon
=========
There is an unofficial FAQ with details of some of the jargon and in-jokes at
chapmancentral.comurc
Some common terms you'll hear on uk.rec.cycling:
AASHTA: As Always, Sheldon Has The Answer Brompton: A folding bike -
bromptonbicycle.co.ukbromptonbicycle.co.uk
C2C: Coast-to-coast (England) - c2c-guide.co.ukc2c-guide.co.uk Cheese: Material from which cheap bike
components are made Dark Side: Recumbent cycling - bhpc.org.ukbhpc.org.uk End-to-End: Land's
End to John O'Groats LE-JOG: Land's End to John O'Groats
PSF: Paving Slab Fairy, aka Helen Simmons
8. Bike Adjustment
==================
Bike adjustment is the difference between a comfortable bike and an uncomfortable one. If you are
suffering sore knees, hand, elbows, wrists, shoulders, back, neck... well, you obviously need to
move to the Dark Side, but you might put off the inevitable for a hwile longer by fixing the fit of
your bike.
At wrenchscience.comwrenchscience.com there is a very handy bike fit measuring system.
Here are a few general pointers:
Sore knees
----------
Usually due to the saddle being too low. Try adjusting the saddle height so that when you sit on
the bike with your heel on the pedal aty the bottom of its stroke, your leg is straight. You
probably won't be able to put your feet on the ground without moving forward off the saddle. That's
quite normal, and not dangerous - but do practice starting and stopping.
If your hips rock when you ride, the saddle is too high. This is rare: most people have the
saddle too low.
Sore hands / wrists
-------------------
Generally down to hand position. If you use flat bars, try bar ends. If you have drop bars, check
they are the right width (see the wrenchscience site above) and experiment with the brake lever
position on the hooks.
Sore shoulders / neck
---------------------
Often a sign that your handlebars are the wrong distance from your saddle. As a rule of thumb, with
your elbow resting on the nose of the saddle the tip of your fingertips should touch the handlebars
Saddle soreness
---------------
Saddle soreness is usually caused by soft saddles and exacerbated by having the saddle at the wrong
angle. Try tilting the nose of the saddle down very slightly. The aim is to carry your weight on
your your ischeal tuberosities ("sit bones"😉 not your perineum.
"Gentlemen's problems"
----------------------
You may have heard that cycling can cause impotence or penile numbness. This is, for the most part,
tosh. But there is, as ever, a grain of truth in there.
A soft saddle is worse than a hard one. Soft saddles compress the soft tissues of your perineum and
restrict blood flow; hard saddles do not. The more you ride, the more likely you are to benefit
from a good quality leather saddle like the Selle San Marco Rolls or the Brooks B17. Not evryone
takes to them, but audax riders (who know a thing or two about saddle comfort) mostly seem to
favour one or the other.
Comfort cycling
---------------
If all else fails buy a recumbent and say goodby to sore [censored] misery for ever.
The following people have contributed useful information to this FAQ (in alphabetical order):
* James D. Annan ([email hidden])
* Bryan Attewell ([email hidden])
* Peter Crighton ([email hidden])
* Paul Crook ([email hidden])
* Phil Cunningham ([email hidden])
* Chris Hayes ([email hidden])
* Robert Hague ([email hidden])
* Andrew Henry ([email hidden])
* Michael Hoath ([email hidden])
* Gary Marland ([email hidden])
* Neil Marshall ([email hidden])
* David Nulty ([email hidden])
* Alan Paxton ([email hidden])
* Stewart Russell ([email hidden])
* Ian Snowdon ([email hidden])
* John Swindells ([email hidden])
* Rik Wade ([email hidden])
* Simon Ward ([email hidden])
* Matt Wenham ([email hidden])
* John B. Wilkinson ([email hidden])

Report
Chris French
Archived post

6 September 2003, 00:56 UTC #6

In message <[email hidden]>, "Just zis Guy, you know?"
<[email hidden]> writes
Quoted message said:
Doesnotcompute said:
Would you like me to create an HTML version once you have completed the plain text? It is
essential to offer both standards.

