Cambridge

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

"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?

The fact they've discovered they don't need to?

BTW are you new round here?

clive

Clive,

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?

I am a newish poster, returning to cycling after 20 years of rowing.

Rich

Clive George wrote:
"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?

The fact they've discovered they don't need to?

BTW are you new round here?

clive

"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.

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.

BTW are you new round here?

I am a newish poster, returning to cycling after 20 years of rowing.

1) Post replies in the body of your message, like wot I've done, not at the
top like you did.
2) Find out a little more about the effigacy of helmets before stating that
you're shocked that people don't wear bike helmets. www.cyclehelmets.org may
help you here.

cheers,
clive

"Clive George" writed in
:

2) Find out a little more about the effigacy of helmets before stating
that you're shocked that people don't wear bike helmets.
www.cyclehelmets.org may help you here.

Safer still, just don't mention the h word!

Mike the Unshavable wrote:
"Clive George" writed in
:

2) Find out a little more about the effigacy of helmets before stating
that you're shocked that people don't wear bike helmets.
www.cyclehelmets.org may help you here.

Safer still, just don't mention the h word!

I'll take your advice.

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/

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.

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.

Hi, yeah i noticed that too when i was there a few weeks ago, i did
think that you could make a bomb there with a can of oil, spanner and
some break pads, but as they seem to educated people up there i guessed
that someone much have had that bright idea before but have failed
since the "wrecks" are still doing their runs around town.

the sound of a rusty chain still sends shivers down my spine ...

woollypigs

rowman wrote:
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