Poor man's form of transport?

Ha ha, I felt I had to point that out, as it was you!

1. It's cheap. You spend only as much as you need. The fact that someone poor can afford it makes all the social-friendly.

2. It's good for your heart/health (keeps off getting bored and doing drugs)

3. The "society" approves of it as a green way of transport (chicks dig that stuff ya now).

4. It's small, mobile and can take you almost anywhere were you can walk.

5. Quickest way of transport on ground in any big city. Definitely puts you ahead of the game. Whilst others are tackling and finding solutions for new technology and means of transport, we should be perfecting something that's been around for more than a century.

6. It's a load of fun really.

This could have been an interesting discussion.

stop bitchin, go ride man

Nah, i'll get a taxi.

"The richer people become the further they cycle, according to official figures overturning conventional wisdom that the bicycle is largely a poor man’s mode of transport."

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article2500754.ece

I can afford the car. Got two of them. More, I have to use the car - and a big one - as I'm a part of a quite big family unit, but

1. cycling gave me new friends
   
2. something to do with my spare time (tinkering)
   
3. helped me to shed some weight and feel more energetic
   
4. gave me a worthy cause to support
   
5. made me feel young again
   (6. stripped me of my savings - don't tell my wife)
   
6. gave me new subject to learn about to keep my mind exercised too!
   

Run that one by me again mate? Blue Quinn; the forum's very own Marie Antionette.

Old but big comfy well equipped barges with plenty of life in them can often be bought for bugger all. The massive depreciation on them makes them surprisingly cheap, there is a large amount of them on the market, they are well-made so last a long time, all of which brings them down into old banger money. And that's just the posh stuff, More ordinary, but still perfectly good and well-equipped motors are virtually worthless after a few years. Which is why Minicabs are actually in pretty decent condition these days.

There are plenty of Mercs and Jags on Autotrader for less than £500 for example, and lesser makes can be had for less than £200.

That's right, bluequin. When the Euston to Manchester peak fares went up to 200 notes off the back of Scumbag Branson's continued pillage of the train user, I could regularly buy a car for a ton and sell it again for for the same a few days later.

As I was cycling down Kings Road yesterday, in this lovely weather, I was thinking precisely what Mark was. How poor these people are stuck in their cars, expensive or cheap! I had the wind, the freedom, the speed, the control and self reliance, the exhileration, the buzz of my heart, the beauty of movement - we're meant to move. It what we're about. We're not mean to be stationary, sedentary idiots.

I have found since I now use a lower gear ratio, I feel more free. It gets a bit spinny on flats at great speed but acceleration wise and in heavy traffic it is wonderful!

The psychology of transport choices is an endlessly interesting subject. At the end of the day, people do what's normal. I'm definitely a usual suspect when it comes to raving about how great cycling is, but ultimately you want to make it a normal activity that's suitable for all times of the week, practical and leisure, at different registers and as a major cultural preoccupation.

There is definitely a widely-held prejudice that cycling is only for poor people. That we know it's not true doesn't mean that it's not interesting why people might think (and feel) that. In my opinion, it has a lot to do with the perception that nowadays carriages, i.e. movable rooms in which you can sit much like you would sit at home and enjoy home comforts, are now available to everyone. To a lot of people this means a feeling of democratisation, as carriages used to be reserved for the nobility.

Naturally, it is still possible to financially cripple yourself running or owning one, but high rates of car ownership speak for themselves. There are of course a lot of other factors, but I think that that's the background to most of the arguments in favour that you normally hear. Of course, this has gone on for so long now that many people are simply tied to their car for (im)practical reasons, e.g. having to commute to a town where there isn't a train connection.

Anyway, a lot could be written on this, but it is more complex than just 'rich' and poor' (wo)man's choices of transport. It's totally symptomatic of how we plan our towns and cities, how society is run, etc.

The psychology of transport choices is an endlessly interesting subject.

No Oliver, it's not. Get to the pub...
;-/

Working in cycling is definitely for the poor, from the bike shop mechanic, in his lightless, oily pit, to the pro rider, desperately supplementing his short-term career with tasteless sponsorships and humiliating public appearances.

Oliver, for instance, gets paid in chocolate bars which he has to sell from a kiosk in Baker St, just so he can afford to buy inner tubes.

