Specialized Sirrus Comp 2010 review
By Justin, (0) Comments
Having owned a Specialized Globe for over 2 years I decided to upgrade and get a new bike that was a bit lighter and more nimble around the streets Dublin. Having already owned a Globe (and been very impressed) I decided to go for another Specialized. I went for a Specialized Comp 2010, purchased in Cycleways.
Scan RADIUS Core i5 BUNDLE review
By Justin, (0) Comments
I recently moved my custom from one UK supplier to another. Up until recently I had shopped with www.overclockers.co.uk, but due to horrendous customer service and a generally bad experience, I decided to turn to Scan (www.scan.co.uk) for my computer parts!.
Overclockers UK stole my money, and never had a product to sell to begin with...
By Justin, (0) Comments
I recently tried to purchase a new graphics card from www.overclockers.co.uk (Overclockers UK).
They were all too quick to take my money, despite the card being out of stock. When I enquired as to when they would be getting stock, I was told that they did not know.
"At this time we currently have no estimated time of arrival on this product, all I can suggest is for you to keep checking our website as all our products that are avalable are listed there."
Lemosho Diary, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro
By Justin, (1) Comments
In 2009 a group of us set off to climb Kilimanjaro via the Lemosho (western approach) route. This will hopefully be a helpful day by day account of our 7 days hike to the top of Africa's highest mountain!!
Day 1, 08th Feb 2009
For 90% of trekkers your first day will most likely start very early, somewhere in Moshi. Moshi and Arusha are the two closest cities (large towns?) to Kilimanjaro. We set off from Moshi with our Guide and driver in a 4 X 4 jeep. The journey to the start of the Lemosho trail (at around 1800m) can be dumpy and slow in places.
After about 2 hours on the road you will reach the park gate, a mere 10 minutes from the start of the Lemosho trail. At the gate you will be required to sign in. Your passport number is required here, but if you forget it like I did then you just make one up!!
The start of the Lemosho trail is in thick forest, almost rain forest. If your lucky you might see some Colubus or Blue Monkeys on the trail. We were luck enough to see both!! The first day on the Lemosho trail is a gentle 2-3 hour walk to Forest Camp (Mti Mkubwa or Big Tree Camp @ around 2620m). The camp site is hidden away amongst the trees. Again you will be required to sign in at this hut to keep a record of your accent of the mountain.
We found this camp like many other quite busy. On most parts of the Lemosho trail we were being passed by groups of porters. The porters are responsible for carrying your heavier pack, and also ensuring your campsite is ready when you arrive. It really is 4 star camping with these guys around!
VIEW DAY 2 ->>
Cycling in Dublin City, buses, taxis, danger, and the ballet of death
By Justin, (0) Comments
So over a year ago I decided to join the rank of file of cyclists braving the roads of Dublin City. Like any mode of transport there are dangers.....this post highlights some of those dangers...So in one year I have:
- Almost been crushed by a bus (on several occasions)
- Had a car door opened on me twice, once ending up rolling onto the path and crashing into some startled pedestrians
- Crashing down on the Malahide Road after hitting a patch of ice
- Crashed into a pedestrian who walked out in front of me at Connolly Street train station. That hurt real bad.
For the record cyclists are no angels!!! I have seen probably more STUPID cyclists that I have motorists. I once saw a lady cycle through a red light on Dorset Street with 2 cars skidding to miss her. The funny thing is she continued up the road and broke every light she came to.....I guess some people are born stupid. I would imagine cyclists breaking red lights is probably the biggest complaint motorists and pedestrians have about cyclists?
So to draw up some "Dangers and Annoyances" that might help you out:
Motorists
There are more cars on the roads than anything else. It's no suprise that they top the dangers and annoyances list. I am a hypocrite of course, for a whole year I sat in my car....rage slowly building inside me as I watched cyclists whiz past me. I fought and jockeyed with my fellow motorists to gain an extra 2 feet closer to home. I toyed with the idea that driving into work was wayyyyy better than the bus, as at least it's my own space and i'm in control. But alas this simply is not true. Driving into Dublin City does one thing, takes years and years off your life. I can get home from town in half an hour on my bike. There is one other way to get home quicker....but i'm fairly sure that type of technology has not been invented yet.
So motorists top the list. I have seen motorists knock cyclists, and then look completely suprised when an angry cyclist bangs on their roof. The short of it....the majority of motorists simply don't see cyclists. The protection bubble a car creates isolates most motorists from the plight of their 2 wheeled overlords. Are you angry, then start cycling. You will be able to:
1. Spend less time commuting
2. Spend less money commuting
3. Loose weight and be healthier
4. Get to fly past 500 stationary cars on the Malahide Road with a big huge grin on your face
5. Dodge death on a daily basis
It's win win no?
Bus Drivers
I have found that the majority of bus drivers are quite aware and courteous towards cyclists. Given the fact that cyclists and bus drivers exist in the same space, it's not surprising that bus drivers would top my list of dangers and annoyances. Put simply, buses are large....and cyclists are small!!! When buses overtake cyclists they have a tendency to cut back into lane quite quickly. On more than one occasion I have been forced to stop for fear of being crushed. I have had bus drivers drive behind me beeping the length of the Fairview Road as I had dared entered the bus lane.....only problem was the cycle lane was closed due to road works. There is nothing more terrifying than a bus 2 feet from your back wheel driving behind you!!!
EDIT: I am 1 year more bitter....and now believe bus drivers are in league with satan, many of them hate cyclists...and from what I have seen go out of their way to put their lives at risk. (the cyclists)
Weather
Ice....rain.....pain. I recently cut myself up good on the Malahide Road. I skidded on ice...ending up with my head underneath a stationary taxi outside the UCI in Coolock. This is the first time this ever happened....and it was no fun at all. Not much you can do if its icey. The roads are usually gritted but as I found out (after emailing the Road Maintenance, Roads & Traffic Department) they can sometimes get overlooked due to the fact certain graded weather conditions must exist before the gritters head out. There is a grading from 1-5 depending on the weather....I guess I just missed out :(
Taxi Men
No surprise that taxi men/women show up 3rd. Firstly I will point out that taxi men are FAR MORE AWARE of cyclists than other motorists. This is due in part to the fact that they live in the same space as buses and cyclists! That said I think that many taxi men see cyclists as "obstacles" as they race around taking full advantage of the cycle lanes/bus lanes. While not as bad as being cut off by a bus, I have been forced onto the path on numerous occasions by taxi men.
Pedestrians
People walk out in front of you all the time. They look at you.....look at you again....look at you again....wait....wait....then stand out in front of you. This zombie effect is usually localised to certain areas where "they" gather.....so for the most part can be avoided injury free :)
Garda
Strange to list the Garda here, but on two occasions they have almost caused me to crack my head open. On one occasion while travelling down the Malahide Road a Garda pulled a car in (for a traffic offence) directly in front of me. I slammed on the breaks resulting in my break cable coming loose and me having to ditch. This was an extremely dangerous move by the Garda. He either forced me to swerve into the traffic out of my cycle lane....thus putting me in the firing line....or forcing me to skid to a stop and possibly crashing into the back of a car that is in the cycle lane?! On another occasion a motorcycle Garda pulled a car into the bus lane, the driver then opened the door in front of me. Again I would ask can the driver not be directed to stop in a safer spot?
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