The One Mile Challenge [no helmet content]

[Just zis Guy, you know?]

Right. Apropos of earlier suggestions for promoting utility cycling,
I have a Cunning Plan. Tis is targeted at middle-aged, middle-class
car-centric Middle Britain.



The One Mile Pledge
===================

A mile is shorter than it sounds! *In 1954, Sir Roger Bannister
completed the distance in under four minutes; an average cyclist can
do a mile in five minutes or so, and most adults can comfortably walk
it in under a quarter of an hour without breaking a sweat.

A one mile journey is cruel to a car. *The first mile accounts for
much of the engine wear of any journey, as the cold components expand
and the oil thins. *And cold engines emit twice as much pollution[1].

So we challenge you to be kind to your body, kind to your car and kind
to the environment by taking the One Mile Pledge.

It couldn't be simpler: you just commit to leaving the car at home for
journeys under a mile. *Walk or cycle for short trips to the shops, to
the pub, to see friends, to school or to work. *Once you're in the
habit, who knows - you might find yourself going further afield!

Take the One Mile Pledge and give yourself and your car a treat.

----------------------------------------------------------

[1] I think it might be more than that, acksherly, but that's a minor
detail

Guy
--
May contain traces of irony. Contents liable to settle after posting.
http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk

88% of helmet statistics are made up, 65% of them at Washington University

[JohnB]

"Just zis Guy, you know?" wrote:
>
> Right. Apropos of earlier suggestions for promoting utility cycling,
> I have a Cunning Plan. Tis is targeted at middle-aged, middle-class
> car-centric Middle Britain.
>
> The One Mile Pledge
> ===================
>
> A mile is shorter than it sounds!
>
> It couldn't be simpler: you just commit to leaving the car at home for
> journeys under a mile. *Walk or cycle for short trips to the shops, to
> the pub, to see friends, to school or to work. *Once you're in the
> habit, who knows - you might find yourself going further afield!
>
> Take the One Mile Pledge and give yourself and your car a treat.

Why aren't you posting this on uk.tosspots?

John B

[Nathaniel Porter]

"Just zis Guy, you know?" > wrote in message
...
>
><snip>
>

An excellent idea!

Good to put a positive spin on it as well - it's much nicer to point out the
benefits of the change to everyone instead of dwelling on the bad effects of
being silly.

[Andy Hewitt]

Just zis Guy, you know? > wrote:

> Right. Apropos of earlier suggestions for promoting utility cycling,
> I have a Cunning Plan. Tis is targeted at middle-aged, middle-class
> car-centric Middle Britain.
>
>
>
> The One Mile Pledge
> ===================
>
> A mile is shorter than it sounds! In 1954, Sir Roger Bannister
> completed the distance in under four minutes; an average cyclist can
> do a mile in five minutes or so, and most adults can comfortably walk
> it in under a quarter of an hour without breaking a sweat.
>
> A one mile journey is cruel to a car. The first mile accounts for
> much of the engine wear of any journey, as the cold components expand
> and the oil thins. And cold engines emit twice as much pollution[1].
>
> So we challenge you to be kind to your body, kind to your car and kind
> to the environment by taking the One Mile Pledge.
>
> It couldn't be simpler: you just commit to leaving the car at home for
> journeys under a mile. Walk or cycle for short trips to the shops, to
> the pub, to see friends, to school or to work. Once you're in the
> habit, who knows - you might find yourself going further afield!
>
> Take the One Mile Pledge and give yourself and your car a treat.
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------
>
> [1] I think it might be more than that, acksherly, but that's a minor
> detail

Ackcherly it's considerably more than that, and probably more of an
issue than you might suppose. A catalyst doesn't even start to work
until you've done at least 3 miles - this also happens to be just about
the average journey length in this country. So for most journeys in this
country cars are being used without an effective calatytic converter, as
well as the enrichened fuel that is used in this period [1]. I would say
the pollution levels may be as high as 10 times more than a hot engine
at cruising speed.

Apart from that, bloody good idea.

[1] most cars might only be making 10mpg [2] for the first mile or so,
which alone creates potentially 4 times the pullution.
[2] and yes, I have actually measured this myself on a training course.

--
Andy Hewitt ** FAF#1, (Ex-OSOS#5) - FJ1200 ABS
Honda Concerto 16v: Windows free zone (Mac G5 Dual Processor)
http://www.thehewitts.plus.com - now online

[Roos Eisma]

"Just zis Guy, you know?" > writes:

>A mile is shorter than it sounds! *In 1954, Sir Roger Bannister
>completed the distance in under four minutes; an average cyclist can
>do a mile in five minutes or so, and most adults can comfortably walk
>it in under a quarter of an hour without breaking a sweat.

I think you're overestimating comfortable sweat-free walking speed here a
bit. Make it 20 minutes :)

Roos

[Just zis Guy, you know?]

