http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: The Bicycle Book - anyone else read yet? en Sun, 31 May 2026 16:14:08 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3488#post-40990 Thu, 15 Sep 2011 09:45:00 +0000 kaputnik 40990@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>There was a factory<br /> Now there are mountains and rivers... </p> <p>There was a shopping mall<br /> Now it's all covered with flowers...</p> <p>I fell in love<br /> With a beautiful highway<br /> This used to be real estate<br /> Now it's only fields and trees<br /> Where, where is the town<br /> Now, it's nothing but flowers<br /> The highways and cars<br /> Were sacrificed for agriculture<br /> I thought that we'd start over<br /> But I guess I was wrong </p> <p>Once there were parking lots<br /> Now it's a peaceful oasis...</p> <p>This was a pizza hut<br /> Now it's all covered with daisies... </p> <p>This was a discount store,<br /> Now it's turned into a cornfield... </p> <p>Don't leave me stranded here<br /> I can't get used to this lifestyle</em>"</p> <p>Excerpts from <em>Nothing But Flowers</em> by Talking Heads </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3488#post-40986 Thu, 15 Sep 2011 09:08:27 +0000 chdot 40986@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><img src="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/red/blue_pics/2011/09/15/davidbyrne_460x276.jpg"></p> <p>"</p> <p>He's on a road to somewhere: musician David Byrne welcomes New York's new bike share program. </p> <p>Photograph: Kate Hinds/TransportationNation/NPR</p> <p>New York City is at the tipping point of becoming one of the world's great bicycling cities. Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan and the New York City Department of Transportation (DoT) have done a tremendous job creating a more bicycle-friendly New York. </p> <p>According to the DoT, commuter cycling increased by 13% between 2009 and 2010. In the last five years, bicycle ridership has doubled. Since 2009, the city has added more than 200 miles of bike lanes. As president and CEO of Bike New York, I applaud and support DoT's ambitious goal of having 1,800 miles of bikelanes on the streets, in parks and along paths, by 2030.</p> <p>"</p> <p><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2011/sep/15/new-york-bike-share" rel="nofollow">http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2011/sep/15/new-york-bike-share</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3488#post-37689 Tue, 09 Aug 2011 22:03:49 +0000 chdot 37689@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>David Byrne Bike Cam</p> <p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVkAD_zHsJY" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVkAD_zHsJY</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3488#post-37688 Tue, 09 Aug 2011 21:58:31 +0000 LaidBack 37688@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I knew he was born here. He's bound to be on the Transatlantic Sessions with a version of 'Burning doon the hoose' soon! </p> <p>Actually he does also mention that Europe "is manicured except for some semi-accessible areas in the Alps, Northern Scotland and Scandinavia."<br /> That comment although not strictly accurate is proof of his affection for here. </p> <p><strong><br /> The book itself</strong> is centred around urban riding - something which was parodied as his cycling New York is mainly in Manhattan twixt art galleries and recording studios. I found it a good read though as it delved into lots of ideas as to why cities are the way they are etc.</p> <p>Cities include London, Berlin, Istanbul, Manilla, Sydney, Buenos Aires.</p> <p><em>Yes... some bike rack sketches and ideas for headgear.....</em> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3488#post-37685 Tue, 09 Aug 2011 21:45:15 +0000 PS 37685@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I enjoyed David Byrne's book, but don't expect it to be all about bikes. There is some bike stuff there - a good chapter on stuff he's been up to in NYC: the funky bike racks and a conference he was speaking at - but mainly it's a travelogue. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3488#post-37680 Tue, 09 Aug 2011 20:30:48 +0000 gembo 37680@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>HE left Dumbarton age 2 with parents Tom and Ella. {wiki source] moving first to Canada and then USA. Again according to wiki he described himself as borderline Asperger as a youth. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3488#post-37661 Tue, 09 Aug 2011 13:49:21 +0000 LaidBack 37661@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>It mentions Baltimore 'where I grew up".</p> <p>Scotland is mentioned as Hess's preferred desintation in the 'Berlin' chapter.</p> <p>I can lend my copy - will leave in The Bicycle Works in window (LB section). Also going to do that for Bella's book - think Anthony wants first. </p> <p>In fact I should make it a first come first borrowed race... