Knee advice + Motorists ignoring red lights

Hello all, de-lurking, many thanks all for the fine reading material, on
behalf of all cycling lurkers

I've just been unhappily forced to commute by car for the last fortnight
(for the first time in about a year), due to a spill from my bike after
hitting a protruding bit of kerb, and a consequently hammered knee, today
was the first day it was bendy enough to start cycling again (hooray! - it's
great to be back out in the fresh air).

Can anyone give me any pointers to good knee-care advice for cyclists?

The other part of this question is due to the fact that when traveling by
bike, I'm able to avoid most major road junctions, and when I come to a
tricky one, I'll get off and go on foot - having got hit last year by
someone trundling through an amber light I'm quite cautious - so when
having to drive for a couple of weeks I was _amazed_ at the number of
motorists that just _drive_ through red lights - not the classic Amber
Gamblers, there are apparently a large number of car drivers that assume
that red lights simply don't apply to them. Any thoughts?


Cheers all,

Neil

On Fri, 20 Feb 2004 13:35:22 -0000 someone who may be "Neil Brown"
wrote this:-

so when
having to drive for a couple of weeks I was _amazed_ at the number of
motorists that just _drive_ through red lights - not the classic Amber
Gamblers, there are apparently a large number of car drivers that assume
that red lights simply don't apply to them. Any thoughts?

You must be lying:-) We have been told by numerous people that it is
only every cyclist that ignores red lights. Motorists would never do
such a thing.



--
David Hansen, Edinburgh | PGP email preferred-key number F566DA0E
I will always explain revoked keys, unless the UK government
prevents me using the RIP Act 2000.

"Neil Brown" wrote in
message

Can anyone give me any pointers to good knee-care advice for cyclists?

Use lower gears and keep your cadence high - the less pressure you have to
exert the better.
Avoid trying to charge up hills - again use a low gear and spin.

E

On Fri, 20 Feb 2004 13:35:22 -0000, Neil Brown wrote:



Can anyone give me any pointers to good knee-care advice for cyclists?


1. Use a higher cadence. (90rpm or so)
2. Make sure your saddle is the right height.
3. Pedal smoothly.
4. Keep your knees warm.
5. Make sure your pedals/shoes are set up correctly.
6. If using clipless pedals use the ones with float.
7. Make sure the crank arms and pedal spindles aren't bent.


--
Michael MacClancy
Random putdown - "They never open their mouths without subtracting from
the sum of human knowledge." - Thomas Brackett Reed
www.macclancy.demon.co.uk
www.macclancy.co.uk

Neil Brown wrote:

when having to drive for a couple of weeks I was
_amazed_ at the number of motorists that just _drive_ through red
lights - not the classic Amber Gamblers, there are apparently a
large number of car drivers that assume that red lights simply don't
apply to them. Any thoughts?

Yes. You were obviously having some kind of nightmare. It doesn't happen
in Real Life(tm). The Disciples of Stan, er, Sm+th say so, so it /must/ be
true.

--

Dave Larrington - http://www.legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uk/
================================================== =========
Editor - British Human Power Club Newsletter
http://www.bhpc.org.uk/
================================================== =========

Neil Brown wrote:
Hello all, de-lurking, many thanks all for the fine reading material, on
behalf of all cycling lurkers

I've just been unhappily forced to commute by car for the last fortnight
(for the first time in about a year), due to a spill from my bike after
hitting a protruding bit of kerb, and a consequently hammered knee, today
was the first day it was bendy enough to start cycling again (hooray! - it's
great to be back out in the fresh air).

Can anyone give me any pointers to good knee-care advice for cyclists?

The other part of this question is due to the fact that when traveling by
bike, I'm able to avoid most major road junctions, and when I come to a
tricky one, I'll get off and go on foot - having got hit last year by
someone trundling through an amber light I'm quite cautious - so when
having to drive for a couple of weeks I was _amazed_ at the number of
motorists that just _drive_ through red lights - not the classic Amber
Gamblers, there are apparently a large number of car drivers that assume
that red lights simply don't apply to them. Any thoughts?



