Hello Hans Peter,

The flaneur on wheels was a notion put out by Glen Norcliffe in his book
'Cycling to Modernity' some ten years ago. I found it fairly incredible
and subjected it to some scrutiny in terms of Edwardian cycling in
Horton (et al) 'Cycling and Society'. The problem here is that, prior to
recent years, cyclists tended to write about cycling either as a sort of
daring-do adventure or as an escapist activity in which one could engage
with the rural scene, rather than the idea of enjoying the urban one. In
terms of psychogeography, particularly in the present, I think you might
be well advised to join the Cycling and Society JISCMAIL discussion
group. Indeed I am ccing this group because the topic is an interesting
one given current debates as to how cyclists present themselves to the
wider social group of road users. I wouldn't mind some recommended
reading myself!

Nicholas

-----Original Message-----
From: Auken Beck ,Hans Peter 1 
Sent: 14 October 2011 13:55
To: Oddy, Nicholas
Subject: Cycling in psychogeography eg. cyclegeography


Dear Nicholas Oddy,

I'm writing to you in a hope of a bit of advice in the matter of cycling
within psychogeography.  

To refresh your memory I was writing about the Situationist
International and online activism, though later decided on focussing on
psychogeography; I have decided to continue to write about
psychogeography (and less about activism) in a Critical Journal because
of a project I did last year and continued over the summer. I used the
folds and creases on a map of Glasgow to investigate the 'naturally'
embossed points the fold-creases had left on the map. I visited all
these points (on my bike) and took a picture of the scene. Over the
summer I was lucky enough to have the chance to visit Beijing in China
and as I spend 6 weeks there I had enough time to do the same exercise
there. To keep the scale equal to Glasgow I took the Glasgow map and
superimposed it unto Beijing.

When writing about psychogeography I gave an account of the flaneur (the
notorious pedestrian), derive, the armchair traveler 'the Robinsonner'
(Robinson Crusoe = fictional) and in the end the psychogeographer as
outlined by Guy Debord - later Iain Sinclair and Will Self.

My problem is that I haven't come across any description of a cycling
psychogeographer. In order to pin down what I am doing other examples of
cycling explores would be very useful. Most cyclists use their bike to
get from A - B the quickest possible way. When I cycle I like to be A
PART of traffic, to blend in and play my part of the scenery, rather
than walking on the side and observe it (like what the traditional
flaneur does). 

Do you know of any cycling 'philosophers' who give an psychogeographic
(or something similar) account on 'drifting' on a bike?

Also Ross suggested I made a case study of a cycling group(s). Do you
know of any cycling communities/association/movement who praise
psychogeography? Or better, cyclists who don't use maps or who use them
in alternative ways?


Best wishes 
/Hans Peter Auken Beck
Fine Art Photography