CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Commuting

Utillity cycling

(27 posts)
  • Started 14 years ago by steveo
  • Latest reply from wee folding bike

  1. steveo
    Member

    Its probably common place for most folk round here but I'm new to it. About 10 months ago i got a decent sporty road bike on the cycle scheme and have diligently used it instead of the bus on my commute 3 or 4 out of 5 days on average which I'm quite pleased with given I was off my bike for nearly a decade before last summer.

    Any way this summer I've decided to try and use the bike more for what the insurance company would describe as "social, domestic and pleasure" though emphasis on the first two.

    My intention is try to take the bike where I would usually take the car. I'm going to endeavour to keep a log of my journeys so I can see how i'm doing if any one is interested i'll stick a link the Google spreadsheet when its got some data. As i say its probably second nature to most folk but I like to have targets equally i find it helps focus myself if i let other people know what i'm doing other wise i might cheat.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  2. wee folding bike
    Member

    Brompton obsessive mode on.

    I find folders are great for that. You don't need to check in advance if there is somewhere to leave it because you just take it with you. I was at an SQA higher meeting on Wednesday and had to field questions about Bromptons over the break then show how it folded. I didn't have to leave it outside in the Gallowgate.

    Brompton obsessive mode off.

    One problem is likely to be when it's very wet and you turn up at someone's house. It's rare but you might not be welcome if you're going to get the sofa soggy.

    It might be worth carrying some Swarfega or similar for when you get mucky paws. I once went to visit someone once who had a completely white living room whereas I was a wee bit black and gritty. I sat on the floor and tried not to touch anything. I keep an old jar of Swarfega at work.

    There could be a period of adjustment. I've always got around by bike so people know that's how I'll turn up. It only causes comment when I get a new one.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  3. gembo
    Member

    Is there a higher in Bromptons now under Curriculum for Excellence - there should be - in Edinburgh we have RUTS (Rural and Urban Transport Scheme I tink) - you refer a mildly wayward youth to them and they work for 15 weeks on bikes and motorbikes.

    I love swarfega but some people prefer to carry latex gloves ()also you don't leave fingerprints)

    I used to do a weekly shop for five with two ortlieb panniers and a rucksack, quite hard pedalling home and my bikes were crumbling. I stick to local Scotmid now and of course the conglomerates deliver to your door.

    If you don't go Brompton and the bike is at all MTB then a good lock might be worth it so that the bike is definitely there when you get back as it will be your sole means of transport.

    Sustrans Route 1 will get you to Northumbrian Coast if you fancy using bike to get on holiday?

    Posted 14 years ago #

  4. wee folding bike
    Member

    One of the problems is that the new higher was started before they came up with CfE, under Katy Jamieson's watch, so we might need to have two changes. Since the new higher is optional until 2015 I don't see anybody hurrying to change it. It doesn't make much sense on it its own because they took out evolution and plan to put it in earlier but they haven't done that yet. Biology with no evolution is like physics without Newton or chemistry with no periodic table.*

    I don't do bike things for the school because they insist on magic plastic hats.

    I might start using the kid's trailer for messages. The 3 yr old still uses it sometimes but the others are getting too big and two of them in there is now above the design limits.

    *May not apply in certain parts of the US.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  5. gembo
    Member

    Hood says his SYS Chemistry was garbage and hopes you improved on it.

    My eldest will be first to sit the whatever is replacing Standard Grades We Haven't Thought What Yet Though But We HAve Four Years.

    In Curriculum For Excellence it seems you cannot just teach one subject [Primary school here] - so if teaching Art you have to teach MAths too.

    I think for 2010 you could adjust your stance on Magic Plastic Hats. Just out of sheer boredom with your previous [very well reasoned arguments]. We can do this because we are not rats and do not necessarily stick to the plan. It is just a suggestion, not meant to be critical or anything. I could give you one that is so ridiculously garbage [and yet might pass Health and safety?) It is polystyrene with no plastic. Lidl (alas I now know they are anti-union, oh wait so are all other supermarkets except maybe Scotmid) sell totally EU compatible plastic hats for £10, in red or blue and in sizes wee and big.

    In this way we can start a Higher in Bike Maintennance and boost the numbers cycling in Scotland. Very popular Motor Vehicle Maintenance Courses at Stevenson College exist already. The Bike Chain gave a work experience opportunity to a lad out here and I believe EBC let a colleagues son build a £3000 bike as part of his Work Experience. This lad was the happiest he had ever been at school.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  6. steveo
    Member

    12 hours and the threads already derailed :D

    Ground rule, no Magic hat talk please, it's getting tiresome. ;)

    Posted 14 years ago #

  7. steveo
    Member

    I did consider a folder, but for the time being I think I'll stick with a "normal" bike. Though i'm on the look out for a older bike with such civilities as mud guards and pannier racks. Preferably one that doesn't need a lock as heavy as the bike to secure it.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  8. wee folding bike
    Member

    If you're going to use it as a car substitute you will need mudguards... or move to the Atacama.

