CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Debate!
Down With "Avid Cyclists"
(16 posts)-
Posted 14 years ago #
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I've finally got round to reading.
This was one response that I liked to the Canadian writer's article.
"Note the division into us (normal people) and them (avid cyclists). Never the twain shall meet. Is that true? No, it is not."
You are correct, it is not. As illustration go to any magazine stand and move on over to the car section and note the many, many publications aimed at - avid drivers.
And it is these avid drivers who have always been in the forefront of promoting, even demanding, a motoring culture.
When I watch news coming from London I am always aware of cyclists whizzing by in the background ('cause I'm an avid cyclist!).
I always think that cycling in England (or Scotland) has to be like that to survive. Motorised vehicles always try to go faster than most people can cycle comfortably - part of their entertainment I think. Then they stop and clog up the road!Sites like Copenhagenize like to show cycling as a calm way of traveling - where cyclists cycle two abreast with all the time in the world. Where cyclist interact with other people. They are not 'avid' cyclists - just people on bikes.
Meanwhile back in UK cities the motto is:
You don't have to be avid to cycle here. But it helps.
Posted 14 years ago # -
"You don't have to be avid to cycle here. But it helps."
I don't know what you mean. I am oft to be found drifting slowly along the road side by side with a friend, the serene smile fading from my face only to take a sip from my appropriately temperatured drink (depending on whether it is winter or summer) whilst mixing it with double deckers and white van men determined to give me all the man-inches they can manage (about two).
Posted 14 years ago # -
I'm not keen on the term 'avid' cyclist in the Scottish vernacular I prefer the term Keen Cyclist, it contains a certain connotation of a lack of ability not acting as a draw back - keen in spite of himself etc.
Nothing wrong with keen.
Posted 14 years ago # -
Yeah, I'm keen about most stuff really. :-)
Posted 14 years ago # -
Keen is good, what's not to like about keen?
Posted 14 years ago # -
Agreed, Keen is an excellent choice.
@Min, I find drinking whilst riding a bit precarious, however I do now stick an insulated mug of tea in my pannier in the morning, and a little way before I turn off the old railway near Colinton I stop, sit on a bench and have a cuppa and enjoy the peace,* before going in to the work madhouse. Dunno if I look serene but I certainly feel a lot more serene for it. Improves my whole morning :)(*So if anyone on here sees me stop and say hello! :-))
Posted 14 years ago # -
Smudge - 'old railway near Colinton' - at the Hailes Tunnel? Ibera do a flask that attaches to your frame like a water bottle. Looks good but £15. If you get into this you can also get traveliing espresso makers powered by a pump, great for Munros. Will look out for you if it is Water of Leith path you are on, it is still very muddy alas.
Posted 14 years ago # -
Don't know the Hailes Tunnel by that name(!) It's the old railway path that runs from town out to Balerno, I join it from the canal towpath and leave it at Colinton Dell just after the tunnel there :)
I've already got the airzound bottle attached to the frame so don't want to add more stuff, the Aladin type insulated mugs are fine for a hot drink and are robust enough to effortlessly survive bouncing around in my pannier. Something like this: http://www.completeoutdoors.co.uk/LifeVenture-Thermal-Mug-330ml
I didn't think the path was too muddy.. ok there is a thin layer of mud on top but it's not too slippy and underneath it's hard packed enough not to slow you down too much (if at all!)
Some more sunshine would be nice mind you....Posted 14 years ago # -
I used to use the Water of Leith Path - very pleasant but found in wetter winters too much mud. Came up it the other night when it was foggy, still a bit muddy but not too bad.
As you leave the tunnel heading west stop and look up at teh exit - on top right it is callled Easter Hailes Gate or something like that.
Posted 14 years ago # -
Ahah! Every day is a schoolday, and to think I grew up around there! I shall try to remember to have a look on Monday (assuming my train is running...)
I'd disagree with your map location though, your spot is the wrong side of the Lanark Road, needs to be about 600m or so East, nearer where Spylaw Street crosses the Water of Leith ;-) Lovely photo mind :)
Posted 14 years ago # -
"I would also have happily described myself as an avid cyclist, or an enthusiastic cyclist; a dyed-in-the-wool cyclist, a if-you-cut-me-open-I'll-have-'cyclist'-written-through-my-middle sort of cyclist."
From an exploratory response to the Copenhagenize article. Interestingly, LB's comment that 'you don't have to be avid to cycle here, but it helps' is pretty similar to one of the arguments used here.
Posted 14 years ago # -
I just lifted the photo from first google result, it looked like the photo was well received by the snapping fraternity, no idea where a map got in?. I could well have dreamt up the sign as I think it might actually be on the wee bridge that takes you from the towpath over the lanark road, where the yacht sat for 30 years.
I was once cycling through the tunnel on my way home and came across a volkswagon golf parked in the middle, woman and four kids having their tea inside.
Posted 14 years ago # -
Easter Hailes Gate harks back to Hailes Halt which was a single platform on the Balerno Loop of the Caledonian railway, and was built for access to Kingsknowe golf course. 'Hailes' is the modern form of the district of Hale, dating back to at least the 11th c. and refers to the Celtic word for moor or hillock, of which there were many in that area before it was all built on.
Posted 14 years ago # -
"no idea where a map got in?"
The person who took the photo has misplaced it on the Flickr map.
"I could well have dreamt up the sign as I think it might actually be on the wee bridge that takes you from the towpath over the lanark road"
No the tunnel definitely says
You're thinking of Stoneyport.
Posted 14 years ago # -
Indeed it does, 1 out of 10 for observation on my part ;-) I blame watching where I'm going and not the tunnel walls ;-))
Posted 14 years ago #
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