tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89917321595723559632024-03-13T13:27:39.077-07:00quickerbybike.comquickerbybike exists to promote decent, legal cycling as a way to commute to work or school or just to get aroundquickerbybikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08410099827893470951noreply@blogger.comBlogger61125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8991732159572355963.post-55458663155256895912018-06-05T07:03:00.008-07:002022-04-26T03:59:28.918-07:00Douze F1 family cargo bike review (now Douze V2)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVRYWdE7B-PtTp4EOLPAvB7l3ZW7c4ipD5_dPIPmDNyImMf3dXaeINPj1_oZy5fgeD8ww8-TP6w5yK8LZ5x13M1h-I5715RvEVDuVvGq7-4SikSAuwEpt_xw91jUk1ERp4eG1imRNWPso/s1600/20180608_080708.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1207" data-original-width="1600" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVRYWdE7B-PtTp4EOLPAvB7l3ZW7c4ipD5_dPIPmDNyImMf3dXaeINPj1_oZy5fgeD8ww8-TP6w5yK8LZ5x13M1h-I5715RvEVDuVvGq7-4SikSAuwEpt_xw91jUk1ERp4eG1imRNWPso/s320/20180608_080708.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span face=""><b><u>Precis:</u></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span face=""><br />
The Douze F1 (now called the V2) is the best bike purchase I have ever made. Our lives as
parents are immeasurably enhanced by it. It is fantastic fun, nimble and handsome, very high
quality and excellent value (though far from cheap).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span face=""><br /></span></o:p></div>
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<span face=""><b><u>Why buy a family cargo bike?</u></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span face="">We bought a cargo bike so that we could continue to cycle together
after having a baby. We wanted to cycle around London and we wanted to
mooch the five miles to the beach when on holiday in Normandy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span face="">As a cyclist and a prospective parent I feared shrinking horizons and
multiplying hassles. I felt that my sense of self might not survive pushing a buggy. I hoped that a cargo bike would
allow us to dodge much of the drudgery of parenthood whilst opening up more of
the joys.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span face="">Happily, I was right. With a cargo bike every journey becomes a
lark. Our choice of destinations exploded from the three or four generic,
more-or-less squalid local parks to dozens of green, open spheres for
adventure.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span face="">There are alternatives to a cargo bike and they are much cheaper. A
trailer seems a good idea but I wanted to be able to watch my child’s reaction
to the world. A bike-mounted child-seat is no good before eight months
and we were uncomfortable with the top-heavy feel at standstill. In most
child seats the view for the child is not the world going by but rather the small of their mum's back. Friends report that their
children are promptly bored and asleep.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span face="">Once set on getting a cargo bike, you need to decide what to go for.
We have owned our Douze F1 Standard for 20 months now, riding it well over 2000
kilometres in all weathers (2020 update: now 5000 kilometres with no maintenance beyond brake pads). We use it every day and it is pivotal to the
vast majority of our outings and adventures.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span face="">My parameters for a cargo bike were:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="">Room for two
children up so six or seven years old.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="">Relatively light
and nimble. Fast and able to cover decent distances (on the Voies Vertes of Normandy).<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="">Familiar geometry:
more like a conventional mountain-bike or commuter bike than an upright
Dutch bike.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="">Transportable to
France for annual summer holidays.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="">Disc brakes, hub
gears and belt drive. (Because these make for hassle-free bikes).<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="">Handsome.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
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<span face="">So there was only one choice. This is what I think of it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span face="">The Douze as a family cargo
bike:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span face="">I bought our bike from the helpful chaps at London Green Cycles when my son was a month old. I have suffered Buyer's Remorse after most of my bike purchases but, despite the high price-tag, I have only ever felt right about this purchase.</span><br />
<span face=""><br /></span>
<span face="">In a cargo bike two children can chat together in their own space,
they have an unimpeded view of the world and you can see them. You can even reach down and ruffle their hair if you want to.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwompNXEiCxZ3uo-pVHOCbkhXBJv-3TmDdrKxh5mtTdGutaqA5w-DPuTrbnlDl9JqQzzNve4zFri12dgKer0zLJ67iVyhhPhkF5f-TKCKuJgdhc4R0PEPgTRfOh7AuyczkvG2YpUKXaOs/s1600/DSC_1691.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span face=""><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwompNXEiCxZ3uo-pVHOCbkhXBJv-3TmDdrKxh5mtTdGutaqA5w-DPuTrbnlDl9JqQzzNve4zFri12dgKer0zLJ67iVyhhPhkF5f-TKCKuJgdhc4R0PEPgTRfOh7AuyczkvG2YpUKXaOs/s400/DSC_1691.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="">Holiday beach trip. Without the Douze we would have had to drive.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span face="">If the Douze has a weakness it is in its outright capacity to carry
children. Whilst it is excellent for carrying
two children up to about six years old, the capacity is significantly smaller than that of other family-orientated cargo bikes. If big capacity is your priority over weight and speed then there are more practical bikes available like the Bakfiets Cargo Bike Long.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span face=""><br /></span>
<span face="">I should point out that we have the "standard" 600mm long box. There is an extra-long box (800mm) that would give more room. However even with this extra space, the Douze is altogether a different beast to a Bakfiets. Children sitting on the bench in a Bakfiets have their legs dangling below them. In the Douze they are sitting on the floor (on a low bench/cushion).</span></div>
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<span face=""><br />Nevertheless, we expect to be using the Douze to carry children up until the age of six or
seven, even if in the later years it’s only for mid-ride-tantrum back-up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span face="">Our son was in the Douze from six weeks old. In the early days we simply strapped the child car seat in. Beware that with the Douze a car seat takes up ALL the space in the bike. At nine months he was out onto a Babboe
toddler seat and since he was eighteen months he has been sitting on the bench
where he is happy and feels at-home. We are four now and I have bought the
Melia baby seat so that both children can be in the bike. Two children over 18 months just sit side-by side on the bench and there's a bit of room at their feet for other stuff.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span face=""><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHt4wacvaHLatdAWl53dLd-qlGBPi-TiZc8WpzcwFhIIzpjZpZEoOGlo7uqEuVxGl0_DAU6DaS64jEh8kNng-ZmWnyT4RDZM8BhOmTAbv2aKiEobgtQxmXwjfcoI_x9oYSjMsUn0fC5F8/s4128/20180629_112238.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4128" data-original-width="3096" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHt4wacvaHLatdAWl53dLd-qlGBPi-TiZc8WpzcwFhIIzpjZpZEoOGlo7uqEuVxGl0_DAU6DaS64jEh8kNng-ZmWnyT4RDZM8BhOmTAbv2aKiEobgtQxmXwjfcoI_x9oYSjMsUn0fC5F8/s320/20180629_112238.jpg" /></a>Melia baby seat.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGD7ICV_aPAL0KPL0bBkUFxTRcQqSqfs_hyphenhyphen0EWRdRFUTj909YQCnzSj3KXnigEzhfwTlsi65VdbZh12PDPOLsi2uwSwu0SV0iQNhIGyN3CpVJu2Ub90G3rgw_9aHrZJ_JgweM1NwFVmWk/s4128/20180629_112300.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4128" data-original-width="3096" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGD7ICV_aPAL0KPL0bBkUFxTRcQqSqfs_hyphenhyphen0EWRdRFUTj909YQCnzSj3KXnigEzhfwTlsi65VdbZh12PDPOLsi2uwSwu0SV0iQNhIGyN3CpVJu2Ub90G3rgw_9aHrZJ_JgweM1NwFVmWk/s320/20180629_112300.jpg" /></a> Melia baby seat.</div><br /><span face=""><br /></span></div>
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<span face="">As reassurance on the capacity to carry children: I have had an eight
and a six-year old on the bench together for a short ride with no problem.
