http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: The Bike snob's guide to cycling tribes en Mon, 18 May 2026 00:25:15 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1578#post-15332 Tue, 26 Oct 2010 12:18:10 +0000 Arellcat 15332@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>does anyone remember the rubber tank track style short ski like things...</em></p> <p>I remember them well. They were made of red plastic or metal with the big rubbery block tracks, and made a fantastic whirring sound. We used to call them "grass skis" but I don't know if there was an official name. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1578#post-15331 Tue, 26 Oct 2010 12:09:17 +0000 spitfire 15331@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>glad I <font color="red">wasn't</font> going mental...<br /> read into that wording what you will </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1578#post-15330 Tue, 26 Oct 2010 12:07:16 +0000 SRD 15330@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em> "short ski like things"</em></p> <p>We used this sort of thing pre-rollerblades for summer ski training, with poles. I think I tried them once on a downhill slope - not much fun, or use for technique, but good for nordic training on flats and maintaining upper-body strength. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1578#post-15321 Tue, 26 Oct 2010 11:41:08 +0000 spitfire 15321@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>"Bow before me inferior persons!"</em><br /> No.<br /> :P</p> <p>I would fit this new "utility" cyclist, having used the very phrase, <em>"faster than walking cheaper than the bus"</em> before, and treating the bike as a tool rather than a hobby or enjoyable passtime (for that I would need the <em>time</em> to <em>pass</em>)</p> <p>Instead of roller blades does anyone remember the rubber tank track style short ski like things that I saw up on the Pentlands in the summer?<br /> No?<br /> Just me?<br /> Really?<br /> Damn<br /> They would make good work over cobbles etc. but I imagine they would not be such wasy going on the flat as blades... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1578#post-15274 Mon, 25 Oct 2010 15:24:35 +0000 Arellcat 15274@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>I have [rollerbladed] in the past and still would if work were closer/flatter. :-D Bow before me inferior persons! </em></p> <p>I rather fancy commuting to work by Poweriser jumping stilts, but I'm also afraid of spectacularly killing myself. :-/ </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1578#post-15255 Mon, 25 Oct 2010 12:54:09 +0000 wingpig 15255@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>If only rollerblades were available with pneumatic tyres they'd be more useful round here and in other cobbled places; if only I had a shed/garage/laboratory...</p> <p>Having an energy-intensive-production-footprint aluminium frame or any aluminium components should quash excess smugness in the righteous if they've done their science homework, though a cycle uses far less than a car. In their favour, causing a tailback of motor traffic shouldn't necessarily cause the vehicles to use more fuel than the cyclist they're queuing behind has saved by not being in a car, as it's causing them to drive at an even speed at which air friction is negligible rather than wasting energy by constantly accelerating up to and over the limit whenever there's clear road ahead of them only to have to brake it all off at the next set of lights. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1578#post-15254 Mon, 25 Oct 2010 12:16:28 +0000 chdot 15254@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chdot/4442121938"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4035/4442121938_7283135068.jpg"></a></p> <p>Not Min. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1578#post-15253 Mon, 25 Oct 2010 12:08:57 +0000 Smudge 15253@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Never learned how to rollerskate... (sighs wistfully), probably too late now given the state of my knees! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1578#post-15252 Mon, 25 Oct 2010 12:04:10 +0000 Min 15252@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Hehe, I'm sure I can't be a righteous cyclist except for..</p> <p>"even moving to a new apartment by bicycle"</p> <p>Done several times. But then I don't have a car. Oh hang on..</p> <p>"all of these cyclists will take great pains to remind you that they don't have a car"</p> <p>Yeah but I really like cycling and hate driving anyway so that is okay. Oh hang on..</p> <p>"It's difficult to ascertain how many of them are just a cleverly worded pamphlet away from defecting to Rollerblades."</p> <p>I have done this in the past and still would if work were closer/flatter. :-D</p> <p>Bow before me inferior persons! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1578#post-15235 Mon, 25 Oct 2010 10:09:47 +0000 chdot 15235@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"Has anyone done this sort of labelling exercise with pedestrians?"</p> <p>Interesting question. </p> <p>Certainly there have been people proposing (seriously?) lanes for purposeful pedestrians. (Princes Street has been suggested...) