Roger
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rogerha.bsky.social
Roger
@rogerha.bsky.social
270 followers 180 following 360 posts
Cyclist, statistician, folk aficionado, alliteration addict
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rogerha.bsky.social
GWR: Train services are expected to be busy on 27 and 28 December

Network Rail: We're going to close half the tracks into Paddington fron 27 December for track renewal work 🤦‍♂️
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
GWR is advising those travelling this Christmas to book in advance and to try to travel at quieter times for the best experience. To avoid busy trains, the rail network has the following advice: • Services are expected to be busiest on 22, 23 December and 27, 28 December. • Travel as early as you can for the most comfortable journey. Services between 1000 and 1400 GMT will be most in demand. • Please be aware that rail services will shut down earlier on Christmas Eve. Check your journey in advance. • As usual, no train services will operate on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. From 27 December to 4 January, track renewal work will affect some train services to/from London Paddington and trains will run to an amended timetable because only two out of four tracks will be available.
December 14, 2025 at 4:42 PM
rogerha.bsky.social
I tried asking Google about bird bath tokens and its AI Overview was more than happy to put two and two (copper coins) together to make five (tokens)
AI Overview A "bird bath token" usually refers to putting a copper coin (especially older, pre-1982 pennies) or a specially designed copper disk/token into a bird bath to naturally prevent slimy algae growth, as copper ions act as an algicide, keeping water cleaner and healthier for birds, though regular cleaning is still essential. Less commonly, it could mean decorative tokens for games or collectible Ghibli-themed wooden tokens, but the algae prevention method is the primary meaning.
December 9, 2025 at 8:42 PM
rogerha.bsky.social
No opportunities to volunteer within 60 miles of me
December 5, 2025 at 12:29 PM
rogerha.bsky.social
The percentage increase in cycling trips per person in the whole of the UK between 2019 and 2024 was less than or equal to zero
www.gov.uk/government/s...
In 2024, there were 15 cycling trips per person, similar to the previous year (15 trips per person). There were 16 cycling trips per person in 2019.
November 25, 2025 at 7:55 AM
rogerha.bsky.social
Le Beaujolais Nouveau est arrivé chez moi à bicyclette! (dans un pannier, et sans fleurs)
Photograph of a partly-empty bottle of red wine. The label has a drawing of a flower-festooned bicycle carrying a bottle and a full glass of wine. Printing on the label reads: BEAUJOLAIS-VILLAGES NOUVEAU 2025 Appellation d'origine contrôlée À BICYCLETTE!
November 22, 2025 at 6:03 PM
rogerha.bsky.social
Oh, you're right 😢
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_of...
Maggie rides her bicycle to a local store. On her way back, happy and fulfilled, she rides her bicycle with her eyes closed and her arms wide open. Her happiness is cut short when she fails to notice a logging truck crossing her path and is gravely wounded in the collision.
November 19, 2025 at 6:44 PM
rogerha.bsky.social
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk%3A...
Talk:AI bubble Which English variety? George Ho 7 Nov 2025, 18:28 Shall the English variety be changed from New Zealand English to another? If so, American, British, or which other?
November 19, 2025 at 3:17 AM
rogerha.bsky.social
The middle name has since been deleted but...
Screenshot of the Wikipedia app showing 'Gibstine' redirects to 'Sam Altman'
November 19, 2025 at 2:43 AM
rogerha.bsky.social
Storm Davide
www.aemet.es/es/conocerma...
Nombres de las borrascas y danas con gran impacto de la temporada 2025-2026: Alice Benjamin Claudia Davide Emilia Francis Goretti Harry Ingrid Joseph Kristin Leonardo Marta Nils Oriana Pedro Regina Samuel Therese Vitor Wilma
November 14, 2025 at 6:14 PM
rogerha.bsky.social
Sweden must have the safest transport in the world
Screenshot of Category:Transport disasters in Sweden This is the only article
November 9, 2025 at 8:23 AM
rogerha.bsky.social
Could've get all three for the price of one in 2022. Damn, missed it. #totp
www.farnhamherald.com/news/toyah-l...
November 7, 2025 at 8:22 PM
rogerha.bsky.social
He's not a Green voter though, the other guy just thought he looked like one
Carl, 37, Milton Keynes Occupation: Primary school teacher Voting record: Always Labour but describes himself as somewhere between Labour, Green and “leftwing progressive”
November 4, 2025 at 7:27 PM
rogerha.bsky.social
Everything but the kitchen sink
A purple Dawes Super Galaxy bicycle carrying black Ortlieb rear panniers, a camp bed, a purple cylindrical light shade and a mop
November 4, 2025 at 3:45 PM
rogerha.bsky.social
That passage was still in Richard's New Bicycle Book (1990). It's 3 pages long – this is the climax, though not the end:
With a big dog you are fighting for your life. If you are weaponless try to tangle the dog up in your bike. Use your legs to kick at the dog's stomach and genitals. If you have got a pump or stick and the dog is moving too fast for you to ram it down its throat, hold the pump by both ends and offer it up to the dog horizontally. Often the dog will bite the stick/pump and hang on hard. Immediately lift the dog up and deliver a very solid kick to the genitals. If you have no pump or stick, throw rocks, or use a heavy rock as a club. If worst comes to worst, and you are forced down to the ground by the dog, ram your entire arm down its throat. He will choke and die. Better your arm than your throat.
