petrol v pedal
Fri, 06/01/2012 - 23:20
I love two wheeled transport. Faced with a choice I'd probably opt for a bicycle rather than a motorcycle .
I like the speed and skill involved with motorcycling but dislike the shutting out of the world with helmets, noise, clothing.
I appreciate being able to carve through a mountain pass with minimum effort but love the pile-driving, sweating, lung-scorching, silent, sun-drenched, soul-searching, manual toil to the top that cycling brings.
I am planning a trip to Everest base camp (from Glasgow) in the next year. By Honda it will be relatively quick and easy. By bicycle it will be life at the edge.
What would you do?
Tue, 10/01/2012 - 16:22
#2
Re: petrol v pedal
the pile-driving, sweating, lung-scorching, ...... manual toil to the top that cycling brings.
you're not selling this to me here.
I am planning a trip to Everest base camp (from Glasgow) in the next year. By Honda it will be relatively quick and easy.
quick and easy are not two adjectives that would have sprung to my mind immediately but I know you bicycle fellas are a dedicated lot
What would you do?
Honestly, I would go by motorcycle but that is my passion in life. Either way good on you.
Tue, 10/01/2012 - 22:51
#3
Re: petrol v pedal
I've recently managed to combine the two with the purchase of a 1960 Mobylette bleue. It needs a bit of assistance to get up hills (even slopes actually) but still puts a big grin across my face, the only worthwhile measure of a bike.
If I ever do enough miles to empty the fuel tank I'll let you know how many mpg it does.
Wed, 11/01/2012 - 06:02
#4
Re: petrol v pedal
that is absolutely brilliant. To think as a very young boy I lusted after a Mobylette as my neighbour had an orange one. My Mum hates bikes so getting anywhere near it was strictly off bounds.
Wed, 11/01/2012 - 08:32
#5
Re: petrol v pedal
I once tried pedalling an SS50 . My mates were in tears for hours afterwards. So was I. The crown jewels took a bit of a pummelling. I think I covered all of 3 metres.
Your bike looks good. Restored by your good self? I like the art deco styled mudguards.
At least the mobylette's were designed to be pedalled, unlike the "sports" mopeds of the mid seventies. I wonder what power the mobylette's produces? I say power assuming there's at least one of em! Ha ha.
Wed, 11/01/2012 - 17:38
#6
Re: petrol v pedal
A fantastic adventure in prospect, Playlord, whichever way you cut it. If there is time and fitness aplenty - and if you maybe take the view that the greatest achievements are those hardest won - then why not by bicycle? The route and destination may be the same, but the bicycle will take you through other, richer, and likely much more demanding internal territory. Perhaps another credit on the pedal side of the ledger, in addition to those you've mentioned, is that you'd avoid some of the cultural alienation 'east of Suez' which may attend the traveller mounted on (and clad in) the very best that first world leisure motorcycling has to offer.
Not that you have to sign up for the full-fat, full face, Goretex, ride-by-wire motorcycling comfort blanket, of course. A vintage Mobylette might be pushing it if dependability and a reasonable degree of ground-covering prowess are somewhere near the top of your list of requirements. But, as in so many things (and as we've discussed elsewhere on these pages), simplicity has much to commend it as a general principle by which to select a motorcycle and kit. Here's an inspirational tale-in-progress, guided by similar considerations, that I've been following on and off for a while: http://underboningtheworld.blogspot.com/
Anyway, I'm pleased to know that you must be healing up - and have not been put off! - following your encounter with the imbecile taxi driver. I hesitate to say that I enjoyed it, but your blogged account of the incident made for vivid reading ("my leg like marzipan in a bed of red foam and yellow straps") and I hope the writing of it was of some therapeutic value, too.
Wed, 11/01/2012 - 21:30
#7
Re: petrol v pedal
I love two wheeled transport. Faced with a choice I'd probably opt for a bicycle rather than a motorcycle .
What would you do?
What would you do?
Why not do both! I have a Suzuki and an Aprilia, but I also have a TREK 7700 hybrid bicycle. Last summer, I did a 200 mile cycling trip along the River Danube between Passau (Germany) and Vienna, while the motorbikes stayed at home in the garage.
