http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Where are all the car-free books? en Sun, 31 May 2026 21:38:42 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=6455&page=2#post-213096 Sun, 28 Feb 2016 19:33:58 +0000 Stephan Matthiesen 213096@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>.. and here Armin (again from the popular German "Maus" children's programme) shows how bicycle chains are made:</p> <p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2vTVVbaacY" rel="nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2vTVVbaacY</a></p> <p>and bike pumps:</p> <p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXx6f_dldJ8" rel="nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXx6f_dldJ8</a></p> <p>Edit: The forum software messed up the first version of this post - hope this works now... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=6455&page=2#post-213095 Sun, 28 Feb 2016 19:25:41 +0000 Stephan Matthiesen 213095@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Saw this old thread mentioned on Twitter a few minutes ago... </p> <p>Not a book, but Christoph (from the German kids TV programme "Maus") often cycles. In an episode that was repeated recently he hits a pothole and then explains how potholes come about, and how they get fixed.</p> <p>Worth watching if you understand a little German:<br /> <a href="http://www.wdrmaus.de/sachgeschichten/sachgeschichten/schlagloecher.php5" rel="nofollow">http://www.wdrmaus.de/sachgeschichten/sachgeschichten/schlagloecher.php5</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=6455&page=2#post-191939 Fri, 26 Jun 2015 15:57:47 +0000 wee folding bike 191939@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Oor Wullie had his bike mended by Alastair Gow.</p> <p><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2731/4285917815_c122a26d92_o.gif" rel="nofollow">http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2731/4285917815_c122a26d92_o.gif</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=6455&page=2#post-191935 Fri, 26 Jun 2015 15:05:44 +0000 Cyclingmollie 191935@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I think families don't appear in children's books riding bikes as much as you might expect because to have an adventure you have to get the parents out of the story as early as possible. Hence, Swallows and Amazons, Harry Potter, Famous Five, Jennings, Tom Sawyer, Tom Brown etc. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=6455&page=2#post-191876 Thu, 25 Jun 2015 23:20:09 +0000 Min 191876@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>Nowhere could anything Dr Seuss does be described as 'normal'. </em></p> <p>To this day I am terrified of the Gurtain behind the Curtain. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=6455&page=2#post-191874 Thu, 25 Jun 2015 22:58:07 +0000 kaputnik 191874@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Oor Wullie and the Broons were generally portrayed as car-free families, living as they are in an rose-tinted, idealised working class, central belt-cum-Dundee of the post war industrialised period.</p> <p>Hen Broon would buy a car once in a while but would generally be laughed at as all he could afford was a mini. In one strip it broke down repeatedly so he sold it to a farmer to keep chickens in. A Hen House. Geddit? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=6455&page=2#post-191873 Thu, 25 Jun 2015 22:41:52 +0000 sallyhinch 191873@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Mrs Armitage on Wheels <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mrs-Armitage-Wheels-Quentin-Blake/dp/0099400529" rel="nofollow">http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mrs-Armitage-Wheels-Quentin-Blake/dp/0099400529</a></p> <p>Also not particularly normal, but an inspiration to us Freds/Bettys everywhere </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=6455&page=2#post-191872 Thu, 25 Jun 2015 22:26:33 +0000 chdot 191872@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"Sorry, I digress. Nowhere could anything Dr Seuss does be described as 'normal'."</p> <p>That's not a digression. We have already established that cycling isn't "normal". </p> <p>(Yet.) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=6455&page=2#post-191871 Thu, 25 Jun 2015 22:22:28 +0000 Greenroofer 191871@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Dr Seuss is quite into bikes, although they are often extremely bizarre and not always entirely practical.</p> <p>His most practical idea comes from 'One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish':<br /> <em>We like our bike. It is made for three. Our Mike sits up in back, you see. We like our Mike and this is why: Mike does all the work when the hills get high</em></p> <p>Apart from the fact that Mike is a mad-looking gorilla type thing that I wouldn't let my children have on the back of their triplet tandem (if they had one), the idea of having someone to push you up hills is very tempting.</p> <p>Mike's not the scariest thing in that book. That accolade goes to Clark, (who we found in the park, in the dark). The children bring him home in a big bottle and it looks certain to me that he's going to eat them later...