junglegusset
Veteran
- Location
- Wirral - The Insular Peninsula
Cool, fill yer boots then! 
Friday beers and cycling home . . . . .
- Thread starter Becs
- Start date
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Crankarm
Guru
- Location
- Nr Cambridge
Yes, it is claimed that a certain beer gives you wings ................
smutchin
Cat 6 Racer
- Location
- The Red Enclave
I generally try not to have more than a couple if I'm riding home afterwards but I have gone a bit further than that now and again...
Two notable occasions:
1. I'd ridden ten miles or so to a Camra meeting, wasn't planning to drink much, but it just happened to be the same night Arsenal were playing in the Champions League final and the match was on in the pub where we were having our meeting and I got a bit carried away. By chucking out time, it was absolutely bucketing down. I rode back along the busy A28 and still have absolutely no idea how I got home alive.
2. Office Christmas party. Free booze all night. I missed the last train home, but there was still a train that went as far as Gillingham. So I rode the last 30-odd miles home. Thought it better to stay off the main road (A2) so took the scenic route and got a bit lost on the way to add a few extra miles. Eventually made it home by about 5am, by which time I was almost sober again.
I don't condone or recommend it though. The only reason it's not as bad as driving drunk is that the only person you're likely to hurt is yourself. A former colleague was once riding home after a refreshing evening in the pub when a bollard swerved recklessly into his path. His injuries kept him in hospital for a week. I went to visit him and he wasn't a pretty sight.
d.
Two notable occasions:
1. I'd ridden ten miles or so to a Camra meeting, wasn't planning to drink much, but it just happened to be the same night Arsenal were playing in the Champions League final and the match was on in the pub where we were having our meeting and I got a bit carried away. By chucking out time, it was absolutely bucketing down. I rode back along the busy A28 and still have absolutely no idea how I got home alive.
2. Office Christmas party. Free booze all night. I missed the last train home, but there was still a train that went as far as Gillingham. So I rode the last 30-odd miles home. Thought it better to stay off the main road (A2) so took the scenic route and got a bit lost on the way to add a few extra miles. Eventually made it home by about 5am, by which time I was almost sober again.
I don't condone or recommend it though. The only reason it's not as bad as driving drunk is that the only person you're likely to hurt is yourself. A former colleague was once riding home after a refreshing evening in the pub when a bollard swerved recklessly into his path. His injuries kept him in hospital for a week. I went to visit him and he wasn't a pretty sight.
d.
slowmotion
Quite dreadful
- Location
- lost somewhere
If I was a US citizen I would be pleading the Fifth Amendment. Like martin235, I once had some , ahem, "trouble with my cleats" between The Madeira and Brighton station, right in front of two charming American tourists. They were convinced that it was somehow their fault, but I assured them that it most certainly was not. A dangerous lack of re-hydration possibly.
Jefferson Meriwether
Veteran
- Location
- Worthing
Last October I had a few too many at a co-workers birthday bash then decided I'd be alright to cycle home; I was far from a fit state to cycle 
During the 10 mile ride home I fell off my bike and broke my right collar bone (If it had happened at 11:30am instead of 11:30pm the outcome would have been a lot worse what with normal traffic levels.), accidentally walked about a mile and a half in the direction I'd just come from and was too drunk to realise plus I toppled into the hedgerow twice. It took me just over two hours to get home that night. It wasn't until the next morning when I was doing voluntry work at Bridport hospital that I realised my collar bone was broken.
Nowadays the most I have to drink before cycling is the occasional half pint of Guinness after my work shift. As much as I smile at the thought of last Octobers escapade I don't want to repeat it
During the 10 mile ride home I fell off my bike and broke my right collar bone (If it had happened at 11:30am instead of 11:30pm the outcome would have been a lot worse what with normal traffic levels.), accidentally walked about a mile and a half in the direction I'd just come from and was too drunk to realise plus I toppled into the hedgerow twice. It took me just over two hours to get home that night. It wasn't until the next morning when I was doing voluntry work at Bridport hospital that I realised my collar bone was broken.
