A Crash Course in Cycling (or, why everyone should be a cyclist)

[Wolfshade]

Ventura County says no to fixies

([url]http://www.vcstar.com/news/2013/dec/11/fixed-gear-bikes-banned-on-county-park-trails/[/url])

A hit-and-run collision between two bicyclists on the Ojai Valley Trail left one man critically injured. A second rider fled after the crash but apparently was riding a bicycle without brakes at a high speed, according to parks director Ron Van Dyck.

[Fixies are bikes without a free wheel, so the pedals will continue to rotate while the bike is in motion, they often have only a front brake, or none at all, the the rider forcing the pedal stationary to stop the bike]

But what I find strange is the cause and effect. Or rather a rule waiting for an excuse.

Imagine a pedestrian to be hit by 4x4 in a hit and run, would the county then ban 4x4s?

Seems a little over the top, certainly I can see the reason for banning brakeless bikes, that makes sense, but to ban them owing to 1 incident, a little ott.

[Psychosplodge]

Fixies sound dangerous, just the idea of the pedals whipping round when you don't need them to.

[Wolfshade]

The idea is that you always have your feet on them, they are great on the flat, but the lack of gearing can be a bit of a *****. They are cheaper and lighter than geared option so are often used for bike couriers, or even some communting bikes also they require much less maintance.

Also they are hipster and indie, ugh.

[Wolfshade]

The idea is that you always have your feet on them, they are great on the flat, but the lack of gearing can be a bit of a *****. They are cheaper and lighter than geared option so are often used for bike couriers, or even some communting bikes also they require much less maintance.

Also they are hipster and indie, ugh.

[Wolfshade]

Boris Bike vs Mount Ventoux

Can you rent out a Boris Bike, drive across France, ride up Mont Ventoux and get back to London in 24 hours?

http://www.youtube.com/embed/HUWCeAzkc2Q

Mont Ventoux has become legendary as the scene of one of the most grueling climbs in the Tour de France bicycle race, which has ascended the mountain fifteen times since 1951. The mountain achieved worldwide notoriety when it claimed the life of British cyclist Tom Simpson, who died here on July 13, 1967 from heat exhaustion caused by a combination of factors, including dehydration (caused by lack of fluid intake and diarrhea), amphetamines, and alcohol, although there is still speculation as to the exact cause of his death

[Psychosplodge]

Well? can you? I'm feeling lazy...

[Wolfshade]

Back in the docking station 23:59:38..

[Psychosplodge]

Brilliant.

[Wolfshade]

Well so we had the Boris bike up the Ventoux, now we have the Boris bike in Gambia:

(Ben Phillips on Twitter)

Chris Tierney said; "That's a hell of a commute, but with property prices these days...", while Ian Sanders wrote; "Good luck finding a docking station."

Lee Sam said: "That's a long distance cyclist there,"

BBC London's Transport and Environment Correspondent Tom Edwards added: "Some overcharge on that bad boy."

It is still unclear how the bicycle came to be in Africa.

A Transport for London (TfL) spokesman said it was a real Boris bike and that they were sometimes donated to African charities.

He said: "We have previously given a number of bikes to charities in Africa. We are still trying to work out where this particular one came from."

[Psychosplodge]

Do double white lines apply to cyclists?