Wed, 11/01/2012 - 22:12
#8
Re: petrol v pedal
I wish I could claim credit for the Moby rennovation but I can't. I've just transfered job locations and my daily commute has been reduced from 76 miles to 2 miles. Around the same time an idle look through ebay turned up this little beauty locally for £450. Of course the distance is not suitable for my current stable so a Moby was obviously indespensible. It also helped that the better half (who ably controls the purse strings) thought it was cute. Job done.
I don't think it's entirely suitable for the more mountainous regions of Tibet but it is apparently very reliable, time will tell. I defy anyone to come up with a simpler motorcycle with less moving parts though. As for power I've failed to find any stats for them, I think if you have to ask it isn't enough. Its most powerful descendant produces a wopping 2 1/2 hp! Not sure where that's measured. Perhaps JAG could come up with a power/thrust curve?
I too tried to pedal my SS50. Once. I seem to remember a complicated procedure swinging the footrests around so they resembled pedals.
One thing I love about this site is there is such a wide appreciation of bikes of all shapes and sizes, with no snobbery!
Not so keen on the "pile-driving, sweating, lung-scorching" but I do like going downhill on a bike with no helmet. On me not the bike. Best of British to you Playlord.
Wed, 11/01/2012 - 23:36
#9
Re: petrol v pedal
Thanks to all for comments.
Rocca, the writing of that account was surprisingly therapeutic as you suggest.
Everest has been a totem for me for a long time. If you haven't read Jon Krakauer's fine account of the 1996 Everest disaster I can recommend it very highly though you must allow for the fact that you will be unable to put it down:
"A bank of clouds was assembling on the not-so-distant horizon, but journalist-mountaineer Jon Krakauer, standing on the summit of Mt. Everest, saw nothing that "suggested that a murderous storm was bearing down." He was wrong. The storm, which claimed five lives and left countless more--including Krakauer's--in guilt-ridden disarray, would also provide the impetus for Into Thin Air, Krakauer's epic account of the May 1996 disaster.
"I have no doubt that Boukreev's (one of the employed guides) intentions were good on summit day," writes Krakauer in a postscript dated August 1998. "What disturbs me, though, was Boukreev's refusal to acknowledge the possibility that he made even a single poor decision. Never did he indicate that perhaps it wasn't the best choice to climb without gas or go down ahead of his clients."
If I make it, it will be a pilgrimage although I will draw the line at the effort of the late Goran Kropp:
"For his famous 1996 ascent, Kropp left Jönköping (Sweden) on October 16, 1995, on a specially-designed bicycle with 108 kg (240 lb) of gear and food. He traveled 8,000 miles on the bicycle and arrived at Everest Base Camp in April 1996.
Following a meeting of all of the Everest expeditions currently on the mountain, it was agreed that Kropp would attempt to summit first. On May 3, Kropp blazed a trail through thigh-deep snow and reached a point 300 feet from the summit. However, Kropp decided to turn around because it was too late in the day and if he continued, he would be descending at dark.
While Kropp recovered from the ordeal at base camp, the 1996 Everest Disaster unfolded. Kropp helped bring medicine up the mountain. Three weeks later, on May 23, Kropp again tackled the mountain, this time successfully summitting (without extra oxygen support). He then cycled part of the way back home.
He returned to Everest in 1999 with girlfriend Renata Chlumska to undertake a cleanup, during which they removed 25 discarded canisters from the mountain. They also made a successful summit attempt together."
Thu, 12/01/2012 - 18:21
#10
Re: petrol v pedal
You're reeling me in playlord....I look forward to hearing more as the year progresses.
Oh my 'rebel that Mobylette is indeed a thing of beauty. Delighted to see the clean lines of the handlebars, unsullied by s*tn@v!
Thu, 12/01/2012 - 21:23
#11
Re: petrol v pedal
Thank you silvercub. The Moby is remarkably unsullied all over actually. No ignition switch, indicators, brake light, battery, clutch or gears for example. There is a speedo but it doesn't work, which is fine because the chances of going past a camera at over 30mph are remote. There are however 2 chains and a belt to help things along. And now to the road test.