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3488#post-37501 Sun, 07 Aug 2011 10:55:05 +0000 gembo 37501@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Is David Byrne's book any good? Does it mention being from Dumbarton? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3488#post-37491 Sun, 07 Aug 2011 09:51:53 +0000 wingpig 37491@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Lame to fame: my brother-in-law is Rocco's personal trainer.</p> <p>Has anyone read the Grauniad's own compendium-of-blogs book "Bicycle"? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3488#post-37490 Sun, 07 Aug 2011 09:11:33 +0000 chdot 37490@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"<br /> An evening with brilliant minds, including customers Bella Bathurst and Will Self, and chaired by Rocco Forte at the Royal Geographical Society. Thursday 8th September, 18:00.<br /> "<br /> <a href="http://www.velorution.biz/2011/08/willself" rel="nofollow">http://www.velorution.biz/2011/08/willself</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3488#post-36440 Wed, 27 Jul 2011 17:59:14 +0000 crowriver 36440@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/apr/17/bicycle-book-bella-bathurst-review">Grauniad review</a> may shed some light. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3488#post-36439 Wed, 27 Jul 2011 17:51:07 +0000 LaidBack 36439@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Ah.... you think cycling is a specialist subject? ;-)</p> <p>I think she wanted to write it from a non-specialist / technical point of view. </p> <p>'At its best, what a bike gives you is love, and <em>souplesse</em>.'</p> <p>I think it should then have been named after the activity rather than the machine.</p> <p>The message it is meant to give is that cycling is 'jolly good fun' and need not be spoiled by 'obscure' equipment - although she does build her own frame in chapter one which is more than I've ever done. She did get help from Dave Yates though. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3488#post-36438 Wed, 27 Jul 2011 17:36:41 +0000 kaputnik 36438@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I don't know enough about Bella Bathurst beyond she is an Oracle on lighthouses. What are her cycling "credentials" about making all these sweeping statements about recumbents and Moultons and Bianchis? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3488#post-36435 Wed, 27 Jul 2011 17:23:44 +0000 amir 36435@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"She does also single out Bianchi as a brand not ridden by 'real' cyclists. "</p> <p>I am not a real cyclist then (hope no one notices) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3488#post-36428 Wed, 27 Jul 2011 16:49:37 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 36428@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Could I borrow it, and then make a decision on contacting her? ;) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3488#post-36426 Wed, 27 Jul 2011 16:47:13 +0000 crowriver 36426@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Ah, The Bicycle Book. As opposed to The Bike Book:</p> <p><img src="http://resources.lifecycleuk.org.uk/images/Bike_Book.jpg"></p> <p>(The latter is actually useful and I own a copy). </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3488#post-36423 Wed, 27 Jul 2011 16:43:25 +0000 Min 36423@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I have to say you're not really selling it to me. Is it entirely about reinforcing lovely British bike tribalism or is there something else to it? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3488#post-36416 Wed, 27 Jul 2011 16:14:33 +0000 LaidBack 36416@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Finished David Byrne's book and moved onto this. </p> <p><strong>The Bicycle Book - Bella Bathurst<br /> </strong> Copies from Blackwell's on offer at moment.</p> <p>I've quite enjoyed most of Bella's observations - some local interest too with well known local couriers (Eva Ballin, Mike Napier and Jim Young )</p> <p>Here's one bit that I thought was bit of a cheap crowd pleaser.<br /> <em><br /> 'Folding bikes, Moultons and recumbents- they look ridiculous and can't corner" </em>(intro xiii).<br /> A Top Gear audience would agree of course but we should remember that 'non-standard bikes let people cycle who would otherwise be denied. </p> <p>Wonder if the comment I'm reacting too is part of a cunning sales drive? Surely not. The Bromptonites can't be happy and there are a few of them now.</p> <p>She does also single out Bianchi as a brand not ridden by 'real' cyclists. That is just like saying all BMW drivers are bad...;-)</p> <p><em>Compare and contrast with City Cycling where you can ride what you like...<br /> </em><br /> Maybe Bella should be in next issue? </p>