People of Holland

[mik]

No, not all dead.

Everybody cycles everywhere.

1. Why do 76% of the bikes look like they were designed in the 1960s? Edit: make that 1940’s

2. Why do 72% of the bikes have nearly flat tyres?

3. Why do 48% of people position the pedal at the arch of their foot as opposed to the ball of their foot?

4. Why do 99.97% of people not use a helmet?

[NotoriousREV]

You should see the price of those 1940s bikes, too. £1000+ but they do use Shimano hub gears

[Gwaredd]

3. I ride like this, find it comfier, offers me more balance on flat pedals. Many ride on the ball of their feet as that's where clipless pedals force your feet.

[Jobbo]

4. Why do 99.97% of people not use a helmet?

Ooh, can we have the cycle helmet debate now?

[ste]

No, not all dead.

Everybody cycles everywhere.

1. Why do 76% of the bikes look like they were designed in the 1960s? Edit: make that 1940’s

2. Why do 72% of the bikes have nearly flat tyres?

3. Why do 48% of people position the pedal at the arch of their foot as opposed to the ball of their foot?

4. Why do 99.97% of people not use a helmet?

Because bicycles as transport.

Look at people who drive cars to get from A - B and those that buy and own cars because they're enthusiasts about a certain driving or car owning discipline.

[ste]

TBF, a morning in London now looks almost similar - cars are so outnumbered and more and more people are seeing the benefits of bicycles as a way to get about.

It's quite humorous seeing those who are bicycling because transport and the 'enthusiasts'. Often funny watching the lycra louts carving through the commuters in full team kits acting like they're moving up the peloton on the Champs Elysee. Occasionally you'll see someone on a full downhill rig with a full-face helmet too. Bicycling is ace in every form, the more people are doing it to get from place to place rather than jumping in a car, the better.

[DeskJockey]

TBF, a morning in London now looks almost similar - cars are so outnumbered and more and more people are seeing the benefits of bicycles as a way to get about.

It's quite humorous seeing those who are bicycling because transport and the 'enthusiasts'. Often funny watching the lycra louts carving through the commuters in full team kits acting like they're moving up the peloton on the Champs Elysee. Occasionally you'll see someone on a full downhill rig with a full-face helmet too. Bicycling is ace in every form, the more people are doing it to get from place to place rather than jumping in a car, the better.

This with a bicycle bell on.

[ZedLeg]

Occasionally you'll see someone on a full downhill rig with a full-face helmet too.

I've never understood this, there are few things less fun than riding a big travel DH bike on knobbly tyres on the road.

The closest comparison I can think of is driving a knackered old Land Rover on the motorway .

[Rich B]

Occasionally you'll see someone on a full downhill rig with a full-face helmet too.

I've never understood this, there are few things less fun than riding a big travel DH bike on knobbly tyres on the road.

The closest comparison I can think of is driving a knackered old Land Rover on the motorway .

Depends which road - there’s a long winding mountain road down into Morzine from one of the lifts that is hilarious to max out on a DH bike and lean into the switchbacks!

[drcarlos]

No, not all dead.

Everybody cycles everywhere.

1. Why do 76% of the bikes look like they were designed in the 1960s? Edit: make that 1940’s

2. Why do 72% of the bikes have nearly flat tyres?

3. Why do 48% of people position the pedal at the arch of their foot as opposed to the ball of their foot?

4. Why do 99.97% of people not use a helmet?

Because bicycles as transport.

Look at people who drive cars to get from A - B and those that buy and own cars because they're enthusiasts about a certain driving or car owning discipline.

It's odd this. The transport bunch should be looking at the enthusiast kit as:

1. More efficient
2. More comfortable

Therefore something that they should be using, rather than something that has tech from the 1940's (though Shimano hub gears are a massive leap compared to Sturmey Archer) and the same weight as a boat anchor.
Copenhagen is similar.

Carl.

[ZedLeg]

Occasionally you'll see someone on a full downhill rig with a full-face helmet too.

I've never understood this, there are few things less fun than riding a big travel DH bike on knobbly tyres on the road.

The closest comparison I can think of is driving a knackered old Land Rover on the motorway .

