Boris and his vision

[GrumpyGregry]

you might be disappointed. Have you seen the 'island bus stops' slated for Stratford High Street?

I think in all seriousness, Richard, TfL has had a lobotomy.

Lobotomy? Nah, body snatchers from LCC have had their wicked way more like.

"He's riding on the... the... the... the... ROAD!"

 

[Richard Mann]

Correction: I'd certainly expect TfL to manage a much better design than LCC.

(those floating bus stops on Stratford High St - a comically misnamed road - aren't bad in principle, though you'd think they'd manage to keep the track reasonably straight and level, and put wide crossings before and aft, not a perpendicular one in the middle: it's not like nobody's ever done this before, you know)

 

[Lee_M]

Lee, I fully understand your position, but what is the root of the problem?

Using my situation as an example, OK I don't live or work any where near London ...

I have a hilly (read Pentlands) 10 mile commute each way.
4 days a week I wear shirt and tie office wear. not a suit I will grant you but not far off
1 day a week we have dress down days where the code is more relaxed
4 days a week I dress in lycra to cycle, 1 day a week I ride in wearing the clothes for the office.
I have absolutely no customer facing duties. All back office with meetings over the phone. I have to make an effort to actually see people face to face.
If I could lose the 4 day "smart" uniform I could ride in casual every day.
I have worked for places that have adopted this attitude in the past and believe it or not the business carries on without any problems.

Now I know your situation may require you to wear a suit for some reason, but I suspect that a lot of us are wearing one just because.

yepo, unfortunately I have to wear a suit because I am contact with clients all the time. I dont have a problem with people riding in their office gear as long as they dont stink when they sit next to me, but I know for me thats not the case (it's also not the case for some I see come into the office dripping in sweat then just sit down and start work - yeeuucchh)

I think its great to get more people on bikes, but why the denigration of people wearing lycra ? (not by you - by Boris et al)

 

[srw]

I think its great to get more people on bikes, but why the denigration of people wearing lycra ? (not by you - by Boris et al)

What denigration? All he's saying is that there is currently a perception that you need to wear special clothes to cycle in London. In fact, quite often you don't. The boundary between dressing up and not dressing up will differ from person to person and cycling style to cycling style, but it's somewhere well north of 5 miles at a reasonable potter - and in central London a reasonable potter is very nearly as quick as a full-out blast because of the traffic lights.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

What denigration? All he's saying is that there is currently a perception that you need to wear special clothes to cycle in London. In fact, quite often you don't. The boundary between dressing up and not dressing up will differ from person to person and cycling style to cycling style, but it's somewhere well north of 5 miles at a reasonable potter - and in central London a reasonable potter is very nearly as quick as a full-out blast because of the traffic lights.

Which is why in nearly every large European city you see most cyclists dressed for the destination not the journey.

 

[Lee_M]

What denigration? All he's saying is that there is currently a perception that you need to wear special clothes to cycle in London. In fact, quite often you don't. The boundary between dressing up and not dressing up will differ from person to person and cycling style to cycling style, but it's somewhere well north of 5 miles at a reasonable potter - and in central London a reasonable potter is very nearly as quick as a full-out blast because of the traffic lights.

"we need to de-lycrafy" - sounds like denigration to me - your view may differ

I'm glad if you can ride 5 miles without needing to change for a days work - I need to change, my bike gear is well sweaty at the end of my 8 mile commute

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

"we need to de-lycrafy" - sounds like denigration to me - your view may differ

I'm glad if you can ride 5 miles without needing to change for a days work - I need to change, my bike gear is well sweaty at the end of my 8 mile commute

I see it more as an attempt to make cycling appear less elitist and less intimidating. I know lots of people who feel self-conscious about wearing lycra shorts and there is a distinctive UK style of cycling that puts a premium on performance and kit. There's nothing wrong about using the commute as an overtly physical activity. There's equally nothing wrong about wearing regular clothes for a regular commute. I think besuited riders hopping onto their Bromptons and casual riders hiring Boris Bikes, etc, serve to make cycling appear more accessible, more everyday.

 

[Lee_M]

my commute is overly physical mainly because my hybrid is heavy!

 

[GrumpyGregry]

"we need to de-lycrafy" - sounds like denigration to me - your view may differ

I'm glad if you can ride 5 miles without needing to change for a days work - I need to change, my bike gear is well sweaty at the end of my 8 mile commute

If you ran a 10km race you'd wear running gear, special and specialised clothes and need a shower when you crossed the line.

If you walked 10km to a pub you wouldn't.

It ain't the weight of your hybrid making you sweat but the speed at which you insist on propelling that weight.

 

[Lee_M]

If you ran a 10km race you'd wear running gear, special and specialised clothes and need a shower when you crossed the line.

If you walked 10km to a pub you wouldn't.

It ain't the weight of your hybrid making you sweat but the speed at which you insist on propelling that weight.

I dont think you've seen me ride

BTW if I walk 10k anywhere I'd be sweating

 

[GrumpyGregry]

I dont think you've seen me ride

BTW if I walk 10k anywhere I'd be sweating

You and me both Lee you and me both.

 

[dellzeqq]

I think you're both on the Felpham ride. Perspiring together!

 

[GrumpyGregry]

On a bike, at night, I glow, not sweat.

 

[ianrauk]

On a bike, at night, I glow, not sweat.

Hi Viz?

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Hi Viz?

Let me reflect on that for a moment!