Citibikes have started!
#277
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: The Big City
Posts: 619
Bikes: Brompton M3L, Tern Verge P20, Citi Bike
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I have an Android, so I have at least one foot outside the walled garden (root, root, root!). And therefore an iPlan is superfluous.
#278
Senior Member
#279
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Just to be clear, I had my Citibike key BEFORE I got my first smartphone. I did have an iPad though, which is marginally less convenient when on the bike looking for a station. And I'm in the tech business. It was actually a badge of honor that I could hold off for so long. Now I have an iPhone 6, but I still use my iPad more than that for everything but texting and calls.
#280
Senior Member
#281
Senior Member
What kind of front light is the Citi bike using? Is it a dynamo? From what I see most flash with a row of 5 LEDs, while on some other Citi bikes it looks like a single bright LED, pretty bright actually, slightly blueish. Does the light automatically switch between the 5 LED and single LED, or the user made it so? Although far not as bright as the "to see" headlights many of use use, Citi bike's front light is actually very visible in the dark.
#282
Senior Member
There are 2 variations of Citibikes out there, with the newer ones designed by Ben Serrota. The easiest way to differentiate the two is by the seat post as the new bikes have a black carbon post. The gearing is slightly different as well. So the lighting design might be different between the two as well,
#283
aka Tom Reingold
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
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Serotta, really? I'm impressed. The new model weighs only a little less than the old one, but it is so much better in so many ways. It feels lighter and nimbler, the rider position is improved in a way I can't figure out, the gearing is appropriately higher, the bike seems to bounce over bumps much more comfortably. The easies telltale sign for me is that the new model has one tail light on the fender, whereas the old model has two tail lights very low, one on each chain stay. Whenever I pick up a bike, I look for a new model since I like it so much. Oh, it also has Sturmey Archer hubs rather than Shimano hubs, and the braking effort from the hand is much lower. The brakes inspire a lot more confidence.
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#284
Senior Member
What kind of front light is the Citi bike using? Is it a dynamo? From what I see most flash with a row of 5 LEDs, while on some other Citi bikes it looks like a single bright LED, pretty bright actually, slightly blueish. Does the light automatically switch between the 5 LED and single LED, or the user made it so? Although far not as bright as the "to see" headlights many of use use, Citi bike's front light is actually very visible in the dark.
#285
Senior Member
Citi Bike by AviationMetalSmith, on Flickr
Old style, mostly, above
Citi Bike by AviationMetalSmith, on Flickr
Old style, with LED in the Chain Stay, above
IMG_1680 by AviationMetalSmith, on Flickr
NEW STYLE, with flanged dropouts (reminds me of a cat-trike), without the tail lights, above
Old style, mostly, above
Citi Bike by AviationMetalSmith, on Flickr
Old style, with LED in the Chain Stay, above
IMG_1680 by AviationMetalSmith, on Flickr
NEW STYLE, with flanged dropouts (reminds me of a cat-trike), without the tail lights, above
#286
Senior Member
IMG_0666 by AviationMetalSmith, on Flickr
Lady on the new style, followed by a man on the old style (Herald Square)...
Lady on the new style, followed by a man on the old style (Herald Square)...
#287
Senior Member
OLD STYLE:IMG_0564 by AviationMetalSmith, on Flickr
IMG_0565 by AviationMetalSmith, on Flickr
NEW STYLE, above
IMG_0565 by AviationMetalSmith, on Flickr
NEW STYLE, above
#288
Senior Member
New Style:IMG_0566 by AviationMetalSmith, on Flickr
IMG_0562 by AviationMetalSmith, on Flickr
OLD STYLE, above
So, if you look closely, you will see differences...
IMG_0562 by AviationMetalSmith, on Flickr
OLD STYLE, above
So, if you look closely, you will see differences...
#289
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 496
Bikes: Volagi Viaje (rando/gravel/tour), Cannondale Slice 4 (tri/TT), Motobecane Fantom PLUS X9 (plus tires MTB)
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Sadly, while an immense convenience for the users, this program may cause negative impact on some good old LBSs, especially in such extreme cases as when "a rack of 40 blazing blue Citi Bikes was installed a mere 150 feet from Frank’s Bike Shop on Grand Street on the Lower East Side".
The folks at Frank's Bike Shop are great, especially Frank the owner. I hope its business will continue to do well.
The folks at Frank's Bike Shop are great, especially Frank the owner. I hope its business will continue to do well.
#290
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: The Big City
Posts: 619
Bikes: Brompton M3L, Tern Verge P20, Citi Bike
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Serotta, really? I'm impressed. The new model weighs only a little less than the old one, but it is so much better in so many ways. It feels lighter and nimbler, the rider position is improved in a way I can't figure out, the gearing is appropriately higher, the bike seems to bounce over bumps much more comfortably. The easies telltale sign for me is that the new model has one tail light on the fender, whereas the old model has two tail lights very low, one on each chain stay. Whenever I pick up a bike, I look for a new model since I like it so much. Oh, it also has Sturmey Archer hubs rather than Shimano hubs, and the braking effort from the hand is much lower. The brakes inspire a lot more confidence.