<snip>
Quoted message said:
I think, according to the definitoin of FAQ, I have answered the most frequent questions, but even
there I might well be missing some.

'What's the best lights?'...?
I missed out on the first FAQ thread so I'll post my tuppence worth here now.
Firstly yes I think it's worth having FAQ, in response to those who suggested that having a FAQ
means that you get less discussion on the group. IME that isn't the case, I participate in other
groups, a few that spring to mind all have FAQs with a fair amount of stuff in them, it certainly
does not reduce the group down to a lot of read the FAQ responses - there are those, and I think if
the stuff is in FAQ and well written then that's correct, but the nature of discussions is that
often the FAQ is just a starting point for someone who then comes back to the group.
Secondly - format.
I'm not really in favour of long single FAQ documents posted to groups - for one I don't think
anyone actually really reads them , and sooner or later they get unwieldy as people find
things to add.
Personally I prefer a shorter ' Welcome' type posting posted regularly, with maybe a bit of blurb
about the group, some posting guidelines whatever. with FAQ's themselves on the web and pointed to
from the posting.
I know that historically there was a good reason for FAQ's to be posted to a group, but nowadays I
can't imagine that there are many people reading urc who don't have web access as well.
The FAQ itself might be a 'centrally' maintained more coherent sort of document (the uk.d-i-y FAq is
a good example) or it might be a more ad hoc collection of FAQs produced separately, but then
brought together under a general umbrella (either hosted on the same site or on other sites as is
appropriate)
--
Chris French, Leeds

Report
Pete Biggs
Archived post

6 September 2003, 05:56 UTC #7

Just zis Guy said:
Here is an attempt at a slimmed-down FAQ. Feedback please. I'm sure it has a fair way to go -
either much less or much more (or both ;-P)
Here are my suggestions for text to add and change. Comments in square brackets are just to explain
my thinking:
Quoted message said:
Etiquette and style
-------------------

..........
Quoted message said:
In general when you are replying you should trim from the quoted text anything which is irrlevant
to the point you are making, and any signatures. You should reply below the text to which you are
replying, using a standard quote delimiter (> is the most common).
OE Quote Fix is a free utility which helps Outlook Express format quoted text properly by fixing
some of Bill's bugs.
Quoted message said:
2. Technical questions
======================
The regulars on uk.rec.cycling are a right bunch of know-it-alls who love to parade their superior
cycling knowledge. To save your blushes you might want to start by visiting this site:
sheldonbrown.comsheldonbrown.com
What Sheldon Brown doesn't know about bikes is probably not worth knowing.
...But he doesn't quite fit it all on his website so visit the following as well for further and
alternative tech instructions and articles:
parktool.comFAQindex.shtml
draco.acs.uci.eduindex.html
Also have a butcher's at uk.rec.cycling contributer Myra.VanInwegen's excellent pages which include
some tips for beginners:
myra-simon.combike
Quoted message said:
For more specific queries regarding individual components and techniques, Googling
rec.bicycles.tech can provide satisfaction.
....Googling rec.bicycles.tech via groups.google.comgroups.google.com and checking manufacturer websites can
provide satisfaction.
[Not everyone will think to use Google Groups and may try to use the main search engine instead]
Quoted message said:
4. Where do I get...

