This morning's commute and other commuting stories

Actually @photoben how on earth could trackstanding damage your wheel?

More likely hopping kerbs, smashing potholes, etc etc. Also if you changed it recently how can it be 5 years old? Something's fishy here, we must get to the bottom of it. I demand a proper explanation.

@JWestland I'm not so sure about Open Pro - a wheelbuilder friend of mine reckons they've gone down the dell in recent years. I built some fairly recently and they were really difficult to true, ended up with uneven tension, then a spoke popped on a ride and and the whole thing taco'd terribly.

Wow, really?

I built with OpenSport lately and it was fine, bar the bit near the weld that you can never get a 100% right.
I also built with an older NOS OpenSport, same thing near weld. 36 hole 3x rear wheel but it held up fine for 4 months of winter, only out by a tiny bit.

But my next build is Archetype just to try them. More ppl said Mavic ain't as good anymore.
Need to page the French manfriend and see can I poke him into a "WHEN THEY WERE MADE IN FRANCE..." rant :p

.... exactly!

Had a good experience with HplusSon so far, I was a bit late to the party.

I'm extremely skeptical Archetypes are super super super good...people make them out to be the Holy Grail Of All Rims Ever Praise Be H + SON Delivery Us From All Other Rims.

But I suppose it's hard to judge for me as I never break my rims and use high spoke counts. Once you go down to 20/24 "the little things" start to come into play, and then an Archetype may score super points over a crappy rim.

Strong is easy anyway, just take a heavy deep rim but yeah...then you slog up a hill with headwind and it's not so fun :p

Ebikes.
WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK?

I spoke to one of "them" last week after going up Denmark Hill. I asked why they rode one.
After an explanation about them not being hot and sweaty when they got to work etc etc, I wanted to call them a lazy cunt.

bloke at work has got one. apparently it allows him to smoke and ride to work without running out of puff. fair enough.

I don't see anything wrong with that...

@Oliver Schick will have something useful to say about 'motor-dependence' here.

Pity the fools.

I think for ancient people who can't manage fixed any more, in the country, with shopping etc etc, why the hell not? Otherwise, get in the sea.

I speak to one regularly, his reason is unfathomably simple.

He enjoys the ride to work but can be bothered with actually cycling it anymore.

So basically, cycling is better than driving and public transport especially when you remove the need for physical exertion.

I associate e-bikes with people so old they can't physically cycle anymore. But they are wildly popular in Germany and UK now too...so perhaps it's good, people cycle, it uses less fuel than cars, past the WTF maybe they're a good thing for all of us?

If I'm ever found on one something bad has happened to me / I need shot in 2 years time. Well, ask me again in 30 years perhaps... :p

My uncle is thinking of getting one, he lives in the Lake District where there are steep hills everywhere. He's a wildlife surveyor, and he said for local jobs the idea of riding rather than car appeals to him. I'm encouraging him, cause I really want a go one one and rag it up some hills.

e-bikes are excellent for wheelsucking. They're all the rage around here. I quite like the idea of cheap mobility for older people, but anyone under 50 (at least) riding such a thing through the streets will get a disapproving look.

I have been semi-seriously considering getting one because my health is fucking ruined lately. I'm 35.

Considering it even more seriously now that all you judgelords have come out to wave your willies about over them.

want to get your pic taken with a shrieking, ginger, car centric harridan? get involved.

https://twitter.com/OptomenMaryCast/status/664049472968761344

I can't see the problem with them myself. If you want to cycle but either because of health or fitness issues think they are the best option for you then fill your boots. It means you can enjoy cycling, which should be encouraged.

Do it, I'm not waving my willy in bad way, I'm trying to do it in an entirely friendly and understanding way. The joy of accessing places by bike without having to pedal (much).

My other half was thinking of getting an e-bike because the trains are fucked going into London Bridge 'cos of crossrail and she wanted to get to work and do nursery/school pick-up on time.
In the end she went for a Brompton.
But having tried a few e-bikes at the last cycle show in the Excel centre, I must say they are great fun!

you're fucked if they break. doubt most LBSes have the know-how to repair them.

^ That's a bit harsh about Bromptons...

Oh wait, @greenhell and @Greenbank are two different people?

Whoops sorry to motorist I woke up when lane splitting on approach to Fiveways junction this morning. Millimetres out on gap between wing mirrors so clonked his nearside one a bit. No wobbles and fair play he accepted apologetic gesture and mouthing of "sorry" without any unnecessary shit.

Then again he was in wrong lane and indicating to cross traffic and turn left so maybe he was edging in and stole my gap (yeah right Mr Infallible).

But it's bloody CHEATING. All that effort I expend just to have someone pass me on a device that looks similar to the one I'm on but is POWERED! It's UNFAIR. Like those people who JUMP red lights while I wait patiently. They HAVE NOT EARNED their advantage and they should be BANNED!

Do it, I'm not waving my willy in bad way, I'm trying to do it in an entirely friendly and understanding way. The joy of accessing places by bike without having to pedal (much).

You were the only one being a reasonable human being.

(Hope you're feeling alright etc)

(You weren't actually the only one being a reasonable human being. Hurrah for reasonable human beings!)

I may need to increase my sample size to make a better judgement.

I have one caveat about all electric vehicles, I get really P'd off when electric vans and the like plaster CARBON NEUTRAL all over their livery. Ahem, coal fired power stations, anybody?