Rio Olympics 2016 discussion

[radamfi]

There's an age requirement to electric cycling (14) so not very accessible to all. You also have to consider the extra maintenance of these bikes as well as disposure of the batteries when it comes to the end of its life.

I agree, there is a lack of investment in cycling infrastructure but the problem is, that the demand is not there. Many people are already used to commuting by car or train, and in some cases, walking and taking the bus but when they stack up, the percentage of people who bike is pretty low. There is already the social stigma that cycling is a dangerous sport to take up with scare stories going about car to bike fatalities passed around, it could probably take a few generations to start encouraging people to cycle to the shop, let alone to work.

You could say, 'build the cycle paths and they will come', but the thing is, will they come?

I'm not really advocating electric bikes for kids, or indeed anyone. Most kids should be able to get up hills with a normal bike with gears. I've got an electric bike but I'm in my 40s and do long trips sometimes. But even I don't really need one even though I'm not particularly fit and a bit overweight. I have one mainly because it is fun having one.

No demand? There is plenty of demand for transport, and there are plenty of trips less than 2 miles, easily cycling distance. People aren't cycling because they perceive it as too dangerous. The Dutch also thought cycling was too dangerous until the 70s.

See, British people can't help coming up with excuses why things can't be be done, and I'm not just talking about cycling. British people think they are living in the best country in the world but when evidence is presented showing the contrary they are not interested in doing anything about it.

 

[Bletchleyite]

They have already "come" but unfortunately mistake pavements for cycle paths :roll:

That's largely because it's perceived to be unsafe to ride on the road.

Solve that with proper dedicated infrastructure like that found in the Netherlands, and respect the priority of that infrastructure over the car (it's useless if you have to stop at every junction) and they will use it.

 

[J-2739]

I'm not really advocating electric bikes for kids, or indeed anyone. Most kids should be able to get up hills with a normal bike with gears. I've got an electric bike but I'm in my 40s and do long trips sometimes. But even I don't really need one even though I'm not particularly fit and a bit overweight. I have one mainly because it is fun having one.

No demand? There is plenty of demand for transport, and there are plenty of trips less than 2 miles, easily cycling distance. People aren't cycling because they perceive it as too dangerous. The Dutch also thought cycling was too dangerous until the 70s.

See, British people can't help coming up with excuses why things can't be be done, and I'm not just talking about cycling. British people think they are living in the best country in the world but when evidence is presented showing the contrary they are not interested in doing anything about it.

The reason electric bikes came into this discussion is because I pointed out that hills are enough to turn people away from taking up the bike. By suggesting a normal bike, we are going back to square 1.

If there was plenty of demand for cycling, even for less than 2 miles, wouldn't you have thought the government had actually noticed and take some action (building bike lanes, segregated paths etc.)? The Dutch didn't think cycling was dangerous, it was the rise in kids killed by cars that increased cycle use.

Are you still saying that? Why tar every Brit with the same paintbrush? Not everyone thinks they live in the best country. Some actually appreciate overseas development. The best you could do is just put up with it.

 

[Tetchytyke]

They have already "come" but unfortunately mistake pavements for cycle paths :roll:

Often the pavement is the cycle path.

 

[radamfi]

The reason electric bikes came into this discussion is because I pointed out that hills are enough to turn people away from taking up the bike. By suggesting a normal bike, we are going back to square 1.

If there was plenty of demand for cycling, even for less than 2 miles, wouldn't you have thought the government had actually noticed and take some action (building bike lanes, segregated paths etc.)? The Dutch didn't think cycling was dangerous, it was the rise in kids killed by cars that increased cycle use.

Are you still saying that? Why tar every Brit with the same paintbrush? Not everyone thinks they live in the best country. Some actually appreciate overseas development. The best you could do is just put up with it.

We started talking about cycling as a way of sorting out childhood obesity. If cycle infrastructure was on a par with the Netherlands, the parent would cycle to school with the child at an early age. Eventually, the child would start cycling by themselves. So cycling to school would be the default choice. It wouldn't be a case of trying to entice the kid to school, he would be doing that anyway. If the only other choice is being ferried by mum and mum didn't want to do that because she wanted to drive to work herself or leave the car at home, then the kid would have to cycle.

If only it was so easy to convince the UK government to do things! UK Cycle campaigners have been banging their heads against a wall for decades. It really is an easy win, hence the Netherlands and others see that you might as well build cycle paths to serve short trips, as it pays back in reduced congestion and improved health. Cycling is largely apolitical in the Netherlands. Dutch cycle investment continues regardless of the colours of the parties in government.