Friends had a go with our Douze and promptly bought one to transport
their children who were already 4 and 6. They get a lot of use out of it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span face=""><br />
I have added a rack to the back of the bike so that we can carry stuff in
panniers this summer. If you had a Bakfiets you would just chuck your
baguettes, buckets and spades in the box with your two children: loads of room. But then you wouldn't have your Bakfiets on holiday in France unless you rode it there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span face="">The F1 comes with a canopy to keep the winter weather off the children
and it has been excellent. It’s robust and clever. My niggle would be with the zips, which are
not sufficiently robust. The canopy
feels as though it would last a decade of regular use but the zips will have
given up the ghost before that. The structure of the canopy is two semi-rigid
bars that go from front to back. These are in fact inflatable with a bike
pump. Clever and, being a Douze,
obviously solid and effective. Packing
the canopy away (if you live in a little flat like we do) is therefore very
easy.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLvd4It6ojGLpz543S4nS83tP9XPQtZLMLI5pKsYU5Dw5_TkEvWZzDC4NCFxIRJvmPNZ3-IB5mbekY_JuW-7FyDv05P5tS8lRR5y8XxeN3DvicpI8LTiAVuhHX3_QoV6K12rcjBvUTbdM/s1600/20171120_110311.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLvd4It6ojGLpz543S4nS83tP9XPQtZLMLI5pKsYU5Dw5_TkEvWZzDC4NCFxIRJvmPNZ3-IB5mbekY_JuW-7FyDv05P5tS8lRR5y8XxeN3DvicpI8LTiAVuhHX3_QoV6K12rcjBvUTbdM/s400/20171120_110311.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Supermarket run, with helper.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span face="">It seems a shame to have the canopy on as it doesn’t really rain much.
However the front, side and rear panels all roll up and can be fixed out
of the way, so in fact it’s fine to leave the canopy on in case of the odd
shower. Throughout the summer it lives in the cupboard.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span face=""><b><u>Build quality:</u></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span face="">I have spent a big chunk of my disposable income over the last two
decades on bikes but the Douze is the most Gucci of all. Like the
Brompton, everything has been thoroughly thought through and nothing is out of
place. Every weld is neat. Cable routings are clever and tidy.
Components have obviously been chosen for their longevity and for their
simple style. The paintwork is
silky-smooth and shrugs off the occasional clouts I give it with the security
chain.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span face="">I chose the cheaper Tektro brakes (Magura is the Gucci option) and they are excellent. Hydraulic disc brakes are so effective and so low-maintenance that I
would be peeved not to have them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span face="">Shimano Alfine hub gears were exactly what I wanted for the Douze. I’ve ridden it up some decent hills (Greenwich / Dulwich) without difficulty. I don’t run out of gears on the flat (sensibly speaking).</span></div>
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<span face="">I have had Shimano Alfine hubs on two commuter bikes, each of which
did over 10000 kilometres in all weathers before they moved on (one stolen, one
sold). I never maintained them.
They are silent, reliable and easy-to-tune. You can change gear at standstill. They’re a bit heavy but on a cargo bike
that’s not critical. The range of gears on the Alfine is roughly
equivalent to a standard road bike.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span face="">Belt drive is a fantastic addition. It will do 4500 miles without
maintenance. It is not oily. It does not squeak. It does not stretch. When my toddler son inevitably grabbed it I was
relaxed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span face="">The mudguards on the Douze are solid and neat. However, the
front mudguard isn’t long enough and the underside of the frame gets splattered in the wet.
I have added an sks mudflap and the Douze is UK-ready.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span face=""><b><br />
<u>Handling:</u></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span face=""><b><u><br /></u></b>The geometry of the Douze is much the same as a mountain bike or a hybrid so riding it uses the same muscles I'm used to using and I am comfortable over long-ish distances. Bakfiets, Babboe and Urban Arrow are more dutch in their geometry meaning that "pottering" is your only choice of pace. My wife has quite a short reach but rides the
Douze comfortably. It’s super-easy to
raise and lower both the saddle and the handlebars (both quick-release).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span face="">The Douze is a lot of fun to ride. It’s very easy to mooch about gently
while the children stare about them. But I have also on occasion ridden it hard for
thirty kilometres or so, usually for time-constrained ebay purchase collections
across London. Ridden briskly the Douze feels fast and nimble. It’s a hoot.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span face=""><br />
It's worth pointing out that the Douze weighs 25 kilos. Cargo bikes are typically closer to the 45kg mark.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span face="">The centre of gravity is very low, so the bike always feels stable no mater how much you load it.</span></o:p></div>
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<o:p><span face=""><br /></span></o:p></div>
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<span face="">The turning circle is very tight. In fact the turning radius is
the length of the bike. You won’t think this is relevant until you try to
negotiate cycle-path barriers or the ramp onto a footbridge. This is one
of the features that sets the Douze apart.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span face="">I was a little skeptical about the cable steering but I’m utterly
convinced now. The bike feels weird to steer for thirty seconds, as all cargo bikes must, but after
that it’s intuitive. My Bakfiets-owning
(and adoring) friend commented on how smooth the steering was on the Douze. I haven’t
made any effort to maintain it yet and is hasn’t needed it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span face=""><b><u>Utility bike usage:</u></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span face=""><br /></span>
<span face="">I have transported:</span></div>
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<span face=""><br /></span></div>
