Cambridge

Clive George wrote:

FWIW I'm also perpetually disppointed at the standard of bikes in
Cambridge - but I do appreciate that it's not actually a real problem.

Amsterdam was a real eye opener for me. Thousands upon thousands of
what I would formerly have regarded as useless heaps, yet people were
getting about on them quite usefully and happily.

2) Find out a little more about the efficacy of helmets before stating
that you're shocked that people don't wear bike helmets.

Or, for that matter, about the actual degree of danger of A to B
cycling, which turn out to be rather lower than most people imagine.

Another case of Amsterdam reinforcing what many in the UK have
forgotten: cycling can be an everyday thing with no need for special kit
and state of the art machinery tuned to perfection. Not that I dislike
SotA machinery tuned to perfection, but for trundling around town it is
very much optional.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

woollypigs wrote:
i did think that you could make a bomb there with a can of oil, spanner and
some break pads

Careful what you say, this group may be monitored for potential
terrorist activities.

Alternatively, I don't think you can ever make lots of money out of
selling anything non-alcoholic to students, even at Cambridge.

In article , Clive George wrote:
"rowman" wrote in message
...

I though that the lack of maintenance was maybe down to a high crime rate.
i.e. don't bother if its going to get stolen/damaged. Another clue was the
almost total absence of quick release leavers?

Nah, it'll be because the riding there isn't actually that strenuous, so you
can get away without bothering with maintenance. Cheap bikes tend not to
have QRs, and they're what get ridden a lot of the time.

I suspect the theft rate has an influence on that.


FWIW I'm also perpetually disppointed at the standard of bikes in
Cambridge - but I do appreciate that it's not actually a real problem.

I still find the number of completely disconnected rear brakes slightly
disconcerting, though I've never seen a front cable break in use.

hehe you are right there, wonder if i can flock the oil if i mix it with
alcohol an then make a bo.. erm i mean a mint out of that, didn't see
many drinks holders on the bikes there, might be onto something here ...

woollypigs

POHB wrote:
woollypigs wrote:
i did think that you could make a bomb there with a can of oil, spanner and
some break pads

Careful what you say, this group may be monitored for potential
terrorist activities.

Alternatively, I don't think you can ever make lots of money out of
selling anything non-alcoholic to students, even at Cambridge.

Alan Braggins wrote:


I still find the number of completely disconnected rear brakes slightly
disconcerting, though I've never seen a front cable break in use.

It happens. Albeit not very often.

Al C-F wrote:

Alan Braggins wrote:


I still find the number of completely disconnected rear brakes slightly
disconcerting, though I've never seen a front cable break in use.

It happens. Albeit not very often.

I kill on average 1 to 2 front cables a year on the commuting hack (a
knackered - very Cambridge, tho just down the road in St Neots - old 10
speed ...OK 3 remaining gears 9 and 10th unusable due to the grinding
of the freewheel and 1-5 cos theres about 30% broken teeth on the small
front cog), ), despite it being only 2 miles each way to the station. I
think it has something to do with the bike being left out in all
weathers up at the station combined with a rather braking intensive
route, vis three roundabouts, three sets of lights and three pelican
crossings, and invariably happens in the wet due to the greater braking
force being applied to acheive the requisite stopping power. Usual
backup braking then involves both feet skidding along the road with the
back brake cable creaking :O)

They are all university students!

--
Vivian
-------
"We learned more from a three minute record than we ever learned in school".
No Surrender

"rowman" wrote in message
...
After spending an enjoyable weekend at the Cambridge folk festival. I
was shocked at the wrecks that the average Cambridge cyclist calls for
the want of a better name a bike. What is it about Cambridge that leads
the average cyclist to never use oil, change brake pads, make any
attempt to look around at road junctions and never wear a cycling helmet?

Rich

"Mark W" wrote in message
oups.com...

I kill on average 1 to 2 front cables a year on the commuting hack

Stainless steel cables - YKIMS

cheers,
clive

rowman wrote on 31/07/2006 13:22 +0100:
After spending an enjoyable weekend at the Cambridge folk festival. I
was shocked at the wrecks that the average Cambridge cyclist calls for
the want of a better name a bike. What is it about Cambridge that leads
the average cyclist to never use oil, change brake pads, make any
attempt to look around at road junctions and never wear a cycling helmet?


With 25% of journeys being made by bike, does it really matter what they
ride? And as for helmets, like the Dutch, they don't need them because
cycling in Cambridge is just an ordinary everyday activity. Not that
they'd do much good anyway.

--
Tony

"Anyone who conducts an argument by appealing to authority is not using
his intelligence; he is just using his memory."
- Leonardo da Vinci

Geraint Jones wrote:
It's the same with m*t*r c*rs in most places -- haven't you noticed
the m*t*r c*rs with rusty bodies, defective lights, worn tyres, noisy
exhausts and dripping oil?

You've been looking in my driveway haven't you? :-|