CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: “an age where cycling is treated almost as a religion”

CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: “an age where cycling is treated almost as a religion” http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: “an age where cycling is treated almost as a religion” en Wed, 13 May 2026 05:44:29 +0000 ejstubbs on "“an age where cycling is treated almost as a religion”" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19643#post-308355 Sat, 08 Jun 2019 08:48:34 +0000 ejstubbs 308355@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ That's the one, thanks! chdot on "“an age where cycling is treated almost as a religion”" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19643#post-308354 Sat, 08 Jun 2019 07:01:53 +0000 chdot 308354@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ “ Q: Did you steal the biscuits story from Jeffrey Archer?A: The origin of the story about the biscuits was that it actually happened to me at Cambridge Station, England, in 1976; since when I've told the story so often on radio and TV that people have begun to pinch it. This is why I wanted to put it down in black and white myself. I didn't know Jeffrey Archer had used a similar story in A Quiver Full of Arrows (1982) having never read the book. I would point out that the date, 1982, comes somewhat after the date 1976. “ “ <a href="http://www.randomhouse.com/highschool/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781848564961&view=printexcerpt" rel="nofollow">http://www.randomhouse.com/highschool/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781848564961&view=printexcerpt</a> ejstubbs on "“an age where cycling is treated almost as a religion”" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19643#post-308352 Sat, 08 Jun 2019 01:09:12 +0000 ejstubbs 308352@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ Ah, link working now. I'm pretty sure I remember hearing Douglas Adams telling the story on Radio 4's Start the Week way back when radios were still hewn from solid bakelite and driven by small glass-enclosed electrical furnaces (well, mine was - I was a strange child). I'm also sure I have a book by or about Adams (maybe The Salmon of Doubt?) that documents his belief in his 'ownership' of the story, and his conviction that Archer nicked it. Frenchy on "“an age where cycling is treated almost as a religion”" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19643#post-308330 Fri, 07 Jun 2019 16:23:08 +0000 Frenchy 308330@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ Link is still working for me. It doesn't mention Archer, but does say that "There has been debate about the authenticity of this story". ejstubbs on "“an age where cycling is treated almost as a religion”" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19643#post-308329 Fri, 07 Jun 2019 16:19:55 +0000 ejstubbs 308329@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ @Frenchy: linky no worky? Does it mention that Jeffrey Archer - ex-MP and deputy chair of Conservative Party, convicted perjurer and peer of this realm - nicked the story for one of his potboilers? ejstubbs on "“an age where cycling is treated almost as a religion”" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19643#post-308328 Fri, 07 Jun 2019 16:15:56 +0000 ejstubbs 308328@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ @crowriver: The Inter7City trains that Scotrail are phasing in are also nice and quiet as the engine is away up front. Actually, there's an engine at the front and one at the back. Interesting factoid: the HST/IC125 holds a number of world speed records for diesel traction, including the record for a diesel train carrying passengers when a shortened 2+5 set touched at 144mph on a special press run in 1987. As it happens, most of the new ScotRail ones are 2+5 sets - but they will also have some 2+4 sets which hypothetically could go even faster! (Though not anywhere in Scotland - except perhaps on the ECML between Berwick and Edinburgh, where I've clocked an IC225 at 125mph, though they probably wouldn't be allowed to try.) In that respect they are different from the IC225s that run up and down the ECML in which, although both ends look the same, only one is an electric locomotive, the other being a "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Driving_Van_Trailer">Driving Van Trailer</a>". Almost like a guard's van, in fact... But yes, a loco-hauled train is, all other things being equal, pretty much guaranteed to be quieter than a multiple unit. amir on "“an age where cycling is treated almost as a religion”" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19643#post-308323 Fri, 07 Jun 2019 14:15:30 +0000 amir 308323@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ I find it almost impossible to work in an airline seat (esp with laptop), which I am expected to do these days. Frenchy on "“an age where cycling is treated almost as a religion”" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19643#post-308322 Fri, 07 Jun 2019 14:13:57 +0000 Frenchy 308322@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ That might have come about after I helped myself to some random ladies cola thinking it was mine... In case anyone hasn't read the stolen biscuits story: <a href="https://markmeynell.wordpress.com/2013/07/25/douglas-adams-eats-biscuits-on-cambridge-station/" rel="nofollow">https://markmeynell.wordpress.com/2013/07/25/douglas-adams-eats-biscuits-on-cambridge-station/</a> steveo on "“an age where cycling is treated almost as a religion”" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19643#post-308320 Fri, 07 Jun 2019 13:59:34 +0000 steveo 308320@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ I much prefer an airline seat. So much more comfortable for having a nap than drooling in front of strangers. That might have come about after I helped myself to some random ladies cola thinking it was mine... Arellcat on "“an age where cycling is treated almost as a religion”" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19643#post-308316 Fri, 07 Jun 2019 13:26:06 +0000 Arellcat 308316@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ the majority of passengers do prefer to sit at at a table Society was very much pre-laptop in the days of the APT-P, but every seat had a table. crowriver on "“an age where cycling is treated almost as a religion”" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19643#post-308312 Fri, 07 Jun 2019 12:03:00 +0000 crowriver 308312@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ On the table thing, if I am travelling to work or with family/friends I prefer a table seat. If I'm on my own and it's not work related, I actually prefer an airline seat: no clash of feet/legs under the table, a bit of privacy, possible to take a snooze. Electric trains much quieter than DMUs. The Inter7City trains that Scotrail are phasing in are also nice and quiet as the engine is away up front. ejstubbs on "“an age where cycling is treated almost as a religion”" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19643#post-308309 