I do believe that a lot of the problems in the UK can be put down to the culture of insularity. A large number of British people think that we are naturally superior to other nations, and therefore we should pay no attention to what happens abroad even if it is obviously better and could learn from it.

 

[Hornet]

I meant hilly roads. Let's be honest, a hill is enough to turn many people away from cycling. The British cycled more than the Dutch, but that was short lived and came way before the 'car takeover'.

Tell me then, how would you get every kid in Britain to take up cycling?

Paper round? I did two when I was a kid. One in the morning (7 miles) 7 days a week, one in the evening (8 miles) 5 days a week. Both in the Chilterns. Plus 1 mile each way to/from school and the same at school lunchtime. (Had lunch at home). It was the 70's though, long before the 'elf & Safety and Social Services Nazi's ruled the roost, and the Country became full of Child molesters (so I'm told by various 'focus' groups).

 

[J-2739]

Paper round? I did two when I was a kid. One in the morning (7 miles) 7 days a week, one in the evening (8 miles) 5 days a week. Both in the Chilterns. Plus 1 mile each way to/from school and the same at school lunchtime. (Had lunch at home). It was the 70's though, long before the 'elf & Safety and Social Services Nazi's ruled the roost, and the Country became full of Child molesters (so I'm told by various 'focus' groups).

Paper rounds could also be a way of kids earning easy money. But how many people these days will give up even one day, to do a job that is 'old fashioned and way past date', so they say? Also, many parents are overprotected these days, because they watch too many so called 'news', blasting on about serial killers and so-and-so; that's enough for kids to be kept in their house for some time. Like you stated as well:

It was the 70's though, long before the 'elf & Safety and Social Services Nazi's ruled the roost, and the Country became full of Child molesters (so I'm told by various 'focus' groups).

It could take some generations to wipe this stupid phenomenon.

Edit: We are a bit off-topic so shall we make the fly back?

 

[ExRes]

A large number of British people think that we are naturally superior to other nations

To get back on thread, it would seem from the Olympic medal table that "A large number of British people" are entirely correct

 

[Darandio]

So, it's official, Paralympics goes ahead but with major budget cuts.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/disability-sport/37135083

The Paralympic Games will take place as planned next month, but face major budget cuts, the International Paralympic Committee has announced.

The cuts will be made to venues, the workforce and transport.

Delayed travel grants will now be paid to athletes, but 10 countries may struggle to get teams to Rio.

"Never before in the 56-year history of the Paralympic Games have we faced circumstances like this," said IPC president Sir Philip Craven.

With 19 days to the start of the Games, the IPC says Rio's organising committee has not raised enough money to fund the Paralympics.

This is due to Brazil's struggling economy and the fact that only 12% of available tickets have so far been sold for the Games, which start on 7 September.

It meant organisers were three weeks late in paying 8m euros (£7m) of travel grants to help athletes get to Rio.

But Rio's mayor Eduardo Paes has secured an additional £36m of funding and £24m in sponsorship from state-run companies after an injunction was lifted that had blocked further state aid for the Games.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

The BMX event is thrilling, an excellent spectator sport... also the one area of cycling not dominated by Team GB- Radamfi will be pleased!

 

[Hornet]

The BMX event is thrilling, an excellent spectator sport... also the one area of cycling not dominated by Team GB- Radamfi will be pleased!

Looking forward to seeing how Peter Sagan goes in the Mountain Bike Race on Sunday. He is one seriously good Cyclist.

 

[DarloRich]

Team GB medal performance today:

• Jade Jones wins Gold in 57kg division taekwondo
• Gold for GB womens hockey team
• Nick Skelton on Big Star wins gold in individual showjumping

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Often the pavement is the cycle path.

Is that when it is signed and clearly defined as such?

 

[Busaholic]

Our women's hockey team win Gold on penalty shoot-outs. Draft them into England's men's football team immediately! Oh, sorry, no need, I forgot, we never get to that stage now!

 

[Gutfright]

Been quite a successful Olympics for this country so far. And to think it could possibly be the last time Great Britain ever competes...

 

[J-2739]

Been quite a successful Olympics for this country so far. And to think it could possibly be the last time Great Britain ever competes...

But the next summer Olympics is in Japan, right? I can't see that one going a total mess.

 

[Butts]

Team GB medal performance today:

• Jade Jones wins Gold in 57kg division taekwondo
• Gold for GB womens hockey team
• Nick Skelton on Big Star wins gold in individual showjumping

Well done Nick Skelton 58 years old in his 7th Olympics and first individual Gold Medal.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

But the next summer Olympics is in Japan, right? I can't see that one going a total mess.

Bejing in 2008 was ok so why the mess scenario ?

