Funny read
#1
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Location: Newcastle Aus
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#2
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Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: West Dorset, UK
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Bikes: 1983 Dawes Galaxy, 2006 Raleigh Airlite, 1982 Sun Solo (fixed)
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Haha
True Though
True Though
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A group for all Dawes Galaxy owners to give and recieve information about them
https://flickr.com/groups/dawes_galaxy/
i jam my thumbs up and back into the tubes. this way i can point my fingers straight out in front to split the wind and attain an even more aero profile, and the usual fixed gear - zen - connectedness feeling through the drivetrain is multiplied ten fold because my thumbs become one with the tubing.
https://flickr.com/groups/dawes_galaxy/
#3
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: On the road-USA
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Bikes: Giant Excursion, Raleigh Sports, Raleigh R.S.W. Compact, Motobecane? and about 20 more! OMG
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It has been my contention for years that someone on a bicycle is a cyclist, nothing more, nothing less. But for some reason people (I assume the world over) have to categorize everything...so off we go into all the subgroups
Excellent Blog it is on my daily read list along with Copehagenize which is more equipment and statistics oriented.
BTW I have probably belonged to all of the "groups" at one time or another...
Aaron
Excellent Blog it is on my daily read list along with Copehagenize which is more equipment and statistics oriented.
BTW I have probably belonged to all of the "groups" at one time or another...
Aaron
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Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
#4
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Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Wichita KS USA
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Bikes: Surly Crosscheck w Nexus 8 drivetrain set up as a commuter/tourer. Old and quick '89 Trek 1200. 08 Fisher Cobia 29er
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I like it.
Unfortunately it doesn't apply to North America.
If I go to any bike shop, there aren't ready to use bikes.
In every bike shop I have ever seen, there are only "road" and "mountain" bikes. These bikes are only the frame, bars, and drivetrain. These bikes are put together to seem more-affordable than the bike next to it. These bikes are garage bikes that get used on some weekends. to make the bike useful in street clothes and with any cargo whatsoever, a bike buyer must spend endless time and money researching racks, bags, chainguards, fenders, kickstands, locks, etc.
I was in a shop the other day buying a helmet. I browsed the bikes just to see if anything appealed to me. None did. I was in a bit of a mood that day, and I commented to the sales guy that his shop was like every other and that he only had "recreational" road and mountain bikes. He asked what I would like to see more of and I described a complete bike. He showed me a $300 "cruiser" and said that I must have overlooked it.
Bike culture is not what we are looking for here. We are looking for reason. There are no bike shops, where you can buy a real bicycle, in the states. The closest thing is a bike shop where you can buy a cycle with an $800 price tag then buy $700 worth of accessories for it. If you want a bike made in a country where the environment matters and the folks welding the frame make a living wage the initial stripped down bike is closer to $2500.
I can tolerate ******** ignorant motorists; but the "bike culture" in the states is spandex, law-ignoring messenger wannabes, and wal-mart. It is very discouraging. I like the utopia that you describe, but the bike business in America is so backward that the author cannot begin to understand.
Unfortunately it doesn't apply to North America.
If I go to any bike shop, there aren't ready to use bikes.
In every bike shop I have ever seen, there are only "road" and "mountain" bikes. These bikes are only the frame, bars, and drivetrain. These bikes are put together to seem more-affordable than the bike next to it. These bikes are garage bikes that get used on some weekends. to make the bike useful in street clothes and with any cargo whatsoever, a bike buyer must spend endless time and money researching racks, bags, chainguards, fenders, kickstands, locks, etc.
I was in a shop the other day buying a helmet. I browsed the bikes just to see if anything appealed to me. None did. I was in a bit of a mood that day, and I commented to the sales guy that his shop was like every other and that he only had "recreational" road and mountain bikes. He asked what I would like to see more of and I described a complete bike. He showed me a $300 "cruiser" and said that I must have overlooked it.
Bike culture is not what we are looking for here. We are looking for reason. There are no bike shops, where you can buy a real bicycle, in the states. The closest thing is a bike shop where you can buy a cycle with an $800 price tag then buy $700 worth of accessories for it. If you want a bike made in a country where the environment matters and the folks welding the frame make a living wage the initial stripped down bike is closer to $2500.
I can tolerate ******** ignorant motorists; but the "bike culture" in the states is spandex, law-ignoring messenger wannabes, and wal-mart. It is very discouraging. I like the utopia that you describe, but the bike business in America is so backward that the author cannot begin to understand.
