Had to look twice, but have now seen him several times.
A chap, fairly normal looking if a little ragged around the edges (but who am I to talk). On an MTB, again fairly normal looking cheap but perfectly serviceable MTB.
But he's sat bolt upright as though he is riding a Dutch roadster. Problem is that like this he can't reach the bars. Solution - he has reins on it: two pieces of cord, about 1ft long each, from the ends of the handle bars to his hands. And he rides around looking a bit like John Wayne. Only seen him riding across the pavement/ car park by Sainsburys so far - will be interesting to see how he handles being on a busy road. I assume that he does it because he has a back problem, but of the possible solutions it's not the one that I'd go for straight off!
Reins
Re: Reins
Its what you get for watching too many cowboy films 
Have you heard him shout "aye ho silver away!"? for the braking perhaps he shouts "wow big fella"
PS does he wear a mask!
Have you heard him shout "aye ho silver away!"? for the braking perhaps he shouts "wow big fella"
PS does he wear a mask!
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"All we are not stares back at what we are"
W H Auden
"All we are not stares back at what we are"
W H Auden
Re: Reins
snibgo wrote:Yikes. I suppose signalling and braking would be out of the question.
He'll be fine so long as he drives a BMW. They seem to do neither.
"I thought of that while riding my bike." -Albert Einstein, on the Theory of Relativity
2007 ICE QNT
2008 Hase Kettwiesel AL27
2011 Catrike Trail
1951 engine
2007 ICE QNT
2008 Hase Kettwiesel AL27
2011 Catrike Trail
1951 engine
Re: Reins
gilesjuk wrote:Surely he would be better just turning the stem around 180 degrees. The handling would be tricky but has to be better than using reins.
Yes, but I guess that he, like many people who use a bike but don't see themselves as 'cyclists', views the bike as a single unit - you use it like it came out the box and altering things on it is left to beardy lycra wearing geeks
Re: Reins
Video proof!! We must have video proof! 
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thirdcrank
- Posts: 36780
- Joined: 9 Jan 2007, 2:44pm
Re: Reins
It must be quite difficult to do consistently well - much harder than riding no-hands. It must also be difficult to do for any length of time because the whole bodyweight is on the saddle rather than being shared with the bars. Apart from the obvious suggestions of a coaster brake or even fixed, the obvious way to manage to stop is to go very slowly and just put a foot or both feet down. Horse riders can signal OK but holding both reins in one hand might be a problem. 
Re: Reins
downfader wrote:Video proof!! We must have video proof!
Send me your camera and I'll get it
Re: Reins
Si wrote:downfader wrote:Video proof!! We must have video proof!
Send me your camera and I'll get it
Nice try. I've yet to wipe the naked pictures of myself from it.
Re: Reins
Saw him again yesterday, or rather his bike locked up outside the betting shop. It's a little more sophisticated than I thought: the cords that act as reins have corks on the ends to improve grip and comfort no doubt!