None of this civil liberties democracy and freedom of the people twaddle: This time the petition really matters, it’s about bikers falling off their bikes just because some knobhead in planning thought it would be interesting to mix molasses with road grit. Not for any good reason you understand ‘cos road grit works pretty well. They just thought they’d give it a go and see if anything interesting happened. Like diamonds suddenly forming in the road.
Geeklawyer has an idea: find the knobhead concerned and inject him with a mixture of garlic and acetone ‘just to see if anything interesting happens’. Who knows, he might live forever.
Bikers are in an uproar and petitioning Tony. This petition, of course, is more likely to succeed than the camera one because it has no implications in preventing a police state develop.
Grit and molasses? Excellent - nice and slippery. Which particular buffoon thought this one up?
The other real danger is man-hole covers on corners or roads leading off roundabouts. There are two in Chiswick - both very slippery in the rain and both exceptionally dangerous. I avoid them by driing to the right of them - but risk oncoming traffic.
Diesel - another problem - but the biggest problem of all is motorists using mobile phones while driving! For them an apprpriate handsinal is worth giving - but that would only make things worse - because they are then even more distracted and in the mood for a bit of road rage.
Maybe I should think again!
I am in the process of considering whether or not to buy a bike to get myself to work (the wife will be moving her place of work shortly, and that means she gets the car…not sure how but she said it very quickly. In the morning.)
So, being the bike expert I know you are Geeklawyer (hey, you have to have one area of competency), any recommendations? My budget would be about £2000.
(I have, by the way, changed the link to my [new] personal blog, where I can speak freely about anything that takes my fancy, rather than simply analyse Iranian conflict of laws rules. It will take a while to build up some momentum on the blog, but it’ll get there…probably.)
Martin - while I know that G is a serious biker - I also have a thing about bikes and have had 17 of them in the last 12 years - since giving up cars.
I would recommend a 600 cc Hornet (125 is cheap… but no power and very small - think visibility.
Should be able to get a reasonable 3-5 year old low mileage 500-600 within budget
Go for it
Ha ha Martin, glad to see that you are enthusiastically embracing the role of keeping Geeklawyers ego in line whilst I’m distracted with work. I’ll give you the tenner I owe you when I see you at the blogging conference OK?
Clearly whichever knobhead thought this molasses mix was a good idea has never ridden a bike, indeed probably doesn’t know what a motorbike is.. in fact the kind of people who come up with these ideas are statutarily barred from doing anything as interesting as riding a motorbike.
More amusing is the effect that this mollasses mixture has on sheep. Check out this video http://www.chestereveningleader.co.uk/titlesites2/videoplay.asp?vidid=45&officeid=15
Dan: dont get any ideas.
I am, of course, only pulling your leg Geeklawyer. Well mostly…
I was thinking about a Honda (parents used to have a little 250cc Honda). No, I won’t be doing any motorway work. It’s just on inner city roads.
I’ll start Googling your suggestions - ta.
@ruthie: your appreciation is all that is needed. Besides, you are not immune from
All in good fun, though, I assure you.
I really don’t seem to be getting the hang of the link coding in these comments. Ah well, c’est la vie.
The comment above is meant to say…”not immune from my jokes either!”
Hi G….what happened to one of my answers to this thread… actually trying to give sensible advice on bikes - was told that my post was spam…. very cunnng….. very cunning.
I wondered whether I was going doolally for a second there; I could have sworn, I thought, that Charon’s post was not there earlier…
Thanks for the advice, gents. I will be researching it all heavily during the students’ Reading Week (yes, they all get a week off to “read.”)
I’ve just written a post on the blog, and am now knackered. I’m not sure how you all keep it up. Should I start going for runs or something to improve my blogging stamina?
Martin, I am deeply flattered by the reference to me on your blog. Flattery may even secure a few comments in a way that a mere invite to read would probably not.
How do we maintain our blogging statemina? The answer is in your own hands “no-nonsense prevarication” if we stop doing this then we have to do real work.
As for motorbikes, well the boys have their own views, but only a custom bike will truly light Ruthie’s fire.
You can try going for runs: Ruthie did the London Marathon last year. Nearly killed me but at least I got round. Exercise is always good for stress relief.
P.S. Tofflawyer read your Conflict of Laws site in between re-drafting the Laws of War and providing an advice on the redrafting of the ten commandments and pronounced it “jolly good”. Praise indeed.