Comments on: Mike Hoffman’s take on the Seattle International Bike Expo http://austinontwowheels.org/2009/04/11/mike-hoffmans-take-on-the-seattle-international-bike-expo/ The Online Magazine of Austin Cycling Culture Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:04:53 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Mike Hoffman http://austinontwowheels.org/2009/04/11/mike-hoffmans-take-on-the-seattle-international-bike-expo/comment-page-1/#comment-2893 Mike Hoffman Sun, 19 Apr 2009 08:18:12 +0000 http://austinontwowheels.org/?p=5329#comment-2893 Correction -- I wrote "I met the L.A. company that reconstructs new Flying Pigeon bikes — a great idea." This was actually the Joe Bike company. http://www.joe-bike.com I wrote "a trend that is accomodationist (to car culture’s predominance) rather than leading in the direction of a bike revolution." Three recent books advocate a bike revolution: Pedal Power: The Quiet Rise of the Bicycle in American Public Life, by J. Harry Wray, http://www.amazon.com/o/asin/1594514631/ Jan 31, 2008 Pedaling Revolution: How Cyclists Are Changing American Cities, by Jeff Mapes, http://www.amazon.com/o/asin/0870714198/ March 1, 2009 The Cyclist's Manifesto: The Case for Riding on Two Wheels Instead of Four, by Robert Hurst, http://www.amazon.com/o/asin/0762751282/ May 5, 2009 Correction — I wrote “I met the L.A. company that reconstructs new Flying Pigeon bikes — a great idea.” This was actually the Joe Bike company. http://www.joe-bike.com

I wrote “a trend that is accomodationist (to car culture’s predominance) rather than leading in the direction of a bike revolution.” Three recent books advocate a bike revolution:

Pedal Power: The Quiet Rise of the Bicycle in American Public Life, by J. Harry Wray, http://www.amazon.com/o/asin/1594514631/ Jan 31, 2008

Pedaling Revolution: How Cyclists Are Changing American Cities, by Jeff Mapes, http://www.amazon.com/o/asin/0870714198/ March 1, 2009

The Cyclist’s Manifesto: The Case for Riding on Two Wheels Instead of Four, by Robert Hurst, http://www.amazon.com/o/asin/0762751282/ May 5, 2009

]]> By: Mike Hoffman http://austinontwowheels.org/2009/04/11/mike-hoffmans-take-on-the-seattle-international-bike-expo/comment-page-1/#comment-2891 Mike Hoffman Sun, 19 Apr 2009 07:43:54 +0000 http://austinontwowheels.org/?p=5329#comment-2891 I wrote "There was a beautiful Danish brand of European city bikes available with shaft drive or with chain and a beautiful Art Deco cutout large all-around chainguard (not a chaincase), and mini-bungee skirtguard." The brand is Viva Bikes. http://www.vivabikes.com I have in mind the juliette models, which are a step-through frame. But I'd like to see an XXL 65 cm (25") step-through frame, with an LED dynohub, an Alfine or Premium Nexus 8-speed hub gear, and a black wire mesh basket. I wrote "Dynamic brand also showed shaft drive, but with no chaincase, too-flat handlebars (not angled back), and no built-in lighting system." Strike "no chaincase, " -- I wrote that out of habit, but it's not applicable to a shaft drive. http://www.dynamicbicycles.com A shaft drive seems like a natural fit for an internally geared hub, and would avoid the chain noisily banging against a plastic chaincase, as happens with contemporary-styled European city bikes when going over bumps. A shaft drive with hub gear would be quieter than a freewheel during coasting, or a hard-plastic type of chaincase during bumps. A shaft drive is slightly less efficient than a chain, and a hub gear is less efficient than a gear cluster and derailleur. Dynamic's shaft drive is supposed to last about as long as a hub gear's ideal duration. A shaft drive is slightly heavier than a chain system. I wrote “There was a beautiful Danish brand of European city bikes available with shaft drive or with chain and a beautiful Art Deco cutout large all-around chainguard (not a chaincase), and mini-bungee skirtguard.” The brand is Viva Bikes. http://www.vivabikes.com I have in mind the juliette models, which are a step-through frame. But I’d like to see an XXL 65 cm (25″) step-through frame, with an LED dynohub, an Alfine or Premium Nexus 8-speed hub gear, and a black wire mesh basket.

I wrote “Dynamic brand also showed shaft drive, but with no chaincase, too-flat handlebars (not angled back), and no built-in lighting system.” Strike “no chaincase, ” — I wrote that out of habit, but it’s not applicable to a shaft drive. http://www.dynamicbicycles.com A shaft drive seems like a natural fit for an internally geared hub, and would avoid the chain noisily banging against a plastic chaincase, as happens with contemporary-styled European city bikes when going over bumps. A shaft drive with hub gear would be quieter than a freewheel during coasting, or a hard-plastic type of chaincase during bumps. A shaft drive is slightly less efficient than a chain, and a hub gear is less efficient than a gear cluster and derailleur. Dynamic’s shaft drive is supposed to last about as long as a hub gear’s ideal duration. A shaft drive is slightly heavier than a chain system.

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