First club run

wafflycat said:

This morning Vernon went out on our first club ride with our new club.
Vernon & I were 50% of today's riders, but nevertheless, the other 50%,
Brian & David were excellent company. :-) They were also amzingly
tolerant! Just why is explained below.

I discovered once again why I really, really, really do not like
psychlepaths. The start of the ride was on part of NCN1 which goes
through King's Lynn. It is shared use with pedestrians. We used it to go
up to Sandringham. Part is on country lanes & roads, part is on shared
use paths along side the main (fast & busy) roads and through housing
estates. Many bits were the usual footpath with a painted white outline
bicycle on them which all of a sudden seems to change a footpath into a
farcility...

Within 5 minutes I had my first puncture :-( This was sorted but alas,
another puncture immediately. Got that sorted. Another 5 mins down the
psychlepath and *another* puncture. Shard of glass that looked
remarkably like the edge of a drinking glass deeply embedded in front
tyre. :-(

Then there was the dogs. Rather the irresponsible dog owners. :-( The
route is very popular with dog owners, taking their pooches out for a
walk. Indeed many were courteous and kept their pets under control on
short leashes. I made sure I said thank you as I passed by. Others were
*%XX!!! Several owners had their pooches on long leashes whereby pooch
was on one side of the psychlepath & owner was on the other, so the
leash was stretched across the path. :-( I found the screeching of
brakes had the desired effect (rims very noisy and make far more noise
than than they really should. Note to self: clean wheel rims more
effectively, but then again, maybe not). Then there were the terminally
stupid who were allowing their dogs to run free. Several pooches aimed
for mine or David's front wheels. :-(

In many places the surface of the farcility was not being maintained.
Clear signs of tree root damage (causing surface upheaval), cracking,
crud of rotting wet leaves, grass, dog poo... :-(

The company today was *lovely* and in that respect I thoroughly enjoyed
the run. :-) The two experienced members of our new club made us
welcome and were lovely in the fixing of punctures. I'm looking forward
to further club runs, I really am. :-)

When we got on road it was *wonderful*. Norfolk has some fabulous roads
for cycling on. Castle Rising is pretty, and the roads around
Sandringham are excellent for cycling on.

But I was, once again reminded of why I do not like psychlepaths. Even
on the wide parts of today's one, the mix of cyclist/pedestrian/dogs
does not an easy relationship make. Have to say, every single pedestrian
was fine and there were no problem between walker & cycle, but those
d*mn dog problems and the fact of the poorly maintained surface in terms
of glass, stones, rotting vegetation... :-(

Cheers, helen s

As a dog owning cyclist I have every sympathy. Bikes and dogs generally
don't mix well and these bloody silly extending leads are the work of
you-know-who. The purpose of a leash is just that, to keep the dog
leashed, i.e., close in and under control. These crackpot thingies are
only used by lazy sods who can't be bothered to take their dogs to
suitably out of the way places to let them free.

OTOH, I am occasionally wildly startled by some Clod on a Bike who rides
right up behind me and the dogs on the pavement, where I properly have
them under control.

It's a real trial being a faultless human ... :-)

--
Brian G

wafflycat said:

In many places the surface of the farcility was not being maintained.
Clear signs of tree root damage (causing surface upheaval), cracking,
crud of rotting wet leaves, grass, dog poo... :-(

YOu forgot to mention that wondeful part in South Wooton where you turn
off the main road, cross the road to a sharp left turn onto the pavement
followed almost immediately by a sharp right unsighted turn onto a
narrow path between walls with a bollard slap bang in the middle.

I agree King's Lynn demonstrates all the reasons for avoiding psyclepaths.

--
Tony

"The best way I know of to win an argument is to start by being in the
right."
- Lord Hailsham

Brian G said:

As a dog owning cyclist I have every sympathy. Bikes and dogs generally
don't mix well and these bloody silly extending leads are the work of
you-know-who. The purpose of a leash is just that, to keep the dog
leashed, i.e., close in and under control. These crackpot thingies are
only used by lazy sods who can't be bothered to take their dogs to
suitably out of the way places to let them free.

