Got woken up by the gentle crunch of the paper boy falling off his bike on the path outside our house. Promised the wife I'd be really careful and even wear my helmet [1]. Walked the bike gingerly out to the road, and observed that I couldn't even stand up in places. Went back in and rang for a taxi. £13 for 6.5 miles... [2].
[1] I only wear one in icy conditions, where it's fairly likely that I'll be falling off at low speeds - the only time they are any use.
[2] At that rate it'd cost me about £2500 per year if I taxied in every working day, which is probably comparable to a fairly good-value second car ownership. I don't feel so ripped off now.
On 3/3/05 8:16 am, in article [email hidden], "Mark Tranchant"
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Got woken up by the gentle crunch of the paper boy falling off his bike on the path outside our house. Promised the wife I'd be really careful and even wear my helmet [1]. Walked the bike gingerly out to the road, and observed that I couldn't even stand up in places. Went back in and rang for a taxi. £13 for 6.5 miles... [2].
Wise choice.. The cheaper long term altrernative is a pair or Real Tyres.. from suomitires.fi (formerly Nokian). Unbeatable on ice (except by plastic boots and crampons.)
The cheaper long term altrernative is a pair or Real Tyres.. from suomitires.fi (formerly Nokian). Unbeatable on ice (except by plastic boots and crampons.)
Thanks for the suggestion - the skinniest they do is 700x35C, which I might just squeeze onto my Roberts. Of course, I could take the wife's unused MTB and set that up for winter use...
Went back in and rang for a taxi. £13 for 6.5 miles... [2].
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[2] At that rate it'd cost me about £2500 per year if I taxied in every working day, which is probably comparable to a fairly good-value second car ownership. I don't feel so ripped off now.
If you took a taxi every day you could probably negotiate a special rate, and it would look even better versus running a car.
On 3/3/05 9:18 am, in article [email hidden], "Mark Tranchant"
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David Martin said:
The cheaper long term altrernative is a pair or Real Tyres.. from suomitires.fi (formerly Nokian). Unbeatable on ice (except by plastic boots and crampons.)
Thanks for the suggestion - the skinniest they do is 700x35C, which I might just squeeze onto my Roberts. Of course, I could take the wife's unused MTB and set that up for winter use...
I have used the 700c size A10 (622-35) and the 26" W106 and A10 (559-44 I think) and they are excellent. For sheet ice, the A10 has the edge, but if there is snow/slush, teh W106 is probably the best mixed mode tyre.
Bit steep though at nearly 70 quid per bike for a few days a year, but you will happily ride in conditions where otherwise holding the bike upright long enough to get on is difficult.
Got woken up by the gentle crunch of the paper boy falling off his bike on the path outside our house. Promised the wife I'd be really careful and even wear my helmet [1]. Walked the bike gingerly out to the road, and observed that I couldn't even stand up in places. Went back in and rang for a taxi. £13 for 6.5 miles... [2].
[1] I only wear one in icy conditions, where it's fairly likely that I'll be falling off at low speeds - the only time they are any use.
[2] At that rate it'd cost me about £2500 per year if I taxied in every working day, which is probably comparable to a fairly good-value second car ownership. I don't feel so ripped off now.
Which is about the same cost as a reasonable bike for a year. Though I do race off-road too, so tend to break a few more bits than many other riders I know .. 😉
-- Paul ... www.4x4prejudice.org (8(|) Homer Rules ..... Doh !!!
[2] At that rate it'd cost me about £2500 per year if I taxied in every working day, which is probably comparable to a fairly good-value second car ownership. I don't feel so ripped off now.
Of course, that's not the only option. My commute is about 5 miles. Normally I cycle but once or twice a week I do it on foot (jogging).
Of course, that's not the only option. My commute is about 5 miles. Normally I cycle but once or twice a week I do it on foot (jogging).
I tend to walk if it's *very* windy or foggy, or if there's loads of packed snow. Even walking was dangerous today - a light covering of snow had fallen, melted and frozen solid. I don't have any studded shoes...
