Why do so many of us take a softer approach to pedalling drunk?

A nice little article about being under the influence and bikes.

http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/green-living/simon-usborne-why-do-so-many-of-us-take-a-softer-approach-to-pedalling-drunk-1880932.html

It’s a dilemma I face most Friday nights when, looking incongruous in my shorts and clippy-cloppy shoes at the poncy pub round the corner from work, someone asks, “Shall I get the next one?”. Inevitably the response from my Underground-bound workmates is “yes”. So I have a second beer. Quite often I’ll say yes again before I hit my drink cycling limit of three pints and ride home.

       Either this scenario sounds familiar and you sympathise or you’re horrified    I’d consider cycling on so much beer. After all, I wouldn’t dream of driving    after three pints. So why do so many of us take a softer approach to    pedalling under the influence, which more often evokes images of ruddy    Frenchmen wobbling past vineyards than shattered bones and dead children?  

I can ride a steady line on three pints. I take more care and have even reasoned that I’m better off riding faster; I’m more stable the quicker I go – like a gyroscope. Years ago, I had imbibed considerably more than my limit one night when I had my only drinkrelated bike accident. Balancing at a deserted junction, I toppled over and grazed my jaw. It was stupid, but I’d only damaged myself.
But these are the defences of the indefensible drunk driver, aren’t they? After three pints I am undoubtedly less steady on my wheels and surely slower to react to other road users. A couple of years ago, a friend of a colleague lost a drunken punch-up with a truck at a notorious London roundabout. He’s not laughing, he’s paralysed from the neck down.
Am I breaking the law? It’s an offence to be “under the influence of drink or a drug to such an extent as to be incapable of having proper control of the cycle” but there’s no legal limit and you’re not obliged take a breath test. The police have to make the call. Unless you’ve committed some other crime, you’ll probably get a £30 fine and be told to walk it off.
Without the deterrent, the stigma or adequate figures on drink cycling accidents, it’s up to the individual to know his limits. Should I just say no to the third, second or even first pint? Have you had a run-in with a copper or come a cropper after a few too many? Let me know by e-mail or, better still, leave comments on the blog. s.usborne@independent.co.uk or see independent.co.uk/cyclotherapy

Drink Cycling is a self resolving problem.

The cyclist is the one who is the most vulnerable, they get drunk and they are more likely to kill themselves than hurt anybody else.

Still a bit irresponsible of course for the problems you may cause someone else by driving under their wheels. But overall, I think death is a good enough deterrent for that.

12 pints. No probs. It's the 13th you have to be wary of.

Having attending drinks got hammered and cycled home, I've been fine.

Its the stairs that have been the fuckers

Last time I went to Wests. On the way home through Oxford Street I got chocked by some roadwork tape. Just came out of no where I tell ya.

I don't take my bike when I go out = no problems.

I drive instead, its much safer.

I think riding fixed pissed is easier than geared or freewheel. Not sure why, but I have done extensive testing via west drinks, and fixed is definately easier...

I think riding fixed pissed is easier than geared or freewheel. Not sure why, but I have done extensive testing via west drinks, and fixed is definately easier...

It's harder to fall asleep on the fixed.

hooligans

Only West drinks are dangerous.

Last time I went to Wests. On the way home through **Oxford Street **I got chocked by some roadwork tape. Just came out of no where I tell ya.

you must have been drunk.

Look at poor Fruitbat. Decides to walk to Wests, leaves the pub, slips on an icy pavement and breaks 3 ribs. If he'd ridden his bike he would have been nowhere near the ice and would have been fine.

Look at poor Fruitbat. Decides to walk to Wests, leaves the pub, slips on an icy pavement and breaks 3 ribs. If he'd ridden his bike he would have been nowhere near the ice and would have been fine.

nope, the week before that he was riding his bike, stopped at some lights, guy rear ended him knocked him off then ran over the top of his bike and drove away, unlucky bastard ha!

Oh yeah, the sad tale of the crushed Shopper.

bikes are not 1000kg missiles travelling at 30-60 mph
unless of course it's hippy doing his commute home

bikes are not 1000kg weapons travelling at 30-60 mph
unless of course it's hippy riding to get some pie

Fixed.

dicki's is funnier, sorry

:0)

9 pints of cider at a wedding did for me as I lay spewing up in the road facing an 11 mile ride home My mate rode home and came and rescued me in his mums car ....thus defeating the object of cycling in the first place

i cycled 2 miles home in (and out of) a cycle lane, after 11 pints.

I dont actually know how i stayed upright, but i did

well if your drunk it would usually be later at night (excluding the obvious few)
at which there are very few cars around, or at least thats my justification

^^ much to learn.

Bit slow, but inevitable.

But Murts also saves capsized sailors when drunk too. But I agree with your comments about him.