Comments for Bike Stories http://cyclingcultures.org.uk/bikestories Wed, 21 Sep 2011 18:57:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 Comment on Tell a bike story by Christina Biggs http://cyclingcultures.org.uk/bikestories/?p=10&cpage=1#comment-19 Christina Biggs Wed, 21 Sep 2011 18:57:12 +0000 http://cyclingcultures.org.uk/bikestories/?p=10#comment-19 I'm a private tutor in Bristol - going to pupils' homes to help with school work and revision for GCSE and A-level science and maths, and until last January I usually took the car as tutorials were between 4 and 8 miles away and all across the city. I got really fed up with the traffic and stress of never knowing when I'd arrive, and set myself the challenge of biking instead. Now I bike to 8 different locations across Bristol - between 20 and 45 minutes bike ride - living in Clifton and biking to Portbury, Warmley (along the cycle path), Shirehampton, Horfield, Bedminster, Kingswood, Fishponds and of course Stoke Bishop and Westbury on Trym. I totally love it - save money, get in shape and arrive smiling and bang on time! On a busy day it'll be 25 miles total. My favourite commute is from Clifton to Kingswood going via Temple Meads and along the Avon up as far as Conham and then up to Hanham and north - takes about the same time as a commute via Lawrence Hill. At one point too I set myself the challenge of climbing all the steep hills in Bristol - Ninetree Hill, Constitution Hill, Clifton Vale, and the monster, Marlborough Hill behind the BRI - all around 1 in 6 and the last one is 250m straight up! What a feeling when you get to the top! I’m a private tutor in Bristol – going to pupils’ homes to help with school work and revision for GCSE and A-level science and maths, and until last January I usually took the car as tutorials were between 4 and 8 miles away and all across the city. I got really fed up with the traffic and stress of never knowing when I’d arrive, and set myself the challenge of biking instead. Now I bike to 8 different locations across Bristol – between 20 and 45 minutes bike ride – living in Clifton and biking to Portbury, Warmley (along the cycle path), Shirehampton, Horfield, Bedminster, Kingswood, Fishponds and of course Stoke Bishop and Westbury on Trym. I totally love it – save money, get in shape and arrive smiling and bang on time! On a busy day it’ll be 25 miles total. My favourite commute is from Clifton to Kingswood going via Temple Meads and along the Avon up as far as Conham and then up to Hanham and north – takes about the same time as a commute via Lawrence Hill. At one point too I set myself the challenge of climbing all the steep hills in Bristol – Ninetree Hill, Constitution Hill, Clifton Vale, and the monster, Marlborough Hill behind the BRI – all around 1 in 6 and the last one is 250m straight up! What a feeling when you get to the top!