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1578#post-15232 Mon, 25 Oct 2010 10:00:37 +0000 wingpig 15232@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I hadn't heard of utility as an official category until fairly recently. Whilst I was happy that it's recognised enough to have been Wikipediated it seemed a bit overkillish to categorise and label it at the same level as more specialised activity forms when it's essentially the default usage (faster than walking, cheaper than driving) and when the same essentially utilitarian journey (such as a commute or a trip to the shops) can also concurrently be for fitness and recreation (such as the long way to or from work or popping to a shop several miles away rather than the one round the corner).</p> <p>Has anyone done (offically and for publication, not just in their head when trying to get past an erratically-veering codger) this sort of labelling exercise with pedestrians? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1578#post-15231 Mon, 25 Oct 2010 09:59:38 +0000 chdot 15231@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"We" might agree -</p> <p>"</p> <p>Utility cycling is believed to have several social and economic benefits. Policies that encourage utility cycling have been proposed and implemented for reasons including: improved public health,[5][7] individual health and employers' profits[8] a reduction in traffic congestion and air pollution,[7] improvements in road-traffic safety,[7] improved quality of life,[5] improved mobility and social inclusiveness,[5] and benefits to child development.[5]</p> <p>" </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1578#post-15230 Mon, 25 Oct 2010 09:42:49 +0000 SRD 15230@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Have been reflecting a little and thought I would create a category called 'utility cyclist' but when I googled it, it turns out that (a) <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utility_cycling">it already exists</a> and (b) I fit it to a T: "Utility cycling encompasses any cycling not done primarily for fitness, recreation such as cycle touring, or sport such as cycle racing, but simply as a means of transport" </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1578#post-15226 Mon, 25 Oct 2010 08:36:27 +0000 chdot 15226@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>He forgot the 'Cambridge student' category. </p> <p><a href="http://cambridgetab.co.uk/fashionblog/ready-i-want-to-ride-my-bicycle" rel="nofollow">http://cambridgetab.co.uk/fashionblog/ready-i-want-to-ride-my-bicycle</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1578#post-15224 Mon, 25 Oct 2010 06:17:31 +0000 Smudge 15224@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>:-) I will have to resist the urge to mutter "freeloader" under my breath next time I see a roadie :-D </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1578#post-15218 Sun, 24 Oct 2010 23:42:50 +0000 Cyclingmollie 15218@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The Bike Snob blog is much better. But I did like his description of roadies as having all the fun sucked out of them leaving a hollow lycra shell. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1578#post-15216 Sun, 24 Oct 2010 22:12:29 +0000 kaputnik 15216@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>What about the commuter</em></p> <p>"these people cycle because they find it gets them to work cheaper and quicker than the car or public transport and because it keeps them fit and healthy".</p> <p>SH*T! Now everyone (that reads the Observer at least) knows! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1578#post-15215 Sun, 24 Oct 2010 22:09:06 +0000 chdot 15215@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"What about the commuter?!? :)"</p> <p>Too diverse to pigeonhole - and that's just the ones on here... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1578#post-15214 Sun, 24 Oct 2010 22:06:24 +0000 Smudge 15214@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>What about the commuter?!? :) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1578#post-15212 Sun, 24 Oct 2010 21:48:45 +0000 kaputnik 15212@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><strong>Contraption Captain</strong> gave me a good chuckle. Quite a few of them on this particular forum - and even if their rides <em>are</em> confusing and frightening to us uprightyclists it's a travesty for the article to say other cyclists don't like them!</p> <p>Apart form that a bit of a pointless article that's quite obviously not aimed at cyclists, but amusing none-the-less. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1578#post-15210 Sun, 24 Oct 2010 21:02:36 +0000 wingpig 15210@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I hope someone from my work's bike club noticed that and posts on their forum; they love their boxes, though usually with less humour. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1578#post-15209 Sun, 24 Oct 2010 20:05:42 +0000 SRD 15209@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>In today's Observer magazine: <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/oct/24/bike-snobs-guide-cycling-tribes">the bike snob's guide to cycling tribes</a>. </p> <p>Cue me saying 'I'm not in here, they've not got a tribe for me...Oh...the righteous cyclist...hmmmmm...maybe (although I cycled for years before I thought about it as an environmental thing" </p>