Comments on: ACCC ruins Surly Steamroller: Fixed gear no longer hip http://ozsoapbox.com/cycling/accc-ruins-surly-steamroller-fixed-gear-no-longer-hip/ because criticism isn't an armchair sport Thu, 17 May 2012 07:30:33 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: HAH! http://ozsoapbox.com/cycling/accc-ruins-surly-steamroller-fixed-gear-no-longer-hip/#comment-19187 HAH! Wed, 13 Oct 2010 05:18:44 +0000 http://ozsoapbox.com/?p=4016#comment-19187 Hey! I recognise that douche from newtown... Hey! I recognise that douche from newtown…

]]> By: Michael Baxter http://ozsoapbox.com/cycling/accc-ruins-surly-steamroller-fixed-gear-no-longer-hip/#comment-15449 Michael Baxter Wed, 23 Jun 2010 14:32:10 +0000 http://ozsoapbox.com/?p=4016#comment-15449 I've ridden the inner burbs of Brisbane regularly, and find the bell is really useful and practical. I always swap that little bell with the exterior clapper for the older style, slightly larger one with the spinning interior widget thingee. I've had cyclists on paths ring them just behind me and its difficult to get out of their road in time. SOOOOO, as a rider I simply ring mine 5-10 metres back. Even older/slower pedestians just shift to the side and on I ride with rarely a bit of impediment to my journey. Everyone seems to instantly know what the bell means, and I just give a small appreciative 'ta' as I ride past. What part of that bell use is "useless"? It's just a bell - it doesn't need a flipping degree to work out how to make it effective. Michael B. P.S. I would like a single speed as a bit of simple, disciplined difference from my regular geared bike. Probably not as my daily riding hack, but for variety. Does considering owning a second bike attract derision in this community? I did find your gross generalisation about what sort of clothes the fans of such bikes always wear, but seriously, I will ride a single speed with the same clobber I as I ride any bike and in which I sometimes drive my car. P.P.S. Am also happy with rear brakes. Have used both front and rear when really needing to pull it up in short order, and without a problem. I’ve ridden the inner burbs of Brisbane regularly, and find the bell is really useful and practical. I always swap that little bell with the exterior clapper for the older style, slightly larger one with the spinning interior widget thingee.
I’ve had cyclists on paths ring them just behind me and its difficult to get out of their road in time.
SOOOOO, as a rider I simply ring mine 5-10 metres back. Even older/slower pedestians just shift to the side and on I ride with rarely a bit of impediment to my journey. Everyone seems to instantly know what the bell means, and I just give a small appreciative ‘ta’ as I ride past.

What part of that bell use is “useless”? It’s just a bell – it doesn’t need a flipping degree to work out how to make it effective.

Michael B.

P.S. I would like a single speed as a bit of simple, disciplined difference from my regular geared bike. Probably not as my daily riding hack, but for variety. Does considering owning a second bike attract derision in this community? I did find your gross generalisation about what sort of clothes the fans of such bikes always wear, but seriously, I will ride a single speed with the same clobber I as I ride any bike and in which I sometimes drive my car.

P.P.S. Am also happy with rear brakes. Have used both front and rear when really needing to pull it up in short order, and without a problem.

]]> By: ozsoapbox http://ozsoapbox.com/cycling/accc-ruins-surly-steamroller-fixed-gear-no-longer-hip/#comment-11966 ozsoapbox Sun, 03 Jan 2010 13:08:48 +0000 http://ozsoapbox.com/?p=4016#comment-11966 Rear brakes come in handy as additional braking power is always welcome. In an emergency situation I'll usually jump out and hover just above the seat to shift my weight to the rear as much as possible to keep the wheel down. Whilst the front certainly does most of the work it's noticeable if the rear isn't used. I find that if you just rely on the front there's more chance of a over the handlebars stack in an emergency situation. If you can control the rear wheel from locking up and sliding out then it's definitely better then no rear brake :). Rear brakes come in handy as additional braking power is always welcome.

In an emergency situation I’ll usually jump out and hover just above the seat to shift my weight to the rear as much as possible to keep the wheel down. Whilst the front certainly does most of the work it’s noticeable if the rear isn’t used.

I find that if you just rely on the front there’s more chance of a over the handlebars stack in an emergency situation. If you can control the rear wheel from locking up and sliding out then it’s definitely better then no rear brake :) .

]]> By: Pete http://ozsoapbox.com/cycling/accc-ruins-surly-steamroller-fixed-gear-no-longer-hip/#comment-11959 Pete Sun, 03 Jan 2010 03:52:08 +0000 http://ozsoapbox.com/?p=4016#comment-11959 Rear brakes are also useless. I'm pretty sure there's a Sheldon Brown article on this too, but it's to do with weight transfer moving forward onto the front wheel while braking. Maximum braking is achieved when the rear wheel is about to lift (making the rear brake redundant). Rear brakes are also useless. I’m pretty sure there’s a Sheldon Brown article on this too, but it’s to do with weight transfer moving forward onto the front wheel while braking. Maximum braking is achieved when the rear wheel is about to lift (making the rear brake redundant).