On Wed, 09 Jun 2004 21:27:28 +0100, JohnB > wrote in
message >:

>Why aren't you posting this on uk.tosspots?

On account of wanting to get it right first, then start the campaign.

Guy
--
May contain traces of irony. Contents liable to settle after posting.
http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk

88% of helmet statistics are made up, 65% of them at Washington University

[James Hodson]

On Wed, 09 Jun 2004 21:16:51 +0100, "Just zis Guy, you know?"
> wrote:

>The One Mile Pledge
>===================

[SNIP]

Grand idea, lad.

ME: Lets well driven car overtake
HE: Waves a thank you
ME: Waves back
ME: Gets money out of cashpoint
HE: "Gosh! That was quick."
ME: "Well, a cycle is faster around town."

I'd let the driver overtake me an entire half mile from the bank so
I'm hardly surprised that I beat the driver, especially as he had to
find a parking place etc.

Conversely to your OMP idea, I have ben known to cycle to the post box
at the end of my road, a distance of 120 paces.

James

[JohnB]

"Just zis Guy, you know?" wrote:
>
> On Wed, 09 Jun 2004 21:27:28 +0100, JohnB > wrote in
> message >:
>
> >Why aren't you posting this on uk.tosspots?
>
> On account of wanting to get it right first, then start the campaign.

Can't see owt wrong with it.

ISTR something similar being done in a previous Bike Week, but think it
was 2-3 miles or so and particiants received a certificate.

Go for it.

John B

[\(t'other\) Dave]

"Just zis Guy, you know?" > wrote in message
...
> Right. Apropos of earlier suggestions for promoting utility cycling,
> I have a Cunning Plan. Tis is targeted at middle-aged, middle-class
> car-centric Middle Britain.
>
>
>
> The One Mile Pledge
> ===================
>
> A mile is shorter than it sounds! In 1954, Sir Roger Bannister
> completed the distance in under four minutes; an average cyclist can
> do a mile in five minutes or so, and most adults can comfortably walk
> it in under a quarter of an hour without breaking a sweat.
>
> A one mile journey is cruel to a car. The first mile accounts for
> much of the engine wear of any journey, as the cold components expand
> and the oil thins. And cold engines emit twice as much pollution[1].
>
> So we challenge you to be kind to your body, kind to your car and kind
> to the environment by taking the One Mile Pledge.
>
> It couldn't be simpler: you just commit to leaving the car at home for
> journeys under a mile. Walk or cycle for short trips to the shops, to
> the pub, to see friends, to school or to work. Once you're in the
> habit, who knows - you might find yourself going further afield!
>
> Take the One Mile Pledge and give yourself and your car a treat.
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------
>
> [1] I think it might be more than that, acksherly, but that's a minor
> detail
>
> Guy
> --
> May contain traces of irony. Contents liable to settle after posting.
> http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk
>
> 88% of helmet statistics are made up, 65% of them at Washington University

This'll be that 'traces of irony' your sig mentions then ??
;-)
Dave.

[Mark South]

"Roos Eisma" > wrote in message
...
> "Just zis Guy, you know?" > writes:
>
> >A mile is shorter than it sounds! In 1954, Sir Roger Bannister
> >completed the distance in under four minutes; an average cyclist can
> >do a mile in five minutes or so, and most adults can comfortably walk
> >it in under a quarter of an hour without breaking a sweat.

Most people definitely would sweat it at over 4 mph.

> I think you're overestimating comfortable sweat-free walking speed here a
> bit. Make it 20 minutes :)

For regular walkers, 3 mph is no problem. Even a sustained 2 mph can be hard
for the kind of people who drive less than a mile.

If Guy's last line above read ..."under half an hour without..." then it would
definitely be reasonable.
--
Mark South: World Citizen, Net Denizen

[Wild Wind]

"Just zis Guy, you know?" > wrote in message
...
> Right. Apropos of earlier suggestions for promoting utility cycling,
> I have a Cunning Plan. Tis is targeted at middle-aged, middle-class
> car-centric Middle Britain.
>
>
>
> The One Mile Pledge
> ===================
>
> A mile is shorter than it sounds! In 1954, Sir Roger Bannister
> completed the distance in under four minutes; an average cyclist can
> do a mile in five minutes or so, and most adults can comfortably walk
> it in under a quarter of an hour without breaking a sweat.
>
> A one mile journey is cruel to a car. The first mile accounts for
> much of the engine wear of any journey, as the cold components expand
> and the oil thins. And cold engines emit twice as much pollution[1].
>
> So we challenge you to be kind to your body, kind to your car and kind
> to the environment by taking the One Mile Pledge.
>
> It couldn't be simpler: you just commit to leaving the car at home for
> journeys under a mile. Walk or cycle for short trips to the shops, to
> the pub, to see friends, to school or to work. Once you're in the
> habit, who knows - you might find yourself going further afield!
>
> Take the One Mile Pledge and give yourself and your car a treat.

