I rode with an umbrella here in Portland the other day and got some pretty funny looks, some smiles, and a couple chuckles
John Biggins
May 6, 2009, 10:28
This is from Japan. But cycling with an umbrella is very much the custom in the Netherlands, where you see it all the time in that country's drizzly climate (in the UK it would be illegal: “riding a bicycle in such a way as to cause danger to other road users” etc.). The trick, apparently – I've never tried it myself – is to hold the brolly at just the right angle for it to function as an airfoil, supporting itself by its own lift but not becoming airborne.
Another thing which would be illegal in Britain is giving your friend a lift on the rear carrier: another charming feature of Dutch street life of an evening where you see some Nice Young Saskia pedalling along on her ancient black single-speed granny-bike with her friend decorously perched side-saddle on the carrier applying her eye-liner. Likewise no-hands cycling, which the Dutch have brought to an art form, pedalling along furiously with their arms folded or carrying on a mobile-phone conversation. I suppose if you've been riding a bike almost since you could walk then the balance comes naturally to you: myself I could never quite manage it.
The modern trend to drink energy drinks while going along is still a mystery to me, though, as generally it's the person sitting on the back, rather than the one who is pedalling, who drinks the stuff and gets the additional energy.
Christopher Ray Miller
May 6, 2009, 20:09
That's funny – I thought it had become illegal a few months ago to ride a bike while holding an umbrella in Japan. (Perhaps the news item was just about a particular locality: the media often get important details wrong…) Or maybe it's one of those things that are little enforced and honoured mostly in the breech.
[...] velorution Blog Archive Just in case Posted by root 22 minutes ago (http://www.velorution.biz) Log in and claim this comment i rode with an umbrella here in portland velorution is proudly powered by wordpress entries rss and Discuss | Bury | News | velorution Blog Archive Just in case [...]
I rode with an umbrella here in Portland the other day and got some pretty funny looks, some smiles, and a couple chuckles
This is from Japan. But cycling with an umbrella is very much the custom in the Netherlands, where you see it all the time in that country's drizzly climate (in the UK it would be illegal: “riding a bicycle in such a way as to cause danger to other road users” etc.). The trick, apparently – I've never tried it myself – is to hold the brolly at just the right angle for it to function as an airfoil, supporting itself by its own lift but not becoming airborne.
Another thing which would be illegal in Britain is giving your friend a lift on the rear carrier: another charming feature of Dutch street life of an evening where you see some Nice Young Saskia pedalling along on her ancient black single-speed granny-bike with her friend decorously perched side-saddle on the carrier applying her eye-liner. Likewise no-hands cycling, which the Dutch have brought to an art form, pedalling along furiously with their arms folded or carrying on a mobile-phone conversation. I suppose if you've been riding a bike almost since you could walk then the balance comes naturally to you: myself I could never quite manage it.
You do indeed see it all the time over here.
The modern trend to drink energy drinks while going along is still a mystery to me, though, as generally it's the person sitting on the back, rather than the one who is pedalling, who drinks the stuff and gets the additional energy.
That's funny – I thought it had become illegal a few months ago to ride a bike while holding an umbrella in Japan. (Perhaps the news item was just about a particular locality: the media often get important details wrong…) Or maybe it's one of those things that are little enforced and honoured mostly in the breech.
Try riding with an umbrella and a cell phone.
just kidding about the cell phone.
I have been riding my bike everywhere I go since May of 02.
I'm riding from New Orleans to North Carolina with my brother this summer. 700 miles in the southern humidity.
Good comedy sometimes smiles we have sitting here, but shady bike widespread view, happiness is nice
[...] velorution Blog Archive Just in case Posted by root 22 minutes ago (http://www.velorution.biz) Log in and claim this comment i rode with an umbrella here in portland velorution is proudly powered by wordpress entries rss and Discuss | Bury | News | velorution Blog Archive Just in case [...]