<span face=""><span face="">
</span>
</span><br />
<ul style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="">A shopping
trolley’s worth of food.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="">Four Ikea child
seats.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="">A Snuz-Pod cot.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="">My wife’s bike.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span face="">My Brompton.</span></li>
</ul>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<ul>
</ul>
</div>
<span face=""><span face="">
</span>
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl5mXwstC11T7Pmc4WiCY25aS2CABz67aNzEdjNQVAm9UdcbAm8VjaBZeScZAMBEpdfb8F3AV0Z1_lBxYONfngq2G0nVS1YusUy9TQhxgDpX1HEu5LaPdE1RKzfOnSEOZH0imuUceH64Q/s1600/DSC_0093.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span face=""><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl5mXwstC11T7Pmc4WiCY25aS2CABz67aNzEdjNQVAm9UdcbAm8VjaBZeScZAMBEpdfb8F3AV0Z1_lBxYONfngq2G0nVS1YusUy9TQhxgDpX1HEu5LaPdE1RKzfOnSEOZH0imuUceH64Q/s400/DSC_0093.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="" style="font-size: small;">#quaxing</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span face=""><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieH5SLWTyikQEmmAD1we2A5sbFAFtxfjb-DW1d1BY_Y-U4jUUm7iv05BskUirfMghh15iE5-NamBj5EBDXirLHMjbSnUidYYkjIdYEaK_2iq0UGVxWYFmeJoJRUWTie3hT8KlqtJhv_fo/s1600/DSC_0094.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span face=""><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieH5SLWTyikQEmmAD1we2A5sbFAFtxfjb-DW1d1BY_Y-U4jUUm7iv05BskUirfMghh15iE5-NamBj5EBDXirLHMjbSnUidYYkjIdYEaK_2iq0UGVxWYFmeJoJRUWTie3hT8KlqtJhv_fo/s400/DSC_0094.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="" style="font-size: small;">#quaxing</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span face=""><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh71yihGM-Y7F4TJ3TjfkrxPJvmyAnMy2zwk3ESYmI-VH0Z4MGPUFIA1wfyP1lFspFWaRDYRIVlc3JYhNLLxan0wzpWicXDBdaaEoo_RWW5APMXqBX94s8HivZmuxc9DcmSZ0jKk401wDs/s1600/DSC_0001_1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span face=""><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh71yihGM-Y7F4TJ3TjfkrxPJvmyAnMy2zwk3ESYmI-VH0Z4MGPUFIA1wfyP1lFspFWaRDYRIVlc3JYhNLLxan0wzpWicXDBdaaEoo_RWW5APMXqBX94s8HivZmuxc9DcmSZ0jKk401wDs/s400/DSC_0001_1.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="" style="font-size: small;">This had me worried at first.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span face=""><span face=""><br /></span>
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqIJ86xmwbSwvDzWmExtzuEakBvfsm5kWhckg2F7yOHPCm2YVwxY_CdDW3gJzjdVtrn2mmR39wQbQgCktjux8T4Fqx7E2rWDCR9sr1lvR2wAdda-B3YD_Fv61CD1HQ6YLRe44CnNaUWJA/s1600/DSC_0002.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span face=""><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqIJ86xmwbSwvDzWmExtzuEakBvfsm5kWhckg2F7yOHPCm2YVwxY_CdDW3gJzjdVtrn2mmR39wQbQgCktjux8T4Fqx7E2rWDCR9sr1lvR2wAdda-B3YD_Fv61CD1HQ6YLRe44CnNaUWJA/s400/DSC_0002.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="" style="font-size: small;">Easy. I then cycled 15 miles home.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6pHhLB6Ce-QJnjI8OfYjuj7rLv22z3GJP1KhiQvI9Lf1JCAZ1nIuLwAWNG0KeJntSJNHVs2AmH9zP13qGnAE8OpRIZBWtQXFCAhmJ6wOZ3B_o9GxG6-KPtBLQGZA9inNLj5s8Mh9EwSY/s1600/20180502_181017.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span face=""><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6pHhLB6Ce-QJnjI8OfYjuj7rLv22z3GJP1KhiQvI9Lf1JCAZ1nIuLwAWNG0KeJntSJNHVs2AmH9zP13qGnAE8OpRIZBWtQXFCAhmJ6wOZ3B_o9GxG6-KPtBLQGZA9inNLj5s8Mh9EwSY/s400/20180502_181017.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="" style="font-size: small;">Across London to collect a cot. All alternative ways to run this errand are unthinkable. Hours sat in traffic or manhandling this lot on the tube.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span face=""><br /></span>
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="text-align: justify;"><span face="">Whilst on holiday in France I was delighted to see a Douze working
hard as a courier bike. You know your bike is built to last if a
professional uses it.</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span face=""><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span face="" style="color: black; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">
</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIwrVnmOMmwiAWN9LK9Fh9Paq0J4oM2wdWo2fTkxio0k3wb6aEDa7iaj7RWOkEgZe71mVfb9pZVxDscgIjSy3lg_WBDkStd8W5QPmmpBJAVEMT4SM2PSROYenHNuTuuyosmzi213kjxqw/s1600/DSC_1621.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span face=""><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIwrVnmOMmwiAWN9LK9Fh9Paq0J4oM2wdWo2fTkxio0k3wb6aEDa7iaj7RWOkEgZe71mVfb9pZVxDscgIjSy3lg_WBDkStd8W5QPmmpBJAVEMT4SM2PSROYenHNuTuuyosmzi213kjxqw/s400/DSC_1621.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="" style="font-size: small;">Hard-working Douze in Rennes, France.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span face=""><b><u>Transporting:</u></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span face=""><br />
If any single feature sets the Douze apart when choosing a cargo bike, it’s
this. You can split it in half in two minutes. I can cycle up to my little Honda Jazz and
have the Douze loaded into the back (with a seat still up for the baby) within five minutes.
The Jazz is unusually clever and spacious but I would be confident of
getting the Douze into most hatchbacks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span face="">A friend asked whether the separation/joining was so slick that you
could break it after every journey to store it inside your house. It
isn’t far off but on balance I would say that it’s just enough hassle that you
would sometimes choose not to take the bike, which would be a shame.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1451" data-original-width="1600" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEpES7y59-lqy7DGCHPZEGruoVSkdTEOLO3Ph6nSVbXHJV_KLyRRbwekQdXTq7lk9Q0naqfkOrPUWEbGzaVotR7bF0SAGDXtOkRHPdPNbP9INvuzsDxq2IJ4SApWvWaNnm_mz8ELdQoeo/s320/20180605_164957.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click-clunk. Fast and rock-solid.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEpES7y59-lqy7DGCHPZEGruoVSkdTEOLO3Ph6nSVbXHJV_KLyRRbwekQdXTq7lk9Q0naqfkOrPUWEbGzaVotR7bF0SAGDXtOkRHPdPNbP9INvuzsDxq2IJ4SApWvWaNnm_mz8ELdQoeo/s1600/20180605_164957.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span face=""></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span face="">The connection between the front and rear is reassuringly chunky.
