Cambridge

"rowman" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

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

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 said:

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

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 said:

"rowman" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

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 said:

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?

They are clever enough to examine the functional requirements and
adopt them without falling for the same preconceptions that you have?

In my first year I didn't maintain my bike. In my subsequent years I
did without oilable bits or brakes entirely. At no time did I wear a
helmet.

regards, Ian SMith
--
|\ /| no .sig
|o o|
|/ \|

rowman said:

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

Endemic theft. Why bother maintaining something when you won't own it
for more than six months?

--
Chris

"rowman" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

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.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

BTW are you new round here?

Quoted message said:

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" <[email hidden]> writed in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

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!

Quoting rowman <[email hidden]>:

Quoted message said:

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

Anywhere in Cambridge is ten minutes away by bike and during most of those
ten minutes your speed will be limited by factors other than the
efficiency of your machine.

Quoted message said:

and never wear a cycling helmet?

Because they have the wit to know the things aren't any good.
--
David Damerell <[email hidden]> Kill the tomato!
Today is Second Epithumia, July - a weekend.

Mike the Unshavable said:

"Clive George" <[email hidden]> writed in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

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 said:

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.

Quoted message said:

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 [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

woollypigs said:

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 said:

"rowman" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

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.

Quoted message said:

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 said:

woollypigs said:

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 said:

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 said:

Alan Braggins said:

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" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

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" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

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:

Quoted message said:

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

rowman <[email hidden]> 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?

It's the same in Oxford. It's not /just/ the theft, nor the terrain.
It's the same anywhere where a large enough percentage of the population
uses bicycles.

Apart from the theft and the flattness, the other thing that's the
remarkable about Cambridge is that most of the people you see on
bicycles are not cyclists. They're just getting around. If a large
enough proportion of the population uses bicycles, there will be a lot
of people who use bicycles and think of them only as a means of
transport, and not as a machine.

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?