Bikes on Southern trains; the jackboot goes in

[MartinM]

Letter received today

Dear Mr M

Thank you for completing the Southern cycling survey this summer;

I am writing to let you know that we will be enforcing the current
policy from 16.1.06....

(snip tales of folding bikes, trains travelling towards London OR
Brighton, and peak hours)

there's gratitude for you!

[davek]

MartinM wrote:
> I am writing to let you know that we will be enforcing the current
> policy from 16.1.06....

Interesting. I had to go up to London the other day and was surprised to
see several bikes on the train. I didn't realise they weren't already
"enforcing" this policy or I might have taken my own bike.

Maybe we should organise a suitcase-carrying campaign for the 16th to
mark the occasion?

d.

[MartinM]

davek wrote:
> MartinM wrote:
> > I am writing to let you know that we will be enforcing the current
> > policy from 16.1.06....
>
> Interesting. I had to go up to London the other day and was surprised to
> see several bikes on the train. I didn't realise they weren't already
> "enforcing" this policy or I might have taken my own bike.

but Shirley you are SET not Southern; different company, different
rules, different colour, same trains, same leaves

>
> Maybe we should organise a suitcase-carrying campaign for the 16th to
> mark the occasion?

or bike bags

Tables, ironing boards etc are all permitted

[Tim Hall]

On 29 Nov 2005 02:20:51 -0800, "MartinM" > wrote:

>
>davek wrote:
>> MartinM wrote:
>> > I am writing to let you know that we will be enforcing the current
>> > policy from 16.1.06....
>>
>> Interesting. I had to go up to London the other day and was surprised to
>> see several bikes on the train. I didn't realise they weren't already
>> "enforcing" this policy or I might have taken my own bike.
>
>but Shirley you are SET not Southern; different company, different
>rules, different colour, same trains, same leaves
>
>>
>> Maybe we should organise a suitcase-carrying campaign for the 16th to
>> mark the occasion?
>
>or bike bags
>
>Tables, ironing boards etc are all permitted

A bloke buys a fishing rod, 5 feet long and gets on a train. Oh no,
says the guard, you can't bring that on here, maximum parcel length is
4 feet. Bloke gets off train, goes back to shop and gets rod put in a
box. Gets on next train no problem.




How big was the box?



Tim

[Mike K Smith]

Tim Hall wrote On 11/29/05 10:51,:

>
> A bloke buys a fishing rod, 5 feet long and gets on a train. Oh no,
> says the guard, you can't bring that on here, maximum parcel length is
> 4 feet. Bloke gets off train, goes back to shop and gets rod put in a
> box. Gets on next train no problem.
>
>
>
>
> How big was the box?

To a first approximation, four feet long and three feet wide with the
rod across the diagonal. There is probably a solution which involves a
narrower box of square section with the rod running from the lower left
to upper right corners.

How many fishing rods come in five foot long sections anyway?

Mike

[davek]

MartinM wrote:
> but Shirley you are SET not Southern; different company, different
> rules, different colour, same trains, same leaves

Oh yeah... is it not the same policy, though?

(Btw, did you hear the story about why SE haven't installed the new
ticket machines at Victoria yet? It's because Southern won't let them.
There's a joined-up transport policy for you!)

> Tables, ironing boards etc are all permitted

Ironing boards! I like that.

d.

[Helen Deborah Vecht]

Tim Hall >typed

> A bloke buys a fishing rod, 5 feet long and gets on a train. Oh no,
> says the guard, you can't bring that on here, maximum parcel length is
> 4 feet. Bloke gets off train, goes back to shop and gets rod put in a
> box. Gets on next train no problem.

> How big was the box?



3*4 feet, with a 5' diagonal...

--
Helen D. Vecht:
Edgware.

[Dave Larrington]

MartinM > wrote:

> davek wrote:
>> MartinM wrote:
>>> I am writing to let you know that we will be enforcing the current
>>> policy from 16.1.06....
>>
>> Interesting. I had to go up to London the other day and was
>> surprised to see several bikes on the train. I didn't realise they
>> weren't already "enforcing" this policy or I might have taken my own
>> bike.
>
> but Shirley you are SET not Southern; different company, different
> rules, different colour, same trains, same leaves
>
>>
>> Maybe we should organise a suitcase-carrying campaign for the 16th to
>> mark the occasion?
>
> or bike bags
>
> Tables, ironing boards etc are all permitted

I've checked ebay for a stuffed hippopotamus, but the only one available is
a pink toy one :-(

--
Dave Larrington - <http://www.legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uk/>
It is impossible to eat a banana without looking like a tw*t.