As you offer the back of the bike into the front it slides neatly and
positively into place such that you know you’ve got it right and you know it’s
absolutely solid. I am confident of repeating this operation a few hundred
times with the same experience.</span></div>
</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span face="" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRW6mjk-YBtfIZtNBTH60ehKHoG2Y1BEe1qkXpRCd_RLRz3DgUuvcG1765mDVCsZkcEvM4wkul8g6e65VqdhbFCM9gmse9b4YTb_TR6Y3Ec09GmlxockhrJ3Aq5GuSG2utfsVIqE4_jV8/s1600/DSC_1496.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span face=""><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRW6mjk-YBtfIZtNBTH60ehKHoG2Y1BEe1qkXpRCd_RLRz3DgUuvcG1765mDVCsZkcEvM4wkul8g6e65VqdhbFCM9gmse9b4YTb_TR6Y3Ec09GmlxockhrJ3Aq5GuSG2utfsVIqE4_jV8/s400/DSC_1496.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="" style="font-size: small;">Big bike. Small car.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span face=""><span face=""><br /></span>
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihiKiCk-94rStNRCXKufZIKLeb3SMbM20j6foKYSZimSjK1ODVSBxiyYLHwXZKUVT_XoMZs_Xs3tjyU0VoiSvApIF05PRbRjQKy5Z8qxommRa9R9d20eYE5Py9mQGcIn7aKc81OpGUmUU/s1600/DSC_1497.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span face=""><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihiKiCk-94rStNRCXKufZIKLeb3SMbM20j6foKYSZimSjK1ODVSBxiyYLHwXZKUVT_XoMZs_Xs3tjyU0VoiSvApIF05PRbRjQKy5Z8qxommRa9R9d20eYE5Py9mQGcIn7aKc81OpGUmUU/s400/DSC_1497.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="" style="font-size: small;">Two minutes to split.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span face=""><span face=""><br /></span>
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghp-xMVS6HFI-yawBt0EaStDAOjPMVffwFOXt1j8EKuIrVKifk3wwbRkyDg8URrPSx0-AQ7fcfK__43WdM_hCYmy33v7UoFqmbC4e3Jr4B3IojX70FnG72gU20fz8M1hcT_-wb-nbWLCA/s1600/DSC_1498.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span face=""><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghp-xMVS6HFI-yawBt0EaStDAOjPMVffwFOXt1j8EKuIrVKifk3wwbRkyDg8URrPSx0-AQ7fcfK__43WdM_hCYmy33v7UoFqmbC4e3Jr4B3IojX70FnG72gU20fz8M1hcT_-wb-nbWLCA/s400/DSC_1498.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="" style="font-size: small;">Bike in. Seat still up for child.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span face=""><b><br />
<u>In summary:</u></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span face=""><br />
Pros:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<ul>
<li>Geometry much like a regular hybrid or mountain bike.</li>
<li>Swift, light and nimble.</li>
<li>Very tight turning circle.</li>
<li>Elegant.</li>
<li>Goes in the back of a hatch-back.</li>
<li>Vertically very stiff.</li>
<li>Excellent build quality.</li>
<li>Low maintenance hub gear, disc brakes, belt drive.<span face=""> </span><span face="">Get on, ride, repeat.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span face="">Cons:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<ul>
<li>Limited to two children up to perhaps six years old.</li>
<li>Zips on the canopy could be more robust.</li>
<li>Needs a mud-flap on the front to keep the bike clean.</li>
<li>Laterally not as stiff others, notably the Bullitt.</li>
<li>Pricey (though excellent value).</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<br /></div>
quickerbybikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08410099827893470951noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8991732159572355963.post-28678311071584752892016-03-08T02:43:00.001-08:002016-03-08T03:23:39.129-08:00Ortlieb Velocity long term test<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-72006607-55c7-cad2-e427-2f27af0d0cac" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I can’t think of many days over the past 5 years when I haven't used my Ortlieb Velocity bag. I bought it after a string of unsatisfactory bags for my cycle commute. I’d had bags from brands I trusted but they either weren't practical (timbuk2 = sweaty back) or their zips fell apart (macpac/camelbak).</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-72006607-55c7-cad2-e427-2f27af0d0cac" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-72006607-55c7-cad2-e427-2f27af0d0cac" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">It doesn't look brand-new now, after its five years of constant use, but it looks good still and not ragged. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-72006607-55c7-cad2-e427-2f27af0d0cac" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDXHcgWu-W5eB1AjBBARzy4P4RpKSeYtzqSx41o68YDLblCt-d_zvow5sXDr6QQvE6Wwl2ZVkSRQfDC5cNzdXGsS_O3iX5lNMVcLmZFeiiLmrAv8u9uX84Ot0B8Zo5G9pQHGbgigIf5sw/s1600/DSC_0059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDXHcgWu-W5eB1AjBBARzy4P4RpKSeYtzqSx41o68YDLblCt-d_zvow5sXDr6QQvE6Wwl2ZVkSRQfDC5cNzdXGsS_O3iX5lNMVcLmZFeiiLmrAv8u9uX84Ot0B8Zo5G9pQHGbgigIf5sw/s320/DSC_0059.JPG" width="227" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I would happily pay double what I paid for the Ortlieb. It has certainly far outlasted its similarly-priced predecessors.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">My commute is now 20 miles each way. I do it throughout the year. I don’t normally have loads to carry but now and then I have extra kit or I pop to the shops on the way home for dinner.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The bag is waterproof. Just forget that aspect. Don’t give it another thought, I never do.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Don't go underwater with it, it isn't a canoe-bag! But ride 20 miles in the hosing rain, carrying your laptop, your gran's family album and your winning lottery ticket without hesitation. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The bag is durable. Functionally the bag has not changed despite daily use over 5 years. Crucially, and setting it apart from other bags I’ve had, the channels on the back are unchanged. The foam has not compressed over time and it hasn’t degraded or cut up or even worn down.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The straps are similarly unchanged and have kept their shape. I can’t find a loose thread, I wouldn’t want to try to pull any of the fixings off as I think it would be unrewarding work. This is the back of a strap.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The rigid plastic internal panel means the bag keeps its shape. Getting stuff in and out is easy.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl-cyFCIPnI_Iv65nm33dqtEqIrFQwmu38ef7gMtm0hJl3nKf6HroKhjmBjJeMu2hFX0PIiRTJ12mD7KVmyo-c65PC4SIB1FG-WSJsGIVSXDpg8gRiDaBBdScJcJrhDoOadRBZk4_NjYU/s1600/DSC_0067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl-cyFCIPnI_Iv65nm33dqtEqIrFQwmu38ef7gMtm0hJl3nKf6HroKhjmBjJeMu2hFX0PIiRTJ12mD7KVmyo-c65PC4SIB1FG-WSJsGIVSXDpg8gRiDaBBdScJcJrhDoOadRBZk4_NjYU/s320/DSC_0067.JPG" width="180" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The little feet keep the bag from being scuffed much, although I think you’d need to drag it behind a car for a couple of hours to scuff it much anyway.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The light-attachments are OK. I usually put a light on the back for commuting through the winter. They’re not perfect because they’re higher up than the point at which the bag starts to slope towards your shoulders, so lights attached here point to the sky.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I’ve never found the waist belt important, so in the early days I chopped off the strap I was never going to need and wrapped the rest around the buckles.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy85DzoPTERSGrfbOU86cJWNtCMGvPxOoJdNXzuUMKDKHLkbdcM84hsdfBYxOaI64wvRv2448Y0J8vnn-pt9CklY8l7zMPmjMcMWivqMThP8D7T_C83F9ChBoDxhwIrFr3SKctwGX1kSA/s1600/DSC_0061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy85DzoPTERSGrfbOU86cJWNtCMGvPxOoJdNXzuUMKDKHLkbdcM84hsdfBYxOaI64wvRv2448Y0J8vnn-pt9CklY8l7zMPmjMcMWivqMThP8D7T_C83F9ChBoDxhwIrFr3SKctwGX1kSA/s320/DSC_0061.JPG" width="180" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The little pouch press-stud fitted to the inside is really useful. I keep wallet and keys in it and can also slot in phone or Garmin in a different pocket and out of the way of scratchy stuff.</span><br />
