http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Giving up en Mon, 01 Jun 2026 08:30:50 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10818&page=2#post-120659 Mon, 05 Aug 2013 10:49:45 +0000 amir 120659@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Strangely my commuting has gone the other way to Cyclingmollie - I started on a MTB, then a hybrid and now a road bike. I also moved to use the off-road routes less (on my longer route in) and using the parallel road routes instead - they had less frustrating chicanes/junctions/etc and kept clean of ice/leaves/mud/glass.</p> <p>When you are dealing with a far less than perfect environment for cyclists, you have to make choices between two evils. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10818&page=2#post-120656 Mon, 05 Aug 2013 10:39:29 +0000 Cyclingmollie 120656@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>CC, I did the same in 2003. My resentment towards the road users responsible just got worse though. I had to do something so I joined ERC. CTC would also have worked though having seen them out and about I thought they might be a bit too slow for my liking. ERC was a good choice and completely rekindled my enthusiasm for riding a bike. </p> <p>Eventually though I gave up commuting on the roads. I found a longer slower and infinitely more relaxing off-road route and bought a cheap mountain bike. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10818&page=2#post-120636 Mon, 05 Aug 2013 08:26:13 +0000 fimm 120636@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Yes, apologies to CalumCookable for thread drift (to which I contributed)... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10818&page=2#post-120635 Mon, 05 Aug 2013 00:00:19 +0000 Uberuce 120635@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I cunningly avoid the bag weight issue by putting the pannier on the ground and piling my foodstuffs into it when it's thinking about my card. It doesn't seem to mind the items leaving the scale during the electronic handshake. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10818&page=2#post-120629 Sun, 04 Aug 2013 22:07:45 +0000 wee folding bike 120629@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Brompton bags have metal frames. I have a steel one and an aluminium one. </p> <p>I'm getting a Brompton message basket so I can use the M6R like a trolley and then load stuff back into it after scanning. </p> <p>I get dirty looks from check out staff when I don't bring my own bag they days. </p> <p>CC could you say roughly what route you were using? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10818&page=2#post-120623 Sun, 04 Aug 2013 21:26:59 +0000 neddie 120623@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>How light does a pannier have to be before it is accepted by the self scanners?</p> <p>Petition to Tesco/Sainsburys to raise weight limit? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10818&page=2#post-120621 Sun, 04 Aug 2013 21:17:48 +0000 Nelly 120621@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>My carradice seems to work OK as "own bag" in sainsburys / asda - go figure?</p> <p>Also......even for here this thread has gone a tad off topic !!</p> <p>Calumcookable - give it another chance, change route for a week and see what happens? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10818&page=2#post-120620 Sun, 04 Aug 2013 21:13:04 +0000 gembo 120620@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Insto - good song</p> <p>Folds - any pannier rejected by self scanners, I avoid them. New dr who has an ice cream name, as he put it </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10818&page=2#post-120618 Sun, 04 Aug 2013 21:07:43 +0000 Instography 120618@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>My mum, in Glasgow, used to sing an alternative version of the national anthem to us. It went:</p> <p>God save our Auntie Jean<br /> She lives in Aberdeen<br /> She makes ice cream</p> <p>Da da da da</p> <p>Send her victorious!<br /> A pokey hat between the four ae us<br /> Thank God there wisnae more ae us<br /> God save Auntie Jean. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10818&page=2#post-120616 Sun, 04 Aug 2013 20:56:03 +0000 neddie 120616@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>My old boss used to say 'it's a pig in a poke' - meaning it's a load of rubbish.</p> <p>New LW designs... a pig in a poke </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10818&page=2#post-120614 Sun, 04 Aug 2013 20:25:50 +0000 wee folding bike 120614@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>No, Culzean castle campsite. Nice and pastoral but the memsahib prefers more busy sites with entertainment. Boys happy with trees and snails. </p> <p>I've never had a bad pokey hat from Reynaldo's. </p> <p>Managed to completely ignore the Dr Who thing as I was in Morrisons gently telling a lady that a Brompton was probably a bit extreme for taking her grandchildren round the park and a folder from Decathlon might suit her needs better. Also got stuff to make curry. Bring your own bag thing on the scanner doesn't work. When I put a Brompton bag on the scanner it shouts for the staff. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10818&page=2#post-120611 Sun, 04 Aug 2013 19:41:26 +0000 gembo 120611@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Reynaldo's vanilla flavour well worthy of consideration. You could also have ruffle bar separately or if pushing the boat out a whole bag of rufflettes. Croy shore for the camping? