Interesting to see the downtown NY and courier bike scene.
My observations after a week wandering about there...
- Fixies and SS are where its at. No surprise, but reassuring to see
- If you can get both hands on the bars, they are too wide. Seriously cut down, narrower the better. No bends and yellow cabs mean its the only way forward
- Tape your bike up. Everywhere. Lots. Some sneaky good bikes amongst the shite, hidden by tape of course...
- ... reason for tape also is that no matter how old your bike, or if you just pulled it from a skip, you have to have the biggest padlock known to man and 2"link hardened steel chain. Evidence on many bikes paint that weren't taped.
- Central Park. Like a honey pot for cyclists. Sadly there are way too many on the sweetest of road bikes, carrying a few extra burgers and bagels round the middle. In lycra, not pretty. :?
Not sure what I expected to see, but can't help taking a good look at every bike you see. Comes with years of training. Spotted some sweet old 'dales and Kleins being used as hacks too. Poor things!
One thing that struck me though was the suiciding tendancies of bikers there.... and making it look so casual weaving about the traffic lights with cars/trucks/taxis everywhere. Not sure I have the balls for that!!
Not been into London for years now, guess its much the same there. Best I plan a trip!
My observations after a week wandering about there...
- Fixies and SS are where its at. No surprise, but reassuring to see
- If you can get both hands on the bars, they are too wide. Seriously cut down, narrower the better. No bends and yellow cabs mean its the only way forward
- Tape your bike up. Everywhere. Lots. Some sneaky good bikes amongst the shite, hidden by tape of course...
- ... reason for tape also is that no matter how old your bike, or if you just pulled it from a skip, you have to have the biggest padlock known to man and 2"link hardened steel chain. Evidence on many bikes paint that weren't taped.
- Central Park. Like a honey pot for cyclists. Sadly there are way too many on the sweetest of road bikes, carrying a few extra burgers and bagels round the middle. In lycra, not pretty. :?
Not sure what I expected to see, but can't help taking a good look at every bike you see. Comes with years of training. Spotted some sweet old 'dales and Kleins being used as hacks too. Poor things!
One thing that struck me though was the suiciding tendancies of bikers there.... and making it look so casual weaving about the traffic lights with cars/trucks/taxis everywhere. Not sure I have the balls for that!!
Not been into London for years now, guess its much the same there. Best I plan a trip!