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The closest thing to a failing I have found is that if you walk along with the bag nearly empty and with some stuff in the pencil case, it bump-bump-bumps against your back. I am over this failing.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I was concerned about the Velcro at first. I thought it wouldn’t last. It has. I think I’d still rather have a buckle but I can’t in fact fault the Velcro. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The bag isn’t sold as expandable but if you go into the supermarket for a pint of milk and come out with 20 items you hadn’t planned for, the bag can easily take a third more with the top open than you can put in when it’s closed. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">It comes with me on the bike every day, it comes to the shops, it comes on weekends away, walks in the hills, It comes to meetings and site visits and it comes to the beach. Really, it’s in service every day.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I’ve carried tools, my best (ok, only) suit, piles of dripping-wet sandy swim stuff, dozens of picnics, laptop and work papers, various sports kit. I wouldn’t use it to carry a bonfire or a horse but otherwise I think it will be fine with most stuff.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I think it’s still cool. People still comment on it. People stare at it.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">If you want a bag for commuting by bike in all weathers then just get this. As with my Brompton, when I see people with the alternatives, I just feel sorry for them. </span></div>
quickerbybikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08410099827893470951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8991732159572355963.post-31219593120869857482013-07-31T03:25:00.002-07:002015-06-02T00:58:13.297-07:00Super Cycling Man - Inspiring children to ride.It would be easy, having visited the website <a href="http://www.supercyclingman.com/" target="_blank">http://www.supercyclingman.com/</a> and watched the video <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eDhUhsN_Qs" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eDhUhsN_Qs</a> to come away with the impression that what Super Cycling Man Will Hodson is doing is a lark. He's so chirpy and ridiculous, so full of fun that you might not notice 100 miles a day back-to-back, in all manner of conditions, carrying everything, for blocks of 5 weeks is an extraordinary feat.<br />
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<br />
He's no ordinary cyclist.<br />
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He's a familiar figure, nicknamed coincidentally Will Supersocks, in the local chain-gang. He turns up in knee-length football socks with hairy legs and looking, if we're honest, a bit heavy. That might not sound an unusual way to look but it stands out amongst the lean, pro-mimicking and very capable, race-winning amateur racers who make up the rest of the group. And Will is well-up to the pace. 10 riders at the start. Lap 1: 7 riders left with Will still there. Lap 2: still 7 riders, though some looking uncomfortable. Lap three: 5 riders and Supersocks is still there. Lap 4: it's down to three and Will is still not amongst those shelled.<br />
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He's a proper cyclist.<br />
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But what's fantastic is that he's almost completely hidden that. There's no bragging, no banging on about suffering and hardship. It's such a ridiculous feat and so playfully communicated that it is close to feeling like the unreal comic-book adventure he's kidded us it is.<br />
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Instead of drawing attention to the enormity of the physical effort, Will has focused on the more important bid to do something worthwhile. He's getting children cycling. And it works.<br />
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If that weren't enough, he's raising money, target £100,000 for charities.<br />
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Help him if you can. <a href="http://www.supercyclingman.com/" target="_blank">http://www.supercyclingman.com/</a>quickerbybikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08410099827893470951noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8991732159572355963.post-69232186854804676772013-06-14T05:34:00.000-07:002015-06-02T01:22:41.424-07:00Avanti Inc 3. The dream commute bike?My Genesis Day Alfine is an exceptionally good commute bike. It's done great service (3400 kilometres and counting) and I'll be using it a few years yet.<br />
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A commute bike needs to be jump-on-and-ride-able. Low maintenance. This is less true for me because I'm ok maintaining bikes and happy to do it. But for a new cyclist who's not up for oiling and cleaning a chain, checking chain wear, replacing chains every few hundred miles, replacing sprockets and chainrings: less maintenance is better.<br />
<br />
I've just seen this new Avanti.<br />
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<a href="http://avantibikes.com/nz/bikes/path/urban-road/inc-3/?section=specifications" target="_blank">Avanti Inc 3</a><br />
<br />
As in, I've seen it on the website. I haven't seen one or ridden one.<br />
<br />
But it looks so perfect. It's got everything. And apart from pumping the tyres up now and then (get a track pump) and checking the tyres for shards as often as you can be bothered (every day if you never want a puncture) there's nothing to maintain on this bike at all. New brake blocks every two years? But that's it.<br />
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James Bowthorpe rode his belt-drive Santos round the world and never changed the belt.<br />
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Disc brakes mean clean wheel-rims that don't wear out. If this sounds trivial to you, I promise it's not. It's fantastic. Rim-braking brakes are one of the most disgusting, messy parts of a bike. Horrible grey gunk builds up on the pads and forks and rim. Fixing a puncture = getting covered in crap.<br />
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Hub gears need maintaining every 5000km or so. But with the new Alfines that just means an oil change. Personally, I don't plan to do squat to mine for a few years yet. Then I'll think about changing the oil, which I expect to be a 20-minute job.<br />
<br />
So there you go. I've no reason to big-up the Avanti. I'm sure there are others out there but this is the first I saw. There's probably even a drop-bar version somewhere.quickerbybikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08410099827893470951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8991732159572355963.post-77456887080444134112013-05-20T04:07:00.001-07:002013-05-30T09:19:47.548-07:00Hoodies and Tees now available.You can now buy all quickerbybike kit from yourclubshop. Click the jeresey on the right.<br />
<br />
Use code YCS10 to get 10% off until 1st June.<br />
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I've still got stock of s/s jerseys, bib-shorts and shorts and it's a lot cheaper from me, while it lasts. See monday 4th February post, below. quickerbybikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08410099827893470951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8991732159572355963.post-2493598316092044742013-04-18T03:50:00.001-07:002014-08-03T23:39:59.352-07:00Lycra Kit from YourClubShop.I've got stock here of bib-shorts, shorts and ss jerseys in most sizes. See the thread below.<br />