Rarely a problem for me but then I rarely ride on psychlepaths. OTOH
when I do, a little wire cutter like James Bond had is Die Another Day
would be really nice ;-)

--
Tony

"The best way I know of to win an argument is to start by being in the
right."
- Lord Hailsham

wafflycat said:

This morning Vernon went out on our first club ride with our new club.
Vernon & I were 50% of today's riders, but nevertheless, the other 50%,
Brian & David were excellent company. :-) They were also amzingly
tolerant! Just why is explained below.

<snip>

You are not alone. I have used the Railway path out of Lynn twice and
both times I had punctures. Cycling in general around Lynn is
unpleasant; it starts with the Gayton road past Bawsey Pits; as the
50mph limit is largely ignored despite the "Hidden Dips" and frequent
overtaking of Quarry trucks and buses; it's a horrible piece of road.

Exiting North from Lynn is tricky to get right, but it can be done
without having to resort to (a) The Railway Path or (b) certain death on
the A149. You still have to use the short section of path between Castle
Rising and the A149 roadside path because that's the only non A149 way
of getting to the lane that runs up the hill to Sandringham. However
that section of path is much wider, better surfaced and (when I've used
it at least) less populated by doggie types.

But you are right, the area around Sandringham, and the whole coastal
strip from there towards Holt is an excellent area for cycling - I ride
there a lot. FWIW I never approach the area from Kings Lynn though; I
prefer West Acre -> Gayton -> Hillington -> West Newton -> Sandringham.
Although you have to ride a teensy weensy section of the (suicidal) A148
at Hillington, it's slightly calmed and a 40mph limit, so it's not too bad.

--
Chris

On 14/01/2006 15:41, Brian G said,

Quoted message said:

As a dog owning cyclist I have every sympathy. Bikes and dogs generally
don't mix well and these bloody silly extending leads are the work of
you-know-who. The purpose of a leash is just that, to keep the dog
leashed, i.e., close in and under control. These crackpot thingies are
only used by lazy sods who can't be bothered to take their dogs to
suitably out of the way places to let them free.

....and why are these extending leads always black, so they can't be seen
after dark until you are about to run into it?

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

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

Quoted message said:

YOu forgot to mention that wondeful part in South Wooton where you turn
off the main road, cross the road to a sharp left turn onto the pavement
followed almost immediately by a sharp right unsighted turn onto a narrow
path between walls with a bollard slap bang in the middle.

I don't think we did that bit... I'm pleased to say from the sound of it!

Quoted message said:

I agree King's Lynn demonstrates all the reasons for avoiding psyclepaths.

The bits we were on were certainly well-used but not as a means for getting
from A to B, not as SUStainable TRANSport.... certainly loads of kiddies on
MTB clunkers out for a pootle... so exceedingly basic leisure use, but as
*transport*...

Of course, having the psychlepath alongside the roads means the traffic goes
by at ridiculous speeds. Quelle surprise!

Cheers, helen s

Quoted message said:

--
Tony

"The best way I know of to win an argument is to start by being in the
right."
- Lord Hailsham

wafflycat wrote:

<snip>

Ouch, Helen, sorry to hear about the psyclepath traumas, but at least
you had a somewhat good ride with friends.

I too had a dog incident this morning, also on a dreaded psyclepath. I
went past a dog and dog owner, and got chased. Just as the dog caught
up to me I slammed the brakes on hard to make the thing overshoot and
give me time to jump off and get the bike between me and it. TBH I
half hoped it'd run into the back of the 'bent. Not only was I baring
my teeth and growling at the dog, I then picked up the bike and chased
it with the chainsaw on the front, I was really annoyed. At least I
got a result, the dog ran off in horror.

LSMike said:

wafflycat wrote:

<snip>

Ouch, Helen, sorry to hear about the psyclepath traumas, but at least
you had a somewhat good ride with friends.