[Brendan Halpin]

James Annan > writes:

> Since we live in 10-dimensional space these days, he could have
> used a 1.6*1.6*1.6*1.6*1.6*1.6*1.6*1.6*1.6*1.6 foot one, which
> would have made for easier handling...

You may say that, but I find I can never get a grip on the fifth
and higher dimensions.

Brendan
--
Brendan Halpin, Department of Sociology, University of Limerick, Ireland
Tel: w +353-61-213147 f +353-61-202569 h +353-61-338562; Room F2-025 x 3147
http://www.ul.ie/sociology/brendan.halpin.html

[James Annan]

Helen Deborah Vecht wrote:

> Tim Hall >typed
>
>
>>A bloke buys a fishing rod, 5 feet long and gets on a train. Oh no,
>>says the guard, you can't bring that on here, maximum parcel length is
>>4 feet. Bloke gets off train, goes back to shop and gets rod put in a
>>box. Gets on next train no problem.
>
>
>>How big was the box?
>
>
>
>
> 3*4 feet, with a 5' diagonal...
>

Since we live in 10-dimensional space these days, he could have used a
1.6*1.6*1.6*1.6*1.6*1.6*1.6*1.6*1.6*1.6 foot one, which would have made
for easier handling...

James
--
James Annan
see web pages for email
http://www.ne.jp/asahi/julesandjames/home/
http://julesandjames.blogspot.com/

[James Annan]

Brendan Halpin wrote:

> James Annan > writes:
>
>
>>Since we live in 10-dimensional space these days, he could have
>>used a 1.6*1.6*1.6*1.6*1.6*1.6*1.6*1.6*1.6*1.6 foot one, which
>>would have made for easier handling...
>
>
> You may say that, but I find I can never get a grip on the fifth
> and higher dimensions.

Just tie it up with superstrings.

James
--
James Annan
see web pages for email
http://www.ne.jp/asahi/julesandjames/home/
http://julesandjames.blogspot.com/

[MartinM]

davek wrote:
> MartinM wrote:
> > but Shirley you are SET not Southern; different company, different
> > rules, different colour, same trains, same leaves
>
> Oh yeah... is it not the same policy, though?

Yes, just that Southern delayed it a bit longer until the slammers were
scrapped as there was a perfectly useable guard's van in these. Among
my fellow (until 16.1.06) bike passengers we have re-designed the coach
end removing the (usually non-functional and demonstrably useless for
the last wheelchair that I saw try to use it) loo to create a useable
bike space.

The other ****er about this is we will have to stop riding our proper
bikes in in the morning and returning by train ;-(
>
> (Btw, did you hear the story about why SE haven't installed the new
> ticket machines at Victoria yet? It's because Southern won't let them.
> There's a joined-up transport policy for you!)
>
> > Tables, ironing boards etc are all permitted
>
> Ironing boards! I like that.

I'm sure there is some eco-warrior group who have tried this at Bristol
Temple Meads, with every bulky thing you can think of, only the bike
was refused

[MartinM]

one of my fellow eco-warriors has just penned this;

watch this space (or not)

Dear Mr Hendry (local MP)

>From 16/01/06 Southern Rail will be enforcing their policy of no
bicycles
on trains during peak commuting hours. I cycle daily from Forest Row to
East Grinstead and in London from Victoria to Marylebone where I work.
This
is a highly environmentally friendly way to travel; truly an integrated
transport solution. On one or two days a week I cycle from Forest Row
up to
London and in the evenings return by train.

There is a bus service that does integrate in the mornings from Forest
Row
to East Grinstead but in the evenings one is faced with either a forty
minute or considerably longer wait for a bus.

A folding bicycle is not a practical solution for me for the following
reasons; 1. They are not suitable along the Forest Way, 2. I could not
ride the 41 miles from Forest Row to London on one in order to be able
to
return by train in the evening, 3. I cannot really afford another
bicycle.

