Don't attempt it.

I fit your category, we don't bounce as well as we used to and it hurts a lot more now. It only needs the slightest thing to go wrong and believe me, the NHS ain't all it's cracked up to be.

Bikes now a hybrid with lightweight wheels and high pressure smooth tyres it evolved this way to cope with a worn out back after my more sporting bike became uncomfortable. I would have overtaken two cars that passed me earlier had I not slowed down and I am pretty sure they were driving at the limit. I only attempted it because there was a very strong wind behind me. Any idea what activates these signs?

I have figured out how to do this - it took me quite a few attempts. I too am a fiftysomething cyclist; tall but on the leaner side! Methodology is as follows:

1. Find one of these flashing signboards that's on a downhill stretch - it's almost impossible for anyone but a pro time-trialler to pull this off on the flat

2. Get a decent racing bike and get reasonably fit

3. Fit a speedo so you know how 30+ mph feels - (IMHO, fast enough that if you fall off you will know all about it)

4. Practice taking one hand off the bars at this speed - don't wobble, it can be terminal

5. Go like hell (you will need to see 34+mph on your speedo) and as you get into the range of the sign's radar, punch the air with one hand. It raises your radar signature just enough to set the sign off

6. Make sure someone is there with a camera to record the sign flashing (and you flying through the air if you wobble and fall off)

Very satisfying - if puerile. But hey, no numberplates means no risk of prosecution!

My bicycle won't even trigger the sensor on the traffic lights near my home - they stay on red and I have to wait until a car comes along or get off and push along the pavement. I won't ride my bike through a red light because a) I don't do that sort of thing and b) it could get me penalty points on my driving licence, something I've never had up to now.

What about a galloping horse, would that trigger the camera? If there's a rider on the horse, presumably a speeding offence has been committed. But what if a horse is riderless?

Another technicality I've queried before is whether a speed limit applies to an indefinite altitude above a public highway. For example, is an aircraft following the route of a motorway, travelling at 200 mph at 2000 ft, technically breaking the speed limit? Does a vehicle need to be in contact with the road for the speed limit to apply? If not, could a driver of a small hovercraft be prosecuted for speeding if they drive it at over 70 mph on a motorway? Despite the fact that they would be committing many other traffic offences, but would they technically be speeding?

Edited by Sofa Spud on 18/06/2010 at 23:33

I know it's technically against the law to get off a bike and push along the pavement through red lights. I seem to remember that it's the getting off the bike that is relevant - if you were pushing the bike on the pavement anyway, as you approach the lights, I believe it's OK to continue pushing through the lights - it's only when you are cycling and stop, get off and push that an offence might be committed.

Perhaps someone can clarify this. If one is wheeling a bike along the pavement, you're doing the same as someone pushing a pushchair, shopping trolley or wheeled zimmer frame.

QUOTE:..."" don't know where you got that load of old tosh from. An offence committed on a bicycle cannot give you points on a driving licence.""

Are you sure? Locally a woman was banned from driving for a year after she was caught driving a sit-on lawnmower around the estate where she lived while over the drink / drive limit. I'm pretty sure that I was told that during my HGV training many years ago that a traffic offence committed on a pedal cycle can lead to points on your driving licence - or perhaps it was the HGV licence, when that was separate.

Edited by Sofa Spud on 19/06/2010 at 12:09

A sit-on mower is a motorised vehicle!

And so is an electric golf cart as somebody found to their cost recently.

Its a terrible affliction, peaking at the wrong time.