The Guardian's bike blog

I was under the impression that Matt Seaton was promoted to be the editor of the Comment is Free section in general. Where he hangs about arguing with posters who criticise articles, or in particular, slag off Julie Myerson, as far as I can tell.

He should have stuck to the bikes.

Well, after a while in cycle campaigning you do realise that much of the work involves broadcasting the same advice over and over again--which is fine, as lots of people are getting started, etc. Barring major revolutions, cycling is not going to change so incredibly rapidly, and the important things will remain the important things, and that's what people will want information on. Boring, perhaps, but cycling's increasing tremendously in this country, in all sorts of ways and all sorts of areas, so a bit of patience is worth it.

I agree that good advice has to be disseminated amongst the populace. However I believe instead of retreading the same issues they should maybe have FAQ or Advice Section which is clearly linked on the website.

What I was trying to get at (rather poorly) is that their bike blog is under the umbrella of ethical living on their website. To me this would suggest that their bike blog posts would explore subjects that are related to cycling and how it relates to the notion of ethical living ... but they haven't really explored this subjects.

I agree that good advice has to be disseminated amongst the populace. However I believe instead of retreading the same issues they should maybe have FAQ or Advice Section which is clearly linked on the website.

What I was trying to get at (rather poorly) is that their bike blog is under the umbrella of ethical living on their website. To me this would suggest that their bike blog posts would explore subjects that are related to cycling and how it relates to the notion of ethical living ... but they haven't really explored this subjects.

It's absolutely true that putting it under 'ethical living' isn't particularly helpful. The reasons why people want to ride bikes only very rarely have anything to do with ethics. It's either about fun, or saving money, or building up fitness, or for general health--but you'll very rarely find anyone who wants to ride a bike primarily because they think it's worthy. It's an unfortunate general perception that undoubtedly prejudices many people against just enjoying cycling as the enjoyable and fun activity that it is--as things that are morally right, ethical, worthy, or whatever, are always supposed to be hard and unpleasant.

Anyway, as soon as cycling has grown enough, it'll go back to what it actually is, a major cultural preoccupation that occurs a lot in our daily lives, and for all sorts of different reasons, all the while being fun.

^

I agree totally.

just to add a couple of notes - fixing up my fixed bike got stuck into a conversation with a bloke well into his 80s who used to race them in the 1940s. hardly a flash in the pan, more like a reversion to sanity.

the guardian tends to patronise its readers and exploit its journalists. I'm growing to loathe it with a surprisingly fierce passion.

Ethics is a rubbish place to ride a bike. Thuffolk is much better.

Thuthix got hillth, good for thcarlett.

Hillth? Thuffolk hathn't got any hillth. That'th why it'th betht.

Dr Hutch had a good rant about the assumption that "Cycling = Ethical" the other week in [sic] Cycling Weakly. If I can be arsed I'll dig it out and scan it...

I agreed with that column completely.

This made me laugh:

• Do practise your "track stands": this is the old fashioned skill of coming to a complete halt and balancing stationary to psych out your opponent. It's pointless, but looks cool.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/jul/28/victoria-pendleton-cycling

Anyone see today's rather unsettling tale of being mugged for your bike (at 20mph)?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/ethicallivingblog/2009/aug/17/bike-blog-robbery

That's fucking awful.
So glad that I don't live in London...

Just seen that - Fuck me. Enough to make you ride with the d-lock on the handlebars - just in case. a case for Bicycle Vigilante Man ( Repair Man's stroppier big brother). Dalston's a rough spot still.

Horrible story

That really is a horrible, horrible story. This comment, however, made me smile.

"Its times like this that you wish you weren't a pacifist liberal and were actually able to go out as some kind of cycling Travis Bickle."

Ride, my mohawk'd cycle-avenger, RIDE!

Very good Guardian podcast yesterday, featuring cycle training, Cycle Fridays, and a piece on HGVs with Buffalo Bill ahead of a piece on mountain biking that I found it less interesting to listen to, but then I don't do any MTBing.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/audio/2009/sep/02/the-bike-podcast

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/sep/09/bike-blog-cycle-response-unit

I always see those guy riding around and think they must be pretty fit. I remember reading somewhere that the first guy to do it was a n ex semi pr BMX racer.

EDIT yep here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJdJ42QxF6g

I always see those guy riding around and think they must be pretty fit. I remember reading somewhere that the first guy to do it was a n ex semi pr BMX racer.

EDIT yep here
YouTube - Tom Lynch MBE Ambulance BMX services to cycling

Yes, that's Tom Lynch. He's done top work on this.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2009/sep/09/cycling-tour-of-britain-devon

haha nonce!
That part of the world is tough, but its more down to prep than the challenge of the ride

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/green-living-blog/2009/oct/07/bike-swap-brompton-specialized

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/green-living-blog/2009/oct/09/sexy-cyclists

I for one look forward to hearing if Fixed Gear London, the well-known suppliers of fixed-gear bicycles in London's famous London, think fixed-gear bikes are a flash in the pan or here to stay.

i believe it is a flash in the pan