My main point is that, as a society we are faced with great challenges
to
our environment of which transport is a major contributor to the
problem. A
commitment to cycling is a truly efficient way to travel in the light
of
this transport question and yet here we have the major provider of
commuter
transport in our area flying in the face of such reasoning.

My appeal to you as my representitive to parliament is for you to
repeal
the imminent legislation enforcement by Southern Rail. I look forward
to
hearing from you.

[Jim Ley]

On 29 Nov 2005 04:53:13 -0800, "MartinM" > wrote:

>My main point is that, as a society we are faced with great challenges
>to our environment of which transport is a major contributor to the
>problem. A commitment to cycling is a truly efficient way to travel in the light
>of this transport question and yet here we have the major provider of
>commuter transport in our area flying in the face of such reasoning.

Alternatively not working 41 miles from where you live is a much
simpler solution to the enviromental issues.

Jim.

[MartinM]

Jim Ley wrote:
> On 29 Nov 2005 04:53:13 -0800, "MartinM" > wrote:
>
> >My main point is that, as a society we are faced with great challenges
> >to our environment of which transport is a major contributor to the
> >problem. A commitment to cycling is a truly efficient way to travel in the light
> >of this transport question and yet here we have the major provider of
> >commuter transport in our area flying in the face of such reasoning.
>
> Alternatively not working 41 miles from where you live is a much
> simpler solution to the enviromental issues.

thanks for that; I'll suggest that he tell his bank that they should
move their head office to Forest Row; or would you rather that everyone
who lives 41 miles from London move to within cycling distance of their
place of work?

[Jim Ley]

On 29 Nov 2005 05:08:08 -0800, "MartinM" > wrote:

>Jim Ley wrote:
>> On 29 Nov 2005 04:53:13 -0800, "MartinM" > wrote:
>> Alternatively not working 41 miles from where you live is a much
>> simpler solution to the enviromental issues.
>
>thanks for that; I'll suggest that he tell his bank that they should
>move their head office to Forest Row; or would you rather that everyone
>who lives 41 miles from London move to within cycling distance of their
>place of work?

I certainly think people need to decide where they live such that they
consider the impact of daily 82 mile journeys, it's hypocritical for
the poster to complain about the environmental impact of taking that
journey when it is a journey purely born out of his own desire to live
and work in particular locations.

Jim.

[Mike K Smith]

Tim Hall wrote On 11/29/05 10:51,:

> A bloke buys a fishing rod, 5 feet long and gets on a train. Oh no,
> says the guard, you can't bring that on here, maximum parcel length is
> 4 feet. Bloke gets off train, goes back to shop and gets rod put in a
> box. Gets on next train no problem.
>
>
>
>
> How big was the box?

A 5 foot rod could fit into a cubic box even if the maximum parcel
length was 35 inches.

[Ian Blake]

On Tue, 29 Nov 2005 12:58:43 GMT, (Jim Ley) wrote:

>Alternatively not working 41 miles from where you live is a much
>simpler solution to the enviromental issues.
>
>Jim.

Some time, say fifty years, ago parts of the civil service required
that at least the junior employees lived within a certain distance of
the office (10 miles?). My parents bought a house in Pencoed (near
Bridgend) which was marginal on distance for my father's job in
Pontypridd. A couple of years later my father got a new job in
Cardiff and was obliged to move nearer.

Perhaps it would be better if rules like this still existed. Although
my 16mile bicycle commute would be too far.

[MartinM]

Jim Ley wrote:
> On 29 Nov 2005 05:08:08 -0800, "MartinM" > wrote:
>
> >Jim Ley wrote:
> >> On 29 Nov 2005 04:53:13 -0800, "MartinM" > wrote:
> >> Alternatively not working 41 miles from where you live is a much
> >> simpler solution to the enviromental issues.
> >
> >thanks for that; I'll suggest that he tell his bank that they should
> >move their head office to Forest Row; or would you rather that everyone
> >who lives 41 miles from London move to within cycling distance of their
> >place of work?
>
> I certainly think people need to decide where they live such that they
> consider the impact of daily 82 mile journeys, it's hypocritical for
> the poster to complain about the environmental impact of taking that
> journey when it is a journey purely born out of his own desire to live
> and work in particular locations.

