Dogs & Cycle paths arrgggghhh

[Origamist]

So if lycra is so good why don't all the millions of European cyclists wear it? I tend to wear what ever clothes I happen to be wearing, always a kangol504, sometimes with a suit, sometimes tweed (which is arguably the best material for cycling), but mostly in jeans and jumpers . I am showing those non cyclists that it is not a weird subculture but normal to ride a bicycle.

In the UK, one of the cornerstones of early to mid 20th century transport was the utility cyclist. Now, the notion of cycling a few miles to the shops is alien to most people. The disappearance of the utililty cyclist heralded the end of cycling in everyday apparel for many people.

We could go down the sub-culture, out-group, signifier/signified route with regard to clothing - but that's a diversion - it's fundamentally about the act of cycling, garb is a side-show; albeit often a garish one.

Initially I read a few threads here and thought this seems like an interesting forum. Further reading in the last few days has lead me to think that an awful lot of people here are lycra clad road warriors (or even worse weekend racers). Are there any posters here who are normal cyclists on upright bikes wearing normal clothes? Are there any people living car free?

Don't give up just yet. Commuting is one of the more rough-and-tumble parts of the forum and the dialogue can get strained and adversarial from time to time.

FYI, I sometimes wear normal clothes, sometimes lycra and I live car free.

 

[John the Monkey]

In the UK, one of the cornerstones of early to mid 20th century transport was the utility cyclist. Now, the notion of cycling a few miles to the shops is alien to most people. The disappearance of the utililty cyclist heralded the end of cycling in everyday apparel for many people.

We could go down the sub-culture, out-group, signifier/signified route with regard to clothing - but that's a diversion - it's fundamentally about the act of cycling, garb is a side-show; albeit often a garish one.

Back then "racing" gear was expensive and difficult to care for, also rather uncomfortable. People wore it to race, but even the pros of the day didn't wear it for training, (there are, as I recall, pictures of Fausto Coppi training in "regular clothes" (albeit in knee length breeches rather than trousers, even then a degree of bike specificity was considered necessary)).

Today's technical fabrics are cheap, easy to wash, and fundamentally VERY good at keeping you comfy on the bike. Is it worth throwing them on to nip to the shops? 'Course not. Is it worth it over ten or more miles? I'd say so, although I wouldn't have a problem with those disagreeing, so long as they didn't paint themselves as the pinnacle of bike advocacy because of a sartorial choice. (FFS).

 

[Origamist]

Great grandpa Origamist cycled everywhere in his farming gear and often carried a lamb with him!

 

[hackbike 666]

Are there any people living car free?

Here also I don't wear lycra but I think it's comfortable and can look sexy on the right person.

 

[Rhythm Thief]

Not sure how you get there from my post FYI I don't own a car never have, I don't know how they work.

So if lycra is so good why don't all the millions of European cyclists wear it? I tend to wear what ever clothes I happen to be wearing, always a kangol504, sometimes with a suit, sometimes tweed (which is arguably the best material for cycling), but mostly in jeans and jumpers . I am showing those non cyclists that it is not a weird subculture but normal to ride a bicycle.

Initially I read a few threads here and thought this seems like an interesting forum. Further reading in the last few days has lead me to think that an awful lot of people here are lycra clad road warriors (or even worse weekend racers). Are there any posters here who are normal cyclists on upright bikes wearing normal clothes? Are there any people living car free?

Well, I'm genuinely pleased for you. You need to get over the idea that what works for you isn't necessarily right for everyone else though; personally, I'd find commuting 12 miles each way in my work geara pain, and I find it a lot easier in lycra and SPD shoes. I'm sorry if that doesn't fit with your idea of what a cyclist should be, but there we are.
I was car free for a year or so, but a) I play in a band most weekends and found it difficult to transport guitars and amplifiers around without a car, and I love cars and driving.

 

[dondare]

I sometimes use a cycle-path, and this path actually has a footpath running parallel to it just a few yards away. The footpath has several doggy-poo bins along it's length.

So guess which of these two paths the doggers, joggers, and baby-buggyers all use.

There's one guy sits on a bench and lets his big, boundy dog run all over the place. It chases me every time, sometimes with a stick in it's mouth.

That's what it's like, and the fact is that if I don't like it then I can always use the road instead. Dogs and their owners and their 50 yards of invisible extending lead are cycle-path hazards; probably not even the worst ones.

 

[Cubist]

Not sure how you get there from my post FYI I don't own a car never have, I don't know how they work.

So if lycra is so good why don't all the millions of European cyclists wear it? I tend to wear what ever clothes I happen to be wearing, always a kangol504, sometimes with a suit, sometimes tweed (which is arguably the best material for cycling), but mostly in jeans and jumpers . I am showing those non cyclists that it is not a weird subculture but normal to ride a bicycle.

Initially I read a few threads here and thought this seems like an interesting forum. Further reading in the last few days has lead me to think that an awful lot of people here are lycra clad road warriors (or even worse weekend racers). Are there any posters here who are normal cyclists on upright bikes wearing normal clothes? Are there any people living car free?

I'm sorry Nipper, but you have shown yourself to be completely single-issued and exclusionary. You assume many things and then appeal to all of to consider your, and only your standpoint as "normal".

