Does anyone else hate : The term "Push Bike"?

[Archie_tect]

Why don't pedalos all have gears?

 

[Bollo]

Push bike grates a tiny bit, but I'm not really that bothered.

I found one! I don't f**** believe it!

Behold! An actual pedal grater (about half way down the page)

 

[661-Pete]

"Push bike": whether I hate the words depends on whether I used them first, or whether someone else used them first. It also depends on what's said in context, e.g. "Those prats on push bikes, always jumping red lights and riding on the pavement"....

I believe the French slang word bécane can mean either a pedal cycle or a motorbike, but is most often used for small mopeds (the sort that, in France, don't need a licence). But the French have an excellent word, vélo, that's quick and easy to say and always means a bicycle, not a motorbike. I find it useful. Pity the English word bike is ambiguous...

 

[swee'pea99]

I really don't like that song by Mungo Jerry though.

It's a cracker! Even if it is inaccurate...

Ridin' along on a pushbike Honey
That's a bicycle built for two

Er, no, it isn't. A bicycle built for two is called a tandem.

 

[661-Pete]

Another term that's a total contradiction is "quad bike". "Bike" i.e. "bicycle" comes from two Greek words meaning "two wheels". To say "quad bike" is to say, in mixed Latin and Greek, "four two-wheels". Nonsensical.

 

[Norm]

Whilst you are linguistically accurate, quadricycle is, like Pamela Anderson, a bit of a mouthful.

I was surprised that the term quad bikes has been officially adopted but, well, see my sig.

 

[ianrauk]

Do I hate it? No... too insignificant in my life to worry or think about it.

 

[Arch]

But the French have an excellent word, vélo, that's quick and easy to say and always means a bicycle, not a motorbike. I find it useful.

We at Velo Vision tend to agree....

 

[vernon]

[cliche]At the end of the day[/cliche] does it matter?

 

[palinurus]

You can call my bike a push bike if you like. And I'll call your car a brum-brum.

 

[galaxy1]

What I don't like is when you say you are going out on your bike and people assume its a motorbike.

Renards already said it and he's absolutely right

 

[SavageHoutkop]

Yes!
You don't 'push' a bicycle so why call it a 'push' bike?
'Pedal cycle' is better... at least it's accurate.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Yes!
You don't 'push' a bicycle so why call it a 'push' bike?
'Pedal cycle' is better... at least it's accurate.

You push the pedals though. Anyone know the etymology?

I use the term 'Push-bike' regularly, don't see what's so wrong with it.

 

[dellzeqq]

I'm afraid I've never liked the term 'pushbike'. Sorry.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

Pushbike sounds old fashioned, brings visions of 3 speed sit up and begs with baskets on the front gliding majestically along.