Yebbut the environmental damage caused by cycling to a train station
and catching an electric train with n hundred other passengers is
probably less than eg that of driving 16 miles down the road to an
alternative place of work in a smaller town (which is already congested
with car journeys). Don't assume that just because someone commutes
into London that they have moved out of London to live in the country.

[David Martin]

Ian Blake wrote:

> Some time, say fifty years, ago parts of the civil service required
> that at least the junior employees lived within a certain distance of
> the office (10 miles?). My parents bought a house in Pencoed (near
> Bridgend) which was marginal on distance for my father's job in
> Pontypridd. A couple of years later my father got a new job in
> Cardiff and was obliged to move nearer.
>
> Perhaps it would be better if rules like this still existed. Although
> my 16mile bicycle commute would be too far.

My employer insists that all staff live within 20 miles unless
exemption has been granted. Suitable reasons for exemption include
having a partner already employed at a particular location, making a
move of a few miles somewhat problematic. In practice most live within
5 miles.
It's November, below freezing in the mornings and the bike sheds are
full.. I'm hoping they build the new facility by the spring.

...d

[Jim Ley]

On 29 Nov 2005 07:07:49 -0800, "MartinM" > wrote:

>Jim Ley wrote:
>> I certainly think people need to decide where they live such that they
>> consider the impact of daily 82 mile journeys, it's hypocritical for
>> the poster to complain about the environmental impact of taking that
>> journey when it is a journey purely born out of his own desire to live
>> and work in particular locations.
>
>Yebbut the environmental damage caused by cycling to a train station
>and catching an electric train with n hundred other passengers is
>probably less than eg that of driving 16 miles down the road to an
>alternative place of work in a smaller town.

Certainly, but a 32mile drive is also inappropriate (an 8 mile one,
well that's cyclable, and I'd even be happy) which is why I've never
taken a job I can't cycle to (not that I've always cycled the
journey). There are good arguments for allowing bicycles on trains,
there are also good ones for not, I just do not think environmental
arguments are a good one for a daily commute, given that the commute
is a concious choice.

Jim.

[Peter Clinch]

Jim Ley wrote:

> There are good arguments for allowing bicycles on trains,
> there are also good ones for not, I just do not think environmental
> arguments are a good one for a daily commute, given that the commute
> is a concious choice.

Fair comment. Especially if you want to max out the number of folk on
the train, having a bike at each end probably makes a lot more
environmental sense than carting the bike all the way, at least if more
than a couple of people are taking bikes.

Bikes on trains is a bit like Bromptons in cafes: it only works to much
extent because not many people want to do it, and it doesn't scale
particularly well to mass daily use. Trains in the NL aren't full of
bikes, for example, but you /can/ hire one at the station.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

[Roos Eisma]

Peter Clinch > writes:

>Fair comment. Especially if you want to max out the number of folk on
>the train, having a bike at each end probably makes a lot more
>environmental sense than carting the bike all the way, at least if more
>than a couple of people are taking bikes.

>Bikes on trains is a bit like Bromptons in cafes: it only works to much
>extent because not many people want to do it, and it doesn't scale
>particularly well to mass daily use. Trains in the NL aren't full of
>bikes, for example, but you /can/ hire one at the station.

And many of the larger stations have indoor guarded bike parking, for a
reasonable monthly subscription (though some are overfull).

Roos

[davek]

Peter Clinch wrote:
> having a bike at each end probably makes a lot more
> environmental sense than carting the bike all the way

Environmental sense is one thing, being able to rely on having a usable
vehicle (ie not vandalised/stolen) at either end of the train journey is
another.

I wouldn't be happy about leaving a bike at Victoria, and I'd be even
less happy about leaving a bike at my home station.

d.

[Jim Ley]

On Tue, 29 Nov 2005 16:58:12 +0000, davek >
wrote:

>Peter Clinch wrote:
>> having a bike at each end probably makes a lot more
>> environmental sense than carting the bike all the way
>
>Environmental sense is one thing, being able to rely on having a usable
>vehicle (ie not vandalised/stolen) at either end of the train journey is
>another.
>
>I wouldn't be happy about leaving a bike at Victoria, and I'd be even
>less happy about leaving a bike at my home station.

