Search found 281 matches

by townbikemark
14 Sep 2016, 8:09pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Greetings From Munich...
Replies: 4
Views: 579

Re: Greetings From Munich...

tyreon wrote:not so many,travelling faster on faster looking machines,less inclined to be recreational riders ie they're going to/from work/university(at speed). Shopping(for the most part),seems to be out of it. The Germans travel with hubs and lights and more upright riding positions. German cycling doesn't seem to be a sportive activity(for most people). I can't seem to see them arriving in town dischevelled,sweaty.


Utility cycling. Probably the best use for a bicycle - short distance transport over short distances in fair weather. Not something widely understood in the UK currently, although it once was, if you look at 1960s and prior Raleighs.
by townbikemark
14 Sep 2016, 7:54pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Cycle Berlin: the good and the, err? designed
Replies: 3
Views: 373

Re: Cycle Berlin: the good and the, err? designed

Looks pretty tame compared to some of the stuff that's available:

http://www.ruff-cycles.com/

Funnily enough, these didn't do anything for me; I would have thought the opposite - I tend to like the unusual with next to no interest in mainstream British bikes...It may be because these things seem to be all gimmicky/for show rather than real utility/innovation. Similar to Electra which have a nice paint job but expensive and otherwise offer little in the way of differentiation over anything else - think the Dutch style one - the Townie is more expensive than a Gazelle - the real thing...
by townbikemark
14 Sep 2016, 7:31pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Britons visiting Europe to require a Visa
Replies: 79
Views: 3439

Re: Britons visiting Europe to require a Visa

I don't care - I like Germany enough to have no problem with getting a visa to visit - it's worth it.

Actually, I thought it was a bit harder to visit Europe than I'd been led to believe - there seems to be different rules for different countries - something about a schengen agreement or something...
by townbikemark
23 Aug 2016, 6:57pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Greetings From Munich...
Replies: 4
Views: 579

Greetings From Munich...

Cycling impressions:

Bike paths everywhere, but much wider streets, need to be careful and look both ways if you're a pedestrian

Heavy, well equipped, sit up and beg bikes, most with hub gears everywhere; surprising number of classic styled Dutch - mainly Gazelle; not many mountain bikes, cannot remember seeing anything with drop bars; otherwise flat bar(?) hybrids, mainly hub gears, dynamo lights, rack etc. Loads of baskets...Many filthy, not particularly well looked after - so like UK really...

Four quality bike shops in one street near me; one has electric and childrens (quality hub geared & dynamo Winora, not typical British toys), one dedicated classic/"nostalgie" as they put it, one sport - big fat tyres etc and the other misc. quality bikes including a Staiger (Swiss) 18 speed internal Pinion (first one I've seen), & fully equipped - 3699 euros...

A minority wear helmets; otherwise everyday summer clothing, sandals, flip flops esp females.

Saw my first Schindlehauer - a single speed - beautiful, but, I couldn't purchase something in that price range with aluminium welds...

When not ridden, many bikes just left freestanding in the streets with a cable lock attached.
by townbikemark
25 Jun 2016, 12:21pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Just voted? Which way did you jump?
Replies: 383
Views: 16684

Re: Just voted? Which way did you jump?

Remain

Not a great European or anything, but pragmatic - couldn't be bothered with economic upheaval. Ah, well...
by townbikemark
28 Mar 2016, 7:10pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: How did you end up with a bike collection?
Replies: 22
Views: 1037

Re: How did you end up with a bike collection?

tatanab wrote:Because they are all different.


This. I have 4. Whilst two are the same make and type, another is a retro Gazelle, bought for its own sake, whilst the other is a Brompton bought for a combination of its own sake and I wanted a folder for public transport. I've got another 15 or so I'd like to buy...
by townbikemark
5 Dec 2015, 3:29pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Corby (Corbyn) Out B4 Xmas
Replies: 296
Views: 9971

Re: Corby (Corbyn) Out B4 Xmas

Whatever the fors & againsts, I'm not convinced a handful of 1970s fighter bombers that I understand weren't exactly the bees knees when they were first introduced, nor even the latest Typhoons, now they're in service at last, dropping a few tons of high explosive would make much difference; I cannot see why the likes of Russia and the US would need our help and I think this guy (tbh - I wish WE had characters like this, who've really been there and done that, as politicians) has a point; we're trying to save money and the government decides to get into probably the most expensive thing known to mankind - modern warfare - unnecessarily...Basically, it's the 1000lb bomb/£800k Storm Shadow equivalent of turning live rounds into empty cases...

