London Cycle Hire

"BORIS BIKES CAUSE CANCER" is presumably the headline of the (upcoming) related article:

"Cyclists breathe 7 times more rapidly than motorists . Breathing in London air at that rate will hugely increase the rate at which they expel toxic gases"

As any fule kno, cyclists have lower blood concentration of carbon monoxide than motorists breathing the same toxic soup.

Yeah, it's cos, in traffic, the concentration of exhaust fumes in cars with the windows closed is higher than outside. Or something like that

Saw quite a few of the bikes on the Critical Mass ride just now - chain tensioner and Knight Rider style front light and all. Clocked a scally on Portobello Road with a Barclays sticker on his bike already...

After a few journeys on these bikes some folk may consider buying themselves a bike of their own - something better - so be prepared Argos and Halfords .
I'm being positive :)

Well hopefully after riding the hire bike, they'll realise that the Argos/Halfords bicycle are actually that bad and not to be expected of a normal bicycle.

bbc londons view of the scheme

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-10810869

"make london busy and chaotic" is the verdict of the cycle courier at 1.07

just got back from critical mass. not ideal for it as predicted, you have to wait 5 minutes between bikes. on the other hand, glad to have used it on the first day coinciding with a CM

Well hopefully after riding the hire bike, they'll realise that the Argos/Halfords bicycle are actually that bad and not to be expected of a normal bicycle.

Ed can you elaborate please ? - you've just scrambled my mind :)

Okay, a person who never own a bike before go for those £100 jobbies, but it break, it's awful to ride, it's spongy, horrid gear change etc. would think that's normal for a bike.

With the hire bike, hopefully they'll realise that the bike they got from Halfords/Argos are actually not what you normally get from a bike.

I know there are people who think that spending £750 on a decent full sus MTB is a waste of money when they can get one for £150, and think that their MTB is 'quality'.

Okay, a person who never own a bike before go for those £100 jobbies, but it break, it's awful to ride, it's spongy, horrid gear change etc. would think that's normal for a bike.

With the hire bike, hopefully they'll realise that the bike they got from Halfords/Argos are actually not what you normally get from a bike.

I know there are people who think that** spending £750 on a decent full sus MTB** is a waste of money when they can get one for £150, and think that their MTB is 'quality'.

Ha! I wish

So Ed the experience riding a hire bike is significantly better than riding a halfords MTB?

build quality, reliablitiy, etc. gotta be a lots better than those Halfords bike that are ridden on the pavements with their v-brake undone on the rear.

After a few journeys on these bikes some folk may consider buying themselves a bike of their own - something better - so be prepared Argos and Halfords .
I'm being positive :)

I wish I'd never mentioned Argos and Halfords
Something better then.

haven't tried them properly yet (still recovering so unable to cycle with 2 legs) though i trained someone on one, a small woman who couldn't push off because of the weight. Had to teach her on my raleigh shopper which she found much easier.

build quality, reliablitiy, etc. gotta be a lots better than those Halfords bike that are ridden on the pavements with their v-brake undone on the rear.

its really good Ed, and if peoples on bike experience isn't marred by some stupid driving it could be another cycling watershed. Many people suddenly 'get-it'.

Nice to have launched the scheme on Critical Mass day :)

Comment on the Guardian's bike blog.

DisgruntledScientist: I've tried it three times already today, and I think it's great. Got from home to the Borough, then out to Bankside at lunch time and back. The only downside I can see is that I've been stopped by about 7 people and had to explain the concept, charges or how the bikes are to ride!

Stupid people in the BBC news today, of course moaning about helmets not being compulsory when using the rental bikes.

I've got an idea for a ride.
Its a milage challenge-
See how far you can get in 30mins.
You must return the bike to a station to qualify.
mileage done by some means of devilry.

The most distant stations seem to be Royal London Hospital and Olympia. 8.3 miles, doing that inside 30 minutes should be a nice challenge.

And to the various people asking, the gearing is apparently 32-44-60

http://thebikeshow.net/road-test-londons-new-cycle-hire-bikes/

The comments about helmets make it sound as though helmets are prohibited. Clearly still a long way to go to wean the unwashed masses off the teat of the nanny state.

I mean, how would anyone police that anyway? Copper stopping loaner bikes, even though it's not a traffic offence, but a breech of the T&Cs? I bet not!

And to the various people asking, the gearing is apparently 32-44-60

18mph @ 100rpm in top, so getting the speed warning light to flash going down the slope of South Carriage Drive is going to take some spinning.

The most distant stations seem to be Royal London Hospital and Olympia. 8.3 miles, doing that inside 30 minutes should be a nice challenge.

And to the various people asking, the gearing is apparently 32-44-60

http://thebikeshow.net/road-test-londons-new-cycle-hire-bikes/

Thanks for providing an answer.

I ride 60" in town (on fucking knobblies at the moment, as I had them lying around), and it's plenty fast enough. Easy to amble around, and equally easy to accelerate out of a tight spot (if that's the safest course of action).

When the fuck did people stop learning how to pedal? [/moan, souplesse, oldschool, blah]

I wish I'd never mentioned Argos and Halfords
Something better then.

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I find it helps. Anyway, it's one thing having sponsored private events and stuff, but this is street furniture. They are our streets, not barclays to put their name on. It's not the end of the world, but when Tescos start building schools, don't complain.

I think tesco building schools would be a fine thing.
money poured in for books, and specific classes- a la ADT college putney (now ashcroft technology academy), an example of sponsored schools that worked...
(whilst ADT alarms sponsored them)