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The Bicycle Book - anyone else read yet?

(18 posts)
  • Started 12 years ago by LaidBack
  • Latest reply from kaputnik

  1. LaidBack
    Member

    Finished David Byrne's book and moved onto this.

    The Bicycle Book - Bella Bathurst
     Copies from Blackwell's on offer at moment.

    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 )

    Here's one bit that I thought was bit of a cheap crowd pleaser.

    'Folding bikes, Moultons and recumbents- they look ridiculous and can't corner"     (intro xiii).
    A Top Gear audience would agree of course but we should remember that 'non-standard bikes let people cycle who would otherwise be denied.

    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.

    She does also single out Bianchi as a brand not ridden by 'real' cyclists. That is just like saying all BMW drivers are bad...;-)

    Compare and contrast with City Cycling where you can ride what you like...

    Maybe Bella should be in next issue?

    Posted 12 years ago #

  2. Min
    Member

    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?

    Posted 12 years ago #

  3. crowriver
    Member

    Ah, The Bicycle Book. As opposed to The Bike Book:

    (The latter is actually useful and I own a copy).

    Posted 12 years ago #

  4. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    Could I borrow it, and then make a decision on contacting her? ;)

    Posted 12 years ago #

  5. amir
    Member

    "She does also single out Bianchi as a brand not ridden by 'real' cyclists. "

    I am not a real cyclist then (hope no one notices)

    Posted 12 years ago #

  6. kaputnik
    Moderator

    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?

    Posted 12 years ago #

  7. LaidBack
    Member

    Ah.... you think cycling is a specialist subject? ;-)

    I think she wanted to write it from a non-specialist / technical point of view.

    'At its best, what a bike gives you is love, and souplesse.'

    I think it should then have been named after the activity rather than the machine.

    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.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  8. crowriver
    Member

    The Grauniad review may shed some light.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  9. chdot
    Admin

    "
    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.
    "
    http://www.velorution.biz/2011/08/willself

    Posted 12 years ago #

  10. wingpig
    Member

    Lame to fame: my brother-in-law is Rocco's personal trainer.

    Has anyone read the Grauniad's own compendium-of-blogs book "Bicycle"?

    Posted 12 years ago #

  11. gembo
    Member

    Is David Byrne's book any good? Does it mention being from Dumbarton?

    Posted 12 years ago #

  12. LaidBack
    Member

    It mentions Baltimore 'where I grew up".

    Scotland is mentioned as Hess's preferred desintation in the 'Berlin' chapter.

    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.

    In fact I should make it a first come first borrowed race...

    Posted 12 years ago #

  13. gembo
    Member

    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.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  14. PS
    Member

    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.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  15. LaidBack
    Member

    I knew he was born here. He's bound to be on the Transatlantic Sessions with a version of 'Burning doon the hoose' soon!

    Actually he does also mention that Europe "is manicured except for some semi-accessible areas in the Alps, Northern Scotland and Scandinavia."
    That comment although not strictly accurate is proof of his affection for here.


    The book itself     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.

    Cities include London, Berlin, Istanbul, Manilla, Sydney, Buenos Aires.

    Yes... some bike rack sketches and ideas for headgear.....

    Posted 12 years ago #

  16. chdot
    Admin

    David Byrne Bike Cam

    [+] Embed the video | Video DownloadGet the Flash Video

    Posted 12 years ago #

  17. chdot
    Admin

    "

    He's on a road to somewhere: musician David Byrne welcomes New York's new bike share program.

    Photograph: Kate Hinds/TransportationNation/NPR

    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.

    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.

    "

    http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2011/sep/15/new-york-bike-share

    Posted 12 years ago #

  18. kaputnik
    Moderator

    There was a factory
    Now there are mountains and rivers...

    There was a shopping mall
    Now it's all covered with flowers...

    I fell in love
    With a beautiful highway
    This used to be real estate
    Now it's only fields and trees
    Where, where is the town
    Now, it's nothing but flowers
    The highways and cars
    Were sacrificed for agriculture
    I thought that we'd start over
    But I guess I was wrong

    Once there were parking lots
    Now it's a peaceful oasis...

    This was a pizza hut
    Now it's all covered with daisies...

    This was a discount store,
    Now it's turned into a cornfield...

    Don't leave me stranded here
    I can't get used to this lifestyle    "

    Excerpts from Nothing But Flowers by Talking Heads

    Posted 12 years ago #

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