CTC article with video - Cycling in London 30 years ago.

[Sara_H]

Came upon this today.

http://www.ctc.org.uk/blog/chris-peck/cycling-in-london-30-years-ago
Very interesting film. I'd noted the same things as the authour concludes at the end of the article, no hi viz, no helmets, no technical clothing, children cycling and everyone is so thin!

Seems times have changed, and not for the better in many ways.

 

[Globalti]

Just look at any film more than 30 years old and you'll only see slender people. I can't understand why gluttony and laziness have not been stigmatised in the same way that governments and health authorities have succeeded in stigmatising smoking. It's odd that obesity has become acceptable in our crap "anything's cool" culture while just about everything else has actually become uncool.

 

[Sara_H]

Just look at any film more than 30 years old and you'll only see slender people. I can't understand why gluttony and laziness have not been stigmatised in the same way that governments and health authorities have succeeded in stigmatising smoking. It's odd that obesity has become acceptable in our crap "anything's cool" culture while just about everything else has actually become uncool.

Quite shocking really. Interesting the changes that have taken place in my lifetime.

 

[Globalti]

I actually think the upward trend started when mountain bikes hit the scene with their comfortable positions, smooth-riding fat tyres, good brakes and easy gearing. Their technology soon got passed on to roadsters, which became known as "hybrids" and then even to road bikes when it became acceptable for amateurs like me to ride easy triples or compacts with a wide range of gears on the cassette. Throw comfortable lightweight carbon frames into the equation and you can see why so many MAMILs are getting back into cycling in middle age.

 

[ScotiaLass]

That was interesting!
I'm too nervous to cycle on roads and only use them when there's no other alternative.
Luckily where I live we are developing quite a decent cycle network.

 

[Garethgas]

That was a fascinating video.
Pretty nostalgic looking at those old cars too but I didn't notice the size of the people until it was mentioned.
It's really sad that so many people of all ages have become so ill disciplined and lazy when it comes to exercise in just one generation.