katanita

Lambeth's Bike the Borough is on the 22nd June. Was very enjoyable last year http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/Services/TransportStreets/WalkingCycling/BikeTheBorough.htm?sl=biketheborough

Is there any actual evidence that kinesio taping has any significant effect beyond placebo? My understanding is that despite it being around for about 30 years, the research is limited and the few good studies out there suggest it does very little indeed.

I sprained my ankle quite badly last year, but it's back to full function now. Mostly takes time (up to 8 or 9 months) but good physio is really important, not just to help the ankle heal properly but also to stop the other problems that might be caused by other muscles trying to compensate etc. I went to Richard at ESPH and thought he was brilliant. Sadly, have never had a good experience with NHS physios, even if they're good you just don't get enough time with them IMHO. Might just be my experience though. Really depends on the nature of the injury, not all sprains are the same, but I did lots of work to strengthen the ankle itself (wobble boards, lifts on one leg etc) also core work especially for the glutes and lots of stretches for calves to make sure that the rest of my leg was working to help support the ankle. Not really sure what other therapy might be of use, my physio did use ultrasound therapy on my ankle but I'm not sure the evidence is really strong for whether that works or not. It's just time and doing the exercises, no quick fixes. Oh, and doing the exercises for a long time, not just for a few weeks and then giving up when you feel a bit better - apparently your muscles don't really change in response to new exercises until you have been doing them for several weeks (in the meantime it's your brain adapting) so you do need to stick at it!

I meant the confusion around whether cyclists can also use the road, as well as the cycle lanes. Have been shouted at a few times to "stay in the cycle lane" when I don't have to do so, and frequently it's more dangerous/difficult to ride in it than out (cycle lane provision and quality being a whole other issue, of course). But on the rest of your point, is this not already part of the highway code etc and therefore should be part of the instruction when learning to drive? I'm sure I got questions about cycling in my driving test. So drivers should already be aware, though I concede that they may not/may have had poor instruction. Talking to the press is obviously part of the process of making people aware, and there may be more they could do or are planning to do. Plus you would expect them to be putting up signage and so on. Not clear from that article whether they will do this or not, though you seem to be assuming that they won't. They have to for speed cameras etc, won't they have to for this? If it's totally stealthy, then I'd agree it seems unfair. But if it's done openly, then, like speeding, surely it's up to the driver to pay attention. As for education beyond initial driving lessons, all kinds of people from all kinds of groups have been and are wrestling with ways to educate *all* road users about better road behaviour or "nudge" them into it, and there don't seem to be any easy solutions. Have you got any? I personally think, if done fairly, that this is a pretty good way to nudge behaviour.

I think it's likely to make drivers more aware of the cycle lanes, which is a good thing. If they are also enforcing the mandatory cycle lanes that's going to be more difficult of course, but sounds like that's the plan too. As long as it's clear to drivers that mandatory doesn't mean cyclists *have* to use them, which still seems to cause confusion.

I've posted this a few times so hopefully don't get taken for being a shill for the company, but Fujiyama's aren't the only place that delivers sushi to ED, Edo in Crystal Palace does as well, and very good they are too. Much better than my one rubbish experience with Fujiyama where everything was a bit tired and arrived in a mess. I've also seen a couple of other sushi places on Just Eat and there's Deliverance as well, though can't vouch for any of those. Do wish we had somewhere nearer though.

Just had them round. They opened with "this is not a sales call". Which of course always means it is.

If you intended to have a productive bank holiday weekend, whatever you do, don't start playing this http://candies.aniwey.net/.

Yes, that basically sums it up! Strange pitch, but somehow it works. It's the way it changes as you level up your weaponry etc that I think keeps it interesting. Impressed with the Superhexagon scores, don't think I've gotten above 20. Got it in a previous Humble Bundle for android, highly recommend signing up for those if you haven't already https://www.humblebundle.com/. Support charities and get great games, is the idea.

Are we doing casual games on this thread as well as the console ones? If so, just finished 10000000 (enough 0s?), on android, brilliant, once you get the hang of its slightly weird concept http://eightyeightgames.com/

But all the recent posts on the 007 handyman thread are from others, not Victor himself, unless I am mistaken. So he's not actually promoting himself?

Are you suggesting the recent recommendations for him and his business are fakes? Having had several excellent experiences using Victor and co, I very much doubt it.

Gosh, I normally just worry about stuff with credit/debit card details, never thought to take it to this level. Is it really that big a risk to warrant shredding everything with any personal details whatsoever? Seems more likely I'd have my card cloned at a bar, as I have done, despite all my best efforts. I do have a ton of stuff that needs shredding, though, and I don't think a single shredder will cope. Is there anywhere else to take confidential waste around here?

