Help needed with safety kit
17 11 2007Staying visible and safe as a cyclist is an expensive business, especially when you have to factor in the extremes of weather we have here in North-East Scotland.
We’ve been gradually adding more kit to the Kangaroo bike on a month by month, money permitting basis but Wednesday’s crash has thrown our budget out the window.
A fair amount of safety and weather equipment has been damaged or destroyed, while we’d also like to buy the remaining equipment in one batch so that when I’m back on the road I’m lit up like a Christmas tree.
The problem is we’re right down to the line with ready cash thanks to pig emergencies that have resulted in large veterinary bills, rising livestock feed costs, extra fuel costs due to the accident, and the like.
I’m very wary of asking for any financial help as, when people have wanted to chip in before (during the water crisis for example or when we talked about a tractor fund), we’ve been subjected to tirades of vitriol.
I also prefer to make my own way.
However, this is a safety issue for the boys as much as me, while the Other Half, who plans to post a comment herself, has some fairly forceful views on the matter, too.
So, I’m going to set up a PayPal donation button and ask if people would like to make a small contribution to our bike safety fund.
I intend buying much of the kit from the Cycle Touring Club as I’m a member, they’re helping with free legal advice over the crash and there’s a small discount, too.
So, what do we need and how much will it cost?
- New helmet for me. It needs weather protection and I’d now like one with a light on the back, so I’m opting for the Bell Metropolis 2008 as it comes with a rain cover and light. Price £42.99 (inc delivery) and I’ve already paid for this.
- New light bulb and cable for the Lumicycle lights on the trike, hopefully all that’s required to fix the damage. Price £17.97 (inc delivery) and again, I’ve already paid for these.
- Altura Night Vision overtrousers. The overtrousers I was wearing were shredded, so these are an improved replacement as they have reflective panels that my old ones did not have. Price £45.
- Altura Night Vision Waterproof Glove. An improvement on my existing, slightly damaged gloves as these have high-visibility panels and are waterproof. Price £27.
- Altura Night Vision Jacket. This is desireable, rather than a replacement. My existing jacket is undamaged, but it’s dark green with no reflective panels so I normally wear it with a reflective belt. If funds permitted, though, I’d like a jacket with reflective panels. Price £58.50.
- Nimrod Sam Browne Belt Deluxe. I’m not sure what happened to my belt, so I need a replacement. Price £9.99.
- Respro Hi-Viz I-Shot Sticker Kit - Chevrons. High-visibility stickers to replace those damaged in the accident and provide additional ones. Price £10.80.
- A pair of Busch + Muller Lolly Pop Safety Flags. These stick out sideways from the rear stays and aim to encourage drivers to give a cyclist more road space. Price £11.98.
- Extra reflectors, automotive type. Price £8.87.
- Total: £231.92 (plus delivery for some items).
There is a hit-run accident compensation scheme in the UK but it does not cover repairs or damage losses unless the responsible vehicle is identified or traced, plus there’s a £300 excess anyway.
Any additional money raised from donations will be donated to the CTC to help other cyclists. Donation button is at the top of the sidebar on the right.
And thanks to my “little” brother back in Australia as he’s sending me some stout, slightly worn trousers that will do nicely to replace the pair shredded in the crash - and give me spares! Nice one.
Stonehead,
I would love to make a donation also I do not know if it will be much help but I am avaliable in 2 weeks if you still need a hand.
I’ve been asked why people should donate. Absolutely no reason at all why they should.
But, if you’ve been reading this blog at any time in the past 32 months, then you have been making use of my time, skills and knowledge. As I previously wrote for a living, I could have spent that, used my experiences and that knowledge to generate income.
I haven’t, choosing instead to freely share my skills and knowledge which means we have less cash than we’d have had if I’d spent 8-12 hours a week writing for payment.
Yes, blogging is about free reciprocation of knowledge and experiences, and yes I have freely read other people’s blogs.
But does that mean it’s wrong to ask for a small proportion of that goodwill and experience to be returned with a small donation when times are genuinely hard? I don’t have a problem with supporting other bloggers when I can. I just don’t make anything of it.
