http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: "Urban England is not suited to bicycles" en Sun, 31 May 2026 06:01:34 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=360&page=2#post-2979 Fri, 19 Feb 2010 09:17:52 +0000 gembo 2979@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>In the Wes Anderson film about an Indian train - Darjeeling Limited [is it?] the long opening sequence where the rich americans run to catch the train very successfully captures the film and Nicholas Winterton's point of view. That is, as the rich americans are late they jump on the train at the back and walk through third class with all its livestock etc , on through crowded second class into air-con first class. Alas the film fails to introduce bicycling as a theme. An opportunity missed - I bet Wes has a cycling film in the pipeline - a remake of Breaking Away but with brothers competing against each other and Bill Murray as their father/coach and Gene HAckman or Brian Cox as a rival coach. Surefire hit. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=360&page=2#post-2975 Thu, 18 Feb 2010 21:53:25 +0000 SRD 2975@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I'm surprised Nicholas Winterton didn't manage something about cyclists on trains 'they're a different sort of people...they cycle' or 'this puts MPs below councillors, next to people with children and bikes'. </p> <p>(someone needs to explain 'representation' not to mention 'servants of the people' but that's probably for another forum..) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=360&page=2#post-2972 Thu, 18 Feb 2010 20:44:04 +0000 gembo 2972@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Love that t-shirt</p> <p>Petronella's sister Citronella is much more ascerbic.</p> <p>The boris thing might explain her need to rant about cycling? Who was it who stepped out with David Blunkett? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=360&page=2#post-2955 Thu, 18 Feb 2010 16:17:28 +0000 spytfyre 2955@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><img src="http://www.shotdeadinthehead.com/images/designs/DM0324m.jpg"><br /> From the <a href="http://www.thedailymash.co.uk">Daily Mash</a> range... hysterical satire site </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=360&page=2#post-2932 Wed, 17 Feb 2010 23:17:13 +0000 Kirst 2932@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Someone on another forum is querying why anyone would pay attention to the opinions of someone who voluntarily slept with Boris Johnson. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=360#post-2930 Wed, 17 Feb 2010 20:06:04 +0000 Claggy Cog 2930@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Thank heavens she gave up, sounds like a right menace to society and a danger to members of the public. At least I can be assured of never encountering her on my travels. Whilst railing at the antics of other cyclists she was flagrantly breaking the law by cycling on the pavement, stupid woman, and was thus far more likely to run down some frail old woman and hospitalise them with worse injuries than her aged relative sustained and maybe not even one elderly person but several. Also it beggars belief if she thinks her handbag was nicked because it was thought to be designer and therefore very expensive, and not for the contents, very, very stupid woman as well as shallow, self-centred and vacuous. Frightening and scary in fact. What is more worrying, in my estimation, is that people like her are employed to write articles in newspapers even one as crap as the Daily Mail. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=360#post-2913 Wed, 17 Feb 2010 12:05:12 +0000 chdot 2913@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Cartoon in current Private Eye</p> <p><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4030/4365112176_6935e21431.jpg"> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=360#post-2911 Wed, 17 Feb 2010 09:35:13 +0000 SRD 2911@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Now, this is a good read: from today's Guardian <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/green-living-blog/2010/feb/16/cycling-car-exercise-environment">bike blog</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=360#post-2905 Tue, 16 Feb 2010 20:24:38 +0000 gembo 2905@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>yeah foska - quite helpful - had long exchange with them when they were getting rid of free ride style jerseys very cheap (the free ride stylee appears to be 4 sizes too big but the very small ones which were dirt cheap were just too wee). They even put me on to thecyclejersey.com which is a scottish company that makes the Tunnocks Tea Cake jersey. Again, I hate Tunnocks Teacakes (preferring the caramel log) but the jersey is neat and the company ultra helpful sending me new jersey before they got the other one back (my mum had ordered wrong size)</p> <p>On drive to Ayr today I spotted railway men in orange and guys on the verge in yellow, so I would say that hi-viz is highly visible but maybe not enough for blind to the bike drivers </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=360#post-2877 Tue, 16 Feb 2010 11:42:29 +0000 chdot 2877@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>For Petronella</p> <p>"What every woman needs to know to get out and about by bike."