</p> <p>Sorry, I digress. Nowhere could anything Dr Seuss does be described as 'normal'. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=6455&page=2#post-191866 Thu, 25 Jun 2015 21:38:51 +0000 chdot 191866@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Just thought I'd revive this thread. </p> <p>Most entertaining. </p> <p>Younger (CCE) readers won't have seen it!</p> <p>Maybe it's time 'we' wrote a book!!! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=6455&page=2#post-69738 Wed, 09 May 2012 17:59:41 +0000 recombodna 69738@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Lolz!! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=6455&page=2#post-69690 Wed, 09 May 2012 14:32:45 +0000 crowriver 69690@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Er.....can you guess I've gone crazy and bought lots of these books for my kids?</p> <p>Thanks SRD for starting this thread! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=6455&page=2#post-69687 Wed, 09 May 2012 14:22:26 +0000 crowriver 69687@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Great web site for Mike and the Bike too. Games galore!</p> <p><a href="http://www.mikeandthebike.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.mikeandthebike.com/</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=6455&page=2#post-69682 Wed, 09 May 2012 14:14:04 +0000 recombodna 69682@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Here's 9 childrens books about bikes .....<br /> 1. Duck on a Bike by David Shannon</p> <p>2.Marta and the Bicycle by Germano Zullo, illustrated by Albertine</p> <p>3.Mike and the Bike by Michael Ward, Lance Armstrong, Phil Liggett and Bob Thomson; illustrated by Bob Thomson</p> <p>4 .Sally Jean, the Bicycle Queen by Cari Best and Christine Davenie</p> <p>5 .Franklin Rides a Bike by Paulette Bourgeois, illustrated by Brenda Clark</p> <p>6. Froggy Rides a Bike by Jonathan London and Frank Remkiewicz</p> <p>7. Gracie Goat's Big Bike Race by Erin Mirabella, illustrated by Lisa Horstman</p> <p>8. Dora Rides to Bike Park by Kara McMahon, illustrated by Dave Aikins</p> <p>9. Anatole by Eve Titus </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=6455&page=2#post-69577 Wed, 09 May 2012 08:29:20 +0000 Instography 69577@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"Still depressed that there are so few examples of 'normal family life' in which bicycles are used."</p> <p>That's what's commonly known as a "gap in the market". Get writing. Many people have made lots of money by writing the books they wanted to read or making the things they wanted to buy. I can see it now - SRD and Kaputnik - the Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler of CCE. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=6455&page=2#post-69568 Wed, 09 May 2012 01:48:47 +0000 crowriver 69568@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>PC Plum's trusty steed:</p> <p><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5085/5254237610_7dd2e39ffa_n.jpg"></p> <p>Spencer's utility trike with rear cargo box and cargo trailer:</p> <p><img src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5125/5254236960_aae07e9c71_n.jpg"></p> <p>Apparently both in the Riverside Museum, Glesca. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=6455#post-69565 Wed, 09 May 2012 00:31:43 +0000 WickyWocky 69565@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><blockquote>Balamory's PC Plum rides a fine roadster bicycle. </blockquote> Doesn't Spencer have a utility bike too, for all his painting materials? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=6455#post-69532 Tue, 08 May 2012 18:40:38 +0000 crowriver 69532@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>I prefer the lovely camping stories of Crowriver pere and famille.</em></p> <p>Aw, shucks! *blush*</p> <p>Not many camping tales this year so far. Bloomin' appalling weather the cause. We might be 'abnormal' in doing a spot of family cycle camping once in a while, but we're not complete masochists. Drawing the line at bucketing rain, 'coldest May for nearly a century' after 'wettest April since the year dot'...</p> <p>If only I hadn't been up gainst a work deadline in late March, what larks we could have had. Except that most campsites were closed. :-(</p> <p>Today's sunshine was promising. Maybe later in the month... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=6455#post-69509 Tue, 08 May 2012 14:45:15 +0000 SRD 69509@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"The Cycling Adventures of the SRD Family" they always come a bit too close to disaster imho. I prefer the lovely camping stories of Crowriver pere and famille. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=6455#post-69506 Tue, 08 May 2012 14:38:15 +0000 LaidBack 69506@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>that's primarily because families who cycle everywhere are not the norm.</em></p> <p>Happens in entertainment for all ages.<br /> Check out 'The Bridge' on BBC4.<br /> Despite being set in cycling capital Copenhagen (and Malmo) bicycles are rarely seen.