.......
Quoted message said:
Online bike shops

[Presumably this includes suppliers of components and accessories?]
Quoted message said:
-----------------
* Bonthrone Bikes
* CTC Shop
* St John Street Cycles
* Sdeals
* Spa Cycles
* Wiggle
* Parker International
* Settle Cycles
* Chain Reaction
* Mike Dyason
[I plan to put up a site with a big links page with all known online cycle dealers later this year -
but I think the above well deserve inclusion in the FAQ now because they each stock a particularly
wide range of goods and/or have exceptional prices (with good service, of course).]
Quoted message said:
8. Bike Adjustment
==================
Quoted message said:
Sore hands / wrists
-------------------
Generally down to hand position.
Generally down to hand and handlebar position.
[Bar height is a main factor as it affects the amount of weight on the hands]
Experiment with bar tilt and height if you can.
Quoted message said:
If you use flat bars, try bar ends. If you have drop bars, check they are the right width (see the
wrenchscience site above) and experiment with the brake lever position on the hooks.
Padded gloves and bar tape can also help make long rides more comfortable.
Quoted message said:
Saddle soreness
---------------
Saddle soreness is usually caused by soft saddles and exacerbated by having the saddle at the
wrong angle. Try tilting the nose of the saddle down very slightly. The aim is to carry your
weight on your your ischeal tuberosities ("sit bones"😉 not your perineum.
Also try different fore and aft positions, and even height if desparate.
Be warned that asking "What is a good saddle?" on the newsgroup will result in a hundred passionate
recommendations for saddles of all sorts of shapes, sizes and textures. Of all the personal
preferences there are with bicycle components, this one is the most personal!
Quoted message said:
"Gentlemen's problems"
----------------------

........
Quoted message said:
A soft saddle is worse than a hard one. Soft saddles compress the
^ can
Quoted message said:
soft tissues of your perineum and restrict blood flow; hard saddles do not.
...hard saddles are less likely to.
[Hard saddles certainly can sometimes press on the perineum, badly, if enough weight is forward
enough. Tilting saddle down will not always cure this and can make it worse sometimes. I think
we should be careful with absolute statements when it comes to difficult and debatable subjects
like this].
~PB

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Tony W
Archived post

6 September 2003, 08:14 UTC #8

"Just zis Guy, you know?" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Here is an attempt at a slimmed-down FAQ. Feedback please. I'm sure it has a fair way to go -
either much less or much more (or both ;-P)
<snip> see -- I read the bit on Netiquette.
I think the Irish should be allowed in as a matter of right. Others (we have regulars from most of
the civilised world and even some from America so lets not get too exclusive.
Given recent threads maybe the Welsh should be excluded as not being British
:-) (Resident sheep would feel safer).
Regarding LBS -- lose it or lose it should read 'use it or lose it'.
While the prat P**l Sm*th has a special place in the hearts of many here I doubt he warrants much
consideration.
Providing spammers with a complete set of e-mail addresses is nice of you.
Good effort.
T

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Just Zis Guy
Archived post

6 September 2003, 08:31 UTC #9

Tony W said:
Providing spammers with a complete set of e-mail addresses is nice of you.
That was in the original, I didn't think to remove it (but I would have done before it got as far as
a website, for obvious reasons).
Guy
===
** WARNING ** This posting may contain traces of irony. chapmancentral.comchapmancentral.com New!
Improved!! Now with added extra Demon!

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Tony W
Archived post

6 September 2003, 09:31 UTC #10

"Just zis Guy, you know?" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Tony W said:
Providing spammers with a complete set of e-mail addresses is nice of

you.
Quoted message said:

That was in the original, I didn't think to remove it (but I would have done before it got as far
as a website, for obvious reasons).
Fair enuff.
Since I got a spam recently that offered me something like 30 billion addresses (yes billion) for
37p and green shield stamps I doubt that it makes any difference at all.
T

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Just Zis Guy
Archived post

6 September 2003, 09:56 UTC #11

Tony W said:
Since I got a spam recently that offered me something like 30 billion addresses (yes billion) for
37p and green shield stamps I doubt that it makes any difference at all.
Funny you should say that - today's addition to my home page is this:
"I was musing on this email which was delivered to my bitbucket: "TARGET VARIOUS INTEREST GROUPS
-535 MILLION EMAIL ADDRESSES!" - an email so accurately targeted that (a) it went to an address
starting "spamdump" and (b) it came to me, someone who would not send spam if it were the only
alternative to prostitution. Who out there is actually stupid enough to buy this [censored]? Beats me."
It's the word "target" that makes me laugh - presumably there is someone out there who thinks "wow,
they targeted so accurately that they sent it to me! I must buy this!"
I bet they lie awake at nights worrying who's been telling people about their small penis size
as well...
Guy
===
** WARNING ** This posting may contain traces of irony. chapmancentral.comchapmancentral.com New!
Improved!! Now with added extra Demon!