Nowadays the most I have to drink before cycling is the occasional half pint of Guinness after my work shift. As much as I smile at the thought of last Octobers escapade I don't want to repeat it
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
I've only done it a couple of times. Usually less than a mile home though. Never after lots of beer though - the bike stays locked away. Went to the School BBQ a couple of weeks ago with the kids. Rode home with them at 10pm (about a mile). I'd had a few beers and was fine(ish), until I got onto our road. Looked over to see where my daughter was on the hill to our house, over balanced and fell straight on my ass. Still hurts now to sit on. 
ColinJ
Puzzle game procrastinator!
- Location
- Todmorden - Yorks/Lancs border
I like beer and I like bikes but I do not like them both at the same time!
I had a single pint on one summer evening ride and I almost crashed on a 25% descent coming home. That was on a road that I know very well - it was purely down to impaired coordination and judgement.
The argument that it is only the drunken cyclist that gets hurt if (s)he falls off doesn't convince me. What about the grannies mown down at a bus stop by the driver who swerves to avoid the body and bike in the road?
I had a single pint on one summer evening ride and I almost crashed on a 25% descent coming home. That was on a road that I know very well - it was purely down to impaired coordination and judgement.
The argument that it is only the drunken cyclist that gets hurt if (s)he falls off doesn't convince me. What about the grannies mown down at a bus stop by the driver who swerves to avoid the body and bike in the road?
martint235
Dog on a bike
- Location
- Welling
Despite the fact that I have admitted to this, I do think there are no real excuses for it. It's an area of law that should be tightened up. As ColinJ says the idea the only endangered party is the cyclist is rubbish. You can forget about innocent 3rd parties like granny at the bus stop, what about the trauma to the driver whose car you hit?
smutchin
Cat 6 Racer
- Location
- The Red Enclave
The biggest danger when cycling while drunk is an accident that doesn't involve anyone else, ie just falling off. If anyone knows of a case where a drunk cyclist has killed or injured another road user, please cite sources. A quick google for "drunk cyclist" has only turned up cases where drunks have killed cyclists. I'm not saying it doesn't happen, just that it may not be as common as the righteous indignation here might suggest.
As for causing a driver trauma, you could fall in front of a car while walking home from the pub after one too many. Should that be banned too?
There is a huge difference between drunk cycling and drunk driving - morally, legally and practically.
d.
As for causing a driver trauma, you could fall in front of a car while walking home from the pub after one too many. Should that be banned too?
There is a huge difference between drunk cycling and drunk driving - morally, legally and practically.
d.
martint235
Dog on a bike
- Location
- Welling
Being drunk is already illegal under the Licensing Act, subject to a fixed £80 penalty notice. However, as with many laws, it's rarely enforced.
smutchin
Cat 6 Racer
- Location
- The Red Enclave
AIUI it's only enforced if the drunk person is making a nuisance of themselves, which seems quite reasonable.
Cycling while drunk is specifically covered by the Road Traffic Act 1988:
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/52/section/30
I presume the police would only stop you if you were cycling in a way that made it obvious you were drunk. So if you're still in control of your bike, you're obviously not "drunk". QED.
But to reiterate: I still don't think cycling while drunk is either big or clever.
d.
Davidc
Guru
- Location
- Somerset UK
Nearly 40 years ago I used to occasionally ride from near Oxford Circus to Carshalton after a few bevvies with collegues. After a couple of close calls I kept it down to 2 pints or less, or went home by tube and train. This was of course before the RTA 1988!
These days my cycling after drinking is mostly confined to the canal towpath, and as I don't fancy falling into Bridgwater's future drinking water I keep it down to 2 pints at most. If I'm using a Boris Bike in London I don't have any!
These days my cycling after drinking is mostly confined to the canal towpath, and as I don't fancy falling into Bridgwater's future drinking water I keep it down to 2 pints at most. If I'm using a Boris Bike in London I don't have any!
PoliceMadAd
Active Member
I've cycled home drunk once, did a right shoulder check and smashed straight into a wall i was cycling alongside. Ended up messing my knuckles up so had my left hand bandaged for a couple of weeks. Everyone thought i'd be scrapping lol. Anyway this was probably a year ago, and still got the scars. I rode home the other night, more sober than drunk so i made it in one piece. Heck, i even crashed into the back of a car sober when i wasn't paying attention.
