Jeremy Clarkson "anti-cycling" column "peddles hate for easy money"... but does anyone actually care any more?; Coolest man in Flanders — Arnaud De Lie pops a wheelie on the Kemmelberg's cobbles; Weekend round-up + more on the live blog

Rendel Harris wrote:

Never miss an opportunity for my favourite Heisenberg joke:

Heisenberg was driving in Germany when he was pulled over by a traffic cop:

"Excuse me mein Herr but you were driving at 60 km/h in a 40 km/h zone."

"Tell me officer, what town are we in?"

"Frankfurt, mein Herr."

"Well if you know where we are you can't possibly know how fast I was going."

belugabob wrote:

brooksby wrote:

Schrodinger's cyclist, innit? 

...or is it Heisenberg's cyclist? I'm not certain...

Upon reflection, Heisenberg actually fits better with the aim of my comment.  I stand corrected.

brooksby wrote:

belugabob wrote:

brooksby wrote:

Schrodinger's cyclist, innit? 

...or is it Heisenberg's cyclist? I'm not certain...

Upon reflection, Heisenberg actually fits better with the aim of my comment.  I stand corrected.

It wasn't a correction - more of an enigmatic juxtaposition, wrapped in a paradox...🤔

Cycling is no longer cheap and cheerful but cyclists are definitely anti-capitalists. His ability to contradict himself so frequently in one column is quite a feat. 

RDaneel wrote:

Cycling is no longer cheap and cheerful but cyclists are definitely anti-capitalists. His ability to contradict himself so frequently in one column is quite a feat. 

That's one of my favourites, cyclists are simultaneously such failures that they can't afford a car and stupid overprivileged MAMILs spending what for some is a year's salary on a child's toy.

RDaneel wrote:

Cycling is no longer cheap and cheerful but cyclists are definitely anti-capitalists.

Do you know many cyclists? That description doesn't fit the vast majority of the ones I know, whether local commuters, fellow club members, in other local clubs and elsewhere.

I think you'll find that cyclists vary hugely. A handful of opinionated types commenting on road.cc are not representative of everyone who rides on 2 or 3 wheels; by describing all people who use a bicycle (or trike) in that way you are fooling no-one but yourself.

And cycling is still cheap. Perhaps you simply choose to read about expensive bikes, parts and clothing. In most places in the UK cycling is a lot cheaper than running a car or using public transport. Last time I did some sums it was about the tenth of the cost of running my old, basic hatchback.

I think RDaneel is just quoting what Jeremy Clarkson wrote.

Indeed I was,  I should have been clearer (again! 😅) that that was the ridiculous level of contradiction in Clarksons column amongst the many. Not my thinking at all! 

No; he was critiquing his writing; quite different from quoting..

Well said; very true.

NotNigel wrote:

I do like how cyclists on roads hold motorists up but as soon as they mount the pavement they hit 50mph.

Drivers really should learn not to drive on pavements at 50 mph

Yes I expect the anti-helmet brigade are quite happy and respect his right to not wear a helmet, while the pro-helmet brigade are quietly keeping their fingers crossed and hoping for the best (or perhaps worst).

ShutTheFrontDawes wrote:

Yes I expect the anti-helmet brigade are quite happy and respect his right to not wear a helmet, while the pro-helmet brigade are quietly keeping their fingers crossed and hoping for the best (or perhaps worst).

Is this "anti-helmet brigade" a straw-man? If not, who are they?

ChrisB200SX wrote:

Is this "anti-helmet brigade" a straw-man?

The strawest of straw men, an invention of the helmet promoters to denigrate people who present them with facts.

ChrisB200SX wrote:

ShutTheFrontDawes wrote:

Yes I expect the anti-helmet brigade are quite happy and respect his right to not wear a helmet, while the pro-helmet brigade are quietly keeping their fingers crossed and hoping for the best (or perhaps worst).

Is this "anti-helmet brigade" a straw-man? If not, who are they?

There certainly are some, on this very website even, that put forward rediculous arguments against wearing helmets. Even going so far as suggesting, on multiple occasions, that helmets kill people. Sometimes by strangulation and sometimes by forcing car drivers to drive dangerously. The causal relationship is, needless to say, tenuous.

Oh look, one of them has already replied to my comment

I love how, even though I called both groups 'brigades' you still pick up on it. Can't help yourselves, can you?

Best stay away from fires: straw is quite inflammable.

Whose argument am I distorting there? Did you or did you not say that helmets "must cause deaths" (I'm sure I can dredge up the comment and quote the whole thing if it helps your memory)? Did you or did you not copy a quote to this website that implied that a young girl's death was caused by her helmet (again, I expect I could find it to quote you verbatim if that helps)? Do you or do you not tell people that helmets do not prevent injuries at every opportunity you get (I'm sure I could find half a dozen or so examples to help your memory)?

You even take issue when someone says that cyclists should wear helmets, as per the highway code. And that is just a fact that no amount of your bleating can get around.

Cycling Monkey is particularly vitriolic against helmet wearing; a bit like Jeremey Whine carrying on about not needing to wear hi-vis and reflectives..

Mungecrundle wrote:

I don't understand why Jeremy Clarkson is at all surprised that every other person passing him calls him a c*** *. After all, he is highly recognisable and almost everyone will know who he is. *His words, not mine.

I reckon that was the real reason that Boris Johnson gave up cycling...

Mungecrundle wrote:

I don't understand why Jeremy Clarkson is at all surprised that every other person passing him calls him a c*** *. After all, he is highly recognisable and almost everyone will know who he is. *His words, not mine.

Maybe he is surprised that it is only every-other person?