nasserblue
Active Member
- Location
- London
What is it? Where is it?
Cyclecraft
- Thread starter nasserblue
- Start date
Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.
Here you go - Cyclecraft
summerdays
Cycling in the sun
- Location
- Bristol
Very useful book especially for beginners / returning to cycling.
The Author attempts to re-write ( using different terminology ) the Auto Cycle Union's handouts for their Moped ( 50cc 30 mph restricted motorised bicycle ) instructionals, except the vehicle hasn't got an engine and generally travels at half the speed.
A 30 mph restricted moped in a 50 mph limit is no different from an 18 mph pedal cycle in a 30 mph limit.
A 30 mph restricted moped in a 50 mph limit is no different from an 18 mph pedal cycle in a 30 mph limit.
Origamist
Legendary Member
You do seem to have an unhealthy obsession with this book and author, Jim. I'd recommend strategically placing some Reader's Digests and short stories by Somerset Maugham in every room of your house and then pick them up and read them at regular intervals throughout the day - it will take your mind off that crazeeeee guy Franklin and his absurd views on cycling.
Davidc
Guru
- Location
- Somerset UK
I do (return again for reference) and I did (learn plenty new from it) and I'm hardly a novice cyclist!
Useful book for any cyclist at any level. IMO.
summerdays
Cycling in the sun
- Location
- Bristol
I have returned to it on occasions and reread sections. When I was advised to get it (on the old C+ site), I didn't understand for example how to stop a car from overtaking me at a junction and was tending to cycle in / near the gutter.
I found it useful as an input. IMHO the problem is the people who treat it as gospel.
The authors main thrust is to get people out of the gutter. That's where he and everyone of my generation began riding. It was natural and on well maintained roads with less traffic and even less road engineered traffic management - it was not a real problem.
You just can't cycle safely that way these days. Hence the 'primary' position. While you can't understate the potential value of using primary - you can easily underestimate how counter intuitive it appears to the new or frightened cyclist. That's why I believe Franklin pushes it so hard. Like others I believe being justifiable able to take primary doesn't imply you should every time. It has to be a balance with other road users and tempered also with experience. But such nuances are difficult to convey in an instruction manual and Franklin presumably thinks, and I agree, it would obscure the main thrust.
I read it. I have learnt from it. I follow much of it. And when I don't - it helps me clarify my reasons for not doing so.
The authors main thrust is to get people out of the gutter. That's where he and everyone of my generation began riding. It was natural and on well maintained roads with less traffic and even less road engineered traffic management - it was not a real problem.
You just can't cycle safely that way these days. Hence the 'primary' position. While you can't understate the potential value of using primary - you can easily underestimate how counter intuitive it appears to the new or frightened cyclist. That's why I believe Franklin pushes it so hard. Like others I believe being justifiable able to take primary doesn't imply you should every time. It has to be a balance with other road users and tempered also with experience. But such nuances are difficult to convey in an instruction manual and Franklin presumably thinks, and I agree, it would obscure the main thrust.
I read it. I have learnt from it. I follow much of it. And when I don't - it helps me clarify my reasons for not doing so.
nasserblue
Active Member
- Location
- London
Excellent, sums up just how I feel too.
HJ
Cycling in Scotland
- Location
- Auld Reekie
I am neither a beginner nor returning to cycling, but I found it a very useful read before my instructors course, there is something in it for everyone...
D
Deleted member 1258
Guest
I read it in 2007 when laid up for three weeks following a crash. Most of it I knew, there were one or two things I didn't and a few things he was doing differently. I used it to ditch some bad habits and generally refine my technique a bit.
Chutzpah
Über Member
- Location
- Somerset, UK
I borrowed it from the library a couple of months ago - it taught me that it was my choice where I rode, and that secondary position was more to allow the flow of traffic than anything else, and that primary was an excellent way of controlling the traffic behind me from doing anything that endangered mine (and their!) safety. Was a great resource for a relative novice.
Happy that I borrowed it rather than bought it though.
Happy that I borrowed it rather than bought it though.