Cycling UK Forum

A further variation was taught me by my father, who always insisted that 'up' and 'down' were determined by the direction of travel in relation to home. Derived, presumably, from the up and down lines of the railways.

Hmm, so in one of those Audax events where some of the riders live near the half-way point, and are riding home then away again, while you ride away and then home...

pedalsheep wrote:We always use the same calls that you remember - 'car down' approaching from the front 'down your throat', 'car up' approaching from the rear 'up your backside'.

I don't know where you're from pedalsheep, but what you say is certainly the convention in Yorkshire - "DOWN yer throat" and "UP yer .............well - you get the picture............". You'd be fully and clearly understood in these parts.

[XAP]Bob wrote:

deliquium wrote:

pedalsheep wrote:We always use the same calls that you remember - 'car down' approaching from the front 'down your throat', 'car up' approaching from the rear 'up your backside'.

^ That's how learned it too

You're all cycling backwards - get a proper cycle:
http://venturecyclist.blogspot.co.uk/20 ... bents.html

.................no we're not - we're doing it, or rather shouting it, right. What you're saying contradicts generations old convention and is likely to be dangerous. If that's what you all do in America (and I stress IF), then do it, but when you come over here - conform!

As a relatively new rider with no tradition to draw on, I find up/down leaves me confused - I have to take time to look to see what's meant. Most of our group use Car Back or Car Front which is unambiguous, clear and easily distinguished. I've taken to doing the same.

Andy

JohnW wrote:.................no we're not - we're doing it, or rather shouting it, right. What you're saying contradicts generations old convention and is likely to be dangerous. If that's what you all do in America (and I stress IF), then do it, but when you come over here - conform!

What I learned in the States was 'car front' and 'car back'. I only ever did group cycling in the Midwest, so people in other places might use different terms.

I don't think it should matter much, if some one shouts 'car's, then the group should single out regardless of direction.

JohnW wrote:

[XAP]Bob wrote:You're all cycling backwards - get a proper cycle:
http://venturecyclist.blogspot.co.uk/20 ... bents.html

.................no we're not - we're doing it, or rather shouting it, right. What you're saying contradicts generations old convention and is likely to be dangerous. If that's what you all do in America (and I stress IF), then do it, but when you come over here - conform!

Huh - I didn't comment whether up and down were good indicators for direction (although the thread suggests that front and back might be less ambiguous, I've not tested for audibility). And I have only ever been to the states on holiday once - that was just a convenient picture.

I merely commented that you were facing the wrong way when cycling - and that is clear. I don't drive a single seater sports car, why would I ride the equivalent


Just in case anyone gets the wrong end of this stick... Yes I'm extracting the urine. I mean it's clear that 'bents are superior, but if you want to ride bikes designed by rover to be "lower, and therefore safer than," an ordinary (penny farthing) rather than the lower, and therefore safer, more comfortable and easier to push along bikes/trikes designed since. I know they were banned from competition, but as I said, I don't drive a single seater sports car, nor eschew ABS because they're not allowed it in F1.

[XAP]Bob wrote:Huh - I didn't comment whether up and down were good indicators for direction (although the thread suggests that front and back might be less ambiguous, I've not tested for audibility).

They're less ambiguous but harder to hear: both front and back are short vowels with similar consonants (f/b) on the start and stops at the end (t/k), where as up has a much shorter vowel and harder end than down.

In my experience, 'car back' is generally distinguishable; more so than 'car front', 'oil up' or 'oil down', or other variants. However, as others have pointed out, just warning of a hazard is probably sufficient.

drossall wrote: This is why understanding the Tour de France is so easy.

[XAP]Bob wrote:..............I merely commented that you were facing the wrong way when cycling - .................

No - honest - I do look where I'm going...........

JohnW wrote:

[XAP]Bob wrote:..............I merely commented that you were facing the wrong way when cycling - .................

No - honest - I do look where I'm going...........

Just the three inches in front of your wheel, either that or you're cricking your neck

[quote="[XAP]Bob...................Just the three inches in front of your wheel, either that or you're cricking your neck...............[/quote]



No, no, no lad - I have my bars higher than that..................

JohnW wrote:[quote="[XAP]Bob...................Just the three inches in front of your wheel, either that or you're cricking your neck...............

No, no, no lad - I have my bars higher than that.................. [/quote]