iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Dan Birchett @dbirchett.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

On this note, I'm now using a pixel 10 pro with GrapheneOS. Bye bye big tech 👋

Pharmacist on a Pushbike @ppushbike.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Reposted by Dan Birchett

Gravel bike for sale! Bombtrack Beyond 1 (2022) small (rider height 1.60m to 1.72m) As per original manufacturer spec, plus: Stamp pedals and SKS mudguards added. Tyres swapped to Terravail Washburns: can swap back to the original unused WTB Ranger TCS Light Fast tyres if you prefer. 1/n

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Dan Birchett @dbirchett.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

I know some of the hills around there. Definitely going to need plenty of gears 😬

Dan Birchett @dbirchett.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

$9.98 per US Gallon here in the uk (£1.99 a litre). Honestly, that’s the closest I’ve ever seen US prices to ours, ever!

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Dan Birchett @dbirchett.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

I’m becoming a weird geeky Luddite? I’m concerned how our data is used. So far I’ve been hoovering up physical media, rocking an iPod classic, dropping subscription services. I run Linux on my computers. My TV isn’t connected to a network. Next is ditching FB for good. youtu.be/6IFVTcM28KA?...

youtu.be

216,000,000 Spy TVs | The LG Smart TV Problem

YouTube video by Gamers Nexus

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Dan Birchett @dbirchett.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

First road cycle post injury (5x broken ribs, broken sternum & shoulder). Felt like Dave Allen from last night. It’s going to be a long road back 😭 #Cycling #Cornwall

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Dan Birchett @dbirchett.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Tour of Britain is in Lincoln today. Love seeing all the roads I’ve ridden so many times! I miss them, mostly because they’re somewhat flatter than down here in Cornwall which is very important when you’re 6’6 & 80Kg 😂 #cycling www.youtube.com/live/cqyY6TK...

youtube.com

LIVE | Stage One | Lloyds Tour of Britain Men 2026 | Lincoln

YouTube video by Lloyds Tour of Britain

Dan Birchett @dbirchett.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

It’s normally my favourite time of year down here. It’s a bit quieter and normally comfortable temperatures and weather.

Dan Birchett @dbirchett.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

I’m thinking of pedalling up to Bodmin moor and doing this once the kids are back at school. Hoping the weather will improve?

Dan Birchett @dbirchett.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Get well soon Craig. I do love Lincoln. It was my home city from 2012-2023.

Dan Birchett @dbirchett.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Wait. We’re all going to Lincoln from down here? I’m travelling up from Cornwall in a few weeks. Sadly missing the Tour of Britain though 😭

Dan Birchett @dbirchett.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

How I feel at MOT time or belonging to a queue of traffic and how I feel on my bike. Fantastic illustration (stolen from bike commute FB) #ActiveTravel #Cycling

Chained to the motorcar. Cycling is freedom

Dan Birchett @dbirchett.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

I know this is skiing and I’m planning a late spring/early summer trip for a cycling/tourist’y kinda trip but I’m using this as a guide. skiflightfree.org/uk-to-the-do...

skiflightfree.org

Case Study: UK to the Dolomites by train | Ski Flight Free

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Dan Birchett @dbirchett.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Massive respect Anna. I’m planning a trip to the Dolomites next year and planning to do it all without flying for very much the same reasons as you.

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Reposted by Dan Birchett

Will cycles slower than you 🇿🇦🇬🇧🏳️‍⚧️ @williamnb.eurosky.social · 24/08/2026

If you're fortunate enough find yourself in Dublin on the last Friday of the month, do yourself the enormous favour of joining @ibikedublin.bsky.social. You will have a blast, and meet some amazing people!

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Dan Birchett @dbirchett.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

We don’t exist Will. We’re just a row of beach huts

Dan Birchett @dbirchett.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

I’m hoping for an impartial judgement 😉 www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c5...

Dan Birchett @dbirchett.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

We camped up our field last night. It was a beautiful night. The meteor shower was epic. We had planned to be further on with our project (AL1) but the field purchase took forever and the weather has been extreme.

Xenoyr (Zen for short). Our yellow Labrador

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Dan Birchett @dbirchett.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Literally saw an old Pashley the other day and got super excited. At 44, 100% not that demographic either 😂

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Reposted by Dan Birchett

annacycles.bsky.social @annacycles.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Does anyone have a pair of solar glasses they are now not going to use? I’m going to head down to Gibraltar to see the next eclipse next year, and want to save a few of those pairs from landfill. Flight-free Gibraltar = trains to Paris, Barcelona, Madrid and Algeciras 🙌

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Dan Birchett @dbirchett.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

You’re doing amazing Craig. Incredible distance covered already! Chapeau

Dan Birchett @dbirchett.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

It’s Praze Day in the village I grew up in today. Myself, my wife and two daughters are all cycling there (6 miles away). I’ll be going there and back twice cos I’ve gotta walk and feed the dogs around tea time. So much easier to park the bikes than try and find a car parking space in the village!

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Dan Birchett @dbirchett.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

Good luck to Craig this morning as he starts LEJOG! Apologies for the trains! They weren’t anything to do with me thankfully 😂😬 #LEJOG #GWR

Dan Birchett @dbirchett.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

Good luck Craig. I hope you have a fantastic journey.

