On 05/04/2022 16:16, Tone wrote:
> On 05/04/2022 11:24, Kerr-Mudd, John wrote:
>> The one I use is barely maintained, a vigilant lookout for ruts &
>> potholes is required.
>>
>>
> 'Barely Maintained' applies to the whole of the waterway system now ever
> since a previous government decided that they weren't theirs to maintain
> anymore.
>
1963 or so when they got rid of the British Waterways Board commercial
fleet? They were certainly in worse condition than they are now when I
first started floating in 1977.

I also had to pay for licences for both the boat and the bike.

--
Tciao for Now!

John.

On 05/04/2022 18:42, Peter wrote:
> RustyHinge <rusty.hinge@foobar.girolle.co.uk> wrote in news:t2hs1d$mbf$1
> @dont-email.me:
>
>> On 05/04/2022 16:53, Tone wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> It's the two-wheeled head-downers who don't slow down that are the
>>> subject of the above (tongue-in-cheek) rant.
>>
>> Like one of my scoolfellows, but you could add 'rash'. Head down,
>> pedalling like the clappers, he went head-first into a lamp post, and
>> that was the end of his career.
>>
>> This was before the days of helmets (1950s), but even one of those might
>> not have saved him.
>
> Yup, BTDT. When I were 16-ish, I think. Cycling home from scouts one night,
> head down, flat out, and suddenly I was in the miggle of the road with the
> remains of my bike round my neck and no idea where I was or why. Seems I'd
> taken a high-speed bite out of the boot of a parked car. Lost me two front
> teef. Gave the prunts quite a shock when I turned up in an ambulance, but I
> don't recall much else.
>
> The toofs were lost and gone forever - I do recall some extremely
> uncomfortable dental surgery so I wasn't too pleased when a couple of year
> ago the dentist announced that he was going to have to remove the caps and
> drill out the stumps. But dental surgery has clearly come a long way in the
> last half-century - it was no problem at all.
>
>

To lighten the situation, a short tale: a cyclist sped past the 72ft
trip boat Merlin near Mytchett Visitor Centre on the Basingstoke canal.
The towing path snakes towards the canal under Mytchett Road Bridge.
There is a sign that says, 'Cyclists must dismount'. He ignored this. He
was so intent on looking back at the boat that he had just passed that
he cycled straight into the cut.

I banged the boat into reverse and just managed to stop before running
him over. Passengers on the bow deck had a wonderful view.

He was splashing about and screaming, "Help! Help, I can't swim!" On the
boat's PA I told him to stand up. This he did. It was about four feet
deep under there. He began to climb out of the water over the sheet
piling. I suggested that he remove his bike first. He did this, throwing
it on to the path. Then he climbed out, mounted his bike and cycled off
squelching alongside Mytchett Lake, to the applause and cheers of some
40 passengers on the boat.

It made our day.

Tone

Peter said:
> RustyHinge <rusty.hinge@foobar.girolle.co.uk> wrote in news:t2hs1d$mbf$1
>>
>> Like one of my scoolfellows, but you could add 'rash'. Head down,
>> pedalling like the clappers, he went head-first into a lamp post, and
>> that was the end of his career.
>>
>> This was before the days of helmets (1950s), but even one of those might
>> not have saved him.
>
> Yup, BTDT. When I were 16-ish, I think. Cycling home from scouts one night,
> head down,

MeToo. In my case, I'd been to the library and was freewheeling downhill
with a book propped open on the handlebars ... parked car, over the
handlebars, road, half-a-tooth.

> I wasn't too pleased when a couple of year
> ago the dentist announced that he was going to have to remove the caps and
> drill out the stumps. But dental surgery has clearly come a long way in the
> last half-century - it was no problem at all.

Again, MeToo.

--
Richard Robinson
"The whole plan hinged upon the natural curiosity of potatoes" - S. Lem

My email address is at http://qualmograph.org.uk/contact.html

On 05/04/2022 18:42, Peter wrote:

> Yup, BTDT. When I were 16-ish, I think. Cycling home from scouts one night,
> head down, flat out, and suddenly I was in the miggle of the road with the
> remains of my bike round my neck and no idea where I was or why. Seems I'd
> taken a high-speed bite out of the boot of a parked car. Lost me two front
> teef. Gave the prunts quite a shock when I turned up in an ambulance, but I
> don't recall much else.

I well unforget when I was about fourteen, and was one of the eight or
so school students going home in a Bedford CA minibus provided by a
local coachco. The driver had just got back in after letting a lad out
of the back at one of the stops when there was a loud BNAG at the back door.

