Comments on: Bike Repairs and Friends http://www.dailycyclist.com/2008/12/04/bike-repairs-and-friends/ Wed, 11 Aug 2010 12:17:35 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Bob http://www.dailycyclist.com/2008/12/04/bike-repairs-and-friends/comment-page-1/#comment-128 Bob Fri, 05 Dec 2008 17:17:16 +0000 http://www.dailycyclist.com/?p=502#comment-128 <strong>David:</strong> That is the difference between the Netherlands and the U.S. is having a bicycle as part of the country's culture or being part of a country's sub-culture. Here in the U.S. I think cycling is in it's early infancy and struggling to make inroads into a car centric culture. But it needs to start somewhere. My commuter bike is a Giant touring bike which is equipped with fenders, excellent puncture resistant tires (Specialized Armadillo's), disc brakes for wet weather, lights, and panniers. It has gears because of hills in the area I live and commute through. When I leave my door I have a steep 1 mile long hill to start my day no matter where I am going and my commute is about 35% uphill. Although it does make for a fair amount of downhill fun. <strong>CyclingRed:</strong> Next time I am in your area, I will do the work for a cycling tour of the best places to ride. David: That is the difference between the Netherlands and the U.S. is having a bicycle as part of the country’s culture or being part of a country’s sub-culture. Here in the U.S. I think cycling is in it’s early infancy and struggling to make inroads into a car centric culture. But it needs to start somewhere. My commuter bike is a Giant touring bike which is equipped with fenders, excellent puncture resistant tires (Specialized Armadillo’s), disc brakes for wet weather, lights, and panniers.

It has gears because of hills in the area I live and commute through. When I leave my door I have a steep 1 mile long hill to start my day no matter where I am going and my commute is about 35% uphill. Although it does make for a fair amount of downhill fun.

CyclingRed: Next time I am in your area, I will do the work for a cycling tour of the best places to ride.

]]> By: cyclingred http://www.dailycyclist.com/2008/12/04/bike-repairs-and-friends/comment-page-1/#comment-127 cyclingred Fri, 05 Dec 2008 12:55:26 +0000 http://www.dailycyclist.com/?p=502#comment-127 I have a cassette sitting in a box where it has been for a year now waiting for me to install it. You want to do it for me? :) I am not a very good mechanic. I surprise myself now and then and fix something and it actually works. I have a cassette sitting in a box where it has been for a year now waiting for me to install it. You want to do it for me? :) I am not a very good mechanic. I surprise myself now and then and fix something and it actually works.

]]> By: David Hembrow http://www.dailycyclist.com/2008/12/04/bike-repairs-and-friends/comment-page-1/#comment-126 David Hembrow Fri, 05 Dec 2008 06:54:47 +0000 http://www.dailycyclist.com/?p=502#comment-126 Over here in NL where everyone cycles, very few people do their own bicycle maintenance. There are about as many people who are bicycle enthusiasts interested in maintenance as anywhere else, but most people are simply not interested in using their bike for anything except travelling around. Instead, the majority ride reliable bikes with enclosed chains, hub brakes, hub dynamos, hub gears and very puncture resistant tyres. They also have fenders, skirt guards, and the enclosed chains also help with making them practical for all weather cycling without getting dirty. These bikes are an enabling technology for mass cycling. When it is needed, maintenance is relatively cheap at the many bike shops, all of which offer loan bikes while yours is being repaired. There are also bike shops at all shopping centres and all railway stations so you can have your bike repaired while you are doing something else. It's all part of making cycling an easy thing for people to do. Over here in NL where everyone cycles, very few people do their own bicycle maintenance. There are about as many people who are bicycle enthusiasts interested in maintenance as anywhere else, but most people are simply not interested in using their bike for anything except travelling around.

Instead, the majority ride reliable bikes with enclosed chains, hub brakes, hub dynamos, hub gears and very puncture resistant tyres. They also have fenders, skirt guards, and the enclosed chains also help with making them practical for all weather cycling without getting dirty. These bikes are an enabling technology for mass cycling.

When it is needed, maintenance is relatively cheap at the many bike shops, all of which offer loan bikes while yours is being repaired. There are also bike shops at all shopping centres and all railway stations so you can have your bike repaired while you are doing something else.

It’s all part of making cycling an easy thing for people to do.

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