Bike Forums - The Pootle Thread

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Quote:

Originally Posted by nigelme (Post 6930176)

Reaching speeds above 12mph is actually called 'Velocitating'
:speedy:

If it has a legal-sounding name, somebody will ban it.....:(

Quote:

Originally Posted by trueno92 (Post 6928974)

using the bike for complete, no-holds-barred recreation?

Oh no, not that! What a waste of a bike!;)

Quote:

Originally Posted by veloceleste (Post 6931219)

Oh no, not that! What a waste of a bike!;)

i only gots 1 gear, dude.. im tired of always being slow... pootling would be what im always doing on two wheels if that were the case!

an urban pootle in Manchester this Sunday am...

this is at Manchester University, alma mater, where even bike have their own dept.

HH7 is the Dean

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/l...y/CIMG0168.jpg

these guys were a long way from home:

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/l...y/CIMG0167.jpg

My love is history: this is on what was Chorlton Town Hall. People pass by without looking up. Not me.

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/l...y/CIMG0180.jpg

HH7 he say "there I was restin' against the rail, and this birdy came nuzzling up..... chick magnet, thats me..."

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/l...y/CIMG0185.jpg

the Midland Hotel is where on May 4 1904 the engineer Mr Royce met the financier Mr Rolls (source: wikipedia).
Local myth is they sat in the car and Mr Rolls said "you can turn the engine on now Mr Royce" and Mr Royce said "it is turned on already".

Impressed with the silence and smoothness of the running, Rolls struck the deal, and Rolls-Royce was born.

An amazing coincidence really, because Rolls-Royce is the term used to denote high quality luxury items.

Anyway, one night I had a few beers there, next day, Mr Hammer met Mr Head.

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/l...y/CIMG0189.jpg

At the Free Trade Hall in Manchester 1976 there was a famous concert featuring the Six Pestols.

If everyone who now says there were there was there it would have had to have been at Old Trafford. (A soccer game establishment, m'lud).

A guy had a market stall in front of the town hall , he wouldn't let me take a pic of the t-shirt feature poster for said show, but allowed me to get a smidgen of it in this picture of his logo'd bag

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/l...y/CIMG0192.jpg

Finally, our American cousins will recognize this guy, the great Abraham Lincoln, his statue is in Lincoln Square, on the plinth is his letter to the working men of Manchester thanking them for their boycott of southern cotton during the Civil War.

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/l...y/CIMG0195.jpg

I love my city, will pootle and post anon.

Aaargh! It's one of those mad potty Hammerheads. Aaarrghhhh! And Abe Lincoln rides one!

Thanx G_G. My HH was out today, but nowhere interesting. I was at the gig with the Six Pistoleros. (Not)

yay Beamish.... I once taught a course for Durham CC there, do they still have that big country house? Bet its been sold off.... happy memories. And you can't beat that 5am on a cycle vibe.

Quote:

Originally Posted by gringo_gus (Post 6942066)

yay Beamish.... I once taught a course for Durham CC there, do they still have that big country house? Bet its been sold off.... happy memories. And you can't beat that 5am on a cycle vibe.

Don't know which house you mean unless Beamish Hall? I haven't lived here long and on the move again in a couple of months, nice area to cycle in but hilly:)

Oh-woo! I haven't been to Beamish since I was about 10... I love the place - the 'Newcastle Brown Ale Tram', happy piggies, victorian shops - retro heaven...

Quote:

Originally Posted by SesameCrunch (Post 6921465)

...
I rode 25 miles and about 1500 ft of climbing today on the Mini. Got to a top speed of 35.9mph on a downhill and ran out of gears to pedal.
...

Just wanted to inform you, your record still stands. On a downhill yesterday I got up to 35.7 before I had to slack off a little as a car threatened to make a left turn in front of me. I need a better hill.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sammyboy (Post 6928312)

*cough* my average speed was inadvertently higher than the pootle limit. Peak speed on my pootle, 34 mph. Oops.

Poser! :D

Quote:

Originally Posted by snafu21 (Post 6880942)

http://i26.tinypic.com/16m4ydf.jpg

OH NO! They're Breeding!

I was out on the bike today and parked up at the end of the runway at RAF Brize Norton. Ya sits there for five minutes; a set of nearby traffic lights turn red to hold back the traffic, then a Tristar full of armed troops whacks over your head ten metres off the deck and lands in front of you. All quite potty.

While I'm recovering my hearing and trying not to be sick with the huge noise, some sort of hopped up black jet fighter touches down, then takes off again without stopping. Meantime the sky is full of helicopters. The planes are all kitted out for air-to-air refuelling, with odd looking sticky-out bits you don't get on the civvy aircraft.

