wphamilton

The real question is how does the extra weight impact one's safety given the superior cycling infrastructure, and whether an epistemological claim may be made about the preference for lighter bikes or is it more appropriately a matter related to cultural relativism.

acidfast7

Or simply that cheaper bikes are more heavy.

My SS hi-ten bike is an example.

dynaryder

Lifting it. Folders tend to get carried more than regular bikes. There are also folks who have to carry their bikes up steps,or even several floors. Weight also comes into play when working on the bike;putting it in a stand or turning it over. Had a guy bring his Euro-style Electra to my clinic this week;I had him hold the bike while I clamped it into the stand. So glad I'll never have to fix a flat on any of the bikeshare bikes.

acidfast7

Sure. I was just think of my cheap SS bike that weighs 11kg. If I spent 10x the money and built one that was 6kg total ... I don't think I'd notice the 5kg difference even when I lived on a 6th floor walk up in Frankfurt.

noglider 

There's no doubt you would notice, but there's no telling whether you would care. There's a difference.

cobrabyte

When does one notice the weight of a bike? Lifting it, certainly, but more importantly when riding, climbing hills, wind.

I certainly don't go for light weight on my builds. I've never even weighed any of my bikes. I go for practicality and reliability. My taste tends towards mid-level components and frames. Too high end isn't my style, nor can I afford it. Low end is more trouble than it's worth for me. For this reason, my bikes tend to be relatively light weight for what they are, but more due to a result of the components and frames I choose rather than a conscious effort towards light weight.

There's an obvious difference when riding my cro-mo framed single speed vs. my 1973 Raleigh Sports when encountering things like hills or wind.

acidfast7

I guess I wouldn't even notice ... ever try to go up six flights with 40 0.5L glass bottles of German beer (2 cases).

The bike doesn't even matter ... IMHO.

acidfast7

stats:

2516km/1563mi
£544/$865 total
£0.21/km
€0.27/km
$0.55/mi
net money saved (bus fare saved minus running costs): £69 (1 month bus pass) + 5 days (£23.5) = £92.5/$150.11





photos:

acidfast7

stats:

2535km/1575mi
£544/$865 total
£0.21/km
€0.26/km
$0.55/mi
net money saved (bus fare saved minus running costs): £69 (1 month bus pass) + 6 days (£28.2) = £97.2/$158.30

photo:

acidfast7

stats:

2555km/1587mi
£544/$865 total
£0.21/km
€0.26/km
$0.54/mi
net money saved (bus fare saved minus running costs): £69 (1 month bus pass) + 7 days (£32.9) = £101.9/$165.96

photo:

Astrozombie

You ever use the bus/train for a large part of your commute and then bike a shorter part?
Maybe I'll pick up one of these and do my own thread?

I switched the battery on my sigma and the odometer reset

acidfast7

Actually, I'm now in the position where I'm on a train to London every Friday and back every Monday morning for the start of the work week. I am considering a folder to get a couple of extra rides in throughout the week. The train takes 5 full sized bikes but it seems like a hassle to pre-book every single train and that's where the folder comes in handy, in my eyes.

The Sigma computer should let you decide where the odometer starts, it doesn't have to be zero.

acidfast7

stats:

2574km/1599mi
£544/$865 total
£0.21/km
€0.26/km
$0.54/mi
net money saved (bus fare saved minus running costs): £69 (1 month bus pass) + 8 days (£37.6) + new month starting 23 SEP = £106.6/$174.66

photos:

acidfast7

stats:

2593km/1611mi
£544/$865 total
£0.20/km
€0.25/km
$0.53/mi
net money saved (bus fare saved minus running costs): £69 (1 month bus pass) + 8 days (£37.6) + 1 day (£4.7) = £111.30/$181.56

photos:

Bike Gremlin

If lifting and carrying an <20 kg bike is a problem, one should seek medical help, not get a more expensive bicycle. Just my 2c.

acidfast7

+1

after this bike, I'm sold on Hi-Ten for commuting.

acidfast7

stats:

2612km/1623mi
£544/$865 total
£0.20/km
€0.26/km
$0.53/mi
net money saved (bus fare saved minus running costs): £69 (1 month bus pass) + 8 days (£37.6) + 2 day (£9.4) = £116.00/$188.40

photos:

noglider 

Do you ride in all weather?

acidfast7

Not to be negative but it's NE England. The weather is rain / no rain. I only had one spill last year due to ice. I ditched the toeclips after that.

I'm also car free as the car is now in SE England.

edit: the other way to answer the question is that since purchasing the bike almost one year ago:

134.5 commutes by bike (80%)
26.5 by car (19.7%)
7.0 by bus (0.3%)
168 commute total for the nearly complete year of ownership

those car days don't clump together every for a move to London for the gf and a few colleagues in town.

acidfast7

stats:

2631km/1634mi
£544/$865 total
£0.20/km
€0.26/km
$0.52/mi
net money saved (bus fare saved minus running costs): £69 (1 month bus pass) + 8 days (£37.6) + 3 day (£14.1) = £120.70/$195.53

photos:

acidfast7

I think haven't figured out to get a small carry-on suitcase on the bike so days like today when I fly back to the continent I have to take bus/car

Off to Lake Constance (Bodensee) for a German wedding

Lindau - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I-Like-To-Bike

If you get a chance ride a bike (or take a tourist boat) along the German side of Lake Constance (Bodensee) to Konstanz. Come back next year and stay at Friedrichshafen during Eurobike; lots of fun.

Maybe the tree has outgrown its home in the 2CV I saw parked in Lindau in 2001.

acidfast7

Will do and will try to grab a photo of the 2CV ("Ente"/"Duck") with the tree if I see it!

acidfast7

stats:

2650km/1646mi
£544/$865 total
£0.20/km
€0.26/km
$0.52/mi
net money saved (bus fare saved minus running costs): £69 (1 month bus pass) + 8 days (£37.6) + 4 days (£18.8) = £125.40/$201.79

photos:

acidfast7

stats:

2669km/1658mi
£544/$865 total
£0.20/km
€0.25/km
$0.52/mi
net money saved (bus fare saved minus running costs): £69 (1 month bus pass) + 8 days (£37.6) + 5 days (£23.5) = £130.10/$210.26

photos: