Push bike

the Omrud wrote:

wrote:
John Kane wrote:

A push bike typically refers to bicycle (human powered). I was
talking to a sport shop owner the other day and said that I was in
the shop to look at the push bikes not the motorbikes.

It's not an expression that I see or hear used frequently and I
was wondering if anyone has an idea of the origins of the phrase?

Push bike is a terribly British affectation.

"terribly"? "affectation"? Are the English not permitted a dialect
of, er, English?


I am seriously beginning to think the answer is 'no'.

I'm wondering whether to stop being Mr Nice Guy... er ... Bloke ...
about this crap, as I have been throughout PTD's recent xenophobic
rants. Nobody these days wants to claim our variety of English sets a
world standard, but I'm fed up with US-default posters suggesting it's
some quaint f***ing curiosity.

DC

--

the Omrud wrote:

wrote:
John Kane wrote:

A push bike typically refers to bicycle (human powered). I was
talking to a sport shop owner the other day and said that I was in
the shop to look at the push bikes not the motorbikes.

It's not an expression that I see or hear used frequently and I
was wondering if anyone has an idea of the origins of the phrase?

Push bike is a terribly British affectation.

"terribly"? "affectation"? Are the English not permitted a dialect
of, er, English?


And another thing, while I'm up for it (sorry about this, David).

Why oh why are all the nutters on AUE Americans? We have a proud
tradition in this country of eccentricity, ranging from the mildly
disturbed all the way up the stark raving hatstand. Yet UK posters on
AUE seem to spend an awful lot of time reasoning calmly with completely
certifiable Americans. Why can't we have some genuine British nutters
coming out with bizarre and offensive ideas for once?

(This is not to suggest all American posters are nutters; the vast
majority of US posters on AUE are wise, witty and well-informed. But
hey, guys, you got a couple of real winger dingers there!).

I may have to start a campaign. Bring back the British Nutter!

DC
--

On Sun, 10 May 2009 23:06:03 GMT, "Django Cat"
wrote:

the Omrud wrote:

wrote:
John Kane wrote:

A push bike typically refers to bicycle (human powered). I was
talking to a sport shop owner the other day and said that I was in
the shop to look at the push bikes not the motorbikes.

It's not an expression that I see or hear used frequently and I
was wondering if anyone has an idea of the origins of the phrase?

Push bike is a terribly British affectation.

"terribly"? "affectation"? Are the English not permitted a dialect
of, er, English?


I am seriously beginning to think the answer is 'no'.

I'm wondering whether to stop being Mr Nice Guy... er ... Bloke ...
about this crap, as I have been throughout PTD's recent xenophobic
rants. Nobody these days wants to claim our variety of English sets a
world standard, but I'm fed up with US-default posters suggesting it's
some quaint f***ing curiosity.

And we haven't even *touched* on bowlers and brollies.

--
Tony Cooper - Orlando, Florida

tony cooper wrote:

On Sun, 10 May 2009 23:06:03 GMT, "Django Cat"
wrote:

the Omrud wrote:

wrote:
John Kane wrote:

A push bike typically refers to bicycle (human powered). I was
talking to a sport shop owner the other day and said that I
was in the shop to look at the push bikes not the motorbikes.

It's not an expression that I see or hear used frequently and I
was wondering if anyone has an idea of the origins of the
phrase?
Push bike is a terribly British affectation.

"terribly"? "affectation"? Are the English not permitted a
dialect of, er, English?


I am seriously beginning to think the answer is 'no'.

I'm wondering whether to stop being Mr Nice Guy... er ... Bloke ...
about this crap, as I have been throughout PTD's recent xenophobic
rants. Nobody these days wants to claim our variety of English sets
a world standard, but I'm fed up with US-default posters suggesting
it's some quaint f***ing curiosity.

And we haven't even touched on bowlers and brollies.

Grrrrrr.....

DC
--

Paul Wolff wrote:
Amethyst Deceiver wrote
On Sun, 10 May 2009 07:34:23 GMT, "Django Cat"
wrote:

In that case, what does the Englisman visualize when the term
"bicycle" is used?

