Cyclists
Appalling this person was only given 2 and a bit years for killing someone. She does have to pay $30k to the victims family but who knows if that will ever happen. And not allowed to drive for 8 years. This is f**ked up to me. Where is the justice? The defence lawyer is heartless to boot!
Today I jumped up a step and blew out my rear tyre.
Steps and bikes don't mix, I'd guess.
Unless you are that crazy Utube trick cyclist that i'm sure one of you can provide a link for.HarryHotspur2010-02-04 22:46:37
No its worse. Mate of mine went forward rather than back out of his park and beached himself on the stairs across the road from Nando's in Mt Eden/Three Kings. Most hilarious tow ever.aitkenmike2010-02-05 17:29:03
Like the Paris Metro?
Tianjin, China,; Agence France-Presse
Their lead batteries are a minus, though
Chinese commuters in their millions are turning to electric bicycles - hailed as the environmentally-friendly future of personal transport in the country's teeming cities.Up to 120 million e-bikes are estimated to be on the roads in China, making them already the top alternative to cars and public transport, according to recent figures published by local media.
"This is the future - it's practical, it's clean and it's economical," said manufacturer Shi Zhongdong, whose company also exports electric bikes to Asia and Europe.
The bikes have been hailed as an ecologically-sound alternative in a country which is the world's top emitter of greenhouse gases, with their rechargeable batteries leaving a smaller carbon footprint than cars.
But some have expressed concerns about the pollution created by cheaper lead batteries, calling for better recycling and a quick shift to cleaner, though more expensive, lithium-ion battery technology.
More than 1000 companies are already in the e-bike business in China, with many of them clustered in the eastern coastal provinces such as Jiangsu and Zhejiang, which both border Shanghai.
Another 1000 firms are producing e-bikes on an ad hoc basis, Shi said during a visit to his Hanma Electric Bicycles factory in the port city of Tianjin, about 120 kilometres north of Beijing.
"The business has exploded since 2006," Shi says, while admitting that the company took a hit last year due to the financial crisis.
Some e-bikes can reach speeds of more than 35km an hour, and a few manufacturers boast their models can last up to 50km on a single battery charge.
Battery chargers are simply plugged into an electricity socket at home. Most e-bikes also have pedals, except for the bigger, scooter-like models.
Shi was an electrical engineer who worked for a state-owned firm for most of his career, but as he turned 55 and retirement was beckoning he founded Hanma in 1999, investing about 500,000 yuan ($A84,410) of his own money.
He is wary of giving exact production figures, but says Hanma is churning out between 50,000 and 100,000 e-bikes a year.
In his company's icy, old-fashioned workshops, several models are lined up: from electric bikes with "green" lithium batteries, made especially for export, to some that look more like mini-scooters.
They are everywhere in the streets of Beijing - no licence plates, no driver's licences needed. Enthusiasts say they are a godsend in a city where the number of scooter and motorcycle drivers is restricted.
"I get around traffic jams so easily," said one Beijinger before speeding off from an intersection in the capital, where more than four million vehicles are clogging the roads and polluting the already thick air.
But not everyone is on the e-bike bandwagon - "real" cyclists have complained bitterly that their once peaceful lanes are now clogged with irresponsible, uncontrollable speedsters.
In December, authorities tried to re-impose a maximum speed limit of 20 kilometres per hour on e-bike riders, along with licence rules, but the plan caused such a public and industry uproar that it was suspended.
"The rules will never go through. Hundreds of factories would be forced to shut down. And what would those who already own e-bikes do?" Shi says.
In a report released last June, the Asian Development Bank said e-bikes could become "perhaps the most environmentally sustainable motorised mode available" in China.
But it called for the replacement of lead acid batteries and better regulations on the allowable weight and speed to keep accidents at a minimum.
Shi says nearly a third of his production goes abroad - to Asia, notably India, to the European Union and even to the United States.
"There is a big future for electric bikes in Europe, where people are very concerned about saving the environment," he said, explaining that the models with safer but more costly lithium batteries are shipped to EU nations.
Shi says he sells the export models for $US400, as opposed to just $US240 for those sold in China. But the bikes can sell for a whopping $US1200 in France and Germany.
AFP reg
Adults cyclists are responsible for 17%-25% of accidents compared to 60%-75% of car drivers being responsible for accidents involving cyclists and cars, new British study shows.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/dec/15/cycling-bike-accidents-study
ForteanTimes2010-02-28 18:22:38
I was tackled by a car forgetting to indicate and turning left across me.
For those of you who have hit a tonne of steel before: what expletive do you let out as you coss your handlebars?
Today I jumped up a step and blew out my rear tyre.
Steps and bikes don't mix, I'd guess.
Unless you are that crazy Utube trick cyclist that i'm sure one of you can provide a link for.
Danny MacAskill - Doing his stuff in Edinburgh
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z19zFlPah-o
A hard Englishman like you shouldn't really even be asking the doc such a question.
Want: MTB Hardtail that's lighter than my decade old DB Vectra.
I assume MTBs have come on a long way in 10 years...but what can I get for under $1K that you can personally recommend?
Have only used on Hutt trails, but I love it deeply.
Sounds like a good deal. I tried a couple of Avanti's today but was so shocked by how everything felt so different to my current piece of junk that I think I will have to go back and spend more time trialling them.
Also tried a few Kona's but at this price range they were appreciably heavier than the Avatis.HarryHotspur2010-04-27 23:10:39
Want: MTB Hardtail that's lighter than my decade old DB Vectra.
I assume MTBs have come on a long way in 10 years...but what can I get for under $1K that you can personally recommend?
