Why would anyone want to drive when they could bike?

wayne72 · Post by **wayne72** » 14 Jan 2006, 03:06

LOL to your topic title.

Whenever i've brought up the PO situation to people, the most common answer I get is "Well we'll just ride a bike when Oil runs out!" I just laugh and say, "I never said Oil would run out and more to the point Oil won't run out!" The answer I then usually get is, "Well what are you worrying about then?" I then walk away laughing, very loudly

Post by **mikepepler** » 14 Jan 2006, 08:55

Pete_M wrote:Mike,
Are the parts on the trikes standard mountain bike items eg bottom brackets, chains, break components? Just wondered how easy it is to get spares.

The "special" components are:
- frame (obviously!)
- seat
- steering arrangement
- front wheel hubs

Of these, the frame should last, as should the seat, though if it didn't it would be easy to knock up some kind of replacement I think. The same applies to the steering arrangement, its metal bars and headsets from a normal bike, so could be repaired with a bit of metalwork - it should last though, barring crashes! The front wheel hubs are special as they their axle is only supported on one side. However, I think they are ususally standard drum brake hubs from bikes, and it's just the axle and mechanism to fix it to the frame which is non-standard.

Other components like gears, brakes, rear wheel, pedals, etc. are all standard.

If anyone's seriously thinking of getting one, I'd recommend a test-ride - you'll probably love it!

PaulS · Post by **PaulS** » 14 Jan 2006, 18:06

I like the look of the 'Cargo bike' (http://www.dutchbike.co.uk/Specials.htm). Fantastic idea!

gwmss15 · Post by **gwmss15** » 25 Jan 2006, 09:27

does anyone know a good place to buy quality standard bikes in melbourne australia

rushdy · Post by **rushdy** » 25 Jan 2006, 12:41

Bikes are great, but its the snow and ice that worries me most.

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 25 Jan 2006, 12:53

Climate change should sort that out - worry about falling water tables, flash floods, soil erosion and freak storms instead

SherryMayo · Post by **SherryMayo** » 25 Jan 2006, 22:00

Re bikes in Melbourne -

I cant answer your question directly but Biycle Victoria (http://www.bv.com.au) may be able to help.
www.bicycles.net.au/links/shops.html may also help.

cheers

Sherry

Post by **mikepepler** » 26 Jan 2006, 08:25

gwmss15 wrote:does anyone know a good place to buy quality standard bikes in melbourne australia

These aren't standard, but if you'd like something fast, comfortable and eye-catching:
http://www.greenspeed.com.au/

Kentucky Fried Panda · Post by **Kentucky Fried Panda** » 07 Apr 2007, 21:14

I've got an aluminium framed TREK MTB, no suspension or fancy bits.
When I was an apprentice, and all through school for that matter, I rode my bike. Once the PO issues have thinned the traffic out it'll be quite enjoyable cycling again.

Silas · Post by **Silas** » 02 May 2007, 09:45

Ok I just stumbled across this thread, so heres my 10 pence worth.
I joined the local cycling club at 15 back in 1978 and began racing in time trial and road races, I stopped racing back in 1983 but I have continued to cycle regulary.

For the simplest bike you cant beat an old 1940s fixed wheel raliegh or similar, you will probably have to get off and push it up the hills though.

I have always built my own bikes, I buy a good frame Reynolds 531, good wheels Mavic or campagnola hubs and 27" rims and stailess steel spokes, wide ratio 5 cogg block Then bolt in the Bottom bracket, derailuer for top and rear Shimano or Campag, with down tube levers, Shimano Chainset and pedals (42/52) regina chain, chinelli bars, stem and seat pillar, all related brake and gear cables, brooks leather saddle, some mudgards and a saddle bag. Several sets of tyres and inner tubes and puncture repair kits. I have ridden a bike like this from 1979 to the present day doing an average of 10 miles a day with very low maintenance.

I find its best to have either a fixed wheel or derailuer gears which are very simple to repair or replace. I aviod hub gear as they are a sealed system built into the wheel and hard to repair. Suspention is pointless on bikes, even in the old version of mountain biking, which was called cyclocross we did not have suspention, also rear suspention saps some of the pedalling energy, you get knackered faster and cant go as far, though admitedly its easy on your bottom

I have never found a pre built bike that has a combination of equipment that I would choose. Over the years I have had many bikes, I currently have 4 bikes

alternative-energy · Post by **alternative-energy** » 02 May 2007, 20:27

Cycling is the transport of kings.
Wish I could get away with owning 4 bikes!!!
Got a Dawes Discovery Hybrid for commuting trails etc and a fantastic Road Bike that I bought from Ebay... risky, but it paid off.
Reynolds 853 Frame, Mavic Wheels with Ceramic Hubs and Full Dura Ace components all round. Goes like stink especially when I put the tri bars on.

Would love to have the skill to build my own though.

Keela · Post by **Keela** » 02 May 2007, 20:36

BIKES.... I swear they are breeding in the shed!

My OH is a bit of a bike fanatic... he has all sorts and rows of them hanging up....

He and my son cycle fairly frequently and do time trials. OH did a 200mile in one day cycle last summer with a few friends. I collected him at 11pm as he finished! (But didn't see him off when he left at 4.30am!

)

I just need to get fit again to use mine.... I did do a maracycle 10years ago, but have barely ridden it since!

(My bike was bought for a quid from a lost property office - painted by OH in the colours I requested and built from bits he'd upgraded on his bike..... Acutally a good bike the frame was raleigh of some sort that OH raved about and he got me 18 gears going - including a really granny gear.... Must get out again.... )

Erik · Post by **Erik** » 02 May 2007, 21:57

Sally wrote:BIKES.... I swear they are breeding in the shed!

Ha ha... a reference to Flann O'Brien? Every time this thread is "reanimated" it makes me think of The Third Policeman:

The gross and net result of it is that people who spend most of their natural lives riding iron bicycles over the rocky roadsteads of this parish get their personalities mixed up with the personalities of their bicycle as a result of the interchanging of the atoms of each of them and you would be surprised at the number of people in these parts who nearly are half people and half bicycles.

Keela · Post by **Keela** » 02 May 2007, 22:03

Erik wrote:
Sally wrote:BIKES.... I swear they are breeding in the shed!
Ha ha... a reference to Flann O'Brien? Every time this thread is "reanimated" it makes me think of The Third Policeman:
The gross and net result of it is that people who spend most of their natural lives riding iron bicycles over the rocky roadsteads of this parish get their personalities mixed up with the personalities of their bicycle as a result of the interchanging of the atoms of each of them and you would be surprised at the number of people in these parts who nearly are half people and half bicycles.

No simply a reference to our bike shed!

Love the quote however!

Erik · Post by **Erik** » 02 May 2007, 22:54

Sally wrote:No simply a reference to our bike shed!

Love the quote however!

Oh! Well watch out anyway, your bicycles could be getting up to all sorts of mischief in that shed!