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Beauty and the Bike

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Started 14 years ago by Kim
Latest reply from chdot

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Kim
Member

A short documentary film about how to make cycling cool, looking at why teenage girls in particular are put off from cycling.

"Why do British girls stop cycling? By simply asking this basic question, the film reveals the damage that has been done by 50 years of car-centric transport policies. Whilst we fill our lives with debates about risk assessment, cycle helmets, cycle training and marketing strategies to try to persuade people to cycle more, the basic barriers to cycling remain untouched - generous urban planning towards the car, and the resultant poor motorist behaviour towards cyclists. Is it any wonder that most people find cycling unattractive in the UK, but attractive in cycling-friendly towns and cities? It's the infrastructure, stupid!"

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Posted 14 years ago #
chdot
Admin

Really great video.

Young girls/women do cycle - but not nearly enough. Some are even good role models for general cycling as well as being known for their sporting activities.

Olympic BMXer Shanaze Reade is seen here talking about safety and the benefits of a good breakfast. (Sponsored by Ready Brek for the DfT's "Be Bright Be Seen" campaign.)

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Below great image from her web site

Posted 14 years ago #
LaidBack
Member

Good post and lots of food for thought. We live in fear of too much here

Daughter and pal unusually wanted to tandem down to Portobello last friday. Bribe was snack at Beach House (very nice). Cycling back in the dark was great fun as the tandem has good front light.

They really liked it but were worried what their friends might think. They did some road cycling. If this were abroad they would have done it on their own. Offroad paths os course are scary and roads are full so I guided them (from a way out in front).

Note fairly ordinary clothes but I had to ask them to wear helmets due to my cycle training connections.

The original idea was to got to Ratho Climb centre. They did view it as once a year activity though unlike the German kids where bikes are like footwear.

Blurred to protect the innocent! (my excuse)

They're both 15.

Posted 14 years ago #
chdot
Admin

@LaidBack

Have they signed the BikeBelles petition?

"We, the undersigned, want to be able to choose to cycle for many more of our daily journeys. To do this we need to feel safe when we cycle.

We demand that governments prioritise the creation of environments that encourage and support cycling, specifically this must include cycle paths separated from traffic, as a way of enabling many more women to travel by bike."

http://www.bikebelles.org.uk/index.php/sign_our_petition

Posted 14 years ago #
LaidBack
Member

No. Can ask them. D

Posted 14 years ago #
chdot
Admin

About 100 years ago

As seen on Hilldodger's cycling history site

Posted 14 years ago #
chdot
Admin

Advertisers have caught on to the notion of women and bikes. Though as the making of the ad shows it's unclear if Duffy actually did any cycling....

(Actual ad starts at 3.01)

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Posted 14 years ago #
chdot
Admin

The cycling in this looks real!

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Posted 14 years ago #
Claggy Cog
Member

I have just finished Eileen Sheridan's biography, Wonder Wheels which was fabulous. She was a top British record breaker in the fifties known as the Hercules rocket(sponsored by the bike manufacturer Hercules, now defunct) was diminutive at 4' 11" and tough but feminine at all times. It describes being a club member as was in the days of yore, with great camaraderie, and cycling clubs then were like an extended family. Also there was much less traffic around and what cars were on the road were slow in comparison to today. I think that today many regard cyclists as freaks and weirdos frankly, and we are thought a nuisance and a blight on the roads. Also we are seen as really uncool and unhip not going at some phenomenal speed. The majority of youngsters don't have any real regard for aesthetics (like a beautiful bike) nor do they appreciate the outdoors and weather, flora and fauna, let alone have any regard for conservation or the preservation of the planet. I have had occasion to visit a local secondary school a number of times recently and could quite honestly say that I did not see one girl that I would envisage cycling due to having to keep up appearances. Some women would not cycle because they would feel obliged to wear a helmet and that would ruin their hair (I kid you not, having heard this several times now). Lets hope that the Team Britain women cycling contenders drum up some enthusiasm for cycling amongst girls too. Cycling does just not get enough media coverage in this country as well.

Posted 14 years ago #
chdot
Admin

First female singlespeed mountainbiker in Afghanistan.

Posted 14 years ago #
chdot
Admin

"Forget blokes, it’s women we want to get on bikes"

http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=198

Posted 14 years ago #
Min
Member

You can get some really nice feminine cycling gear now though.

Check out this website where the evil evil "Minx" has loads and loads of gorgeous tempting gorgeous cycling kit.

http://www.minx-girl.com/

DO NOT CLICK THIS LINK IF YOU ARE SKINT.