    Outwith folders all bikes weigh 50 lbs. Drop bars will make it less nickable. Down tube shifters and pink paint will help too. I haven't seen a kid on drop bars for years.

    My racing bike is not getting repainted in pink. I might slap some black satin Hammerite on a rusty one over the summer.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  9. chdot
    Admin

    "12 hours and the threads already derailed :D"

    That's the trouble with cyclists they can just wander off in any direction (noemoticon).

    @steveo your first post didn't actually say you were looking for an alternative bike - wee folding bike will take any opportunity to 'sell' Brompton!

    Worth keeping an eye on http://edinburgh.gumtree.com/edinburgh/sports-goods-for-sale_1047_1.html - advantage over ebay is it's all local and you can see before you buy. (Inevitably) there are suggestions that 'too cheap to be true' bikes might be stolen, but at least if you pick up from seller that problem is reduced.

    Not sure about "stick a link the Google spreadsheet". Have you looked at http://www.mapmyride.com (and lots of others)? Good if you've got a GPS, but you can also add routes manually.

    If you have a 'smart' 'phone (iPhone, Android, Windows Mobile or Blackberry) try http://www.everytrail.com. Lets you take photos too and automatically uploads them with the gps track.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  10. chdot
    Admin

    "Outwith folders all bikes weigh 50 lbs."

    and I thought you were a man of science/facts.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  11. wee folding bike
    Member

    Well I'm pondering a Batavus Block Buster or Flying D for the winter but the only dealers seem to be in the south of England. The memsahib gave an official okey dokey but that might just have been to confuse me. She made the mistake of getting me to fill the car with gas on Tuesday and had to waft the smelling salts at me afterwards. One tank, £75. A couple of months of that would cover a Batavus.

    I like how everything is enclosed. Chains last for years and no more sacrificing rims to the god of grit. I've not found a data sheet with the gear inches. I know I could change the sprocket but it would be nice if they supplied the info. I'm not sure why they stick with metal mudguards. Chromoplastics have been around for at least 30 years and ESGE make that neat breakaway stay.

    http://www.dutchbikeshop.co.uk/

    I know EBC and Evans sell Pashleys but the Sovereign seems a wee bit retro for the sake of it. OTOH it does come with SA hubs while the Batavus uses Shimano. I took my Sturmey Archer BWR apart last night for the first time and was quite impressed by some of the improvements particularly the clutch which isn't a cross engaged on the pinions anymore. A friend at work is about to have his Nexus serviced which entails dunking it in a bowl of oil.

    I put some Ecogrease on the bearings and ordinary cycle oil on the planets. Green Oil waxes up in the cold and is a bit thick for hub internals. The ordinary bearings were fine, the one in the ball ring has no labyrinth and was a bit dirty.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  12. Smudge
    Member

    Bike trax do pashleys as well I believe.
    Mudguards and a rack are vital imho, and for me at least one pannier. That way I can wear "normal" clothes in layers with a waterproof jacket on top (mine happens to be a bike one but it doesn't have to be), stick a cheap set of w'proof trousers in the pannier and you can cover up if it's wet and remove layers if you get too warm.
    That way if you visit paces you're generally not (too) sweaty and fairly clean and, unless you choose to, you don't have to be immediately identifiable as a cyclist...

    Cheap is good for most components, less knickable and if they are stolen less distressing :-/ for example if your panniers are gucci you have to take them with you, if they are nameless black blobs they can work just as well but sit outside the supermarket without attracting any undesireables(I hope)

    I haven't found any good, light, compact locks yet. I use a little cable lock for the short nip into a shop use, seldom need much more than that. But I can understand the need. Certainly if I were leaving a bike for instance outside Haymarket station for 8+ hours at a time it would be the cheapest BSO I could find, I can't think of any other way to avoid theft/vandalism :-(

    Posted 14 years ago #

  13. gembo
    Member

    Wee Folding Bike mentioned earlier that the easiest way to avoid theft is to put drop handlebars on the bike (well I would buy a drop handlebar bike). I have left tricross at haymarket for 8 hours many times on a cable that turns out to have been mostly plastic with thin thread of wire at core- gave it away to ex-Gurkha I knew who had his old bike nicked. I have insurance so did want my tricross nicked (not now I have had new bits put on right enough). Never touched. However, would not leave bike overnight, just daytime. Original poster Steve will need good lock as bike will be his only source of transport so it can't get nicked.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  14. SRD
    Moderator

    Good luck Steveo. We manage pretty much everything on bike (did ask friend for a lift to the garden centre the other day), but we don't have a choice. Am sure deciding to leave the car is a much bigger challenge - but should make you feel better about it too.

    Panniers and rucksack will definitely do most shopping, but I think I will try to get a used trailer, not just for small person, but for the groceries etc too.