#5
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Join Date: Jul 2006
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US and denmark are apples and oranges.
i guess it'd be easier for us to have a "bike culture" in the US if we had a 180% tax on cars like denmark does
i guess it'd be easier for us to have a "bike culture" in the US if we had a 180% tax on cars like denmark does
#6
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Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Michigan
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Totally true.
My LBS owner is a cyclist who didn't even have his driver's license until his late 20s. I walked in and said what I wanted, he showed me 3 or 4 bikes, I picked a hybrid in my price range ($350), he said "I don't have your size today but will get some on Friday, come back then."
I came back, paid for it, took it home, and rode it. He never measured me, yet it fits perfectly (after I tweaked the seat and handlebars a bit. I've got 13000 miles on it and have no problems other than regular consumables. OK, I did put discs on the front for winter this year. I finally weighed it last week when a friend asked what it weighs, but I can't remember what it was because I don't give a damn.
The bike shop in the next town over is mainly set up for roadies and is full of $3500 bikes. The owner has the full professional fit machine and is certified, and all that jazz. The guy really was down on my bike the first time he saw it; he was of the opinion that I should have spent $600 at his shop instead of $350, because he could have put me into a bike that was at least 5 pounds lighter. I laughed and said "Dude, I've got a lead acid battery on the rear rack; you think I care about weight? Besides, I've dropped 20 pounds since I started riding this, I'm not worried about 5 pounds on the bike."
I gotta say though, even though he still is Mister Carbon Frame Roadie, after he saw me commuting every day, snow/rain/hail/thunderstorms for 3 years, he's come around a bit; he doesn't talk crap about my bike anymore and actually said I was an "inspiration" (I only go into a bike shop maybe 2 or 3 times a year, just to get a new blinkie or something). I'm pretty sure he has sold a bike or two to people who mentioned "seeing that guy who rides all year round."
You can get a bike made in this country for a reasonable price...if you buy a nice steel frame from a garage sale or the Salvation Army. Other than that I think it's (some) Rivendells or (some) Cannondales, or a custom job.
My LBS owner is a cyclist who didn't even have his driver's license until his late 20s. I walked in and said what I wanted, he showed me 3 or 4 bikes, I picked a hybrid in my price range ($350), he said "I don't have your size today but will get some on Friday, come back then."
I came back, paid for it, took it home, and rode it. He never measured me, yet it fits perfectly (after I tweaked the seat and handlebars a bit. I've got 13000 miles on it and have no problems other than regular consumables. OK, I did put discs on the front for winter this year. I finally weighed it last week when a friend asked what it weighs, but I can't remember what it was because I don't give a damn.
The bike shop in the next town over is mainly set up for roadies and is full of $3500 bikes. The owner has the full professional fit machine and is certified, and all that jazz. The guy really was down on my bike the first time he saw it; he was of the opinion that I should have spent $600 at his shop instead of $350, because he could have put me into a bike that was at least 5 pounds lighter. I laughed and said "Dude, I've got a lead acid battery on the rear rack; you think I care about weight? Besides, I've dropped 20 pounds since I started riding this, I'm not worried about 5 pounds on the bike."
I gotta say though, even though he still is Mister Carbon Frame Roadie, after he saw me commuting every day, snow/rain/hail/thunderstorms for 3 years, he's come around a bit; he doesn't talk crap about my bike anymore and actually said I was an "inspiration" (I only go into a bike shop maybe 2 or 3 times a year, just to get a new blinkie or something). I'm pretty sure he has sold a bike or two to people who mentioned "seeing that guy who rides all year round."
You can get a bike made in this country for a reasonable price...if you buy a nice steel frame from a garage sale or the Salvation Army. Other than that I think it's (some) Rivendells or (some) Cannondales, or a custom job.
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Work: the 8 hours that separates bike rides.
Work: the 8 hours that separates bike rides.
#7
Third World Layabout
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Costa Rica
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I am well known in the pro-bikeshop here in Costa Rica. I am the crazy Gringo who destroys the innards of his bike by pedaling too hard and won't listen to reason.
It is also probably one of the best bikes in the country - I think they want to make a shrine and put it there...
Nice guys though.
It is also probably one of the best bikes in the country - I think they want to make a shrine and put it there...
Nice guys though.