Father of workplace death victim fighting NZTA over ‘inherently unsafe’ brakes in 70,000 vehicles

Selwyn started investigating soon after Graeme’s death and discovered several fatalities caused by vehicles with cardan shaft brakes…
#NewsBeep #News #Headlines #70000 #brakes #brettkelly #Death #father #fighting #in #inherently #NewZealand #NZ #nzta #of #over #sharon #unsafe #Vehicles #victim #workplace
https://www.newsbeep.com/250892/

Zen and the Art of the FJ Cruiser Oil Change

https://adventureadjacent.com/2025/09/30/zen-and-the-art-of-the-fj-cruiser-oil-change/

Waikato police officer Nicola MacKenzie’s push to avoid conviction after high-speed crash into city bridge

Judge Tini Clark, before she made her ruling, quizzed…
#NewsBeep #News #Headlines #146kmh #after #avoid #barrier #before #brakes #bridge #chased #city #conviction #crash #crashing #highspeed #into #kerb #least #mackenzies #metal #mounting #NewZealand #nicola #NZ #officer #onduty #police #push #reached #slamming #speeds #stolen #through #to #vehicle #waikato
https://www.newsbeep.com/119409/

I had an "interesting" encounter with a road-raging #asshole yesterday. He didn't straight-up try to #murder me, but it was #disturbing. There was a lot more to it than I will show here, because I want to keep this short, I only included the latter part.

He's really a #stereotype; #unkempt, looks kind of like a meth-head, drives an absolute #POS #Chevrolet (Malibu, I think) sedan in what I assume #GM must have called "Stewed Dirt" colour, and wears a wifebeater for extra flair.

Before the video starts, he'd been ahead of me and was braking and weaving and giving me the #finger out the window and #yelling out the window and all the rest of it. I moved over to the right-hand lane so I wasn't directly behind him anymore. Where the video starts, he'd moved left into a turning lane, and slows for the light. As I pass him - I was continuing straight - I move back into the left lane, and he then stomps on the gas and pulls out of the turning lane so he's behind me.

At the light, he comes within a few inches of rear-ending me, deliberately, all while #gesticulating and moving over to be in my driver's side mirror, etc.

After I get going, he flies by me on the right (I'm not driving slowly) and then pulls in ahead of me and slams on his #brakes hard enough to lock up and #smoke the #tires.

If you're in the #Regina / #YQR area, watch out for this guy. His #SK plate is "527 MZJ", and he looks like a winning contestant from "Who's The Biggest #Loser?".

#RoadRage #driving #306

On Riding a Freshly Serviced Bike

Reading Time: 3 minutes

On Wednesday morning I rode my bike into Geneva to drop it off for a service. In the evening I went for a group ride that was heading in the direction I wanted, before leaving the group and riding for home. I didn't ride much on Wednesday, but I was tired. I believe that walking in cycling clothes, to catch a train, twice, does tire us more than walking in normal clothes.

Yesterday I went for the first proper ride with the freshly serviced bike and the experience was great. I suspect that it helps that I am more rested after last week's intense cycling, five days out of seven.

This year I rode the bike 2500 kilometres, and my bike hasn't been serviced for several years. The key reasons for this is that during the pandemic I didn't want to risk injury, and then after the pandemic I enjoyed riding, but cars frustrated me, through their behaviour.

This year, thanks to having three or four groups to ride with I am using the bike regularly.

Braking

Before the service I was riding down hills more carefully. I was riding slowly and safely, so that when I braked I didn't risk brake failure or skidding. Since the service I feel much more confident descending. I feel that the bike will do what I expect. This allows me to descend faster. I still remain safe. The key point is that I feel safer now.

Gears

Gear shifting is also much smoother now. When I tell the bike to change from one gear to another it's instant. I don't need to pedal and wait for the change. I give the order and it shifts. This is welcome when riding uphill.

Yesterday when heading up from the roundabout by the lake towards the graveyard I felt the chain slip twice. I was putting out a lot of power. I might need to have that checked. For the rest of the ride it felt fine.

Ball Bearings and Rolling Resistance

You can feel when a bike is more sluggish. With Four Season tyres I could feel more resistance. A year or two ago I could feel that my bike was slightly slower.

Now that the bike has been serviced properly I feel the difference. I feel that I am struggling less on the climbs, and that I am the limiting factor, rather than the bike.

The Home Workshop

When it comes to replacing tires and brakes I can do this myself, but for other tasks I prefer to let someone with more experience do it. While cycling uphill from the lake side towards the Signal de Bougy I had a conversation with someone who spoke about doing his own services, rather than taking his bike to a shop.

When you look at the price of the tools, bike stand and more it's easier to go to a bike shop. I would be tempted to pay for a service where I do the work, under the supervision and instruction of a mechanic.

I have tried to do my own maintenance but eventually the front brake disk on that bike jammed and I broke my arm.

I tried servicing the gears once or twice with that other bike, but I wasn't happy with the result.

And Finally

The last time my bike was serviced was during a trip to Spain and that service has lasted for up to seven years so it really was time for a proper service. I plan to do them more regularly, now that I ride so often. A well maintained bike is more pleasant to ride.

#bicycle #bike #brakes #cycling #gears #maintenance #safety #service

Of Hiking and Cycling Climbs and Descents

Reading Time: 2 minutes

When you're young and your knees are intact it's fun to head down a mountain. It's fun to run down. As you get older the effort of going uphill gets more and more habitual, and more and more comfortable. I often find that hikers prefer the climb to the descent.

While cycling I had the same thought. I found that while others were racing down on their bikes I was slower. I was more safety conscious, and more reasonable. When listening to a conversation yesterday I heard someone speak about how stable his bike was on descents, and how confident he felt.

When you ride an expensive modern bicycle down a hill you might have the luxury of descending faster. Having said this I like to descend at a speed where I can stop in half the visible distance. I also like to descend slower in case there is gravel on the road. Yesterday at one point I did see dirt on the road.

it's also about familiarity. I'm willing to go fast, if I know the road well. I used to go down a hill regularly so I felt confident before. Recently I went down the barillette road slowly. It felt slow but it was still my personal record (pr).

Brake Wear

My slow descending is due to age, the bike, and confidence but it was also due to something more critical. It was due to the front brake pads being worn and in need of replacement, especially the front right brake. It's when I heard a different braking sound than normal that I asked for a quick safety check.

Chain

I learned of the problem with the front brakes, but also that the chain has stretched and that it should be replaced. Usually it's when the chain brakes that I replace a link.

And Finally

Swapping the brake pads made an immediate and noticable difference. When braking I could feel that my fingers needed to travel much less. Braking felt more responsive and I felt more in control.

After climbing almost 12,000 meters this month it makes sense to check that the brakes are in order. Yesterday alone I did 800m of climbing and around the same descending, on roads from part of the way up the Jura.

#brakes #cycling #wear