The scariest moment I’ve had cycling in London

Cycling in London is a real pleasure and my favourite way to get around. However, there are close calls that remind you why people are often hesitant to travel by bike.

These moments are sometimes my fault and sometimes the driver’s fault, the important thing is to learn from them. With that in mind there’s a incident I want to share with you. I hope you’ll learn from it and I hope you’ll also share your experiences with me in the comments.

The situation

I was cycling along Euston Road in rush hour a couple of years ago, trying to make it to work on time.

A lorry was in front of me and I made a quick judgement call that I had time and space to pass.

I started to cycle on the inside of this heavy goods vehicle, but being in the blind spot, the driver hadn’t seen me and so started to move into my path. I almost instantly found myself in a tiny gap between the enormous wheels and the railings on the left of the road.

My handlebars wobbled and I could see how close I was to clipping those wheels. I applied the brakes and fortunately the lorry narrowly skimmed passed me.

Shaken by the incident I pulled up at the side of the road to catch my breath.

I am aware that things could have been very different and I had a lucky escape. In the last few years there have been a large number of cyclist deaths from collisions with lorries – 104 in the last 5 years in the UK. Further, 94% of fatal cyclist collisions with lorries between 2008-2014 in London occurred on the front left side, exactly where I narrowly avoided getting hit.

Who was at fault?

It is easy to try to blame someone for the situation I found myself in. The lorry driver should know I was alongside him and not try to cut into another lane. The car behind should have given me space to pull back. I do have to shoulder some of the responsibility too. Squeezing past traffic and riding along the inside of the lorry, I was putting myself in a potentially dangerous situation.

In the last year there has been a rising awareness of the size of a lorry’s blind spot – the area alongside the vehicle which is unseen by the driver using standard mirrors. Lorries driving in London are now required to have extra mirrors which substantially decrease the blind spot, but they cannot remove it completely and it’s tough for drivers to consult all the mirrors at the same time.

What can you do?

There are several ways to avoid getting into such a terrifying situation.

Avoid going up the inside of a lorry or other large vehicle when it is stopped at a red light. Even if it is going straight on you may run out of room, and if it is turning left it could be disastrous. The little bit of time you may save on your journey is not worth the risk of getting crushed.

Secondly, a lorry has quite a large blind spot behind and in front of it. You may think you will accelerate away from the lights quicker than the vehicle, which may be true, but you are not in complete control of the situation, someone may get in your way or the lorry may move off before you. Therefore, you should wait and let the lorry go first at a left hand turn to avoid a potential collision.

Cycle training

It is worth considering taking a cycle training course, even if you are a regular cyclist. I have taken one and it was very useful. In my case, I found I had developed a few bad habits. I was also reminded that I should be 1 metre way from the kerb and to stay out of the door zone of parked cars, another common place for accidents to occur on London’s roads.

Many people are eligible for free one-to-one cycle training. You can find out who to contact in your borough by checking on the TfL website or looking at Cycle Confident.

Exchanging Places

There is a program running at the moment by the Met police to provide lorry drivers with cycle training so they are more aware of cyclists on the road. A part of this also involves cyclists sitting inside a lorry cab to see the blind spots and mirrors for themselves.

I have done this and it’s pretty alarming. The new mirrors certainly help increase visibility but there are still substantial areas around the vehicle that cannot be visualised. There are also an alarming number of things to check and look at and the mirrors are not very large.

From this experience, I’ve found a new understanding of how hard driving such a large vehicle through London traffic must be.

Just avoid them

Avoiding lorries seems to be the best bet for staying safe. Don’t try to squeeze past them, even if you see another cyclist doing it.

I typically also try to avoid roads such as the Euston Road. There are other great cycle routes and quiet roads in London.

For more tips and advice, check out our comprehensive safe cycling guide!

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What was Golf Like the Last Time the Cubs Made the World Series?

History was made in the US’ Major League Baseball playoffs on Saturday night as the long-suffering Chicago Cubs defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-0 to win the National League Championship and return to the World Series for the first time since 1945.

They will take on the Cleveland Indians in a best-of-seven series. The Cubs last won the World Series in 1908.

So what was the golf world like the last time the Cubs played in the World Series.

Byron Nelson had the best year ever by a pro golfer, winning 18 times including 11 straight tournaments.

The PGA Championship was the only Major on the books; the other three were cancelled due to World War II. Nelson won over Sam Byrd, 4&3 in the match play final. A former Major Leaguer himself, Byrd is the only man alive to ever play in The Masters and in the World Series.

Nelson also set a still-standing record by going 19 straight rounds shooting under 70.

Three-time US Open champion Hale Irwin was born in Joplin, Missouri.