To answer some of your questions; I cycle for many reasons. I also drive a car, so no, I am not part of some mass movement to rid the world of cars.
I ride several bikes for fun, relaxation, leisure and fitness. I use my commute as a workout at the beginning and end of each day. I wear lycra cos it's practical . I own lots of tweed, but wouldn't consider cycling in it.

If you vision of Utopia is a country where we all cycle on sit up and begs, wearing suits and trouser clips, pedalling genteely along a nationwide infrastructure of cycle superhighways, then I suggest you will be frustrated in your cause.

Oh and by the way, I use a retractable dog lead as well.

 

[dondare]

Ah, the lycra debate. It'll be helmets next....

"Distrust any enterprise that requires new clothes" as Henry David Thoreau famously said. And of course, people do.
I wear my ordinary clothes for the ride home simply because I got fed up with changing at the end of the day. But I also don't want to look like I'm performing some untrustworthy activity when I riding, so I usually don't bother with the helmet either.

When it rains, though, I put on a Hi-viz Gore-tex jacket that screams out "CYCLIST!!"
It's only sensible...

 

[Crankarm]

Not sure how you get there from my post FYI I don't own a car never have, I don't know how they work.

So if lycra is so good why don't all the millions of European cyclists wear it? I tend to wear what ever clothes I happen to be wearing, always a kangol504, sometimes with a suit, sometimes tweed (which is arguably the best material for cycling), but mostly in jeans and jumpers . I am showing those non cyclists that it is not a weird subculture but normal to ride a bicycle.

Initially I read a few threads here and thought this seems like an interesting forum. Further reading in the last few days has lead me to think that an awful lot of people here are lycra clad road warriors (or even worse weekend racers). Are there any posters here who are normal cyclists on upright bikes wearing normal clothes? Are there any people living car free?

You do what's right for you Nipper. If you are comfortable cycling in plus fours tweed jacket and deer stalking hat you wear them. Don't mind what others say. Each to their own and all that.

Btw who are the millions of Europeans who cycle in 'normal' clothes? Are they in the UK as we are all European now? You seem to have very definite opinions as to peoples' behaviour. A few sweeping generalisations perhaps? They can creep in any where at any time.

Don't take this the wrong way but you're not winding everyone up are you?

Safe cycling.

 

[dondare]

You do what's right for you Nipper. If you are comfortable in plus fours tweed jacket and deer stalking hat you wear them. Don't mind what others say. Each to their own and all that.

Btw who are the millions of Europeans who cycle in 'normal' clothes? Are they in the UK as we are all European now?

Don't take this the wrong way but you're not a winding us up are you?

Safe cycling.

I'm wondering if some of you aren't winding Nipper up.

 

[Crankarm]

I'm wondering if some of you aren't winding Nipper up.

Too much wondering means you have too much spare time .

 

[Bay Runner]

I sometimes use a cycle-path, and this path actually has a footpath running parallel to it just a few yards away. The footpath has several doggy-poo bins along it's length.

So guess which of these two paths the doggers, joggers, and baby-buggyers all use.

.

Now that's another issue entirely

 

[Arch]

Are there any posters here who are normal cyclists on upright bikes wearing normal clothes? Are there any people living car free?

Yes. 4 days a week I commute on a hack made up of an MTB frame and hub brakes/gears, in quick drying walking trousers, tee-shirt, sweatshirt and steel toecap shoes. The other, on the same bike, I wear jeans, tee-shirt and sweatshirt and trainers. Riding about town, visiting friends etc, I'll be in jeans.

Weekend day rides or touring on my Galaxy or Giant FCR, I wear lycra. I do have a yellow jacket.

And I haven't had a car for... 12 years. Have only ever had one car and I didn't really need that, I just wanted one - and that was before I got into cycling anyway.

I do have a recumbent, so I also have a non-upright bike, does that matter?

 

[rondo]

Dogs & Cycle paths arrgggghhh

On my commute in tonight I had a set to with a female dog walker.

It was dark, on a cycle path which is clearly marked for bikes and peds. I am well lit, Cateye EL530 plus a flashing front LED and wearing a yellow Altura Night Vision Waterproof Jacket.


I was on the left hand side of the cycle path with the ped path to my left. I spot two peds on the right hand side of the cycle path with 2 dogs; I ring my bell one ped stays were he is on the right hand side of the cycle path with the two dogs and the other walks across the cycle path to the ped path.

It wasn’t till I got closer that I realised that she was holding the lead (thin black thing) for one of the dogs , I put the brakes on, the lead got caught around the bike and dragged the whimpering dog up the left hand side of my bike.

I told her this is a cycle path not a bl**dy dog path cant you see the bl**dy bike signs on the path!
She replied shut the f***k up where is you f**king common decency!

With that, I untangled the lead and told her that thought her language very rich for a lady, to which she replied f**k off.

This part of the cycle path benefits of the adjacent street lighting and I managed to stay on the bike on this occasion.

In thirteen years cycling this route I have only come off the bike four times, once on ice, the other occasions were dog related. Black dogs off leads running in front of me because the owner has called them after sighting me approaching in the dark!!!

They are not all bad, some dog owners fit their dogs with flashing LED collars and others who take charge of their pets when they see a cyclist approaching.

But I could not believe this woman tonight!!!!

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

You've resurrected a 3 year old thread and haven't left any message. Having difficulty with your first post?