So the provision of secure cycle parking facilities would be a
possible solution.

Jim.

[Jon_H]

"David Martin" > wrote in message
oups.com...
>
> Ian Blake wrote:
>
> > Some time, say fifty years, ago parts of the civil service required
> > that at least the junior employees lived within a certain distance of
> > the office (10 miles?). My parents bought a house in Pencoed (near
> > Bridgend) which was marginal on distance for my father's job in
> > Pontypridd. A couple of years later my father got a new job in
> > Cardiff and was obliged to move nearer.
> >
> > Perhaps it would be better if rules like this still existed. Although
> > my 16mile bicycle commute would be too far.
>
> My employer insists that all staff live within 20 miles unless
> exemption has been granted. Suitable reasons for exemption include
> having a partner already employed at a particular location, making a
> move of a few miles somewhat problematic. In practice most live within
> 5 miles.
> It's November, below freezing in the mornings and the bike sheds are
> full.. I'm hoping they build the new facility by the spring.
>
> ..d
>

Who's your employer, remind me never to get a job with this company as it
would probably involve major upheaval. If you moved to a new house outside
of the 20 mile exclusion zone would that be grounds for dismissal.

cheers
Jon_H

[Ambrose Nankivell]

davek wrote:
> MartinM wrote:
>> but Shirley you are SET not Southern; different company, different
>> rules, different colour, same trains, same leaves
>
> Oh yeah... is it not the same policy, though?
>
> (Btw, did you hear the story about why SE haven't installed the new
> ticket machines at Victoria yet? It's because Southern won't let them.
> There's a joined-up transport policy for you!)
>
>> Tables, ironing boards etc are all permitted
>
> Ironing boards! I like that.
>
Well, are you going to discriminate against extreme ironists as well?

--
Ambrose

[Ambrose Nankivell]

Dave Larrington wrote:
> MartinM > wrote:
>
>> davek wrote:
>>> MartinM wrote:
>>>> I am writing to let you know that we will be enforcing the current
>>>> policy from 16.1.06....
>>>
>>> Interesting. I had to go up to London the other day and was
>>> surprised to see several bikes on the train. I didn't realise they
>>> weren't already "enforcing" this policy or I might have taken my own
>>> bike.
>>
>> but Shirley you are SET not Southern; different company, different
>> rules, different colour, same trains, same leaves
>>
>>>
>>> Maybe we should organise a suitcase-carrying campaign for the 16th
>>> to mark the occasion?
>>
>> or bike bags
>>
>> Tables, ironing boards etc are all permitted
>
> I've checked ebay for a stuffed hippopotamus, but the only one
> available is a pink toy one :-(

Make your own, you lazy slob.

--
Ambrose

[Alan Braggins]

In article >, Helen Deborah Vecht wrote:
>Tim Hall >typed
>
>> A bloke buys a fishing rod, 5 feet long and gets on a train. Oh no,
>> says the guard, you can't bring that on here, maximum parcel length is
>> 4 feet. Bloke gets off train, goes back to shop and gets rod put in a
>> box. Gets on next train no problem.
>
>> How big was the box?
>
>3*4 feet, with a 5' diagonal...

Or 4*4*4 feet with a more than big enough diagonal, because having been
annoyed by the guard he wants the biggest most awkward box he's allowed.

On the other hand it might be 2' x 6" x 6" because he's now realized
that fishing rods come apart and wants something easier to handle.

[Ambrose Nankivell]

Tim Hall wrote:
> On 29 Nov 2005 02:20:51 -0800, "MartinM" > wrote:
>
>>
>> davek wrote:
>>> MartinM wrote:
>>>> I am writing to let you know that we will be enforcing the current
>>>> policy from 16.1.06....
>>>
>>> Interesting. I had to go up to London the other day and was
>>> surprised to see several bikes on the train. I didn't realise they
>>> weren't already "enforcing" this policy or I might have taken my
>>> own bike.
>>
>> but Shirley you are SET not Southern; different company, different
>> rules, different colour, same trains, same leaves
>>
>>>
>>> Maybe we should organise a suitcase-carrying campaign for the 16th
>>> to mark the occasion?
>>
>> or bike bags
>>
>> Tables, ironing boards etc are all permitted
>
> A bloke buys a fishing rod, 5 feet long and gets on a train. Oh no,
> says the guard, you can't bring that on here, maximum parcel length is
> 4 feet. Bloke gets off train, goes back to shop and gets rod put in a
> box. Gets on next train no problem.
>
> How big was the box?

