Using a mobile phone whilst cycling (Photo from Cycling Active magazine)

[oliglynn]

I can't actually see a phone - perhaps he is actually just de-lousing his facial hair or picking wax out of his ears?

 

[summerdays]

At least he is aware of what is going on around him ... I was following this person down the Gloucester Road this morning... ear phones in ... and shortly after I took the photo as I passed him (very easily since he was in the gutter), he had his iPod out and was obviously scrolling down the list choosing tunes whilst not looking ahead... I didn't hear any crashes so assume he lived. (I on the other hand came close to being left hooked at the next junction when a car tried to turn left from the straight on lane... )

 

[Angelfishsolo]

At least he is aware of what is going on around him ... I was following this person down the Gloucester Road this morning... ear phones in ... and shortly after I took the photo as I passed him (very easily since he was in the gutter), he had his iPod out and was obviously scrolling down the list choosing tunes whilst not looking ahead... I didn't hear any crashes so assume he lived. (I on the other hand came close to being left hooked at the next junction when a car tried to turn left from the straight on lane... )

Should we infer from that it is safer to ride with and ipod playing than to be paying attention

 

[summerdays]

Should we infer from that it is safer to ride with and ipod playing than to be paying attention

Well could be that if you are so obviously not paying attention to the road that they give you more road space. I had actually already passed him once but he went through the red light to get ahead.

 

[Rhythm Thief]

How does listening to an ipod compare with taking a photo?

 

[Angelfishsolo]

but he went through the red light to get ahead.

Many people do lots of things to get head oh sorry you said ahead

 

[Angelfishsolo]

How does listening to an ipod compare with taking a photo?

Ouch. Hand bags at 20 paces

 

[Bicycle]

I think we all have our own lines that we are unwilling to cross in terms of what is safe.

I'll take a mobile call while riding, but not in a built-up area.

I rarely make calls while riding and will not type, send or receive SMS.

I've recently started using an MP3 on longer rural rides and find it very pleasant, but wouldn't do so in town.

I wouldn't scroll around looking for the right track on an MP3 while on the move.

Similarly, I'll reach to my back pocket, get a banana and peel it for consumption while riding, which seems to have a bigger impact on my ability to remain alive than any of the above that I do.

Mars Bars are even worse, when it's cold and you have to bite the wrapper to get in....

But for a nicely lit shoot for a well known magazine, I'd do all of the above at once....

However, our chappie in the picture is in truth part of a PSD for a VIP in an out-of-shot limousine. He's clicking on his mic/earpiece attachment to report a suspicious-looking photographer.

 

[Fnaar]

He's stationary!

It's a posed publicity shot because there is one light source low to his right (the handlebar shadow on his knee is above it) and there's a low flll in flash to his left and low as the seatstay and fork shadows are to the right.

Now whether it's a good image to use in publicity is another matter!

Well spotted that man!

Actually, i think he's running away from zombies, who have taken over the nation, but only ride BSOs, and therefore are slower, having stopped to adjust the cheese components.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Well spotted that man!

Actually, i think he's running away from zombies, who have taken over the nation, but only ride BSOs, and therefore are slower, having stopped to adjust the cheese components.

LMFAO

 

[summerdays]

How does listening to an ipod compare with taking a photo?

I did realise I was leaving myself open to that but I didn't look at the camera or put it to my eye ... it was hanging around my neck because the Tesco store is just beyond that photo and I would have taken a photo if a lorry had been unloading as it would have been to early (and causes a backlog up the road). So I never took my eyes off the road - and just cropped the photo afterwards to the relevant bit. Sometimes you just get a blurred bit of tarmac!!

 

[gregsid]

Actually, i think he's running away from zombies, who have taken over the nation, but only ride BSOs, and therefore are slower, having stopped to adjust the cheese components.

That's blummin' clever! Of course, you had to have read the BSO thread(s) to get it!

 

[gavroche]

Err. Say again?

correction: "the guy lived that long without it."