So we bought some new bikes this week. I added somewhere in the neighborhood of 100 bikes to the stable. Parking is a problem so I leave them locked up all around town :) Seriously. Boulder Bcycle is here. Now what is a guy like me with as many bikes as I have doing buying membership into a community bike system? Well, I really believe in it even if I'm rarely without a bike. I'm impressed with the system. It's easy. It's pretty foolproof. It's neat to have bikes all around that you can use on the spur of the moment. Today at lunch I was out for a walk/hike and 45 minutes in I walked past a station and figured it was a heck of a nice day for a ride so out came the card and away I went for a nice spin. I dropped the bike at another station and walked back through downtown to the office and heck if I didn't have a good time. Interestingly enough I've had a chance to test out a new porteur rack as part of the deal. Every Bcycle has a sturdy basket/rack on the front rated to 20lbs. I throw 20 lbs into my Wald wire basket (not quite a stable as I'd like but I do it) so I'm sure you could put quite a bit more in these but I doubt most people would be used to that weight up front. I carried a can of paint home yesterday in one. The first day I used on I threw the backpack in like I do on my bike. Besides being more stable it rode about the same which I find interesting. At lunch today I threw in my shirt and phone which is probably more like they intend.
Lessons learned? My Wald needs some stabilizers. The paint can would have thrown it for a loop like the flat of cat food did. The problem with the Wald is that 1) it's wire and inherently flexy and 2) the connection to the bike is really in three independent places. The two stays that go to the front fork just hold it up and the handlebar straps keep it somewhat in place. I think a simple U shaped brace that attaches to the brake/fender bolt that then attached to the front underside corners of the basket would make it far more stable. I'll have to try it sometime. For now I'm having fun leaving the bike at home and snagging a Bcycle as needed. There is a station three blocks from my house and one from my office. Pretty darn convenient. On days I need to grab the bus at the end of the day I ride a Bcycle to work and then don't have to worry about space on the bus rack! Nice. Join up and enjoy the bikes!
Boulder B-Cycle
Lessons learned? My Wald needs some stabilizers. The paint can would have thrown it for a loop like the flat of cat food did. The problem with the Wald is that 1) it's wire and inherently flexy and 2) the connection to the bike is really in three independent places. The two stays that go to the front fork just hold it up and the handlebar straps keep it somewhat in place. I think a simple U shaped brace that attaches to the brake/fender bolt that then attached to the front underside corners of the basket would make it far more stable. I'll have to try it sometime. For now I'm having fun leaving the bike at home and snagging a Bcycle as needed. There is a station three blocks from my house and one from my office. Pretty darn convenient. On days I need to grab the bus at the end of the day I ride a Bcycle to work and then don't have to worry about space on the bus rack! Nice. Join up and enjoy the bikes! Boulder B-Cycle
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