I'll try and grab some pix tomorrow. Last day of my cycling holiday. Should make a nice pootle.

I figured, I'll revitilize the "pootle" thread with some action from Toronto.

We have had to wait about 7 months for this awesome weather to finally hit. Sunny, Warm, and little wind! The pootle was the first on the daily agenda, followed with some errands, washing/waxing the car and hosting a bbq, so yah, pretty packed day, but totally worth every second of it!

I finally managed to source and mod my strida to accomedate 170mm cranks, something from an SRAM-Dual Drive setup from a local recumbant builder! the difference is certainly noticible.

No real direction for this extended jaunt, just a good ride to explore a bit of toronto on bike, as I found that cities are so much different experienced on 2 wheels other than 4. Combined with the fact that downtown toronto is rather nice to bike thru, you are joined by many other cyclists that are also enjoying the weather. The current gas prices has turned many recreational cyclists into daily commuters and panniers, packs, etc are quite common on anything short of a fixie or multispeed racer.

To give the internationals a better idea of my run, I have googlemapped it so you guys can explore along with me from the bird-or sattlite-view

http://img133.imageshack.us/img133/9224/mapze5.jpg

Click on the map for full googlemap details!

OK, well, the ride was mainly inner-city and this i found was the stridas REAL HIGH POINT. I always complain that strida is too slow. actually with the pace that most cyclists use in the city, the strida is bang on with great gearing. inclines are easy-peasy, and coasting speed is on par or even a bit easier than the average bike riding along with you.

I found i could keep up easily with most riders and only this FELT carbon/spandex-clad roadie sprinted away with me without drama, leaving me, well, far behind. The 16" wheels are perfect for city roads and I would actually feel quite naked/dangerous to be riding anything smaller at any decent speed. An eccentric gentlemen in a mobiky genius was farting along at a relaxed pace and for good reason - a pothole would turn his morning ride into a visit to the hospital!

genius, but maybe only for a road where potholes are non-existant!

The strida's quick-handling has been said to be compared to with track-cycles. I am not 100% sure if that can be a fair comparison, but i did find the quick steering to be quite helpful in china town and kensington market, where people are in the streets and organization means nothing. I didn't have to SLAM the brakes a single time on the trip, but the avid bb7s provided great feel, repeatedly, confidently. Oh and the Champion Flyer? Best investment ever.. esp after upping the rear tire specs to accomdate 100psi!!!

well enough with my blabber, here are the pics of my journey.. sorry they are 1024px.. enjoy!

http://img395.imageshack.us/img395/6728/tdcenterid7.jpg

http://img376.imageshack.us/img376/1659/td2uz4.jpg

Ride started out around the financial district in toronto downtown...

http://img378.imageshack.us/img378/9...64largezr0.jpg
http://img235.imageshack.us/img235/3...singtonjw7.jpg

Then hit chinatown for some quick eats... and Kensington Market. The fence leads to PARTS UNKNOWN - a bike shop that is wall to wall full of random bike parts, all hanging, burried, and, just everywhere. its creepy and run by a guy named george. It was just listed for sale in craigslist for $10,000 and that gets 10,000lbs of random bike bike stuff.

http://img376.imageshack.us/img376/8...66largeno9.jpg
http://img395.imageshack.us/img395/3...62largeis4.jpg

More Kengsinton market, and finally arrive at the Rogers Center and the foot of the CN tower. Fantastic to travel here by bike, its really nice, safe, slow and quiet - in the heart of the city

http://img371.imageshack.us/img371/2466/beachmr6.jpg

One of torontos beaches... there is the Martin Goodman trail here, its quite nice, and many avid cyclists are testing themselves and their equipment here.

http://img369.imageshack.us/img369/3494/cherrytm5.jpg

Cherry st, and gives you a good perspective of how far I got away from the CN TOWER.

http://img378.imageshack.us/img378/4859/dundasgv3.jpg

Decided to wrap up at DUNDAS SQUARE. took the subway back up to north york!

Strida performed quite admirably, and NOTHING BROKE! yippie!!

Inspired by all the great pics posted, here's moving the focus from West to East. Cambodia, Phnom Penh to be precise.

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l2...entralMktR.jpg
Central Market - constructed in mid 1930s

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l2...es/marketR.jpg
Their version of a supermarket - fresh as fresh can be. Fishes still gasping, even...

