Zenrat's Flying Circus

[PR19_Kit]

......... and small wheels (20") are not as comfortable as ig ones on the potholed and bumpy local roads.

That's because wheels that small need suspension to take up road shocks and it looks like you've only got that on the front. Larger 700C wheels can flex more and soak up the bumps, but their rolling resistance is much higher. Swings and roundabouts.....

[zenrat]

I can avoid the worst of the potholes by taking a short cut through the cemetery.

[NARSES2]

Chain looks a little close to the ground ?

Glad it went well  Must admit I doubt I'd wear a cycle helmet if I ever took cycling up again, it's not compulsory over here......yet .

[PR19_Kit]

Chain looks a little close to the ground ?

That's normal for small wheeled bikes with wide gear ratios, which means the derailleur needs a long cage.

[NARSES2]

Chain looks a little close to the ground ?

That's normal for small wheeled bikes with wide gear ratios, which means the derailleur needs a long cage.

Ah right, never rode a small wheeled bike.

[zenrat]

Second day of riding to work and a driver who was parked up at the side of the road as I approached did a U turn in front of me.  He must have looked through me.
Far enough in front that I could swerve round the back of the car but still...
36 years of riding motorcycles has taught me that every other vehicle on the road will try to kill me.  This also applies when on a bicycle.

[DogfighterZen]

Take care, mate. Lots of freaks driving out on the roads. You know the body is the bumper when you're on two wheels.

[NARSES2]

Worst one I saw was when a group of us in our mid teens (15 or so ?) were riding down to Brighton one Sunday when a car driver opened his door right in front of one of my mates. He just about saw it, but still went over door. Bruised and shocked, but ok luckily.  Mind you he wasn't quite as battered as the guy's car. There were 6 of us dancing around it kicking lumps out of it while the guy cowered inside. Wrong I know, but we were only "council estate 'oiks" 

Car driver's attitude to cyclists, and I must admit cyclist's attitude towards pedestrians, is one of the many reasons why I wouldn't cycle again in London. Which is a shame as I'd quite like to and if and when I move out to the country with the family I may well do.

[PR19_Kit]

Cycling back from work one evening in 1961-2 I was trailing a guy in a Ford Prefect, the small 4 door that looked like a matchbox on top of a fag box. All of a sudden he decided to crash stop because he'd seen a mate of his at the side of the road.............

I went straight into the centre of his boot lid, while trying to go past him, and then I was fired up and onto his roof! 

He heard the bang, and opened his door, only to have me roll off the roof on top of him! 

I managed to turn the boot lid completely inside out, and turned my bike's frame into a pretzel, not to mention putting myself in hospital for a few days with concussion.

NOT a good day, for me, my bike, nor the car. Luckily the various insurance companies paid up.

[zenrat]

There isn't enough time to go into the cars I've hit with motorcycles.

Here's an actual pic of Red rather than one of a similar model pinched off the internet.
Red by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

[PR19_Kit]

With that amount of weight over a rear wheel that small, it surely needs suspension to give a decent ride. Pity they put all their suspension efforts into the wrong end.

[jcf]

With that amount of weight over a rear wheel that small, it surely needs suspension to give a decent ride. Pity they put all their suspension efforts into the wrong end.

It's for the curb-hoppers. 

[zenrat]

The "certainly not grey" Mitsubishi T2 is nearly finished.  It's in a scheme inspired by a mid 70's kids TV show.  It's an aircraft captured by the Internacia Pacista Ligo but doesn't qualify for the GB as I started it a week or two too early.  All it needs doing for completion is a few licks of paint on the crew and the creation of some non-lethal pacifist air to air weapons.

[zenrat]

Good news, good news.  Tamiya Fine Surface Primer is available in Australia once again.
I must pay a visit to the LHS to see if they have any.

[Old Wombat]

Hmmm?!

I'll have to put in another order for a six-pack with my local ToyWorld & see what she can do.

Last order I put in for a six-pack we only got 3 x Fine & 2 x regular grey, that was about a week ago.