A young chap had been pedalling furiously, not looking where he was
going, and had ridden slap into the back of the stationary minibus.
Remarkably, said young chap wasn't badly hurt - a few cuts and bruises
only - but his bike was in quite a mess.

My unforgettery fails me as to what happened after that - I goove the
lad may have chosen to complete his journey on foot. The minibus
completed its route and dropped us off at the abezny places.

--
Regards,
Andrew.

Tone <tone@email.com> wrote in news:t2ih40$6kg$1@dont-email.me:

>
> To lighten the situation, a short tale: a cyclist sped past the 72ft
> trip boat Merlin near Mytchett Visitor Centre on the Basingstoke
> canal. The towing path snakes towards the canal under Mytchett Road
> Bridge. There is a sign that says, 'Cyclists must dismount'. He
> ignored this. He was so intent on looking back at the boat that he had
> just passed that he cycled straight into the cut.

Lucky he didn't hit the bridge. Down our end of the canal the bridges are
concrete and low enough that pesdestrians have to stoop to get under them.

--
Peter
-----

On 06/04/2022 10:06, Peter wrote:
> Tone <tone@email.com> wrote in news:t2ih40$6kg$1@dont-email.me:
>
>>
>> To lighten the situation, a short tale: a cyclist sped past the 72ft
>> trip boat Merlin near Mytchett Visitor Centre on the Basingstoke
>> canal. The towing path snakes towards the canal under Mytchett Road
>> Bridge. There is a sign that says, 'Cyclists must dismount'. He
>> ignored this. He was so intent on looking back at the boat that he had
>> just passed that he cycled straight into the cut.
>
> Lucky he didn't hit the bridge. Down our end of the canal the bridges are
> concrete and low enough that pesdestrians have to stoop to get under them.

But high enough for a norse to get under, I trust?

--
Rusty Hinge
To err is human. To really foul things up requires a computer and the BOFH.

On 2022-04-05, Tone <tone@email.com> wrote:
> On 05/04/2022 18:42, Peter wrote:
>> RustyHinge <rusty.hinge@foobar.girolle.co.uk> wrote in news:t2hs1d$mbf$1
>> @dont-email.me:
>>
>>> On 05/04/2022 16:53, Tone wrote:
>>>
>>
>
> To lighten the situation, a short tale: a cyclist sped past the 72ft
> trip boat Merlin near Mytchett Visitor Centre on the Basingstoke canal.
> The towing path snakes towards the canal under Mytchett Road Bridge.
> There is a sign that says, 'Cyclists must dismount'. He ignored this. He
> was so intent on looking back at the boat that he had just passed that
> he cycled straight into the cut.
>
> I banged the boat into reverse and just managed to stop before running
> him over. Passengers on the bow deck had a wonderful view.
>
> He was splashing about and screaming, "Help! Help, I can't swim!" On the
> boat's PA I told him to stand up. This he did. It was about four feet
> deep under there. He began to climb out of the water over the sheet
> piling. I suggested that he remove his bike first. He did this, throwing
> it on to the path. Then he climbed out, mounted his bike and cycled off
> squelching alongside Mytchett Lake, to the applause and cheers of some
> 40 passengers on the boat.
>
> It made our day.
>
> Tone

There is a stretch of semi-abandoned canal near here, and yes, it is
very shallow, but the bottom is very sticky silt. Dangerous.

--
greymausg@mail.com
That's not a mousehole!

On Wed, 6 Apr 2022 11:14:11 +0100, RustyHinge
<rusty.hinge@foobar.girolle.co.uk> wrote:

>On 06/04/2022 10:06, Peter wrote:
>> Tone <tone@email.com> wrote in news:t2ih40$6kg$1@dont-email.me:
>>
>>>
>>> To lighten the situation, a short tale: a cyclist sped past the 72ft
>>> trip boat Merlin near Mytchett Visitor Centre on the Basingstoke
>>> canal. The towing path snakes towards the canal under Mytchett Road
>>> Bridge. There is a sign that says, 'Cyclists must dismount'. He
>>> ignored this. He was so intent on looking back at the boat that he had
>>> just passed that he cycled straight into the cut.
>>
>> Lucky he didn't hit the bridge. Down our end of the canal the bridges are
>> concrete and low enough that pesdestrians have to stoop to get under them.
>
>But high enough for a norse to get under, I trust?

Know knead. Roving Bridges, innit?