 

 

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Your mom was right: “Morning sickness” means a lower chance of miscarriage

There are a lot of old wives’ tales when it comes to pregnancy. If you have heartburn, it means the baby will have a lot of hair. If the baby’s heartbeat is under 140, you are having a boy. If you have nausea and vomiting, you won’t have a miscarriage.

The first two are myths. A recent study suggests that last one may be true.

Over three-quarters of women report nausea with or without vomiting in early pregnancy. Nausea and vomiting in pregnancy can wreak havoc on a woman’s well-being and quality of life. Many have speculated that nausea is a good sign that indicates a healthy pregnancy, but until now, solid evidence supporting this notion was lacking.

A recent study in JAMA Internal Medicine sheds new light on this issue. This study was powerful because patients were enrolled before conception, and they recorded symptoms of nausea and vomiting even before they knew they were pregnant. This study design is known as a prospective, preconception cohort. Women who participated in the study had either one or two prior pregnancy losses. Nearly two-thirds of women reported nausea by the eighth week of pregnancy, and over a quarter had both nausea and vomiting. Nausea alone or nausea with vomiting was associated with a 50% to 75% reduction in the risk of pregnancy loss.

Nausea and vomiting during pregnancy is often called “morning sickness,” but is better termed “all day sickness” since it can occur at any time, including at night. Typically it starts by eight weeks of pregnancy and goes away by the second trimester. For a few unlucky women, it lasts for several weeks or months.

Diet and lifestyle changes can help alleviate it. Most women find eating toast or crackers first thing in the morning, even before getting out of bed, is a good trick, since an empty stomach makes nausea worse. Similarly, nibbling crackers periodically, so called “grazing,” drinking fluids, and eating small, frequent meals instead of three large meals can also help. Ginger (ginger ale or tea made from real ginger, or ginger candy chews) has been shown to ease nausea. Vitamin B₆ supplements and doxylamine, a medication found in over-the-counter sleep aids, can help. A prescription drug that combines vitamin B₆ and doxylamine is available. These have been found to be safe to take during pregnancy. Your health care provider can also recommend prescription anti-nausea drugs if these measures don’t help.

The news that nausea and vomiting is a positive sign may provide reassurance and help women experiencing these difficult symptoms in pregnancy to endure them, knowing light is at the end of the tunnel.

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The BELMONT at Heritage by Infinity Properties

The Belmont is a collection of 1-3 bedroom executive condominiums in Langley’s Murrayville neighbourhood. Located close to Murrayville’s historic Five Corners and shops at Murrayville Square, these homes offer the chance to be part of a charming community that values local businesses, good neighbours and simple living.

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Good hearing essential to physical and emotional well-being

For many years, it was clear that my father was becoming hard of hearing. Normally gregarious and the life of the party, he became increasingly withdrawn because he couldn’t hear well enough to partake in conversations around the table. He began to walk with a shuffling gait. He was declining in front of my eyes. And yet, when we communicated by email, his intellectual curiosity and warm storytelling skills were intact. But in person, he seemed to be fading away.

After considerable prodding, I convinced him to get a pair of custom hearing aids. The transformation was amazing. At a family reunion a month later, there was my father sitting at the breakfast table, regaling everybody with stories of his mischievous childhood. He was, once again, the center of attention. Gone was the shuffling walk, replaced by a strong, confident stride. From the withdrawn, quiet man who would sit by himself emerged my funny, animated father who told stories, laughed, and played jokes. He could hear his children and grandchildren. The dad I remembered as a child came back to us.

This story, and so many just like it, are about changing the public conversation on hearing to show how people who experience hearing loss can move from fear and denial to aging gracefully, with resilience, joy, and health.

The health benefits of hearing well

We should be talking about what I saw: the profound impact that hearing well can have on the living. We should be talking about what is gained by hearing well — social interaction, family connection, and workplace productivity — not about what is lost. Hearing loss is not a stand-alone disability. It is linked to everything we do every single day.

Surprisingly, many of us wait seven to 10 years before even acknowledging we are having trouble hearing and get a hearing aid. Why? For some of us it’s denial, or fear of looking old; for others the hearing loss is so gradual we might not be aware of the insidious progression of it. In fact, more Americans report getting a colonoscopy than a hearing test!

Yet, failing to get hearing tested and corrected early may actually contribute to aging faster. Hearing loss is associated with earlier onset of dementia, earlier mortality, and six times the rate of falls compared to those with normal hearing. Contributing to these negative health consequences is the isolation, the loss of interactive communication with others due to inability to hear clearly. This results in loneliness, which is known to have a negative health impact equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Moreover, when the input is diminished, the brain loses the ability to distinguish sounds, which means having to “re-learn” to hear when she or he finally gets a hearing aid.