]]> Comment on Tell a bike story by Edwin Knight http://cyclingcultures.org.uk/bikestories/?p=10&cpage=1#comment-18 Edwin Knight Fri, 05 Aug 2011 21:23:30 +0000 http://cyclingcultures.org.uk/bikestories/?p=10#comment-18 For my Millennium event I built a recumbent trike and rode it from Lands End to John O’Groats. Most of this adventure was buoyed along with the encouragement from my companions. The Superb places visited along the way and the many interesting folk we met. I would endeavour to add to the day by indulging in silly antics. This usually took the form of hair raising descents and lunatic two wheeled cornering, often leaving the normal cyclists behind. One particular day in Cumbria we were required to drop down off the fells. I happened to be near the back of the group and as I cycled over a ridge past one of our guys; he said “Give it what for there’s a great bump to enjoy”. What a thing to say… Off I went hell for leather down the hill and taking the bump at great speed I took off. All three wheels – But I needed to steer to avoid the treacherous fall to the left of the road. Utter panic ensued and I attempted to unclip my feet from the pedals. On doing this my weight shifted and one steering wheel, touch the road and just saved my bacon. The machine slewed about and I came to a controlled stop. All this was much to the delight of my companions who were under the mistaken idea that I had been in control. I continued on in a sober fashion as we proceeded into Scotland. Somewhere over looking the Murray Firth, later that day, on a very bleak, quiet Scottish Sunday. The steering went all funny and I came to a stop. Deepest murd; the steering had snapped…. I can’t think why! Well that’s the end of my adventure. Not a sole about apart from us few cyclists. I poked a stick into the tube and attempted to continue. Although not very safe I did make progress passing into a small wood. A companion further along the road called back the hopeful news a barn was in the trees. As we proceeded it became obvious it was a tractor engineering shop…. But being Sunday in Scotland surely no one would be at work! There was a land rover in the yard and a light on. I took the opportunity to go through the unlocked gate and into the building. Someone was on the phone. I found the person who was shocked to see me. I told him my plight and assistance was offered. “Just take it to bits and I’ll weld it”. This I did and in no time at all the vice held one part whilst I put a finger on the top of the other bit holding it in roughly the right attitude. A quick buzz all done then rebuild and try it out. Spot on. “What will you take for that Mr”; all he wanted was a go on the trike. There is no accounting for fine folk. I stand today amazed that the only building for miles was an engineering shop and the engineer, being in residence was prepared to help. For my Millennium event I built a recumbent trike and rode it from Lands End to John O’Groats. Most of this adventure was buoyed along with the encouragement from my companions. The Superb places visited along the way and the many interesting folk we met. I would endeavour to add to the day by indulging in silly antics. This usually took the form of hair raising descents and lunatic two wheeled cornering, often leaving the normal cyclists behind.
One particular day in Cumbria we were required to drop down off the fells. I happened to be near the back of the group and as I cycled over a ridge past one of our guys; he said
“Give it what for there’s a great bump to enjoy”. What a thing to say… Off I went hell for leather down the hill and taking the bump at great speed I took off. All three wheels – But I needed to steer to avoid the treacherous fall to the left of the road. Utter panic ensued and I attempted to unclip my feet from the pedals. On doing this my weight shifted and one steering wheel, touch the road and just saved my bacon. The machine slewed about and I came to a controlled stop. All this was much to the delight of my companions who were under the mistaken idea that I had been in control. I continued on in a sober fashion as we proceeded into Scotland. Somewhere over looking the Murray Firth, later that day, on a very bleak, quiet Scottish Sunday. The steering went all funny and I came to a stop. Deepest murd; the steering had snapped…. I can’t think why! Well that’s the end of my adventure. Not a sole about apart from us few cyclists. I poked a stick into the tube and attempted to continue. Although not very safe I did make progress passing into a small wood. A companion further along the road called back the hopeful news a barn was in the trees. As we proceeded it became obvious it was a tractor engineering shop…. But being Sunday in Scotland surely no one would be at work! There was a land rover in the yard and a light on. I took the opportunity to go through the unlocked gate and into the building. Someone was on the phone. I found the person who was shocked to see me.
I told him my plight and assistance was offered. “Just take it to bits and I’ll weld it”. This I did and in no time at all the vice held one part whilst I put a finger on the top of the other bit holding it in roughly the right attitude. A quick buzz all done then rebuild and try it out. Spot on. “What will you take for that Mr”; all he wanted was a go on the trike. There is no accounting for fine folk. I stand today amazed that the only building for miles was an engineering shop and the engineer, being in residence was prepared to help.

]]> Comment on Tell a bike story by Marie-Louise http://cyclingcultures.org.uk/bikestories/?p=10&cpage=1#comment-17 Marie-Louise Fri, 27 May 2011 22:07:28 +0000 http://cyclingcultures.org.uk/bikestories/?p=10#comment-17 I've always wanted to travel by bike, especially around Europe. So, last year, on a family visit, I managed to fit in a short two day 'test' ride on a rented bike from Geneva to Nyon, across the lake by ferry and back to Geneva on the French side. On day two, a thunderstorm developed in the middle of the day. Now, I've never had to ride in one before, and there wasn't much cover so I alternated between stopping under trees and then thinking, this isn't a good idea, so continuing along, hoping to find a restaurant or cafe. Arriving in a small village I spotted the only restaurant in town, and eagerly parked my bike outside under the canopy and went inside. The restaurant was very busy- it seemed that everyone in town had decided to have lunch at the same time, or perhaps they always did that. There was one larger circular table left, and as I waited patiently by the door, dripping, the server came over to tell me, sorry we don't have any space. I pointed at the circular table, to which she replied- no we have to keep that for a larger group. Everyone was looking at me at this point, so, somewhat self-consciously I pointed outside at the rain and lightning and said, please? She shook her head, and everyone looked back down at their food. I was both astonished and suddenly very angry with all of them, so I said loudly (to my surprise) and in french, Well, you aren't very kind. I stormed out, jumped on my bike and rode off in the rain, absolutely incredulous-but pleased with my outburst. A bit further down the road, I came upon a family-owned restaurant where they invited me in, offered me a towel to dry off and I ate a delicious meal while admiring their beautiful Bernese mountain dog. I’ve always wanted to travel by bike, especially around Europe. So, last year, on a family visit, I managed to fit in a short two day ‘test’ ride on a rented bike from Geneva to Nyon, across the lake by ferry and back to Geneva on the French side.

