Why are cycle hire bikes so heavy?

[gaz]

A pro BMX rider puts the boris bike through it's paces

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/new...ey-puts-the-Boris-bike-through-its-paces.html

 

[Fiona N]

Looks like hard work

 

[Paulus]

Another piece of cheap journalism. It would be like asking Vicky Pendleton to test one around the velodrome and asking her if it compared to her normal track bike. The rental bikes are designed to a job around the town not to be ridden like a BMX and do tricks on. They are functional.

 

[stowie]

Why are cycle hire bikes so heavy? To stop people doing stunts on them like a BMX?

 

[vikingcyclist]

Another piece of cheap journalism. It would be like asking Vicky Pendleton to test one around the velodrome and asking her if it compared to her normal track bike. The rental bikes are designed to a job around the town not to be ridden like a BMX and do tricks on. They are functional.

They do comment that it bodes well for the bike's durability in London. All I want to know is are they heavy enough to take on taxis?

Well, that and where the extra 4 000 bikes in Paris were stolen from.

 

[walker]

because they are made on the cheap, cheap metals are generally heavy

 

[dellzeqq]

they're not that cheap.

They're heavy in part because they don't have a crossbar, and, in part, because they have chainguards and wheelguards and wheelrims that you could crush children with. And, as I keep on saying, a cheap hybrid would be a better ride, have more room for luggage and would have been, well, cheaper.

Having said that............EVERY person riding one of these bikes that I have asked (and I have asked a lot of people) says that they're enjoying every minute of it. So, fair dos. It's not about the bike after all.

 

[ianrauk]

they're not that cheap.

They're heavy in part because they don't have a crossbar, and, in part, because they have chainguards and wheelguards and wheelrims that you could crush children with. And, as I keep on saying, a cheap hybrid would be a better ride, have more room for luggage and would have been, well, cheaper.

Having said that............EVERY person riding one of these bikes that I have asked (and I have asked a lot of people) says that they're enjoying every minute of it. So, fair dos. It's not about the bike after all.

But, hey! Let's not stop knocking them just for the sake of it anyway,

 

[dellzeqq]

I saw three waiting together at traffic lights going north on Farringdon Road on Monday evening. The came to a stop, looked around, noticed each other and started chatting, grinning like loons. A fair recommendation.

 

[marinyork]

Whilst the weight isn't ideal, you can get away with it somewhere flat like London. You'd have thought that if it was a killer blow people all over would be complaining about it on the internet swearing blind they'll never go on one again. People seem to enjoy it.

 

[vikingcyclist]

I've just discovered that I need to spend a week in London next month for work. I'll be picking up one of the key things and hiring one of these for the week to get around if there are any available near me.

 

[moralcrusader]

Check the small print first chap - long term hire is expensive!

I've been using Borises on those occasions when the weather/meetings/can't-be-arsedishness preculde me from cycling in all the way. I've come to the conclusion that the whole system has been designed for short trips only, which is brilliant - the hire rates are a financial incentive to only make short trips and the weight, ride and gearing of the bikes are in no way designed for long term use.

That said, I'd like to see how a team on Borises would get on doing the London to Brighton or somesuch. Ditchling Beacon would be a bitch...