Is this a joke, or are you serious Guy?

[Simon Brooke]

in message >, Just zis Guy,
you know? ') wrote:

> On Wed, 09 Jun 2004 21:27:28 +0100, JohnB > wrote in
> message >:
>
>>Why aren't you posting this on uk.tosspots?
>
> On account of wanting to get it right first, then start the campaign.

I think it's an excellent campaign idea. I suggest two possible ways to
get it in front of the public:

(i) Persuade 'joined up government' (hah!) to adopt it; or
(ii) Persuade a major charity to adopt it, with a little collection box
so that people can give the thirty pence or so they save each time to
the charity.

--
(Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

;; how did we conclude that a ****ing cartoon mouse is deserving
;; of 90+ years of protection, but a cure for cancer, only 14?
-- user 'Tackhead', in /. discussion of copyright law, 22/05/02

[Michael MacClancy]

On Wed, 09 Jun 2004 21:16:51 +0100, Just zis Guy, you know? wrote:


>
> So we challenge you to be kind to your body, kind to your car and kind
> to the environment by taking the One Mile Pledge.
>

You can imagine the excuses:

> It couldn't be simpler: you just commit to leaving the car at home for
> journeys under a mile. *Walk or cycle for short trips to the shops,

.... but the shopping's too heavy to carry.

> to
> the pub,

.... but it's too cold / I'm too drunk to walk.

> to see friends,

.... I don't have any friends within one mile.

> to school

.... School's five miles away.

or to work. *

.... Work's 40 miles away. Do you think I work in the shadow of the mill?

--
Michael MacClancy
Random putdown - "I've had a perfectly wonderful evening. But this wasn't
it." -Groucho Marx
www.macclancy.demon.co.uk
www.macclancy.co.uk

[David Martin]

On 10/6/04 10:17 am, in article ,
"Michael MacClancy" > wrote:

> On Wed, 09 Jun 2004 21:16:51 +0100, Just zis Guy, you know? wrote:
>
>
>>
>> So we challenge you to be kind to your body, kind to your car and kind
>> to the environment by taking the One Mile Pledge.
>>
>
> You can imagine the excuses:
>

You missed out:

'There will be too many excuses so it won't work'

Excellent idea. Probably just the sort of thing the British Heart Foundation
or Diabetes UK (or a collection of similar charities) would love.

My personal campaign idea is the 'just a minute a mile for a life' in a bid
to reduce residential street speeds to 20mph.

...d

[Wild Wind]

"Wild Wind" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Just zis Guy, you know?" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Right. Apropos of earlier suggestions for promoting utility cycling,
> > I have a Cunning Plan. Tis is targeted at middle-aged, middle-class
> > car-centric Middle Britain.
> >
> >
> >
> > The One Mile Pledge
> > ===================
> >
> > A mile is shorter than it sounds! In 1954, Sir Roger Bannister
> > completed the distance in under four minutes; an average cyclist can
> > do a mile in five minutes or so, and most adults can comfortably walk
> > it in under a quarter of an hour without breaking a sweat.
> >
> > A one mile journey is cruel to a car. The first mile accounts for
> > much of the engine wear of any journey, as the cold components expand
> > and the oil thins. And cold engines emit twice as much pollution[1].
> >
> > So we challenge you to be kind to your body, kind to your car and kind
> > to the environment by taking the One Mile Pledge.
> >
> > It couldn't be simpler: you just commit to leaving the car at home for
> > journeys under a mile. Walk or cycle for short trips to the shops, to
> > the pub, to see friends, to school or to work. Once you're in the
> > habit, who knows - you might find yourself going further afield!
> >
> > Take the One Mile Pledge and give yourself and your car a treat.

If this isn't a joke, then I think the idea won't fly for the
following reasons:

1. You assume that people care *that* much about their cars
that they are willing to forgo the convenience of travelling
short distances so that they can prolong the life of their
car. I think their attitude is more likely to be a "use it
or lose it" one.

2. People do not care that much about pollution - unfortunately,
whether you like to believe it or not, people are tend to react
less to phenomena that they cannot perceive directly. I think
people will only start paying attention when they can associate
an increased difficulty in *their* breathing with an increase
in air pollutants (and I'm not talking about pushing out the
results of scientific surveys here).

3. I am doubtful as to whether telling people that they will
be looking after their bodies by getting on their bikes will
appeal to them. It's a bit like saying "take your medicine -
it's good for you".

Like I said elsewhere, you're only ever going to get people on
their bikes when you show how much fun it is, or show that
everyone else is doing it, instead of preaching to them.

