Cycling UK Forum

Interesting radio report this morning. An academic unicycled round Newcastle for some years and recorded responses. No tricks, normal clothing. Women were sympathetic, fascinated, concerned. Men made snide comments and were aggressive. Young boys were interested until they became teenagers then they threw stones and shouted.
Pretty much the observation of all cyclists?

glueman wrote: Men made snide comments and were aggressive. Young boys were interested until they became teenagers then they threw stones and shouted.
Pretty much the observation of all cyclists?

Also holds for running/jogging or indeed any active past time other than vandalism IMHO!

glueman wrote:Interesting radio report this morning. An academic unicycled round Newcastle for some years and recorded responses. No tricks, normal clothing. Women were sympathetic, fascinated, concerned. Men made snide comments and were aggressive. Young boys were interested until they became teenagers then they threw stones and shouted.
Pretty much the observation of all cyclists?

Was the academic female or male? Whichever gender - I wonder what, if any, difference it would have made to the reactions if a unicyclist of another gender had been riding?

Cyclists = outside the 'norm'. Unicyclists = really, really outside the 'norm'?

A chap in his sixties. Never sure if the antagonism is because the viewer feels threatened or contempt. Does the onlooker feel envy at the skill or fitness or whatever or loathing because the person is pathetic?
Confession - I have a slight issue with unicyclists because they are often juggling and wearing a bad hat and are associated with circus's, which I don't like (the dingy actuality, not the idea of a circus).

Is my slight disdain a version of what motorists feel about us cyclists? A gratuitously 'different' activity for its own sake rather than practical advantage? i.e. 'showing off'.

glueman wrote:A chap in his sixties. Never sure if the antagonism is because the viewer feels threatened or contempt. Does the onlooker feel envy at the skill or fitness or whatever or loathing because the person is pathetic?
Confession - I have a slight issue with unicyclists because they are often juggling and wearing a bad hat and are associated with circus's, which I don't like (the dingy actuality, not the idea of a circus).

Is my slight disdain a version of what motorists feel about us cyclists? A gratuitously 'different' activity for its own sake rather than practical advantage? i.e. 'showing off'.

I think we (British public)or a significant minority have problems with something different and feel a need to comment either verbaly or with missiles.
Its interesting on the tandem, generally its accepted as quaint by adults and cool by preteenagers especially girls for some reason.Teenagers tend to ridicule or at least attempt to,older men tend to sidle up and ask how much they cost then walk away in disbelief when told.
But generally, at least where cycling is concerned, I think in the UK the class system can be said to be very much alive.

PS I think the bad hats of unicycling juggling fame are 'good' hats so where does that leave me?

On group tandem rides with children we've noticed following motorists often show annoyance. Then they work out kids are involved and some show embarassment. It divides drivers into 'how charming/quaint' type responses and aggression at the irresponsibility of allowing young children on the road.
I think we're an extremely conservative country and difference of any kind elicits outrage. Cyclists aren't immune - see how groups react to new arrivals with the wrong sort of bike or clothing.

Using a unicycle to commute... how do you go downhill?
I mean, apart from slowly...

I've only ever seen them in use on the flat and for stunting onto and off platforms at different heights.
I mean, would it be more or less daft if you were to commute by pogo stick?

And what about segweys?

glueman wrote: It divides drivers into 'how charming/quaint' type responses and aggression at the irresponsibility of allowing young children on the road.

A work colleage at work called me irresponsible for taking my daughter on a tag-along. I didn't go into telling him about the twins bike traier, it wasn't worth it!

The report is here 52 mins 15 secs into the programme.

fatboy wrote:A work colleage at work called me irresponsible for taking my daughter on a tag-along. I didn't go into telling him about the twins bike traier, it wasn't worth it!

yeah you should sit them at home with a PS2 console in one hand and a burger in the other. Then when they're overweight and underfit young adults and die at 30, you can look back and think "job well done"

glueman wrote:On group tandem rides with children we've noticed following motorists often show annoyance. Then they work out kids are involved and some show embarassment. It divides drivers into 'how charming/quaint' type responses and aggression at the irresponsibility of allowing young children on the road.
I think we're an extremely conservative country and difference of any kind elicits outrage. Cyclists aren't immune - see how groups react to new arrivals with the wrong sort of bike or clothing.

I agree, we are quite a predjudiced say it louder they'll understand lot, its the lack of thought and lack of live and let live in our society I find disturbing.

pigman wrote:yeah you should sit them at home with a PS2 console in one hand and a burger in the other. Then when they're overweight and underfit young adults and die at 30, you can look back and think "job well done"

Thank you for clearing that up. I now see the error of my ways and will now immediately sell the single tag-along, the double tag-along, the bike trailer, my daughter's bike. I'll take away her trainers whilst I'm at it. Don't want her thinking that activity is in anyway beneficial and I'll get a quick release mechanism for my children's bottoms to click them into a chair at home and then into the car just to make sure (best reinforce it because with my genes and no exercise they're going to baloon)

fatboy wrote:

glueman wrote: It divides drivers into 'how charming/quaint' type responses and aggression at the irresponsibility of allowing young children on the road.

A work colleage at work called me irresponsible for taking my daughter on a tag-along. I didn't go into telling him about the twins bike traier, it wasn't worth it!

A chap I know thinks any risk should eliminated from life ie cycling(thinks I'm totaly irreponsible for endangering myself and my wife's life on a tandem of all things) ,horseriding, etc, etc .His son has just recently gone to Australia for a year he was beside himself with worry for him incase he should be eaten by a crocadile or a shark,or stung by a box jellyfish! and has given him express instuction that on no account must he swim in the sea!(I kid ye not) his son is 23yrs old.
The same poor chap has everything you can think of insured ie TV,W/machine ,fridge,central heating,when his children were at school he even had a policy incase one of his children was taken ill should either he or his wife had were to have time off work.
Its a mad mad world (to quote the comic publication of the 60's)

i bet he's one hell-uv-a-happy chappy that bloke. Has he insured himself against breaking into a laugh?

Dare you to shout "boo" into his ear when he's not looking.

fatboy wrote:
A work colleage at work called me irresponsible for taking my daughter on a tag-along. I didn't go into telling him about the twins bike traier, it wasn't worth it!

Yes, you're the irresponsible one placing her at risk - not the drivers who come too close and cut in front of and across you.