Progress 3: This Time It's Personal

Keith Willoughby said:

As for the Tchibo stuff - well, I bought lycra cycle
shorts. Very nice, I like the padding. I wore them under
jogging bottoms, though, for the benefit of others. I also
bought the fingerless padded gloves, which I thought were
excellent value at £4, and a pair of shades which are ok,
especially for another £4. Can anyone tell me if their £18
waterproof jacket is any good? I'm tempted. I have a
waterproof, but it's pretty bulky, not really convenient
for cycling.

My daughter bought one last week and it seems exceptional
value for money and is very well made. It is reputedly
waterproof and breathable, has a good mesh liner and even
has a removeable fleece gilet which can be worn by
itself. I've considered getting one myself. She's only
used it twice, but neither time in the rain, so we cannot
comment on that aspect yet, but it looks as if it will be
up to the job.

John B

JohnB said:

Keith Willoughby said:

As for the Tchibo stuff - well, I bought lycra cycle
shorts. Very nice, I like the padding. I wore them under
jogging bottoms, though, for the benefit of others. I
also bought the fingerless padded gloves, which I thought
were excellent value at £4, and a pair of shades which
are ok, especially for another £4. Can anyone tell me if
their £18 waterproof jacket is any good? I'm tempted. I
have a waterproof, but it's pretty bulky, not really
convenient for cycling.

My daughter bought one last week and it seems exceptional
value for money and is very well made. It is reputedly
waterproof and breathable, has a good mesh liner and even
has a removeable fleece gilet which can be worn by itself.
I've considered getting one myself. She's only used it
twice, but neither time in the rain, so we cannot comment
on that aspect yet, but it looks as if it will be up to
the job.

Thanks! I think I'll order one, then.

--
Keith Willoughby flat222.orgkeithOpen ↗ Keep on
keeping on.

Quoted message said:

As for the Tchibo stuff - well, I bought lycra cycle
shorts.

Tchibo stuff is good value, basic (and sometimes not so
basic) stuff. The company also seems to have its
ordering/delivery problems sorted out too, which is all
well and good.

Over the Christmas period, my son went on a ski holiday with
his school, and I kitted him out with skiwear from Tchibo.
The only letdown were the gloves, which were *not*
waterproof as advertised. The salopettes were quite
excellent though, and half the price of what I would have
had to pay for similar quality in local shops. I bought
myself & son some of the Lycra cycling shorts this time
round and they look excellent value. Plus I got son the
waterproof bottoms
- as he'll be cycling to & from sixth form, so they'll
come in handy.

Cheers, helen s

--This is an invalid email address to avoid spam-- to get
correct one remove dependency on fame & fortune h*$el*$$e**-
nd***$o$ts***i*$*$m**m$$o*n**s@$*$a$$o**l.c**$*$om$$

Keith Willoughby said:

My delivery from Tchibo arrived this morning, so to test
them out, I cycled in to the library in town.

Excellent - giving your body a workout on the way to giving
your mind a workout?

Quoted message said:

Cycling back, I chickened out on the roundabout (I had to
go 3/4 around it, and the traffic was actually flowing a
little faster than it had been)

There's no shame in that - roundabouts are evil, especially
when they're on busy main roads. You just can't rely on
motorists to help you out - either they do signal and don't
turn, or don't signal and do turn... I find the trick with
turning right at roundabouts is to signal well in advance,
keep glancing back to check what the traffic behind you is
doing and when you get a suitable opportunity, move out into
the middle of the lane so that there isn't space for anyone
to try passing you *on either side*. Of course, it's not as
easy as that makes it sound and I often find myself stopping
before I reach the roundabout and waiting for a gap in the
traffic...

Quoted message said:

Can anyone tell me if their £18 waterproof jacket is any
good? I'm tempted. I have a waterproof, but it's pretty
bulky, not really convenient for cycling.

You'll probably find the Tchibo waterproof is better than
any non-cycling jacket if only for the shape of it - longer
at the back to cover your [censored], and shorter at the front so
it doesn't bunch up when you're leaning forwards over your
handlebars. And Tchibo clothing is generally well made and
fit for purpose - designed for the leisure user rather than
the serious sportsman, but who cares about that?

