MEATengines 2022...

Posted by: silverbansheebike

I've stopped using my climb switch on my CCDB Air, because I've twice now necessitated service by leaving it on. Luckily for me, it is fine enough to climb without.

Andrew, you're starting to sell me on the rigid enduro thing... +sized tires or not, seems like something that would be really fun to try. Do you see this becoming a thing that bigger brands will take on? or in other words, how long until I can expect to see one come up in my circle and get to try it out?!

That’s strange. Running the CS on shouldn’t affect the longevity of the shock. Or at least I’ve never heard of it being an issue.

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Plus tires really do make the difference even more than geo. I’ve owned quite a few rigid bikes over the last twenty years, including some super light ones and some DH-tire equipped ones. Nothing opened up as wide a variety of terrain as big rubber.

That’s my main motivator to keep writing about tire (and other component) availability. I truly think a lot of people, a lot of places, would be keen on aggressive rigid plus bikes if they had a chance to ride them.

Right now it’s mainly a path pursued by an eclectic mix of eccentrics, the bored, the brazen, and those looking for a mountain bike experience that’s the antithesis to the current ‘It’s You But Better’ BroPed culture.

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Re. complete bikes from big brands, I doubt it. You’re going to sell 50,000:1 (or more) e-MTB with much higher margins and margin dollars.

As I contended, I do think aggressive rigid riding is a growing niche with categories, like tires, worth manufacturing or even owning. And there are smaller brands like RSD that have all the pieces (aggressive frames, rigid forks, complete builds) to make a pretty sweet production rig.

A Kona Unit with a -2* headset is a pretty awesome package. I think for many riders a frame/fork is going to be the way to go.

The multi-speed version is a much better value than the #1FG version but both the complete bikes have some costly short-sighted spec choices. Particularly the i30 rims, which should be i35 minimum.

I’ve written a few pieces about the Unit.

Imma buy one. Wonder if any Van shops have stock...

Posted by: fartymarty

This looks interesting https://www.somafabshop.com/shop/product/590907-s-ride-cassette-7sp-13-42t-cs-e500-6766?category=735

Cool.  Funny when I went to install the replacement chain and cassette on the Stylus undid the wee torx screw Shimano used to hold the cassette together. So now a 8 speed instead of 9. Barely noticed any difference so far not having a giant 11 speed cassette where 3-4 cogs not used.

Your Sword Could Be My Shield - Good piece.  I used to get really angry when people tried to kill me but i'm numb to it now.  There are occasions where i'll flip a bird and tell the driver what I think but I usually can't be bothered.  I've also got to the point where I don't want to drive anymore as there are so many angry people on the road who are always in a rush (SE UK).  I would rather let the missus drive (she's a better safer driver anyway) and I can sit in the passenger seat critiquing the idiots on the road.  IMO self driving cars can't come too soon - at least they will take control away from the idiots.

I have lived in much kinder cycling environments than Andrew the last 12 years or so since moving to the island. In fact our main critique of drivers is the ones that are too kind and stop or do something abnormal to attempt to let us through. On the surface that sounds odd to not want that, but the problem is if a a car stops were it shouldn't to let us cross another car will not understand and will speed past it angry and not realizing we are in the intersection. I've seen too many near misses and one rider smoked to want to play that game so I wave those overly kind drivers on. My preference is that everyone act normally and the system works best. For my part I take the lane and act like a car as needed so I am where a driver expects another driver for the maneuver that I am attempting. I'm also not cycling with a kid.

I've been traveling around town on my skateboard the last few years a lot more. It's both fun and when I get where I am going I can pick it up and walk in a building without stopping to find a good spot to lock my bike and locking it. One thing I've noticed that's kind of funny & kind of annoying is my being on a skateboard on a road gets drivers really wound up a lot more than if I was on a bike. I'm traveling in the same space as I would on a bike at the same sort of speeds. I'm the same width. I signal the same and act the same. I rarely if ever get honked at on my bike, but it's fairly frequent that a driver has to let me know that on a skateboard I am not acceptable to them. I just flip one or two birds as required and keep going. It's a mystery to me. Heck I'm on 4 wheels?!?!? Shouldn't we be finding more common ground than with those damn commie socialist radical enviro terrorist cyclists???

damn commie socialist radical enviro terrorist cyclists - now that would make a great t-shirt / riding shirt...   

maybe : 

MEATengines #damncommiesocialistradicalenviroterroristcyclists

It highlights the importance of well-designed cycling infrastructure. As experienced adult cyclists we can ride defensively and navigate the dangers but we can't expect this from kids.

A lot of progress has been made by CNV & DNV but I still cringe when I see the naivety in some of their solutions.

Posted by: Vikb

our main critique of drivers is the ones that are too kind and stop or do something abnormal to attempt to let us through.

Couldn't agree more, I run into this same thing in my area. The nicest thing cars could do IMO is be predictable.

Posted by: [email protected]

It highlights the importance of well-designed cycling infrastructure. As experienced adult cyclists we can ride defensively and navigate the dangers but we can't expect this from kids.

A lot of progress has been made by CNV & DNV but I still cringe when I see the naivety in some of their solutions.

Exactly.

Posted by: silverbansheebike

Posted by: Vikb

our main critique of drivers is the ones that are too kind and stop or do something abnormal to attempt to let us through.

Couldn't agree more, I run into this same thing in my area. The nicest thing cars could do IMO is be predictable.

