Best driving schools?

[Huorn]

I'm sorry to hear that you've been knocked off your bike smileyt. I'm sure any aches and pains will go soon!

I'm also sorry to say that this is just part of using a two wheeler on the road. Any biker will tell you tales of SMIDSY accidents where a car driver has driven into or over them and then said Sorry Mate I Didn't See You! This has been looked into scientifically and the conclusion was that drivers get into a state where they rely on what is called the lizard brain, the bit that controls unconscious tasks and when looking they are not really concentrating and what they see is car, car, no car, car. They then pull out, open a door or whatever in the no car space, regardless of it being occupied by a cycle, bike, fire engine etc. Scary but true.

I've suffered a SMIDSY some years ago while wearing council issue maximum conspicuity clothing while riding in a queue of cars, and the driver still claimed not to have seen me!

If you are reasonably close to a river/canal I think NR's kayak suggestion needs looking into as a BOV. Inconspicuous, quiet and unaffected by fuel prices!

H

[smileyt]

Thanks for your sympathy, folks.

I have decided to get an electric bike. This is because I could then cope with a commute to work of around 10 miles there and 10 miles back using a combination of my legs and the battery. That way I would maintain or increase my fitness but have the battery back-up as a help when I am tired. Also I don't need to buy any more gear or shell out for a licence or training. There are even folding electric bikes available so I may look at one of those for max convenience of allowing me to use public transport for half a journey, which would be useful if I was feeling under the weather. I would keep the (non-electric) bike I have now for bugging out on and short local rides.

So all I have to do now is empty my piggy bank, see what bike I want, and see if I can get one in the sales after Christmas!

[Northern Raider]

Whilst you are at it then you better look into ways of recharging it AFTER TSHTF !!

[smileyt]

Whilst you are at it then you better look into ways of recharging it AFTER TSHTF !!

I know. It has crossed my mind. However, it will still operate as just a bike, and I will still have my trusty rusty steed that I have now, so it's not an all-or-nothing thing like running out of petrol on a motorbike would be. I will be looking at solar panels and batteries too. Trouble is, all that stuff is quite confusing to a newbie, but I will have to get my head round it!

[Northern Raider]

Least you can tow a small trailer with a bike, AND funds providing you could carry a spare fully charged battery in the trailer with a little solar panel on the top to keep it charged up.

[Northern Raider]

Dammit I was going to try and impress Smiley with an article I used to have on my oth PC, its of a family in Oregon or Northern Caloifornia who have electric motor powered bicyles and trailers and the trailer has a 12 volt dry cell battery in it that provide a lot of extra power for the bike. it gets a boost recharge during the day from the sun via a solar panel on the trailer top.

[Longjohns]

Hi su, thank you for your sympathy. I've been knocked off once before by a van running into me. Cycling would be great if it were not for stupid motorists (I know not all motorists are stupid!). I'm now wondering whether an electric bike would be better for me, but they are almost as expensive as motorbikes! Perhaps I should just get a couple of huskies and a sled on wheels

I thought Manchester was the Venice of the north , according to Boddingtons, and the place was riddled with canals !!!. Foldy Kayak as a BOV ?

Sorry NR, just too good an opportunity to pass up! Yes, and on the towpaths are small groups of young men energetically discussing the nuances of daily life over an alcoholic beverage! Otherwise known as chavs/wasters/scum who'd just as soon throw a full can of beer at a canoeist/kayaker to see if they could drown you for a laugh as they would anything else!

Not a good idea I wouldn't say, in any big city with a canal network. Birmingham and the surrounding areas are criss-crossed by them too and seeing the areas they run through when travelling through the infrastructure on local trains, they can be very isolated (not necessarily a good thing in this case) and likely very difficult to escape from if you got into difficulties on or in the water. The waterways can be high-sided with steep, vegetation-covered banks above, or factory walls rising straight up out of the water. Plus, when you consider there could be gangs roaming the areas, which you can never discount the possibility of, I think it's probably more dangerous than its worth as an escape route, to be honest. Not to be obnoxious or anything, it's just that it looks too much of a risk, especially when you add in the people factor. Also, they could probably run faster than it's possible to row.

I don't mean to hijack the topic but since you broached the subject NR, I just thought I'd lend my thoughts on the matter. Not to be offensive or owt though, you understand.

[Northern Raider]

All comments and opinions are welcome cos that what this forum is designed for, I know two survivalists who live in Knaresborough who commute by kayak in the summer and plan to bug out by kayak if neccessary, the drunken chavs are fewer in numbers and dont stay in place 24 /7 like they apparently do in Manchester. I would think if there was a collapse that your Chavs would be off looting, raping and robbing their little socialist hearts out in the burbs cos they would not need to skulk in the bushs like a labour MP on a gay badger watching expedition. Saying the canals are out of bounds because of predatory chavs is like saying the M62 would be unsuitable as a route out cos there is usually a cop car parked up along the way. A good recce and noting the times when the feral are usually lurking would be wise, and planning your journey when its cold wet n windy will probably be wise.

I agree that cruisin out on a warm summers evening is likely to see kayaks targetted, but their are likely to be plenty of chances of sitrepped preppers to use the water way as a safer route out than the roads, such as middle of the night, if its raining or freezing. I wont discount out of hand any possible exit route because its simply not going to be unavailable 24/7

[Huorn]

I found that having a Rottweiller in the canoe tamed the most aggressive angler/chav!

H

[Northern Raider]

I found that having a Rottweiller in the canoe tamed the most aggressive angler/chav!

H

A pistol crossbow has a similar deterant value ( After TSHTF)