Boudicca

There's a docking station just outside my office, so as soon as my key arrives in the mail I will be trying it out. Liking the idea of quick errands at lunchtime. Pick up a bike, ride it, dock it, run errands. Pick up bike, ride back to work, dock bike, return to work.

Ratzinger

I haven't tried them, and probably I won't be a regular user. But, I'm psyched that our city is getting the Bixi. I hope it's a really positive thing.

Maybe we should buy Rob Ford a membership?

Boudicca

Good idea. Might help him lose weight.

Except that Bixi doesn't go out to the wilds of Etobicoke yet.

Ratzinger

Rob Ford seems to think that if you don't live in the suburbs and drive and car you're ****ed in the head.

alanknm

+1

Boudicca

OK, I Bixied three times yesterday. From hospital appointment to office, and then for a jaunt out to MEC at lunchtime.

Conclusions:

It works, it's simple and I loved the idea of one-way rentals. But don't try racing on these things. It's a heavy, sit-up-and-beg bicycle. It will get you from point A to point B, and probably quicker than a car or a taxi. Worth a try.

Seve

+ 1

aglauser

Are they three-speed IGH? That's what the ones in Montreal were when I was there last summer. I agree they're heavy and a bit slow, but still a fun and handy way to get around.

nondes 

Despite what Boudicca says, it's only a matter of time before someone organizes a Bixi race!

Boudicca

Yup. 3-speed.

Bixi race would be fun to watch.

Dan Burkhart 

3 speed is the only way to go for this application. Pretty much goof proof, and mostly used in a pretty flat area.
Anybody know what tires they're using? When I was in Paris last fall, I observed that their rental bikes were all equipped with Schwalbe Marathon tires, not Marathon Plus surprisingly.

dchsueh

Kenda Kwest 50-559 with reflective stripe (but this size isn't listed on Kenda's product page)

aglauser

Yeah, it worked pretty well for me in Montreal. I had heard a rumour that they were introducing some 5-speeds in Montreal, so I was wondering if they started with 5-speed from the get-go in Toronto.

jyossarian

Lunchtime Bixi alleycats? Someone should get this together.

dchsueh

This would be a short race...

need to have all pre-race preparation, setup, the actual race, and return the bikes, all within 30minutes or it gets costly!

jyossarian

Start of the race is a mass scramble to a Bixi station to get a bike. Checkpoints are a deli, bank and drug store and back w/in 30 mins.

nondes 

They're holding the Toronto Criterium at the St Lawrence Market again on May 29 - perhaps a pre-criterium one-lap Bixi race??

dchsueh

I've made 8 bixi trips so far. My observations:

* the bikes are obviously heavy, bulletproof, built to last (roller brakes, no exposed cables, brake lever bases shielded, etc)
* seat is very uncomfortable for me - it feels like it's tilted forward, and placed too far forward for my liking
* tire is wide enough that I could pop myself out of a streetcar track if I got stuck and was moving with enough momentum
* carrying around a lock and riding directly to your destination may not be worthwhile, esp since you would have to get to your destination, do whatever you wanted to do and ride to a dock all within 30min; I find myself just docking and walking instead
* front basket does not have sides, but relies on the bungee cord to secure things; small items (like today's takeout lunch) can easily fall out by the sides and get run over by vehicles (sigh...)

Ratzinger

Sorry about the lunch.

Great to see so many people riding around on these bikes. I think that they were designed to discourage any kind of locking up- they seem to be meant specifically to ride from dock to dock.

Boudicca

Agreed on the locking and the docking, and on the basket. I seem to remember the Montreal ones having a proper basket rather than this open rack. It really limits how much you can do on an errand.

dbc

Montreal Bixis have an open rack, with no support on the sides. You can carry longish items, but you have to check that the integrated elastic cord is able to tie it down well.

Dan Burkhart 

I see price won out over durability then.

conspiratemus1

Well, a bike that couldn't carry a full-length baguette wouldn't be worth it's salt, would it?

UrbanPoet

They need a better basket. Sometimes I want to put smaller items that are hard to bungee.

conspiratemus1

Saw two teenagers racing Bixi's on University Ave. this week.