It might be even nicer on a Rivendell: 1975 news feature film on bicycle postman in rural Ireland

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Patrick Moore

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Apr 25, 2022, 4:49:24 PM4/25/22
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Cribbed from the CR list but I'm sure will be appreciated here.

https://youtu.be/5k3SY_S7O_M

The only words of the subject I could understand were "No" and "It's bad." Perhaps he was speaking Gaelic.

27 miles (besides the 3 miles from and back to home) up and down hill in all weathers on a 50 lb, over geared single speed at  age 65. But simple life (he's a small dairy farmer too) in bucolic if wet country and apparently very little motor traffic. 

A fellow classmate in college about the time this film was made told me of visiting her grandmother in rural Ireland a few years before, with the statutory whitewashed, thatched cottage, peat fire, and usual crowd of untrammeled pigs.

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Patrick Moore
Alburquerque, Nuevo Mexico, Etats Unis d'Amerique, Orbis Terrarum

Igor

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Apr 28, 2022, 7:14:40 AM4/28/22
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Lovely. Thanks for sharing

JAS

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Apr 28, 2022, 12:05:08 PM4/28/22
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Now that's inspiring! 

brendonoid

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Apr 29, 2022, 2:20:22 AM4/29/22
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When I first started as a bicycle postie I had a single speed and the hilliest run in the office. Fittest year of my life. Really great job though.

Dorothy C

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Apr 30, 2022, 3:15:30 PM4/30/22
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He was riding a bike with rod brakes too!

As a Brit, this is what I could make out of the interview sections

Interviewer: how many miles?

Postman: Near about 27 I suppose. Hilly, yeah

I: Every day for 6 days a week?

P: Yeah

I: For the past 42 years?

P: Yeah

I: I saw 2 postmen this morning, one in a car, one on a motorbike. Is that the future now, are lads like you finished?

P: I suppose we are finished, getting I am finished anyway

I: You don’t think think that many more fellers will be riding bicycles?

P: I would say not, I’d say not

I: Is it very difficult? Is it very tough work?

P: Well it is. Sure you will notice when you can drive up [unintelligible] another big difference

I: Why don’t you start driving a car or motorbike?

P: [unintelligible]

I: Too late?

P: Too late

I: Do you know how to drive a car or motorbike?

P: No

P: When you get to our age, you know, weather (?) and weight makes a big difference

I: It is a beautiful day today, what is it like when the weather closes in here?

P: Oh it is bad

I: What is the worst part of it? The wind?

P: The wind and the rain. [unintelligible] you are not able to stop

I: Were you ever not able to deliver the mail?

P: No, I delivered all the time, that many years

I: Rain or snow?

P: Rain or snow

Patrick Moore

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Apr 30, 2022, 4:02:46 PM4/30/22
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Dorothy: Thanks for the translation! 

Where in GB do you live? Photo of bike (Rivendell?) in English/Scottish/Welsh/No Irish countryside?


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Dorothy C

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Apr 30, 2022, 6:29:23 PM4/30/22
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I am in SoCal now - Simi Valley. Most of my family members still live in North Wales, where I grew up, and I have a grey 47cm Roadini on long term loan with my sister there, for when I visit. I have 4 more Rivendells here, too, orange Roadini, bronze Clem, sky blue Appaloosa and an RBW blue Cheviot

Dorothy C

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Apr 30, 2022, 6:33:41 PM4/30/22
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My US located bikes
0B382376-D195-421B-8445-06F7204DC194.jpeg
C469A0AD-2EB6-4627-A176-017F12520975.jpeg
7EF771B5-0CEE-42E2-BEEB-D89511895E3D.jpeg
081E4DC2-CAB7-4E86-A5A9-00C7B96A2989.jpeg

Steven Sweedler

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Apr 30, 2022, 7:58:13 PM4/30/22
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Very nice group of bikes, Steve

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Steven Sweedler
Plymouth, New Hampshire
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