1.8m x 20cm x 20cm.

The next train was run by a different company.

--
Ambrose

[Tony Raven]

James Annan wrote:

>
> Since we live in 10-dimensional space these days, he could have used a
> 1.6*1.6*1.6*1.6*1.6*1.6*1.6*1.6*1.6*1.6 foot one, which would have made
> for easier handling...
>

ITYM between 8 and 22 dimensions shirley with 11 being the current
favourite in M-theory.

--
Tony

"The best way I know of to win an argument is to start by being in the
right."
- Lord Hailsham

[davek]

Jim Ley wrote:
> So the provision of secure cycle parking facilities would be a
> possible solution.

Indeed. I've got no argument with that, nor with your general point
about commuting long distances.

Anwyay, if I get the job I've just applied for, I shall definitely be
getting a Brompton.

d.

[Mike Causer]

On Tue, 29 Nov 2005 11:26:04 +0000, Dave Larrington wrote:


> I've checked ebay for a stuffed hippopotamus, but the only one available
> is a pink toy one :-(

I wonder if John Prescott is available.....



Mike

[Zog The Undeniable]

Helen Deborah Vecht wrote:

> 3*4 feet, with a 5' diagonal...
>
Thinking in 3 dimensions and making the box 4 x 4 x 4, you can have a
rod of nearly 7 feet.

[Zog The Undeniable]

davek wrote:

> Ironing boards! I like that.

Pretty useless, given that the power points on trains all say "for
laptops and mobile phones only". No 125mph ironing possible :-(

[Tosspot]

MartinM wrote:
> davek wrote:

<snip>

>>Maybe we should organise a suitcase-carrying campaign for the 16th to
>>mark the occasion?
>
>
> or bike bags
>
> Tables, ironing boards etc are all permitted

Ahhh...happy memories...http://whatshouldiputonthefence.com/

I'd forgotten all about that :)

[MartinM]

Jim Ley wrote:
> On Tue, 29 Nov 2005 16:58:12 +0000, davek >
> wrote:
>
> >Peter Clinch wrote:
> >> having a bike at each end probably makes a lot more
> >> environmental sense than carting the bike all the way
> >
> >Environmental sense is one thing, being able to rely on having a usable
> >vehicle (ie not vandalised/stolen) at either end of the train journey is
> >another.
> >
> >I wouldn't be happy about leaving a bike at Victoria, and I'd be even
> >less happy about leaving a bike at my home station.
>
> So the provision of secure cycle parking facilities would be a
> possible solution.

I did look into this; there is an insecure (but beyond the ticket
barriers) bike park at Victoria; however the extra walk to put the bike
there are remove all the walkable items from it; plus repeating the
process in reverse in the evening negates the time saving so I night as
well walk to work. I am fortunate in that I do not require an
especially good bike at either end, and to be fair I moved expecting a
bike ban to come into force (7 years ago) so a folder is no big deal to
me, in fact I bought one 18 moths ago for just this eventuality. I just
don't see why they are turfing what is a small minority off the trains,
which do after all have provision for 2 bikes per 4 car unit, the space
for which is almost never required for standing passengers.

going back to the whole commuting issue; we must accept that much of
the whole work market in the SE of England is geared around middle
distance commuting; mostly into London, it may not be environmentally
friendly but we are stuc with it. I live 30 miles from work; working
locally is a non starter as I could not earn the sort of salary that is
required to pay the mortgage on a family home. My wife commutes 12
miles by car; again there is no alternative as it is the only hospital
within that distance that offers employment in her field.

[Helen Deborah Vecht]

Zog The Undeniable >typed


> Helen Deborah Vecht wrote:

> > 3*4 feet, with a 5' diagonal...
> >
> Thinking in 3 dimensions and making the box 4 x 4 x 4, you can have a
> rod of nearly 7 feet.

Indeed...

