Cyclists at work

marc <[email hidden]> wrote:
| I would suggest the name is a bit of a giveaway about which country is his?

My country is the people's republic of the workshop space
in the back of the bicycle garage, I will have you know.

What about the name suggests that?

On Thu, 6 Sep 2007 13:58:53 +0000 (UTC),
[email hidden] (Geraint Jones)

Quoted message said:

marc <[email hidden]> wrote:
| I would suggest the name is a bit of a giveaway about which country is his?

My country is the people's republic of the workshop space
in the back of the bicycle garage, I will have you know.

What about the name suggests that?

Jones the Bike?

Tim

Tim Hall said:

On Thu, 6 Sep 2007 13:58:53 +0000 (UTC),
[email hidden] (Geraint Jones)

Quoted message said:

marc <[email hidden]> wrote:
| I would suggest the name is a bit of a giveaway about which country is his?

My country is the people's republic of the workshop space
in the back of the bicycle garage, I will have you know.

What about the name suggests that?

Jones the Bike?

Lets leave his sexual excesses out of this!

"David Lloyd" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I lock my old Holdsworth 531 Professional up outside my office window,
where I can keep an eye on it. It is not locked to anything, just
itself, as there is nothing near to lock it up to. I just have to
content myself with the thought that I would be out there like a shot,
if someone was mucking around with it.

How many times did you look at it when you wrote this? 😉

elyob said:

Anyway, that's my current story ... any others want to share there
current employment situation in relation to cycling and others at
work?

Overall I'm quite fortunate, but I've noticed a bit of a disconnect
between the higher management's aspirations to be seen as a 'green'
employer, and the more local management's reluctance to face up to the
practicalities of actually implementing such a policy. We are a
significant contributor to the local traffic congestion, so every now
and again there is a new initiative launched with great fanfare, then
left to whither and die.

I'm quite fortunate that we have a gym on site that cyclists are free to
use for changing and showering. But nobody seems to appreciate that
there's also a need for cyclists to dry towels and wet clothing etc.
This is largely, I imagine, because the local management are under
pressure to maximise the number of revenue-generating employees per
square foot. So I have to make do with having to find a relatively
unused stairwell to dry any wet kit. I remember a few years ago seeing
some plans for the new GCHQ building that included heated lockers. What
a luxury - I'd settle for either heat or a locker!

My employer recently installed some rumble strips just before one of the
site entrances. It would have been nice if they'd thought to start the
strips far enough away from the kerb so that cyclists weren't
endangered, especially as they'd made the same mistake before at another
entrance and had to have a section of the strips removed. But I couldn't
believe the hassle I had convincing the stupid bint responsible that a
fierce set of rumble strips aren't particularly safe to cycle over if
you're forced to cycle slowly and one-handed whilst showing your pass to
the security guard. Fortunately one of my emails was intercepted by a
more sympathetic member of staff when she was on leave and the problem
was solved within the week. But I think it highlights how much an
employer's overall aims are open to interpretation by particular
individuals.

Simon Mason said:

Whereas the smokers have had a brand new bus shelter put in on site and
there is now even a scheduled bus service that brings them from all over the
site to this shelter so they can smoke!

So let me get this clear. You work on a hazardous site, where your LED
bike lights were judged a hazard, and you had to fight hard to be
allowed them on site.
Yet people SMOKE on site?

"John Hearns" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:1189149251.4785.9.camel@Vigor13...

Quoted message said:

Simon Mason said:

Whereas the smokers have had a brand new bus shelter put in on site and
there is now even a scheduled bus service that brings them from all over
the
site to this shelter so they can smoke!

So let me get this clear. You work on a hazardous site, where your LED
bike lights were judged a hazard, and you had to fight hard to be
allowed them on site.
Yet people SMOKE on site?

Yes, it's hilarious isn't it? And don't car keys have LEDs in them as well?
It's a complete joke.

--
Simon Mason
http://www.simonmason.karoo.net

Simon Mason said:

Yes, it's hilarious isn't it? And don't car keys have LEDs in them as well?
It's a complete joke.