How are the roads today? Debating whether cycling into town is a good idea or not. By the end of yesterday roads near me were very icy.

I use Just Snipe https://www.justsnipe.com/. It's a pretty basic site, but it works, and gives you several free credits a month.

Have seen in the New Year from the top of Canonbie Road a few times, great views, usually a reasonable crowd. Could be that's the place you mean.

I've also just had someone recommend these tweed capes for cycling to me. I mean, they are lovely, but ?450! http://www.dashingtweeds.co.uk/ladies-cape.html. And I definitely want a coat rather than a cape. Maybe a mac would be both stylish and practical. Anyway, thanks applespider. I'm going to try and find somewhere I can actually try on a Water off a Duck's Back jacket, and maybe that will sway me. Or maybe I'll just buy a cheap mac off ebay and sew on some reflective material...

Has anyone found any nice coats that are good for cycling in out there? I am cycling more now in regular clothes to meetings around town etc and since my altura nightvision jacket is perishing on the inside I am looking to find something a bit smarter which doesn't leave me covered in what looks like fluorescent dandruff. These are nice, but a little pricey http://www.wateroffaducksback.co.uk/ladieswear-1-c.asp Doesn't have to be made for cycling, necessarily, though being bright and reflective is a bonus. Any tips? Thanks!

I had a spectacular wipeout on this a couple of years ago when I rode up onto it to overtake a stationary bus heading towards the library and caught the back wheel on the edge as it's raised a couple of inches. So yeah, not a fan. And the fact that it's a contraflow is really unclear as mentioned. Couldn't they just widen the road a little more and mark out a cycle lane on it?

@andredivic Hope you enjoyed the canal route! Also recommend Strava which is an app which does a very similar thing in recording your ride and giving you stats. It shows you how you stack up against other people on the same route and awards you trophies for beating their times. Nice reward at the end of a journey :)

> > I really get annoyed when cyclists who so > consistently flout traffic management signs and > signals moan about cars that are doing the exact > opposite. From my own painful experience, which I > would never wish on anyone else, I can only > express a wish that cycling should be more > regulated, with proper road training, insurance > and possibly road tax as a component of legitimate > road presence. Ah, the old road tax canard, can we please put that one to bed? http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/cyclesafety/article3311131.ece And yes of course cyclists are subject to the same rules as everyone and should follow them. Doesn't seem to be the real issue here though? More importantly, did you get any sense of timings for this work from the council engineer you spoke to?

Here's a map of the route via the Surrey Canal route to Waterloo via E&C bypass http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=218208326307037829098.0004a87d382672a9e6e31&msa=0&ll=51.485605,-0.08523&spn=0.033939,0.077162. Although I more often now take Lyndhurst Way - Southhampton Way - Wells Way as is faster though not so pretty. Also very happy to take anyone along that route if someone wants a guide! Also would like to recommend the Southwark free lessons, even if you are an experienced cyclist. Had one recently to get some tips about maintenance and better technique (e.g. use of gears etc) and it was really useful. Learnt quite a bit even though I've been cycling for years. More info here http://www.southwark.gov.uk/info/200123/cycling/446/cycle_training/1 Can get them if you work or live in the borough. And just to add, I feel that cycling around London is fairly safe if you ride sensibly and assertively. But still too many deaths this year, and it seems a lot of serious accidents happen when cyclists get caught inside left turning vehicles, esp lorries. So don't filter up the left hand side, not worth the risk! Take the lane and be visible, Southwark lessons also very good on this sort of stuff.

They used to use fleas! See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfQ36aXMSfY. But now it's just trickery, mechanical devices and so on. Cat fleas too small to work with, and human fleas no longer available (thank goodness).

So we have a vegetable thief on the loose? Some lovely person pinched my veg box this morning from my porch, I hope it's not the start of a trend.

Sounds like we had similar encounters with the same two kids, though I was also cycling at the time, up Crystal Palace Road. I've seen one of them once since around here. They were very definitely behaving oddly, cycling one in front and ne behind me, with some nonsense about a chain coming off and then appearing to follow me home. When I got back home I watched them circle round the block and then pull up and scarper, possibly when they realised I was watching them. I'm not really sure what they could have done in broad daylight on a fairly busy road, when I was on my bike, and it was all rather transparent and inept. I wondered if they were attempting some rather pathetic intimidation, or playing a silly game, I didn't get a particularly menacing vibe from them. But I couldn't be sure, of course. I'll keep an eye out, and obviously worth being alert whenever you notice people behaving oddly, especially in pairs, but a caution about jumping to the conclusion that they are necessarily about to commit violence.