Worth a read
- Thread starter jimboalee
- Start date
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I've got a couple of books by Richard Ballentine.
I will have to go out tomorrow and find his "City Cycling" and give it a read.
Long ago, I was shown a copy of "Bicycles and Tricycles" first edition by Archibald Sharp. I was not allowed to touch it.
I wonder what the folks on here would make of that?
I will have to go out tomorrow and find his "City Cycling" and give it a read.
Long ago, I was shown a copy of "Bicycles and Tricycles" first edition by Archibald Sharp. I was not allowed to touch it.
I wonder what the folks on here would make of that?
Origamist
Legendary Member
jimboalee said:I've got a couple of books by Richard Ballentine.
I will have to go out tomorrow and find his "City Cycling" and give it a read.
Long ago, I was shown a copy of "Bicycles and Tricycles" first edition by Archibald Sharp. I was not allowed to touch it.
I wonder what the folks on here would make of that?
I have Ballantine's City Cycling (2007), Richard's New Bicycle Book (1987) and Richard's 21st Century Bicycle Book (2000). I should really get hold of a copy of Richard's Bicycle Book (1973) and then I can say I have the set.
I'd still recommend the Art of Urban Cycling by Hurst (a courier) - it's well written and full of good advice.
I have not read old Archie Sharp - do you have a copy?
Arch
Married to Night Train
- Location
- Salford, UK
Origamist said:
You need more than one edition, to get the one where he tells you how to kill a dog, and then the one where it's edited out.
I think there are a couple of versions edited down for kids, by Piccolo, too...
Origamist
Legendary Member
Arch said:
Arch, that's in the first edition (Richard's Bicycle Book - 1973). It was removed after complaints and is not inclded in the two later editions I have - Richard's New Bicycle Book (1987) and Richard's 21st Century Bicycle Book (2000).
To be honest, killing dogs is pretty low down on my list of cycling coping tactics.
biking_fox
Legendary Member
- Location
- Manchester
Wouldn't bother. I picked it up by chance a while back and was unimpressed, despite liking Richard's Bicycle books of which I've got at least two. It's Ok, good in some places, but has some significant errors.
For instance he advocates jumping red lights "without unduly annoying other road users" ?!
Some of the diagrams and positioning stuff is ok, and he does well in differentiating between various types of bikes and riders.
Another top tip for roadies.
Change down to the middle ( or small on a double ) ring when riding in town.
The middle ring is your 'onboard speed limiter'.
Motorists don't mind a cyclist whizzing along at 23 – 25 mph out on rural main roads, but in town, they get confused when they see a cyclist going faster than they expect.
Change down and give the motorist more time to see you, think and take the appropriate action.
15 – 18 mph in the town is about right. Sometimes, this will be a bit fast for the traffic, so slow down to the traffic's speed.
Don't hog 'primary' when the car in front speeds up. Go to 'secondary'.
Change down to the middle ( or small on a double ) ring when riding in town.
The middle ring is your 'onboard speed limiter'.
Motorists don't mind a cyclist whizzing along at 23 – 25 mph out on rural main roads, but in town, they get confused when they see a cyclist going faster than they expect.
Change down and give the motorist more time to see you, think and take the appropriate action.
15 – 18 mph in the town is about right. Sometimes, this will be a bit fast for the traffic, so slow down to the traffic's speed.
Don't hog 'primary' when the car in front speeds up. Go to 'secondary'.
semislickstick
Guru
- Location
- Cambridgeshire
Downward said:
I always thought that was a female....
Downward
Guru
- Location
- West Midlands
Arch said:
He must be in London then because there ain't many pedestrians around here stepping into roads.
There are walkers on canal paths buy I try to avoid places with pedestrians !
Arch
Married to Night Train
- Location
- Salford, UK
Downward said:
Blimey, where do you live? The Moon?
The picture is of someone in an urban setting. If you avoid such settings, then you really can't comment on the choice of equipment.
Downward
Guru
- Location
- West Midlands
Arch said:
Yep I can safely say that the people here are highly intelligent and use pedestrian lights to cross the road.
Arch
Married to Night Train
- Location
- Salford, UK
Downward said:
Well, that's amazing. Have they invented the mobile phone and ipod round your way yet?
If you seriously live somewhere where all pedestrians are such paragons, you might find we all want to move there...
Origamist said:
I feel betrayed. Richard and his Bicycle Book enthused me in the 70's, and and I've always been comforted by the knowledge that whatever my other shortcomings, at least I knew how to kill a dog from a bicycle. When dog owners laugh off their animal's inappropriate behaviour, I usually respond with a cheery - "That's OK - he's just being friendly - and anyway, I do know how to kill a dog if neccessary".
If Mr ballantine was cowed into removing this piece of valuable information in later editions, he's not the man of independent thought he purported to be in the first edition.
Anyone can make a mistake, of course. In my 1976 version of the book he declares tricyles with 'wheels around 20 in' to be 'quite stable as long as they are not driven briskly'.
HaHahaHaHaHaHaHaWaaaeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