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10818&page=2#post-120607 Sun, 04 Aug 2013 18:58:08 +0000 crowriver 120607@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Aye, "poke" is a general Scottish thing, but especially East Coast. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10818&page=2#post-120601 Sun, 04 Aug 2013 17:58:24 +0000 wee folding bike 120601@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Been away camping at Culzean for a few days. </p> <p>Not only is a pokey hat an ice cream but Reynaldo's in Ayr do a fantastic Ruffle Bar flavour. I now don't know if that is my favourite or if I stick with Pooh Bear. </p> <p>Didn't see any slugs but number 4 son caught a snail and investigated it for some time. When he went back to see it the snail had run away. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10818&page=2#post-120392 Fri, 02 Aug 2013 11:28:59 +0000 bdellar 120392@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Folk in Edinburgh and Dundee say "poke ae chips" as well. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10818&page=2#post-120323 Fri, 02 Aug 2013 08:45:58 +0000 fimm 120323@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Poke = bag, I thought? (at least to my mother and grandmother) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10818#post-120291 Thu, 01 Aug 2013 22:23:29 +0000 gembo 120291@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>On the slug front, way up thread wee folds admits to dread, of slugs - I have caught two slugs this year in my mouse traps, first one pretty gross, the other recently caught and flipped the little nipper trap the way the fieldmice do as they die happy with their little teeth in a sliver of cadbury's fudge. The mice have gone for the summer. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10818#post-120290 Thu, 01 Aug 2013 22:13:53 +0000 MeepMeep 120290@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Whereas a poke (pyoke Teuchter sp?) is a portion of chips in NE Scotland! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10818#post-120286 Thu, 01 Aug 2013 21:57:42 +0000 gembo 120286@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Pokey hat is an ice cream, I was suffering from temporary insanity caused by paint inhalation during decoration </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10818#post-120250 Thu, 01 Aug 2013 17:14:24 +0000 Dave 120250@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@CalumCookable you may also wish to bear in mind the possibility of relocating work and home to take advantage of more cyclable routes. </p> <p>That's essentially what we did with our recent relocation, despite it being (much) more expensive than moving to a number of less bike friendly areas. (But then we were after a detached house with decent schools which is also a danger sign for £££).</p> <p>Now I can ride to work over 10 miles each way with just one traffic light to deal with, and about half a mile on quiet roads. WoL / canal / NEPN.</p> <p>Not only am I happier than I was with the constant fight that is the QBC and bridges, but I'm also noticing a distinct improvement related to not constantly breathing in bus fumes in the centre of town. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10818#post-120241 Thu, 01 Aug 2013 14:57:49 +0000 chdot 120241@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="http://velosociety.wordpress.com/2013/04/04/mass-cycling" rel="nofollow">http://velosociety.wordpress.com/2013/04/04/mass-cycling</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10818#post-120230 Thu, 01 Aug 2013 13:58:22 +0000 Claire 120230@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Very sorry to hear you've decided to retire your bike. I hope you change your mind! It's a real shame that you feel so vulnerable on the roads that it's not worth the risk. Cycling is such an amazing feeling that I'm extremely frustrated to read that the madness has finally won and the amazing buzz and benefits will be gone.</p> <p>Although, I completely understand where you're coming from - I cycled a gauntlet along George St, around Charlotte Sq, the end of Princes St and up Lothian Road to Tollcross yesterday for the first time and thought it perfectly possible I'd get squashed and die. TERRIFYING. A chap and I even had a traffic light chat about the insanity. Sigh :( </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10818#post-120213 Thu, 01 Aug 2013 13:25:02 +0000 ExcitableBoy 120213@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@CalumCookable sorry to hear that the hassle of everyday cycling has got too much for you. It goes to show how far Edinburgh has to go to become the cycling city it claims to want to be. What hope of encouraging a 5-fold increase in cycling when those that are keen to do so, are too afraid for their safety?<br /> Anyway, just posting to say I have enjoyed your previous posts. It would be interesting to hear how you get on. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10818#post-120205 Thu, 01 Aug 2013 12:54:43 +0000 crowriver 120205@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Cagoule.