Having a conversation about hearing loss

Instead of hearing loss, think about what you gain when you hear, allowing you to live life to the fullest. Life is about keeping the critical ability to stay connected to family and friends. A recent study found that for Americans 65 and older, hearing loss had a greater impact on life than cardiac disease, stroke, osteoporosis, sciatica, cancer, and many other common conditions.

My dad’s transformation was an “aha” moment for me — as a daughter and a doctor. I’ve since learned that hearing loss, which can be alleviated fairly easily, is a largely hidden problem, even as it affects many. One in three people 60-plus and two-thirds of people 70-plus have hearing loss. Among baby boomers, 15% are already affected. And a few years ago it was reported that 12% to 15% of school-age children have some degree of hearing loss, with the highest incidence among teens.

These numbers are hardly surprising given our routine exposure to rock concerts, sports stadiums, car stereos, earbuds, traffic jams, jet engines, and the like. Hearing loss is no longer a marker of age. It’s here now and it’s something many of us will experience sooner than we expect. As a result, we can’t stress enough the importance of protecting our hearing and preventing hearing loss from the loud noises in our environment — and getting one’s hearing tested early.

What matters to people when they talk about hearing loss?

Sixty-one percent of AARP members indicated that hearing loss made it hard to follow conversations in noisy settings, while 44% noted the impact hearing difficulties can have on relationships with friends and family. Roughly two-thirds said they would get a hearing test if hearing loss hurt their relationships with family, and 59% said they would be tested if it became a burden on the family.

Think about my dad’s story. What’s more powerful and positive — talking about what hearing loss sounds like or talking about how better hearing helps people regain that edge and enjoy life?

Your own hearing loss story may still be down the road. But remember that early screening, early testing, and early intervention mean you won’t lose your all-important relationships with friends and family. And you’ll never miss the birds chirping outside your window.

For the latest information on hearing loss and what you can do, visit the AARP Hearing Resource Center.

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Urban Cycling Shoes: SPD Shoes Suitable for Wearing in London

Keeping your feet attached to the pedals is really awesome but can be a bit scary and inconvenient in a city. Some of the shoes can also be hard to walk in and make you look just a little silly, especially on smooth surfaces.

However, it needn’t be that way, and this is where urban cycling shoes come in. They allow you to clip to the pedals and still walk like a regular person and will blend in a bit better on the street. Of the different attachment methods for clipless shoes, SPD cleats by Shimano are small ones that are used predominantly in mountain bike and trainer style shoes and these are what we will be focusing on here. They are a great choice for commuters and those who intend to walk around a lot.

Benefits

We have sort of been over this before, but having your feet attached to your pedals makes your pedal stroke more even, which makes cycling a little easier. Having you feet attached also means that they are always in the right place and you can push harder on the pedals without fear of your feet slipping – particularly useful in rubbish London rain.

Cycling shoes are also stiffer, so they transfer the power from your pedal strokes better. the shoes all have a removable plate that hides the cleat area. This means that you can get cycling shoes without immediately using cleats which makes for a great transition.

These shoes also have proper soles – ie. they have grip on the whole surface (with the exception of the small cleat area) and therefore you can walk pretty normally in them.

Here are three options we have tried out extensively in and around London. If you want even more options, check out these two posts for men and women.

Bontrager SSR Multisport

These are probably the most bike-y shoes of the bunch. They do also resemble trainers though, so they do blend in fairly well.

As the first pair of clip-in shoes I got, these were a good choice. They are comfortable and grippy enough for walking on wet paths. They even do well on mud – I wore them for my adventure cross ride in the summer when I had to walk over some very muddy fields (not something you are likely to find too often in London admittedly).

You can get them in men’s and women’s from Evans for £74.99

Pearl Izumi

These trainer style shoes have been a cycling staple of mine for the summer. They look just like regular trainers and are designed to be worn with or without socks. They are intended as summer shoes, something reflected in their light colour options, but with socks they can easily be used in autumn and spring. Add in some shoe covers and you could stretch them all year round if you wish.

You don’t have to get them in pink!

They are comfortable without socks, I wore them that way for my whole cycle tour recently when I spent hours cycling each day as well as walking around. They have a quick lacing system, which is great if you do have to change them quickly outside an office or before a meeting.

You can get them in men’s and women’s for £89.99 from Tredz.co.uk with free delivery

DZR H2O

They are probably the most urban cycling shoes you can get. I got the opportunity to try some recently and have been taking full advantage of them now the weather is changing.

They look like regular Converse style hightop trainers, but they have a rigid sole, SPD attachment and a waterproof membrane. They are also made out of some of the softest leather I have felt on shoes. I have not tested the longevity of this, but they feel and look awesome. They come with a mink oil treatment for the leather, so as long as you take care of them, they should last a good long while.