If you do, read the Minx zine and try the recipe for banana bread. Yum.

Posted 14 years ago #
chdot
Admin

This thread mentioned in latest Bike Co-op newsletter.

"Beauty And The Bike

Check this inspiring video plus interesting comment on the sad phenomenon that some teenage girls don't realise that life is better by bike."

Always good for some traffic to this forum - and a few new members.

Posted 14 years ago #
chdot
Admin

Young people need traffic free places to try cycling.

Posted 14 years ago #
Kim
Member

Now those are the sort of role models we need to see more of.

Posted 14 years ago #
chdot
Admin

I know the two girls (sisters). But I came across them by chance. They'd been supermarket shopping.

Clearly 'stranger danger' paranoia - encouraged by papers hyping the very rare tragedies - means that many parents won't allow such necessary freedoms.

Dangers from traffic are MUCH more real. But as careless/inconsiderate drivers are 'normal people', newspapers don't get too excited.

The 'normality' of being allowed to be in charge of a powerful lump of metal from age 17, and the 'desire' for such 'freedom' to drive/park unheeded, means that politicians tend to pay more attention to the wishes of over the 18s (voters) than they do to people like those in the photo (both under 17).

Posted 14 years ago #
Kim
Member

But the dangers from traffic have also dropped considerably since their parents where children.

Posted 14 years ago #
chdot
Admin

"But the dangers from traffic have also dropped considerably since their parents where children."

Um, there may be fewer KSIs, but there are fewer kids (literally) playing in the streets and roaming to places where they have to cross roads.

Posted 14 years ago #
Kim
Member

But when you weight the figures to take this reduction in kids being out and about there are still fewer KSIs, mainly due to attempts to idiot proof cars (shame the same can't be done to driver). The drop in the number of kids out of doors is largely due to the misguided "road safety" campaigns, maybe it is time for a different approach, how about drive with your heart (that street looks like it could be in Edinburgh) or health warnings.

Posted 14 years ago #
gembo
Member

Looks like EBC's latest electronic newsletter has picked up on Beauty and the BIke - right at the end of the newsletter.

Posted 14 years ago #
Kim
Member

That is the EBC for you, the film doesn't promote one of EBC's core money spinners...

Posted 14 years ago #
chdot
Admin

"That is the EBC for you, the film doesn't promote one of EBC's core money spinners..."

??

Posted 14 years ago #
Kim
Member

Next time you go into the shop have a look around and think about which products are placed in the prime sales spots. Not the bikes, they are hidden in the basement. Shop layouts are now carefully designed to encourage purchasing of the high margin items. After all the EBC is a business, selling stuff is it primary purpose.

Posted 14 years ago #
chdot
Admin

That's retail.

Just wondered what it had to do with B&B film and mention in newsletter?

Posted 14 years ago #
Kim
Member

They do sell the sort of bikes in the film, there is a Pashley in the basement, but it not one of their high profit items. Hence it is at the back of the newsletter, that was all the point I was making.

Yes they are a business and a very successful one.

Posted 14 years ago #
Min
Member

Last time I went there was a Pashley in the window. :-)

Posted 14 years ago #
LaidBack
Member

EBC would claim that they offer plenty of good practical machines.
But unlike continental companies (Batavus, Velorbis etc) most don't have chainguards, lights, rack.
So you have to get them to do it or retro fit. I would like to think there was a market in Edinburgh for fully equipped bikes sold as a package.

EBC offered hub gear bikes such as the Edinburgh Nexus (back in the 90s). That was way before cycling in London was of media interest. Many still around from what I see at The Bike Works.

Pashley is one of the few fully equipped bikes that you can see 'in the flesh'. Also at Biketrax (They were first dealer I think?).

I see Specialized are imitating the continental look with low step over curved frames and white tyres.

Posted 14 years ago #
chdot
Admin

Keirin Queen

Posted 14 years ago #
chdot
Admin

British Cycling asks: ‘why aren’t more women cycling?’

http://www.bikebiz.com/news/31797/British-Cycling-asks-why-arent-more-women-cycling

Posted 14 years ago #
chdot
Admin

“As my eyes glaze over the array of hardly-worn heels and dusty dresses that furnish the peripheries of my wardrobe, I feel an intense urge to ditch my plans for sneakers and shorts – the summer uniform of choice (and practical necessity) for fixie riders in Sydney – and wear something a little more girly."

http://urbanvelo.org/fashion-or-fixie

Posted 14 years ago #