Don't know where you get those facts Derek.

He may not buy a car though cycling often a hobby/sport rather than sole means of transport but given the price of some bikes a loan etc is quite likely.

Some do take out insurance (even though not compulsory) particularly against theft or damage

Indirect fuel as in food and there are many bike shops doing a roaring trade in repair and servicing and many of these bike shops have a cafe

I'll give you the parking one unless you count driving to somewhere to ride

Cyclists have killed pedestrians

Cycling can give you ailments and falling off your bike may need treatment

Edited By JasonB on 19/08/2021 13:05:38

Hi Derek,

Isn't hospital treatment expensive? It certainly is where I live. So if a cyclist is less likely to need medical treatment, might have fewer sick days etc., so wouldn't the UK save money that could be used on other parts of the society? I'm with Jason.

Thor

I'm also not sure about some of the Mcdonalds "assumptions" either

If a new one opens then people in that area will not have to travel so far which means less petrol or risk of a traffic accident so one boost to teh local economyis cancelled out by the other reduction.

What did those people going to the new Mcdees do for food before the new one opened? I suspect a lot just want to another fast food chain or the nearest Mcs so their health would not suddenly suffer needing all those doctors etc.

Then again if the old Mcs was a long way off and they had to cycle or walk there they may now be worse off as they will still be eating junk food and not getting any exercise..

I admire the brave people on this forum who are prepared to stick their head above the parapit and get shot at!

Peter

Lighten up, JB, there is always an opposite or alternatives. Was it Confucius who said ‘many hands make light work’ – and also ‘too many cooks spoil the broth’.

Another pair of opposites that comes to mind – ‘Out of sight, out of mind’ versus ’Absence makes the heart grow fonder’.

We try to eat reasonably healthy meals. I can’t eat all the runner beans coming off while my wife is away, so I gave some to a close neighbour the other day and they were very appreciative and were clearly going to consume them PDQ.

Today, I offered some to another neighbour and I was quietly surprised that, while the lady gladly accepted them, she did not know how to prepare/cook them, so I had to relate how I prepared and cooked my runners at lunchtime (string the edges, if necessary – I cannot put up with ‘stringy’ beans – slice diagonally (mum did that) or lengthways and cut shorter, as preferred, then boil for about 10 mins (slightly less with fresh beans).

But cyclists DO spend gobsmackingly ludicrous amounts of money on fancy bikes loaded with exotic materials and rare earths, fantastic lycra superhero costumes, and alien space-monster helmets.

So they do power a specific economic niche.

Ndiy my runner beans when i grew them i nip the ends off as walking up the garden and place in mouth and chew nearly all gone by the time i got to the kitchen and very nice in salads cooking spoils them

Lycra has to be near the top of the list of fashion crimes plus there should be counselling available for some of the sights you cannot unsee.

Mike

lycra… runner beans…

No good, we're going to have to have Fashion and Gardening groups!

Pgk Pgk – I note you advise the hand-cranked bean-slicer. Fitness and the environment sorted in one go and not even holding up a single motorcyclist.

Nice one Derek. After spending an hour stationary on the M25 this evening I wish more of the dunderheads would stick to cycles instead of cars.

NDIY have you got any peas to give her – if she doesn't know what to do tell her they are just a fat variety of beans.

It is amazing how many people don't know what we think of as common knowledge. A few years ago I witnessed my neighbour's visiting mother who had been sent down the garden to sort out the bonfire pile trying to light the corner of the neatly folded complete copy of the Guardian.

I've just spent various period over the last week or so watching my 81 year old neighbour re-build his rockery at the top, sloping part of a long garden carrying all the rocks by hand from the front of the house a good 50 yds. I'm ashamed to say I felt worn out just watching him.

As a break, he puts on his lyrca kit and goes a 20 mile cycle ride. He's always been a cyclist and seems to think nothing of lengthy trips come rain or shine – so there must some be something in it re fitness?

PS loved the original post – always nice to have a chuckle.

Edited By Mike Hurley on 20/08/2021 10:36:09