Ben (BicycleBenUK)

"Like the abundance of cars littering streets, the smartphone addiction is invisible until you notice it, and then you see it everywhere. It was when I finally saw it that I started looking at my own phone with some disgust." - Breaking my smartphone addiction and returning to "old" tech.

Had this idea in lockdown, half-built it, forgot about it, remembered it again, though might as well finish it.

There's obviously a whole chain of issues that need sorting to tackle the clone/ghost plates issues, but allowing #OpSnap submissions for plates with clear illegal coatings, spacings, fonts etc. would be an easy first step for the latter part - very easy to spot www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

It would be wonderful if our local representatives would actually take this on board rather than stick to culture wars and motor-first thinking. For the best part of a decade we've had valuable routes planned - not even a comprehensive network, just a starting point - but they've not been built.

No joke. I think this is the most important video I have ever seen about mobile games. This guy breaks down how this game psychologically profiles you, and makes the game harder or easier in order to show you ads

How is this "shocking"? Anyone who's bothered to look already knows this. Anyone who uses a cycle/dashcam knows this. I spend a lot of time working at the roadside and barely a shift goes by when I don't see a clear mobile phone offence.

I have a feeling that the latest episode of Room 101 featuring Miles Jupp (BBC Radio 4) will resonate quite well in my circles - covering bad parking, bad train seating etiquette, and touchscreens! www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

You're "funemployed"? Recorded live at @alwaysbecomedy.bsky.social

Illegal E-MOTORBIKES - Why is that so difficult?

I love this. Travel by bike. Save money.

Liz Truss? I am DONE!

Urbanist Philomena Cunk. In America, they invented a clever system called sprawl. It’s a brilliant idea where they put the place you sleep exactly twenty-five miles away from the place they keep the bread.

New Dizzy? Remastered Dizzy? Oooh - tentatively eggcited! Magicland Dizzy was my favourite game on the Commodore 64! Bring on the Yolk Folk! www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTSa...

Paddling (canoeing) across Windermere today, into the teeth of a pretty stiff Force 3 wind - lumpy, and just this side of whitecaps - I came across a swimming squirrel, looking very stressed. Not a planned swim, I'm guessing. It was 300m to either shore, so I'm not sure s/he was going to be okay.

I just saw a post from some guy saying that traditional music is “over” because AI music will provide “infinite personalised songs”. I want music that reflects the misshapen thoughts of another human being, not the output of an algorithmic average.

We live in a very stupid time

A massive sense of schadenfreude if they do fold. How many times have I, and many others, fed back to all those organisations promoting it that it's a terrible idea and they should instead spend their resources educating people on how to find their freely available lat-long coordinates instead?

Just Stop Oil protesters were demonised for causing traffic disruption with the accusation, "what if an ambulance trying to get to an emergency was stopped as a result?" Yet here we have the far right actually directly blocking ambulances and... crickets.

Now, remind me - what were people (perhaps even some of this rabble) saying when Just Stop Oil did their protests? Something about... let me think... blocking ambulances, was it? Why aren't the police hauling this pathetic lot away for obstructing the highway?

All those driverists blocking the road and slowing me down. Don't they know I've got places to be? Why can't they all pull over for faster moving bicycles? 😜 (Tongue firmly in cheek - extremely busy today for some reason)

It's #WorldCarFreeDay today? I missed that - I guess other people missed the "free" part of it since traffic was much higher than normal this morning - on a nice, sunny, and warm morning too.

No-one is going "hell for leather" with a £26m/yr budget. Still not remotely close even if the £104m over 4yrs was spent annually. Add an extra zero? Maybe. But councils must be told to do it too. Also, if it's not about "pitting one mode against another", don't blow the "lycra brigade" dog-whistle!

Cry more, Mr Entitled So-and-So. This selfishness is a major and increasing problem. The car is not the solution to transporting kids a mile and a half. What's the betting he also sits idling while dropping off and picking up, casually poisoning his kids and everyone around.

Took the e-bike on a 32km/20mi leisure ride - focusing on Eco mode with bursts of higher levels when needed for bigger hills, and the strong winds. Already had 22km on this charge before starting and finished the ride with 9-22km left. Very successful - and *definitely* still a workout!

Took the old, regular hybrid bike out for a couple of miles earlier, just so it knows it's not been entirely forgotten about now I have an e-bike. My goodness that thing is unresponsive and slow! Brakes could certainly do with a tune-up. And opposite shifting confused me again (derailleur vs hub)

Trying to work out costs for running my e-bike, for fun. Assuming maths is right: - If charging constant at 164w for stated 3.5hrs for full charge, at 22.12p/kWh = 12.7p - Full assist = 50km/30mi range = 0.26p/km; 0.43p/mile! - Cheaper still at lower assist level. Try getting that from an EV car!

Change the way we travel? Then mandate that councils MUST rapidly roll-out safe, connected, direct cycle infrastructure everywhere (+fund them). It takes 15-20 mins by e-bike to travel across town, but direct uses a 40mph road with guaranteed close passes and only a narrow footpath for active travel

Completely agree with all of this. On narrow streets during the school run I see ridiculous oversized vehicles blocking everyone's way, drivers bumping kerbs to get through, U-turns over pavements and verges, wrong-way driving to get to a junction, phone use... chaos.

This is haunting... It's the oldest piece of music for which we have both the words and the notes. A song to the Hurrian goddess Nikkal, it was written on clay tablets around 3500 years ago, and was discovered in the 1950s in the ruins of the ancient city of Ugarit. www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8tf...

Battery is all-but flat, giving me about 50km/31mi range on highest assist level. A little short of the advertised 34 miles, but I deliberately added in some hills and am not the lightest cargo! Happy with that! Will easily cover my commuting needs for a couple of days and most longer rides too.

Bother - one slight issue, my pannier bag which I only bought a few weeks ago but is now used and scuffed, does not fit the rack - the tubing is too thick for the clips. Need to rethink that.

Went out anyway, in what I thought was a gap in the rain - not really. Got wet, but it works and it's fun! Ten miles done and not too tired!

That's just rude - doesn't the weather know it's New Bike Day? I've just finished getting my new e-bike together and now it decides to rain! I did want to test it before tomorrow's commute - not sure using a ride to work is the best time for testing something new.