--
Helen D. Vecht:
Edgware.

[Tim Hall]

On Tue, 29 Nov 2005 21:09:16 +0900, James Annan
> wrote:

>Brendan Halpin wrote:
>
>> James Annan > writes:
>>
>>
>>>Since we live in 10-dimensional space these days, he could have
>>>used a 1.6*1.6*1.6*1.6*1.6*1.6*1.6*1.6*1.6*1.6 foot one, which
>>>would have made for easier handling...
>>
>>
>> You may say that, but I find I can never get a grip on the fifth
>> and higher dimensions.
>
>Just tie it up with superstrings.
>

OB cycling (and trains): NCN21, which runs on a disused railway, has a
subway near Hailsham called String Theory Subway. AFAICT it's yer bog
standard 3 dimensional one though.


Oh, tick vg to all those who gave an answer.


Tim

[Tony Raven]

Zog The Undeniable wrote:
> Helen Deborah Vecht wrote:
>
>> 3*4 feet, with a 5' diagonal...
>>
> Thinking in 3 dimensions and making the box 4 x 4 x 4, you can have a
> rod of nearly 7 feet.

Except you wouldn't get it through the train door ;-)

--
Tony

"The best way I know of to win an argument is to start by being in the
right."
- Lord Hailsham

[MartinM]

Tony Raven wrote:
> Zog The Undeniable wrote:
> > Helen Deborah Vecht wrote:
> >
> >> 3*4 feet, with a 5' diagonal...
> >>
> > Thinking in 3 dimensions and making the box 4 x 4 x 4, you can have a
> > rod of nearly 7 feet.
>
> Except you wouldn't get it through the train door ;-)

you would on a Southern class 377; they have sliding doors and an
enlarged vestibule for wheelchair access

[davek]

Zog The Undeniable wrote:
> Thinking in 3 dimensions and making the box 4 x 4 x 4, you can have a
> rod of nearly 7 feet.

Nearly 7 1/2 feet, if my mental arithmetic is correct. :-)

d.

[Rob]

sadly, we don't all live in an idyllic world where we can live within a
reasonable cyclable distance from work. in 1997 I bought a house so
that I could be closer to work. For 4 happy years I had a cycle commute
of only about 7 miles in total. Then my company relocated and I now
have to drive a total of 80 miles a day (fortunately I can car share).
Do I relocate and have the same thing happen again a few years later?
Not likely!

[davek]

Zog The Undeniable wrote:
> Pretty useless, given that the power points on trains all say "for
> laptops and mobile phones only". No 125mph ironing possible :-(

I wonder, can you get a USB iron? It might not be able to get very hot,
but surely there's a market for such a thing?

Btw, the only place I've encountered electrical sockets for customer use
is in the first-class carriage on the west coast mainline. The SE
commuter trains into London have no such luxury.

d.

[Tony Raven]

davek wrote:
> Zog The Undeniable wrote:
>> Pretty useless, given that the power points on trains all say "for
>> laptops and mobile phones only". No 125mph ironing possible :-(
>
> I wonder, can you get a USB iron? It might not be able to get very hot,
> but surely there's a market for such a thing?
>

Fire up a processor intensive programme and you can use the bottom of my
laptop as an iron ;-)

Anyone seen the book Extreme Ironing?


--
Tony

"The best way I know of to win an argument is to start by being in the
right."
- Lord Hailsham

[MartinM]

Tony Raven wrote:
> davek wrote:
> > Zog The Undeniable wrote:
> >> Pretty useless, given that the power points on trains all say "for
> >> laptops and mobile phones only". No 125mph ironing possible :-(
> >
> > I wonder, can you get a USB iron? It might not be able to get very hot,
> > but surely there's a market for such a thing?
> >
>
> Fire up a processor intensive programme and you can use the bottom of my
> laptop as an iron ;-)
>
> Anyone seen the book Extreme Ironing?

I don't even know any extreme irons ;-)

found it;
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/4228407.stm

[MartinM]

MartinM wrote:

> I don't even know any extreme irons ;-)

for the benefit of those not born within the sound of Larrington Towers
bells, google for iron rhyming slang.