    PS google spreadsheets are fab! I rely on them massively for several aspects of my work.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  15. steveo
    Member

    Down to Seafield to get some (bees) wax and (French) polish this morning, more than a bit blowy on the way back! Could really have done with a rack just to stop my back sweating so bad.

    Just for Kim i went out in my tracky bottoms and a hoody, no technical clothing in sight, course for my trouble my cotton T and hoody are soaked trough difficult to take it easy into a 30mph head wind up London road ;)

    Posted 14 years ago #

  16. steveo
    Member

    @ Chdot, I think running the GPS for every trip is a bit excessive besides i know roughly how far most of my journeys are, the spread sheet is just a very simple log. Journey, distance, cost of fuel and how much i've not spent! Goals and Targets very important :)

    Posted 14 years ago #

  17. chdot
    Admin

    Ah

    I see, I was thinking about different things - like you going different places in your 'leisure' time.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  18. steveo
    Member

    I'm kinda thinking this is out side my usual weekend up into the hills past Balerno to the quiet type ride, for which i might add the road bike is excellent, more for for going to the shops, running messages and visiting people, basically what i use the car for.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  19. wee folding bike
    Member

    chdot,

    The 50 lb rule thing includes the lock. A 20 lb bike needs a 30 lb lock, 40 lb bike needs a 10 lb lock. A 50 lb bike will be where you left it.

    I think it might be a sliding scale but I never really knew what that was.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  20. chdot
    Admin

    "The 50 lb rule thing includes the lock."

    Right...

    Apart from the fact that the weight of lock is no (absolute) indicator of anti-theft 'strength', too much is made of the 'drawback' of carrying a decent lock (or two).

    I took two D locks (and an 'extenda' cable when I visited London recently (and probably would if I ever visited Glasgow...)

    Locks as a proportion of weight of bike is seldom significant. Locks as proportion of weight of bike + rider is negligible.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  21. wee folding bike
    Member

    Yes, I know, but you try telling that to the obsessives with their titanium nuts and bolts to shave 0.01g off the weight.

    I've got two titanium bolts on my mountain bike... but no back wheel.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  22. chdot
    Admin

    "Chromoplastics have been around for at least 30 years and ESGE make that neat breakaway stay."

    When they were first introduced they were 'guaranteed unbreakable' - probably with a get-out clause to cover 'misuse'...


    Posted 14 years ago #

  23. chdot
    Admin

    "Yes, I know, but you try telling that to the obsessives with their titanium nuts and bolts to shave 0.01g off the weight."

    Aye - is that's what's known as a fetish?

    The impetus mostly came from the time trialling world - where weight will make a fractional (of a second) difference.

    Did you ever come across the fad for L shaped cranks - some people actually believed they were advantageous (and presumably heavier!)

    But do the obsessives understand about rotating weight, unsprung weight etc?

    Posted 14 years ago #

  24. wee folding bike
    Member

    I saw L cranks once at a time trial beside Prestwick Airport in 1981. It seemed like a stupid idea then. I didn't see how it was different from having the pedal connected in a straight line.

    I find the chromoplastic mudguards delaminate at the ends where salt gets into them but they do last a few years. Blumel light weights used to shatter once they were a few years old.

    Posted 14 years ago #

  25. chdot
    Admin

    "Yes, this is one of the classics of the bicycle industry where someone, not an engineer or physical education expert, designs a device to solve an imagined problem. In this design the "problem" is that pushing down on the pedal at the top of the stroke produces no torque.

    By having the crank at 90 degrees from the TDC position, albeit with a short length, the horror of TDC dead spot is supposed to go away. This is like so may other gimmicks we see at the InterBike trade show everyyear, some more costly than others"

    http://www.cyclingforums.com/archive/index.php/t-64873.html

    More info and pic

    Posted 14 years ago #

  26. Smudge
    Member

    @chdot like the pic, but I've never understood the obsession with having the mudguard pushed up almost against the tyre? Why not set it up half an inch off the tyre and avoid any destruction as in your pic? (Not assuming you would set one up like that, just commenting on the pic and the number of people who claim they wont fit mudguards because of the rattles/rubbing, both of which I would call fitting probs??

    Posted 14 years ago #

  27. wee folding bike
    Member

    Sometimes it's just the size of the tyres, mudguards and frame.

    The chromoplastics on my Claud Butler never fitted well on 27 x 1 1/4" tyres. The Blumels it had before were wider and sat further from the tyre.

    Brompton ones sometimes need to be bent a wee bit to fit round Schwalbe Marathon Plus tyres. The rear stays are quite sturdy because they have to support the folded machine. On the machines with a rack the rear mudguard is supported by the rack. Crud builds up in the middle of the back mudguard because it gathers there when the wheel is folded. Sometimes water sits there too and I tip it down the sink before unfolding.

    My trike has no rear mudguards. They don't work very well as they can only be supported on the inboard side. Water from the back wheels flies past your shoulders unless you lean into a bend. A friend had mudguards on the back of his Longstaff but they were always bumping into things and getting broken.

    Posted 14 years ago #

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