Hang about, I'll ask him when he sobers up.

[Long pause.]

He says he doesn't know, and could you ask the Englishwoman.

The Englishwoman over here visualises a bicycle.

Which, being interpreted, is English as she is spoke.

"Bicycle," "spoke," is this a synecdoche?

--Jeff

--
The comfort of the wealthy has always
depended upon an abundant supply of
the poor. --Voltaire

On May 10, 2:34*pm, Nick Spalding wrote:
Don Phillipson wrote, in
*on Sun, 10 May 2009 13:32:51 -0400:

"R H Draney" wrote in message
...

Push bike is a terribly British affectation. . . .

One of those penny-farthing jobs, innit?...r

Believe it or not, the penny-farthing was called in its day
the Ordinary Bicycle. *The design with two wheels of the
same size (and chain drive, which the Ordinary did not
need) was first marketed as the Safety Bicycle.

What was the Ordinary being distinguished from before the Safety came
along.
--
Nick Spalding
BrE/IrE

Velocipede? Basically a safety bicycle without pedals or chains.
Then pedals were attached to the front wheel, and to get higher
gearing the front wheel grew into the Ordinary/Penny-Farthing.

Django Cat filted:

Why oh why are all the nutters on AUE Americans? We have a proud
tradition in this country of eccentricity, ranging from the mildly
disturbed all the way up the stark raving hatstand. Yet UK posters on
AUE seem to spend an awful lot of time reasoning calmly with completely
certifiable Americans. Why can't we have some genuine British nutters
coming out with bizarre and offensive ideas for once?

(This is not to suggest all American posters are nutters; the vast
majority of US posters on AUE are wise, witty and well-informed. But
hey, guys, you got a couple of real winger dingers there!).

I may have to start a campaign. Bring back the British Nutter!

Sorry...nobody's been able to reach him for almost ten years now:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/380082.stm

.....r


--
A pessimist sees the glass as half empty.
An optometrist asks whether you see the glass
more full like this?...or like this?

On 11 May, 01:58, Jeffrey Turner wrote:
Paul Wolff wrote:
Amethyst Deceiver wrote
On Sun, 10 May 2009 07:34:23 GMT, "Django Cat"
wrote:

In that case, what does the Englisman visualize when the term
"bicycle" is used?

Hang about, I'll ask him when he sobers up.

[Long pause.]

He says he doesn't know, and could you ask the Englishwoman.

The Englishwoman over here visualises a bicycle.

Which, being interpreted, is English as she is spoke.

"Bicycle," "spoke," is this a synecdoche?

No, this is Brooklyn.

--
WH

On May 10, 3:34*pm, Nick Spalding wrote:

What was the Ordinary being distinguished from before the Safety came
along.

Well, there were the ones with the small wheel in front (Farthing-
Pennys?), and the ones with the short "jackshaft" cranks and chains on
either side ("Kangaroo" bicycles, I believe), and the tricycles and
quads of various oddball configurations (like the two big wheels on
the sides and a small wheel both forward and aft.) They all make an
Ordinary look, well, ordinary.

On May 10, 5:06*pm, "Django Cat" wrote:
the Omrud wrote:
wrote:
John Kane wrote:

A push bike typically refers to bicycle (human powered). *I was
talking to a sport shop owner the other day and said that I was in
the shop to look at the push bikes not the motorbikes.
....

Push bike is a terribly British affectation.

"terribly"? *"affectation"? *Are the English not permitted a dialect
of, er, English?

I am seriously beginning to think the answer is 'no'.

I'm wondering whether to stop being Mr Nice Guy... er ... Bloke ...
about this crap, as I have been throughout PTD's recent xenophobic
rants.

I won't object if you stop being nice (sort of nice) to PTD, a fly who
you won't catch with honey any more than with vinegar. Speaking of
stickiness, though, may I venture to remind you of the Tar Baby?

Nobody these days wants to claim our variety of English sets a
world standard, but I'm fed up with US-default posters suggesting it's
some quaint f***ing curiosity.

One was plenty, but have there been more than two?

--
Jerry Friedman