</p> <p><a href="http://www.bikebelles.org.uk" rel="nofollow">http://www.bikebelles.org.uk</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=360#post-2875 Tue, 16 Feb 2010 11:04:07 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 2875@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>That'll be Foska... ;) I've got 'Bones' and 'Coleman's Mustard' jerseys from them. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=360#post-2868 Tue, 16 Feb 2010 10:00:45 +0000 gembo 2868@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I prefer garish to hi-viz (during the day). Altura Night Vision at night also good.</p> <p>I have a hideously garish MArmite top - I do not even like the stuff but often raises a smile from drivers. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=360#post-2823 Mon, 15 Feb 2010 16:49:52 +0000 Kim 2823@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Yup, dress for the occasion, but I am not about to take roubaix off anybody! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=360#post-2821 Mon, 15 Feb 2010 15:56:12 +0000 Stepdoh 2821@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>:*)</p> <p>Erm, sorry, that didn't read well. But I'm sure you get the gist. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=360#post-2820 Mon, 15 Feb 2010 15:55:27 +0000 Stepdoh 2820@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>yup, i mean I'm a picture of Continental cool when coming back from ASDA in my jeans with shopping bags hanging off the handlebars. Just not on the wind/rainswept plains around the airport!</p> <p>Guess it's dress for the occasion, but you'd have a tough time taking my roubaix off me! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=360#post-2797 Mon, 15 Feb 2010 13:03:12 +0000 Kim 2797@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Add in carrying in a clipboard, and it never fails... ;-) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=360#post-2795 Mon, 15 Feb 2010 12:53:28 +0000 Min 2795@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Kim-I have heard that the best way to get inside a building you are not supposed to be in is to wear a hard hat and hi-vis jacket. Everyone will ignore you. I've not tried it though! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=360#post-2793 Mon, 15 Feb 2010 12:50:14 +0000 Kim 2793@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Hey Stepdoh, there should be space for everyone, no matter what their style ... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=360#post-2792 Mon, 15 Feb 2010 12:47:25 +0000 Kim 2792@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"The best way not to be noticed is to wear urban camouflage - Hi-Viz clothing, lots of lights and reflectors and a helmet." - Dr. Tony Raven </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=360#post-2790 Mon, 15 Feb 2010 12:36:12 +0000 Min 2790@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Stepdoh-</p> <p>Oh as a woman I got bored years ago with being told what I am SUPPOSED to look like. So someone called <a href="http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=198">Carlton Reid </a>wants to see "gorgeous women on bikes" and "Forget helmets, Lycra and speed". Oh dear, I guess he will be disgusted by me then. Oh well never mind. I suppose I'll get over it. I totally agree that it needs to be seen as normal to just pop on your bike down to the shops in whatever you are wearing but I won't be told what to wear and I won't feel guilty about it. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=360#post-2787 Mon, 15 Feb 2010 12:12:42 +0000 Stepdoh 2787@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>&lt;rant&gt;The incessant Cycle Chic-ing thing kind of annoys me, I ride out to 10 miles out ingliston every morning and wear cycle gear for the simple premise that it's cold and I can't get over the corstorphine/maybury hill without getting a rather sweaty, I don't know why I have to be setting a bad example by daring to wear thermal bibtights rather than my suit.</p> <p>Argh.&lt;/rant&gt; </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=360#post-2786 Mon, 15 Feb 2010 12:11:27 +0000 chdot 2786@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>'I've got all the right (ie expensive) kit, so I must be able to do it without actually putting in any thought or effort'</p> <p>In some ways it's amazing the number of 'new' cyclists that stick with it.