canta_fordacar
Member since Jun 2009 • Last active Jun 2022Most recent activity
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For what it’s worth . I made a rule of thumb never bought any cycle product on line I could buy from a shop. Even if it took me all day.
Most of these places are victims of the internet. It creates demand for cool stuff and then places unrealistic rrps against unrealistic online prices.
I still buy a paper every day too to support journalism . Even though news isn’t worth reading! 🤣🤣
And yes my local cycle shop Butterworths in Sheffield is still
Open and still charges double what I could buy the parts for on line. Long May I support this status quo . Use it or lose it . -
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yeah the baskets for my new full set of scrooged xmas chains. i must have done a lot of bad things to be saddled with 200 metres of reinforced high tensile steel cables and mediaeval Chastity belts. They got through three locks last time so lets see how they do with 6.
Arms race against cordless 18v DeWalt angle grinders. -
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Given all the negative stuff in life that's happening right now. I thought i'd share a positive story.
Whilst out in Warrington with a group of friends i got talking to some mutual acquaintances in an Indian restaurant after a few scoops. I was lamenting the theft of my Boardman daily (RIP) bike that had my favourite Brooks saddle of twenty years service attached, probably being punted around Sheffield now as a lance Armstrong special drug delivery mule. :-((.
A lovely Warrington lady said she had an old bike in her cellar i could have as a new smoker. I wasn't expecting much but it turned out to be a 1990's Dawes Ultra Galaxy with Titanium Brooks saddle and nice patina ( matt black rattle can). Blew the tyres up and it rides like a dream and best of all it doesn't attract attention. Its made my Christmas, i was heartbroken over the last bike as i had worked my way up through lots of wrecks to finally have a half decent commute. Genuinely this Dawes rides and changes gear better than my stolen one.
Many advocates of cycling as an alternative method of travel that needs to become the first choice for mobility in our overcrowded spaces live in pretty flat places or have an above average fitness level compared to many of the UK's drive through specialists.
having just spent an enjoyable week in Amsterdam marvelling at the flocks of interweaving cyclists and drooling over rare bike porn chained to rusty railings i couldn't help but notice even old, unfit, drunk, mini skirt wearing, stiletto clad, post delivering, skint even one legged citizens have a sweat free and cheap time using cycles as part of their daily lives.
Anybody who lives in Sheffield which is currently in the throws of upgrading the cycling infrastructure with new lanes and cycle gates to try and get the (i'd say about 0.001% or less!) of the population to go chain driven. The problem is Sheffield is built on several hills with nearly every route requiring a granny gear, coupled with a population bio-mass and cardio thats more attack than charge , car drivers who have unlike London and other flatter hubs absolutely zero experience of living with cyclists on their commute, its not looking good.
Of course theirs electric assists but are they really the simple, healthy choice. Also if you lock one up in our city centre, good luck to it being there a few minutes later.
Im a little down about my cities prospects.