Friday Things

Sneaking onto the internet this week is a video of commuting in London on a bike. Here it is:




I have to say that it’s not really the experience I’ve had riding a bike to work nearly every day. Sure there have been the odd close call and a bit of abuse once in a while, but nothing much more than you’d expect in everyday life. Often it’s down to something I’ve done, or at least mouthed at a driver that’s annoyed me. While that doesn’t make it ok, it’s not as aggressive as what’s shown in the video dramatisation. Also I think it’s important to learn to put a helmet on if you’re going to be riding in London and in that light here are some more FMFT top tips:

- Wear it as flat as possible – use reference points conveniently located on your head (ears, eyebrows etc) to help.
- Unlike the guy in the film, keep the straps either side of your ears, not over them.
- If the weather is appropriate, the arms of sunglasses always go over the straps.

On a serious note it seems that the icy conditions on the roads have proved fatal for at least one cyclist, as the Islington Gazette reports. It’s tragic when anyone loses their life cycling and it’s a good reminder of why it’s important to wear a helmet, even if you think you’re an experienced cyclist riding on safe roads. Riding on ice is unpredictable, however much you usually know what you’re doing and it can catch the best of us out with no notice at all.

Finally, in a world where the more technical materials seem to be better it’s nice to see some really old-style engineering. These bikes from a Japanese boat builder are amongst the most beautiful I have ever seen. I’m still in the market for a high-tech carbon composite metal alloy bike, despite all that.

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