steve-o

Most recent activity

• People who cycle to work

  in General • 15 years, 10 months

  

  I'm going to attempt to be objective here:

  Cons:

  Rain.

  Lorries.

  General upon-arrival sweatiness; there's no way I'd be able to cycle in if I couldn't shower when I got there.

  Tiredness - a cross-town commute, whilst enjoyable, can get pretty tiring by the end of the week, especially if you're doing long and intense hours in-between the riding.

  Clothes. I'm fortunate to be able to work in clothes that are back-packable, but if you're in a suit everyday I imagine it gets a little more complicated.

  Fear of 'Cycling in London'; some people just aren't very comfortable on bikes. Or they're fat. Or both.

  • I'd add when you have alot to carry / alkward stuff. Lots of things are easier to move on public transport.
    
    

  If you are catching a train from central London on to somewhere else, then unelss you are well outside of peak hours you can't get a bike on board.

  Being able to read a book.

  A couple of panniers (I know not cool) can carry loads of stuff, taking something large on PT @ rush hour is just a pain.

  Regarding rain. It's raining

  1. Shower, dressed, walk to bus/tube stop, wait - getting wet. Get on full damp tube, get off, walk to work, sit down in same clothes.

  2. Get up, out on bike, get wet, shower, clean dry clothes, sit down

  I know what I prefer

• Hit by car but stayed on the bike

  in General • 15 years, 10 months

  

  (By the way, "I didn't see you." is such a stupid thing to say. If he had seen me then I hope he wouldn't have driven his car into me!)

  Better than "I was late for work", an excuse offered to me by someone who turned right across my path as I was travelling at speed down a hill. Braked but still hit her but not hard enough to come off.

  He excuse was cue for me to vent my fury at her, at some volume

• Langster / Langster Pro / Langster Steel

  in Bikes & Bits • 15 years, 10 months

  

  most people turn their noses up at it but the pshycoholgy is pretty interesting as it's not in itself a bad bike.

  let's say that of all the langsters sold in any given year, 50% are ridden by inexperienced cyclists / commuters who wobble their way to work, SS, and bought it because they liked the paint job, thought gears were complicated and/or SS / specialized are cool. 25% are bought by experienced cyclists who need a cheap commuter and no more, and it fits the bill. the remaining 25% are bought by cyclists who want to get in to fixed, and end up selling it to progress to better things. It's the latter you'll find on this forum.

  First post here and I'll admit to owning a Langster, BRG 08 edition. I love it but then what do I compare it to? I just love riding fixed.

  So that puts mean potentially in your latter 50% at least. I bought it having read something on a plane in september about how it builds strenght etc etc, but now loving fixed, so maybe the latter 25% (already have cheap commuter, now never used - to the point where the rare occasion I go out on the audax roadie freewheel just feels wierd/dangerous for 30 minutes) - I am clearly hooked on my fixies.

  So, genuine question, selling it and better things - what would they be?

  I do know my next bike is a proper road bike and keeping the audax, it is probably invevitble the one after that will be another fixed - just wondering what I will be gaining.

  Oh, and will I be mocked turning up at North drinks on my Langster? Not that is a detterent, and staying on the bike all the way up Swains lane of course.