]]> By: castro http://ozsoapbox.com/cycling/accc-ruins-surly-steamroller-fixed-gear-no-longer-hip/#comment-11093 castro Sat, 28 Nov 2009 11:29:42 +0000 http://ozsoapbox.com/?p=4016#comment-11093 To me, bells are good. just for letting someone know you're overtaking etc. a courtesy... not saying they should be compulsory... but I like em. We all had me in Holland. Don't like having to wear a helmet though. i wear a hat. skin cancer is more of a danger. i mean there's more head injuries from falling down stairs. i love australia but it's seriously over regulated. Treat us like infants To me, bells are good. just for letting someone know you’re overtaking etc. a courtesy… not saying they should be compulsory… but I like em. We all had me in Holland. Don’t like having to wear a helmet though. i wear a hat. skin cancer is more of a danger. i mean there’s more head injuries from falling down stairs. i love australia but it’s seriously over regulated. Treat us like infants

]]> By: James http://ozsoapbox.com/cycling/accc-ruins-surly-steamroller-fixed-gear-no-longer-hip/#comment-8080 James Mon, 12 Oct 2009 00:10:14 +0000 http://ozsoapbox.com/?p=4016#comment-8080 Yeah I realise that the manufacturers aren't going to care much about little old Australia, but surely the local distributor or the retailers could chuck the extras on fairly easily with minimal cost to satisfy the ACCC morons - I guess that would be far too logical for a government department to allow it to happen. They should just market them as track bikes (single speed with no 'safety' bits) on the sly to satisfy the red tape. Yeah I realise that the manufacturers aren’t going to care much about little old Australia, but surely the local distributor or the retailers could chuck the extras on fairly easily with minimal cost to satisfy the ACCC morons – I guess that would be far too logical for a government department to allow it to happen.

They should just market them as track bikes (single speed with no ‘safety’ bits) on the sly to satisfy the red tape.

]]> By: ozsoapbox http://ozsoapbox.com/cycling/accc-ruins-surly-steamroller-fixed-gear-no-longer-hip/#comment-8079 ozsoapbox Sun, 11 Oct 2009 05:04:23 +0000 http://ozsoapbox.com/?p=4016#comment-8079 The thing is the standards are supposed to apply to all bikes sold here but for some reason the ACCC have specifically gone after the Surly and the Steamroller. I think part of the problem is all these bikes are imported from Taiwan and the same bicycle is shipped all around the world. Most places don' thave the archaic standards we have and manufacturers can't be arsed putting bells and reflectors because we're a relatively tiny market. The thing is the standards are supposed to apply to all bikes sold here but for some reason the ACCC have specifically gone after the Surly and the Steamroller.

I think part of the problem is all these bikes are imported from Taiwan and the same bicycle is shipped all around the world. Most places don’ thave the archaic standards we have and manufacturers can’t be arsed putting bells and reflectors because we’re a relatively tiny market.

]]> By: James http://ozsoapbox.com/cycling/accc-ruins-surly-steamroller-fixed-gear-no-longer-hip/#comment-8078 James Sun, 11 Oct 2009 00:40:07 +0000 http://ozsoapbox.com/?p=4016#comment-8078 That's just strange! The idea that a bell is some how supposed to make cyclists, pedestrians and drivers safer is just ridiculous. BUT, why can't the retailers just put a little bell and reflectors on just to satisfy the ACCC? They're pretty cheap and can easily be removed if the buyer wants to do so. Most road bikes and mountain bikes aren't even sold with bells so I can't understand why it matters that a single speed is sold with a bell. It shouldn't matter whether or not a bike is used in competition, because almost all would be used for training and/or commuting on the roads anyway. I'd much rather use my voice to alert a pedestrian to my presence than a silly little bell which is nowhere near as loud. And I think saying "excuse me" is more polite than dinging a bell, and it doesn't shock people and make them more dangerous to you like a bell does. That’s just strange!

The idea that a bell is some how supposed to make cyclists, pedestrians and drivers safer is just ridiculous.

BUT, why can’t the retailers just put a little bell and reflectors on just to satisfy the ACCC? They’re pretty cheap and can easily be removed if the buyer wants to do so.

Most road bikes and mountain bikes aren’t even sold with bells so I can’t understand why it matters that a single speed is sold with a bell. It shouldn’t matter whether or not a bike is used in competition, because almost all would be used for training and/or commuting on the roads anyway.

I’d much rather use my voice to alert a pedestrian to my presence than a silly little bell which is nowhere near as loud. And I think saying “excuse me” is more polite than dinging a bell, and it doesn’t shock people and make them more dangerous to you like a bell does.

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