For around the 1k mark, most of the big brands will give you decent specifications, The big brands that are most commonly available in NZ are Avanti and Giant, followed by Trek. You can also find Scott, (I used to love my Scott bike), Marin and Kona here. At that price all bikes will be pretty similar, so you want a LBS, (local Bike Shop)that will give you decent follow up.
You obviously know what type of MTB you want so go and approach a few shops, if you get some pimply kid who is not showing you what you want, or trying to sell you something you don't need then walk out. Also if I'm ignored by BS staff the I walk out also.
The shops I've actually found that have good customer service are Burkes:
http://www.burkescycles.co.nz/mm5/merchant.mvc
and Capital Cycles:
http://www.capitalcycles.co.nz/
Out in Porirua Avanti Plus are sound people.
Have a look around get a couple bikes you are interested in then read some reviews at: http://www.mtbr.com/ MTB review is a must before buying.
I always found Pennyfarthings a bit hit and miss and Bikebarn is ok but their sale staff are not the most clued up.
Then give the bikes a good test ride and buy the one you want. Like everything the more money you can spend the better the bike, but honestly read reviews before buying, even the big brands can make a sh*tty ride now and again.
ForteanTimes2010-05-01 12:43:53
Scott...pfft - for posers.
(Actually IIRC Kathy Lynch the female equivalent of Steve Gurney used to ride a Scott)
Scott...pfft - for posers.
(Actually IIRC Kathy Lynch the female equivalent of Steve Gurney used to ride a Scott)
Scott made and probably do still make great bikes, I had a low-end Purgatory and a Tampico,(bought after the Purg got stolen), which were both beautifully nippy and responsive bikes.
To this day I still feel the Tampico was a better ride than the more expensive Giant which replaced it and the wife's Trek which also cost more.
Anyway, i went to the best shop in town in the end...trade me
I am now a proud owner of a second hand Merida (not on your original list of taiwanese exports, one can only hope it was an oversight) that makes me 15% quicker than the aged DB. Whether this is solely bcause of the bike, my renewed enthusiasm for hills (likely a bit of both) I can't tell but am loving it!
Although I did come skidding off above Karori park this morning. Ouch
Giant (China) makes bikes for: Giant, Iron Horse, Specialized, Trek
Kinesis (China) makes for: Haro, K2, Raleigh
Kinesis (Taiwan) makes for: Haro, Iron Horse, Jamis, K2, Kona, Raleigh, Titus
Ideal (China and Taiwan), makes for Bianchi, K2, Pacific (aka GT, Schwinn, Mongoose, etc.), Trek, Fuji, K2
A-Pro (Taiwan) makes for: Fuji, Haro, Iron Horse, Marin, Norco, Raleigh<!-- google_ad_section_end -->
Boom-tish. The pine needles helped a bit though.
Scott...pfft - for posers.
(Actually IIRC Kathy Lynch the female equivalent of Steve Gurney used to ride a Scott)
Scott made and probably do still make great bikes, I had a low-end Purgatory and a Tampico,(bought after the Purg got stolen), which were both beautifully nippy and responsive bikes.
To this day I still feel the Tampico was a better ride than the more expensive Giant which replaced it and the wife's Trek which also cost more.
Yes - I am just jealous (or was until M2 mesmerised me with it's purple curvaceaousness and slightly oversize tubing. )
I did put Scott shocks and hill-climb bars or whatever those little bits on the end of the handlebar are called on it.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/may/21/women-cyclists-most-accidents
Also, couple of weeks ago I saw 2 cylclist blatantly ride through a red light. Are they exempt?
Also, couple of weeks ago I saw 2 cylclist blatantly ride through a red light. Are they exempt?
Some crossings/pavements are actually shared, but you'd only know that if you looked at a council's travel plan as they are always badly marked.
Yes if it's a pedestrian only then cyclists should get off. Do they always? No
With Red lights, some countries, (not NZ yet), are allowing cyclists to drift through reds at junctions as it's been proved that cyclists stopping increases their risk due to lack of momentum, (made worse if you've forgotten to shift down); the risk being struggling to get across the junction after stopping or getting hooked by a vehicle next to you at the junction.
Talking of being hooked I was almost hit myself this week, I had my Iblasst http://www.nightlightning.co.nz/endurenz%20details.htm going moving along legally along the road when a Station Wagon in the opposite direction decided to pull across me to get into the petrol station I was passing.
I aimed my light right at his face and he still never noticed me, still pretty muck asleep IMHO, this is not the first time this is happened, this is despite me looking like a Christmas tree. I had to pull off some serious evasive maneuvers to change the angle and get out of his way. I then 5 minutes later almost got hit by a women who was going too fast and overshot a giveway at a junction, (misbraked I guess), fun morning commute in.
Still a co-worker was moaning about a Bike Ninja she almost hit http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Bike+Ninja when I got in so it's not just car drivers who have a monopoly on stupidity.
ForteanTimes2010-05-29 11:08:40
Stopped at red lights. Plenty of traffic. Been waiting for ages. Arrogant cyclists come up the side of you (in between the cars) and stops right infront of you.
Lights turn green, all traffic goes. Mr Cyclist who just pulled infront of everyone is now making them go 10km/h down the road.
Getting frustrated and bored due to traffic, then sh*t like this happens. No doing themselves any favours.
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@ForteanTimes - I use to ride my bike around when it was mildly dark, then I started driving and realised just how difficult I would've been too see. People who ride without lights clearly need some road experience and a mental test.
Michael2010-05-29 13:48:56