 

[Gutfright]

Been quite a successful Olympics for this country so far. And to think it could possibly be the last time Great Britain ever competes...

But the next summer Olympics is in Japan, right? I can't see that one going a total mess.

I was thinking more of political reasons. If Scotland goes independent then in the next Olympics Team GB could be replaced by Teams Scotland, England and Wales.

Obviously a bit of a strange thing for me to worry about, but worry I do!

Well done Nick Skelton 58 years old in his 7th Olympics and first individual Gold Medal.

Blimey. That must be a typo? Surely you meant 28 years old?

 

[Butts]

I was thinking more of political reasons. If Scotland goes independent then in the next Olympics Team GB could be replaced by Teams Scotland, England and Wales.

Obviously a bit of a strange thing for me to worry about, but worry I do!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


Blimey. That must be a typo? Surely you meant 28 years old?

Don't worry we are not going anywhere soon. If we did it's possible it would be the Olympics after Japan the split would effect. Why would Wales be out of GB & NI ?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I was thinking more of political reasons. If Scotland goes independent then in the next Olympics Team GB could be replaced by Teams Scotland, England and Wales.

Obviously a bit of a strange thing for me to worry about, but worry I do!



Blimey. That must be a typo? Surely you meant 28 years old?

Not if it was his 7th Olympiad

 

[Howardh]

Surely you meant 28 years old?

58 years young. Happily someone's gained a Gold a month older than I!!
*Reaches for my hockey stick....*

 

[J-2739]

Bejing in 2008 was ok so why the mess scenario ?

Sorry, but where did Beijing come from?

I was thinking more of political reasons. If Scotland goes independent then in the next Olympics Team GB could be replaced by Teams Scotland, England and Wales.

Obviously a bit of a strange thing for me to worry about, but worry I do!

Ok, I see you now!

 

[Butts]

Sorry, but where did Beijing come from?

I thought he was talking about an Olympics in an Asian Country not the break up of the UK !!

 

[Gutfright]

Don't worry we are not going anywhere soon. If we did it's possible it would be the Olympics after Japan the split would effect. Why would Wales be out of GB & NI ?

In my paranoid fantasy Scotland leaves the UK and demands their own Olympic team as a result. Then England and Wales have a meeting, because they can't very well call themselves "Team most of GB except the North bit, and Northern Ireland", and Wales gets the hump because the England and Wales cricket team is normally just called "England" and demands their own Olympic team too.

I really have to stop eating cheese before bedtime.

 

[radamfi]

Don't worry we are not going anywhere soon. If we did it's possible it would be the Olympics after Japan the split would effect.

If Scotland doesn't have enough time to get its own Olympic committee by 2020 then their athletes could compete under the Olympic flag as independents. That happened in 2012 after the dissolution of the Netherlands Antillies.

 

[yorksrob]

Am I wrong for having a bit of a soft spot for Mr Lochte ?

I do like a bad boy

 

[Butts]

Am I wrong for having a bit of a soft spot for Mr Lochte ?

I do like a bad boy

Whatever floats your boat, perhaps you could meet on one of your illicit 1st Class Rail Journeys

 

[yorksrob]

Whatever floats your boat, perhaps you could meet on one of your illicit 1st Class Rail Journeys

I don't do illicit 1st class rail journeys ! I might treat Mr L to a proper 1st class trip though

 

[richw]

I don't just think elite athletes sit on their backside, and I don't begrudge them the funding they get. I'm just not convinced that a hatful of gold medals once every four years is quite worth a £100m a year outlay, although I also understand that £100m doesn't really go very far these days..

There are other tournaments other than the Olympics we apparently win in less profile!

The BBC had a projection table earlier, based on favourites etc, and had us to draw with them on gold, but then be higher ranked on basis of more silver.
However that projection had hockey to only get silver, so a revision will have us 1 gold more. They had the taekwondo bloke for bronze but I gather he is in the final,
Of course no guarantee of the favourite winning.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Drama late at night. Lutalo Muhammad from Walthamstow had one finger on the gold in his bout with Cheick Sallah Cisse of the Ivory Coast with ONE SECOND remaining, only for the Ivorian to land a 3-point blow just as the fat lady was clearing her throat! The tearful interview Muhammad gave afterwards just might put him in the running for SPOTY...

In between the drama and the tears, Usain Bolt completed the triple triple (or is it the treble treble?) by winning the 4x100 relay alongside his teammates.

 

[AM9]

Since the announcement, there's already comments like 'why not Sheffield' or 'Leeds'. I suppose that's inevitable and part of the reason why London is the place for most national events.
It looks like there will be a London event, not the 'official' one, but probably better attended than Manchester, - also better media coverage.