Former Republican presidential nominee John McCain said on Wednesday the extension of British military bombing into Syria would amount to "some token aircraft" that would not make "a significant difference” in the fight against the Islamic State.


http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/12 ... 99016.html
by townbikemark
18 Oct 2015, 2:20pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Aftermarket Brompton Bits That Aren't Brompton
Replies: 1
Views: 828

Aftermarket Brompton Bits That Aren't Brompton

A surf brought up all sorts - eazi wheels alternatives, shiny rear suspension shock absorbers, titanium frame clamps, that sort of thing. Much of it was American so might incur a less than attractive postage. Some of it looked rather good. Quite tempted. Anybody bought anything? What do they think?

http://www.bikegang.co.uk/#!Colour-Rear ... BA7B9DA0AD
by townbikemark
29 Sep 2015, 8:59pm
Forum: Does anyone know … ?
Topic: Calling Brompton riders
Replies: 32
Views: 3720

Re: Calling Brompton riders

I have an M3L - so, 3 speed. I would prefer more gears - it's the first bike I've had to get out of the saddle to pedal uphill...

When I have the cash I'm going to look at some of the Kinetics conversions - he does SA8, Alfine 8 & 11 and Rohloff - he claims they're simple to fit...personally I'd rather buy one complete...
by townbikemark
22 Aug 2015, 4:22pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Refreshed and Energised Labour Party
Replies: 787
Views: 29309

Re: Refreshed and Energised Labour Party

Lance Dopestrong wrote:
simonineaston wrote:Corbyn might do for Labour what Kinnock did.


Give us multiple Conservative governments in a row?


:lol:
by townbikemark
22 Aug 2015, 1:53pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Refreshed and Energised Labour Party
Replies: 787
Views: 29309

Re: Refreshed and Energised Labour Party

al_yrpal wrote:The Labour Party gave us state pensions


Liberals under Lloyd George actually, minor point, I know.
by townbikemark
22 Aug 2015, 1:48pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Refreshed and Energised Labour Party
Replies: 787
Views: 29309

Re: Refreshed and Energised Labour Party

bovlomov wrote:That's a bit simplistic. There were many other factors besides, that affected voting. The Falklands War and North Sea oil, for two. Not everything should be interpreted through a left/right lens


But the biggie had to be the 1983 Labour manifesto, labelled "the longest suicide note in history", by Gerald Kaufman. Besides, Maggie was just one example, it's been every election since - the other 32 years...

As I said, you have not much idea about what the majority of the electorate want. You are guessing.


Seems the Labour party pre and post Blair didn't/don't either - because they keep losing...Whilst the past is not necessarily a guide to the future, UK politics over the past 36 years seems to be a more reliable guide than hoping huge numbers that don't vote will come out of the woodwork to vote for a far left party just because it's different. I suspect part of the appeal of JC is the novelty; when he's subject to scrutiny, that appeal will fade.
by townbikemark
22 Aug 2015, 9:05am
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Does anyone else get turned off by long rambling posts?
Replies: 57
Views: 5693

Re: Does anyone else get turned off by long rambling posts?

bikepacker wrote:Many such posts turn me off and I can’t be bothered to read them. Is this just me or do any of you feel the same? Some contributors indulge in what has been described as; literal diarrhea

One of the skills I tried to instil in my employees was; not to use six words when one will do.


Seems to be a sign of the times, as does stating the obvious. Could be a bit of narcissism too - lots of people talk at you, not to you whilst seemingly ignoring anything you have to say.
by townbikemark
22 Aug 2015, 8:15am
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Refreshed and Energised Labour Party
Replies: 787
Views: 29309

Re: Refreshed and Energised Labour Party

bovlomov wrote:Finally, you seem very certain that under Corbyn Labour would get hammered at the next general election, but really it's just a guess. We have no idea


The past 36 years give a good indication and I'm happy with that for now...for example, I struggle to understand why some seem to think that the reason Margaret Thatcher won 3 elections in a row, was because the electorate thought the Labour Party weren't left wing enough, so they voted for Maggie instead...

A few weeks ago Corbyn was just a make-weight, nominated to give the process the veneer of choice. It turns out that he is more popular than anyone predicted


Reminds me of Russell Brand - popular amongst a comparatively tiny, but highly vocal section of the population who can't and won't accept that they're out of touch with what the majority of the electorate want and the way that the world works...It's one thing to like someone because of their principles, it's another to like the possible consequences were that individual to be in charge - to paraphrase Kissinger (IIRC), you can be as radical as you like on the campus or civic hall because the stakes are so low...
by townbikemark
21 Aug 2015, 11:18pm
Forum: The Tea Shop
Topic: Refreshed and Energised Labour Party
Replies: 787
Views: 29309

Re: Refreshed and Energised Labour Party

PH wrote:By it's very definition an opposition has to oppose


A very weak opposition is no opposition...

And who's to say how people would vote? A bit of history might shake your opinion. You could start by looking at Attlee's 1945 landslide victory, do you think you would have predicted that? Or if you don't want to go so far back, who would have predicted the SNP getting 56 out of 59 seats?


A lot more history seems to confirm my opinion as well as the main result 3 1/2 months ago which wasn't that predictable either...