London Cycle Hire

It's probably a bad idea. Or an awesome one.

A thin line between and all that.

Some time today the bikes were put in the racks on high holborn road. I really want a go on them.

I had my doubts about whether I would ever use these, but I'm currently stuck by Tower Hill after a work party waiting for a night bus, sitting on a not-yet-active hire bike wishing I could ride it to Piccadilly/Waterloo where I could get a night bus home to Wimbledon - I think I'll register tomorrow.

The hire bikes have a hopefully useful 'don't undertake lorries at junctions' instruction on the stem, but they do seem a bit heavy.

they do seem a bit heavy.

At 23kg, that's a bit of an understatement. That's the weight of both my road bikes and my TT bike added together.

but you wouldn't let your average londoner take both of them around london for a quick spin in exchange for a couple of quid...

Meh, the weight is on par with a normal dutch bike, weight is unimportant if you just need a bike to ride from A to B.

HQ image of the stocked racks at Godliman St
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pauliewoll/4840949521/sizes/o/in/pool-1436510@N24/

Anybody know what gear these 50lb beasts are rocking?

completely stocked on my route home tonight, made me smile. some drunkards were staring at them as if the mothership had landed.

Anybody know what gear these 50lb beasts are rocking?

Nexus 3 speed .

At the Easts BBQ last night we were discussing the possibility of an alleycat
You get the bikes out at the start, the checkpoints are other hire bike racks, you have to check them in and out at each rack (better hope they are not all used!) and anyone who goes over the free 30 minutes in between racks is disqualified. Each stage would have a challenge, e.g a skid comp, polo, bunny hop comp.

It's probably a bad idea. Or an awesome one.

fucking AWESOME idea!!! please please please can we do this?

the bikes are out this morning! (sorry if this is old news)

just seen one with a flat tyre and the seat and in the front basket, only in south london!

at the easts bbq last night we were discussing the possibility of an alleycat
you get the bikes out at the start, the checkpoints are other hire bike racks, you have to check them in and out at each rack (better hope they are not all used!) and anyone who goes over the free 30 minutes in between racks is disqualified. Each stage would have a challenge, e.g a skid comp, polo, bunny hop comp.

It's probably a bad idea. Or an awesome one.

+loads!

Spotted a guy in full suit riding it on Victoria Street just now. He looked dashing.

I saw three this morning, two being anxiously pushed along the pavement by scared and bewildered looking people (not even near any stands, they'd been walking a while), and one being ridden by really tiny woman with the saddle about 4ft too high, looked highy uncomfortable. Oh well, its a start...

I might spend next week hugging people I see riding them.
Or giving them sweets.
or giving them terrible directions.

I waved at the guy I saw. He ignored me.

I saw three this morning, two being anxiously pushed along the pavement by scared and bewildered looking people (not even near any stands, they'd been walking a while), and one being ridden by really tiny woman with the saddle about 4ft too high, looked highy uncomfortable. Oh well, its a start...

I remember the first time I rode in London, it was pretty terrifying.

I remember the first time I rode in London, it was pretty terrifying.

Agreed, hopefully they did actually get on the bikes at some point in their journeys though

I tried one this morning. Purposefully got the train so that I could. Picked it up at Waterloo and rode it to Condor Cycles (there's a stand 1 street up).

Things that struck me:

1) They're heavy. As in, you can really feel it with each pedal stroke. This is a bike that takes effort to ride.

2) They're slow. Probably to do with the heavy wheels and poor gear choice. Also, the tyres really weren't at ideal pressure and this made mine feel sluggish.

3) I was taken aback by the stickers showing which lever is for the front and rear brake and how to use them. Are they really being aimed at people who have never ridden? I did like the notice on what should've been the stem cap about not undertaking trucks.

4) The elastic to hold bags in place is very very poor. And perhaps this was my biggest complaint about the bike. I was carrying a briefcase and I was unable to secure it in a way that prevented it from falling. I ended up using the fingers of my left hand to hold the briefcase in place which meant I was distracted a little as I cycled along.

All in all, it's workable but isn't good. Certainly good enough for a few block dash in almost any weather, but the weight and sluggishness will have people sweating buckets on hot days. A whole new age of Londoners walking around in sweat soaked shirts has arrived.

Not impressed by the suit looking happy for himself riding one of these on the pavement.

^Finger Jockey, we're all part of the shit and good in this world. Not just Barclays.

Velocio, have you ever tried the Velib?

^that person hasn't mentioned the £34,000 investment they have in my flat.

The sticker detailing which brake is which is probably there to inform foreigners that, just like driving, you guys cable your brakes on the wrong side.