Everyone warned me about the bikes in Amsterdam when I went to visit. When I got there and stepped outside for the first time, oh yeah the bike lane is painted a different colour to the pavement so I will walk on the pavement bit. Hang on, how the fuck do people struggle with this?
I have some sympathy here for the tourists. You know how you can identify a tourist very easily? They are looking upward or even pointing upward while looking upward. The walking goes on automatic as the slightly tilted facades and red windows draw attention. Difficult to see the color of the fietspad if you aren’t ever looking downward.
They aren’t easier to maintain at all, the exact opposite is true. Most bicycle shops refuse to even service them because they are of such bad quality and the parts are not available. They are very unsafe (brakes failing, things like that).
Larger surface area surely increases the risk as there is more area that could run over glass shards.
I have 700x35, or 38, can’t remember. Had 1 flat on the front wheel in the entire lifespan of the outer tread. Second outer tyre now and nothing so far.
i’ve got 20 and 24 inchers and i live in goats head country. i cannot keep them inflated for the life of me. I am this close to just putting solid rubber blocks on my wheels
Marathon plus touring tyres is what I use and it isn’t far off solid rubber blocks. But with the amount of broken glass on my commute its probably worth it.
i’ve got those tannis inserts and i somehow got a flat directly through the thick part of the insert last month. i blame my vile sister in law who was visiting. my wife’s bike got a flat while we weren’t riding somehow too.
ps my cat says t n mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
pps i really should have gotten y’all’s input before buying generic orange tyres last week. they’re orange tho!
Meaning more surface area to hit something sharp. Yeah the larger area means lower pressure on the contact surface but I don’t think that’s the deciding factor in whether something punctures your tire. Best way to prevent punctures is tougher tires rather than larger ones. The lower pressure just helps with stuff like loose gravel or sand.
There are also puncture self repairing tires now. They have a gel like layer on the inside which gets pushed out into the hole sealing it. I have them and haven’t had a flat in over 5 years.
Then get one at the black market because then you pay what they are worth. Also, they are perfect if you like to maintain your bike, as you have to do it often. They break down often, especially breaks. Easy to maintain? No. Lots of sensor errors, software issues, etc. It’s fancy looking (well, I find them ugly AF) Chinese junk which have increased accidents exponentially since they arrived on the market. Next to that they are getting banned now, with Amsterdam as a first banning them at certain places. They also want to change regulations to make helmets mandatory for them and raise the minimum age.
Want an electric bike? Get a non-smart one. No Vanmoof or anything like that. They are junk (I had one, they are awful and insanely overpriced).
Best advice I can give you is a Gazelle or similar brand, with a Bosch middle motor (so not in the wheels, as they suck). They are easy to maintain, don’t have weird electronics hidden in impossible places, no smart mullshit which requires an app or the bike won’t work, normal commercial off the shelf parts you can get anywhere.
Fuckin’ tourists. Get off the fietspad! And I wish they would just say no e-bikes for under-16.
Everyone warned me about the bikes in Amsterdam when I went to visit. When I got there and stepped outside for the first time, oh yeah the bike lane is painted a different colour to the pavement so I will walk on the pavement bit. Hang on, how the fuck do people struggle with this?
I have some sympathy here for the tourists. You know how you can identify a tourist very easily? They are looking upward or even pointing upward while looking upward. The walking goes on automatic as the slightly tilted facades and red windows draw attention. Difficult to see the color of the fietspad if you aren’t ever looking downward.
Yeah, plus no fat bikes at all!
Why no fat tires? I’m thinking about getting some just because they look easier to maintain
They aren’t easier to maintain at all, the exact opposite is true. Most bicycle shops refuse to even service them because they are of such bad quality and the parts are not available. They are very unsafe (brakes failing, things like that).
why would they be easier to maintain?
Because they should get fewer flats. Larger surface area and all that.
Larger surface area surely increases the risk as there is more area that could run over glass shards.
I have 700x35, or 38, can’t remember. Had 1 flat on the front wheel in the entire lifespan of the outer tread. Second outer tyre now and nothing so far.
i’ve got 20 and 24 inchers and i live in goats head country. i cannot keep them inflated for the life of me. I am this close to just putting solid rubber blocks on my wheels
Marathon plus touring tyres is what I use and it isn’t far off solid rubber blocks. But with the amount of broken glass on my commute its probably worth it.
i’ve got those tannis inserts and i somehow got a flat directly through the thick part of the insert last month. i blame my vile sister in law who was visiting. my wife’s bike got a flat while we weren’t riding somehow too.
ps my cat says t n mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
pps i really should have gotten y’all’s input before buying generic orange tyres last week. they’re orange tho!
That mKes it more likely to get flats though.
Meaning more surface area to hit something sharp. Yeah the larger area means lower pressure on the contact surface but I don’t think that’s the deciding factor in whether something punctures your tire. Best way to prevent punctures is tougher tires rather than larger ones. The lower pressure just helps with stuff like loose gravel or sand.
There are also puncture self repairing tires now. They have a gel like layer on the inside which gets pushed out into the hole sealing it. I have them and haven’t had a flat in over 5 years.
That is what happens after the puncture, though. Doesn’t really change anything about what I said. But if that works for you, that’s good.
Oh no, I totally agree with you, it was just a tip in addition, I wasn’t arguing what you said.
Then get one at the black market because then you pay what they are worth. Also, they are perfect if you like to maintain your bike, as you have to do it often. They break down often, especially breaks. Easy to maintain? No. Lots of sensor errors, software issues, etc. It’s fancy looking (well, I find them ugly AF) Chinese junk which have increased accidents exponentially since they arrived on the market. Next to that they are getting banned now, with Amsterdam as a first banning them at certain places. They also want to change regulations to make helmets mandatory for them and raise the minimum age.
Want an electric bike? Get a non-smart one. No Vanmoof or anything like that. They are junk (I had one, they are awful and insanely overpriced).
Best advice I can give you is a Gazelle or similar brand, with a Bosch middle motor (so not in the wheels, as they suck). They are easy to maintain, don’t have weird electronics hidden in impossible places, no smart mullshit which requires an app or the bike won’t work, normal commercial off the shelf parts you can get anywhere.