They certainly existed- hi viz comes from the 1930s while it won't be hard for you to check for confirmatory images from the 1979 Tour de France ;-)
Helmets were also widely available.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Cycling News
Pedal on Parliament to be discussed... in Parliament
(114 posts)-
Posted 13 years ago #
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Existence is not doubted. Ready availability is unknown. Riders in the 1979 TdF were not taking part in a protest in Amsterdam.
If cyclists turned up to a protest in 1979 they'd probably generally be wearing what cyclists wore in 1979 in or around the location of the protest.Posted 13 years ago # -
I'd rather have 1000 people in hi-viz than 200 in jeans. Just sayin'. No matter what you wear.
Or oin other words, to agree with another poster, but one step further on...
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.......
Posted 13 years ago # -
Interesting up to a point. Least interesting because it's that old position again of blaming people whose crime is to cycle in a way that they feel best preserves their well-being. It's a position that lets politicians off the hook by blaming someone else.
The root of the problem isn't that some people wear bright yellow and lycra. The key to getting politicians and planners to take something seriously is to make it in their interests to take it seriously. Me throwing away my hi-viz jacket -even if I nailed it to the door of Greyfriars Church - wouldn't make anyone take me seriously.
Posted 13 years ago # -
If it helps, Insto, I don't take you seriously anyway... ;)
Posted 13 years ago # -
Who would? Fat bloke in lycra and a hi viz jacket. Whereas fat blokes in jeans and t-shirts are always being sought out for their obvious grasp of political strategy and tactics.
Posted 13 years ago # -
Well I've never seen anyone in hi-viz speaking on BBC Question Time. QED.
Posted 13 years ago # -
Bloody cyclists. Always stopping people from cycling by...cycling. If it wasn't for you lot out cycling all the time there would be a lot more people out cycling. The only way to get more people cycling is to stop cycling. STOP CYCLING DO YOU HEAR?
Wibble.
Posted 13 years ago # -
This is the problem with lycra in the public imagination:
Posted 13 years ago # -
Please, please, please, wear whatever you like (we're still hoping for a panda costume though), as long as you come! Some people will be riding quite long distances on hostile roads to get to the Meadows, so hi vis, helmets, lycra or whatever may well make sense. Others may choose to dress up to make a point, or just roll out of bed and choose whatever's cleanest on the floor. Doesn't matter. Bums on bikes is what matters at this point
Posted 13 years ago # -
Please. Come off it. The only people who talk about lycra being an issue is other cyclists. There's no politician sitting anywhere thinking, "no, I can't take them seriously while they're wearing that lycra. Nope. Now, if they had cords and a donkey jacket, long hair and a beard like those Amsterdamonians in the 1970s, I'd be listening. La la la la. I can't hear you!"
I suggest we compromise and all go for Dashing Tweeds' cycling breeches. Then they'll take us seriously.
Posted 13 years ago # -
Bwahahah!
Sallyhinch "Doesn't matter. "
Don't worry we(most of us) know this. :-) After all, if people felt so safe cycling that they didn't feel the need to wear safety gear then we wouldn't even be having this PoP.
Crowriver This is the problem with lycra in the public imagination:
Nope, I don't see the problem..
Posted 13 years ago # -
I blame the namby, pamby drivers of today for putting people off driving, what with their seatbelts, airbags, side impact protection systems etc. I remember being in the back of a biege Cortina in 1979 with seven other kids, while the driver smoked like a chimney (as did the car)...
What, this argument only works for cyclists! Who knew?
Posted 13 years ago # -
"I'd rather have 1000 people in hi-viz than 200 in jeans."
Put that starkly, I suspect I wouldn't.
IF everyone turned up in what is now regarded as 'normal' commuting dress it would imply that there was 'only one sort of cyclist' - or that they were the only ones who cared about 'cycle safety' or could be bothered to turn up.
I'm quite sure lots of people will turn up in hi viz (etc.) because that's what they wear when they go cycling. I'm sure a few will wear something other than 'what I wear going to work' - but no-one should agonise about it.
I'm sure there will be plenty of people not there because 'I don't do demos'.
Personal choice and all that.
I hope lots of people turn up. I hope everyone has a good time. I hope it doesn't rain.
I'm sure the idea of this event has changed things - positive articles in the press, TWO Motions in Parliament etc.
To mix metaphors, this is more about moving the goalposts than winning a final victory.