We have a specific problem not of our making, compensation schemes don’t cover all of our losses and a little help would go a long way.
But if this annoys you or comes over as a con, fine. Ignore the request and keep reading freely of this blog and others. As I said, there’s no reason why people should help, but it would be appreciated if anyone did choose to do so.
Rob, drop in if you want. I think Cassie, a very nice lady who turned up unexpectedly yesterday to muck out pigs, bed down sows, feed and water chickens, and cover the overwintering vegetables with straw, enjoyed herself enormously. Certainly, she never stopped smiling the whole time she was here and was planning to bring her partner’s children for a visit so they can see the pigs and poultry.
I’m going to be on limited duties for at least six weeks, but as the doctor warned me “you won’t heal as well now as you did when you were 16″. Thanks, doc.
Over the years that we have lived here and ‘Stonehead’ has written this blog we have faced some very difficult times and during those times people have given very generously of their time.
When times have been hard and we have been pushed to our limits of endurance one of the things that helped me through and still warms me is the overwhelming sense of empathy and caring that people showed us.
Some people were close by and so could come over, others were further afield and so sent both emotional and intellectual help.
Many people offered to make financial contributions to help us out and while the gesture was always appreciated we always declined. We find ourselves in a different situation now however and would greatly benefit from being able to upgrade the safety of our trike and its passengers.
If you are a regular to the blog you will probably realise that ‘Stonehead’ is resourceful, fiercely independent and extremely self reliant. Asking for help is not easy and he would prefer not to; he would rather hatch a cunning plan for helping himself.
I have persuaded ‘Stonehead’ to leave this request for help on the blog because I know some people will want to help in spite of the fact that many people see this as an opportunity to slag him off and deride him.
His natural inclination having recieved some malevolent comments is simply to withdraw his request, as he did with his previous post asking for help to raise money for a much needed tractor or when various people voluntarily offered cash during our water supply problem.
I know that many people read and enjoy this blog and some people gain knowledge which in turn helps them out. ‘Stonehead’ enjoys writing it but, in spite of him being a professional writer, it does take a lot of time.
If you read and enjoy and would like to help us out please do, we would very much appreciate it.
Other Half (blog widow)
Have you thought about some of those ever so cheap and cheerful high visibility vests that road workers use. Damn cheap (or free if found in hedge near roadworks) they are light and easy enough to throw over anything.
Yes, we have hi-visibility vests and the boys wear them when on the bike (or walking). However, the adult versions are less practical on the bike as they flap, fall open, the velcro wears out fast and gets stuffed up with gunge, and a vest, sam browne or reflective jacket is only one part of the visibility package.
One of the key concerns the police office that interviewed me had was just how visible we were. I’ve since been looking up the law and British Standards on bike lighting, and the onus often seems to rest on the cyclist to show that they were sufficiently visible rather than on the driver to pay attention. So, from being highly visible I want to move up to right-in-your-face visible.
Ignore the law on lighting as unless things changed recently i bet you are illegal as LEDs i think are illegal and your front lights are also illegal as they are too bright.
As to visibility i don’t know if you know about defensive cycling as being visible is more then just being brightly coloured you also have to know about road positioning which many many cyclists get very wrong
Another idea is one of those silly flags on a mast so you increase your chances of mr myopic seeing you when you are round a corner
But maybe you could buy this http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v441/misterphotos/helmet.jpg
as new safety gear
I knw there’s more to visibility than lights, reflectors and clothing, but I still want myself as bright and lit up as possible. I do find it daft that one th eone hand you’re supposed to be visible as a cyclist but on the other hand you’re not supposed to be too visible.
As for positioning, the front left-hand wheel was about two feet away from the verge. I won’t position the trike any closer as there’s a dip in the bitumen that would throw the trike off track and I have no intention of surrendering the road. There was plenty of room between the bike and the centre line, while the oncoming lane was empty so they should have cleared me easily.
