"The man who never misses has officially missed": Adrian Chiles claims expensive cargo bikes are a "new kind of class politics"; Foul-mouthed rant at cyclist not using cycle lane... but public sticks up for rider + more on the live blog

Are the cats second hand too?

SimoninSpalding wrote:

Are the cats second hand too?

Oooo - Oxford Comma Wars! 

SimoninSpalding wrote:

Are the cats second hand too?

Can someone own a cat in the first place?

Not IME

SimoninSpalding wrote:

Are the cats second hand too?

If they're road cats, they probably aren't new - if they're feral and have never had a previous owner, I suppose they aren't second hand.

SimoninSpalding wrote:

Are the cats second hand too?

Probably third or fourth hand - the little buggers will live in however many houses they can find, where somebody feeds them

holtyboy wrote:

Uninformed man who hasn't bought bike in years finds that bikes for transport are not toys. Coming next, an article that expresses shock at £35k starting price for an electric car.

I think that's the thing: many people who don't ride a bike, or who own a Halfords BSO which does circles at Centre Parcs once a year, have no idea how much a decent bike costs.  Or even a not decent bike.

Or the joy in how a good bike can ride.

How good brakes can really be. And gears. The acceleration and speed.

The way that when you and your trusty bicycle are truly one, that you can almost control it with thought...

Why not a trailer, most of the capacity for under £100?

Good question. In my case: (1) although I would use a cargo bike to take a fridge to the tip just because I could, my usual 'cargo' is a child. I'm instinctively uneasy about having them low down behind me, and they are also already officially too heavy for e.g. Burley trailers (rated to 18kg per child). (2) I think cargo bikes are really cool. Although I'm self aware, I still I have a weakness for buying what I want rather than what I strictly need...     

quiff wrote:

I still I have a weakness for buying what I want rather than what I strictly need...

It sounds to me like you should just get yourself the cargo bike. Is approval from a stranger on the internet sufficient to push you over the edge on that decision? If it is, you have it.

It's where I source approval for most of my buying decisions. I am weighing up treating myself to one as a semi-sensible present to self for a significant birthday. Either that or a Fairlight Strael because it's purple.   

I am building a new gravel/ commuter using a Ragley Trig frame. I can give all sorts of reasons why I chose it (steel, full carbon fork, clearance, mudguard mounts etc.) but really the main reason was that it was purple (and I couldn't afford a Strael).

As I already have a Mason Definition which is in many ways very similar and which I don't really want to part with, it's quite hard to make a case for a Strael too. But did I mention it's purple?

Same. The roads here are lacking in cycle routes and being quite rural in places are such that something the size of a cargo bike would be stuck in traffic as much as a car. Public transport is poor to the point a car is still necessary for many journeys. I get more use out of a combination of my gravel bike with a pannier and brrompton. Both of which has allowed me to reduce the number of car journeys.

It's never going to be a one size fits all though, I think a lot of people forget there is big difference in cycling in somewhere like London and other big towns/cities, to towns and villages further out.

If it's just the one child can I recommend a kiddyback tandem? Something like a Helios is fine from 3.5 years if my experience is anything to go by. Significantly faster and less hassle than a cargo bike (again, based on my own experience).
The thing cargo bikes are really good for is taking small kids out on longer rides on their own bike. I used to ride my big basket type one out as far as my 5-7 year old's legs would carry him, then pop him and bike in the basket and ride back. Harder with a tandem but for ease of doing school run and for having a bike which feels more like a bike than a boat, it's fantastic.

quiff wrote:

I'm a bit conflicted on cargo bikes. I really want one for the ability to do extra stuff by bike that I might now do by car, but I'm a bit concerned that *in my case* it is just a case of N+1 and would be the bike equivalent of buying an SUV - excessive for most trips. It's unlikely we would sell our car, so I recognise myself in the Chiles piece (even if it doesn't really seem to have a point).       

I'm probably in the same position as you.  But we're hitting the point where our children need ferrying in different directions, so I'm kind of in the place that if we thought we might consider a second car, I'd go for a cargo bike instead.

As someone who's been riding a cargo bike on an (almost) daily basis for almost ten years, I'd say go for it. I'd wanted one for a while, but found it hard to justify the cost. I was unfortunate enough to get hit by a car on a roundabout and got a broken ankle out of it, but the insurance payout from that gave me the opportunity to buy my Bullitt. If I'd known before what I now know about how useful it is, I'd have found a way to get one. It depends on what model you get, but certainly the Bullitt rides very similarly to a normal bike. I bought it expecting that I'd only use it when I needed the extra capacity and would ride another bike most of the time, but I quickly found myself using it as my daily ride. I'm normally carrying something when I ride, even if it's just my bag for work, and I really appreciate never needing to worry about what I need to carry. Plus they're really fun bikes to ride.

Thanks. A Bullitt is what my heart wants, but wonder if it might not be the friendliest for my wife to ride. I might spin this out into a thread on the forum...

quiff wrote:

Thanks. A Bullitt is what my heart wants, but wonder if it might not be the friendliest for my wife to ride. I might spin this out into a thread on the forum...

Sounds to me like you actually might need two cargo bikes...

I went into a Rutland Cycling store in Nottingham last week looking for a saddle for my partners new second hand bike. You had to look rather hard at the back to find bikes in the £500 to £600 pound range, or find a decent bicycle saddle for much less than the price we had paid for a very serviceable second hand bike. Its no surprise people get a rather distorted view of the cycling community when they walk past such shops or casually enter them. They do seem rather more akin to Park Lane car dealerships than the bikeshops of old.

True that.

Fortunately my arse has always been comfortable on a Charge Spoon (which never cost me more than about £25 til they were discontinued,) & I have several still in use & going strong.  I may have to sell one of my kidneys when I need to acquire a new saddle....

Still seem to be able to buy them - for £19.99.

Tredz have them at £20.99 with a further 10% off if you're inclined to increase your stockpile.