Fri, 07 Jun 2019 11:20:29 +0000 ejstubbs 308309@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ My understanding is that surveys have been carried out and found that the majority of passengers do prefer to sit at at a table. I think some of that comes from people wanting to work on a laptop; you can work on the drop-down table at an airline seat but IME it's pretty cramped. Then there's families/groups who prefer to travel together, and people who get claustrophic in airline seats. Myself, I don't particularly mind an airline seat provided that it's next to a window - although I actually also prefer the aisle seat. And if the motive power is under the floor of the passenger accommodation then I much prefer electric to diesel. Experience commuting to Mancs and back on a weekly basis caused me to dread a DMU turning up for the 3 hour journey home at the end of the week. The constant droning racket from the engine under the floor was so draining after a busy week when I just wanted to be cosied up at home. The EMUs were far more relaxing. acsimpson on "“an age where cycling is treated almost as a religion”" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19643#post-308301 Fri, 07 Jun 2019 10:00:07 +0000 acsimpson 308301@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ I haven't ridden on the 385 yet but generally find the lack of noise produced by electric trains to be preferable to the racket of the diesels. I also prefer sitting at a table, even if it is with strangers. Each to their own I suppose. crowriver on "“an age where cycling is treated almost as a religion”" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19643#post-308275 Thu, 06 Jun 2019 20:59:02 +0000 crowriver 308275@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ "the 158 with the 2 bike box“ As in the 158 with a locker for storing the catering trolley, which was fitted with some straps/wheel benders and then designated as bike stowage? chdot on "“an age where cycling is treated almost as a religion”" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19643#post-308274 Thu, 06 Jun 2019 20:43:45 +0000 chdot 308274@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ “or even the 158 with the 2 bike box“ As long as you don’t want to put 2 unrelated bikes in it. Or even 2 bikes really! Ed1 on "“an age where cycling is treated almost as a religion”" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19643#post-308256 Thu, 06 Jun 2019 13:41:07 +0000 Ed1 308256@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ Or look back at the days when the trains on the shotts line had a carriage that could handle 6 hanging cycles a 156 class before the 385 Hitachis were introduced on 06-04-2019 with 1 cycle space that triples as fold down seats and a pram space was introduced to the line. The 156 still runs but last 2 times taken that train been unfortunate enough to be on the 385. The 385 is also too quiet, a bit eerie, lacks private space between carriages and does not have windows that open. If drunks on train its very noisy. Even the phone charging points are such a bad design can see the signs but not the sockets. There is also too many tables meaning you end up sitting with randoms more, which would guess most commuters would rather not. Even with no bike its generally worse. If on a Saturday with a group may be better, but most train journeys are not done in groups. It may be the MSPS and executives see the train as a gimmick to go the races on and dont know how its normally used. More private space before and the engine noise created more privacy and the constant humming and track sound more relaxing than hearing people talking. A bad design of train for bikes, but they could at least unscrew those seats as they get in the way of the bike space. The 385 has a nice big cycle sign on the front of the train unlike the 156 that dont boast with a large sign on the front, just quietly deliver many spaces. Even the 158 is better as has separate area for cycles and can take 2 with out damage or even the 158 with the 2 bike box better as there is no seats in the bike box. The 385 does ride a lot more smoothly, does not smell of fumes, is less of a slug to get going but otherwise worse. ejstubbs on "“an age where cycling is treated almost as a religion”" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19643#post-308254 Thu, 06 Jun 2019 13:25:09 +0000 ejstubbs 308254@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ he looked back to the days when bikes could only be carried on guards vans on trains. Or to put it another way: he looked back to the days when trains had guards vans. I remember a fair few happy trips with my bike in the guards compartment back in the 1970s, even on third-rail electric trains on the southern region. IIRC it wasn't particularly uncomfortable, though I don't recall whether I was able to actually sit down other than on the floor (though I suppose these days you could take your turbo trainer along and...no, that's just silly). Oh, but look what's coming: <a href="https://cyclingindustry.news/scotrail-to-deploy-britains-first-rail-carriages-just-for-bikes/" rel="nofollow">https://cyclingindustry.news/scotrail-to-deploy-britains-first-rail-carriages-just-for-bikes/</a> crowriver on "“an age where cycling is treated almost as a religion”" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19643#post-308242 Thu, 06 Jun 2019 11:54:19 +0000 crowriver 308242@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ I have to say the comments on that "article" are great. A good robust discussion with a lot of no-nonsense folk rubbishing the idea of a ban. On this evidence, the readers of the Southport Visiter seem a much more sensible lot than their equivalents in the Edinburgh Evening News... Rosie on "“an age where cycling is treated almost as a religion”" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19643#post-308236 Thu, 06 Jun 2019 10:25:17 +0000 Rosie 308236@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ Treated like a religion like Christianity under Nero, or Protestants under Bloody Mary, or Catholics for a couple of hundred years in British history... neddie on "“an age where cycling is treated almost as a religion”" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19643#post-308231 Thu, 06 Jun 2019 09:27:44 +0000 neddie 308231@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ BTL comments summary: Just ban everyone... chdot on "“an age where cycling is treated almost as a religion”" http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=19643#post-308225 Thu, 06 Jun 2019 08:40:13 +0000 chdot 308225@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ “ Terry also criticised "an age where cycling is treated almost as a religion” as he looked back to the days when bikes could only be carried on guards vans on trains. “ <a href="https://www.southportvisiter.co.uk/news/southport-west-lancs/passengers-react-call-ban-bicycles-11742350" rel="nofollow">https://www.southportvisiter.co.uk/news/southport-west-lancs/passengers-react-call-ban-bicycles-11742350</a>