November 2, 2025 at 8:08 AM
rogerha.bsky.social
Clever battery concealment, though 187 Wh battery capacity could be a bit limiting? Only slightly over half that of Electric G
www.cyclingelectric.com/news/pashley...
Power comes from an external 187 Wh battery, housed on the rear rack in that removable leather-style case, and wired neatly to preserve the clean look.
November 1, 2025 at 8:06 AM
rogerha.bsky.social
Just realised she won that second stage (Walsall–Walsall), though my photo of her on the podium is overexposed unfortunately
October 29, 2025 at 10:02 PM
rogerha.bsky.social
Amy at the 2021 Women's Tour. Hadn't realised that was her last race 💔
Amy Pieters in Netherlands national champion's jersey with Euro champion's sleeve bands, Demi Vollering behind her in SD Worx purple team kit. Both are on bikes but clearly not moving fast. A course barrier behind and to the side bears the slogan 'We are Walsall'
October 29, 2025 at 9:40 PM
rogerha.bsky.social
The oddest assortment of things I've ever carried by bike, though nothing was sticking out of the pannier
A purple Dawes Galaxy bicycle carrying a purple cylindrical light shade, black Ortlieb rear panniers, a camp bed and a mop
October 27, 2025 at 9:46 PM
rogerha.bsky.social
Sorry but I think Wikipedia's version is closer to the truth
– ♂️ and ♀️ race 11 events each so there must be a total of 22 🥇s, 22 🥈s and 22 🥉s
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_UC...
Rank Nation Gold Silver Bronze Total 1 Netherlands 9 2 2 13 2 Great Britain 4 8 2 14 3 Italy 2 0 1 3 4 Denmark 1 2 2 5 5 Japan 1 2 0 3 6 Germany 1 1 0 2 7 Belgium 1 0 2 3 8 Ireland 1 0 0 1 Mexico 1 0 0 1 Spain 1 0 0 1 11 Australia 0 2 3 5 12 France 0 2 1 3 13 New Zealand 0 1 4 5 14 United States 0 1 2 3 – Neutral athletes 0 1 1 2 15 Colombia 0 0 1 1 Portugal 0 0 1 1 Totals (16 entries) 22 22 22 66
October 27, 2025 at 1:25 AM
rogerha.bsky.social
"Let the example of my fluke success guide nearly all of you to crushing disappointment"
October 25, 2025 at 7:41 AM
rogerha.bsky.social
Reminds me of this cartoon
Speaker at degree ceremony: "Let the example of my fluke success guide nearly all of you to crushing disappointment"
October 18, 2025 at 9:15 AM
rogerha.bsky.social
Signed up! I'll look forward to news from Professor Ian the Simple Ghost
A simple ghost drawing with a hand-puppet shaped outline, black hole for a mouth and upward-looking eyes
October 12, 2025 at 5:28 PM
rogerha.bsky.social
Stunning live vocals by Maria McKee – better than the studio version, and one of the best ever on #totp in my book.

McKee thinks it was one of her best too:
www.shortlist.com/news/maria-m...
and I just remember getting very carried away with being on TOTP and very excited and really doing one of my best vocal performances on live TV for that. I think it was before it went to number 1 - I think it was like about top 5, or top 10 or something - and I really believe that my live performance on TOTP helped to push it up to number 1. I remember very well The KLF was on [my episode].
October 10, 2025 at 6:44 PM
rogerha.bsky.social
She refers the questioner to www.cyclinguk.org/article/guid... which is far longer and more comprehensive than could fit in the printed mag and makes precisely that point
When it comes to saddle width, you want to ensure that both your sit bones rest comfortably on the saddle so they’re not teetering on the edge. Saddles often come in two different widths, narrow and wide. Just for the record, having wide sit bones doesn’t mean you have a big bum! Wider isn’t necessarily better; a wide saddle can rub the soft skin of the inner thighs. You do want to ensure your sit bones are fully supported, though. You can get a good idea of how wide your sit bones are by sitting on a piece of corrugated cardboard for several minutes. Mark the two main impressions, which is where your sit bones are, and find the centre point of these impressions. Then measure the distance between these two points. Armed with this information you should be able to find a saddle that’s the right width for you.
October 9, 2025 at 6:53 PM
rogerha.bsky.social
Could someone please explain to me why Lucy Powell, who served as Leader of the House of Commons in Starmer's cabinet from July 2024 to September 2025, represents "the kind of division and disunity that fills the pages of the rightwing papers and energises our opponents"?
Guardian Comment by Highbury 18 hours ago "Members can choose to push our government to be bolder, to go further and do more with me as their voice at the cabinet table, or they can choose the kind of division and disunity that fills the pages of the rightwing papers and energises our opponents." Charming. As far as I remember there is only one other candidate for Labour's Deputy Leader. According to Bridget Phillipson, a vote for this other candidte would be a vote for ... ".... the kind of division and disunity that fills the pages of the rightwing papers and energises our opponents". My understanding is that the only 'opponent' is Lucy Powell who served as Leader of the House of Commons and Lord President of the Council from July 2024 to September 2025. Yet now, former Cabinet colleague, Lucy Powell represents ".... the kind of division and disunity that fills the pages of the rightwing papers and energises our opponents". How come it took the Prime Minister so long to notice that Powell represents ".... the kind of division and disunity that fills the pages of the rightwing papers and energises our opponents".
October 7, 2025 at 5:47 AM