Cycling UK Forum

I once rode in Beijing in the early 1990s when there were far more bicycles on the road than cars and it was 20 - 30 deep at traffic lights,It was still very congested then!

Mark R wrote:

The most important thing to remember is not everybody can ride in heavy traffic.

That is so true; if everyone rode, the traffic would simply disappear!

So true - although it wouldn't really. It's just that you'd get congestion of bikes not cars. Of course the issue of congestion with bikes is significantly less problematic - you can easily fit 2-3 bikes in the width of a lane (two gentle and one overtaking), and of course they take less length as well.

Heavy traffic isn't too bad - it's that mid point where the traffic is almost free flowing, but continuous - and think's you're slow - that's the issue.

gilesjuk wrote:It all depends on the route, distance and if you're prepared to adapt your diet and sleeping habits. I know that I used to have the belief that I couldn't cycle to work every day in the working week but I tried it and my fitness improved to suit the additional exercise.

True. I know I could cycle day, and so far, there have only been three or four days where I haven't - out of 8 weeks, that's not too bad.

To get the bus every day: would give me slightly more time to read books/articles whilst on the bus, but would mean I'm less awake when I get in to placement and home - because of the lack of exercise and fresh air. I'd also be more tired generally, as I'd have to get up earlier. (so would I actually be able to read anything anyway, if i were that tired? or with noisey chat around me?)
To cycle: well, we all know the various benefits - but cycling home means I do have less time to read books etc. It also means that I can legitimately have at least one thing from Greggs a day and not fear putting on bulge. I couldn't do that if I got the bus.

It's all a balance.

To sum up, I'd need to change my dietry and sleeping habits if I were to stop cycling

I had to work today (unusually for a Saturday, but I was doing a colleague who was running an event a favour by giving her a hand) and to my disappointment Thames Water have almost finished repairing the water main. Back to the traffic Monday

I did have a fun time this morning riding down the centre of the road (something I cannot possibly do normally!) and avoiding all the potholes (I really must email TfL about the lovely A21) Coming home, I was very amused by the number of cars which drove right up to the cone barrier, realised they couldn't continue, and have to turn round (yes, "Road Ahead Closed" really does mean you. But not me )

Seriously, this is the second time this month the A21 has had a major problem (emergency gas works last time) and it might just be that a few of the motorists might see me and other cyclists completely unconcerned by these hindrances and think that cycling to work might actually be a good idea. Pity its October and not March .

Jan

I gloat every time I ride my bike.

I gloated today when I took the kids on the bike along the canal to Waitrose and they played 'I Spy' (the points version from the little books) with ducks and birds on the canal rather than sitting in traffic in the car.

I gloated when I ignored the 'car park full' sign at Waitrose and cruised in on my bike. I gloated when I left and ignored the queue of traffic trying to get out, filtering past it.

And when we got to our next destination I gloated as I watched the traffic marshals directing cars into overflow carparks a mile from the main entrance, while I went and parked my bike in the bikestands by the entrance.

And I gloated when I had my second pint of T.E.A. ale there, safe in the knowledge that I wasn't going to be breathalysed on my way home.

And then we stopped off in the Harvester on our way home, I gloated that I didn't need to find the one empty parking bay on a Saturday night, just chaining my bike to the front door (no bike stands there m'lud), then when I ordered I chose the 'full rack of ribs 1090 calories', gloating that I was able to order it with a clear conscience having burned it off on my bike.

I had a gloat the other year when it snowed in Jan or Feb(Can't remeber which). I rode passed a couple of miles of traffic on my way home.
The next day there were only a few cars on the road. Bliss!!

Hector's House wrote:
Plus, a body needs to rest. I'm sure I read recently that it's not healthy to exercise loads every day. I'm pretty sure it was an article posted here. Certainly I'm finding that it's good to get the bus in once a week, just to give my body the chance to relax. Not that my commute is particularly energetic, but it can be exhausting to cycle every day.

