direct.gov.uk cycling

LeeG said:

The direct.gov.uk website has been getting a lot of radio advertising
recently.
I thought I'd have a look to see what was on about cycling.

hee hee. "cycling can be quite a vigorous activity, so it is
important that you are physically prepared. Do some simple warm-up
exercises before setting off "

LeeG said:

The direct.gov.uk website has been getting a lot of radio advertising
recently.
I thought I'd have a look to see what was on about cycling.

Sorry about 2 replies to the same post, but I had to note "make sure
your bike is the right height and weight for you"

How do I calculate the "right" weight of bike for me?

LeeG said the following on 29/02/2008 13:41:

Quoted message said:

Under equipment it lists
a.. a safety helmet
b.. a bell to let pedestrians and motorists know you are there

Obviously written by someone from Planet Civil Service. A bell to let
motorists know you are there? What?????? And pedestrians, if they hear
the bell at all, look around in bewilderment to see if they've dropped
something.

--
Paul Boyd
http://www.paul-boyd.co.uk/

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

Quoted message said:

The direct.gov.uk website has been getting a lot of radio advertising
recently.
I thought I'd have a look to see what was on about cycling.
I found this
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/CyclingAndWalking/DG_4018700
I would describe the content at best as poor.

Under equipment it lists
a.. a safety helmet
b.. a bell to let pedestrians and motorists know you are there
I'm glad that they explain what a bell is for.
They don't explain what the safety helmet is for.

A bit pedantic I know but then we _are_ allowed to nitpick when civil
servants are involved. The site says that you need lights and a red rear
reflector for cycling at night. I believe you are committing a technical
offence if you don't have the reflector at all times. Or have I got that one
wrong?

"budstaff" <budstaffdotusegroupatbtinternetdotcom> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

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

Quoted message said:

The direct.gov.uk website has been getting a lot of radio advertising
recently.
I thought I'd have a look to see what was on about cycling.
I found this
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/CyclingAndWalking/DG_4018700
I would describe the content at best as poor.

Under equipment it lists
a.. a safety helmet
b.. a bell to let pedestrians and motorists know you are there
I'm glad that they explain what a bell is for.
They don't explain what the safety helmet is for.

A bit pedantic I know but then we _are_ allowed to nitpick when civil
servants are involved. The site says that you need lights and a red rear
reflector for cycling at night. I believe you are committing a technical
offence if you don't have the reflector at all times. Or have I got that
one wrong?

Nighttime only.

cheers,
clive

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

Quoted message said:

The direct.gov.uk website has been getting a lot of radio advertising
recently.
I thought I'd have a look to see what was on about cycling.
I found this
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/CyclingAndWalking/DG_4018700
I would describe the content at best as poor.

Under equipment it lists
a.. a safety helmet
b.. a bell to let pedestrians and motorists know you are there
I'm glad that they explain what a bell is for.
They don't explain what the safety helmet is for.

Mostly anodyne, but didn't there used to be a campaign about cyclists
carrying heavy rucksacks?

"a rucksack for carrying small items"

I checked the HC to find out if there was anything in there, but not about
rucksacks.

However, the illustration on this page
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/DG_069837 is
worth looking at: neither the "tick" or the "cross" cyclist has trouser
clips, and with jeans like that, they're just asking for them to be caught
in the chain and make them fall off. Never mind, the "tick" one is safe:
he's got a helmet and a Sam Browne. The HA drivers that write the HC should
be taken out and shot, slowly. Perhaps this is minor given the incredible
nonsense about making cyclists use "facilities" but it's very illustrative
of the thinking, or lack of, of the people who compile this booklet.

"budstaff" <budstaffdotusegroupatbtinternetdotcom> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

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

Quoted message said:

The direct.gov.uk website has been getting a lot of radio advertising
recently.
I thought I'd have a look to see what was on about cycling.
I found this
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/CyclingAndWalking/DG_4018700
I would describe the content at best as poor.

Under equipment it lists
a.. a safety helmet
b.. a bell to let pedestrians and motorists know you are there
I'm glad that they explain what a bell is for.
They don't explain what the safety helmet is for.

A bit pedantic I know but then we _are_ allowed to nitpick when civil
servants are involved. The site says that you need lights and a red rear
reflector for cycling at night. I believe you are committing a technical
offence if you don't have the reflector at all times. Or have I got that
one wrong?

Having had a look at the online version of the highway code here
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/DG_069866 it is a
little confusing : Be sure that lights and reflectors are kept clean and in
good working order

then later says : You MUST at night, use lit front and rear lights and have
a red rear reflector

So in one instance it IMPLIES that they have be be fitted as you have to
keep them clean and in good working order - but I cannot see where it says
they must be fitted at all times.

On the other hand it does say that at night you must use them.

Has anyone been "done" for not having them during the day.

