Metric turncoats
- Thread starter simonali
- Start date
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Horace Goes Skiing
New Member
Who under the age of 40 was taught the Imperial System? I've no idea how heavy an ounce is, how many feet to the liquid groat there are.
Can't wait 'til these Luddites die out and I can finally say my top speed is 7.5x10^6mm/hr. Now that's a number I can relate to.
Can't wait 'til these Luddites die out and I can finally say my top speed is 7.5x10^6mm/hr. Now that's a number I can relate to.
wafflycat
New Member
- Location
- middle of Norfolk
I use both and am happy enough in either. Audaxes are measured in kilometres. Time trials in miles. I use both. Come to think of it, at school I was taught both.
Milo
Guru
- Location
- Melksham, Wilts
It bugs me that maps mark hills in metric id prefer it feet.
bobg
Über Member
- Location
- Crosby Merseyside
miloat said:
Completely buggers up my Wainrights
Dave5N
Über Member
- Location
- Outside The Little Nibble
My computer has got itself set to KM. Very good for my mental arithmetic as I bowl along. (times by five then divide by 8)
Dave5N
Über Member
- Location
- Outside The Little Nibble
Sometimes, for a change or if the numbers are easier, I divide by eight then times by five.
Elmer Fudd
Miserable Old Bar Steward
- Location
- Durham, and I am the eejit
The number you are thinking of is 15 !Dave5N said:
mr_hippo
Living Legend & Old Fart
Horace Goes Skiing said:
When I went to school we were not taught the metric system but I know it so why don't you know the imperial system?
Do you drink beer? It's sold in pints and half pints - imperial
Do you look at road signs? They are in miles - imperial
Do you buy trousers? Waist sizes in inches - imperial
Do you buy shirts? Sizes in inches - imperial
Do you own a mountain bike? What are tyres and tubes measured in? Imperial.
Fuel consumption? Miles per gallon
Do you think that learning ends when you leave full time education? Can you do quick mental arithmetic with your built in calculator - also known as a brain?
As simonali points out:-
What's the simplest way to roughly calculate how far Toytown is away? You can multiply by 1.6 but keep it easy and multiply by 1½. Half of 18 is 9 so 18+9 = 27kms and that's rough calculating! If you want to work it out another way 5 miles = 8 kms so round it up to 20 miles and there are for 5's in 20 so 4x8=32 so you know it is between 27 and 32 kms - call it 29½ and you are not far off - easy!simonali said:
Other quick conversions:-
1 litre = 1¾pints - call it 2 pints!
1Kg = 2 lbs (pounds) or just a bit more than 2 lbs
1oz (ounce) = 30 gram(me)s
2½ cms = ! inch
So in school, I was taught Imperial, when I started nursing, we used the apothecaries' system, later in my training we changed to metric, I picked up metric on the way and also Thai traditional measurements.
All three of my daughters (all under 40) are conversant with Imperial & Metric and there is no reason why everyone shouldn't be!
John the Monkey
Frivolous Cyclist
- Location
- Crewe
I use miles, myself.
On account of the metric system being the tool of the devil.
"My car gets four rods to the hogshead, and that's the way I likes it."
On account of the metric system being the tool of the devil.
"My car gets four rods to the hogshead, and that's the way I likes it."
snorri
Legendary Member
- Location
- East coast, up a bit.
I got fed up with the mental arithmetic when touring in more (cycling) civilised countries and bought myself a second computer.
Two computers on my handlebars makes my bike look really high tech.
Two computers on my handlebars makes my bike look really high tech.
NickM
Veteran
- Location
- Darwin's birthplace
Why, when the French designed the metric system, did they not metricate time? Why do we not have a 20-hour day, with 10 hours each of day and night at the equinoxes?
