Doing It Old Style

[Bluebell72]

Just reading some of the posts and questions on here about helmets, styrofoam, energy drinks, lycra, bibs, carbon... I wonder of any of our predecessors with their Penny Farthings had an idea of the beasts they'd unleash in the future?!

My father-in-law is now in his 90th year but looks wistfully at my bike when I pop to see him, but can always tell me a story of the days he and his boys used to go out with the Hull Thursday Road Club in the 1930's, then the 50's, and where he met his wife and they rode a tandem before they married.

They (he and his mates) used to ride to Malton (about 40 miles) to do a time trial, or Bridlington for a race, then ride back (!)

They could ride as fast as they dared, there was so little motor traffic on the road, and this is the best, he was amazed that my gilet is windproof - they used to place a folded newspaper down the front of their 'anorak' (!) and zip it up as protection from the wind.

His best tip for keeping your energy up on a long ride was a pint of Best (bleurgh) and a cucumber and sliced tongue sandwich! Gross...can you even buy tongue nowadays???

Does anyone else have any memories of what it used to be like?

 

[Hilldodger]

We like to keep the old ways alive here at Cyclemagic

Vintage Bike Ride

 

[Rebel Ian]

We like to keep the old ways alive here at Cyclemagic

Vintage Bike Ride

That is BRILLIANT.

 

[MontyVeda]

My granddad was full of tales of cycling from here to there and "we didn't have all them gears like you've got... if it was too steep we had to push."

We take lots for granted these days... lightweight and breathable water proofs, umpteen gears, better roads, better bikes yet so many non cycling types still see it as 'hard'.

Love the vintage bike ride too... will have to resurect the old rod braked thing in the cellar and get me a tweed suit... and a pocket full of 50p's.

 

[corshamjim]

If you haven't done so already, I recommend you read Jerome K Jerome's "Three Men on the Bummel". Best of all, you can get it free!

http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/2183

 

[Hilldodger]

Our next ride will be as part of the Ccyclemagic Festival (which is part of the 4 day Ride Leicester event includung a Skyride) over the August bank holiday.

It's gonna be a bit special! More details will be announced soon.

 

[guitarpete247]

I had a chat with my dad a few months ago and I learned something new. I had known that he and my uncles had been keen cyclists when they were younger but hadn't known he was still cycling after I was born. He told me he and a mate used to cycle from Dunscroft near Doncaster to the peak district for a day out. They'd also have a day in Bridlington, something I've also done when younger. I was born in 1956 so no motorways and everything a little lot quieter on the roads. Dad doesn't see the need for dérailleurs as there was nothing wrong with Sturmey Archer 3 speeds. I knew he'd done a lot of walking in the peaks and dales as a youth and he must have done plenty on these trips.


I'd known he'd had a motorbike, BSA Bantam, which he hated before his first car an Austin 7 Ruby.

A chat with older relatives often gives you another view to life either before you or when you were very young.

 

[Rebel Ian]

My granddad was full of tales of cycling from here to there and "we didn't have all them gears like you've got... if it was too steep we had to push."

We take lots for granted these days... lightweight and breathable water proofs, umpteen gears, better roads, better bikes yet so many non cycling types still see it as 'hard'.

Love the vintage bike ride too... will have to resurect the old rod braked thing in the cellar and get me a tweed suit... and a pocket full of 50p's.

I agree with all of that except better roads. The roads now are shocking to ride on!

 

[Alan Whicker]

At the age of 13 my grandmother cycled from Sunderland to Keighley to take a job as a seamstress. This would have been in the early 30s. I can't be certain, but I think she did it in a single day.

And some days I can't even be bothered to ride the 5 miles to where I work

 

[snorri]

questions on here about helmets, styrofoam, energy drinks, lycra, bibs, carbon...

I think there may be more than one person on CC who have not adopted any of the above........yet.

 

[brokenbetty]

I did the London Tweed run yesterday - fabtastic day out!

All in all I rode 20 miles (10 mile ride plus another 5 there and back from my house) on a ladies 3 speed with rod brakes, wearing a tea dress, patent leather high heel shoes, a lambswool cardie, a cloche hat and a charming smile.

Ok, the average speed was slightly less than walking pace, but it was a grand day out. I skipped breakfast but kept myself fuelled up with 12 fig rolls, two cheese and branston sandwiches with the crusts cut off and a nice cup of tea

If you don't mind not going fast, you really don't need much kit. Probably 5 fig rolls would have been more than enough.

 

[MontyVeda]

I agree with all of that except better roads. The roads now are shocking to ride on!

depends on the roads in question i guess... Granddad was a farm hand so they didn't even have roads out to a lot of places he'd have to get to (his words).

That tweed ride looks awesome!

 

[brokenbetty]

Our next ride will be as part of the Ccyclemagic Festival (which is part of the 4 day Ride Leicester event includung a Skyride) over the August bank holiday.

It's gonna be a bit special! More details will be announced soon.

Oooo! Do you have a mailing list?

 

[Deleted member 1258]

<br />I think there may be more than one person on CC who have not adopted any of the above........yet.<img src='http://www.cyclechat.net/styles/default/xenforo/smilies/whistling.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /><br />

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Carbon in your list is the only one I've adopted so far, carbon forks on my bikes, non of the others, vintage bike rides sound great fun.