Last month I did something I’ve never done before. I went for a bike ride with my Dad. Without going all mushy on you, I must say it was very cool. I was riding. A bike. With my Dad.
Okay, I’ll stop now.
This is probably the first time dad owned a bike in about fifteen years. I vaguely remember the last one being a Dawes tourer with drop handlebars which spent all its time at the back of the garage because my Dad’s back didn’t like the riding position any more.
The new bike is a Claud Butler commuter bike you could ride with a ruler down your back. It has seven gears hidden away in the hub: York is a reasonably flat city, so that’s probably all the gears most people need. No lights though: I don’t know why but UK based bike companies don’t seem to have heard of dynamos. Very odd. The lock is just small enough to fit in the frame but it’s a bit of a pain to get out.
I was riding on a lilac ladies bike with wobbly pedals and three gears. Fortunately no pictures exist of me doing this.
4 comments
Comments feed for this article
September 8, 2010 at 4:54 pm
Cycling For Beginners
Here in the U.S. it also seems most bike companies don’t make use of dynamos. Actually, very few bikes here come with chain-guards, fenders or racks either. I believe that is starting to change, but slowly, very slowly.
Best,
Rob
September 9, 2010 at 6:16 pm
Andy in Germany
Thanks for the comment Rob… I know what you mean: I think bike manufacturers in the UK and US gave up on transport bikes as cars dominated so it’s harder to get one now if you want one. Fortunately Germany is a bit more enlightened that way so a bike theoretically has to have dynamo lights and mudguards as standard if it’s to be sold as a road bike.
September 9, 2010 at 8:28 pm
Cycling For Beginners
Hi Andy,
I didn’t realize you were in Germany. I have a question: I have family touring Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic now, and I was wondering whether there were any neat cycling accessories I should ask them to pick up (that wouldn’t be available in the States). Would you happen to have any ideas?
Best,
Rob
September 10, 2010 at 5:47 pm
Andy in Germany
Nothing springs to mind I’m afraid, even though loads of bike parts are mare here and in eastern Europe. Personally I don’t mind getting mundane things and bringing them home: I know where they come from if no-one else does.