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If the size you want is no longer there or if you want full-zip jerseys, skinsuits, gilets, long-sleeve jerseys or the like, then please order from <a href="http://www.yourclubshop.co.uk/Category/Quicker-by-Bike" target="_blank">Yourclubshop.</a><br />
<br />
All club kit from yourclubshop.co.uk is made to order. It can take 4 weeks. If you need it sooner or have other special requirements, put a note in the "special instructions" box and they'll contact you.<br />
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Or just ask me. <br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"></span></i>quickerbybikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08410099827893470951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8991732159572355963.post-9810411727057790092013-02-04T06:47:00.000-08:002013-05-30T09:17:43.417-07:00All kit now in stock. Lycra and baggies.The new Lycra kit is here, made by Impsport and much improved. See images on the right for a look. Photos will be up later this week.<br />
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In the future, quickerbybike.com lycra kit will be supplied via <a href="http://www.yourclubshop.co.uk/clubs.asp?ClubCatId=1">YourClubShop</a>. This relieves me of the burden of taking orders and payments and posting kit out. It's brilliant! They make the kit just-in-time: that's to say they only manufacture when they get an order.<br />
<br />
Lycra kit prices will be:<br />
<ul>
<li>Bibshorts £62.40</li>
<li>Shorts (non-bib) £52.80</li>
<li>Short sleeve, short zip jersey £48</li>
</ul>
In order to set up this service it was necessary to order an initial batch to be photographed. This batch is now under my desk and ready to be posted out to whoever wants it. Because the quantities were greater, the prices are lower. <br />
<br />
Prices (and live (ish) quantities in stock) are:<br />
<ul>
<li>Bibshorts (S-2, M-3, L-1) £48</li>
<li>Shorts (non-bib) (XS-2, S-3) £41</li>
<li>Short sleeve, short zip jersey (XS-3, S-2, L-1) £37 </li>
<li>Postage £3 </li>
</ul>
Email me at martin at quickerbybike dot com with your address and <a href="http://www.yourclubshop.co.uk/pages/sizecharts.asp">SIZE</a> and I'll post it out to you. You can pay me by BACS (internet transfer). I'll email you the details.<br />
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If it helps those who know me I'm a Medium short and Small jersey. <br />
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Baggy shorts are Endura Singletrack shorts and are £40 posted. See photos on the right. Just email me if you'd like a pair. quickerbybikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08410099827893470951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8991732159572355963.post-52461368017867537972013-01-23T07:34:00.001-08:002013-01-23T07:34:17.170-08:00New lycra kit is in production.The new batch of lycra quickerbybike.com kit is now in production, due to be ready for sale 2nd week of February.<br />
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The kit is much improved with more and larger logos.<br />
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Jersey looks like this:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaeydbeeg2Ocsab-Q1cJeJ5ssm_c1MJneTtG0cxP-IVTFu_BblhjNYeowTywMTrc0S7i1P9xzvmVxgcPicc-bCx3EzZ_j7kGCYVDFXw4UtgHUBNGSDuvKHDoL6uHDjWRJcZRHh0cRAJTQ/s1600/jersey+only-page-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaeydbeeg2Ocsab-Q1cJeJ5ssm_c1MJneTtG0cxP-IVTFu_BblhjNYeowTywMTrc0S7i1P9xzvmVxgcPicc-bCx3EzZ_j7kGCYVDFXw4UtgHUBNGSDuvKHDoL6uHDjWRJcZRHh0cRAJTQ/s400/jersey+only-page-001.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
and shorts look like this:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs_k3bWu4zR8VL4LK0w3xDCbyO9tYZgXEHqDgojxyQtGUyNsFd993oimT6pMpAdZ1ooNfQEF7NQ58Zj3F0ccCm8gPtw1NzbzHEv_wMYUNdlERhDGkFz4wdbU9Pa0oSgkNQ-kvz9MdDVbQ/s1600/Shorts+only-page-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs_k3bWu4zR8VL4LK0w3xDCbyO9tYZgXEHqDgojxyQtGUyNsFd993oimT6pMpAdZ1ooNfQEF7NQ58Zj3F0ccCm8gPtw1NzbzHEv_wMYUNdlERhDGkFz4wdbU9Pa0oSgkNQ-kvz9MdDVbQ/s400/Shorts+only-page-001.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
The kit will be available to buy direct from <a href="http://www.yourclubshop.co.uk/">http://www.yourclubshop.co.uk/</a> which makes my life far easier and your deliveries far more reliable.<br />
<br />
Happy days. I hope the entire new batch will be out and about on bums on bikes, passing traffic, before the summer comes.<br />
quickerbybikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08410099827893470951noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8991732159572355963.post-57879991374118545202012-12-19T04:15:00.001-08:002012-12-19T07:40:41.994-08:00Genesis Day One Alfine 11 ReviewI bought a Genesis Day 1 Alfine 11 last year to ride off-road as a 'cross bike.<br />
<br />
This is what I learnt:<br />
<ul>
<li>Riding trails on a 'cross bike is not as much fun as riding them on a mountain bike.</li>
<li>Cyclocross is a racing discipline only. </li>
<li>The Genesis Day 1 is heavy, despite the 853 tubing. It would be hopeless for 'cross racing.</li>
<li>The Genesis Day 1 has poor mud clearance to the front fork (you won't think it's important until you're having to stop and pull the stuff out with your hands because it's jamming the wheel).</li>
<li>The Avid BB7 disc brakes are great, as is the Versa shifter and the Alfine 11 speed hub.</li>
</ul>
I got muddy:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaVoM94gjxjMnf0zHvShtMStunuXRBPsKjlqp3uKplz9efXsCUc8tnxR2_FZ3HUY8AY2ONv6bfYkbFJasLO0bIjPi96yfXF-FqkFtZCGSEAs0O8C2GJCtzcZIL0THPezZ2KB14NNe7nlY/s1600/muddy+genesis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaVoM94gjxjMnf0zHvShtMStunuXRBPsKjlqp3uKplz9efXsCUc8tnxR2_FZ3HUY8AY2ONv6bfYkbFJasLO0bIjPi96yfXF-FqkFtZCGSEAs0O8C2GJCtzcZIL0THPezZ2KB14NNe7nlY/s320/muddy+genesis.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
After a few outings I gave up and took my mountain bike instead. It was fine riding the Genesis on my own as an alternative to training on the road (with the busy, angry cars) but it wasn't very sociable because my friends were either on the road on road bikes or off the road on mountain bikes.<br />
<br />
I left the Day One in the shed but I kept hold of my buyer's remorse. <br />
<br />
Then I moved house and my commute went from 8 miles to 21 miles.<br />
<br />
I stepped the Genesis up for the job. And it is brilliant.<br />
<br />
I've now been riding the Genesis for my extended commute for three months. I put the original Conti Gatorskin 28s back on and fitted SKS Bluemels guards. Much better than the cross version. It now looks like this.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoZyqzJJIcMOVa9Guh21oAdge92oiGhiMTxo5dh3xgH4pO4nZpdcQIYMKC9R_r5bCwIj9ugkieBSorPdb9ep0FofYPMrH9LQ6UArBZn_sgqAOih3VdBGOmGDYmii4RcOn32llwL3vw8AQ/s1600/Image0894.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoZyqzJJIcMOVa9Guh21oAdge92oiGhiMTxo5dh3xgH4pO4nZpdcQIYMKC9R_r5bCwIj9ugkieBSorPdb9ep0FofYPMrH9LQ6UArBZn_sgqAOih3VdBGOmGDYmii4RcOn32llwL3vw8AQ/s320/Image0894.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
You'll need some patience and skill (and some long bolts and spacers) to fit the mudguards so that they go around the disc calipers. Ask Genesis if you're stuck.<br />
<br />
It's just perfect. Almost no maintenance. Bomber braking. Comfortable but fast. Easy gear changes and huge range. Just perfect. Apart from anything else it's silent. Derailler gears always make a bit of noise when you pedal and when you freewheel. Hubs make no noise at any time.<br />
<br />