[audrey]

On Thu, 10 Jun 2004 12:07:17 +0100, "Wild Wind" >
wrote:

>
>If this isn't a joke, then I think the idea won't fly for the
>following reasons:
>
>1. You assume that people care *that* much about their cars
>that they are willing to forgo the convenience of travelling
>short distances so that they can prolong the life of their
>car. I think their attitude is more likely to be a "use it
>or lose it" one.
>
>2. People do not care that much about pollution - unfortunately,
>whether you like to believe it or not, people are tend to react
>less to phenomena that they cannot perceive directly. I think
>people will only start paying attention when they can associate
>an increased difficulty in *their* breathing with an increase
>in air pollutants (and I'm not talking about pushing out the
>results of scientific surveys here).
>
>3. I am doubtful as to whether telling people that they will
>be looking after their bodies by getting on their bikes will
>appeal to them. It's a bit like saying "take your medicine -
>it's good for you".
>
>Like I said elsewhere, you're only ever going to get people on
>their bikes when you show how much fun it is, or show that
>everyone else is doing it, instead of preaching to them.
>

hmm ... are these 'people' who don't care related to the 'they' who
should do something about something? I was 'one of these people'
until recently - going by car or bus was my default position. Now I
do most of my local journeys by bike. I started using my bike to get
around to get fit and improve my green credentials. I carry on doing
it not because it's fun (tho it often is) but because it turns out to
be the most convenient way to get where I want to go.

And I think Guy's campaign idea is a good one ... maybe the British
Heart Foundation could take it up for next year's campaign (they're
doing 'take the stairs' this year).

A

--

email = audmad aaatttt hhhottt mmmaailll dddoottt ccccoommm

[Peter Clinch]

Wild Wind wrote:

> If this isn't a joke, then I think the idea won't fly for the
> following reasons:
>
> 1. You assume that people care *that* much about their cars
> that they are willing to forgo the convenience of travelling
> short distances so that they can prolong the life of their
> car. I think their attitude is more likely to be a "use it
> or lose it" one.

I think the idea is to make people stop and think for a moment. Not
thinking is why so many people get into the car for trivial journeys:
it's lack of thought that means default behaviour is adopted, not
particularly thinking the car is the best thing for the job.

I think a lot of people really do care for their cars, but simply don't
realise that driving them for a mile only is actively bad for them.
It's not widely advertised by car manufacturers in their glamorous
advertisements, for some reason...

> 2. People do not care that much about pollution - unfortunately

A lot of people really do want to make some effort. Not a lot, but
/some/, and if they stop and think that "some" might come from walking
to post a letter rather than driving. Since the drive is the unthinking
default it would end up as "Damn, meant to walk, too late now!".

> 3. I am doubtful as to whether telling people that they will
> be looking after their bodies by getting on their bikes will
> appeal to them. It's a bit like saying "take your medicine -
> it's good for you".

If 3. above is true then it undermines the success of the gym as a
working business model for the last couple of years.

> Like I said elsewhere, you're only ever going to get people on
> their bikes when you show how much fun it is, or show that
> everyone else is doing it, instead of preaching to them.

But a lot of bike journeys aren't especially fun, they're just ways of
getting from A to B. Very much like car journeys. Promoting it as fun,
then having folk finding that much of it is mundane, will just leave
them feeling short changed.
Do people drive a few hundred meters in a car to post a letter because
they think driving it will be /fun/? I don't think so, they just see it
as how you get from A to B, they're at A, and want to be at B. They
don't stop and think about it. A campaign that may make people stop and
think may see them realise that driving a few hundred meters isn't doing
themself any favours.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

[Ian G Batten]

In article >,
Peter Clinch > wrote:
> > 3. I am doubtful as to whether telling people that they will
> > be looking after their bodies by getting on their bikes will
> > appeal to them. It's a bit like saying "take your medicine -
> > it's good for you".
>
> If 3. above is true then it undermines the success of the gym as a
> working business model for the last couple of years.


Are you sure? I suspect the business model of the gym is founded on
peoples' willingness to pay fifty quid for something they use once a
month, and therefore --- to use a telecoms term --- the overbooking you
can have in a gym is vast. If every gym member averaged as little as
twice a week their model would implode.

Joining a gym doesn't imply visiting it.

ian

[David Martin]

On 10/6/04 12:54 pm, in article , "Ian G
Batten" > wrote:

> Are you sure? I suspect the business model of the gym is founded on
> peoples' willingness to pay fifty quid for something they use once a
> month, and therefore --- to use a telecoms term --- the overbooking you
> can have in a gym is vast. If every gym member averaged as little as
> twice a week their model would implode.
>
> Joining a gym doesn't imply visiting it.

Sounds a bit like reading research papers. WHen I were a lad the joke was
that we got the photocopier to do the reading for us. Now of course we just
download PDFs of the papers instead of reading them.