I too had a dog incident this morning, also on a dreaded psyclepath. I
went past a dog and dog owner, and got chased. Just as the dog caught
up to me I slammed the brakes on hard to make the thing overshoot and
give me time to jump off and get the bike between me and it. TBH I
half hoped it'd run into the back of the 'bent. Not only was I baring
my teeth and growling at the dog, I then picked up the bike and chased
it with the chainsaw on the front, I was really annoyed. At least I
got a result, the dog ran off in horror.

I got this whilst sledging the other day with the kids; you'd think the
owners would realise it's not OK to let their animal run after unusual
old men on flat items and try to bite them
;-)

Quoted message said:

I too had a dog incident this morning, also on a dreaded psyclepath. I
went past a dog and dog owner, and got chased.

I think most of the time they're just playing. Dogs have a certain amount
of intelligence, but are basically just stupid - it probably thought you
were another dog.

Mark Thompson said:

I think most of the time they're just playing. Dogs have a certain amount
of intelligence, but are basically just stupid - it probably thought you
were another dog.

Well, yes, but this was a definite prey instinct trigger, and the dog
was after more than fun. The big change in my apparent size when I got
up plus my aggression changed his mind rather quickly though. 🙂

MartinM said:

LSMike said:

wafflycat wrote:

<snip>

Ouch, Helen, sorry to hear about the psyclepath traumas, but at least
you had a somewhat good ride with friends.

I too had a dog incident this morning, also on a dreaded psyclepath. I
went past a dog and dog owner, and got chased. Just as the dog caught
up to me I slammed the brakes on hard to make the thing overshoot and
give me time to jump off and get the bike between me and it. TBH I
half hoped it'd run into the back of the 'bent. Not only was I baring
my teeth and growling at the dog, I then picked up the bike and chased
it with the chainsaw on the front, I was really annoyed. At least I
got a result, the dog ran off in horror.

I got this whilst sledging the other day with the kids; you'd think the
owners would realise it's not OK to let their animal run after unusual
old men on flat items and try to bite them
;-)

There can be a lot of problems with dogs and their owners, and kite
fliers too. Luckily I've not had a dog bite one of my kites but I've
certainly had a few be chased by them and been lucky with the wind to
keep it in the air and away from them. Invariably the owners just
laugh and don't realise quite how much damage a dog could do to a kite
and indeed vice versa.

Chris
--
Chris Eilbeck
MARS Flight Crew http://www.mars.org.uk/
UKRA #1108 Level 2 UYB
Tripoli UK Member #9527 LSMR

Quoted message said:

don't realise quite how much damage a dog could do to a kite
and indeed vice versa.

Having had the metal 'spearhead' of a fighting kite strike me in the head,
I can vouch for that!

wafflycat said:

This morning Vernon went out on our first club ride with our new club.

I hope you get on as well with them as you did your last club.

Quoted message said:

I discovered once again why I really, really, really do not like
psychlepaths. The start of the ride was on part of NCN1 which goes through
King's Lynn.

I'm pretty surprised a clubrun uses such farcilities.
I hope you put them right.

Quoted message said:

When we got on road it was *wonderful*. Norfolk has some fabulous roads for
cycling on. Castle Rising is pretty, and the roads around Sandringham are
excellent for cycling on.

We may be having a tour up that way in the late spring. It sounds nice.
Its many years since I cycled around King's Lynn.
Sounds as if we'll need Dog Dazers though.

John B

This morning Vernon went out on our first club ride with our new club.
Vernon & I were 50% of today's riders, but nevertheless, the other 50%,

Brian & David were excellent company. :-) They were also amzingly
tolerant!
Just why is explained below.

You're lucky! Our club members are hard road men who regularly give me
a good kicking on the local 20 per centers. I'm getting much better
though; the guys I struggle against all got awards from club dinner
guest speaker Malcolm Elliot the other day and I'm not that far off
their pace. Much.

--
Simon Mason.

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

Quoted message said:

You're lucky! Our club members are hard road men who regularly give me
a good kicking on the local 20 per centers. I'm getting much better
though; the guys I struggle against all got awards from club dinner
guest speaker Malcolm Elliot the other day and I'm not that far off
their pace. Much.

