Q6. Next up is a topic raised by Ira (@Iragersh) Flats! They aren’t uncommon. How do you manage the risk of flats when you ride? And what happens in real life when they do occur (always inconveniently)? And what about those ‘mystery flats,’ when a wheel repeatedly gets flats but you can’t identify the issue? #BikeNite
Q4. Where I live we have some really excellent parks which are heavily used during the summer. Unfortunately, park-users often arrive in cars, meaning we give up green space for parking lots. Do you know of a public park or greenspace which has excellent access by bike or walking? A space that makes it easy to choose these alternatives? What design elements or messaging to park users makes it work in this way? #BikeNite
Q2. In winter months I often dream of easy summer riding, but especially in the peak of summer the conditions can be a bit challenging. This summer has been SO HOT for many of us. What strategies do you use to try to cope with the heat? Have they worked for you? #BikeNite
Welcome to #BikeNite, where we gather virtually and have an informal chat about #Bikes and #Bicycling. I am your guest host today. Play along by following the hashtag #BikeNite and answering any/all of the 8 questions. Each is designated with Q1, Q2, etc.. Reply to a Q, using A1, A2 etc. to clarify which question you are responding to. Add #BikeNite to each answer if you’d like to be more easily discovered. Then let the conversations with other participants flow!
@ascentale A7 #BikeNite I think every charger needs to have a temperature monitor via the plug, to inside the battery case. Though I don't want proprietary connectors, the same two-contact barrel plug for everything from 12 to 48V is clearly bonkers. IDK if there are studies on the common defect/incident type but a conservative temp limit should prevent most fires that could occur while charging (many #eBikes BMS might already limit that internally). Smoke detector is probably a good idea.
Q4. We had an frustrating interaction in the past where we could not get a COVID test because we walked and did not drive to a drive-through window. @glightly asks:
Have you gone to any "bike-thru" businesses? What what it? Where? How many "drive-thru" busineses did that town have in comparison?
@ascentale@xtaran A3 #BikeNite I have several bikes and none of them are "normal". The electric xtracycle edgerunner (longtail cargo type, small rear wheel) gets the most use, then the supercargo bakfiets front loader (turns the most heads), also with e-assist, both usually carrying kids, so it's obvious this isn't a typical cyclist. Folding bikes, cycletruck, ... none would fit UCI rules.
Q2. We are riding a Cargo Bike Rally tomorrow, and all cycles are welcome! The next question is about group ride accessibility:
If you're leading/organizing a ride, what actions do you take to make sure that it feels accessible and welcome from a race/gender/ability standpoint? What do you do before and during the ride?
This week's call for questions: #BikeNite is on Friday at 4pm Pacific time! It's a Q&A type discussion on Mastodon. Reply with any questions you'd like me to add to the discussion on Friday! Or if you'd like to host sometime? #BikeTooter
This is my purple Peugeot bike. Steel frame, no suspension. I bought it new in 1990. In the summer I ride to work and fall in love with it everyday! #bikenite
"Q4. What is the weirdest thing you've seen blamed on bikes or bike lanes?"
Climate change. No, this is not sarcastic! I've seen more than one person seriously advance the argument that riding a bike requires you to eat more food and breathe harder, thus increasing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Q4. For those that have read or listened to public comments, there are sometimes common refrains (see image below). This next question is from @Kellyshenanigans:
What is the weirdest thing you've seen blamed on bikes or bike lanes?
Q3. This next question is about also about convincing, via @glightly:
What is the most successful cycle lobbying you've participated in (whether public comment, showing up at meetings, public demonstrations)? Why do you think it was successful?
A3: The #FancyWomenBikeRide by a country mile. It shows that cycling doesn’t have to be fast and sweaty to be fun, that you don’t have to wear special “cycling clothes” to ride, and that riding is not just for fit young lean men. I also love that there are so many people riding at once that the cars HAVE to stop for us.
Q2. I've been doing summer camp dropoffs with my kid, by bike of course. On days that I don't drop them off, I miss the bike ride. It's a nice way to spend time with my kid (provided they're in a good mood!) This is contrasted by seeing a long dropoff line of 30+ mostly stationary cars.
How would you convince these drivers that there's another way to get a kid to a destination, that might be happier, faster, and safer for other road users?
Welcome to #BikeNite (similar to #BikeSchool on the other site). Thank you for following, and I hope we all enjoy chatting about bikey stuff! These posts are autoscheduled, though I'll be here for the first few questions. Feel free to answer asynchronously at your convenience. We'll start out with an introduction:
Q1. Where are you posting from today, and what type of bike/cycle did you ride most recently?
What would be your ideal all-purpose apocalypse #bicycle? Zombie hordes, supervolcano, nuclear holocaust, earthquake, etc.
I'm thinking definitely rigid steel frame/fork for strength, durability, low maintenance, and ease of repair. Probably accoustic because charging/replacing ebike batteries is a hurdle. After that though, my brain fizzles. Internally geared hub? Belt drive? 90s MTB frame or 80s touring for speed and versatility? Cargo bike for hauling? 🤔