...d

[Peter Clinch]

Ian G Batten wrote:

> Joining a gym doesn't imply visiting it.

No, but it /does/ imply a willingness to consider visiting it, and
thinking that visiting might be a worthwhile thing to do if only they
could find that Round Tuit they left somewhere...

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

[Ian G Batten]

In article >,
Peter Clinch > wrote:
> Ian G Batten wrote:
>
> > Joining a gym doesn't imply visiting it.
>
> No, but it /does/ imply a willingness to consider visiting it, and
> thinking that visiting might be a worthwhile thing to do if only they
> could find that Round Tuit they left somewhere...

Hmm. Or just something to tell their friends.

ian

[Daniel Barlow]

Michael MacClancy > writes:

> You can imagine the excuses:
>
>> It couldn't be simpler: you just commit to leaving the car at home for
>> journeys under a mile. *Walk or cycle for short trips to the shops,
>
> ... but the shopping's too heavy to carry.

s/shops/newsagent/ then. Nobody's going to claim their daily
paper/chewing gum/fag packet is too heavy to carry.

>> to
>> the pub,
>
> ... but it's too cold / I'm too drunk to walk.

(1) Last night at closing time there were still crowds of people
sitting at the tables outside my not-a-local-but-I-go-there-anyway
pub. For nine months of the year it might be considered cold, but
schedule One Mile Walk Week to be sometime in summer and I really
don't see the problem.

(2) If you're too drunk to _walk_ you sure as hell shouldn't be
driving. But more constructively, how about working something into
the original along the lines of "(if you're a couple of sheets to the
wind, ten minutes in the fresh air can only help)". The wording needs
attention, of course


-dan

--
"please make sure that the person is your friend before you confirm"

[Peter Clinch]

Ian G Batten wrote:

[joining a gym]
> Hmm. Or just something to tell their friends.

Quite possibly, but even if that's all it suggests there is a perception
amongst such people that working out is something they ought be doing,
or at least be thought of as doing. Which is one step up from being an
unashamed couch potato.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

[Ian G Batten]

In article >,
Peter Clinch > wrote:
> Ian G Batten wrote:
>
> [joining a gym]
> > Hmm. Or just something to tell their friends.
>
> Quite possibly, but even if that's all it suggests there is a perception
> amongst such people that working out is something they ought be doing,
> or at least be thought of as doing. Which is one step up from being an
> unashamed couch potato.

You might be right. Looking at some of my wife's friends, I think they
feel more justified in driving the car 800 yards because they can always
go to the gym instead, but then they don't go to the gym. If they
weren't members of a gym, they might be slightly _more_ likely to not
use the car for that trip.

ian

[James Hodson]

On Thu, 10 Jun 2004 12:48:52 +0100, Peter Clinch
> wrote:

>But a lot of bike journeys aren't especially fun, they're just ways of
>getting from A to B. Very much like car journeys.

Hi Peter

I disagree. The thought of nipping into town (about two miles) or to
my local set of shops (about one mile) doesn't really exite me when
it's tipping it down and blowing a gale. However, once back home and
changed back into indoor clothing I do feel quite refreshed. It's just
the thought of going out that puts me off for a moment or two.

When I had a nice matched pair of broken collar bones a couple of
years ago (or was it three years ago?) I had to walk. I far prefer
cycling in nasty weather than I did walking.

James

[Mark South]

"James Hodson" > wrote in message
...
> On Thu, 10 Jun 2004 12:48:52 +0100, Peter Clinch
> > wrote:
>
> >But a lot of bike journeys aren't especially fun, they're just ways of
> >getting from A to B. Very much like car journeys.
>
> I disagree. The thought of nipping into town (about two miles) or to
> my local set of shops (about one mile) doesn't really exite me when
> it's tipping it down and blowing a gale. However, once back home and
> changed back into indoor clothing I do feel quite refreshed. It's just
> the thought of going out that puts me off for a moment or two.

I'm pretty sure that I sometimes manufacture reasons to go to the shops so that
I can have a quick zip about on the bike ;-)

> When I had a nice matched pair of broken collar bones a couple of
> years ago (or was it three years ago?) I had to walk. I far prefer
> cycling in nasty weather than I did walking.

Well, that depends how steep the hill is and how much snow is on the ground :-)
--
Mark South: World Citizen, Net Denizen

[David Martin]

On 10/6/04 3:59 pm, in article , "Mark South"
> wrote:

> Well, that depends how steep the hill is and how much snow is on the ground
> :-)
And whether the studded tyres are already fitted to the bike.

http://www.bikereader.com/BikeReader/BR%20pics/davidM.jpg

...d

[Roos Eisma]

"Mark South" > writes:

>I'm pretty sure that I sometimes manufacture reasons to go to the shops so that
>I can have a quick zip about on the bike ;-)

Since Pete got the 8Freight he certainly is very keen on bringing things
to the dump or delivering stuff to people.
I may have to stop him before we run out of furniture...