Just for information, I have had a great pen torch for
years,http://www.peliproducts.co.uk/leisure.htm
Pelican Mytilite

Completely waterproof, and has the useful feature of a magnet at one end
so you can attach to a car bonnet. ATEX approved - so safe in an
explosive atmosphere.
Don't know if they do bike lights :-)

"John Hearns" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:1189155592.4785.58.camel@Vigor13...

Quoted message said:

Simon Mason said:

Yes, it's hilarious isn't it? And don't car keys have LEDs in them as
well?
It's a complete joke.

Just for information, I have had a great pen torch for
years,http://www.peliproducts.co.uk/leisure.htm
Pelican Mytilite

Completely waterproof, and has the useful feature of a magnet at one end
so you can attach to a car bonnet. ATEX approved - so safe in an
explosive atmosphere.
Don't know if they do bike lights :-)

Or mobile phones!

What's more, the Texas City explosion was ignited by a diesel car, which
like all cars is festooned with ignition sources. Of course, hundreds of
vehicles drive around the site every day. :-/

--
Simon Mason
http://www.simonmason.karoo.net

Simon Mason said:

"John Hearns" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:1189155592.4785.58.camel@Vigor13...

Quoted message said:

Simon Mason said:

Yes, it's hilarious isn't it? And don't car keys have LEDs in them as
well?
It's a complete joke.

Just for information, I have had a great pen torch for
years,http://www.peliproducts.co.uk/leisure.htm
Pelican Mytilite

Completely waterproof, and has the useful feature of a magnet at one end
so you can attach to a car bonnet. ATEX approved - so safe in an
explosive atmosphere.
Don't know if they do bike lights :-)

Or mobile phones!

What's more, the Texas City explosion was ignited by a diesel car, which
like all cars is festooned with ignition sources. Of course, hundreds of
vehicles drive around the site every day. :-/

Ahh, but think of the static buildup of your lycra-clad bottom rubbing
against a plastic seat. One fart, and you're history!

Not that car drivers are immune from this either -- most filling station
fires are triggered by highly-charged motorists. Not their mobile
phones, not their personal or car electrics, not their remote locks.
Just their fat arses.

"Simon Mason" <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

"John Hearns" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:1189149251.4785.9.camel@Vigor13...

Quoted message said:

[...]

Yes, it's hilarious isn't it? And don't car keys have LEDs in them as
well? It's a complete joke.

On the Finnair transpolar flight once I opened up my laptop to work only to
be approached by the stewardess who very apologetically told me that
equipment with LED displays could not be used during the flight. "That's
alright" I told her, "this one's an LCD display, not an LED one" A few
minutes later she was back to reassure me that the Captain had said "In
that case it would be alright". ;-)

--
Tony

" I would never die for my beliefs because I might be wrong."
Bertrand Russell

"John Hearns" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:1189149251.4785.9.camel@Vigor13...

Quoted message said:

Simon Mason said:

Whereas the smokers have had a brand new bus shelter put in on site and
there is now even a scheduled bus service that brings them from all over
the
site to this shelter so they can smoke!

So let me get this clear. You work on a hazardous site, where your LED
bike lights were judged a hazard, and you had to fight hard to be
allowed them on site.
Yet people SMOKE on site?

To be at least a tiny bit fair to the people doing this : would the reason
they provide this shelter be that smokers are sufficiently bad at going
without their fix that if such a facility wasn't provided, they'd end up
sneaking a furtive [censored] somewhere hidden, which could end up being far worse?

(but the lights thing is pretty inexcusable..)

cheers,
clive

elyob said:

"David Lloyd" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I lock my old Holdsworth 531 Professional up outside my office window,
where I can keep an eye on it. It is not locked to anything, just
itself, as there is nothing near to lock it up to. I just have to
content myself with the thought that I would be out there like a shot,
if someone was mucking around with it.

How many times did you look at it when you wrote this? 😉

If anyone wanted to approach stealthily they would have to crawl over
large stone chippings, which I would hear. I like it when people
polish their cars - I can see my bike in their paint work, without
having to get up.

David Lloyd (at work)

Tony Raven said:

On the Finnair transpolar flight once I opened up my laptop to work only to
be approached by the stewardess who very apologetically told me that
equipment with LED displays could not be used during the flight. "That's
alright" I told her, "this one's an LCD display, not an LED one" A few
minutes later she was back to reassure me that the Captain had said "In
that case it would be alright". ;-)

I cycled to a rock concert one night and had my pannier bag searched
on the way in. The bouncer was very suspicious of the lights and
demanded a full explanation. As I walked off he said "I'll be
watching you...".
Did he think I might spoil the light show?