On day two, a thunderstorm developed in the middle of the day. Now, I’ve never had to ride in one before, and there wasn’t much cover so I alternated between stopping under trees and then thinking, this isn’t a good idea, so continuing along, hoping to find a restaurant or cafe. Arriving in a small village I spotted the only restaurant in town, and eagerly parked my bike outside under the canopy and went inside.

The restaurant was very busy- it seemed that everyone in town had decided to have lunch at the same time, or perhaps they always did that. There was one larger circular table left, and as I waited patiently by the door, dripping, the server came over to tell me, sorry we don’t have any space. I pointed at the circular table, to which she replied- no we have to keep that for a larger group. Everyone was looking at me at this point, so, somewhat self-consciously I pointed outside at the rain and lightning and said, please? She shook her head, and everyone looked back down at their food. I was both astonished and suddenly very angry with all of them, so I said loudly (to my surprise) and in french, Well, you aren’t very kind. I stormed out, jumped on my bike and rode off in the rain, absolutely incredulous-but pleased with my outburst.

A bit further down the road, I came upon a family-owned restaurant where they invited me in, offered me a towel to dry off and I ate a delicious meal while admiring their beautiful Bernese mountain dog.

]]> Comment on Tell a bike story by Robin Bevis http://cyclingcultures.org.uk/bikestories/?p=10&cpage=1#comment-16 Robin Bevis Mon, 28 Feb 2011 12:03:30 +0000 http://cyclingcultures.org.uk/bikestories/?p=10#comment-16 I was cycling up another steep Devon hill the other day when an old fellow, dressed in what might best be described as 1950's old man attire, stopped me with a smile to pass the time of day. From under his cloth cap I could see him gently scrutinising my bike. He then recounted how he used to cycle that way every day for years. He continued by adding, " 'course in those days we had single speed bicycles but then I had a sturmey archer, that was progress". He described how he saw another cycle user up here a few days ago "his pedals spinning round though he was hardly moving".... he thought that amusing and regretted immensely how his inherited heart condition prevented him cycling still.......and so we went on. What's particularly great about cycling is that aside from the obvious material and physical benefits we would miss all those brief encounters and those views over the hills of life when we travel cocooned in a car or wrapped up in ear phones. I was cycling up another steep Devon hill the other day when an old fellow, dressed in what might best be described as 1950’s old man attire, stopped me with a smile to pass the time of day. From under his cloth cap I could see him gently scrutinising my bike. He then recounted how he used to cycle that way every day for years. He continued by adding, ” ‘course in those days we had single speed bicycles but then I had a sturmey archer, that was progress”.
He described how he saw another cycle user up here a few days ago “his pedals spinning round though he was hardly moving”…. he thought that amusing and regretted immensely how his inherited heart condition prevented him cycling still…….and so we went on.
What’s particularly great about cycling is that aside from the obvious material and physical benefits we would miss all those brief encounters and those views over the hills of life when we travel cocooned in a car or wrapped up in ear phones.

]]> Comment on Tell a bike story by Nela Milic http://cyclingcultures.org.uk/bikestories/?p=10&cpage=1#comment-15 Nela Milic Mon, 04 Oct 2010 13:50:24 +0000 http://cyclingcultures.org.uk/bikestories/?p=10#comment-15 I don’t love you, I just have a thing going on... I don’t care about you I keep your messages on the phone because I do not want it to be empty. I stopped emailing you, I call because it is better to talk then have cold communication. I pass by your house because I work near by. Not that there is no other ways to get to the office - that is where the bike path is, so it is the safest route to ride. I bump into you because you are out all the time, not like I am too, but I don’t like being indoors and this is England, so whenever is not raining, I use the opportunity to go out. I do keep in touch because you are on my mailing list, so I tell you what I’m doing and where can you see me if you want to buy a ticket and bring your friends too. I have your picture on my computer and when I come across it I remember when it is taken and it makes me smile. Sometimes I open it up before I go to bed and I think of you then, I dream of you after and I wake up missing you so much like you just happened. And I get up and go to work riding along the bike route, because it is safer. I don’t love you, I just have a thing going on…

I don’t care about you I keep your messages on the phone because I do not want it to be empty.

I stopped emailing you, I call because it is better to talk then have cold communication.

I pass by your house because I work near by. Not that there is no other ways to get to the office – that is where the bike path is, so it is the safest route to ride.

I bump into you because you are out all the time, not like I am too, but I don’t like being indoors and this is England, so whenever is not raining, I use the opportunity to go out.

I do keep in touch because you are on my mailing list, so I tell you what I’m doing and where can you see me if you want to buy a ticket and bring your friends too.