Drivers don't jump lights they "stray unwittingly" through them. As
opposed to cyclists who "sail" through them. Does that mean horses
"rocket" thrugh them and motobikes "spank" through them? One wonders.

"Vincent Wilcox" wrote in message
...

Drivers don't jump lights they "stray unwittingly" through them. As
opposed to cyclists who "sail" through them. Does that mean horses
"rocket" thrugh them and motobikes "spank" through them? One wonders.

"Pray" is more appropriate on a motorbike

Hello all, de-lurking, many thanks all for the fine reading material, on
behalf of all cycling lurkers

Hello de-lurker :-)

I've just been unhappily forced to commute by car for the last fortnight
(for the first time in about a year), due to a spill from my bike after
hitting a protruding bit of kerb, and a consequently hammered knee, today
was the first day it was bendy enough to start cycling again (hooray! - it's
great to be back out in the fresh air).

Sounds nasty - but I'm glad you are able to cycle again.

Can anyone give me any pointers to good knee-care advice for cyclists?

I suppose the main advice is to place as little strain as possible on it,
whilst at the same time exercising it to keep it mobile. When I was using
tradtitional [edals (with or without toeclips) I had a lot of pain in my knees
once I stopped cycling. I'd get off the bike after a nice hour or so out on it
and then start hobbling about like some old biddy in her dotage ;-)

I changed to clipless pedals (I use Look ones) and now I don't get the
post-cycling pain in my knees I used to get. I wonder if this would work for
you (if you aren't already using clipless that is)? Using clipless definitely
puts less strain on my knee joints.

The other part of this question is due to the fact that when traveling by
bike, I'm able to avoid most major road junctions, and when I come to a
tricky one, I'll get off and go on foot - having got hit last year by
someone trundling through an amber light I'm quite cautious - so when
having to drive for a couple of weeks I was _amazed_ at the number of
motorists that just _drive_ through red lights - not the classic Amber
Gamblers, there are apparently a large number of car drivers that assume
that red lights simply don't apply to them. Any thoughts?

Obviously your knee injury has affected your vision ;-) Why? well, loads of
posters from uk.tosspot, sorry, uk.transport and various disciples of the
Church of Clarkson *insist* that motorists *never* do such a thing. It's only
cyclists that do this jumping of red lights apparently. Your affected vision is
similar to my own, as I see motorists jumping lights in the same way. Ah ha!
Suddenly it all becomes clear. What we are seeing are cyclists masquerading as
motorists. Cyclists obviously in disguise out to try to give the much maligned
motorists of Albion a bad name :-)

Anyhow - best wishes in looking after that knee.

Cheers, helen s


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"Frobnitz" wrote in message
...

"Neil Brown" wrote in
message

Can anyone give me any pointers to good knee-care advice for cyclists?

Use lower gears and keep your cadence high - the less pressure you have to
exert the better.
Avoid trying to charge up hills - again use a low gear and spin.

I was going to say that, and include advice to keep them warm if its tendon
trouble.
But then I noticed he's come off his bike, so its not your usual.

Knee pads? I'd wear them if I was deliberately trying to find the limits of
my bike, looks quite fun when skateboarders (or peter kaye) go sliding about
on their knees.

Hello all,

Many thanks for the good knee advice, very much appreciated. I did commute
15 miles each way last year and wondered if this would give me knee
problems, that and the mountaineering, but it seemed OK - but eventually I
ripped a tendon from cleaning up the kitchen floor - I'm sure theres a
lesson there - that and the recent spill (same knee) and I'm suddenly
aware of how much I took them for granted (knees)

Lights, glad it's not just me. Scary things these cars, 'specially here
in Leicester, traffic is heavy _and_ fast.


Cheers all and ta again, off for a lurk and a cycle now,

Neil