Re: Thoughts on industrial design

Catrike Ryder <Soloman@old.bikers.org> wrote:

On 30 Apr 2025 21:08:03 GMT, Roger Merriman <roger@sarlet.com> wrote:
 

Frank Krygowski <frkrygow@sbcglobal.net> wrote:

On 4/30/2025 3:10 AM, Wolfgang Strobl wrote:

Am Tue, 29 Apr 2025 16:27:05 -0400 schrieb Frank Krygowski
<frkrygow@sbcglobal.net>:

I've
gotten slower as I've aged, and I think I may be the oldest among those
I normally ride with; but I'm among the faster members of the usual
group. Maybe the key is choosing the proper group to ride with!

 
I don't do group riding, never did. Most people in Germany don't.  The
bicycle is mostly a means of transport, for us. 

 
I just finished another club ride, with a snack afterward. Definitely a
social situation, with lots of conversation. A beautiful day, nice roads
in rural territory, very pleasant. I think there were 13 people on the ride.
 
These rides make up the bulk of annual riding for almost all members of
our club. The group on this ride were almost all retirees, and it seems
to be their main form of recreation. I'm unusual in that I have other
outdoor activities I also do regularly.
 
I'm even more unusual in that I do use my bikes for utility purposes -
transportation to the grocery or other stores, the library, friends'
houses, etc. and in the past, transportation to work. This is so unusual
here that it draws comments from other cyclists and has triggered my
being interviewed by news outlets!
 
America is different from Germany.
 

North America is to be very car centric, other places while they absolutely
have cars, they never went to the same extent, hence while my work
colleagues might of noted the distance I commute, I’d also really not get
into any news outlets as it’s just a non story.
 
I tend to predominately use my bike for leisure bar the commute, but then
London is quite walkable.
 
for example I dropped a bike off at the bike stop yesterday for some
fettling, sat in the cafe to have lunch next to the hairdressers and dry
cleaners. With the pharmacy and bakers opposite, today after some garden
work I again walked to the small supermarket and on way back sat in the
cafe for a short while watching the world go by.
 
There is a bigger shopping “town” centre a quick bus/train trip away if I
need something there or just want to have a wander.
 
I will need to take the car to go to see a film at the cinema or rather
it’s more convenient to do so, as occasionally is the way with living on
the edge of london.
 
Roger Merriman
 

 
I've never done a group ride and I never will. My rides are strictly
recreation these days and I always ride solo. The only other persons
I've ever ridden with are my wife, my kids, and grandkids. I hate
following, being followed, or have another rider beside me. I've had
people ask to ride with me but I explain that neither of us would like
that. Back when I rode faster I had people draft me but if I couldn't
drop them, I slow down or stop.

Club riders are relatively low % of cyclists I’d assume everywhere, it’s
more of roadie thing for fairly good reasons.

Folks drafting that you don’t know, I’m not wild on either nor is it a
uncommon emotion, it’s not as bad as motorist tailgating in terms of risks,
in that if they do touch your rear wheel it’s far more likely that they
will crash than you would this said did have to rescue my wife once as some
joker (with no brakes!) had drafted her to the park entrance as she stopped
as expected, to pass though his bike managed to trash her bikes rear mech!

 
I tried biking to the grocery and I bought a nice Topeak basket for
the Catrike, but it was not to my liking. I did it a couple of times
and now the basket is on the shelf full of parts and stuff. I try to
get in a ride every five days or so, but I have many other projects to
attend to.

I don’t tend to either as well it’s easier on foot, as and when I’m doing
other stuff on foot. And much less faff.

 
I've been doing 50 miles. My last ride in 90+ heat really wore me
down, so I may do less tomorrow.

Potentially might hit that tomorrow in London though fatigue dependant I’m
hoping on a ride on the MTB on the ridgeway which if I can would be lovely
plus test out new pedals.

Should be bit lower there though very little cover though I will stop at
Weylands Smithy for a sit in the shade and a bar.

<https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/waylands-smithy/>

 
--
C'est bon
Soloman
 

Roger Merriman