I have your picture on my computer and when I come across it I remember when it is taken and it makes me smile.

Sometimes I open it up before I go to bed and I think of you then, I dream of you after and I wake up missing you so much like you just happened. And I get up and go to work riding along the bike route, because it is safer.

]]> Comment on Tell a bike story by Kat http://cyclingcultures.org.uk/bikestories/?p=10&cpage=1#comment-14 Kat Mon, 04 Oct 2010 12:53:15 +0000 http://cyclingcultures.org.uk/bikestories/?p=10#comment-14 I was cycling from Herne Hill to central London when I got chatting with a man on an impressive cargo bike. I admit I am easily impressed by cargo bikes but this was of a scale and elegance not normally sighted in the city. Frequent red lights provided excuses to talk and he told me of it’s structure, steering and load capacity – it was usually used to transport 50kg but was capable of 100kg! These companionable bursts of conversation continued from South London to Covent Garden. Stuck once more in a snarl of traffic, he asked if I wanted to try it. I said yes. We swapped bikes and I set off to cycle a very busy street while he held my road bike on the footpath. I was nervous. Not only that this was a very expensive machine, but I was in road cleats on flat pedals and the street was filled with tourists, cabs doing 360s and many many cyclists, including pedicabs. At first it wobbled a lot. It was disconcerting not to see the front wheel and have the steering column turn even though the big cargo box in front remained straight ahead. And the seat was too high. I returned and he adjusted the seat. I tried again, this time down hill and something clicked. I cycled on, turned around and came back. It felt incredibly smooth and responsive. And the potential of it was exciting. We chatted again, introduced ourselves, swapped bikes and cycled away. This spontaneous encounter with a cycling stranger made London feel like a very friendly place. It engendered an extraordinary level of trust in a city where cyclists we are constantly reminded about theft and security, of accidents and safety, of cycling defensively and being aware of traffic. Yet, here we simply connected over a lovely bike. Our shared interest in cycling made talk easy and it made my day. I was cycling from Herne Hill to central London when I got chatting with a man on an impressive cargo bike. I admit I am easily impressed by cargo bikes but this was of a scale and elegance not normally sighted in the city. Frequent red lights provided excuses to talk and he told me of it’s structure, steering and load capacity – it was usually used to transport 50kg but was capable of 100kg! These companionable bursts of conversation continued from South London to Covent Garden. Stuck once more in a snarl of traffic, he asked if I wanted to try it. I said yes. We swapped bikes and I set off to cycle a very busy street while he held my road bike on the footpath. I was nervous. Not only that this was a very expensive machine, but I was in road cleats on flat pedals and the street was filled with tourists, cabs doing 360s and many many cyclists, including pedicabs. At first it wobbled a lot. It was disconcerting not to see the front wheel and have the steering column turn even though the big cargo box in front remained straight ahead. And the seat was too high. I returned and he adjusted the seat. I tried again, this time down hill and something clicked. I cycled on, turned around and came back. It felt incredibly smooth and responsive. And the potential of it was exciting. We chatted again, introduced ourselves, swapped bikes and cycled away.

This spontaneous encounter with a cycling stranger made London feel like a very friendly place. It engendered an extraordinary level of trust in a city where cyclists we are constantly reminded about theft and security, of accidents and safety, of cycling defensively and being aware of traffic. Yet, here we simply connected over a lovely bike. Our shared interest in cycling made talk easy and it made my day.

]]> Comment on Tell a bike story by Sam Hoad http://cyclingcultures.org.uk/bikestories/?p=10&cpage=1#comment-13 Sam Hoad Thu, 23 Sep 2010 16:54:01 +0000 http://cyclingcultures.org.uk/bikestories/?p=10#comment-13 After cycling for 6 months on a road bike lent by my father. My father and I completed a 110 mile charity ride in yorkshire. 6:30 hours was our time. Since then we completed 5 club TTs and am now a member. I'm hooked on cycling and I'm trying hard to get all my friends in on the action. After cycling for 6 months on a road bike lent by my father. My father and I completed a 110 mile charity ride in yorkshire. 6:30 hours was our time. Since then we completed 5 club TTs and am now a member. I’m hooked on cycling and I’m trying hard to get all my friends in on the action.