You can get them online for around £135. The Cycling Store will be stocking them soon and should have a pop-up near Christmas if you want to try some on.

Cleats

One thing to keep in mind with the cleats is there are two main ones – SH51 and SH53. The 51’s are single release, meaning you twist your heel to the side to get your foot out. The 53’s are multi-direction release. Whilst it is best to learn to twist your heel, and this is the motion you will make most to get your foot out, the multi-direction ones have their benefits, especially in London traffic.

The multi-direction ones are great if you are starting out, or worried about being clipped in as you can set the pedals loose and then just yank your foot out. This served me well in one instance where a car decided it didn’t want to give me my right of way and I had to stop suddenly. I was still new to the pedals but instinctively yanked my foot off and managed to stop, rather than fall.

 

What are your favourite cycling shoes to wear in the city? Do you prefer the duck-walking road versions or do you have a beloved urban pair?

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Should I Wear a Cycling Cap? Cycling Caps Guide

Cycling caps are a quintessential part of road cycling but they have their uses in the city too – I have a couple that I like wearing for various reasons outlined below.

Often worn alone for racing until the UCI made helmets compulsory in 2003, they’ve been heavily documented perching atop the heads of pro cyclists of the 70s and 80s, the wearers exuding ‘cool’ and quirky racer vibes.

A cycling cap is very different to a baseball cap. It has a peak, but is made of thin material, the peak is more flexible, and the back of the cap is often elasticated to help achieve the perfect fit.

*This is a 2016 update to a 2014 post to keep products up to date.* 

Why Wear a Cycling Cap?

The practical reasons for wearing a cap are to keep sweat from dripping into the eyes, likewise rain, and the peak is a sun shield in bright conditions.

Caps come into their own during Spring and Autumn – providing a light layer of warmth that protects the head from the effects of venty-helmets, without causing the rider to overheat, as they might in a thermal cap designed for winter.

They are also great for stopping your hair going too crazy, with or without the helmet. I like wearing one under my helmet in the city as it stops the ridges in my hair if it is still wet when I leave the house. It also stops the MIP’s liner in my helmet from trapping my hair.

You can also wear a cycling cap to mark yourself out as a cyclist when off the bike. This can work if you are a weekend rider and want to show your Rapha stripes while commuting, or if you are a die hard fixie rider and want to look particularly hipster.

Hardcore Velominati-ites would of course disagree on the grounds of Rule 22:

Rule #22 // Cycling caps are for cycling.
Cycling caps can be worn under helmets, but never when not riding, no matter how hip you think you look. This will render one a douche, and should result in public berating or beating. The only time it is acceptable to wear a cycling cap is while directly engaged in cycling activities and while clad in cycling kit. 

Of course, most of us don’t live by The Rules, and will wear a cap whenever we like. You only need to wander around some of the more cycling friendly areas of London to see this. I personally keep my hat on quite a lot – especially if I had wet hair before putting it on – saves me from the dreaded helmet hair!

How to Wear Cycling Caps?

A cycling cap can be worn under a helmet, or alone – depending upon your helmet persuasion (which is not a debate to be had here).

Regardless of helmet addition, or lack of – a cycling cap can be worn peak up – or peak down. These are some pictures of Michelle and her partner to demonstrate the options. I have found that the peak flipped up looks a little more stealth, so you can have the benefits of a cap without it being too obvious. However, if you are wearing it under a helmet, sometimes they can be hard to flip up – this is the case with one of my Smith helmets.

 

What sort of cycling caps are available?

The high majority of cycling brands sell cycling caps. Since the cap itself is a highly expressive item that tells the world ‘I am a cyclist’, you might as well opt for one that tells them what sort of cyclist you are, too (and yes, brand leanings do give a little insight..)

There are also different properties to caps that make them good for specific uses, particularly in the city. Here are a few of our favourites.

Gore Equipe GTX cap – £29.99

Waterproof hats are great for keeping you hair in order on rainy winter commutes. They work even with long hair provided you tie it up in a ponytail or braid. This one from Gore has reflective logos and piping to add a little enhanced visibility to your nighttime excursions.

It is also great for wearing off the bike with a cycling waterproof if it doesn’t come with a hood, or you find hoods annoying. I love this cap.

Rapha Winter Hat – £45

Rapha branding is relatively subtle, meaning this hat doesn’t stand out. However, those hardcore roadies will know who it’s by, if thats what you want. This one is a winter cap – perfect for adding some warmth to your commute and stopping your ears from falling off at lunchtime.

Look Mum No Hands! Cap – £10

This banana cap has been super popular and is pretty awesome. I like that the Look Mum No Hands! caps are a little different – great for wearing in a city and not looking too intense.

Its standard cotton so feels comfortable on, is easy to wash and does not make you too hot.

Do you wear a cycling cap?

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