Completely unofficial Ixion FAQ

I've been subscribed to the Ixion mailing list for many years now, and every so often something completely unexpected and actually useful shows up on the list. I have tried to keep these vital nuggets of information just in case one of them turns out to be useful at some point, and this is my list so far. At the time of putting this page together the old Ixion FAQ was extremely out of date. Since then, however, Neil the Hippy has done a sterling job of collating and creating an official FAQ for Ixion, so much of what's on here could well be duplicated there now. I'll keep all this up here for posterity's sake anyway.

It's probably worth noting that these are only things that I think would be useful to me, and many of them probably aren't frequently-asked at all. I should also point out that this is a work in (perpetual) progress: I have things from 6 years of Ixion scattered around all over the place and as I find the relevant emails I'll add them to the list. So here, in no particular order, are the bits and pieces.

-- oOo --

How soon should the relevant authority repair potholes / other broken bits of road?

From Andy Suter, 9 January, 2001:

IIRC once they have been notified, they become liable if they fail to repair it in a "reasonable" period of time. (What constitutes reasonable falls to the proverbial man on the clapham omnibus :) ).

There's a link off the Southampton MAG website (the link is called Road Hazards). Sorry about the site, it should be improving soon. Basically you notify the local highways department.

Anyone got any tips for riding in London?

From Nick Reynolds, 22 February, 2001:

More so than almost anywhere else, outright speed has no effect on journey times. It's all about anticipation and good choices. Accelerate hard away from traffic whenever possible but roll off soon after to ensure you have a good gap ahead as well as behind. Never get too close to anything in front (DAMHIKIJKOK, my only contact in 8 years commuting) and try not to let anything get right up behind you either. If you're in two lanes moving at much the same speed, move into the one where you can see furthest, not the one with a Bus in.

Professional drivers/riders [Taxis, Buses, liveried or scary-looking couriers], however psychotic they may appear generally look where they are going, probably due to some kind of Darwinism. Avoid Post Office vans, ratty 125's, scuffed scooters, anything with a 'knowledge board' and Tradesmans vehicles [Builders vans, scaffolding lorries, photocopier repair men] they don't look or don't care.

Be courteous to other road users, even if they aren't to you. If you can let somebody out without having to slow appreciably, then do so. Don't block junctions, whether they're boxed or not.

When pulling away from lights, roll forward immediately on changing, check both ways for people jumping them, then nail it to avoid being swamped. Expect pedestrians to stream across the other side of the junction until the last possible moment, cover your horn. Turning into minor roads tends to involve dodging pedestrians too.

When lights change to amber on you, don't leave it and brake normally. Either cross without slowing at all, or slow very moderately to stop so that WVM behind you has plenty of time to realise you've applied the brakes. Don't use engine braking alone. If he's right up your arse and doesn't want to slow down, you will then still probably have time to get across without jumping the lights. Avoid this at all costs, as some have cameras on, and some people jump the lights in the other direction based on when the pedestrian crossing signals change and things slow.

At all times, look well ahead and plan to do things well before you need to. Treat one-way systems as roundabouts, there will be constant traffic merging from all directions, try to slot yourself in as smoothly as possible.

You don't need to filter unless things are near stationary, nothing in Central London is very far from anything else, you'll just get to the next set of red lights quicker. Filter slowly inbetween rows, or you'll hit a pedestrian.

Oncoming traffic is your friend. If you can filter down the middle of the road safely with heavy oncoming traffic, very rarely is somebody going to turn right across your path. Beware gaps in the traffic on your side of the road though as things are generally going on inside. I always slow slightly and look into the gap. Even fairly small ones may have a scooter suddenly emerge.

Don't be afraid to use bits of the road you normally wouldn't, like the gutter, or the wrong side of the road, but do so very deliberately and carefully. Just don't scrape your engine cases or exhaust on high kerbs and traffic islands, DAMHIKIJKOK. Obey 'Keep Left' Islands unless you really feel safe and justified going round them.

Look out for potholes, some of them are cavernous. If you've left a good gap from the vehicle in front, you'll see them in time to avoid them.

Above all, don't get angry or flustered and try to ride fast, stay cool, look very well before doing anything and be smooth. You will make 75 percent of the progress with 25 percent of the danger. Flying past traffic in town is for the regulars or psychos.

What was that URL for motorcycle manuals online?

From Dan, 19 March, 2001:

http://www.motofiches.com/

Can anyone recommend any biker-friendly B&Bs?

From Bob Dysart, 22 May, 2001:

I can heartily recommend the Biker's B&B in Cumbria, run by Will and Liz Robinson, if it's still going. Tel 01539 567715 or 01539 732255. The address is:

Harley House (oh yes, once called Aquileia)
Gatebeck
Nr Kendal
Cumbria.

Basic, good B&B, bunks or double rooms. Very cheap when I went. Will and Liz are big names in the local Harley groups around Kendal, and are really sound people, in my experience. I vaguely remember a night out in Kendal with them, and several others who were staying at the B&B...... :o]

Where can I park my bike in London?

From me!, 4 July, 2001:

Whilst looking for something completely different, I somehow stumbled upon a website listing bike bays in the City: it's even got pictures of most of them (although after a while one bike bay photo looks much like another).

It seems to be fairly up-to-date and comprehensive, so anyone who occasionally treks into the City might find it pretty useful. Not sure if there's also one for the west end though.