A couple of thoughts on this. First, I want to clarify in my Sword / Shield example that I'm not asking the driver for a special extra-legal courtesy. Give me and my child the right-of-way that you owe us. But, also by stopping with plenty of room so that we can still see and hear our whole environment you can provide us with an extra level of protection in the moment. 

I loosely agree re. "the nicest thing cars could do IMO is be predictable." If I'm waiting at a STOP sign and you have the right of way then drive through. But there have certainly been times riding when folks have stopped and waved me through that have been amazing. 

We get some heavy traffic on the North Shore and even the safest routes we take require crossing busy streets sometimes and many of them do not have a beg-button or other level of crossing control. Especially with Claire in the trailer, in the cargo bike, or on her trailer bike it is AMAZING when cars stop in both directions and wave us through. Especially when it's bumper-to-bumper snails-pace traffic anyways and it's costing them net-zero additional time. 

Roundabouts are a big one for me too. Plenty of times drivers all but ride us through round abouts and I've had some incidents where drivers definitely took liberties or got too close and I had to act on it. But, other times I've had drivers wait an extra second and wave us around with a smile - even though they legally could just hit the pedal and jump in - and it's awesome. 

So yeah, predictable good but maximum courtesy is sometimes also good.

agreed!

Just took my little guy for his longest road ride (on his run bike) yet, so that piece was very relatable. Drivers are scary enough when you're not trying to herd an almost-3-year-old. Every cross street became a "nah... we'll just wait until there are no cars anywhere nearby."

It does complicate things when your riding partner is liable to stop anywhere for any reason. Predictability is so key.

If a driver stops when they have right of way I'll usually wave them through, their act is appreciated but dangerous. The odd time when I can see there's no risk, I'll accept the offer because I do appreciate the kindness. The kid is still young enough that a lot of older folks seem surprised to see him on two wheels. He gets (and gives) a lot of big smiles. Who am I to take a small moment of joy from a patient driver?

I drive a lot more than ride so hopefully there's at least one big diesel pickup out there treating cyclists well. Intentions are all there but it's way too easy to zone out or lose patience after some time in traffic.

I think the key thing to remember, and where we (cyclists) really need to up the education/marketing energy is to impress on folks "losing patience after some time in traffic" that folks on bikes, on transit, etc., are folks that are not creating more traffic. You taking your kid somewhere (anywhere) by bike instead of driving them is saving every driver on the road time. Perhaps even more time than they're spending waiting for your son to cross depending on how over-capacity the roads are at that time of day.

I think about my brother (1) who takes transit to work every day instead of driving (because he can and it saves significant time and money over driving above any other reason) versus my brother (2) in the trades who has to drive to worksites (tools/components/working all over). The more of person-1 we can convince to take to cycle/transit the easier time we're going to have moving person-2 around doing their job. That's increased productivity, decreased costs, and it's better for families and the environment.

Or even how bad traffic was on the main street when I pedaled home from the shop yesterday. I could have been one-more-car instead of one-less-car. And certainly, I drive. More than I'd like to admit. But I'm looking forward to more mixed-mode travel with my daughter this year and that's why we're out practicing and learning the best routes. You know, being less of the problem when I can so folks that need to drive for work can get places. 

Good cycling infrastructure and free transit versus spending infinite money warehousing cars (EV or ICE) on or just off of Hwy-1, Hwy-7, Hwy-99, Hwy-91, etc.

On Shifting

I get quite a few side eye looks when I advise people that their e-bikes [road/commuter] have gears and that they should be using them to get a better ride experience. A lot of the time they point to the assist power button/throttle if it has one as indicate that's how they adjust their bike's speed. And to be fair that sort of works. But, it also leads to unfortunate situations such as stopping at the bottom of a steep hill in their hardest gear and being unable to get the bike rolling again. Not something that will kill someone, but a bit sad when the solution is close at hand...literally! 

I've also worked on a lot more BSO [Bike Shaped Objects] and clapped out bikes lately. I am quite impressed by how well they shift if you give them even a little chance at working right. Chain that's seen lube this year. Cables that aren't welded to the housing. Hangers that are not bent in half. Derailleurs that are approximately the same shape as new. 

That said I hold out little hope for a lot of people when it comes to learning how to shift their bikes. I mean I told someone recently they should lube their chain and they asked me if I offered a course on the topic. I should have charged them $20 and told them Step 1 - squirt lube on chain. Advanced/Optional Step 2 - wipe off excess after 5 mins. By comparison a course on shifting would be like earning a PhD in Theoretical Physics.

I'm all for more people moving around under human power and using transit. So no argument there. However, the data around traffic is counter-intuitive sometimes. Like taking cars off a road or adding more capacity to a road [often] doesn't improve traffic because it's a complex system with many actors. Someone carpooling or on a bus or even biking looks at the lighter road traffic and next time they are deciding what to do jump in their car solo because it looks like the drive won't be bad. Traffic goes back up....most likely to where it was before since that is the balancing point for enough people to motivate them to do something other than drive solo on that trip.

I'm still going to suggest people bike/run/walk/skateboard/scooter when they can since it's great for them, but we need to continue to find ways to put negative pressure people driving to motivate them to make a different choice. High gas prices have a bunch of negative social consequences so I am not saying that's the best way, but I have never heard more people talking about driving less and getting around more in other ways than I have since has topped $2/L.