Beer and Bikes - Do They Mix?
So here’s a question for you: Drinking and riding.
Tuesday night, I was supposed to be running in the North Shields Poly Grand Prix 5k race. But owing to some serious man-flu (and a note from my mum) was only able to stand at the turn-around point to feebly cheer my team-mates’ efforts.
We were supposed to be going to our local pub after, for a pint to celebrate the half-way point in the Grand Prix. But then via text, I got the message that we were instead meeting at The Seahorse - about a mile and a half from home. It was cold and wet out (though not actually raining), and I really didn’t fancy the 30 minutes walk . . .
. . . but then I remembered my New Puppy. A Brompton - surely this is just what this sort of bike is for? A short ride, no need to fuss around with locks - just fold it up and stow it next to your seat.
So I rode to the pub. And had a few drinks - three pints of sweet foaming beer. And then I rode home.
When I got home, I was full of the giggles of:
- Beer. Look - I’m not carrying much in the way of body fat, and I’m a remarkably cheep date!
- Bike. Riding a bike always makes me smile. But the absurdly simple nature of my go-to-the-pub-drink-ride-home-in-minutes evening had really got to me. It was like discovering the secret of alchemy - surely enough to make anyone feel a little euphoric?
Anyway . . . Wife was somewhat less than impressed. There are concerns about safety. I’ve been asked if I’d think it was OK to drink and drive. Naturally, we’ve discussed all this like adults (at no point have I pulled Wife’s pig-tails).
But we were wondering what you think.
Beer and bikes - do they mix?
Workout:
- Type: Cycle
- Date: 12/14/2010
- Total Time: 00:15:00.00
- Calories: 146
- Distance: 3 miles
- Average Speed: 12 mph
Yes, they mix in my opinion. I suppose it depends on how much one drinks, but the great thing with a bike is that you can always walk home with it if you’re that sloshed !
No they don’t:
Section 30 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, as amended by the Road Traffic Act 1991, provides the offence of cycling on a road or public place whilst under the influence of drink or drugs. It states:
30(1) A person who, when riding a cycle on a road or other public place, is unfit to ride through drink or drugs (that is to say, is under the influence of drink or a drug to such an extent as to be incapable of having proper control of the cycle) is guilty of an offence.
NOTES
(i) The evidence of the extent to which a person is affected must be measured by means other than the provision of a specimen of breath, blood or urine, as there is no power to require such a specimen in these circumstances. However, if such a specimen was offered, it is probable that the evidence obtained by analysis of the specimen would be admissible.
(ii) In Scotland a constable may arrest without warrant a person committing an offence.
(iii) In England and Wales a constable may only arrest without warrant in accordance with the powers of arrest set out in section 24 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984. In such an instance, that power might be exercised where a satisfactory address has not been furnished, or the constable has reasonable grounds for believing that arrest is necessary to prevent such a person causing physical injury to himself or any other person (see also other conditions in s24 of PACE).
(iv) The absence of a specific power of arrest in England and Wales affects the ability of the police to present any form of medical evidence of the accused’s condition.
(v) There is no offence of ‘being in charge’ of a cycle under the Road Traffic Acts, but such conduct may well be an offence of drunk in charge of a carriage under section 12 of the Licensing Act 1872. A bicycle or tricycle is a carriage for the purpose of that section.
I was led to believe that a bike has an in-built drunk monitor in that you’ll probably fall off before you get very far.
However, for various boring reasons I don’t drink beer, so I’m relying on others accounts.
I never worry about having a couple of beers and cycling home. It is one of the great pleasures of cycling, indeed in other European countries it is celebrated as a part of their bicycle culture.
“9. The odd-person out in your circle of friends is the one who has never fallen off their bike while riding home drunk. You mock him/her regularly.”
From Copenhagenize
http://www.copenhagenize.com/2007/11/18-ways-to-know-that-you-have-bicycle.html
BTW are you going to join the CEGB?
Best
Nipper
I have a 2 beer limit if I am driving. Biking? 3 or 4. However in North Carolina, USA you purportedly could be charged with Public Intoxication for riding or even pushing a bicycle while inebriated.
At one point they would charge you with DUI and take your license, even though it is not required to operate a bicycle.
Best bet would be to rent a room over the pub
Aaron