"Older Ladies" cycling in Feltham - How did that happen?

Dransfield

Part of my journey to a client involves cycling through Feltham (near
Heathrow), and one thing I've noticed is how common it is to see older
ladies (60+) tootling about on bikes. What's going on there then?
It really highlights how much I take for granted that everywhere else the
"transport cyclists" are usually middle class men.

What messes with my brain is that on the one hand it makes perfect sense for
them to go shopping on a bike, yet on the other hand how come they're doing
it?
I haven't seen them doing it anywhere else: My Nan and her peers would never
dream of going into town on a bike - it just wouldn't occur to them - (
they'll wait for a lift into town from some dashing chap in his
hearing-aid-beige Austin Maestro, thanks very much). I live in a suburb on
the other side of London, and I've never see an older lady on a bike in the
high street.

So what is it about Feltham (or perhaps similar suburbs)? Or this generation
of Ladies? I should ask them, but I know they won't be able to answer the
real wuestion, which is: What's different about Feltham?

Dz

Dransfield

"Dransfield" <m.dransfield@virgin.net> wrote in message
news:3yZud.98$If7.21@newsfe6-win.ntli.net...
?>
> Dz

BTW, Forgot to mention, when I see one I think to myself "There goes a
'real' cyclist", because many of us here are into cycling as a hobby, for
recreation, whereas these dames do it for a purpose.

No, I'm not about to buy a Raleigh Cameo and dress up as <LittleBritain> A
Lady, on a Lady's bicyclette! </LittleBritain>.

Dz

[Not Responding]

On Sun, 12 Dec 2004 15:34:23 GMT, "Dransfield"
<m.dransfield@virgin.net> wrote:

>Part of my journey to a client involves cycling through Feltham (near
>Heathrow), and one thing I've noticed is how common it is to see older
>ladies (60+) tootling about on bikes. What's going on there then?
>It really highlights how much I take for granted that everywhere else the
>"transport cyclists" are usually middle class men.
>
>What messes with my brain is that on the one hand it makes perfect sense for
>them to go shopping on a bike, yet on the other hand how come they're doing
>it?
>I haven't seen them doing it anywhere else: My Nan and her peers would never
>dream of going into town on a bike - it just wouldn't occur to them - (
>they'll wait for a lift into town from some dashing chap in his
>hearing-aid-beige Austin Maestro, thanks very much). I live in a suburb on
>the other side of London, and I've never see an older lady on a bike in the
>high street.

Nr here, Fareham or Gosport for instance, there seem to be a lot of
old ladies on bikes; just as you describe. On market day there's an
awful lot of old ladies on bikes. Bike racks full of bloody Raliegh
Shoppers.

>So what is it about Feltham (or perhaps similar suburbs)? Or this generation
>of Ladies? I should ask them, but I know they won't be able to answer the
>real wuestion, which is: What's different about Feltham?

Ah, that's probably a different question altogether.

>Dz
>

Simon Mason

"Dransfield" <m.dransfield@virgin.net> wrote in message
news:3yZud.98$If7.21@newsfe6-win.ntli.net...

>
> What messes with my brain is that on the one hand it makes perfect sense
> for them to go shopping on a bike, yet on the other hand how come they're
> doing it?
> I

Loads of old ladies cycling around Hull, it being cycle city nr 3, working
class and relatively poor.

--
Simon M.

Paul - xxx

Dransfield vaguely muttered something like ...
> Part of my journey to a client involves cycling through Feltham (near
> Heathrow), and one thing I've noticed is how common it is to see older
> ladies (60+) tootling about on bikes. What's going on there then?

We have a couple of governors at my school who ride their bikes everywhere.
One is 74, but looks about 55, the other is about 55 and looks .. well, a
bit older ..

There is a large population of lady cyclists around here (Outside Doncaster)
that go between the villages or around their home village. Almost all of
them seem to be about 40+ and probably connected to WI, school PTA's or
similar or other 'good causes' ..

The villages would be a lot less colourful without them, I think.

--
Paul ...
http://www.4x4prejudice.org/index.php
"A tosser is a tosser, no matter what mode of transport they're using."
(8(|) Homer Rules !!!

dirtylitterboxofferingstospammers

>and one thing I've noticed is how common it is to see older
>ladies (60+) tootling about on bikes. What's going on there then?

Lots of mature cyclists in Dereham.

Cheers, helen s


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