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Tony Raven
Archived post

6 September 2003, 10:56 UTC #12

Just zis Guy said:
On Sat, 6 Sep 2003 09:52:33 +0100, "Tony W"
Quoted message said:
"I was musing on this email which was delivered to my bitbucket: "TARGET VARIOUS INTEREST GROUPS
-535 MILLION EMAIL ADDRESSES!" - an email so accurately targeted that (a) it went to an address
starting "spamdump" and (b) it came to me, someone who would not send spam if it were the only
alternative to prostitution. Who out there is actually stupid enough to buy this [censored]? Beats me."
Yet there must be enough people that do to make it financially worthwhile doing. You would think
nobody would be fooled by the Nigerian scam e-mails but I read recently Interpol were dealing with
300 Europeans alone who had lost significant sums of money and were convinced that if they could
just get past that next hurdle the money was actually really there to be collected. Some had
mortgaged houses and everything to raise the money for the next payment their Nigerian counterpart
needed to "pay off another awkward official in the way".
As Mr Bush said, you can fool some of the people all of the time and those are the one's
we're after.
Tony
--
"If you tell the truth you don't have to remember anything." Mark Twain

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Tony W
Archived post

6 September 2003, 11:56 UTC #13

"Just zis Guy, you know?" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:

Funny you should say that - today's addition to my home page is this:
"I was musing on this email which was delivered to my bitbucket: "TARGET VARIOUS INTEREST GROUPS
-535 MILLION EMAIL ADDRESSES!" - an
The targeting is so accurate that I am constantly offered mortgages and credit cards that require US
residence despite my .co.uk address; offered
I am yet to discover the supposed benefits of various other potions, hormones, pheromones and snake
oil -- not least because I am quite happy with my current situation.
I am seriously worried about the offers to enlarge my breasts but do accept that some help slimming
might be useful (though if the plan does not include the magic 'eat less and exercise more' formula
I will not be giving it any credence).
If the messages are targeted I want to know who has been talking about the size of my [censored]. OK,
based on evidence gathered 'behind the bike sheds' and in the showers at school it is smaller than
'Horse's' -- but he was a freak. I suspect Slack Alice -- though I last dated her in 1973!!
Why do various luminaries in Nigeria want me to help them with their financial problems. Braclays
are well known money launders and would probably be cheaper.
Why do far eastern companies write to me in 'Chinese' script. German I can handle -- Chinese is
a mystery!!
Mailwasher is great.
T

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Just Zis Guy
Archived post

6 September 2003, 12:13 UTC #14

Tony W said:
OK, based on evidence gathered 'behind the bike sheds' and in the showers at school it is smaller
than 'Horse's'
I used to work with a bloke called David Harwood whose nickname was horse. But not, I was told by a
Several of people, for that reason ;-)
Guy
===
** WARNING ** This posting may contain traces of irony. chapmancentral.comchapmancentral.com New!
Improved!! Now with added extra Demon!

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Arthur Clune
Archived post

6 September 2003, 14:56 UTC #15

Just zis Guy, you know? <[email hidden]> wrote:
: No, I can handle all that thanks - I need someone to tell me how to post it using cron and PERL
: ('cos I'm a Linux newbie) or mail-to-news,
When you're ready I'll do you a perl script that'll do the posting.
Arthur

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Ian Smith
Archived post

6 September 2003, 22:13 UTC #16

Tony W said:

Why do far eastern companies write to me in 'Chinese' script. German I can handle -- Chinese is a
mystery!!
Is it chinese? I don't get chinese, but I get _loads_ of korean.
regards, Ian SMith
--
|\ /| no .sig
|o o|
|/ \|

