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Wednesday 16th 54F, heavy overcast, heavy rain and thick mist. What's not to like? The rain is supposed to last while the mist lifts. Possible glimpses of the sun. Quite possibly all at the same time. I have an early appointment but the trike looks an unlikely weapon of transport in these conditions.
On the way back from my appointment, in the car, I was caught up at high speed in the high street by a mentally ill driver. Who proceeded to climb all over my rear bumper because I would not speed just to let him go faster. As soon as we came to the first completely blind corner he overtook me on double white lines.
The victory for raving insanity was short lived. He was baulked by the next slower driver ahead. Only to overtake on the next completely blind bend. According to the continuous double white lines there is no overtaking along this road for four miles. The maximum speed limit is 50mph/80kph. Though, being Denmark, this is completely voluntary. 12 people died on the roads in the first week of October. I wonder how many were voluntary when the police catch tens of thousands speeding every year? Some driving at absolutely insane speeds in built up areas and on twisting rural roads with completely blind bends.
On the way back from my appointment, in the car, I was caught up at high speed in the high street by a mentally ill driver. Who proceeded to climb all over my rear bumper because I would not speed just to let him go faster. As soon as we came to the first completely blind corner he overtook me on double white lines.
The victory for raving insanity was short lived. He was baulked by the next slower driver ahead. Only to overtake on the next completely blind bend. According to the continuous double white lines there is no overtaking along this road for four miles. The maximum speed limit is 50mph/80kph. Though, being Denmark, this is completely voluntary. 12 people died on the roads in the first week of October. I wonder how many were voluntary when the police catch tens of thousands speeding every year? Some driving at absolutely insane speeds in built up areas and on twisting rural roads with completely blind bends.
The picture is of a gaggle of pensioners enjoying a bike ride in the countryside for the exercise and social life.Despite the steady rain I deliberately enjoyed my usual 40 minute walk to the lanes. I remained dry while the rain beaded off the jacket and onto my trousers. I still haven't decided whether to invest in breathable, rain trousers. I take the trousers off after my walk anyway. So it hardly matters if they are wet or dry as long as I am not cold. PU nylon is no better than tailored bin bags for breathability. So why pay more than bin bag prices?
Statistics for injuries from electric bicycles suggest that older riders are suffering 55%. The same age group is down to 26% of the total number of injuries on ordinary bikes. I said, ages ago, that electric bikes aren't as simple to ride as one might think. High speeds need better brakes, better adhesion, faster reaction times and far better anticipation.
Faster [sporting] bicycle riders only became faster by riding lots of miles at those speeds. They practised long and hard. Older riders, buying electric bikes, have no previous experience of these higher speeds. A recipe for disaster! Like older riders investing in the latest 200mph, Isle of Man winning motorcycles. When all they rode in their youth was a 50cc moped.
Whoah! Not so fast! It seems the weight of electric bikes is the major problem. Particularly those with front wheel motors. Gyroscopic effects, anybody? Those with a bottom bracket electric motor are probably better balanced.Danish cycle dealers have complained en-masse about the poor quality of some electric bicycles. Mentioning the poor, rim braking carried over from ordinary roadster bicycles as being completely inadequate.
More statistics: 4000 real people die each year from traffic fumes in Denmark alone. Copenhagen is particularly, heavily polluted. 400,000 real people die each year, in Europe, from traffic fumes. Statistically, most car journeys are short enough to easily walk or cycle. Is your [car] journey really necessary? No, of course not! What a silly question!
Click on any image for an enlargement.
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