London comes to Edinburgh.

[The Ken]

Where is this place Scumdee you talk of?

Lived in Edinburgh for 10 years, been to most of the gay bars too with gay friends over a number of years, you don't get hit on unless you put out the signs

The only place that un-nerved me was the the toilets in Fire Island on Princes Street - cubicles had short saloon doors but I would feel the same if I saw them in a straight bar too.

 

[technodup]

Lived in Edinburgh for 10 years, been to most of the gay bars too with gay friends over a number of years, you don't get hit on unless you put out the signs

I did. And what about all the gays who aren't absolute mincers?

This is one of those threads I'll absolutely have to have the last word.

 

[highlandsflyer]

Where is this place Scumdee you talk of?

Lived in Edinburgh for 10 years, been to most of the gay bars too with gay friends over a number of years, you don't get hit on unless you put out the signs

The only place that un-nerved me was the the toilets in Fire Island on Princes Street - cubicles had short saloon doors but I would feel the same if I saw them in a straight bar too.

Most of the gay bars I have frequented have had queues to get into the toilets, so I have usually gone out to use the loo somewhere else.

Cannot beat a gay bar/club for a good laugh, dance and night out without the hassles usually attendant.

 

[1duck]

i was sat in a gaybar in london for about 6 hours before the penny dropped, i saw the pictures behind the bar of the guys in drag and another of two guys kissing the barman.

Then i started to sense the gayness everywhere! Anyway it was a shit bar, the beer was over priced and no one even tried to chat me up /offended.

 

[one-eyed_jim]

Every second bike you see chained up is either a fixie or a folder. I work in a theatre and we even have people walking into the bar to have a coffee carrying their folding bike!

And the problem with that is...?

Sitting with a chai latte playing with your iPad next to your folding bike doesn't make you look cool, it just attracts derision.

It's always a shame to read bike-hate on a bike forum.

I don't own an i-anything, but folding bikes rock. Try one: you might be converted.

 

[velomaniac]

In Edinburgh taking your folding bike into a shop/cafe is making a statement, a look at me I'm cool and happening. Edinburgh is a student town filled with old beater bikes shackled to lamp posts most of which would be refused entry to the scrap yard. People leave there bikes outside, they dont make statements as to how environmentally friendly they are. Nothing wrong with it it just stands out in Edinburgh and thus comments are made

 

[one-eyed_jim]

In Edinburgh taking your folding bike into a shop/cafe is making a statement, a look at me I'm cool and happening ... People leave there bikes outside, they dont make statements as to how environmentally friendly they are.

Couldn't they be saying "I'd rather not leave my bike locked up in the street when I can conveniently fold it up and take it with me"? Cycling's a great way to get around a city. It's even better if you don't have to worry about your bike not being there when you come back for it.

I've checked a folding bike in at a theatre cloakroom before now. It didn't cross my mind that I was inadvertently making an environmental statement.

 

[The Ken]

I agree, the last place I would leave my bike in Edinburgh is outside a shop, I've even taken my mtb into some shops including takeaways. A folder would make this easier.

 

[velomaniac]

I'm not having a go you know, I used to own a Brompton. Its just that the only place I've seen a bike inside a shop was inside a bike shop and other than on trains I have not seen huge evidence of folders. Plus with best will in the world even the super compact Brompton is still a chunk of metal I'd almost certainly bash something with inside a shop which would cost me Not many shops or cafes of my experience is it easy to shift a bike or large piece of luggage around in. I use a chunky F*** Off lock through both wheels and frame and seat rails if possible attached to railings and its still be there upon my return. Most bike thefts I've heard of involved cheap locks and poor lock up procedure.

Owning a niche bike does not make you pretentious in the ordinary scheme of things. During the festival though, the hip crowd does descend upon Edinburgh with all that brings including drinking expensive coffee with a nice folding bike at your feet. This is not Edinburghs norm but it does not mean there is anything wrong with being in such places with specialty bikes.

Tazio could have stated this more diplomatically but his basic point is well observed

 

[boxxer]

There was a lovely Rocky with Mag 21's sitting outside a pub in Newington on Sunday - if it hadnt been for the fun police in the passenger seat I would have stopped and popped a "how much?" note on it.....