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Simon Brooke
Archived post

7 September 2003, 11:56 UTC #17

Garry B said:
Quoted message said:
Feedback please.
First..I'd say it's al;ways a good idea for a ng to have a FAQ...and, ideally, one that is posted
to the ng frequently.
When subjects relating to bike maintenance occur, a bottomless pit opens up, what's the point? and
a site like Sheldon Browns comes into it's own.
Which is what you've just done I guess....slimmed it down.
[snip]
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
If you use Microsoft Outlook or Outlook Express be aware that by default it does or encourages
three things which seriously irritate many people:
- html / MIME posting
- top posting
- untrimmed quoting
In general when you are replying you should trim from the quoted text anything which is irrlevant
to the point you are making, and any signatures. You should reply below the text to which you are
replying, using a standard quote delimiter (> is the most common).
<sigh/>
--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) jasmine.org.uk~simon ,/| _.--''^``-...___.._.,; /,
\'. _-' ,--,,,--''' { \ `_-'' ' / `;;' ; ; ; ._..--'' ._,,, _..' .;.' (,_....----''' (,..--''

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Richard Bates
Archived post

7 September 2003, 13:13 UTC #18

you know?' email hidden in said:
Here is an attempt at a slimmed-down FAQ. Feedback please. I'm sure it has a fair way to go -
either much less or much more (or both ;-P)
Excellent content but I think it is far more than is needed, making it too long to comfortably read.
Quoted message said:
Advertising and personal messages
---------------------------------
If you are selling or auctioning a bike or related item *in the UK* a single post with the subject
starting "FS: " (for sale) or "FA: " (for auction) is generally acceptable. Occasionally. From
people who also contribute in other ways.
Good points but I don't think it flows gramatically, which seems at odds with the most part
of the faq.
Quoted message said:
Online bike shops are often cheaper than your local bike shop (LBS). But take care: if you don't
lose it you'll lose it, so make sure you
lose and lose?
Quoted message said:
Online bike shops
-----------------
Somebody has already mentioned the additional ones i would have suggested.
Quoted message said:
5. How do I get my bike insured?
================================
If the FAQ *is* going to be more than a brief welcome message then how about including something
about security in this section? Lock it or lose it or something similar?
Quoted message said:
7. Jargon
=========

The Comic? Wedgie? MDG
and sourced from elsewhere, and one that took many of us by surprise: SOAP
Quoted message said:
the Dark Side, but you might put off the inevitable for a hwile longer

speeling miskate Equally I think that a link to your own website would suffice for darkside info.
Thanks for the effort you've put into it. Hope these comments are helpful.
--
If ingnorance is bliss then I am the erm er luckiest thingy in the whatchamacallit. To mail me,
change the obvious bit to richard

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Tony W
Archived post

7 September 2003, 20:57 UTC #19

"Ian Smith" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
On Sat, 6 Sep 2003 11:58:13 +0100, Tony W <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:

Why do far eastern companies write to me in 'Chinese' script. German I

can
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
handle -- Chinese is a mystery!!
Is it chinese? I don't get chinese, but I get _loads_ of korean.
That is the mystery. It all bounces off the spam filters anyway so who cares.
T

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Tim Hall
Archived post

7 September 2003, 22:58 UTC #20

you know? said:
Here is an attempt at a slimmed-down FAQ. Feedback please. I'm sure it has a fair way to go -
either much less or much more (or both ;-P)
Guy
<snip>
Quoted message said:
* London Cycling Campaign lcc.org.uklcc.org.uk
* AUDAX UK audax.uk.comaudax.uk.com
AUK are now at audax.uk.netaudax.uk.net
Quoted message said:
* British Cycling Federation (BCF) bcf.uk.combcf.uk.com
Hasn't the BCF changed into something else?
Quoted message said:
* British Cyclo-Cross Association (BCCA) cyclo-cross.comcyclo-cross.com
* Trail Cyclists Association trailquest.co.uktrailquest.co.uk
* British Mountain Biking bmb.orgbmb.org
* Road Time Trails Council (RTTC) rttc.org.ukrttc.org.uk
* British Schools Cycling Association (BSCA) bsca.org.ukbsca.org.uk
* Tandem Club tandem-club.org.uktandem-club.org.uk
Quoted message said:
* British Human Power Club (BHPC) ihpva.comihpva.com

Shirley IHPVA is the International Darksiders thing.
bhpc.org.ukbhpc.org.uk is Mr Larrington's wossname.
Tim
--
In space no one can eat ice cream

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