Bingowings

Can you do my video editing for me Joe? - that was seriously quick work, good track too. Just realised that saying on my last post that I was the 'bloke from the University of London' was fairly unhelpful as most of you don't know (and probably don't care) why I was filming and chatting on Sunday. On the off chance that you do care, I'm doing a PhD in Human geography looking specifically at the experiences of cyclists in London. I've been 'working' with all sorts including commuters, messengers, BMX and you guys trying to figure out what makes you all tick; why you ride the style you do and why you ride where you ride etc. To that end I've got more questions up my sleeve so if anyone that I talked to on Sunday (Fred? Adam? Matt?) wants to answer a few more please contact me at j.spinney@rhul.ac.uk, I promise it won't take up much of your time and I'll be very grateful. I'll try and get some of the footage I shot up on the site soon, though I can't work quite as fast as Joe! Ta, Justin.

Justin here (University of London bloke), just wanted to thank everyone who turned up (despite the shi**iest weather) and put up with my incessant filming and questions. If any of you guys wouldn't mind helping me by answering a few more questions over the email then please let me know either here or email me at j.spinney@rhul.ac.uk. I'd really appreciate it and you'd get to talk about yourselves and bikes which wouldn't be all bad. Cheers guys, see you when the sun comes out again...

Hi all Its Justin the (PhD) cycling guy. Anyone mind if I turn up and do some filming and chat with you guys for some of the day again? Only if the weather's behaving obviously... Justin ps Mike, did you ever finish that questionnaire you slacker?

Definitely. I'm going to leave it until probably around April when things warm up a bit and then try and organise a ride where I can do some filming and chat to people in person. I'll post it up on the forum a bit nearer the time. Thanks for your help, Justin

No problem on the book front. With such a small print run each copy costs a fortune but I believe I get a copy for my trouble so I'll scan the chapter and put it on the forum or provide a weblink, or I can photocopy the chapter and post it to you. Don't hold your breath though it'll take the best part of the year to see it published I would think! Thanks once again for all your help, Justin

Amazing! Thank you everybody and especially Krisboats, that is just the kind of thing I'm looking for. I'm writing a chapter for a book with the broad theme of cycling and some or all of this stuff will make it in for sure. Don't expect to see it in Waterstones though; its a smelly old academic book with a small print run and will be found probably only in University libraries. Still, your insights will be published - as long as thats ok with you guys that is? In fact, I may ask for the full quality version of your photo Krisboats and your permission to reproduce it too as I really like the way you've manipulated it to give an impression of what you 'see' as it were. Unfortunately no one gets any money for any of this (me neither) but at least we can try and educate people about what riding should be all about rather than them thinking we all wear dayglo sashes and hug trees! Many thanks again and keep the accounts coming if you can be arsed - the more the better! Justin

Cheers Kris(?) and Mike. Yeah pretty every little detail I guess. Its like if you freeze framed something and you could kind of 'see' all the little adjustments your body makes without you knowing but from your point of view rather than someone just looking who only sees the end result. Does that make any sense at all? I doubt it but give it your best shots, its got to be better than mine, my sense of balance and stuff is sh**e and I couldn't ride trials to save my life, but I love to watch! Probably explains why I'm not so good on the PS2 as well...

Cheers Krisboats, that's really useful and just the kind of thing I'm looking for. By way of follow up, do you think you could reduce a gap jump or other trick to words in a blow by blow account, talking through all the little adjustments you must do even though you might not be aware of them? A tall order but I'd be grateful for even an attempt at it. Many thanks, Justin ps, if you can encourage anyone else to share such insights it'd be much appreciated.

No you don't have to be riding in London specifically, but the filming I've done and the riders I have talked to have all been in London because thats where I'm based. If you're from elsewhere but have some insights that you think might help me out in my research it would be much appreciated. Thanks, Justin

Hi all, A few of you have met me but for the benefit of those that haven't, I'll briefly introduce myself. I'm a 3rd year PhD at Royal Holloway University of London and I've been working with riders of all persuasions over the last year and a half in London (and continue to) as part of my research into cycling in London. One of the the things I'm keen to know a little more about are the sensory experiences of trials riding in particular. By this I mean what do you as riders see, hear, feel when you're doing tricks and gap jumps and the like? Being more of a boring old xc mtber/road racing type of person, I'd really appreciate your first hand insights into the experiences of actually doing trials. If any of you have any thoughts about this I'd be grateful if you could write me a paragraph in reply (or email it to me at j.spinney@rhul.ac.uk) talking me through a trick or jump blow by blow, highlighting things like what you are and aren't focused on, what the feeling of balance is like in your body, and also how different bikes or equipment have enabled you to do more or less. I hope thats vaguely clear (any questions or clarifications please ask), and thanks in advance for your help! Justin

No probs Andrew, hope the comp goes well. Keep me posted on this thread about maybe doing something in the next couple of weekends, saturdays or sundays are both fine with me. Don't worry overly about the questionairre Stephen; college work's a little more important. If you can get it done before xmas though it would be a bonus. Ride-wise just let me know when you'll be down in the new year and we can do some more filming whenever.

Battersea Park sounds like it could be good. Forescast is just light showers so I'm up for that. If it turns really grim might have to rethink. What sort of time - 10, 11? Let me know where and when to meet you...

This message is aimed at a few of the trials riders I've met before, particularly Stephen, Mike, James, Andrew and Scott. My research time is coming to an end and I'd really like to do a bit more filming with you guys in particular especially as I have the helmet cam up and running as well. Trouble is I don't know what alias's you go under on the forum (except Mike, thats easy) so I never know when you're riding in London! Is there any chance you guys could let me know on the email (j.spinney@rhul.ac.uk) or phone (07747 791563) next time you're riding at the Shell or Battersea park so that I could come down, do some filming and ask a few questions. I'd really apppreciate your help and could make any weekend between now and xmas except the one just coming up (3rd/4th). Cheers, Justin (aka Bingowings)

Don't worry Mike, anytime in the next month will do fine. I suppose I should give you my mobile otherwise I might be hard to get hold of. Its 07747 791563. Can you text me at about 2pm please Mike to let me know where you are? Ta. justin

Bit late in the day this one but here goes. Any of you guys mind if I turn up and film/ chat with you for a while tomorrow? I'm researching cycling in London as my PhD and spoke to some of you guys about a month ago down on the South Bank. I've got the helmet-cam back from the menders and wanted to get some shots of some of your riding with it. I can't make it until about 2pm so if someone can send me a text about then to let me know where you are it'd be much appreciated. Justin