Yep. It impacts so many people. I initially leapt to thinking only of the cyclists who live in Devon & Cornwall. But then there is the many tourists who bring their bikes on holiday with them and LEJOG/JOGLE riders?!

Will cycles slower than you 🇿🇦🇬🇧🏳️‍⚧️ @williamnb.eurosky.social · 07/07/2026

Reposted by Dan Birchett

Devon & Cornwall Police have pissed me off now. The 1st screenshot shows the response I received, after having reported a close pass I calculated to be maximum 13 cm. The 2nd screenshot is an edited version of my report. D&C Police are effectively saying cycling in primary position is wrong!

Thank you for your email.

You have stated that you have chosen to ride in the centre of the lane “to try and discourage unsafe close passes. This would suggest that you are putting yourself in charge of traffic control. This is a practice that is not encouraged and could potentially put you and other road users at risk.

On viewing this footage, I can see that this road at the time is not busy and there is no oncoming traffic. The lane you are position in is not narrow and there are no obstacles to prevent you from moving to the left to allow faster moving vehicles to safely overtake safely as per the Highway Code.

The driver of the vehicle has moved to the opposite carriage way as can be seen by the central broken white lines. If you had positioned to the left of this lane the driver would have given you plenty of room and indeed, I believe gave you room despite your positioning. Also, you have turned your head to look at the driver which distorts the view of the space between yourself and the vehicle.

I have no view of your cycle and therefore cannot comment on the measurements you have supplied in relation to the size of your cycle or panniers. In any case these cannot be calibrated.

You state that on this occasion it was a bright day and in addition you have taken extra care to make yourself as clearly visible as possible.

On this occasion it would be difficult to positively progress your submission and it could be argued that you contributed to your perception of this close pass by placing yourself in a position of authority on the road.

Although your submission will not be progressed any further, we look forward to hearing from you again as we consider your submissions valuable and appreciate your contributions and support for road safety.

Thank you

Operation Snap

Road Safety Team

Crownhill Police Station, Budshead Way, Plymouth PL6 5HT

Devon and Cornwall Road Safety Team

On the 29/06/2026, at around 15:10, I was cycling in an easterly direction, along Glen Road, Plympton, Plymouth. It was a bright day, and I was wearing a bright blue cycling jersey, with lots of white. Visibility was very good. In addition, because my bike has dynamo lights, I was riding with lights on. Also, the rear of my right-hand pannier, I have a Pass Pixie hivis sign. I am confident I made myself very visible.
Glen Road isn't wide enough for a car to safely pass a cyclist, without almost completely moving into the oncoming lane (when safe to do so). As a result, as per DfT advice, I was riding in the middle of the lane, to try and discourage unsafe close passes.
There was another cyclist, who was riding on the tarred strip on the pavement to my left. That is not a shared pavement, and cycling there is not permitted.
When the driver of the Audi overtook, close-passing me, the passenger window was open, and he was pointing to the left, and shouting something unintelligible. To me, this suggests the close pass was deliberate and intentional, as the driver appeared visibly upset about my absolutely legal road positioning.
The lane where the incident occurred is 3.79 metres wide, and as the video clearly shows, I was riding in the middle of the lane, leaving around 1.89 metres of free space to the right of my bike's wheels. The Audi is an S3 Super S, which is 1.9 metres wide. As the video will show, more than three quarters of the car was within my lane when the driver overtook me. Three quarters of that car is 1.42 metres, and when deducted from the free lane space to the right of my bike's tyres, it reduces the space between the car and my bike to just 0.47 metres.
My bike with panniers on is 0.68 metres wide, with half of that either side of the wheels. That further reduces the space between the car and me to just 0.13 metres.
The Highway Code says drivers should give cyclists 1.5 metres space when overtaking at speeds of up to 30 mph.

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That’s a frankly, shocking response! How on earth is riding in primary “directing traffic?” I deal with the same Police Force so this concerns me greatly.

Craig Cycles in Devon and beyond 🚴‍♂️ @cbcycles.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

Reposted by Dan Birchett

Sh!ts getting real now 😬 I've been kitting the bike out with the front fork cages and adjusting the panniers so they fit. At the moment it's just camping gear in them (minus the tent because I forgot ( I didn't get much sleep last night ⚽️)), so I still have my kit to sort out #cycling #LEJOG

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New “car” day for the wife yesterday. Just need to order the front basket for it #ActiveTravel #Cycling

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The Genesis is looking sweet mate. I’m also in the market for new panniers. Where did you purchase yours?

Dan Birchett @dbirchett.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

I saw something amazing today. A middle aged lady on a steel, low entry, touring bike. With panniers on the rear and a basket on the front. She was wearing a summer dress and a hat… The best bit, she was consulting a proper, full sized OS map! #Cycling #CoolAF #Cornwall

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Dan Birchett @dbirchett.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

Drilling the screws out is probably the best option tbh

Bonus that you had a spare set of wheels. Hopefully the bike shop sorts that other set of wheels promptly.

It take it the bike is fixed now?

Chapeau! I’m planning on alternating each year between the road and MTB versions. So it’ll be road next year. The MTB loop at the end, whilst only 10 miles, was the toughest cycling I’ve done!