Friday beers and cycling home . . . . .

[Glow worm]

Used to do it a lot when I lived over in the Midlands. I had some great colleagues who were always up for a jar or three after work in one of the canalside boozers in Brum (normally Tap and Spile). Only problem was, I lived 14 miles away from work (city centre) in north Worcestershire and the ride home, or perhaps wobble is a better description, was all along a canal towpath (Worcester Canal). How I never ended up in the canal I'll never know. Especially in winter in the dark. Sometimes I'd manage to balance a can of Stella on the handlebars too so I didn't get thirsty en-route. Still, whether refreshed or not- that was one superb commute.

 

[This Time Next Year]

I've done it in the past, one night however in the pissing rain on a sharp downhill a taxi was sharp through the lights and I was late, not a good mixture que written off taxi and broken front tooth, a small scar above my right eye and a night in hospital . On the whole I was very lucky though and decided to take it as a warning and not to do it again; although I have partaken in fewer drinks and cycled home since but only in the dry, not downhill and on a route without traffic lights and any more than three I walk the bike home.

You wrote off a taxi and only broke a tooth, and cut your head... what are you made of, Iron!?

 

[HLaB]

You wrote off a taxi and only broke a tooth, and cut your head... what are you made of, Iron!?

No but the bike was (Steel); in honesty though it was due to be scrapped I just speeded up the process.

 

[martint235]

I've done it before now but it's not something I'd recommend. Probably the worst condition I've been in was heading from the Madeira to Brighton station in March. I think everyone thought I was going to die.

The most I've had to drink was two bottles of wine at a bash at St Thomas' Hospital last year and then I cycled very, very carefully down the Old Kent Road and home.

I don't know why my condition was worse in the first instance than the second but it most definitely was. Could have been lack of sleep from the FNRttC. I'd never say it was a good idea though and in Dieppe in July I shall be tucking the bike up in the hotel before getting bladdered.

 

[Bromptonaut]

Trust Becs got home OK. If only the Hertford line was affected a train to nearest station on the Welwyn route then bike might have been another option?

I rode home from Temple to Golders Green about thirty yrs ago after 5pints+. The one memory is that a couldn't modulate the brakes correctly and very nearly came a cropper dropping down from Hampstead to Temple Fortune.

 

[Sittingduck]

Done it a few times, in various states, myself

For me the only really scary times are when you have to concentrate really hard to keep the front wheel in a straight line. These also usually co-incide with the many near clipless moments and track stand failures. When it's like this, I know I've had too much to be safe, really. Having said that I have never come off or had any incidents.

 

[Nebulous]

I did it a few times many years ago. I once fell off, leaving me with some serious road rash to my face. My pal who was with me, and was in just as bad a state took me to his flat to tidy me up, and then sent me on my way.

Unfortunately he didn't have any plasters or dressings, so he stuck big squares of brown paper to my face and fastened them on with sellotape. He didn't make any effort to clean it either, so I had to pick bits of gravel out and wash it with antiseptic the next day.

Nowadays I would be reluctant to take more than a couple of drinks if I'm riding the next day, nevermind immediately afterwards.

 

[Andrew_Culture]

Did it as a teen and lost half my face

 

[Becs]

Now I know there I are other offenders I don't feel so bad . . . and I think I remember Martin's drunken scramble to Brighton station! In fact it was probably the easiest ride home I've ever done . . . at least I think it was, although I did wake up at 3am panicking that I'd left my bike on the train . I reasoned if I could signal and stay straight I should go for it so I had a bit of a practice down a side street near finsbury park then pootled off up the bus lane - handily there was a strike on! Nice back wind to help me out too! Seeing as the drunkeness was induced in a pub in kings cross (we work round the corner) I hadn't ridden to the train but I had however told the guard how much wine I had imbibed, so I was still a little surprised at his response! Still, no harm done, but it's not something I care to repeat in a hurry. Hopefully next time a tree falls down it won't take them 7 hours + to move it, either that or I'll have to sleep in the bar at work!!

 

[junglegusset]

I have done this a lot in the past, although I am now careful to keep to a couple of pints and to keep off the roads as much as possible, which fortunately is quite easy where I live. As a youngster I got into some states but still managed to ride. Not proud of that by the way. One Time I had over done the Vodka and just couldn't ride, couldn't keep the bike straight, so I had to stagger, remember being surprised and somewhat disappointed. Now, a friendly word of warning, apart from risking harm to yourself, and to a lesser extent others, I believe you can be breathalysed on a bike. If you are found to be 'drunk in charge of a vehicle' then you could have your driving licence revoked, and some other bad things done to you. Just saying.