Roos

[James Hodson]

On Thu, 10 Jun 2004 16:59:41 +0200, "Mark South"
> wrote:

>> When I had a nice matched pair of broken collar bones a couple of
>> years ago (or was it three years ago?) I had to walk. I far prefer
>> cycling in nasty weather than I did walking.
>
>Well, that depends how steep the hill is and how much snow is on the ground :-)

Mark

On one of walks to the local shops I was attacked by a pavement bandit
in black clothing with no lights. Sadly, from my POV, he ran into my
just about to start healing right collar bone. Twunt.

Snow on hills is meant for skiing. No more: no less.

James

[David Hansen]

On 10 Jun 2004 15:18:40 GMT someone who may be Roos Eisma
> wrote this:-

>Since Pete got the 8Freight he certainly is very keen on bringing things
>to the dump or delivering stuff to people.
>I may have to stop him before we run out of furniture...

Encourage him to raid skips for "useful" discarded items. Soon you
will not have any room at all:-)


--
David Hansen, Edinburgh | PGP email preferred-key number F566DA0E
I will always explain revoked keys, unless the UK government
prevents me using the RIP Act 2000.

[JohnB]

Peter Clinch wrote:
>
> Wild Wind wrote:
>
> > If this isn't a joke, then I think the idea won't fly for the
> > following reasons:
> >
> > 1. You assume that people care *that* much about their cars
> > that they are willing to forgo the convenience of travelling
> > short distances so that they can prolong the life of their
> > car. I think their attitude is more likely to be a "use it
> > or lose it" one.
>
> I think the idea is to make people stop and think for a moment. Not
> thinking is why so many people get into the car for trivial journeys:
>
> I think a lot of people really do care for their cars, but simply don't
> realise that driving them for a mile only is actively bad for them.

I think most do know it is bad for them.
I often point it out to friends and colleagues and they all admit they
*should* walk or cycle. But will they actually do it?

No way.

> A lot of people really do want to make some effort.

In their minds yes but in practice no.
>
> > Like I said elsewhere, you're only ever going to get people on
> > their bikes when you show how much fun it is, or show that
> > everyone else is doing it, instead of preaching to them.

The above is one of the most sensible things posted.

> But a lot of bike journeys aren't especially fun, they're just ways of
> getting from A to B. Very much like car journeys. Promoting it as fun,
> then having folk finding that much of it is mundane, will just leave
> them feeling short changed.

If cycling can be shown to be fun then it is easier to get them to
migrate on to a variety of cycling activities.
Once hooked, the more "mundane" side of cycling becomes much more acceptable.

John B

[Simon Brooke]

in message >, Daniel Barlow
') wrote:

> Michael MacClancy > writes:
>
>> You can imagine the excuses:
>>
>>> It couldn't be simpler: you just commit to leaving the car at home
>>> for journeys under a mile. *Walk or cycle for short trips to the
>>> shops,
>>
>> ... but the shopping's too heavy to carry.
>
> s/shops/newsagent/ then. Nobody's going to claim their daily
> paper/chewing gum/fag packet is too heavy to carry.

Twenty tears ago every household had either a shopping bag or a shopping
basket with wheels on for just this reason. When did you last see a
wheeled shopping bag?

--
(Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

my other car is #<Subr-Car: #5d480>
;; This joke is not funny in emacs.

[David Hansen]

On Thu, 10 Jun 2004 16:35:05 GMT someone who may be Simon Brooke
> wrote this:-

>When did you last see a wheeled shopping bag?

This morning. I hope it is still under my stairs.



--
David Hansen, Edinburgh | PGP email preferred-key number F566DA0E
I will always explain revoked keys, unless the UK government
prevents me using the RIP Act 2000.

[Gawnsoft]

On Thu, 10 Jun 2004 16:35:05 GMT, Simon Brooke >
wrote (more or less):

>in message >, Daniel Barlow
') wrote:
>
>> Michael MacClancy > writes:
>>
>>> You can imagine the excuses:
>>>
>>>> It couldn't be simpler: you just commit to leaving the car at home
>>>> for journeys under a mile. *Walk or cycle for short trips to the
>>>> shops,
>>>
>>> ... but the shopping's too heavy to carry.
>>
>> s/shops/newsagent/ then. Nobody's going to claim their daily
>> paper/chewing gum/fag packet is too heavy to carry.
>
>Twenty tears ago every household had either a shopping bag or a shopping
>basket with wheels on for just this reason. When did you last see a
>wheeled shopping bag?

When I lived in Staines about 10 years ago I had one. It always
seemed to be designed for someone several inches shorter than me.