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l2...TukdriverR.jpg
Traffic is bad so overheating is a great concern. Note ingenious water cooling system via a leaking container on this motorbike taxi. Gates of the Royal Palace.

this is possibly one of the greatest threads in the history of online forums, let alone bikeforums, let alone the folding section of bikeforums. Where else do you get Toronto and Pnom Penh in one day. I love cities, I love folders. Thanks so much the both of you, what great pootles.

Hi Gringo Gus,

THIS is why I love foldies - they help us explore all these exotic places so effortlessly. Now you got me going, here's more pics about Phnom Penh. It is truly 3rd world in many sense eg poor roads, corruption, guns still available, might is right etc but it is certainly an experience that is a must-do. The people are exceptionally warm and friendly too. I hope you guys can pop in one day, foldies in tow, of course.

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l2...RPNMuseumR.jpg
The Royal Palace and Royal Museum

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l2...uolSleungR.jpg
Tuol Sleung S21 - Khmer Rouge Torture Centre - a grim reminder of Cambodia's dark past

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l2...s/ZPPMnmtR.jpg
Phnom Penh Monument - inspired by the ruins of Angkor Wat

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l2...BophaBikeR.jpg
Bopha, one of many orphans. HIV is rampant. Taking donations for a new foldie for her :)

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l2...ies/ZbugsR.jpg
Not quite fried spiders but fried bugs. Crickets I think. My Cambodian friends say they are delicious. I dare not try, yet.

Speaking of Angkor Wat, I did a race there 2 years back on a Brompton. It was unforgettable!

http://www.foldsoc.co.uk/Mike/villagefocus.pdf

I better STOP here! Delighted to answer any questions you may have... if I can.

Quote:

Originally Posted by gringo_gus (Post 7012572)

I second the sentiment!! Great thread and great submissions!

Now, I've got to get my @ss out there and Pootle some...

Very cool thread, enjoy the pictures.

One more pic that I think is a classic - Phnom Penh. Forgive my indulgence :)

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l2...dingBromyR.jpg

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldiesONfoldies (Post 7027050)

One more pic that I think is a classic - Phnom Penh. Forgive my indulgence :)

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l2...dingBromyR.jpg

:roflmao2::roflmao2::roflmao2:

That guy would fit right in on Bike Forums!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldiesONfoldies (Post 7027050)

One more pic that I think is a classic - Phnom Penh. Forgive my indulgence :)

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l2...dingBromyR.jpg

Dont keep us in suspense, did he marry the girl or take off on the bike? :)

snafu is your bike a boardwalk, and is it any good?, ive seen 1 on ebay :)

truena, was it hard to install those disk breaks on that strider and also put a rack on it?, also is the strida durable and any good and would u recomend the mark 1 or 2? and last question is it comfortable?

ohh thanks now i know what that bike is, someone told me it was a boardwalk :), also wat model is it, 2006, 2007, 2004 etc? :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dynocoaster (Post 7028272)

Dont keep us in suspense, did he marry the girl or take off on the bike? :)

Dont know... I was busy trying to get my Brommie back. But it wd make a wonderful wedding present ya?
:)

I have a Pootle question -

If you Pootle and have no pictures, it is still a Pootle?

I did a quintessential Pootle ride on my Merc today. Slow, lingering ride through pretty neighborhoods and towns. Did not knowingly exceed 12mph :innocent: . But alas, my wife has our camera with her on her trip to Europe. So no pics :(.

So, did I Pootle today? :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by SesameCrunch (Post 7071331)

Nope!! :lol: You're like the falling tree in the forest with no one around to hear...

No pictures? It didn't happen! ;)
Can you draw what you saw maybe?

:roflmao::roflmao::roflmao:

:roflmao2::roflmao2::roflmao2:

You guys are FUNNY!

This is the best thread ever in the history of Bike Forums!!!!

I was reading Jerome K Jerome's Three Men on a Bumme published 1900.

A bummel, what's a bummel I hear you ask, perhaps fearing more butt-buddy humor...

"A 'Bummel'," I explained, "I should describe as a journey, long or short, without an end; the only thing regulating it being the necessity of getting back within a given time to the point from which one started. Sometimes it is through busy streets, and sometimes through the fields and lanes; sometimes we can be spared for a few hours, and sometimes for a few days. But long or short, but here or there, our thoughts are ever on the running of the sand. We nod and smile to many as we pass; with some we stop and talk awhile; and with a few we walk a little way. We have been much interested, and often a little tired. But on the whole we have had a pleasant time, and are sorry when it's over."

A cycle journey, that is. So a bummel is a pootle, no less?