Silly questions from the Colonials

[CX500T]

So, I've been mostly in a reading mode, trying to absorb homebrewing from a UK point of view.

Versus cluttering up other threads I figured I'd ask my silly questions here.

I'm familiar with some slang and colloquialisms from owning a couple British motorcycles over the years, as the Triumph and Norton forums tend to be probably 40% US, 30% UK, 10% Aus/NZ among the active members.

What is a pushbike? Here it is sometimes used for a pushcart/bicycle hybrid used by urban deliverymen and food vendors. (I live in Virginia Beach, a tourist heavy area)

Contextually it seems to be a bicycle, but assuming things where different English dialects are involved can be fraught with peril, as I learned years ago working oil rigs with Englishmen, Scotsmen, Australians, New Zelanders, Canadians and a couple Bahamians.

We all officially spoke English and none of us understood each other.

Sent from my 2PYB2 using Tapatalk

 

[BarnBrian]

It's just a bike. Nothing out of the ordinary.

 

[Bigcol49]

Hi!
A pushbike is NOT a bicycle. A bicycle is what is ridden during the Tour de France; the rider is wearing Spandex and the machine is tuned to the highest degree.
A pushbike is old and, usually rusty. The brakes work very poorly, if at all and the chain squeaks. It is ridden by a bloke in a long overcoat and a flat cap. When he comes to a hill, he gets off and PUSHES.

 

[BarnBrian]

Hi!
A pushbike is NOT a bicycle. A bicycle is what is ridden during the Tour de France; the rider is wearing Spandex and the machine is tuned to the highest degree.
A pushbike is old and, usually rusty. The brakes work very poorly, if at all and the chain squeaks. It is ridden by a bloke in a long overcoat and a flat cap. When he comes to a hill, he gets off and PUSHES.

Dutto, where are you when you're needed?:whistle:

 

[AdeDunn]

Ignoring silliness, a pushbike IS just another name for a cycle, one without any form of motor. As in a pedal bicycle, as opposed to a moped or motorcycle. Any other definition is an entirely subjective opinion.

https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/pushbike

Regards

 

[Saisonator]

Yes just a bicycle, probably baby boomers are the last generation to use it on a consistent basis.
Much like 'radio gram' and 'final salary pension'.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

A push bike means any bicycle to me.

.

 

[terrym]

Yes just a bicycle, probably baby boomers are the last generation to use it on a consistent basis.
Much like 'radio gram' and 'final salary pension'.

Be assured that your turn will come for sayings associated with your generation, have no fear.
If you have children it probably already has. :wink:

 

[Gunge]

If it's got two wheels and you have to push on the pedals to attain forward motion, then it's a pushbike. When the going gets tough you've got to get off and push the bloody thing, which is kinda defeating the object but reinforces further the term 'pushbike'.

 

[Bigcol49]

Hi!
Apologies to anyone whose sense of humour has been surgically removed.

 

[Cwrw666]

Didn't the term originate with early bicycles before they invented pedals. You sat on them and pushed them along by running. Must of been a bit hard on the g**lies.

 

[Bigcol49]

Must of been a bit hard on the g**lies.

Hi!
Now you are going to have to define g**lies for our Colonial cousin :-)

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Must of been a bit hard on the g**lies.

They had proper seats back in the day unlike the razor blades they have today which must be a pain in the **** as well as goolies.

 

[Dexter101]

Technically it is any bicycle howevee i get the point that if someone said "jim will be turning up on his pushbike" it does tend to conjoure images of an old run down bike than a carbon road bike...

 

[AdeDunn]

Hi!
Apologies to anyone whose sense of humour has been surgically removed.

Not at all, you just neglected to add ANY smileys, so the OP had no way at all to know that your reply was meant as a joke and could easily have taken you seriously.:wink:

I'm all for a bit of silliness, but it's quite important to put some indication that that is what it is when using the written word, as nobody can see your facial expression or body language. :thumb:

See, that post looks like you are actually apologising... It's only because I'm not a southerner that I know you're just been sarcastic. :-P

 

[Linalmeemow]

They had proper seats back in the day unlike the razor blades they have today which must be a pain in the **** as well as goolies.

Well played, hadn't thought of that one for years!

 

[Dads_Ale]

Didn't the term originate with early bicycles before they invented pedals. You sat on them and pushed them along by running. Must of been a bit hard on the g**lies.

If I remember right they were called a Hobby Horse.

 

[BarnBrian]

They had proper seats back in the day unlike the razor blades they have today which must be a pain in the **** as well as goolies.

I'm not convinced that these were comfortable. Can't understand why they were called Bone Shakers:whistle:

 

[Bigcol49]

. . . it does tend to conjoure images of an old run down bike than a carbon road bike...

Hi!
My point exactly. In most British minds a pushbike refers to a particular genus of bicycle.

 

[Gunge]

Hi!
My point exactly. In most British minds a pushbike refers to a particular genus of bicycle.

Like the one in the Hovis ads... Many years ago I bought this smart-looking pushbike to save on petrol and to do my bit in fighting climate change (lol) etc. but I piled it on my very first trip to work on the damn thing. The left pedal had hit the kerb whilst rounding a corner and the back wheel ended up banana-shaped. So I chucked it a nearby front garden and continued my journey on foot. Never thought about getting another.