I've kept meaning to buy one since, but I've never bumped into one to
buy one spontaneously.


--
Cheers,
Euan
Gawnsoft: http://www.gawnsoft.co.sr
Symbian/Epoc wiki: http://html.dnsalias.net:1122
Smalltalk links (harvested from comp.lang.smalltalk) http://html.dnsalias.net/gawnsoft/smalltalk

[David Martin]

On 10/6/04 10:37 pm, in article ,
"Gawnsoft" > wrote:

> On Thu, 10 Jun 2004 16:35:05 GMT, Simon Brooke >
> wrote (more or less):

>> Twenty tears ago every household had either a shopping bag or a shopping
>> basket with wheels on for just this reason. When did you last see a
>> wheeled shopping bag?

> I've kept meaning to buy one since, but I've never bumped into one to
> buy one spontaneously.
>

My next door neighbour has one (and despite being over 70 refuses any help
in bringing it up the steps to her front door (and there are a lot of them..
about a 4m rise from the road.)

Never found one that looked like it would last (apart from a bike hod or a
winther Donkey)


...d

[Tim Hall]

On Thu, 10 Jun 2004 13:08:49 +0100, David Martin
> wrote:


>
>Sounds a bit like reading research papers. WHen I were a lad the joke was
>that we got the photocopier to do the reading for us. Now of course we just
>download PDFs of the papers instead of reading them.
>
Acrobat reader (latest version) can read them aloud for you....


Tim
--
For those who have trouble distinguishing, cynicsm, sarcasm, humour etc,
try mentally inserting smilies thoughout my post until it either
matches what you'd like to read, or what you'd expect me to write.

(Jon Senior urc)

[MartinM]

Simon Brooke > wrote in message >...
> in message >, Daniel Barlow
> ') wrote:
>
> > Michael MacClancy > writes:
> >
> >> You can imagine the excuses:
> >>
> >>> It couldn't be simpler: you just commit to leaving the car at home
> >>> for journeys under a mile. *Walk or cycle for short trips to the
> >>> shops,
> >>
> >> ... but the shopping's too heavy to carry.
> >
> > s/shops/newsagent/ then. Nobody's going to claim their daily
> > paper/chewing gum/fag packet is too heavy to carry.
>
> Twenty tears ago every household had either a shopping bag or a shopping
> basket with wheels on for just this reason. When did you last see a
> wheeled shopping bag?

Still see loads but mostly older shoppers. The problem is the shops
encourage car-load shopping with multipacks and BOGOF's. And what
about the 9p bag tax? the sooner they bring that in the better.

[David Hansen]

On Thu, 10 Jun 2004 22:37:30 +0100 someone who may be Gawnsoft
> wrote this:-

>It always
>seemed to be designed for someone several inches shorter than me.

http://www.bikehod.co.uk has the answer. It can be towed behind a
bike as well as used as a hand cart. It takes several types of bag
as well.


--
David Hansen, Edinburgh | PGP email preferred-key number F566DA0E
I will always explain revoked keys, unless the UK government
prevents me using the RIP Act 2000.

[Just zis Guy, you know?]

Simon Brooke wrote:

> When did you last see a wheeled shopping bag?

Last time I opened the cupboard under the stairs.

--
Guy
===
May contain traces of irony. Contents liable to settle after posting.
http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk

Victory is ours! Down with Eric the Half A Brain!

[james]

Peter Clinch > wrote in message >...
> Ian G Batten wrote:
>
> > Joining a gym doesn't imply visiting it.
>
> No, but it /does/ imply a willingness to consider visiting it, and
> thinking that visiting might be a worthwhile thing to do if only they
> could find that Round Tuit they left somewhere...

a bit like keeping a rusty bike in your shed then...

best wishes
james

[Helen Deborah Vecht]

Gawnsoft >typed

> >
> >Twenty tears ago every household had either a shopping bag or a shopping
> >basket with wheels on for just this reason. When did you last see a
> >wheeled shopping bag?

> When I lived in Staines about 10 years ago I had one. It always
> seemed to be designed for someone several inches shorter than me.

> I've kept meaning to buy one since, but I've never bumped into one to
> buy one spontaneously.

Many are designed for women so that average & tall chaps might feel
they're too small.
John Lewis has a reasonable selection as do some travel & luggage shops.

--
Helen D. Vecht:
Edgware.

[Simon Brooke]

in message >, David Hansen
') wrote:

> On Thu, 10 Jun 2004 22:37:30 +0100 someone who may be Gawnsoft
> > wrote this:-
>
>>It always
>>seemed to be designed for someone several inches shorter than me.
>
> http://www.bikehod.co.uk has the answer. It can be towed behind a
> bike as well as used as a hand cart. It takes several types of bag
> as well.

