Words, words...

...did you really mean what you "said"?

You're right, I may be a bit picky about the use of words - but this one has been bugging me for quite a while. When I'm not out on my own bike, I live vicariously by reading journals of other touring cyclists, and I also participate in a women's cycling discussion forum.

Something has been jumping off the page (ok, really the screen) at me lately. It seems that there are quite a few people out there who don't spell well. I've noticed that quite a few people use the verb peddling (instead of pedaling) in reference to touring and riding a bicycle. I'm curious, does the use of the word peddle instead of pedal bother you too, or is it just me?

peddling

1. to travel about with wares for sale; broadly : SELL;
2. to be busy with trifles : PIDDLE;
3. to sell or offer for sale from place to place : HAWK; broadly : SELL;

pedaling

1. to ride a bicycle;
2. to work the pedals of

Definitions courtesy of Merriam-Webster Online

The interesting thing is that both words could be correctly used in a single sentence to reflect the activity of pedaling a bike to peddle (that is, to sell) something, anything.