Posted 13 years ago # -
Insto,
Eric Pickles is thinking about cycling kit…
http://sheffieldcyclechic.tumblr.com/post/2923536600/rubber-knickers
Posted 13 years ago # -
I think when Eric Pickles thinks about rubber knickers, he also imagines a giant nappy, a dummy and a bosomy matron who's going to punish him for being a very naughty boy.
Posted 13 years ago # -
Nice to know he isn't the messiah.
Posted 13 years ago # -
Hey folks, come on, I was only having a 'laff'.
There is, however a popular stereotype of cyclists as 'lycra louts' as we all know.
On the 28th, I'll be in my normal pootling to Porty outfit, which normally lacks a h****t but sometimes has a yellow windproof jacket, sometimes not. It depends on the conditions.
Posted 13 years ago # -
Even though I normally wear hi viz and lycra and ride a Speedibike, I'll be wearing my normal clothes and ambling along on an old dutch bike looking the very picture of Copenhagenalisipification. If I can be bothered, I might wear a dinner suit.
Posted 13 years ago # -
"I might wear a dinner suit"
Are there prizes??
Posted 13 years ago # -
hmm, we were discussing a 'best placard' competition (Andy would have to be disallowed though) slightly scuppered by lack of prizes. Maybe a rosette for the best dressed cyclist? And one for the one who's pedalled furthest ...
Posted 13 years ago # -
I suggest we compromise and all go for Dashing Tweeds' cycling breeches. Then they'll take us seriously.
I've been pondering picking up some tweed shooting breeks for cycling purposes. Need the long socks too though.
Posted 13 years ago # -
More -
"
Supported by: Kenneth Gibson, Margaret Burgess, Richard Lyle, Clare Adamson, David Torrance, Mike MacKenzie, Stewart Maxwell, Dennis Robertson, Jamie Hepburn, Kevin Stewart, Bob Doris, Humza Yousaf, Fiona McLeod, Colin Beattie, Bill Kidd, Gil Paterson, Aileen McLeod, Sandra White, Rob Gibson, Stuart McMillan, Annabelle Ewing, Roderick Campbell
"
Posted 13 years ago # -
"What, this argument only works for cyclists! Who knew?"
Quite the reverse, the argument is so good that it substantially drives the multi-billion pound car industry.
Would you stick your kids in the back of a car with no seatbelts, airbags etc (assuming it was legally allowed)? Of course not... and even upgrading modern cars, for a large cross-section of society things like Euro NCAP are enormously important.
Vehicle manufacturers have been able to monetise safety because people are going to drive come what may. I suppose one must wonder whether cycling is different because we're trying to persuade people who think that a marginal activity is unsafe that it really is safe, rather than tinkering with an activity that is fully entrenched. Having a giant demo to complain about how dangerous and difficult it is is a bold strategy ;-)
"I'd rather have 1000 people in hi-viz than 200 in jeans."
I don't doubt that a crowd of 200 normal folk would make far more of an impact.
Even with my withered empathy, whenever the leader is accompanied by a picture of a few dudes in skinsuits (or dustbin suits) and I pretend not to know anything about the issue in question, I find it hard to understand why anybody would go out of their way to help such a thin margin of society. Just saying.
Posted 13 years ago # -
Dave - good points. I suppose my point is that no-one criticises drivers for taking precautions to protect themselves in an accident (short of driving carefully though - in some cases). However, cyclists who do the same (please, this isn't a call to discuss you know what) are criticised for putting people off cycling.
Car safety is an interesting topic - an old auto industry type told me that no-one mentioned safety until the late 1980's as it was seen as the ultimate no-no in car marketing (too wimpy and highlighting that your product may kill the customer wasn't considered a good idea). This apparently changed when more women started to buy cars, or influence car buying decisions, as they were more concerned with safety, especially for their children.
Posted 13 years ago # -
I'm pretty sure Volvo were discussing safety before the '80s.
Posted 13 years ago # -
wfb - true, but at the time "volvo driver" was almost synonymous with "Guardian reader" - which was what ever car company was trying to avoid.
Posted 13 years ago # -
Once in a large crowd I might remove the hi viz just to show off my t-shirt slogan
I will not, however, be removing my h****tPosted 13 years ago # -
I know that counting large crowds is difficult and the numbers obtained often disputed. But, does anybody have any idea how many people are expected on the 28th?
So my wild guesstimate 8128 (but I reckon I could be out by up to a factor of x3 ??)
Posted 13 years ago # -
@excitableboy - depends on how hard we flyer, leaflet etc over the next few days! (and the weather of course)
Posted 13 years ago #
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