<br /> Previous Nordic fare (Borgen, The Killing, Wallender) has had bikes in normal daily use but film company want a tougher looking 'mean city' effect where it's always dark. I blame Blade Runner!<br /> Of course it is fiction and the Vulcan/Swede Saga Noren drives a Porsche - giving way to cyclists of course should she meet any. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=6455#post-69505 Tue, 08 May 2012 14:18:54 +0000 SRD 69505@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Its part of a series 'kids book doctor' Julia Eccleshare opens her surgery to all kinds of questions about reading for youngsters, and prescribes solutions. Please submit your questions to <a href="mailto:books@guardian.co.uk">books@guardian.co.uk</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=6455#post-69494 Tue, 08 May 2012 13:42:08 +0000 Zenfrozt 69494@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I'm not sure it's meant to be a particularly serious article from the Guardian...I get the impression it's more a of a dead donkey filler story... </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=6455#post-69493 Tue, 08 May 2012 13:40:27 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 69493@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"<em>Still depressed that there are so few examples of 'normal family life' in which bicycles are used.</em>"</p> <p>I think that's primarily because families who cycle everywhere are <em>not</em> the norm. It's not that it's 'abnormal', just that the mainstream is that kids are ferried about in cars. Fiction imitating life. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=6455#post-69491 Tue, 08 May 2012 13:35:13 +0000 chdot 69491@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"Still depressed that there are so few examples of 'normal family life' in which bicycles are used."</p> <p>You've obviously forgotten about -</p> <p>The Cycling Adventures of the SRD Family</p> <p>Available in periodic episodes (sometimes with photos). </p> <p>Best chapter was 'how we cycled to a wet camp site near Peebles'. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=6455#post-69488 Tue, 08 May 2012 13:27:00 +0000 SRD 69488@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>yes, Zog is very good!</p> <p>I don't entirely disagree with you, but I have had exactly the same thought, which is why I noticed the Mum in Harry &amp; the dinosaurs (great books for other reasons too - lots of stereotypes challenged in a gentle way). </p> <p>Still depressed that there are so few examples of 'normal family life' in which bicycles are used. </p> <p>in addition to the miffy examples, we could add Babar, and probably some others, but no so much with 'real families'. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=6455#post-69473 Tue, 08 May 2012 12:45:48 +0000 Morningsider 69473@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>SRD - Julia Donaldson is a favourite of jr's (and me - lovely books to read out loud), particularly Zog - which deals with the Princess thing.</p> <p>I just think the whole premise of the Guardian article is daft - Anth nails that quite nicely I think. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=6455#post-69461 Tue, 08 May 2012 12:16:37 +0000 LaidBack 69461@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Dog Detectives?<br /> <a href="http://cyclinggypsies.wordpress.com/the-dog-detectives/">Outback tandem tales (tails?)</a></p> <p>Had in the window of shop for a while... In fact I have one here on the book loan.</p> <p>Writers were featured in City Cycling and Velo Vision. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=6455#post-69455 Tue, 08 May 2012 12:06:47 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 69455@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I have to say, as a kid, I read all sorts of Enid Blyton and other stuff that apparently means I should be an intolerant right-wing christian-fundamentalist mysoginist fruitcake with a dependancy on alcohol, fags and cars.</p> <p>I thought they were rip-roaring reads. I was a kid. The supposed subtelties were lost on me*</p> <p>*this may be down to me being particularly slow, or my imagination taking me beyond the indoctrination the author intended, or maybe kids aren't terribly influenced in their life choices by fictional books in much the same way that we don't have marauding serial killers because of death metal 'music' and video games...</p> <p>(I also played war, had toy guns, and Action Man and the like, and quite happily sat down to watch movies about the Battle of Britain - yet find myself vehemently anti-war and quite liking the Germans, go figure) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=6455#post-69451 Tue, 08 May 2012 12:03:09 +0000 Claggy Cog 69451@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Dear SRD - that is a bit tough if you're not a vegetarian dinosaur!! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=6455#post-69449 Tue, 08 May 2012 11:59:23 +0000 SRD 69449@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Dear Morningsider, </p> <p>You obviously don't read enough Julia Donaldson, who puts a quite marvelous left wing spin on both princesses (the rescuing of), and politically-incorrect meat-eating dinosaurs! </p>