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Cycling teachers share their top tips for an open-air commute | Teacher Network Blog | Guardian Professional
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http://www.guardian.co.uk/teacher-network/2012/aug/30/cycling-teachers-green-travel
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Commuting
"Cycling teachers share top tips for an open-air commute"
(12 posts)-
Posted 12 years ago #
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We could do our own one: Various ordinary folk share top tips for an open-air commute
Name: Dave
Employed to do: Software development and cat herding
Journey to work: 5 miles each wayI started cycling to lose weight but what really hooked me is the realisation that it's a higher status means of getting around than queuing in your car (even if some of your colleagues don't yet see it the same way).
Saving ten minutes at each end of the day, two and a half stone (16kg) lighter, and it works off the stress too - you'd be daft not to.
My current employer does have showers but for just five miles I don't generally bother. I keep clean clothes at work and change - that's plenty to keep me crisp and fresh.
I've never noticed an attitude problem from colleagues (anyway, I'm now in a position where I could give them attitude for driving, if I was that way inclined).
Top tip: you don't need anything special to bike to work except a bike (admittedly hard to substitute). Anyone who tells you differently is either in some kind of cycling subgroup, or trying to sell you something.
Posted 12 years ago # -
dave's is quite good, but the guardian ones are good too. quite down to earth.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Yes, it is a nice article that. The tips are all pretty good ones I'd say.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Name: Bruce
Employed for the: two jobs: office drone, and an even more optimistic brand of herding than Dave - afterschool care for the 4-12 age range.
Journey to work: 9 miles, over three journeys.I started cycling with the encouragement of my then girlfriend, herself a utility cyclist of many years. I was also hunting around for a low-impact active hobby to replace the powerlifting that had given both my knees arthritis.
As I've become faster I'm now on a time saving of one hour and ten minutes per day, I'm fitter in the cardiovascular sense than I have ever been, and if you punched me on the bum at a nude beach I'd be concerned that you'd break your knuckle.
My two jobs cycling provision ranges from the NHS Gyle's bombshelter awesome racks, showers and cycle-friendly dress code, to the school's lack of racks and showers, but even more relaxed dress code - I forgot my trousers one day and had to do the kiddiecare in lycra shorts. The manager came out to giggle once or twice, but that was it.
Top Tip(which I fervently hope will become a historical artifact in time): you, just by getting on your bike and riding to any given piece of cycle infrastructure, have almost certainly logged more bike hours than the person that designed it. If you think it's stupid and should be ignored, do not be cowed by their designer authority: you are right.
Posted 12 years ago # -
I was reading one of the comments and I thought, that is the spit of weefoldingbike and then I looked at the name of the teacher and it was weefoldingbike
Posted 12 years ago # -
Uberuce you crack me up mate.
Yeah I read that comment and thought it seemed familiarity, read author... Ah that explains it.
Posted 12 years ago # -
I do read other web pages you know.
I thought I'd forgotten socks again today but found a pair in the Brompton's S bag. They were socks emblazoned with a picture of Scooby Doo playing football which tickled one of the youngsters this afternoon.
Yesterday's Brompton has no luggage block so it doesn't carry that bag hence the lack of socks.
Posted 12 years ago # -
I salute your consistency in using the same online handle. Many years ago I decided I'd not use anything but Uberuce, and if I made an arse of myself on one forum, the Eye of Sauron that is cache would damn me forever.
Posted 12 years ago # -
I first started appearing as this on the Herald when their comments were more immediate and interesting. Now they are moderated to a standstill. It's not good form to let pupils know you have political opinions, well, I don't think it is. I have occasionally had letters in the paper but only about cycling matters. Similarly my contribution to the New Scientist back page was about cycling too.
I did once have a letter read by John Humphries on Today. I complained about their excessive playing of God Save the Queen. It's on every day at 0100 hrs just before they hand over to the World Service and they used to play it more on Royal birthdays but I'm not sure if they still do that.
They should use the old UK theme which was played around 0530 hrs till they axed it. Sailing By was relegated to weekends only for a period about 20 years ago but they saw sense on that one.
On Slashdot I appear under my real John Hancock but few pupils read that.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Folds, I would hope some of your pupils could work out who you were from putting two and two together?
I think students don't mind you being political, but some staff do.
Imagine if your name was John Hancock and a US official demanded your John Hancock?
My workmates who is called Clive Dunn is always getting called grandad, especially when wearing his cardigans. Clive is the guy uberuce keeps spotting
Posted 12 years ago # -
I'm not sure that a large number of them read the Gurniard.
We had a Labour councillor as a history teacher in QMA and I've known a few in Glasgow who take a lot of time off for their political duties. I will answer factual questions if they ask things like who is the Prime Minister or what is a particular party's policy on something. Yesterday an S4 pupil asked about trade unionism in Scotland and I directed him to read about Jimmy Reid as a start.
Only one wean in my school would know who Clive Dunn is, the same kid I mentioned above as it happens. Last week I found that they don't understand why petrol is unleaded. They don't remember 4 Star anymore.
Posted 12 years ago #
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