Posts by Carol Stewart
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Hard News: I'm not a "f***ing cyclist".…, in reply to Jolisa,
A friend of mine did a defensive driving course a while ago. A young man on the course was asked "What do you do if someone is trying to pass you?" To which he replied :"No-one f*@$king passes me".
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Hard News: I'm not a "f***ing cyclist".…, in reply to Stephen Judd,
Thanks everyone for your advice about mirrors. I'm pretty much getting one RIGHT NOW.
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Hard News: I'm not a "f***ing cyclist".…, in reply to Greg Wood,
Very graciously said, Greg.
In the past few days it has occurred to me that a rear vision mirror, affixed to either helmet or handlebars, would be more than ornamental on the bike. Has anyone got any tips on what works with these?
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Hard News: I'm not a "f***ing cyclist".…, in reply to Martin Lindberg,
numbered high-visibility cycling jerseys
I bags #666!
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Hard News: I'm not a "f***ing cyclist".…, in reply to JackElder,
Actually - maybe I have just been lucky, but in the past few days I have sensed a bit of a sea change in motorists' attitudes while I've been out pedalling around Wellington. Passing manouevres have been cautious and respectful, and the things yelled out of car windows have been friendly. A couple of friends, also putting in the miles pre-Taupo, have said the same thing.
Whatever it is - I'm enjoying it while it lasts.
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Hard News: I'm not a "f***ing cyclist".…, in reply to JLM,
I'm happy to put in a good word for Giant bikes, too. My first mountain bike was a Giant Yukon, pretty basic with no suspension and well before the invention of disk brakes .. I eventually gave in to the lure of these modern wonders, but there's really nothing wrong with the Yukon after almost 20 years of hard use.
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Hard News: I'm not a "f***ing cyclist".…, in reply to Tony Parker,
I think you’re right, Tony, and it’s a shame if future peoples are going to see cycling as a rather specialised recreational activity involving lots of special gear rather than just ... transport. I guess part of the problem is that our cities were designed in the golden age of the automobile, and as a result they are largely not friendly to bikes (Christchurch is an honourable exception). My partner, when he lived in Surrey, used to enjoy pottering around the countryside on a bike, but here he just finds the whole business too intimidating.
And yeah – what Jake said.
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Wellingtonians! here is a two wheeled event. The launch of the first part of the Great Harbour Way ride, with the lovely Celia Wade Brown. Departing from under the Queens Wharf sails at 10 am Sunday 21st Nov, destination Seatoun ferry wharf.
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Hard News: I'm not a "f***ing cyclist".…, in reply to Hayden East,
Hayden: I agree. In Europe there’s much more of a sense of resources being finite so perhaps more social pressure to tread lightly etc. France is a great place to cycle – just about everyone does it, regardless of age, and there’s a level of respect there towards the whole venture of cycling.
I heard an interesting program on the radio a while ago – discussing among other things the compulsory wearing of helmets here. Personally I think you’d be mad not to wear one, but it is a shame if it has a discouraging effect on participation rates. I forget the details, but the program made the case that in many other countries it’s no big deal to be a cyclist – you just jump on your bike in your regular clothes and do your errands, like my almost 70 year old auntie in Germany who just bikes everywhere because it’s entirely safe* and convenient. In NZ, the program argued, you have to ‘self-identify as a cyclist’, and don a heap of specialised gear – the helmet, gloves, bright fluorescent jackets that make it look like you’re off to fix the water mains – and cast yourself out onto the mean streets.
I guess the problem is that in NZ there are precious few places where it’s safe and enjoyable to bike. I had to teach my boy to bike by putting the bikes on the car and driving down to the waterfront where there’s a decent stretch off road, and even that wasn’t ideal as he found it rather nerve wracking to have to avoid all the foot traffic. I’ve had twinges of envy for the Hawkes Bay cycle network stretching from Havelock North to Napier.
* as an aside, my uncle had his only bike accident ever in his commute through the forest to Bonn, when he collided with a wild boar! -
Hard News: I'm not a "f***ing cyclist".…, in reply to Danielle,
The other day on FB I suggested a slogan something like ‘just think how long this journey would take you in a horse and cart, and stop being an idiot’.
Well said, ma'am.