New club has two rides. Nathan does the Sunday morning one, which is where
the racing guys go out for a training ride. The Saturday morning one is not
a training ride as such, it's done at a slower pace and I have to say, they
looked after us very well. 15/10 for that :-)

Cheers, helen s

Helen

If it is any consolation, on the same NCR1 all the way up here in Edinburgh
the experience is much the same. The stretch between home and work has
caused me so many punctures that I now use the main road instead.

Funny to think that we both use the same route!

Tom.

Chris Eilbeck said:

"MartinM" <[email hidden]> writes:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

LSMike said:

wafflycat wrote:

<snip>

Ouch, Helen, sorry to hear about the psyclepath traumas, but at least
you had a somewhat good ride with friends.

I too had a dog incident this morning, also on a dreaded psyclepath. I
went past a dog and dog owner, and got chased. Just as the dog caught
up to me I slammed the brakes on hard to make the thing overshoot and
give me time to jump off and get the bike between me and it. TBH I
half hoped it'd run into the back of the 'bent. Not only was I baring
my teeth and growling at the dog, I then picked up the bike and chased
it with the chainsaw on the front, I was really annoyed. At least I
got a result, the dog ran off in horror.

I got this whilst sledging the other day with the kids; you'd think the
owners would realise it's not OK to let their animal run after unusual
old men on flat items and try to bite them
;-)

Quoted message said:

There can be a lot of problems with dogs and their owners, and kite
fliers too. Luckily I've not had a dog bite one of my kites but I've
certainly had a few be chased by them and been lucky with the wind to
keep it in the air and away from them. Invariably the owners just
laugh and don't realise quite how much damage a dog could do to a kite
and indeed vice versa.

Many years ago I often walked home in the summer past a house where
the large owner sat on his doorstep sunning himself while his large
dog disported itself nearby. It would always charge me barking
ferociously. The owner would shout "stand quite still, he wont't hurt
you!" This seemed to be true. I'd stand quite still, and frightened,
while the dog pranced around me barking. After several long seconds it
would get fed up or the owner would call it off. I'd continue on my
way, heart hammering.

After this had happened several times I was convinced the owner was
having fun frightening people, and very angry. I started to carry a
large knife and rolled my jacket round the other arm when I approached
his house. Next time the dog started charging me I pulled out the
knife and shouted to the owner "I'm not going to stop, and if I'm
attacked I'm going to defend myself!" The owner immediately called off
his dog, and then shouted a lot of abuse at me which I ignored. He was
a lot more powerful than me, but also so much fatter I was sure I
could outrun him if necessary. I never saw him sitting on his step
again.

--
Chris Malcolm [email hidden] +44 (0)131 651 3445 DoD #205
IPAB, Informatics, JCMB, King's Buildings, Edinburgh, EH9 3JZ, UK
[http://www.dai.ed.ac.uk/homes/cam/]

Mark Thompson said:

I think most of the time they're just playing. Dogs have a certain amount
of intelligence, but are basically just stupid - it probably thought you
were another dog.

Many years ago when the skateboard craze first arrived in Britain I
was exercising my right to be totally uncool. So there I was roller
skating along the pavement when I am spotted by a great dane puppy. A
boy on wheels, quite the most interesting thing the puppy has ever
seen. It decides to investigate, closes mouth around one set of
wheels and starts pulling. My friend told me it was very funny.

On Mon, 16 Jan 2006 10:20:52 +0000, Ian Blake <NoNotMe@NotAnywhere>

Quoted message said:

Mark Thompson said:

I think most of the time they're just playing. Dogs have a certain amount
of intelligence, but are basically just stupid - it probably thought you
were another dog.

Many years ago when the skateboard craze first arrived in Britain I
was exercising my right to be totally uncool. So there I was roller
skating along the pavement when I am spotted by a great dane puppy. A
boy on wheels, quite the most interesting thing the puppy has ever
seen. It decides to investigate, closes mouth around one set of
wheels and starts pulling. My friend told me it was very funny.

Ooops wrong dog. It was a Saint Bernard puppy, much bigger. (The
Great Dane did not like me walking up to his door on my paper round)