Video: Man solves Rubik's Cube one-handed in 40 seconds - while riding Boris Bike

Kadinkski wrote:

Selfish prick. In terms of the sentiment behind the action, I don't see the difference between this idiot and a motorist texting on their mobile.

Probably about 20-70 mph difference I would have thought?

What if you saw someone in a car, in slow moving traffic solving a Rubiks Cube? Still no issue.

He's got skills, but his bike handling was all over the shop. Just as well someone wasn't passing him when he lost his balance (several times).

hylozoist wrote:

Kadinkski wrote:

Selfish prick. In terms of the sentiment behind the action, I don't see the difference between this idiot and a motorist texting on their mobile.

Probably about 20-70 mph difference I would have thought?

Whats that got to do with the sentiment?

Kadinkski wrote:

hylozoist wrote:

Kadinkski wrote:

Selfish prick. In terms of the sentiment behind the action, I don't see the difference between this idiot and a motorist texting on their mobile.

Probably about 20-70 mph difference I would have thought?

Whats that got to do with the sentiment?

Plenty, I think, if you want a serious answer rather than flippant comment.

While a collision with a slow-moving cyclist still has the potential to badly hurt a pedestrian/cyclist, it is much less likely to do so than one with a moving car. A texting motorist could be (and often is) doing so on a fast road at high speed, again with far higher potential for loss of life. Text messages are also arguably much more demanding in terms of concentration - you have to read one or a succession of messages on a relatively small screen, and you have to be able to type using an on-screen keyboard or small keys, so you have to pay quite close attention to the phone to do it (and I don't know about you but I rarely see texting motorists holding their phone up nice and high so they can still see the traffic well).

So that's close mental concentration and visual focus on a small device that is going to take your view away from the road ahead. Not to mention that what you read is likely to distract you. Contrast to Mr I-can-do-a-Rubiks-Cube-while-cycling where you have a larger, easier to manipulate object and a much better chance of seeing a hazard. I would also assume that this guy probably doesn't need to concentrate all that hard on doing a cube, which I suspect was his point.

Not condoning either, but I think the sentiment behind "let me just have this text conversation while I drive along" is quite a bit different from "let me show off with this Rubik's Cube on a Boris Bike" (which if it isn't a combination to automatically woo the ladies I don't know what else is).

No: the real scandal here is that he appears to have his saddle way too low. Shocking.

hylozoist wrote:

Kadinkski wrote:

hylozoist wrote:

Kadinkski wrote:

Selfish prick. In terms of the sentiment behind the action, I don't see the difference between this idiot and a motorist texting on their mobile.

Probably about 20-70 mph difference I would have thought?

Whats that got to do with the sentiment?

Plenty, I think, if you want a serious answer rather than flippant comment.

While a collision with a slow-moving cyclist still has the potential to badly hurt a pedestrian/cyclist, it is much less likely to do so than one with a moving car. A texting motorist could be (and often is) doing so on a fast road at high speed, again with far higher potential for loss of life. Text messages are also arguably much more demanding in terms of concentration - you have to read one or a succession of messages on a relatively small screen, and you have to be able to type using an on-screen keyboard or small keys, so you have to pay quite close attention to the phone to do it (and I don't know about you but I rarely see texting motorists holding their phone up nice and high so they can still see the traffic well).

So that's close mental concentration and visual focus on a small device that is going to take your view away from the road ahead. Not to mention that what you read is likely to distract you. Contrast to Mr I-can-do-a-Rubiks-Cube-while-cycling where you have a larger, easier to manipulate object and a much better chance of seeing a hazard. I would also assume that this guy probably doesn't need to concentrate all that hard on doing a cube, which I suspect was his point.

Not condoning either, but I think the sentiment behind "let me just have this text conversation while I drive along" is quite a bit different from "let me show off with this Rubik's Cube on a Boris Bike" (which if it isn't a combination to automatically woo the ladies I don't know what else is).

No: the real scandal here is that he appears to have his saddle way too low. Shocking.

Obviously theres loads of physical differences. That's not my point.

The sentiment is "I am going to perform a task that distracts me from concentrating on the public space through which I am travelling. It will mean I am slower at reacting to and recognising hazards, as such I am endangering fellow cyclists and pedestrians who I am sharing the road with."

Kadinkski wrote:

Obviously theres loads of physical differences. That's not my point.

The sentiment is "I am going to perform a task that distracts me from concentrating on the public space through which I am travelling. It will mean I am slower at reacting to and recognising hazards, as such I am endangering fellow cyclists and pedestrians who I am sharing the road with."

..I would agree and also think there is a potential problem with consequential physical issues, e.g. if there was a motor vehicle approaching at some speed towards our cube twirling hero, and his lack of concentration or control causes him to swerve, fall off or cause someone else to - the vehicle may well take avoiding actions. That could end well or not so well as we've unfortunately seen recently.

Kadinkski wrote:

Selfish prick. In terms of the sentiment behind the action, I don't see the difference between this idiot and a motorist texting on their mobile.

a difference of a couple of tons and quite a lot of miles per hour maybe?