The Sit-Up Cycling Revolution 16

So true, what you say about the style of riding and clothing affecting the attitudes of drivers. We’ve already seen studies showing that at least in the UK, looking competent and wearing a helmet can sometimes result in folks passing you more closely.

I think in addition to quickly passing the ‘scurrying’ bikes, there’s also an attitude that if folks are going quickly, and perhaps a little erratically the safest thing to do as a driver is to get them behind you as quickly as possible.

Another (unsurprising in retrospect) thing I’ve noticed is that no matter where I am if I am very visible I get treated with way more respect and have more positive interactions with drivers. Sure there’s much to be said for the idea that riding one’s bike doesn’t require any special clothing but the bright fluorescent green jacket helps me out a lot.

James, as you know I agree with you 100% about the pacifying effect the sit-up bike has on other traffic. I experience it everyday.

Indeed, I sometimes feel on my Giant Suede (an ideal posture for me) that I’m conducting informal diver ed. courses as I ride along.

I definitely reward any good behavior coming my way with a friendly wave.

The Lycra shirt you show is clever, cheeky, but I would take it as unabashed claim that the wearer enjoying the state of war that presently exists, a futile un-winnable war.

If you don’t think we should have been in Iraq and you don’t want to be in Afghanistan, don’t go to the cycle wars either

I propose that a sit-up bike can by contrast be seen, no only as practical, but a political statement as well.

It says; I am going somewhere sedately, confidently, and much appreciate your safe treatment of myself and my vehicle. I look at you, you look at me, and it’s a friendly encounter on our separate ways

I suspect the sit-up revolution is going to be turbo charged by Bike share, since the Bixis and velibs around the world are all sit-ups.

I’ve asked friends in Montreal how they found Bixis on hills because, as a commenter here remarks, the general opinion is that they are less good on hills.

To my surprise, I was told they are fine, esp. since they’ve changed them to 7 gears.

Bring on the Bixis and let the thousands who’d never have thought of riding a sit-up see how practical they are for getting from A to B, all the while keeping their faster bike for the weekends as you do.

In the meantime, do take a look at what David Hembrow has to say about sit-ups on my blog. Http://situp-cycle.com

Michael, I like your assessment of war in your comment. A war mentality is pointless and very unhelpful for both drivers and cyclists. A war can only exist if we acknowledge it exists and I do not acknowledge that a war exists here.

My experience with BIXI bicycles is that they had a very low gear that made it easy to climb hills (and that was when they only had 3 speeds). I found going down hills was a different story – the bikes didn’t go very fast at the time. I think the commenter was referring to Dutch-style bikes when he/she referred to them not being great for climbing hills.

I enjoyed David’s perspective about sit-up bicycles on your website. I think his viewpoint is again a reflection of the Dutch being so far ahead of the rest of the world. Cyclists in the Netherlands aren’t trying to earn respect from drivers – they already have it.

The sit-up cycling culture is more important here in North America and in Australia where we need to earn respect and slow the pace down in our cities.

I think the penny is beginning to drop, James, though it sounds like you are ahead of us here in Sydney. I’m hoping my coming art show will give a boost to the style since it’s virtually only sit-ups that I feature in my art.

Here is my art show “manifesto”

The bike is a very cool presentational device for the human body.

Historically, the nude has had a revered place in art. The human figure on the bike, especially bikes of the stately sort, deserves it’s place as well.

I want to position the sit-up bike in the public mind as a creator of grace and beauty as well as a sensible transport provider.

I want people to go from thinking, “what a wonderful sight, that person gilding along there on the sit-up bike,” to, “that looks like it feels great. I should try that.”

Once the urge to try is strong enough, the fear with which compulsory helmets have cloaked Australian cycling, will to some degree slip away and be replaced by more positive feelings.

The cycle chic movement paved the way for me, photographing riders, as it does, to reveal elegance and grace in movement.

It began in Copenhagen with Mikael Colville-Andersen’s now famous blog, Copenhagen Cycle Chic, and has since spread around the word with 34 other national cycle chic blogs now publishing photos of graceful riding.