I've done all my winter training on the Genesis too, riding in the Surrey Hills with friends on road bikes. I can keep up fine, my brakes are reliable in the wet and don't create a horrible black paste on the rims. The gears are in a metal box so they don't care if it's raining and gritty. <br />
<br />
So, I highly recommend the Genesis Day Alfine but with some caveats. <br />
<ul>
<li>If you're buying a bike for commuting, why not get the Alfine 8. It's a lot cheaper and the slightly heavier tubing won't make any difference to you. The 8 and 11 are both heavy bikes.</li>
<li>If you're buying it for racing 'cross, get the Day 01 disc and race singlespeed. At least it will be a race-weight bike.</li>
<li>If you're buying it to go riding off road - get a mountain bike. </li>
</ul>
quickerbybikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08410099827893470951noreply@blogger.com79tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8991732159572355963.post-18288897345981291792012-01-12T03:50:00.000-08:002012-01-12T03:50:01.107-08:00Amazing tool for planning cycle routes.What an extraordinary application this is.<br />
<br />
Double-click your start point on the map. Same for your finish point. Tell it how fast you are, Press 'Go'.<br />
<br />
It knows cycle paths and parks.<br />
<br />
Brilliant:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://london.cyclestreets.net/">http://london.cyclestreets.net/</a><br />
<br />
It says "London" but it's UK-wide.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8991732159572355963.post-57158680006942866722011-10-14T00:57:00.000-07:002011-10-14T01:07:48.719-07:00A new way to communicate. Help needed!There's a big queue of traffic outside my office window as I type. I started Quickerbybike.com after riding past this queue every day. Queue is still going strong. Same drivers?<br />
<br />
On the plus side, I see loads of cyclists these days. Way more than before.<br />
<br />
The quickerbybike.com shorts are a way to communicate with motorists and point out the alternative and encourage them to switch.<br />
<br />
And I hope we're reaching some. But it'd be great to reach more.<br />
<br />
So I'm going to get a sign, like this <a href="http://tinyurl.com/63ve6m5">clicky</a> made up and I'll plonk it next to the road each morning. You might be thinking that this is hardly thinking big. True enough.<br />
<br />
So what should the new sign look like and say? Please help me! Tweet or email your ideas to martin at quickerbybike dot com.<br />
<br />
It mustn't be smug. It will include the quickerbybike logo, nice and big. Then perhaps the simple message: "Let me help you to cycle instead of driving.".<br />
<br />
I'm going to leave an area white so I can write different messages each week. Suggestions for this would be great too. Perhaps we can have a weekly poll.<br />
<br />
But please - what should the main, printed sign say?<br />
<br />
Maybe even just the logo and a big question-mark?<br />
<br />
Thanks in anticipation.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8991732159572355963.post-35192858820535241802011-07-08T01:00:00.000-07:002011-07-08T03:23:29.125-07:00New kit order, summer 2011.The emails asking for kit are piling up so I'm about to place an order.<br />
<br />
<br />
They're Endura Singletrack shorts embriodered with the quickerbybike.com logo and they're £30. Endura haven't got annoyed with me yet (they charge £42). It's a campaign, not a business, and I pay the postage on the shorts.<br />
<br />
No lycra kit this time round, sorry.<br />
<br />
If you'd like a pair, let me know what size you want and give me your address. Email martin at quickerbybike dot com. I need you to pay for the shorts up front (as you would if a friend were organising some team kit for you, which is basically what this is) and then there will be a two-to-three week wait for the shorts. When I've collated the order, I'll email all those who orderd with bank details so you can pay me.<br />
<br />
There are girls' and boys' versions of the shorts. They are big-ish: I'm a 31inch waist and wear "small".<br />
<br />
If you know anybody else who might want a pair, please put them onto me. I don't place orders very often so best to include as many people as possible.<br />
<br />
Any questions, just ask. <br />
<br />
MartinUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8991732159572355963.post-34999729530939194922011-04-28T08:39:00.001-07:002011-04-28T08:39:21.571-07:00Ten cycle commute lessons.A great little piece here on The London Cyclist<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.londoncyclist.co.uk/tips/10-lessons-learnt-from-cycle-commuting-for-a-year/">http://www.londoncyclist.co.uk/tips/10-lessons-learnt-from-cycle-commuting-for-a-year/</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8991732159572355963.post-58375131310749821092011-04-14T05:12:00.000-07:002011-04-14T05:16:05.873-07:00Ues rechargeable batteries!My friend Phil has a very reliable moral compass. He reckons in 50 years time people will look back at the wastefull way we live now and find it just as astonishing and deplorable as we now find the idea of a slave trade.<br />
<br />
Maybe that's going a bit far.<br />
<br />
But having someone make you a new battery (having mined all the materials and manufactured each cel for you) every time your old one runs out isn't very cool.<br />
<br />
Get a recharger and buy rechargeable batteries! If you want a selfish reason to do so: they're much cheaper in the long run and....you can charge them at work! Free power.<br />
<br />
Go on, use the last of your evil throw-aways, recycle them properly and then sort yourself out with some rechargeables for next winter. You can have a hug from me if you do.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8991732159572355963.post-17109966330927050802011-04-14T05:08:00.000-07:002011-04-24T10:34:00.985-07:00Patch your old tubes.I get punctures all the time.<br />
<br />
If you want to avoid them, take these simple steps:<br />
<ol><li>Get tyres with some protection. Here, there's even a site dedicated to them: <a href="http://tinyurl.com/6dpskac">Puncture resistant tyres</a></li>
<li>Check your tyres as often as you can be bothered for little flints or pieces of glass. Most punctures are caused by small sharp bits that have been working their way into your tyre over a few rides. Flick them out with a pin/knife/fork/whatever. How often you check will depend on how important it is to you. If someone you love commutes 13 miles across london to a stressy job, from whom a mid-commute "I've got a puncture" phonecall would cause you plenty of heart-ache, you'll check hers/his every night.</li>
<li>Don't ride in the gutter. Keep your eyes peeled for glass (more and more of it about. A deliberate campaign?).</li>
</ol>Anyway, when you do get a puncture, find the nasty, remove it and change the tube. Stuff the old tube in your bag and add it to the pile at home. Don't bother arsing about at the side of the road patching the tube. It doesn't work well in the rain and once the tube of glue is open it tends to go off before you next use it.<br />
<br />
Once every few months, sit down with a box of patches (Rema Tip Top from UK Bikestore at 30p each?), some sand paper, glue and a pump, turn on the afternoon play on Radio 4 and repair them all.<br />
<br />
New tube = £4, patch =30p<br />
<br />
No brainer. Can't do it? Want help? Email me!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8991732159572355963.post-44301542050884536582011-04-11T05:03:00.000-07:002011-04-11T05:03:17.459-07:00Have your stationery delivered by bikeThere's a zero-emissions way to have your stationery delivered in London.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://gnewtcargo.co.uk/">http://gnewtcargo.co.uk/</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8991732159572355963.post-46945632039307217152011-03-16T02:03:00.000-07:002011-03-16T02:05:36.768-07:00Roadhug.orgRiding on my little green bike from Clapham Junction to Kensington yesterday for a meeting, I found myself staring at a poster on the back of a bus. It was a Roadhug campaign poster.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.roadhug.org/index.html">http://www.roadhug.org/index.html</a><br />