First off it passes the all important 'coffee test' (do you want to stand in the garage with a coffee and just look at it?) with flying colours and is cheap to run. Road tax, free. Insurance, £30. Depreciation, negligable. Petrol consumption I suspect will be measured in months per gallon rather than miles.
I went on a 3 mile test ride this evening after work. It started first prod and sailed along happily enough with the aid of a bit of frantic pedaling at times. Truly petrol and pedal in harmony. Handling was more than adequate, brakes just about adequate and seat comfort barely adequate. It is quite possibly the slowest taxable vehicle on British roads but it does move so performance is there. Pillion comfort isn't a sensible question, neither is overtaking potential. At the end of the ride I got off and felt, well, happy.
Can I have a job Kev?
Thu, 12/01/2012 - 21:25
#12
Re: petrol v pedal
Playlord, I'm going to have to chase up that book, sounds a great read.
Have you come across Shackltons memoirs of his journey? Available free on kindle and the main part is a fascinating ripping yarn. Unputdownable.
Thu, 12/01/2012 - 21:41
#13
Re: petrol v pedal
UR, just finished Shackleton's 'South' on Kindle: a remarkable man and a survival story stunning in its time-span, endurance and determination.
The stiff-upper-lip 'slightly sticky situation' flavour of ES's diary entries epitomises the Victorian Englishman for many, I'm sure.
Barring tsunamis and other natural disasters, the power of the motivated, committed human being surpasses everything in nature, imo.
Read Touching the Void and it will change your view of humanity. Read Into Thin Air for the finest 70,000-word piece of journalism you will find telling of man's (and women's) frailty, pride, courage, arrogance, life and death. Both are books you will read again and again.
Thu, 12/01/2012 - 21:53
#14
Re: petrol v pedal
Slightly off topic but I will indeed follow your recomendations.
Have you seen pictures of the boat he made his final bid for freedom in? Simply amazing. And the navigation! Not to mention the penguins swan song(?) for the lost ship. A great read.
Thu, 12/01/2012 - 23:19
#15
Re: petrol v pedal
Aye UR, the James Caird: achievement measured against modern day survival stories ( bar Joe Simpson in Touching The Void) almost unfathomable
Fri, 13/01/2012 - 07:19
#16
Re: petrol v pedal
UcR
Regarding a typical outing on the moby. What does one choose as suitable attire? Given all the frantic pedalling?
Does one opt for the full Ewan c'nobi desert touring regalia.
Or just Lycra?
Quite a dilemma I should think.
Fri, 13/01/2012 - 19:46
#17
Re: petrol v pedal
In keeping with the simple theme I imagine whatever you happen to be wearing would be 'suitable'.
As I am not actualy in possesion of a Ewan outfit or lycra the dilemma wasn't too bad. I went with my normal pair of old army boots, jeans, and a light jacket in the end. An open face helmet and leather gloves completed the ensamble. I'm sure some will disaprove but I think AGATT would be a bit over the top? I did think about wearing my clergy shirt and dog collar but decided not to on this occasion.
Which would look more silly d'ya think, full racing leathers or lycra?
Maybe an old style leather 'rocker' jacket would be good a la many Moby pin badges? I have a pair of Goldtop boots, seaboot socks and even a fringed leather in the garage somewhere. What do you think? On second thoughts, not convinced the boots would be good for frantic pedaling.
What to wear, oh what to wear!
AARRGGG!! I'm turning into a woman!!!
Fri, 13/01/2012 - 20:18
#18
Re: petrol v pedal
UcR: "!! I'm turning into a woman!!!"
Calm down dear.
Eee. Goldtop boots. I remember em well. Had a Goldtop jacket as well. Them were t' days.
For nipping out on the moby? Nah. Not worth the effort.
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Also you can't get away with riding on the pavement or down one way streets the wrong way riding across pedestrian crossings ignoring traffic lights riding after dark with no lights or any of the other ileagal practises we see everyday from some (I emphasise some) cyclists if your on a motorcycle