]]> Comment on Tell a bike story by anonymous http://cyclingcultures.org.uk/bikestories/?p=10&cpage=1#comment-12 anonymous Fri, 09 Jul 2010 18:07:08 +0000 http://cyclingcultures.org.uk/bikestories/?p=10#comment-12 Decades ago, as a young happy couple, we decided in our late twenties to start a family. But it was important for us to have a big adventure first - so we did the Great British Bike Ride. With 250 cyclists, a travelling theatre, a luggage van and fantastic food tent, we cycled from Land's End to John O'Groats. Our oldest was conceived en route. Decades ago, as a young happy couple, we decided in our late twenties to start a family. But it was important for us to have a big adventure first – so we did the Great British Bike Ride. With 250 cyclists, a travelling theatre, a luggage van and fantastic food tent, we cycled from Land’s End to John O’Groats. Our oldest was conceived en route.

]]> Comment on Tell a bike story by Isobel Giddons http://cyclingcultures.org.uk/bikestories/?p=10&cpage=1#comment-11 Isobel Giddons Thu, 24 Jun 2010 13:32:19 +0000 http://cyclingcultures.org.uk/bikestories/?p=10#comment-11 My great grandfather was an amateur cycling champion. We recently found a photo of him after he won £100 on a cinder track in 1907. My grandfather also competed, and the last time I saw him when he was very frail, we arrived on a tandem and he was delighted to look at the modern gears and set-up. My son now cycles - so we are in a 5 generation tradition. My great grandfather was an amateur cycling champion. We recently found a photo of him after he won £100 on a cinder track in 1907. My grandfather also competed, and the last time I saw him when he was very frail, we arrived on a tandem and he was delighted to look at the modern gears and set-up. My son now cycles – so we are in a 5 generation tradition.

]]> Comment on Tell a bike story by Ella Mitchell http://cyclingcultures.org.uk/bikestories/?p=10&cpage=1#comment-10 Ella Mitchell Tue, 22 Jun 2010 14:55:02 +0000 http://cyclingcultures.org.uk/bikestories/?p=10#comment-10 Cycling is one of these things that you get so addicted to- its hard to imagine how you used to spend time sitting on a bus or a tube....... when you get used to getting places under your own steam! It is truely amazing and has been life changing for me, I have lost a lot of weight, gained in confidence and so much more. Some of the things I can now do, I would never have been able to contemplate just 5 years back. Truely liberating! However about a month ago I did get my confidence knocked when I got knocked off my bike on my way home (ironically by a motorcyclist!). A few stitches to the head and bumps and grazes. I was VERY lucky! The moral of the story is that I could have so easily avoided any of this if I had been wearing my helmet (which I am usually very good about- honest!) So for a day or two I sat and contemplated whether it was all worth the risk that we expose ourselves to as cyclists everyday. I came to a fairly firm conclusion.... that of course it was! So just about a month and a half after having this accident I had planned a trip with some friends from Edinburgh to Brighton :) Bit of a daunting prospect, but me and my 2 cycling mates made it all the way down to join our team in Clapham to take part in the final leg of our journey the London to Brighton bike ride. I have to say that the electric atmosphere of the L2B, has reaffirmed my love for cycling.... although have to say that there was the frustration of having to queue to go through the finishing line at Brighton :) Some of the people you meet while on your travels are great as well.... have to say my favourite was a couple on a tandum.... the lady on the back was telling us that she just closed her eyes going down hill!! You always have a nice chat at the traffic lights.... Cycling is great :) Cycling is one of these things that you get so addicted to- its hard to imagine how you used to spend time sitting on a bus or a tube……. when you get used to getting places under your own steam! It is truely amazing and has been life changing for me, I have lost a lot of weight, gained in confidence and so much more. Some of the things I can now do, I would never have been able to contemplate just 5 years back. Truely liberating!
However about a month ago I did get my confidence knocked when I got knocked off my bike on my way home (ironically by a motorcyclist!). A few stitches to the head and bumps and grazes. I was VERY lucky! The moral of the story is that I could have so easily avoided any of this if I had been wearing my helmet (which I am usually very good about- honest!)
So for a day or two I sat and contemplated whether it was all worth the risk that we expose ourselves to as cyclists everyday. I came to a fairly firm conclusion…. that of course it was!
So just about a month and a half after having this accident I had planned a trip with some friends from Edinburgh to Brighton :) Bit of a daunting prospect, but me and my 2 cycling mates made it all the way down to join our team in Clapham to take part in the final leg of our journey the London to Brighton bike ride. I have to say that the electric atmosphere of the L2B, has reaffirmed my love for cycling…. although have to say that there was the frustration of having to queue to go through the finishing line at Brighton :)
Some of the people you meet while on your travels are great as well…. have to say my favourite was a couple on a tandum…. the lady on the back was telling us that she just closed her eyes going down hill!! You always have a nice chat at the traffic lights….
Cycling is great :)

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