Originally Posted by noglider

Yesterday, I saw an unusually well outfitted bike commuter, and I noticed only because of this thread. I've been looking at cyclists differently now, imagining the video I'll probably never make. She had toe clips and various other accessories. Then I noticed her seat was too high. I wonder if that happens soon after you get "serious" about your bike. Too high is less common than too low.

Originally Posted by velomoover

OMG the rusty chain one really gets me. I will be on the opposite side of the street and I just stop and stare at these people, veering from left to right on some mountain bike or bicycle with a chain that has never seen oil in its lifetime.

The squeaking sound drives me nuts and causes ME to stop in my tracks ON THE OPPOSITE side of the street. So how in Gods name can the bicycle rider tolerate that sound? Just find a can of used motor oil or some soap or anything. Cooking oil, pam. Even a homeless person would be able to scrounge up something to put on a bike chain like that, so saying "oh its just a cheap bike, I dont have money for lube" is just an excuse.

Originally Posted by jwarner

I think a lot of folks just don't know any better. Ironically, I think this is the beauty of a well-designed bicycle. They will take a lot of abuse and jury rigging, and just plain "who in the world would think to do that," and still get one from point A to B with a relative improvement in efficiency when compared to walking.

This being said, I probably hold the world's record in squeak rattle annoyance and unnecessary immediate roadside repairs. I've been known to stop and use chapstick on my chain to stop a random squeak, I still use leather fender and rack washers to eliminate rattle, and am not above stopping to check a non-essential bolt I suspect is coming loose despite the fact that I've loctited every fastener on my ride with the appropriate grade of loctite given the fastener's purpose. I probably put at least 200 miles a week year-round on whatever bike I'm riding at the time, which no-one ever believes despite the fact I show up everywhere without a car, because my rides are all clean, shiny, and mechanically sound.

Glad I don't live in NYC, as cool as I think it could be. It looks like there are a lot of cyclists and drivers with a bad case of cranial rectosis, which always irks me.

Originally Posted by I-Like-To-Bike

"Too high" and "too low" are subjective terms and using those terms to describe other cyclists' setup could be a sign of being too "serious" about bicycling correctness. My wife insists on riding with a seat way too low for my taste but she won't ride any other way. Her seat height is "just right."

Originally Posted by noglider

Well, I would call it higher than I would recommend.

Originally Posted by ThermionicScott

I'm obviously not going to walk up and insist on fixing the bikes of people whose knees are practically hitting their chests if they seem content with it.

Originally Posted by velomoover

Just find a can of used motor oil or some soap or anything. Cooking oil, pam. Even a homeless person would be able to scrounge up something to put on a bike chain like that, so saying "oh its just a cheap bike, I dont have money for lube" is just an excuse.

Originally Posted by Walter S

Last year I went on an overnighter that included riding all day in pouring rain. When I broke camp the next morning I checked my chain and it was badly in need of oil. Just rotating the pedals a little bit sounded absolutely awful. I went to grab my lube and found NONE. I scratched my head a bit. Then used some olive oil. 100% better than nothing. In fact it seemed to work quite well.

Originally Posted by Walter S

Then used some olive oil. 100% better than nothing. In fact it seemed to work quite well.

Originally Posted by wolfchild

If more people would only realize that a bicycle drivetrain is not some complex piece of machinery like car engine which requires special lubricant, any type of oil will work on a bicycle chain. No need to buy some overpriced chain oil sold at an LBS at an inflated prices.

Originally Posted by I-Like-To-Bike

I can buy into that. If I actually saw anybody riding in an urban environment with some of the commuting bikes displayed in the Commuter Bike Pics thread, I might have a hard time staying upright from uncontrollable laughing but I would stiffle any comments or recommendations to the rider. Especially giggle worthy are bikes with an extreme (to me) height difference between the high seat and ultra low dropped bars, double down guffaws are saved for those equipped with fixed single speeds with too high (for me) seats in combination with too low handlebar position.

Originally Posted by wolfchild

Forget about noisy chains...Some of you "sensitive types" should hear the noisy singlespeed freewheel on one of my bikes, I don't think I would ever be allowed on a group club ride... I constantly get other cyclists and some non-cyclists staring at me.

Originally Posted by mrleft2000

Most people have fond memories of bike riding as a child. However, if you were to slap an odometer on those bikes, we'd see that most kids just putz around their neighborhood and might ride a bike 500 miles before they outgrow or wreck it. They never develop any sense of maintaining their bike; they think a bike always belongs outside; they don't even realize tires naturally lose air. When these same people become adults and choose to take up the bike again, this is the experience they draw upon.

When I picked up bike commuting, none of my non-cyclist coworkers had ever heard of regularly oiling a chain before.

Originally Posted by wolfchild

Forget about noisy chains...Some of you "sensitive types" should hear the noisy singlespeed freewheel on one of my bikes, I don't think I would ever be allowed on a group club ride... I constantly get other cyclists and some non-cyclists staring at me.

Originally Posted by RubeRad

@RaleighSport, that's a fantastic signature quote, especially for the internets!