I often pull in at driveways or on wider sections to left cars pass safely, and when I do slow cars down because poor visibility prevents them overtaking safely, I wave them pass when it is safe for them to overtake. I also wave drivers out of junctions if they give way but I know they have plenty of time to pull out before I pass them. Similar at choke points caused by cars parked on opposite sides of the road - if I’m well into it, I will not surrender the road; but if the timing suits and they’re courteous then I’ll wave them through first with a smile.
In fact, two or three months ago I was pulled over by a couple of police officers who wanted to look at the bike and also to commend me on my situational awareness, road skills and courtesy.
As for the helmet, you are aware that a blue beacon on a vehicle is illegal? Perhaps an amber one, instead?
Thanks for the advice.
I’m gobsmacked. I was hoping to get a couple of pounds here and there, but a very generous couple have popped quite a large sum in the pot! Thanks very much.
Umm, how does one contribute?
Nev
Nice to see you Nev.
There’s a button up the top of the sidebar on the right, labelled PayPal Donate. Click on that and you can use credit/debit cards or your own PayPal Account. It’s a secure server.
stonie.
you should start vlogging (video blogging)
type gardenfork into google to get an idea of what i mean(its gardenfork.tv)
Well said OH! Being in the position to know just how proud and stubborn Stoney can be, I understand how difficult it is for him to swallow his pride and also his strong determination to protect the boys while enjoying his cycling and getting on with his/your wonderful approach to life.
Well done to his “little” brother too. All folks who have helped are also very much appreciated by myself (way Down Under).
Some brass razoos are on the way Stoney and tribe.
Sorry I cannot be with you for a while, but if thoughts help then there are plenty of those in the air.
It seems I picked a good day to catch up with you Stoney! Put it like that, you’re quite right - I have benefitted from your experience and the perspective that crofting has given you. Not that I always agree with you, mind
I’m glad people are mucking in for you, and wish I was closer so I could come and drink cappuccino at you. Speedy recovery.
Hedgewizard, I’d be really worried if people starting agreeing with me! One crazy cyclist crofter is enough…
Thanks for the support.
Mr Moomin, I have thought about vlogging and actually have some audio and video recording/editing gear leftover from my previous wage slave job. However, I long ago sold the best kit to buy farm implements and have now discovered the remaining kit is no longer intercompatible nor does it work with the AV-computer interface I have.That will teach me to flog stuff off based on what I can get rather than what I can do!
i know i dont know you as well as the others on self suff…but i can donate a little hope it helps
hope you feel better soon, I like reading blog and sorry i can’t contribute anything.
Linz
Messages of support and goodwill are just as helpful and just as appreciated as a few quid. It makes a big difference to me and the Other Half.
Thanks to all who have helped in one way or another.
I’ve left a wee something… I’ll never forget the day when Stoney offered to help me out financially when my car was off the road and I was stuck at home with a young one, and although I can’t offer anywhere near the same thing…. I’ll do what I can.
Ive done a few pennies too - I read the efforts of your labours so only fair to contribute (even tho its not much) in return….
When I read this first and wanted to contribute my mind went back to how the Amish live in America. None of them have insurance. If they have a disaster everyone pitches in and helps. If a barn burns down they used to all bring a plank or two and when there was enough they’d all turn up to build it again.
If only society were like that now…….! I feel that getting involved here is like that!
Again, thanks to everyone who has contributed. I’m going to leave the donation button up until Wednesday morning, but as we’ve now passed our target any further money will go to the CTC Cyclists Defence Fund to provide legal advice and expert witnesses to help cyclists whose rights are at risk.
LM, it would be great if communities were more like those of the Amish, but unfortunately this sort of spirit is either dying out or under threat from selfishness and materialism. It still exists in some rural parts of Australia and the more remote areas of the Highlands and Islands, but for the rest…
Still, a lot of people around the world have come to our aid and that is both appreciated and greatly reassuring.
Glad to hear you made your target. I think there’s a lot of good people around, as soon as they hear someone needs help, they all rally round.
Glad to here you got you total plus more
I think we should have more community spirit around the world especially the 1st world country.
Keep up the blogging
[...] to the donations of many people, we’ve been able to buy replacement and additional cycle safety gear to go on both the trike [...]