What do you think some people do in their jobs? Bricklayers, navvies, plasterers, farm workers etc etc "exercise" all day at work...

pete75 wrote:

Hector's House wrote:
Plus, a body needs to rest. I'm sure I read recently that it's not healthy to exercise loads every day. I'm pretty sure it was an article posted here. Certainly I'm finding that it's good to get the bus in once a week, just to give my body the chance to relax. Not that my commute is particularly energetic, but it can be exhausting to cycle every day.

What do you think some people do in their jobs? Bricklayers, navvies, plasterers, farm workers etc etc "exercise" all day at work...

They do. Nevertheless, daily exertion takes some time to get used to and to work up to.

They do. Nevertheless, daily exertion takes some time to get used to and to work up to.karlt

Indeed. Four years ago I couldn't get out of bed without a great deal of effort, with stiff and unresponsive limbs but since taking up cycling to work I feel supple and so much fitter. I can't believe how much difference daily cycling has made. I can remember not being able to climb upon a chair to open a window whereas now its absolutely no problem.

I can't imagine stopping cycling now. Not just because I enjoy it, but also because I know how much good its doing me.

Jan

karlt wrote:

pete75 wrote:

Hector's House wrote:
Plus, a body needs to rest. I'm sure I read recently that it's not healthy to exercise loads every day. I'm pretty sure it was an article posted here. Certainly I'm finding that it's good to get the bus in once a week, just to give my body the chance to relax. Not that my commute is particularly energetic, but it can be exhausting to cycle every day.

What do you think some people do in their jobs? Bricklayers, navvies, plasterers, farm workers etc etc "exercise" all day at work...

They do. Nevertheless, daily exertion takes some time to get used to and to work up to.

Thanks, Pete.

But Karl, i wasn't trying to suggest that. All I was meaning was that exercise should be roughly in proportion to what your own body can actually do. I say roughly because there's no point just exercising at your limit: to get fitter you should know your limits and then push harder to increase them. But you should also recognise that the body just needs to rest. I took the bus into placement on Friday, and I was thoroughly glad I did (although I missed my bike, and ended up £2.60 poorer) because it helped to stop the raging cold I had been getting turning into a flu. No point pushing yourself if you're gonna do damage to yourself. That's all I meant.

Hector's House wrote:

karlt wrote:

pete75 wrote:
What do you think some people do in their jobs? Bricklayers, navvies, plasterers, farm workers etc etc "exercise" all day at work...

They do. Nevertheless, daily exertion takes some time to get used to and to work up to.

Thanks, Pete.

But Karl, i wasn't trying to suggest that. All I was meaning was that exercise should be roughly in proportion to what your own body can actually do. I say roughly because there's no point just exercising at your limit: to get fitter you should know your limits and then push harder to increase them. But you should also recognise that the body just needs to rest. I took the bus into placement on Friday, and I was thoroughly glad I did (although I missed my bike, and ended up £2.60 poorer) because it helped to stop the raging cold I had been getting turning into a flu. No point pushing yourself if you're gonna do damage to yourself. That's all I meant.

That would be my point too. It's Pete who raised bricklayers et al.

karlt wrote:

Hector's House wrote:Thanks, Pete.

But Karl, i wasn't trying to suggest that. All I was meaning was that exercise should be roughly in proportion to what your own body can actually do. I say roughly because there's no point just exercising at your limit: to get fitter you should know your limits and then push harder to increase them. But you should also recognise that the body just needs to rest. I took the bus into placement on Friday, and I was thoroughly glad I did (although I missed my bike, and ended up £2.60 poorer) because it helped to stop the raging cold I had been getting turning into a flu. No point pushing yourself if you're gonna do damage to yourself. That's all I meant.

That would be my point too. It's Pete who raised bricklayers et al.

D'OH! Sorry for accusing you! I'd go back and edit my post, but that would requiring editing yours, too I'll leave it!