Dave

"Clive George" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"budstaff" <budstaffdotusegroupatbtinternetdotcom> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

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

Quoted message said:

The direct.gov.uk website has been getting a lot of radio advertising
recently.
I thought I'd have a look to see what was on about cycling.
I found this
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/CyclingAndWalking/DG_4018700
I would describe the content at best as poor.

Under equipment it lists
a.. a safety helmet
b.. a bell to let pedestrians and motorists know you are there
I'm glad that they explain what a bell is for.
They don't explain what the safety helmet is for.

A bit pedantic I know but then we _are_ allowed to nitpick when civil
servants are involved. The site says that you need lights and a red rear
reflector for cycling at night. I believe you are committing a technical
offence if you don't have the reflector at all times. Or have I got that
one wrong?

Nighttime only.

Thanks Clive, I think I was confusing it with what needs to be on the bike
when sold new.

POHB said:

Sorry about 2 replies to the same post, but I had to note "make sure
your bike is the right height and weight for you"

How do I calculate the "right" weight of bike for me?

Must be: if you can lift your bike, it's too light :P

--
Stephen Patterson :: [email hidden] :: http://patter.mine.nu/
GPG: B416F0DE :: Jabber: [email hidden]
"Don't be silly, Minnie. Who'd be walking round these cliffs with a gas oven?"

Quoting POHB <[email hidden]>:

Quoted message said:

hee hee. "cycling can be quite a vigorous activity, so it is
important that you are physically prepared. Do some simple warm-up
exercises before setting off "

1) locate pie
2) eat pie ?
--
David Damerell <[email hidden]> flcl?
Today is Teleute, March.

On Fri, 29 Feb 2008 14:57:43 -0000 someone who may be "Dave"
<[email hidden]> wrote this:-

Quoted message said:

Having had a look at the online version of the highway code here
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/DG_069866 it is a
little confusing : Be sure that lights and reflectors are kept clean and in
good working order

then later says : You MUST at night, use lit front and rear lights and have
a red rear reflector

So in one instance it IMPLIES that they have be be fitted as you have to
keep them clean and in good working order

They can be kept clean and in good working order whether they are on
or off the bike.

--
David Hansen, Edinburgh
I will *always* explain revoked encryption keys, unless RIP prevents me
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2000/00023--e.htm#54

Quoting Dave <[email hidden]>:

Quoted message said:

Having had a look at the online version of the highway code here
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/DG_069866 it is a
little confusing : Be sure that lights and reflectors are kept clean and in
good working order
So in one instance it IMPLIES that they have be be fitted as you have to
keep them clean and in good working order

But that is not a MUST rule, so not a legal requirement.
--
David Damerell <[email hidden]> flcl?
Today is Teleute, March.

In article <[email hidden]>, Dave
[email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

Having had a look at the online version of the highway code here
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/DG_069866 it is a
little confusing : Be sure that lights and reflectors are kept clean and in
good working order

then later says : You MUST at night, use lit front and rear lights and have
a red rear reflector

So in one instance it IMPLIES that they have be be fitted as you have to
keep them clean and in good working order - but I cannot see where it says
they must be fitted at all times.

On the other hand it does say that at night you must use them.

Has anyone been "done" for not having them during the day.

Even motor vehicles don't need to have lights fitted if they're not used
at times when the lights are required to be on.

POHB said:

Sorry about 2 replies to the same post, but I had to note "make sure
your bike is the right height and weight for you"

How do I calculate the "right" weight of bike for me?

It's just like the n+1 rule. (m-1)kg where m is the mass of your
lightest current bike.

-dan

POHB said:

LeeG said:

The direct.gov.uk website has been getting a lot of radio advertising
recently.
I thought I'd have a look to see what was on about cycling.

Sorry about 2 replies to the same post, but I had to note "make sure
your bike is the right height and weight for you"

How do I calculate the "right" weight of bike for me?

10Kg minus your age in grammes.

Paul Boyd said:

LeeG said the following on 29/02/2008 13:41:

Quoted message said:

Under equipment it lists
a.. a safety helmet
b.. a bell to let pedestrians and motorists know you are there

Obviously written by someone from Planet Civil Service. A bell to let
motorists know you are there? What?????? And pedestrians, if they hear
the bell at all, look around in bewilderment to see if they've dropped
something.

More likely to be from Planet Outsourced Copywriting Company.

Seriously, my job occasionally brings me into contact with some of the
Directgov people and they are well-meaning but sometimes misguided. Send
them some feedback via the website* because if nobody tells them, they
won't know any better. Try to keep it constructive though (e.g. suggest
what they COULD put or where they could source better material from -
don't just tell them that what they've already got is rubbish).

* "Contacts" link in the top right corner, then "Contact Directgov" and
"Website feedback".

Simon Brooke said:

POHB wrote:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

How do I calculate the "right" weight of bike for me?

10Kg minus your age in grammes.

Can I safely assume that friction will have worn at least one gramme off
my bike in the last year?

Cheers,
Luke

--
Red Rose Ramblings, the diary of an Essex boy in
exile in Lancashire <http://www.shrimper.org.uk>