Depends which road - there’s a long winding mountain road down into Morzine from one of the lifts that is hilarious to max out on a DH bike and lean into the switchbacks!

True true, I guess I should’ve said in town rather than on road. Stop start traffic on a DH bike isn’t to be advised, unless you’re working on having legs like Chris Hoy.

[Rich B]

I've never understood this, there are few things less fun than riding a big travel DH bike on knobbly tyres on the road.

The closest comparison I can think of is driving a knackered old Land Rover on the motorway .

Depends which road - there’s a long winding mountain road down into Morzine from one of the lifts that is hilarious to max out on a DH bike and lean into the switchbacks!

True true, I guess I should’ve said in town rather than on road. Stop start traffic on a DH bike isn’t to be advised, unless you’re working on having legs like Chris Hoy.

yeah, you’re totally correct in 99% of circumstances. Losing half your energy just bobbing the bike up and down is hard!

[ste]

Occasionally you'll see someone on a full downhill rig with a full-face helmet too.

I've never understood this, there are few things less fun than riding a big travel DH bike on knobbly tyres on the road.

The closest comparison I can think of is driving a knackered old Land Rover on the motorway .

I guess because it's their only bike and they're not a regular commuter or because they have that bike there at that particular time and need themselves or it to be elsewhere. I think the only time I've 'commuted' on a mountain bike was shortly after buying one of them and the shop hadn't set it up tubeless but said they'd do it for me when they next had chance. I rode it into work that day and then rode it over to the shop in my lunchbreak. It was shit/ace in equal proportion. Obviously dead slow at actually riding on the road compared to a road bike but also made me act like a kid wheelying it and hopping over kerbs etc

I do see one guy in Elephant and Castle quite regularly though on a Santa Cruz Bronson and he always has a full-face lid and goggles. I always assume it must be his only bike.

[GG.]

I do see one guy in Elephant and Castle quite regularly though on a Santa Cruz Bronson and he always has a full-face lid and goggles. I always assume it must be his only bike.

I commute through E&C every day - full face helmet is probably a sensible precaution round there

[Carlos]

Being so flat helps, you'll never see a mum on a 50kg bike with 3 kids in the front basket in Wales

[speedingfine]

Having a schmoke and a pancake Mik?

[Nefarious]

It's odd this. The transport bunch should be looking at the enthusiast kit as:

1. More efficient
2. More comfortable

Therefore something that they should be using

Just a POV from the other side:
My bike is shit. I put it together from various bits of old bikes abandoned in the various gardens/bin rooms of my flats. It has an OK frame so it doesn't weigh a ton, but its no CF racer.
What's good about it is - I can leave it anywhere without fear. It's got a pretty comfy saddle and an fairly upright seating position so I can happily ride to the pub in my civvy clothes without being either sore or a sweaty mess, and then leisurely ride home on the tow-path half-cut without having to adopt the full racer position. I don't mind it being less efficient, as half the reason I use it at all is for a bit of excercise, and like-for-like, I'd just have to ride a more efficient bike further for the same benefit.

[240PP]

Everybody cycles everywhere.

1. Why do 76% of the bikes look like they were designed in the 1960s? Edit: make that 1940’s

That's all the bike that's required. It's a small flat place and the bikes are designed for reliability and longevity.

Most of them spend their whole life outside (chained to trees, lamposts etc when not in use). Introducing loads of gears and suspension into the equation isn't going to work

[Mito Man]

I’ve never even thought about this but as a Scandi me and my entire family have the classic looking bikes for city duties and mountain bikes for the countryside. Regardless both feel light as a feather compared to the Boris bikes which is the only other thing semi frequently use. Tempted by an electric bike now, my friend has one which does 30 mph which I reckon would be a right laugh in London - essentially a go anywhere moped.

[unzippy]

No, not all dead.

Everybody cycles everywhere.

1. Why do 76% of the bikes look like they were designed in the 1960s? Edit: make that 1940’s

It makes a lot more sense for commuting in town, it's safer. That 'sit up and beg' style of riding means you can see so much more, rather than the head down MAMILs.
If more people in London rode upright bikes, I'm sure there would be less squashed cyclists.