First time on a Boris bike

[MrHappyCyclist]

Rarely get down to the Metropolis, so decided to try a Boris bike. Well ... interesting.

Convenient and saved me from walking a coupld of miles on the arthritic hip, but it rides pretty much as it looks. Also, the rear tyre was very soft, gears kept auto-changing and skipping and it was almost impossible to get 2nd, heel kept catching on the folded stand.

Is this just how it is, or was I unlucky?

 

[Pottsy]

I think you were a bit unlucky there. Generally I check the tyres at least are well pumped up before I take one out, as long as there's more than one to choose of course.
The gears can vary but normally seem ok, with a bit of a knack to getting them to work at their best. I've never had an issue with my heel catching anything.

 

[BentMikey]

Wish you'd said, might have been able to meet up!

 

[MrHappyCyclist]

Wish you'd said, might have been able to meet up!

Aw, didn't think of that. To be honest its was just a flying visit, and I did meet up with an old school friend last night. Maybe next time; I do get here occasionally.

 

[gaz]

I was in central London as well today.

Did you report the bike as damaged when you re-docked it?

 

[MrHappyCyclist]

Did you report the bike as damaged when you re-docked it?

Oh, didn't know I could do that. Damn.

 

[wiggydiggy]

Ive enjoyed my limited time on them, think you were just unlucky TBH Much more convenient than taking my own bike with me whenever I visit London

 

[daSmirnov]

I think we need to form a Boris biker helmet camera cycling gang.

 

[Tynan]

some of them are getting creaky now, soft tyres, bottom brackets grinding, brakes dodgy

there's always a trickle of new, refurbed ones and its well worth being picky, nice clear numbers on the seatpoost is a good clue

a mint one is alright, a tired one not so much but it's not like you;re ever going a long way in a hurry, I've nursed some right bangers along sometimes, at one point I reported three out of four, including one I refused to ride, bent pedal

I'm yet so see anything in Central Londn that needed anything other than the third gear

 

[gaz]

I'm yet so see anything in Central Londn that needed anything other than the third gear

Hmmm.. I don't think i've ever used 3rd gear. Generally because i'm in a suit when on a boris bike and the last thing I want is to get sweaty.

 

[ComedyPilot]

Could a group of that-way-out people effectively render a BB station redundant, by taking all the bikes to a BB station somewhere else - and then going back to make sure no more are left there?

Seen a piece on MP's having their own station, and think it could be a security risk for our valued leaders.

 

[gaz]

Could a group of that-way-out people effectively render a BB station redundant, by taking all the bikes to a BB station somewhere else - and then going back to make sure no more are left there?

Seen a piece on MP's having their own station, and think it could be a security risk for our valued leaders.

They load balance them, so if there aren't any at one station and another station is full, they will pick up some at the full station and move them to the empty one.

It will work for however long it takes them to move the bikes around.

 

[ComedyPilot]

oh.............

 

[wiggydiggy]

Who says all banker are bad

200-mile bike ride in less than 24 hours on a Boris

http://www.cityam.com/opportunity-international/lloyds-trader-boris-bike-and-the-appeal

Hats off to him lol

 

[Tynan]

Hmmm.. I don't think i've ever used 3rd gear. Generally because i'm in a suit when on a boris bike and the last thing I want is to get sweaty.

whereas I like to get there before bedtime, god knows they're slow enough even in the third gear