I had one for years. It seems still to be the lightest cargo trailer on
the market, and for urban use is excellent, capacious and easy to
handle both on and off the bike (and clips on and off easily). Does not
like high speed corners.

--
(Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/

X-no-archive: No, I'm not *that* naive.

[Peter Clinch]

james wrote:

> a bit like keeping a rusty bike in your shed then...

Exactly. All you have to do is kid yourself that it's the thought that
really counts... ;-/

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

[Mark South]

"James Hodson" > wrote in message
...
> On Thu, 10 Jun 2004 16:59:41 +0200, "Mark South"
> > wrote:
>
> >> When I had a nice matched pair of broken collar bones a couple of
> >> years ago (or was it three years ago?) I had to walk. I far prefer
> >> cycling in nasty weather than I did walking.
> >
> >Well, that depends how steep the hill is and how much snow is on the ground
:-)
>
> On one of walks to the local shops I was attacked by a pavement bandit
> in black clothing with no lights. Sadly, from my POV, he ran into my
> just about to start healing right collar bone. Twunt.

This is why no cyclist should ever be without a spare hand grenade.

> Snow on hills is meant for skiing. No more: no less.

Oh, I don't know: http://tinyurl.com/3arss
--
Mark South: World Citizen, Net Denizen

[Mark South]

"Simon Brooke" > wrote in message
...
> in message >, Daniel Barlow
> ') wrote:
>
> > Michael MacClancy > writes:
> >
> >> You can imagine the excuses:
> >>
> >>> It couldn't be simpler: you just commit to leaving the car at home
> >>> for journeys under a mile. Walk or cycle for short trips to the
> >>> shops,
> >>
> >> ... but the shopping's too heavy to carry.
> >
> > s/shops/newsagent/ then. Nobody's going to claim their daily
> > paper/chewing gum/fag packet is too heavy to carry.
>
> Twenty tears ago every household had either a shopping bag or a shopping
> basket with wheels on for just this reason. When did you last see a
> wheeled shopping bag?

Well, here in Geneva you see them every day. and not just towed behind little
old ladies either. People of all shapes, sizes, ages and genders use them. And
you can buy them all over the place.
--
Mark South: World Citizen, Net Denizen

[David Hansen]

On Fri, 11 Jun 2004 09:35:03 GMT someone who may be Simon Brooke
> wrote this:-

>> http://www.bikehod.co.uk
>

>Does not like high speed corners.

For touring it's probably best to get a smaller bag. Not only does
this discourage taking too many things, but it also means that the
few things that are taken are lower down. Swapping one of these for
a shopping bag to go to the shops restores the capacity to carry
more things.

The trailer can also carry several plastic boxes, stacked on top of
each other, which might be useful in some circumstances.


--
David Hansen, Edinburgh | PGP email preferred-key number F566DA0E
I will always explain revoked keys, unless the UK government
prevents me using the RIP Act 2000.

[Peter Clinch]

David Hansen wrote:

> For touring it's probably best to get a smaller bag.

Or perhaps a single wheel trailer like the BOB which should lean with
the bike at speed. They don't load up so easily as a two wheeler, but
they'll tend to run better once you're underway. You choose, you lose...

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

[David Hansen]

On Fri, 11 Jun 2004 14:11:56 +0100 someone who may be Peter Clinch
> wrote this:-

>> For touring it's probably best to get a smaller bag.
>
>Or perhaps a single wheel trailer like the BOB which should lean with
>the bike at speed.

A more expensive solution, but one that might be attractive for
someone who does a lot of touring.


--
David Hansen, Edinburgh | PGP email preferred-key number F566DA0E
I will always explain revoked keys, unless the UK government
prevents me using the RIP Act 2000.

[James Hodson]

On Fri, 11 Jun 2004 11:45:41 +0200, "Mark South"
> wrote:

>> On one of walks to the local shops I was attacked by a pavement bandit
>> in black clothing with no lights. Sadly, from my POV, he ran into my
>> just about to start healing right collar bone. Twunt.
>
>This is why no cyclist should ever be without a spare hand grenade.

And exactly how would I pull the pin and lob the thing?

James

[Mark South]

"James Hodson" > wrote in message
...
> On Fri, 11 Jun 2004 11:45:41 +0200, "Mark South"
> > wrote:
>
> >> On one of walks to the local shops I was attacked by a pavement bandit
> >> in black clothing with no lights. Sadly, from my POV, he ran into my
> >> just about to start healing right collar bone. Twunt.
> >
> >This is why no cyclist should ever be without a spare hand grenade.
>
> And exactly how would I pull the pin and lob the thing?

Pin wired to stem. Doable one-handed.
--
"Since you must keep improving, a $5 bike offers a lot more opportunities
to improve it, and can be improved cheaper. It's expensive to improve on
a $2000 bike." - Rick Onanian in rec.bicycles.tech