I hope they are vegan chocolate bars

Whatever's in. It was Curly Wurlys last time

Poor man's transport?

On the contrary, I'm pretty sure there's been research done that suggests keen cyclists (as a group) have average salaries higher than the average for the population as a whole.
its because people blow so much money on bikes getting the newest equipment etc they need a higher paying job ;)

its because people blow so much money on bikes getting the newest equipment etc they need a higher paying job ;)

even so it's still cheaper than a new £30,000 BMW that usually expected of people with higher salary.

Bollocks; I regularly spend 30 grand on a 'build'. I haven't eaten in a week but my Current Project is garnering 'mad props' and +1s and that's all that really matters.

even so it's still cheaper than a new £30,000 BMW that usually expected of people with higher salary.

What is the correct bike equivalent to a 30k bmw?
When i'm the boss i'm getting a custom madone.

30k BMW = V8 Commodore = substance abusing pathetic male with small penis and bad skin with pretend gangster car, inferiority complex .. so probably best bike equivalent is Specialized S-Works Tarmac. Yeah, sounds right.

The psychology of transport choices is an endlessly interesting subject. At the end of the day, people do what's normal. I'm definitely a usual suspect when it comes to raving about how great cycling is, but ultimately you want to make it a normal activity that's suitable for all times of the week, practical and leisure, at different registers and as a major cultural preoccupation.

There is definitely a widely-held prejudice that cycling is only for poor people. That we know it's not true doesn't mean that it's not interesting why people might think (and feel) that. In my opinion, it has a lot to do with the perception that nowadays carriages, i.e. movable rooms in which you can sit much like you would sit at home and enjoy home comforts, are now available to everyone. To a lot of people this means a feeling of democratisation, as carriages used to be reserved for the nobility.

Naturally, it is still possible to financially cripple yourself running or owning one, but high rates of car ownership speak for themselves. There are of course a lot of other factors, but I think that that's the background to most of the arguments in favour that you normally hear. Of course, this has gone on for so long now that many people are simply tied to their car for (im)practical reasons, e.g. having to commute to a town where there isn't a train connection.

Anyway, a lot could be written on this, but it is more complex than just 'rich' and poor' (wo)man's choices of transport. It's totally symptomatic of how we plan our towns and cities, how society is run, etc.

It ain't about psychology of transport.... it cost me almost zero money to get to work each day whereas everyone else spends money. I don't know why people think that is something to be ashamed of ... I think it is fucking excellent.

Then again I detest the rich that have decadence for the sake of it ... I wouldn't understand why anyone would want to live in a 80 room house with a garden that you have to drive around to see and have to employ other people to look after it ... it is totally nuts.

As I was cycling down Kings Road yesterday, in this lovely weather, I was thinking precisely what Mark was. How poor these people are stuck in their cars, expensive or cheap! I had the wind, the freedom, the speed, the control and self reliance, the exhileration, the buzz of my heart, the beauty of movement - we're meant to move. It what we're about. We're not mean to be stationary, sedentary idiots.

I have found since I now use a lower gear ratio, I feel more free. It gets a bit spinny on flats at great speed but acceleration wise and in heavy traffic it is wonderful!

This is the elitist garbage that I hate .... please tell me how do you know how unfortunate they are because they are sitting in traffic ... some I expect have better lives than me and you ... some maybe an inspiration to others ... at the end of the day you don't know jack shit about someone sitting in your car, so don't make judgement based on how much better your life is because you can get somewhere X amount of minutes sooner.

Bollocks; I regularly spend 30 grand on a 'build'. I haven't eaten in a week but my Current Project is garnering 'mad props' and +1s and that's all that really matters.

I haven't yet found the right shade of brown in the Brooks range for my epic build.

30k BMW = V8 Commodore = substance abusing pathetic male with small penis and bad skin with pretend gangster car, inferiority complex .. so probably best bike equivalent is Specialized S-Works Tarmac. Yeah, sounds right.

I work with at least two people who fit that description.

I haven't yet found the right shade of brown in the Brooks range for my epic build.

Brown is the colour of [poo ... will never be seen on a bike I build unless it is actual poo or mud. I do not wish to have a turd torpedo like scot.