Nick

On Wed, 6 Apr 2022 08:27:23 +0100, Andrew Marshall
<news@y-ddraenog-goch.org.uk> wrote:

>On 05/04/2022 18:42, Peter wrote:
>
>> Yup, BTDT. When I were 16-ish, I think. Cycling home from scouts one night,
>> head down, flat out, and suddenly I was in the miggle of the road with the
>> remains of my bike round my neck and no idea where I was or why. Seems I'd
>> taken a high-speed bite out of the boot of a parked car. Lost me two front
>> teef. Gave the prunts quite a shock when I turned up in an ambulance, but I
>> don't recall much else.
>
>I well unforget when I was about fourteen, and was one of the eight or
>so school students going home in a Bedford CA minibus provided by a
>local coachco. The driver had just got back in after letting a lad out
>of the back at one of the stops when there was a loud BNAG at the back door.
>
>A young chap had been pedalling furiously, not looking where he was
>going, and had ridden slap into the back of the stationary minibus.
>Remarkably, said young chap wasn't badly hurt - a few cuts and bruises
>only - but his bike was in quite a mess.
>
>My unforgettery fails me as to what happened after that - I goove the
>lad may have chosen to complete his journey on foot. The minibus
>completed its route and dropped us off at the abezny places.

I see that there's a roundabout between Fordingbridge Road and
Gastonbridge Road in Shepperton these days.

Well there wasn't one when I were a lad. Pedaling along Fordingbridge
Road, right hand outstretched, positioned in the crown of the road for
my right turn, Cycling Proficiency Test stylee, no oncoming traffic so
I accelerated and turned right.

Only I didn't. My headset was loose and I only turned half right and
with no time to take further corrective action, ploughed straight into
the high kerbstone on the corner and - over the top I went. Teeth
intact. Pride, bike, clothes, knees and elbows definitely dented.

Nick

On Tue, 5 Apr 2022 10:10:21 +0100, Tone <tone@email.com> wrote:

>Much of the problem is that SUSTRANS have paid for the upgrading of many
>towing paths into cycle tracks, and then the cyclists think it's all
>theirs, and boaters, their kids and dogs, should get out of their way.

Couldn't one put the bike into very low gear, attach a boat to it with a rope,
and tow the boat?

The cyclist would get plenty of exercise, and not go over-fast. And when a
sufficiency of exercise has been reached, walk (or gently roll) back to the
starting point in a few minutes...?

Thomas Prufer

On 06/04/2022 16:00, Thomas Prufer wrote:
> On Tue, 5 Apr 2022 10:10:21 +0100, Tone <tone@email.com> wrote:
>
>> Much of the problem is that SUSTRANS have paid for the upgrading of many
>> towing paths into cycle tracks, and then the cyclists think it's all
>> theirs, and boaters, their kids and dogs, should get out of their way.
>
> Couldn't one put the bike into very low gear, attach a boat to it with a rope,
> and tow the boat?
>
> The cyclist would get plenty of exercise, and not go over-fast. And when a
> sufficiency of exercise has been reached, walk (or gently roll) back to the
> starting point in a few minutes...?
>
>
> Thomas Prufer

Wot a brilliant idea!

How are you going to sell it to SUSTRANS?

Dragons Den?

Tone

On 06/04/2022 13:57, Nick Odell wrote:
> I only turned half right and
> with no time to take further corrective action, ploughed straight into
> the high kerbstone on the corner and - over the top I went. Teeth
> intact. Pride, bike, clothes, knees and elbows definitely dented.
>
> Nick

As an 11 year old I hit a brick cycling down the hill into Yiewsley (to
collect GWR train numbers), went over the handlebars and scarred my
fizzogg on road rash and broke a front tooth.

The local chemist patched me up for a tanner (all I had).

But the following day I took my entry interview for grammer fpubby, and
actually passed, scarred as I was.

I walked out on my 15th birthday and joined the RN as a boy stoker.

In retropsect I wish I had failed. Secondary Modern would have suited me
far betterererer. I became a respected hands-on aircraft engineer in
later life.

That Grammer lot tried to turn me into a linguist. Well testiculus to them!

