Eats plants
I think I have a name for my new bike: Hoss. People under 40 probably won't understand the reference. It's even old for me except that I watched too much TV as a child. I blame my older sister: she was a TV addict and refused to play with me. We couldn't have survived without… Continue reading Crying through My Fair Lady and Hoss
A few months ago I bought another bike but didn't tell anyone because I've been too scared to ride it. However necessity prevailed today because we had to be on the other side of the city centre in a time too narrow for walking and so with trepidation I took the Beast out. The Beast… Continue reading The Beast
We've had Busby our bakfiets for almost 5 years now. He has been a fantastic investment and I've got so much use out of him. However for the past couple of years I've struggled as the kids are bigger and heavier than they once were. The hills are much harder than they used to be… Continue reading Cargo bike options for older kids and adults
Before I go to bed each night I read the #cycling Twitter feed. There's some good stuff there. Here are some of the things I've seen recently. I thought this was very funny: a car drove into a high-viz shop. https://twitter.com/DrivinHere/status/803944818913214464 This is inspiring. There are 6 children on that bike! I thought I did… Continue reading Some cool things from the #cycling Twitter feed
We're having a party this evening and I ordered Marks and Spencer catering which I collected this morning. The lady in M&S asked me how far away my car was parked and I had to explain that I would be taking it all on my bike. I think she thought I was nuts. But it… Continue reading Party preparations!
I had a request for a photo of myself cycling in my tartan skirt. Ben took this pic today. I love my skirt so much. It's like wearing a woollen blanket.
I got myself a poncho for cycling in the rain to keep my knees dry. Otto London make some really nice ones and I got the clear Festival Poncho which is only £24. I was thinking I looked pretty cool until Ben asked me why I was wearing a condom. I gave my iPhone to the… Continue reading The condom poncho
This trailer for a documentary about the cargo bike movement makes my eyes all watery but in a happy and hopeful way. I relate so much to what the narrator says - the thought of spending my life taxiing children around in a polluting motor vehicle and living in the suburbs makes my heart sink. I… Continue reading Cargo bikes are the future
We ran out of biscuits today which was potentially disastrous. My choice was either to bake some biscuits or cycle to Newton Dee to buy some more. Of course the virtuous thing to do would have been to cycle to Newton Dee to buy the *ingredients* and then return home to cook them but I'm not that virtuous. And so… Continue reading A rainy autumn day on the bike path
On three separate occasions in the past month, pedestrians have called out to me asking for an ice-cream as I cycle by. Does Harald look like an ice-cream bike? Harald: Pashley Classic No. 33: Oh dear! So much for looking cool and trendy. Pak Choi. What a wonderful vegetable. I've been craving leafy greens recently and so… Continue reading Ice-cream or kale, anyone?
I rode the kids to school in Busby today for the first time since March this year. Since then I've been cycling Harald each day. Here's a photo of Busby followed by a photo of Harald so everyone knows what I'm talking about when I say Busby and Harald. Busby: Harald: Busby got sick in… Continue reading Bakfiets vs Butchers and Bicycles cargo bikes
I was cycling the kids home from school this afternoon and just made it to the top of a hill when a young man shouted out in a very exuberant and "look, there's a flying pig!" kind of way, OH MY GOD! YOU MUST BE SO FIT! JESUS! I'm really not that fit but this put a smile… Continue reading Fitness goddess
I'm not happy with my new bicycle. This is hard for me to admit because we spent so much money on it and humans have a tendency to justify expensive decisions like this. The problem I have with Harald is two-fold: I can't walk beside and push him when the kids are inside. Why do I… Continue reading Bicycles and number twos
We were cycling through the centre of Aberdeen earlier and I was feeling great: the weather is perfect, people were staring and smiling at us thanks to Harald (my bike) and I was thinking how cool I must look. Everything was perfect. Then I stopped at some lights to cross the road. When they turned… Continue reading I’m so cool … not
My new bike has a name: Harald after Harald Hardrada. We've had a fantastic day. I spent several hours in the garden this morning. Our garden is amazing and I love it. The kids were also out there building hotels for snails and grubs and worms and anything they could find. It's feeling very much… Continue reading Harald
My new bike arrived today. I could barely sleep last night I was so excited about it. It's a really gorgeous bike and as you can see in the next pic, there's plenty of headroom for the kids which is what I was most worried about. Here are my first impressions after having been in… Continue reading I’ve got a new bike
The school playground saga continues and we're in the process of getting several quotes. Companies that install new playground equipment offer a no-obligation design and quote service and I met one fellow yesterday afternoon to show him the play areas and explain what we wanted. I told him that we can't have swings and slides and I… Continue reading Flatland
I am so close to ordering a new bike. I have been lusting after a new bike for ages and ages now and finally I've decided what I want and we're about to place an order. The delay is because Ben is being very annoying and wants to make sure the bike will fit through… Continue reading I’m getting a new bike!
I love seeing the sorts of things people carry on their bikes. I came across this image today which was taken in Edinburgh (I think!) on the Edinburgh Cycle Chic blog. I think it would be a struggle to get that load into a car but it seems to be almost effortlessly sitting on top of that bike.
“You can’t carry big loads on a bicycle”, Really?
This box wouldn’t easily if in back of a medium sized car, you certainly could get it on a bus, yet here it is on the back of a bicycle. The humble bicycle has all the advantages of car as personal transport, but without the negatives. OK so you wouldn’t want to play a game of dodge the bus when carrying a load like this, so without high quality infrastructure most people are going to try it.
Recently there have been calls for reduction of congestion, air and noise pollution in the City of Edinburgh, well here is a means of personal transport that requires little space, produces zero emissions and is almost silent. It should be a total no brainer to promote cycling as transport and give space to enable people to travel with the lowest impact on the city.
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The kids had my iPhone in the bike on the way home from school today and unbeknownst to me were taking photos with it and even a little movie.
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