Mark Battley

Engineer/Academic, cyclist, runner and Alfista

[Mark Battley @MarkBattley]

@Emily_M_Lane It used to be easier to find longer reach brakes like the Shimano BR-561 (39-49mm), or if you needed more reach the BR-A550 (47-57mm). I have a set of these that I had on my old Peugeot commuter.. until I destroyed the frame in a bike-on-bike crash. I had better keep them :)

[Mark Battley @MarkBattley]

@Samhood8 @killa_dinosaur I almost took out a pedestrian this morning who was coming around the inside of that corner towards me, if I wasn't being cautious it could have been messy.

[Mark Battley @MarkBattley]

@Samhood8 @killa_dinosaur On the importance of sight lines: parts of the Waterview cycleway have metal barriers up by the building work on the ex Unitec land. One side of these near to Laurel St has black covering which means that there is no visibility through the 90 degree corner by Laurel St.

[Mark Battley @MarkBattley]

@Samhood8 @killa_dinosaur Agree that it's better, aside from the stupidly large Flax on the corner as you come off the St Luke's crossing - I wrote off my last commuter bike in a bike-on-bike crash there...

[Mark Battley @MarkBattley]

@HendoWest @Samhood8 It's all too narrow and there are some big speed differentials from walkers to VERY fast powered scooters/ebikes. Side entrances (as for that crash) are particularly risky. Regular/substantial pruning of vegetation to improve visibility would help, but is only part of the answer

[Mark Battley @MarkBattley]

@JoJohnson5 @AklTransport Agreed! It does narrow it significantly. Please shift them off the path to the grass @AklTransport. It was made worse by the petrol motorscooter I encountered on that section this week... who thought I was being most unreasonable to suggest that he shouldn't be there. FFS...

[Mark Battley @MarkBattley]

@RichardHills_ @AklTransport Teach me for being soft and not using the bike today... would have been home ages ago.

[Mark Battley @MarkBattley]

@RichardHills_ @AklTransport Even if you get on a bus in the CBD it can't move to take you anywhere anyhow. I spent 1.5hrs walking around the CBD trying to get on one then gave up and went back to my office where I can watch the gridlock. My son got on one then after an hour moving three blocks got off again

[Mark Battley @MarkBattley]

@TimFWelch @publicaddress @roelandsch And to really put it in perspective... the top time on Strava to RUN across the bridge is 6:19 https://t.co/tCNzbG4TPT

[Mark Battley @MarkBattley]

@publicaddress @roelandsch @TimFWelch And that is a mix of gradients, some quite steep rather than the even gradient of the bridge. The whole discussion about whether people could cycle the bridge is a pointless distraction... of course they could and would 😀

[Mark Battley @MarkBattley]

@publicaddress @roelandsch @TimFWelch Had a look at my Strava. If the bridge details are correct then it is a similar distance and elevation to the last bit of NW cycleway from Bright St to Upper Queen St. Which LOTS of cyclists do every day just fine. Even those of us without electric motors...

[Mark Battley @MarkBattley]

@unlikelyjenn While I could list a bike as my main form of transport to work, I was disappointed to not be asked how many bikes our household had available... unlike cars :)

[Mark Battley @MarkBattley]

@Emily_M_Lane So sorry Emily, a close miss is scary. My response tends to be a loud "FFS, Really", or just a simple "F' Off!" Not sure if it affects them but it makes me feel a bit better...

[Mark Battley @MarkBattley]

@Rachel26Barnes @RichardHills_ @DARBY4Shore How can this be "unexpected" FFS...

[Mark Battley @MarkBattley]

@watercare_nz Suggest you check the Titirangi Facebook page, and would be great to get some direct updates there.

[Mark Battley @MarkBattley]

@watercare_nz It has been reported. This is not just local, it is widespread on this side of Titirangi.

[Mark Battley @MarkBattley]

@watercare_nz @dhayas Thanks!