Fishing line

D.M. Procida said:

It's probably not a mistake - they often do that deliberately, to make a
photograph fit their layout better.

I'm sure it's not really a mistake, and it probably wouldn't have looked
as good on the page the other way round. What first drew my attention
to it wasn't that the chainset was on the wrong side, or that my mirror
was looking over my left shoulder, but simply that I didn't remember
being photographed from the left hand side.

The photographer started by taking a few pictures from directly in
front. I was wearing red, unpadded Lycra shorts at the time and after
looking at the pictures he asked if we could somehow get some "legs
together" shots! I suggested he might be better off taking pictures
from the side.

--
Danny Colyer (the UK company has been laughed out of my reply address)
<URL:http://www.speedy5.freeserve.co.uk/danny/>
"He who dares not offend cannot be honest." - Thomas Paine

I said:

There'll also be a piece in tomorrows Bath Chronicle. This one didn't
have any input from me, because the journalist wasn't able to get hold
of me in time. By a stroke of luck I had planned to go into Bath
tomorrow anyway, so I'll be able to pick a copy up.

And here it is:
<URL:http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/colyer_pictures/fishingline/index.html#chronicle>

Fishing line deliberately strung across Bath to Bristol cycle path
causes serious neck injury to rider

Cyclists warned over wire trap

By Emma Cooney

Police are warning cyclists to be vigilant after potentially lethal
fishing wire was found stretched across a cycle path.

A cyclist from South Gloucestershire was injured by the wire, which was
at neck height across the Bath to Bristol track.

The next night he stumbled across the wire again but it had already been
tripped.

Victim Danny Colyer e-mailed a warning to cycling groups in the region
to prevent the same thing happening to another unwitting rider.

Bath's Avon Valley Cycles has forwarded the warning to customers and
condemned the trap as lethal.

The incident happened at about 5.30pm on Monday in North Common between
Victoria Road and Poplar Road, about 20 yards from the Poplar Road
bridge on the edge of Bitton.

Mr Colyer's e-mail spread like wildfire across the cycling community and
included a picture of his injuries - a red weal across his throat.

The e-mail says: "I was garotted by a fishing line strung across the
cycle path. The line was at neck height for a recumbent rider, a BMX
rider or a child. The next evening I found a second line tied to the
same tree, this time at about neck height for an adult upright cyclist.

"Clearly a fishing line strung across a cycle path ought to be treated
as attempted murder, and I fear that someone who has done it twice might
just keep trying until they get a result. So watch out."

Long distance cyclist John Atkins, 63, of the Oval, Bath, who also
received the e-mailed warning, uses the cycle path regularly.

He said: "Apparently he was not going that fast. It could have been
much more serious. A lot of families and children use that path. I
think it is appalling someone has done this."

Director of Avon Valley Cycles, Gary Cooper, said: "There have been
quite a few incidents along the track, it does seem to be getting worse.
This could be lethal."

A spokesman from Avon and Somerset Constabulary said the force was
appealing for witnesses.

He said: "We have had a complaint and urge cyclists to be vigilant. If
they see anything suspicious like this they should contact the police."

Anyone with information should contact the police on 0845 456 7000.

--
Danny Colyer (the UK company has been laughed out of my reply address)
<URL:http://www.speedy5.freeserve.co.uk/danny/>
"He who dares not offend cannot be honest." - Thomas Paine

in message <[email hidden]>, Danny Colyer

(') said:

I said:

There'll also be a piece in tomorrows Bath Chronicle. This one
didn't have any input from me, because the journalist wasn't able to
get hold
of me in time. By a stroke of luck I had planned to go into Bath
tomorrow anyway, so I'll be able to pick a copy up.

And here it is:

<URL:http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/colyer_pictures/fishingline/index.html#chronicle>

Quoted message said:

Fishing line deliberately strung across Bath to Bristol cycle path
causes serious neck injury to rider

A spokesman from Avon and Somerset Constabulary said the force was
appealing for witnesses.

He said: "We have had a complaint and urge cyclists to be vigilant.
If they see anything suspicious like this they should contact the
police."

Anyone with information should contact the police on 0845 456 7000.

As a matter of interest, Danny, has anyone from the police been in
contact since the newspaper coverage?

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

Morning had broken, and we had run out of gas for the welding torch.

Simon Brooke wondered:

Quoted message said:

As a matter of interest, Danny, has anyone from the police been in
contact since the newspaper coverage?

No. I'm quite surprised they didn't come round to at least collect the
lines, as they have been informed that I have all 3 lines in my possession.

--
Danny Colyer (the UK company has been laughed out of my reply address)
<URL:http://www.speedy5.freeserve.co.uk/danny/>
"He who dares not offend cannot be honest." - Thomas Paine

Hi Danny,

Sorry to hear about your problems. I've never come across anything
like this before. I hope that you are recovering OK. I think that just
the stress of cycling along, wondering whether another trap has been
set is pretty unpleasant.

I've noticed over the last few weeks that the part of the cycle path
where you were attacked has lots more kids hanging around it than
normal, but nothing that I could definitely class as suspicious. I'll
be much more vigilant in this area from now on. I guess that even if
the trap were set though, I would pass right under it, even if its set
at your neck height (I have a Windcheetah trike).

Have you, or anyone else, noticed the increase in motorbikes on the
path? I passed three on my way home yesterday, and two on Monday -
maybe that is the latest form of entertainment. I'll make sure my
camera is ready next time I go down there.

best wishes,

dan.

Dan Towner
http://www.towner.org.uk

Daniel Towner said:

Sorry to hear about your problems. I've never come across anything
like this before. I hope that you are recovering OK. I think that just
the stress of cycling along, wondering whether another trap has been
set is pretty unpleasant.

Thanks, yes it is. After 3 weeks the scar is still visible, I hope it's
not permanent.

Quoted message said:

I've noticed over the last few weeks that the part of the cycle path
where you were attacked has lots more kids hanging around it than
normal, but nothing that I could definitely class as suspicious.

I often notice a lot of kids hanging around at the drinking fountain,
but that's nothing new.

Quoted message said:

Have you, or anyone else, noticed the increase in motorbikes on the
path? I passed three on my way home yesterday, and two on Monday -
maybe that is the latest form of entertainment.

I haven't seen any for a while, actually. The number of the local
police is programmed into my mobile, and I always phone them with the
registration number immediately after I see a motorbike on the
cyclepath. I doubt that they ever do anything, though.

--
Danny Colyer (the UK company has been laughed out of my reply address)
<URL:http://www.speedy5.freeserve.co.uk/danny/>
"He who dares not offend cannot be honest." - Thomas Paine