I got myself a Tchibo sleeveless windproof jacket recently
and I've been very pleased with it.

Quoted message said:

I'm still suffering through cotton t-shirts, though. I
definitely need to get something more suitable. Does
anyone know of anywhere that sells

stretch to fit, plus you won't have to buy a smaller top
when you've worked off the excess pounds through cycling.
Anyway, Tchibo's cycling vests - windproof at the front,
mesh at the back for ventilation and made of high-wicking
fabric. I would think that one of those under even a cotton
T-shirt would at least keep your skin dry and warm.

In any case, keep up the good work - I've only been back in
the saddle with any kind of serious intent since Christmas
and I'm already feeling the benefit, as detailed in my own
recent progress report.

d.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I'm still suffering through cotton t-shirts, though. I
definitely need to get something more suitable. Does
anyone know of anywhere that sells

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

stretch to fit, plus you won't have to buy a smaller top
when you've worked off the excess pounds through cycling.

Speaking of the joy of Lycra for we larger types - Lusso is
a good make, reasonably priced, that does large sizes. And
its stuff is made in the UK! Rare these days!

Cheers, helen s

--This is an invalid email address to avoid spam-- to get
correct one remove dependency on fame & fortune h*$el*$$e**-
nd***$o$ts***i*$*$m**m$$o*n**s@$*$a$$o**l.c**$*$om$$

<david kenning> wrote:

[...]

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I'm still suffering through cotton t-shirts, though. I
definitely need to get something more suitable. Does
anyone know of anywhere that sells

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

stretch to fit, plus you won't have to buy a smaller top
when you've worked off the excess pounds through cycling.

Heh. I was trying to avoid the 'badly made sausage' look. 🙂

Thanks for all the advice!

--
Keith Willoughby flat222.orgkeithOpen ↗ Fair and balanced

On 13 Mar 2004 18:30:25 GMT, [email hidden]

(dirtylitterboxofferingstospammers) said:

... I got son the waterproof bottoms

I thought everyone has a waterproof bottom :-)

I'll get my (waterproof) coat.

--
MatSav

Keith Willoughby <[email hidden]>typed

Quoted message said:

My delivery from Tchibo arrived this morning, so to test
them out, I cycled in to the library in town. Only 2.6
miles or so, but it did involve cycling in heavy traffic
for the first time. (I've been on roads, but only with
light traffic)

Quoted message said:

Well, I survived. Went around the busy roundabout at the
A470 intersection, cycled through the town centre, hit 18
MPH on the flat for the first time as I tried to keep up
with traffic. Cycling back, I chickened out on the
roundabout (I had to go 3/4 around it, and the traffic was
actually flowing a little faster than it had been) and
pushed the bike around the pavement. Still, next time
should be different - one of the books I borrowed was
Cyclecraft 🙂

Quoted message said:

As for the Tchibo stuff - well, I bought lycra cycle
shorts. Very nice, I like the padding. I wore them under
jogging bottoms, though, for the benefit of others. I also
bought the fingerless padded gloves, which I thought were
excellent value at £4, and a pair of shades which are ok,
especially for another £4. Can anyone tell me if their £18
waterproof jacket is any good? I'm tempted. I have a
waterproof, but it's pretty bulky, not really convenient
for cycling.

Quoted message said:

I'm still suffering through cotton t-shirts, though. I
definitely need to get something more suitable. Does
anyone know of anywhere that sells

Last year's jacket seems to have kept my David warm and dry.
The reflective label has fallen off though. The rest seems
fine. There's another cyclist in Camden Cycling Campaign who
has worn his Tchibo jacket more than David. His jacket
seemed fine last Monday.