Got woken up by the gentle crunch of the paper boy falling off his bike on the path outside our house. Promised the wife I'd be really careful and even wear my helmet [1]. Walked the bike gingerly out to the road, and observed that I couldn't even stand up in places. Went back in and rang for a taxi. £13 for 6.5 miles... [2].
[1] I only wear one in icy conditions, where it's fairly likely that I'll be falling off at low speeds - the only time they are any use.
[2] At that rate it'd cost me about £2500 per year if I taxied in every working day, which is probably comparable to a fairly good-value second car ownership. I don't feel so ripped off now.
Are you sure the maths is right? It is if that's £13 return - if it's single then your council (who set the fares) are letting the cabbies rip you off.
Round here it's about a pound a mile plus a pound as a rule of thumb. I was getting a bit miffed that I've been taxi-ing for about two weeks now ; for good reasons with ice covered roads being one of them. Then I realised that even if I got a taxi every day I'd still be better off than when I ran a car.
Went back in and rang for a taxi. £13 for 6.5 miles... [2].
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[2] At that rate it'd cost me about £2500 per year if I taxied in every working day, which is probably comparable to a fairly good-value second car ownership. I don't feel so ripped off now.
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Are you sure the maths is right? It is if that's £13 return - if it's single then your council (who set the fares) are letting the cabbies rip you off.
No, you're right - that's single. My mistake. Surely the cost depends on the journey time? The average speed can't have been more than about 25mph including the stops.
No, you're right - that's single. My mistake. Surely the cost depends on the journey time? The average speed can't have been more than about 25mph including the stops.
It's distance, plus time spent idling (at traffic lights, stationary in traffic etc).
No, you're right - that's single. My mistake. Surely the cost depends on the journey time? The average speed can't have been more than about 25mph including the stops.
It's distance, plus time spent idling (at traffic lights, stationary in traffic etc).
Which is why taxis should be allowed in bus lanes.
It's distance, plus time spent idling (at traffic lights, stationary in traffic etc).
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Which is why taxis should be allowed in bus lanes.
They are, in London AFAIK.
Mostly. Some bus lanes do not permit taxis (or bikes, come to that, while the one on Forest Road between Blackhorse Road and Tottenham Hale changes its mind in midstream.
--
Dave Larrington - http://www.legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uk/ World Domination? Just find a world that's into that kind of thing, then chain to the floor and walk up and down on it in high heels. (Mr. Sunshine)
It's distance, plus time spent idling (at traffic lights,
stationary in
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traffic etc).
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Which is why taxis should be allowed in bus lanes.
They are, in London AFAIK.
-- Helen D. Vecht: [email hidden] Edgware.
Yes, most of the bus lanes anyway. I've seen a few which didn't include taxis, and a few which specifically said only buses, no mention of taxis or bicycles.
Got woken up by the gentle crunch of the paper boy falling off his bike on the path outside our house. Promised the wife I'd be really careful and even wear my helmet [1]. Walked the bike gingerly out to the road, and observed that I couldn't even stand up in places. Went back in and rang for a taxi. £13 for 6.5 miles... [2].
[1] I only wear one in icy conditions, where it's fairly likely that I'll be falling off at low speeds - the only time they are any use.
[2] At that rate it'd cost me about £2500 per year if I taxied in every working day, which is probably comparable to a fairly good-value second car ownership. I don't feel so ripped off now.
Finally got to try out the snow tyres. Excellent :-)
The cheaper long term altrernative is a pair or Real Tyres.. from suomitires.fi (formerly Nokian). Unbeatable on ice (except by plastic boots and crampons.)
On 9/3/05 8:35 am, in article [email hidden], "Colin
Blackburn said:
David Martin said:
The cheaper long term altrernative is a pair or Real Tyres.. from suomitires.fi (formerly Nokian). Unbeatable on ice (except by plastic boots and crampons.)