</p> <p>Anyhoo, only time I 'gave up'* cycling was when I moved to London for a few years in the mid-1990s. I reckoned it would be far too dangerous, and frankly it was then. No congestion charge zone; no cycle lanes; no Barclays bikes; no Critical Mass; hardly any cyclists on the roads; Loads of motorcycle couriers, taxis, courier vans all racing off at traffic lights as soon as they turn amber. Terrifying.</p> <p>In contrast Edinburgh in the mid-1990s felt relatively safe (though I did have some close calls with taxis at junctions). On the roads too: didn't use an off-road cycle path (except MMW/Bruntsfield Links) until the zeroes...</p> <p>All depends what you are used to I suppose. I can't figure out if traffic has got worse in Edinburgh in 20 years, or if I'm just cycling on busier roads than I did back then, or if driver behaviour has got worse. Subjectively, it does appear that:</p> <p>- cars have got more powerful<br /> - cars are 'safer' for the occupants (air bags etc.)<br /> - in-car distractions are more numerous (entertainment systems, TVs, sat navs, mobiles, iPods, iPads!)<br /> - air con/climate control more widespread, leading to 'cocoon' effect (20 years ago folk opened the window, and could hear more that was going on around them)<br /> - more young drivers?</p> <p>Probably casualties in road collisions for cyclists were worse 20 years ago, but it <em>feels</em> more intimidating now. Maybe I'm just older, (wiser?) and more aware of the risks I'm taking/being subjected to?</p> <p>* - not quite true: didn't take my bike from home for my first few years as a student either. Probably should have though. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10818#post-120194 Thu, 01 Aug 2013 12:04:17 +0000 gembo 120194@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Wee folds I thought I might translate your west coast details, in case they get lost in translation. As you are describing my childhood, I claim the right.</p> <p>Millport the only town on greater cumbrae a small island off Largs ( for largs, see nardinis, the pencil and jimmy Johnstone rowing boat incident 1968??).</p> <p>Millport has a cathedral, a bike hire shop including tandems and next door a joke shop owned by same folk.?? A cafe with a jukebox and 200 weans each night</p> <p>A pier</p> <p>A rock that vaguely resembles a crocodile so has had teeth painted</p> <p>Another rock that looks very vaguely like a person from the First Nations of the United States sub continent called The Indian Rock. You can cycle round the island in a few hours stopping if you go anti clockwise at fintry bay cafe for some ginger (lemonade). You can cycle to the highest point 623 ft. Tho brae is steep. You can go output in a fishing boat with a hand line and catch mackerel and cod if lucky or The Cold if unlucky. it will rain but you can put on a blue nylon thing called a Kagool which folds inside front pocket and makes you sweat. I have confused past and present but that is what Millport is like.</p> <p>A pokey hat is a small bag of chips </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10818#post-120180 Thu, 01 Aug 2013 11:02:51 +0000 bdellar 120180@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I'm lucky in that I can get most of the way to my work on cycle paths (Porty to Leith, the dodgy bit across Leith, then up the WoL path), so if I ever decide to pack in road riding, I have a fallback... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10818#post-120162 Thu, 01 Aug 2013 09:48:16 +0000 wee folding bike 120162@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Ahhh. Never had dread. Well not road dread.</p> <p>Slugs are a different matter.</p> <p>Took boys to Millport yesterday. Two of them cycled round the other had a pokey hat in the Ritz.</p> <p>One of the cycling ones had his piece stolen from his hand by a seagull which also clattered him on the head. He now has seagull dread but cheered up when introduced to the crocodile rock and beasties in rock pools. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10818#post-120158 Thu, 01 Aug 2013 09:44:38 +0000 Calum 120158@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Thanks folks! Will certainly stay on CCE - I do enjoy keeping up with the latest wacky half-baked cycling projects our dear leaders come up with! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10818#post-120147 Thu, 01 Aug 2013 08:48:56 +0000 MeepMeep 120147@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>This is very sad, but an understandable decision. I'm also fed up of a minority taking wholly unnecessary risks with my life through close passes, reckless manoeuvres etc.</p> <p>Echoing the comments of Kaputnik and cc: send this message to anyone with influence, and stick around on the forum. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10818#post-120143 Thu, 01 Aug 2013 08:17:00 +0000 cc 120143@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Stay with us on CCE though?</p> <p>I gave up cycling too. (It was the botched actually-worse-than-before quality bike corridor which pushed me over into utter despair.)</p> <p>After several months of walking to work I was tempted back but still hated the QBC (I still do, it's so obviously horribly wrong and stupid and dangerous). So instead I thought I might try cycling a quiet, indirect, "inefficient" route to work, instead of the QBC. It worked: a year or two later I still use my nice quiet route, and it's lovely.</p> <p>Anyway - for now, put your feet up and have a good rest from cycling. In time you might think of a quieter, kinder place to try it again, but first you need to recover! All the best. </p>