slowpoke

cathmtb - i really think you should elaborate if you want to throw an accusation like that. i'm a chick and i've certainly never felt ripped off by them and i go there regularly - services, repairs, etc

where oh where is there to ride mtb in this general area??? post a note when you are def riding and from where - once i'm over this darned cold, if i can hook up i will cos i neeeeeed to get back on the bike more often (and i'm talking bicycle here folks, not the other bikes - they get enough ride time)

Oertel, i am just sick and tired of people saying "oh, x/y/z is dangerous because of other people doing what they want, irrespective of the law, so you should stop doing it" we should stand together and say "oh, x/y/z is dangerous because of other people so it is time to make people realise that when they break the law they are endangering people" why is it that people should give up their passion to enable other people to break the law?

Oertel, again you are coming up with that silly argument that is, as ianrogers pointed out, the same as "a girl wearing a mini is looking to be raped" because sooner or later she might bump into some @hole who shouldn't be out on the streets. it is the government's duty to enforce the laws of the country, thereby instilling a culture of law abidance. instead we have a government who is instilling a culture of corruption and disrespect for the law. now the community, instead of being pro-active and trying to work from within to instill respect for the law is full of people like konaman, franky and you saying that we should just roll over and allow for this culture of disrespect and women should start wearing burquas to avoid being raped and sports people should give up their passion to remain safe, etc, etc sounds a bit backward. we should rather stand together and take a stand and try to convince society to stand up against what is wrong and evil.

konaman, there ARE clear rules for cyclists and vehicles. but people like you have the attitude of "the vehicle is bigger so it can break the rules and get away with it". the photos make it clear the cyclists were in single file - that is the law. judging bythe skid marks they were actually closer to the edge of the road than they needed to be (ie catering for your and "franky"'s ill-logic). the driver blatantly and knowingly disregarded the law. he is a criminal for that. he then killed people while committing said crime. makes him scum of the earth imho.

Golden rule, never ever to be forgotten.... THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS TOO MUCH COFFEE OR TOO MANY BIKES!!!! and that goes for any kind of bike... my current collection = road bike (tcr), mtb (mongoose), street scrambler (honda nxr125), superbike (honda cbr 400), sports tourer (suzuki sv650)... yet i still dream of having an anthem or mongoose canaan, a 'zook drz, a honda cbr1000, a sucati monster, a 'zook bking, blah blah blah. there are 365 days in a year... ample time to ride!

visibility with coolblues is better than normal globes and the nightbreakers, well the name says it all. i'd rather not have them try to take me out vindictively (had a close call with one of those BMW Xthigies that almost took out another car trying to ram into me last week. first time something tat hectic happened to me and i'd rather not fuel that kind of idiot's fire)

well put

dollar, re the brights - a much better option that doesn't incite fury from people being blinded is nightbreakers or coolblues with tinted protectors - as long as you use yellow or amber you are legal. i'm still going to put tinted protectors on my CBR but that was one of the first things i did to the SV. thing is that it's not just that - i almost got taken out one morning a couple of years back when i had my flashing red light on the bike, my double-flash green clipped to my back, my flashing blue valve lights, reflective tape all over, my sigma karma's to the front and my knog frogs on both hubs. it's that most drivers do not see cyclists as valid road users :-(

dollar, in the past 3 years i've hardly put 3000km (if that) on my car. i've put over 20000km on the motorbikes... i even use one of the motorbikes to do monthly shopping if it's not too much. i have never ever ever (not even on the back of an R1 on phakisa or the back of a GS scraping foot pegs on zwartkops) felt as much at risk as i do on the bicycle. but that doesn't stop me cycling. it just makes me extra cautious. (ps i've never hurt myself on a motorbike as badly as i have on the bicycle)

RIP and condolences. Life is short. Very short. It is also very prescious. Let us remember that and enjoy our lives while we have them to enjoy, but let us also remember to never take undue risks that could take another life.

Dollar, as a cyclist i've been there done that... at 59kmph during hte amashova back in 2006 (at least, that was the most "memorable" one which will never be forgotten). I truly feel for your mrs and hope she hels up soon. Now some advice: 1st things first, as a girl, scars on the face suck. Get your doc to prescribe Chloramex. It's an opthalmic ointment (usually used after corneal grafts etc) but it does WONDERS for skin healing. Apparently many plastic surgeons use it. Then, once the skin has healed Avroy Schlain tissue oil. I was told I'd need a couple of plastic surgery sessions to fix the damage on my face. Never needed to happen - the above regime worked so well that you can hardly see that half my forhead was hanging off my skull. Secondly - give her a few days and she'll be raring to get back on, but when she does she might have small panic attacks - just make sure that she always has an "escape route" when riding in a bunch. 3rd give her lots of TLC while she heals up.

i stopped by to visit kurt last night. he's in good spirits all things considered, but his race season is stuffed :-(

noooo, this is terrible news. heal up soon Kurt

ricky, slave and ianj i'm thinking of all 3 of you. i know the frustration of a longer-term recovery (having perfected the art of attaining max damage per fall myself). all i can say for certain is listen to the doc... do as i say, not as i do

if' only i'd stayed awake an extra half-hour or so and i would've seen you rreply and been riding instead of sitting here all upset (perfect mtb weather today)

i want to go ride NF tomorrow - Schwynn, crasher - how will i recognise you guys???

i have a sigma karma - for early morning raining rides it's perfect. i've used it for a 24 hour race before and loved it. but then in 2008 brighterlights lent one of his sets to the social hub team (of which i was a member) and to this day i long for those things. if i (when i) get a set of them i'll most probably try attach them to the motorbike and the car

i have the kalyos that i bought at a local shop and my inserts were done by the usual place my optometrist sends my stuff to (specialised lab). not cheap and certainly more than "ordinary" prescriptions and inserts would be, but worth the cost. i can't use contacts (busy trying to get back into the hard lenses thing, but will never be able to use in windy/dusty situation).

i'm back in ct thurs-saturday for my uncle's funeral, bu if the ride is on sunday 24th then i'll do my best to be there

i had the bolle's and after my crash (where they dissappeared) i replaced with rudi projects. i'll never change from rudy's now - they are phenomenal

holy - where are teh playing cards that are meant to be attached to the spokes/fork. your chopper might (but only might) make a little bit of noise. cradleresident - if the cyclists aren't there i can guarantee you there will be more bikers. that is a simple no-brainer. you have made it clear that you want ANYTHING other than cyclists so don't complain now. rather just explain to your livestock-breeding neighbours why this has happened and why you think it is preferable to cyclists.

omg cbrundson - who crossed a squirrel with my dog?!?!?!?!??!???

Was the squirrel after your nuts? sharp! as sharp as a squirrel's teeth