GRcade

I get the sentiment - wanting it to feel safe enough that you would feel tempted to not wear one. But still wearing one all the same because you love life and who know what could happen.

That's not a growth wrote:I get the sentiment - wanting it to feel safe enough that you would feel tempted to not wear one. But still wearing one all the same because you love life and who know what could happen.

You never see anyone wearing them in Amsterdam though.

Proper cycling infrastructure means the risk of injury from being hit by a motor vehicle is super small. And normal road cycling without vehicles nearby means accidents are usually on the minor side instead of life altering.

I've been cycling without a helmet in London for the last couple of months and I suspect I get given more space by drivers because they know I'm more vulnerable. I'm planning to get one when my cycle to work voucher is issued (all these cycling accessorises really adds up in cost!). Very tempted by the kind which allows a Go Pro to be strapped onto the head after seeing the YouTube channels by CyclingMikey and CycleGaz.





CyclingMikey seems a bit of a troll hiding in the bushes by Regents Park but I love it.

That's an odd way of thinking for not wearing a helmet. I would buy one before a bike especially as they are dirt cheap.

Echoing the sentiments of others - always wear a helmet! It doesn't matter if you are in a quiet area or if your avoid busy roads. You can still hit a stone, collide with a pedestrian/cyclist, or even just become suddenly unbalanced. All of which could result in your unprotected head smacking off the ground and you ending up a vegetable for the rest of your life.

After 10 years of not owning a bike, I bought my friend's old Electra Ghostrider, aka one of these:



I'm now looking for some advice on helmets and stuff really! I love the look of the S One Retro Lifer helmets but only the US store has the good designs



Also, has anyone else had any experience with fatty tires, especially 3 inchers? I want to get some whitewalls but apparently just because the tire fits the frame doesn't mean the brakes will fit the the tires.

That looks kinda cool, but exhausting to ride. You give it a try before you bought it?

Yup. It's a cruiser so it doesn't go very fast but it's actually a super relaxing ride. The frame is a lot lighter than it looks but once you get it going the momentum of the thing is crazy and it coasts like a mother. It absolutely cannot do hills or even steeper inclines though. Bought it as a casual city runabout.

If its oldskool it will have rim brakes or if newer then disc brakes so new tyres will be fine as long as the are the correct size all will be ok.
Is the top photo the bike you will own as it has post mount on the forks for a front disc brake, cannot see anything on the back but could be a fixie.

darksideby182 wrote:If its oldskool it will have rim brakes or if newer then disc brakes so new tyres will be fine as long as the are the correct size all will be ok.
Is the top photo the bike you will own as it has post mount on the forks for a front disc brake, cannot see anything on the back but could be a fixie.

Yeah, that photo is a rando off google image search.

It's got a strange braking system actually. It has front wheel rim brakes but the rear brake requires you to pedal backwards to activate (ie, no trigger/handle at all). I have no idea what this system is called but it's pretty efficient once you get used to it.

Taff if you dont wear a tshirt emblazoned with 'Vegan vibes' while riding that then who even are you any more

Cycled into Central London on a whim today. Wasn't intending to but just kept going. The cycle infrastructure is much safer and gets very good in some sections. Did 19 miles in total and rather surprised at how I'm not feeling utterly dead after it. Was actually a very enjoyable cycle and even on the bad bits of cycle infrastructure I never felt worried.

Tafdolphin wrote:

darksideby182 wrote:If its oldskool it will have rim brakes or if newer then disc brakes so new tyres will be fine as long as the are the correct size all will be ok.
Is the top photo the bike you will own as it has post mount on the forks for a front disc brake, cannot see anything on the back but could be a fixie.

Yeah, that photo is a rando off google image search.

It's got a strange braking system actually. It has front wheel rim brakes but the rear brake requires you to pedal backwards to activate (ie, no trigger/handle at all). I have no idea what this system is called but it's pretty efficient once you get used to it.

I think you might not have a single speed bike but actually a fixie bike in that case.

They can have normal brakes but pedalling backwards is similar to using engine braking in a car. Fixies seem like a lot of fun (compared to single speed) and when you're going down hill you can remove you feet from the pedals and they'll continue to spin around.

They're very efficient for transferring your power to the wheel due to the design but obviously a miserable experience for anywhere hilly!

thoroughly enjoyed watching that Mercedes Benz driver - what a nob

Trying to order a new bike at the moment has been a special kind of hell. Evans seem to have been allocating non existent stock. I was told my new bike was on its way and waited about a month before being told they had lost it Getting a refund and ordered a Ribble instead but it won’t be ready until November

Superking wrote:Trying to order a new bike at the moment has been a special kind of hell. Evans seem to have been allocating non existent stock. I was told my new bike was on its way and waited about a month before being told they had lost it Getting a refund and ordered a Ribble instead but it won’t be ready until November

Bike and component stock is so low at the moment was looking at a new set of Hope or Hunt wheels both looking around October and this was a few weeks ago.
Even repair work can be pretty lengthy.

Victor Mildew wrote:Taff if you dont wear a tshirt emblazoned with 'Vegan vibes' while riding that then who even are you any more

Steady on. Even I haven't sunk so low as yet.

twitter.com/LouCK2012/status/1297589566677889026

Cycle Superhighway.

Some of the low traffic neighbourhoods are causing utter chaos in Tooting especially with the short cut rat run school routes blocked off. Residents shouting abuse at the local MP whilst she's with her kids. Some shameful gooseberry fool made worse by it being a Council matter, not something an MP has any control over.

twitter.com/DrRosena/status/1302986002496094210

However as a newbie cyclist I've felt dramatically safer cycling along these busy roads with physical barriers to protect me or roads entirely blocked off to motor vehicles. No dangerously close over taking to worry about or parked vehicles in the cycle lane.

Half way on my ride to work and the back tyre burst FFUUUUUU

Luckily was a 15 minute speed walk to my parents so I could dump mine there and use my dads electric assisted/throttle bike. My goodness, it’s fast as strawberry float can actually do 45mph with ease which is bloody scary

Taxi drivers of Liverpool better watch out today

Tafdolphin wrote:

darksideby182 wrote:If its oldskool it will have rim brakes or if newer then disc brakes so new tyres will be fine as long as the are the correct size all will be ok.
Is the top photo the bike you will own as it has post mount on the forks for a front disc brake, cannot see anything on the back but could be a fixie.

Yeah, that photo is a rando off google image search.

It's got a strange braking system actually. It has front wheel rim brakes but the rear brake requires you to pedal backwards to activate (ie, no trigger/handle at all). I have no idea what this system is called but it's pretty efficient once you get used to it.

Coaster brake (drum brake variant). Used to have a few bikes that had them when growing up. They are quite complex to maintain but they are normally well sealed so you don't need much compared to disk and rim brakes.

I have been tempted to get a nice Surly steel framed fat bike but I'm not Arnold Schwarzenegger so would look like a plank. I also don't have the funds like the Terminator.

Padded Gooch Shorts....game changer.