#291
aka Tom Reingold
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
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@wilfried, I hope they can figure out how to keep the new bikes running, perhaps with some extra man power. It would be a shame to lose these bikes. I did have one that didn't go into third gear, but I wasn't sure if I should report it, and I didn't know how. I'll look for the wrench button. It might be better just to email the company and tell them the bike number and what malady it has.
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#292
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: The Big City
Posts: 619
Bikes: Brompton M3L, Tern Verge P20, Citi Bike
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Push the button, it's easy. It locks to bike, so it can't be used, so they can retrieve it. They'll send you an email survey asking you what's wrong with the bike.
#293
aka Tom Reingold
Join Date: Jan 2009
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Yes, that's easy, but as you point out, it's overkill. The bike was useful to me and was likely to be useful to the next person.
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#294
Senior Member
The only problem I've encountered so far with the new model is sometimes the seat won't lock well. I've hit bumps and had the seat post go to the bottom.
#295
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Join Date: Jul 2014
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Dangerous to guess for there based on here, I see.
#296
Senior Member
I think they will only hurt shops that have a rental business, and then only until the tourists realize that for less than they just paid citibike they could have rented a better bike from the LBS or rental company like Bike and Roll. FWIW they installed a rack around the corner from Toga on the UWS. Toga installed signs that they rent helmets to citibike riders.
#297
aka Tom Reingold
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Does the "IN" in your name mean Indiana? Yes, in NYC, many people use bikes as transportation. It is the most sensible way to get around for many of us, whether we're bike nuts or not.
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#298
aka Tom Reingold
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Posts: 40,502
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
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I only think they will hurt shops that have a rental business, and then only until the tourists realize that for less than they just paid citibike they could have rented a better bike from the LBS or rental company like Bike and Roll. FWIW they installed a rack around the corner from Toga on the UWS. Toga installed signs that they rent helmets to citibike riders.
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#299
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
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Yes, Indiana.
There are some commuters here, but it's not very widespread yet. The city is improving the infrastructure so it will likely pick up. There is a bike rental system in downtown Indianapolis, and also downtown Carmel (a North suburb). The Carmel one has bikes similar to the Citibikes but also big trikes with huge cargo baskets, which looked pretty handy to me (I use a trailer when I need to carry a lot).
Of course we commuters stop in to LBS for generic consumables like tubes, but the bikes and accessories they sell are pretty light on commuter gear and very heavy on performance/fitness biking.
Sounds like the hobby/utility ratio is higher here than there.
PS edited to add - just saw your blog about the greenway and passing hundreds of commuters. We have a pretty nice greenway that goes straight from my home to my work; I'm also about 12-14 miles depending on which of 2 work locations I go to. In peak Summer season I'll pass maybe 50 commuters on the way in am. Home in the evening, about the same number of commuters but a lot more people on training rides, riding with their kids, etc. In chilly or wet weather, that number drops under 10; last time I rode to work I saw two other cyclists. It was 38 degrees but no precip.
You do have a very scenic commute.
There are some commuters here, but it's not very widespread yet. The city is improving the infrastructure so it will likely pick up. There is a bike rental system in downtown Indianapolis, and also downtown Carmel (a North suburb). The Carmel one has bikes similar to the Citibikes but also big trikes with huge cargo baskets, which looked pretty handy to me (I use a trailer when I need to carry a lot).
Of course we commuters stop in to LBS for generic consumables like tubes, but the bikes and accessories they sell are pretty light on commuter gear and very heavy on performance/fitness biking.
Sounds like the hobby/utility ratio is higher here than there.
PS edited to add - just saw your blog about the greenway and passing hundreds of commuters. We have a pretty nice greenway that goes straight from my home to my work; I'm also about 12-14 miles depending on which of 2 work locations I go to. In peak Summer season I'll pass maybe 50 commuters on the way in am. Home in the evening, about the same number of commuters but a lot more people on training rides, riding with their kids, etc. In chilly or wet weather, that number drops under 10; last time I rode to work I saw two other cyclists. It was 38 degrees but no precip.
You do have a very scenic commute.
Last edited by alathIN; 12-14-15 at 02:32 PM.
#300
Senior Member
I'm on the UWS and own both a road and a mtb. I didn't bike commute until citibike became available here due to lack of safe parking for the bike. I now have a citibike key and use it for the occasional bike commute and errands, neither of which I would have done on one of my own bikes. I still buy bike clothing and accessories at my LBS.