It's at http://www.btinternet.com/~p.f.sharp/.

-- oOo --

From Flymo, 23 April, 2002:

In a search for something completely unrelated, I came across the web page that lists all motorbike parking bays in the City of London. It's at:

http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/our_services/highways_transport/parking/motorcycles.htm.

Unfortunately there's no postcode, or direct link into something useful like www.streetmap.co.uk, but it may help visiting Ixies to the Big Smoke.

-- oOo --

From Hoddy, 8 March, 2003:

Piaggio have produced a map showing all[1] the motorcycle parking bays in london. Also shows the congestion charge boundary and paid for car parks with free 'bike places. It covers Bloomsbury to Whitechapel, Regent's Park to Pimlico.

I fear the .gif is 2.3Mb - but it has to be fairly big to keep the road names legible and also 'cos the 'bike bays are marked with pale blue dots which vanish if you try to reduce the colours or otherwise shrink it a lot. it's at http://www.markhodson.com/parking%20map%28sm%29.gif

I have infringed the copyright on this map and am evil. Mea culpa, mea maxima scanner. It'll stay up 'till I need the space or FACT get me. Pass it on to other Lunnon 'bikers, do.

The map also offers some handy hints and tips for parking 'bikes - but my free OCR package has died and I can't be bothered to re-type 'em all. Here are a couple:

• Wardens are restricted to marshalling highways (streetlights and 30mph limit) and their footpaths. Therefore alley ways are warden free zones. [Hoddy thought - does this mean Wardens can't cover the new 20mph zones?]
• Free parking in London Parks. Hyde Park 5am to midnight. Regent's Park 5am to dusk. Battersea Park dawn to dusk.
• Velcro licence plates / covering licence plates and tax disks. Wardens are not permitted to touch a vehicle other than to affix the penalty charge notice. But police and DVLA have the right to clamp a vehicle which is not displaying 'plate or tax disk - 80gbp fee for unclamping.

There's more but I'm no copy typist! The full map is 2.50gbp from Piaggio dealers, if you have an honest streak.

Hoddy

[1] I think one or two are missing, but it does locate 100s of 'em - including several I did not know about...

Where can I park my bike at Heathrow Terminal 4?

From Mark Fielder, 7 November, 2001:

The main bike park is on the lower arrivals level. The access to it is from Swindon Road arrowed on this map.

On the map, you see the roundabout at the end of Shrewsbury road? Take the unmarked road heading towards the Hilton hotel. This'll bring you to some traffic lights crossing the Southern Perimeter road. Go straight across the S.Peri road into Swindon Road. The bike park has nice strong posts to which you can lock your bike. Parking is free, mostly undercover and there is usually sufficient space.

Why don't bikes fall over, and other complicated things

From Adam Curtin, 18 March 2002

I was looking for physics, and found some:

• Countersteering article at http://vf750fd.com/blurbs/counter.html
• Motorcycle physics article at http://planeta.clix.pt/mota/bikes/faq_bike.html
• Specifically to do with tyres (http://www.ctv.es/USERS/softtech/motos/Articles/Tyres/TYRES.htm)

How can I improve my riding skills?

From Adam Curtin, 18 March 2002

Some interesting stuff on riding skills and safety and stuff.

Tips for long-distance & European touring

From Paul Hounslow, 3 March 2003

Here are some points that we have found help:

1. Have "travel days" and "non-travel" days. You should aim to have less travel days than non-travel days. This is particularly true if carrying a pillion (see 6).
2. Never expect to do the sort of mileage per day that you could achieve in a single day ride (see 6). I try not to do more than 50% (300 to 500 miles).
3. On travel days, try and stop every hour for a quick leg stretch. Again very important for those with pillions
4. Take clothing that dries overnight.
   • We have a routine now, checkin/return to hotel/campsite, get showered before dinner and wash the clothes worn during the day while in the shower.
   • Hanging them to dry[i] overnight.
   • We now take more for a weekend (when we don't do this) than we do for a week.
   • Another technique is to take a waterproof sealable box, put washing powder, water and dirties in it when you are riding, rinse off and dry when you are not.
   • Minimum clothing is:
     • Three of underwear and shirts (on, clean, spare).
     • Two of trousers fleece (on, spare).
     Note this is each!
5. Make a to do list (things to do, things to see and so on). Don't try to do everything, and be prepared to drop things off the list.
6. If you are carrying a pillion don't assume that because you are okay that they are. The pillion will not be able to see as much as you and it will get boring. We have found that it is more exhausing on the back than the front.
7. Make sure that your mobile will work abroad before you go. Celnet (O2) had a habit of changing your tariff every now an again and turning the roaming off with out telling you DAMHIKIJKD :(
8. Enjoy :)

[i] We have a travel washing line, bought from a camping shop that is just two bits of twisted bungy cord with a hook at each end. It doesn't need pegs.

Can I be ticketed for parking on private property at the edge of the pavement (eg on pavement lights)?

From Ryan O'Connell, 1 April 2003

The relevant case in Adobe Acrobat PDF format. (There's others too but that's the main one)

This was 2001 - I parked outside the Stock Exchange in 2000/early 2001 before this decision was made. However, it does mean it's illegal for me to park outside my own house on land I own because it's a "pavement". I'm not sure what to do about that.