[David Martin]

davek wrote:
> Zog The Undeniable wrote:
> > Pretty useless, given that the power points on trains all say "for
> > laptops and mobile phones only". No 125mph ironing possible :-(
>
> I wonder, can you get a USB iron? It might not be able to get very hot,
> but surely there's a market for such a thing?

The USB spec won't allow it. You can't get enough power into the
device.

> Btw, the only place I've encountered electrical sockets for customer use
> is in the first-class carriage on the west coast mainline. The SE
> commuter trains into London have no such luxury.

Virgin Pendolino, GNER on the ECML have laptop/phone sockets in
standard class.


...d

[MartinM]

David Martin wrote:


> > Btw, the only place I've encountered electrical sockets for customer use
> > is in the first-class carriage on the west coast mainline. The SE
> > commuter trains into London have no such luxury.
>
> Virgin Pendolino, GNER on the ECML have laptop/phone sockets in
> standard class.

SE trains into London don't even have reservable seats (or phones, or
trolleys, or loos that work within 6 carriages) they do however have
windows to look out of; when I discovered that my reserved Pendolino
seat up to Brum was next to a very opaque piece of train carriage and
not a window I went and stood by the door instead.

[Dave Larrington]

MartinM > wrote:

> I don't even know any extreme irons ;-)

A chap in the Nut Mines ran the New York Marathon recently. I'd say that
qualifies ;-)

--
Dave Larrington - <http://www.legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uk/>
It is not possible to call a complex number from a phone box.

[Eiron]

davek wrote:
> Zog The Undeniable wrote:
>
>> Thinking in 3 dimensions and making the box 4 x 4 x 4, you can have a
>> rod of nearly 7 feet.
>
>
> Nearly 7 1/2 feet, if my mental arithmetic is correct. :-)

And nearly seven feet if your mental arithmetic is incorrect. :-)

--
Eiron

I have no spirit to play with you; your dearth of judgment renders you
tedious - Ben Jonson.

[John_Kane]

MartinM wrote:
> davek wrote:
> > MartinM wrote:
> > > but Shirley you are SET not Southern; different company, different
> > > rules, different colour, same trains, same leaves
> >
> > Oh yeah... is it not the same policy, though?
>
> Yes, just that Southern delayed it a bit longer until the slammers were
> scrapped as there was a perfectly useable guard's van in these. Among
> my fellow (until 16.1.06) bike passengers we have re-designed the coach
> end removing the (usually non-functional and demonstrably useless for
> the last wheelchair that I saw try to use it) loo to create a useable
> bike space.
>
> The other ****er about this is we will have to stop riding our proper
> bikes in in the morning and returning by train ;-(
> >
> > (Btw, did you hear the story about why SE haven't installed the new
> > ticket machines at Victoria yet? It's because Southern won't let them.
> > There's a joined-up transport policy for you!)
> >
> > > Tables, ironing boards etc are all permitted
> >
> > Ironing boards! I like that.
>
> I'm sure there is some eco-warrior group who have tried this at Bristol
> Temple Meads, with every bulky thing you can think of, only the bike
> was refused

Years ago Le Monde à bicyclette in Montreal apparently carried a
12-foot ladder, a toboggan and skis, and at the Zoo station full-size
papier mache hippopotamus, onto the subway.
I believe about 10-15 years later Montreal starting allowing bicycles
on the subway.
John Kane, Kingston ON Canada

[Alan Braggins]

In article <438cb850.0@entanet>, Zog The Undeniable wrote:
>davek wrote:
>
>> Ironing boards! I like that.
>
>Pretty useless, given that the power points on trains all say "for
>laptops and mobile phones only". No 125mph ironing possible :-(

Use a gas powered iron?

[Simon Brooke]

in message . com>, Rob
') wrote:

> sadly, we don't all live in an idyllic world where we can live within a
> reasonable cyclable distance from work. in 1997 I bought a house so
> that I could be closer to work. For 4 happy years I had a cycle commute
> of only about 7 miles in total. Then my company relocated and I now
> have to drive a total of 80 miles a day (fortunately I can car share).
> Do I relocate and have the same thing happen again a few years later?
> Not likely!

Sack your employer. They don't have jobs for life, you know, and you
don't have to pay them redundancy.

--
(Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

;; Life would be much easier if I had the source code.