Tone

On Wed, 06 Apr 2022 17:00:43 +0200, Thomas Prufer wrote:

> On Tue, 5 Apr 2022 10:10:21 +0100, Tone <tone@email.com> wrote:
>
>>Much of the problem is that SUSTRANS have paid for the upgrading of many
>>towing paths into cycle tracks, and then the cyclists think it's all
>>theirs, and boaters, their kids and dogs, should get out of their way.
>
> Couldn't one put the bike into very low gear, attach a boat to it with a rope,
> and tow the boat?
>
> The cyclist would get plenty of exercise, and not go over-fast. And when a
> sufficiency of exercise has been reached, walk (or gently roll) back to the
> starting point in a few minutes...?
>
Google Compo; Last of The Summer Wine

--
Jim S

On Tue, 5 Apr 2022 09:54:13 +0100
"Kerr-Mudd, John" <admin@127.0.0.1> wrote:

> On Tue, 5 Apr 2022 06:56:35 +0100
> Ahem A Rivet's Shot <steveo@eircom.net> wrote:
>
> > On Mon, 4 Apr 2022 23:57:00 +0100
> > Tone <tone@email.com> wrote:
> >
> > > But I firmly believe that those using them as exercise machines, for
> > > racing, posing and basically showing off should be restricted to cycle
> > > race-courses, off public roads, off pavements and paths, and certainly
> > > off canal towpaths.
> >
> > This.
> >
> Oh dear. Today I shall hoon down a canal path, drink BEER then plod back. Luckily it's not used much. I do have a bell, amd will slow down if I have to. Ah well it was nice chatting to you all before this came up.
>

All went quietly. Maybe a few dog owners were nervous, but that's why I ring the bell.

--
Bah, and indeed Humbug.

On Wed, 06 Apr 2022 17:00:43 +0200
Thomas Prufer <prufer.public@mnet-online.de.invalid> wrote:

> The cyclist would get plenty of exercise, and not go over-fast. And when a
> sufficiency of exercise has been reached, walk (or gently roll) back to
> the starting point in a few minutes...?

IRTA as starting pint - AISMS sort of.

--
Steve O'Hara-Smith
Odds and Ends at http://www.sohara.org/

On Wed, 6 Apr 2022 16:45:25 +0100
Tone <tone@email.com> wrote:

> As an 11 year old I hit a brick cycling down the hill into Yiewsley (to
> collect GWR train numbers), went over the handlebars and scarred my
> fizzogg on road rash and broke a front tooth.

All the times I came flying off my bike I ever damaged a tooth,
including the scary one when a brake handle fell off and caught in the
front wheel - I had a lovely slow motion view of the road approaching, then
a gap, then tangled in bike looking at oncoming car, then tangled in bike
on pavement watching car pass.

It was a car and a road that wrecked all my front teeth, not long
after I got them - the car just clipped me and threw me face first into the
road. When the moulded brace came off my top front teeth resembled crazy
paving, it took them over twenty years to completely fall out with bits
falling off them from time to time.

--
Steve O'Hara-Smith
Odds and Ends at http://www.sohara.org/

On 06-Apr-22 21:00, Kerr-Mudd, John wrote:
> On Tue, 5 Apr 2022 09:54:13 +0100
> "Kerr-Mudd, John" <admin@127.0.0.1> wrote:
>
>> On Tue, 5 Apr 2022 06:56:35 +0100
>> Ahem A Rivet's Shot <steveo@eircom.net> wrote:
>>
>>> On Mon, 4 Apr 2022 23:57:00 +0100
>>> Tone <tone@email.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> But I firmly believe that those using them as exercise machines, for
>>>> racing, posing and basically showing off should be restricted to cycle
>>>> race-courses, off public roads, off pavements and paths, and certainly
>>>> off canal towpaths.
>>>
>>> This.
>>>
>> Oh dear. Today I shall hoon down a canal path, drink BEER then plod back. Luckily it's not used much. I do have a bell, amd will slow down if I have to. Ah well it was nice chatting to you all before this came up.
>>
>
> All went quietly. Maybe a few dog owners were nervous, but that's why I ring the bell.
>
So...
If Mr Pavlov happens to be walking one of his dogs along the canal, and
you turn up on your bike...

Bettcha didn't think about what chaos might ensue.

--
Sam Plusnet

On 06/04/2022 21:55, Sam Plusnet wrote:
> On 06-Apr-22 21:00, Kerr-Mudd, John wrote:
>>
>> All went quietly. Maybe a few dog owners were nervous, but that's why
>> I ring the bell.
>>
> So...
> If Mr Pavlov happens to be walking one of his dogs along the canal, and
> you turn up on your bike...
>
> Bettcha didn't think about what chaos might ensue.

I wouldn't worry, he'll be walking it off the lead and it will have
buggered off into a field looking for sheep to chase.