 

[Ozzrahog]

I have done this a lot in the past, although I am now careful to keep to a couple of pints and to keep off the roads as much as possible, which fortunately is quite easy where I live. As a youngster I got into some states but still managed to ride. Not proud of that by the way. One Time I had over done the Vodka and just couldn't ride, couldn't keep the bike straight, so I had to stagger, remember being surprised and somewhat disappointed. Now, a friendly word of warning, apart from risking harm to yourself, and to a lesser extent others, I believe you can be breathalysed on a bike. If you are found to be 'drunk in charge of a vehicle' then you could have your driving licence revoked, and some other bad things done to you. Just saying.

Many moons ago when I was a young PC, I did a bloke for drunk in charge of a bike. Then again he was that drunk every time he got on he turned the pedals once and fell over and could barely stand.

He got the chance to lock it up and walk home, but sure enough as soon as he thought I was gone, he unlocked it and tried again so in he came using a sec 25 power.

I could probably have done him for drunk and incapable, but it was a quiet Sunday afternoon and I wanted to make the custody sgt think

 

[Becs]

If you are found to be 'drunk in charge of a vehicle' then you could have your driving licence revoked, and some other bad things done to you. Just saying.

Can anyone confirm if this is true? I was under the impression that the driving license bit was an urban myth. The copper that pulled me over for cycling while squiffy in Cambridge during the student years just told me to get off and walk . . . . . . . . . . . .. but then it was my Dad!

I do find it interesting that anyone that posts about cycling with head phones gets lynched but a thread about cycling while sh*t-faced leads to a civilised balanced discussion!

 

[machew]

The Licensing Act 1872 makes it an offense to be drunk in charge of a bicycle (or any other vehicle or carriage, or cattle) on a highway or in a public place but this old law also forbids any public drunkenness - even in a pub - so is clearly never enforced.
n law a bicycle is defined as a carriage for use on the highway but cyclists are not in charge of 'mechanically propelled' vehicles so, in law, do not have to adhere to exactly the same rules as motorists, including 'drink drive' rules.
Section 30 Road Traffic Act 1988 says: "It is an offense for a person to ride a cycle on a road or other public place when unfit to ride through drink or drugs - that is to say - is under the influence of a drink or a drug to such an extent as to be incapable of having proper control of the cycle.
The UK Highway Code - a useful but not a definitive source for UK legislation on motoring and cycling offences - says the penalty point system is "intended to deter drivers from following unsafe driving practices...The accumulation of penalty points acts as a warning to drivers that they risk disqualification if further offences are committed."
Note the word 'drivers.'
In law, cyclists propel vehicles on the highway and so have to adhere to most of the same rules as motorists. However, the fines and penalties for offenses are different. Cyclists DO NOT qualify for three penalty points for failing to comply with a red light. Offending cyclists, when caught, are given a nonenforceable fixed penalty ticket for £30. There are no offenses that carry penalty points for cyclists.

 

[Ozzrahog]

Think your cut and paste means nonendorsable not non enforceable

 

[Becs]

The Licensing Act 1872 makes it an offense to be drunk in charge of a bicycle (or any other vehicle or carriage, or cattle) on a highway or in a public place but this old law also forbids any public drunkenness - even in a pub - so is clearly never enforced.
n law a bicycle is defined as a carriage for use on the highway but cyclists are not in charge of 'mechanically propelled' vehicles so, in law, do not have to adhere to exactly the same rules as motorists, including 'drink drive' rules.
Section 30 Road Traffic Act 1988 says: "It is an offense for a person to ride a cycle on a road or other public place when unfit to ride through drink or drugs - that is to say - is under the influence of a drink or a drug to such an extent as to be incapable of having proper control of the cycle.
The UK Highway Code - a useful but not a definitive source for UK legislation on motoring and cycling offences - says the penalty point system is "intended to deter drivers from following unsafe driving practices...The accumulation of penalty points acts as a warning to drivers that they risk disqualification if further offences are committed."
Note the word 'drivers.'
In law, cyclists propel vehicles on the highway and so have to adhere to most of the same rules as motorists. However, the fines and penalties for offenses are different. Cyclists DO NOT qualify for three penalty points for failing to comply with a red light. Offending cyclists, when caught, are given a nonenforceable fixed penalty ticket for £30. There are no offenses that carry penalty points for cyclists.

Thanks! Obviously I'm not saying it's a good thing to do but it's always nice to know the facts.