--
Helen D. Vecht: [email hidden] Edgware.

david kenning said:

Quoted message said:

Cycling back, I chickened out on the roundabout (I had to
go 3/4 around it, and the traffic was actually flowing a
little faster than it had been)

There's no shame in that - roundabouts are evil, especially
when they're on busy main roads. You just can't rely on
motorists to help you out - either they do signal and don't
turn, or don't signal and do turn... I find the trick with
turning right at roundabouts is to signal well in advance,
keep glancing back to check what the traffic behind you is
doing and when you get a suitable opportunity, move out
into the middle of the lane so that there isn't space for
anyone to try passing you *on either side*.

Hi David

I had a close one yesterday when riding through a local
roundabout. The roundabout has three entrances/exits spaced
roughly 120 degrees apart. It's neither a mini-roundabout
nor is it a large one; it's a medium sized beast.

My intention was to take the second exit.

When I was just about to pass the first exit a red Ford
Escort approaching from that entrance either failed to see
or, more likely, assumed was going to turn left. The car
entered the roundabout and slammed on its brakes. I was
already slowing as I had a thought that the car was not
going to stop.

The driver accused me of not signalling, which was not true.
My right arm was out to indicate my intention to turn right.

I realized after the fact that the driver probably was
not able to see my right side as the rest of my body was
in the way.

There was no other traffic in the area so I was able to
avoid her car and she was able to brake reasonably safely.

James

James Hodson said:

I had a close one yesterday when riding through a local
roundabout.

That could have been nasty. I had another fairly typical
roundabout experience today: another medium-sized
roundabout, this one with four exits (let's number them 1-4
clockwise for convenience). Plonker in Escort (what is it
about Escort drivers?) enters roundabout at exit 1,
*signalling right* - so I assume that he's intending to get
off at exit 4. I'm waiting my turn at exit 2, also intending
to take exit 4. So I slip out, aiming to tuck in behind
Escortman - only for him to veer off down exit 3, almost
taking my front wheel off!

I don't know if he was still signalling right at that point
- obviously I don't know, because his right indicators were
on the far side of the car by that point - but I can say
with my hand on my heart that he certainly wasn't
signalling left.

Quoted message said:

The driver accused me of not signalling, which was
not true.

I suppose it's possible that he didn't see your signal - but
I suspect he probably wasn't really looking. It's incredible
the number of car drivers who seem to think they don't have
to wait at junctions (roundabouts, T-junctions, whatever)
for bikes, even when those bikes have right of way and are
approaching downhill at car-like speed... OK, so maybe
banging on her window and waving a fist as I passed was
aggressive behaviour, but she started it!

d.

david kenning said:

Quoted message said:

I had a close one yesterday when riding through a local
roundabout.

That could have been nasty.

And a few moments later I had a puncture so I had to carry
the bike the rest of the way home. Actually, it was more of
an explosive decompression than a puncture.

James

david kenning said:

That could have been nasty. I had another fairly typical
roundabout experience today: another medium-sized
roundabout, this one with four exits (let's number them 1-4
clockwise for convenience). Plonker in Escort (what is it
about Escort drivers?) enters roundabout at exit 1,
*signalling right* - so I assume that he's intending to get
off at exit 4. I'm waiting my turn at exit 2, also
intending to take exit 4. So I slip out, aiming to tuck in
behind Escortman - only for him to veer off down exit 3,
almost taking my front wheel off!

If I understand you correctly, the driver intention was
to carry straight on at the roundabout but signalled
right to indicate he was not turning left at the first
available exit.

Annoying.

James

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

Quoted message said:

James Hodson said:

I had a close one yesterday when riding through a local
roundabout.

That could have been nasty. I had another fairly typical
roundabout experience today: another medium-sized
roundabout, this one with four

exits

Quoted message said:

(let's number them 1-4 clockwise for convenience). Plonker
in Escort (what is it about Escort drivers?) enters
roundabout at exit 1, *signalling right* - so I assume
that he's intending to get off at exit 4. I'm waiting my
turn at exit 2, also intending to take exit 4. So I slip
out, aiming to tuck in behind Escortman - only for him to
veer off down exit 3, almost taking my front wheel off!

A surprising number of people think this is a sensible way
to signal at roundabouts - people have defended the practice
on other ngs.

It's obviously stupid, for the reasons you point out, but it
is worth remembering that it happens.

cheers, clive