He didn't seem to mind the toolkit, which included a leatherman knife.

John Hearns said:

On Fri, 2007-09-07 at 09:27 +0100, Simon Mason wrote:

Just for information, I have had a great pen torch for
years,http://www.peliproducts.co.uk/leisure.htm
Pelican Mytilite

Completely waterproof, and has the useful feature of a magnet at one end
so you can attach to a car bonnet. ATEX approved - so safe in an
explosive atmosphere.

ITYM somewhat safer in some locations where explosive atmospheres may
occur. I don't believe the Mitylite is zone 0 approved, so you can't
say it is safe in an explosive atmosphere (zone 0 being the only zone
where an explosive atmosphere is anticipated to always or nearly
always be present).

regards, Ian SMith
--
|\ /| no .sig
|o o|
|/ \|

Ian Smith <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

ITYM somewhat safer in some locations where explosive atmospheres may
occur. I don't believe the Mitylite is zone 0 approved, so you can't
say it is safe in an explosive atmosphere (zone 0 being the only zone
where an explosive atmosphere is anticipated to always or nearly
always be present).

So it must have been a cyclist that was responsible for setting off the
Buncefield depot! ;-)

--
Tony

" I would never die for my beliefs because I might be wrong."
Bertrand Russell

Dylan Smith said:

I have to wonder if some of the spite from drivers is because while they
sit in a hot, stinking traffic jam, paying for the privilege - unable to
eat the foods that they like because it goes straight to full fat man
fold over - that they just hate people on bikes because they realise
people on bikes are having more fun, and can get home and eat a tub of
ice cream with no adverse consequences?

Wishful thinking I'm afraid. I'm living proof that it's perfectly
possible to be fat and middle-aged with no cars and four bikes.

EFR
Ile de France

in message <[email hidden]>, David

Lloyd (') said:

elyob said:

Anyway, that's my current story ... any others want to share there
current employment situation in relation to cycling and others at
work?

My ride is 24 miles each way, which, now that I've mostly recovered
from my recent broken collar bone, I'm back to doing twice a week.
This is more down to the logistics of liftsharing twice a week and
not wanting to carry change of kit with me. If I could change
liftshare days, I'd ride to work three times a week.

I don't know how many others ride to work as I don't use the bike
sheds, which are insecure and located in a low traffic area at the
back of the factory.

I leave my bike in the bottom of the stairwell at work; it's inside a
secure building, so fairly secure. The first couple of weeks I left a note
on it explaining who I was and which room I was in in case anyone found it
a nuisance, but I've had no complaints at all.

I've just got a cupboard put in our office to keep a couple of changes of
clean clothes, which means I don't have to carry a change of clothes in
with me every day. A shower would be nice but I don't have that.

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/
;; Sending your money to someone just because they've erected
;; a barrier of obscurity and secrets around the tools you
;; need to use your data does not help the economy or spur
;; innovation. - Waffle Iron Slashdot, June 16th, 2002

in message <[email hidden]>, Simon Mason

(') said:

Whereas the smokers have had a brand new bus shelter put in on site and
there is now even a scheduled bus service that brings them from all over
the site to this shelter so they can smoke!

Hang on - people are allowed to /smoke/ in a chemical works, but you aren't
allowed bike lights?

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/
;; Let's have a moment of silence for all those Americans who are stuck
;; in traffic on their way to the gym to ride the stationary bicycle.
;; Rep. Earl Blumenauer (Dem, OR)

Simon Brooke said:

in message <[email hidden]>, Simon Mason

(') said:

Whereas the smokers have had a brand new bus shelter put in on site and
there is now even a scheduled bus service that brings them from all over
the site to this shelter so they can smoke!

Hang on - people are allowed to /smoke/ in a chemical works, but you aren't
allowed bike lights?

Yeah. The rule of Daft Management applies. When this rule applies at
my workplace to confound common sense we resort to the oft repeated
mantra, "But this is Royal Mail...".

--
Phil Cook looking north over the park to the "Westminster Gasworks"