</p> <p>There's the unfamiliar bike to deal with, traffic, rules of the road (maybe better if rider has done a driving test) PLUS the fact that they are unlikely to be 'bike fit' - if even if they are generally/sporty fit, the reality is cycling uses different muscles and requires hands to deal with (probably) unfamiliar brakes/gears.</p> <p>MAYBE THIS SHOULD BE A NEW THREAD -</p> <p><a href="http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=364">done</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=360#post-2785 Mon, 15 Feb 2010 12:06:28 +0000 chdot 2785@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"most of the time it's quite nice"</p> <p>sounds good to me </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=360#post-2784 Mon, 15 Feb 2010 12:03:53 +0000 SRD 2784@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Stepdoh, yes, that's part of it, but it is also 'I've got all the right (ie expensive) kit, so I must be able to do it without actually putting in any thought or effort'. I suspect all sports have a bit of this, which is why so many people stop going to the gym after buying all the trendy gear. But the thing about cycling is that it is BOTH a sport, and a mode of transportation. And the messages get confused. the cycle chic message is 'look at me, look how effortless I make it look; my only concern is colour co-ordinating my outfit'. Vis a vis the ultra fit, trendy cyclists. But actually the reality for most people (as commuters/leisure riders anyway) is somewhere between the two. You need to be moderately focused, know the rules of the road, and be prepared to get a bit sweaty once in a while. But most of the time it's quite nice. That'll never work as an advertising campaign, but it is a bit more realistic. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=360#post-2783 Mon, 15 Feb 2010 11:45:06 +0000 Stepdoh 2783@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I'm really not very good at football and once hurt my ankle playing. It's obviously unsuitable for everyone. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=360#post-2780 Mon, 15 Feb 2010 10:36:13 +0000 steveo 2780@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"Urban English Woman Not Suited To Bicycles" News at 10!</p> <p>Not such a good head line if slightly more accurate. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=360#post-2777 Mon, 15 Feb 2010 10:22:11 +0000 Min 2777@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Oh I just picked it as being British car. At least I assume it still is!</p> <p>I wear the Daily Mail's small minded hatred of me as a badge of pride. :-) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=360#post-2772 Mon, 15 Feb 2010 00:25:33 +0000 Smudge 2772@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Hey hey, don't knock the Land Rovers, they're very good in the right place, just like cycles ;)</p> <p>The Daily Mail however.... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=360#post-2771 Mon, 15 Feb 2010 00:00:37 +0000 Kim 2771@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The sad thing is the <em>Daily Mail</em> wears it small minded hatred as a badge of pride. Back in the 1930's it was very keen on Hitler. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=360#post-2769 Sun, 14 Feb 2010 23:08:28 +0000 Anonymous 2769@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Intelligent analysis and presentation is one reason that I prefer the Guardian over the Daily Mail</p> <p><em><a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1250746/Beware-rogue-bicycles--Petronella-Wyatt-attacks-cult-cycling-frail-mother-knocked-down.html">Daily Mail</a></em>:<br /> <blockquote>"But the police have found that half the collisions between bicycles and cars are the fault of the cyclist, according to analysis by the Transport Research Laboratory."</blockquote> </p> <p><em><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/dec/15/cycling-bike-accidents-study">The Guardian</a></em>:<br /> <blockquote>"The data, which was analysed by the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL), showed that more than a quarter of all cycling deaths in 2005-07 happened when a vehicle ran into the rear of a bike. This rose to more than one-third in rural areas and to 40% in collisions that took place away from junctions.<br /> The 64-page analysis found that police attributed responsibility for collisions more or less evenly between drivers and cyclists overall, but this was skewed by the fact that when child riders were involved their behaviour was named as a primary factor more than three-quarters of the time.<br /> With adult cyclists, police found the driver solely responsible in about 60%-75% of all cases, and riders solely at fault 17%-25% of the time."</blockquote> </p>