<br />
If you read earlier posts in this blog, you'll remember that my friend James came up with the exact same approach for his cycle commute. See "A ride amongst friends", posted in December. He was on to something big. Kensington and Chelsea (the London Borough) have just adopted the philosophy for their road safety campaign, launched last week. Pretend all the road users around you are people you know. It works wonders.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8991732159572355963.post-22640936097120692782011-01-07T09:47:00.000-08:002011-01-07T09:47:05.530-08:00Lycra kit will be here on Tuesday!Endura had no staff during the epic scottish weather so they're bahind with production.<br />
<br />
However, the kit is now finished and will be dispatched on Monday. I'll get it on Tuesday and will get it out to you that day, I hope.<br />
<br />
Thank you again for your patience. Service hasn't been great and I'm sorry.<br />
<br />
MartinUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8991732159572355963.post-47333913361387669862011-01-06T00:13:00.000-08:002011-01-06T00:53:54.474-08:00No junk mail please! (again)I recently visited a Royal Mail depot in Surrey. It was huge. Perhaps the size of five football pitches and with five or six large industrial sheds. It was serviced by a fleet of twenty or thirty articulated lorries.<br />
<br />
The sole purpose of this depot was to distribute junk mail.<br />
<br />
You have to work quite hard to stop receiving junk mail. Three steps. Here they are:<br />
<ol><li>"No junk mail" sticker. You can usually get these free from your council.<br />
If you live in Richmond and Twickenham <a href="http://tinyurl.com/2uhk7g3">http://tinyurl.com/2uhk7g3</a><br />
If you live in Wandsworth <a href="http://tinyurl.com/396q4js">http://tinyurl.com/396q4js</a></li>
<li>Register with the Mail Preference Service. <a href="http://www.mpsonline.org.uk/mpsr/">http://www.mpsonline.org.uk/mpsr/</a></li>
<li>The most difficult but perhaps the most important is to opt out of Royal Mail door to door deliveries. Royal Mail deliver tonnes of unaddressed mail for their clients. To opt out you must email them at <a href="mailto:optout@royalmail.com">optout@royalmail.com</a> and they will send you a form. Fill the form out and send it back. Scandalously, this will only last two years, after which the junk from Royal Mail will start reappearing, so you have to register again.</li>
</ol>And then you're done. You no longer have to pick up piles of rain-forest from your doorstep and carry it to your recycling bin.<br />
<br />
Doin't you think it's a bit scary that you have to take the above steps to avoid the default situation? With the default situation being that a huge industry toils away to deliver stuff nobody wants.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8991732159572355963.post-23745708737056066572010-12-30T10:51:00.000-08:002010-12-30T11:47:44.979-08:00A ride amongst friends.Quickerbybiker Strat has hit upon a clever attitude to commute with. Ride as though you know all the other road users.<br />
<br />
No matter how smugly self-righteous you are, it's hard to always ride absolutely without aggression, without cockiness, arrogance, impatience and intolerance.<br />
<br />
But Strat has adopted this new approach of pretending all the other road users are people he knows. That way his behaviour has consequences in that it influences opinions of himself that he's actually bothered about. He says it works and he behaves himself better now.<br />
<br />
<br />
The other thing Strat said and we talked rubbish was that motorists are not people. I think that's right too. I try to be srupulously not anti-motorists on this site but I still think it's fair comment to say that a motorist is not a person. They don't typically behave as people would, certainly not as friends would.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8991732159572355963.post-42268505640798751232010-12-24T06:07:00.000-08:002010-12-24T06:09:27.912-08:00Alas, the kit has not arrived.Hey ho. It's hardly shorts weather anyway.<br />
<br />
But I'm very sorry you lot. You've all waited very patiently having paid your money weeks and weeks ago. It's not great. Sorry. Let's hope it turns up promptly after Christmas so I can get it out to you.<br />
<br />
In the meantime, here's the best e-card I got. I don't think Howies are saints but I think they're at least in the right direction and I know for sure I'd look a lot worse if they didn't make clothes.<br />
<br />
Merry Christmas all.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.news.howies.co.uk/CmpImg/2009/8434/1087945_offoffonchristmas.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" n4="true" src="http://i.news.howies.co.uk/CmpImg/2009/8434/1087945_offoffonchristmas.gif" width="320" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8991732159572355963.post-31003905948314390332010-12-23T01:58:00.000-08:002010-12-23T01:58:56.173-08:00Top tip.I've read a few of these books now and every one has been bright and engaging and funny and has taught me loads. I can't recommend them highly enough. They're only small. Very manageable.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ukcatalogue.oup.com/images/en_US/covers/medium/9780192804426_140.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" n4="true" src="http://ukcatalogue.oup.com/images/en_US/covers/medium/9780192804426_140.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Have a look at the list of titles. Ten-to-one you find a load of subjects you think you'd be interested in. Twenty-to-one the book turns out to be more interesting than you expected. <a href="http://www.oup.co.uk/vsi">http://www.oup.co.uk/vsi</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8991732159572355963.post-70655713619614953692010-12-17T08:07:00.000-08:002010-12-17T08:07:30.510-08:00You are not stuck in traffic, you are traffic. Break free.This should have been the quickerbybike slogan.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8991732159572355963.post-76696716073673375112010-12-15T08:55:00.000-08:002010-12-15T08:55:14.739-08:00Kit order updateHello<br />
<br />
All those who ordered baggy shorts have now got them (except you Will) and from what I've heard you all love them.<br />
<br />
The lycra is the bigger order by far and I had been told to expect that on the 10th December. No sign of it yet and on chasing Endura was advised today that it will be leaving them at the end of this week.<br />
<br />
I think I'm seeing quite a few of you next Thursday so might bring it for you all to stuff down your jerseys on the way home. Otherwise it will be variously posted or hand delivered before Christmas.<br />
<br />
To that end, would any of you who have not done so please email me your preferred delivery address.<br />
<br />
Thanks for waiting.<br />
<br />
MartinUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8991732159572355963.post-58034273999921333692010-12-02T01:19:00.000-08:002010-12-02T01:19:16.783-08:00This one runs on fat.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQKglIDyNAdwY2HQujxtBr4oeIZ8M6levQDOIwRcvxOep36DhnHfioslYnfGkw8aoBUAqP4mK2O9XOJXzZM_lTeQKvX4p2HKY9hhvU1Z9RuHfZHvvhliWiAN0Lep99tC-anH5BQbmzNEvj/s1600/carvsbike.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQKglIDyNAdwY2HQujxtBr4oeIZ8M6levQDOIwRcvxOep36DhnHfioslYnfGkw8aoBUAqP4mK2O9XOJXzZM_lTeQKvX4p2HKY9hhvU1Z9RuHfZHvvhliWiAN0Lep99tC-anH5BQbmzNEvj/s320/carvsbike.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0