Comments on: Talking to David Hembrow

By: Florin

Florin — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 17:02:44 +0000

Nice interview and nice song. When I’ll grow up I will move to Holland, too.

By: Talking To David Hembrow | Amsterdamize

Talking To David Hembrow | Amsterdamize — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 10:19:42 +0000

[...] recent video interview with Mikael Colville-Andersen made waves on the internets, posted another great video (check the whole post, it’s a good read too) with David Hembrow of A View From The Cycle [...]

By: Herve

Herve — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 12:52:02 +0000

Another interesting video. Never seen a velomobile before. Are they faster? Visibility and maneuverability seem to be lower though.

I ride upright bicycles, simply because it is more comfortable. As I ride bicycles mostly for enjoyment, why make it painful with a crunched up position?

I have had several ‘classic’ racing type bikes that I have turned into a comfortable bike fairly easy. I am taking about the 10 speed, flat frame bicycles that were standard about 20 years ago. To make the riding position comfortable, two simple adjustments can be done:
1. put handle bars as high as you can
2. TURN AROUND the handlebars so that the brake levers face you directly.
That should enable most people to sit comfortably by holding on to the top of the handlebars.

By: Paul

Paul — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 05:13:53 +0000

Great video MIke! I am a big fan of David Hembrow… thanks a lot for interviewing him!

By: Mike Rubbo

Mike Rubbo — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 05:13:51 +0000

Fascinating, John. It shows up how little I know about bikes. I see the sense in what you are saying though it’s of course disappointing that there is no easy way. Maybe people will start to buy proper sit -ups, perhaps as second bikes.
I have three bikes more or less properly configured. The one I like best is a Giant Suede whose name I mention in the hopes that they will continue to make them. Mike

By: John Romeo Alpha

John Romeo Alpha — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 04:57:26 +0000

Hi Mike, there really isn’t a satisfactory way to convert a bike built for lightness and speed into a sit-up bike, because the frames are designed for different purposes. The sit-up bike needs easy and predictable steering, a longer wheelbase, allowance for fatter tires, fender and rack attachment points, design for an upright seated position, and usually a heavier and sturdier frame. You can change out the stem and/or handlebars (rise and type), and like Johan mentioned try different saddles and saddle height adjustments, but most of those other aspects have to be designed in when the frame is first welded (or glued, molded, whatever) together. Also you would be surprised at how quickly a project of a scope like “converting” a bike becomes more expensive (and often less successful) than just buying what you needed in the first place.

By: Mike Rubbo

Mike Rubbo — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 21:41:57 +0000

Hi, Johann, has anyone thought to produce a “how to do it” video or publication. That is, how to covert a road bike, a hybrid etc. to a sit up. I think it would be very useful . It might save a lot of people from going out and buying a new bike . Mike

By: Johann

Johann — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 21:02:51 +0000

Thanks, Mike, Violeta and of course – David, for your good work!

The first thing I do with every bike I own or work on – I change things to be able to sit up straight. Just like David does. For me, sitting upgright is the only position that makes cycling fun. The second most important thing is a good saddle. The old-fashioned ones with many springs work fine. Nowadays they are hard to find. Lepper is a good manufacturer so I try to find a store that sells Lepper.

Best wishes
Johann from Berlin

By: Rob in Manhattan

Rob in Manhattan — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 19:16:38 +0000

Nice work Violeta! And thanks, as always, for keeping this pro-bike blog rolling along, Mike. Interesting comments all around. Merry Christmas from snowy NYC!

By: James

James — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 15:43:01 +0000

David’s videos and photos from the Netherlands are inspiring. It sets the bar high for the rest of the world and I hope over the next few decades we will start to catch up. North America is starting to move in the right direction and I yearn for the day where people will look at year-round cycling as a normal thing instead of looking at me as if I’m “crazy”

Keep the great videos coming Mr. Rubbo!

James

By: wim harwig

wim harwig — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 00:00:09 +0000

The infrastructure in the Netherlands is more or less flat. No hills and distances between cities and villages are short compared to other countries. That’s the main reason why the Dutch Bike is evolved the way it has. And still does; because the model is like it was 50 years ago, the hub-dynamo, LED-lights, materials, etc , are nowadays much better !
When commuting distances are as long as David’s, then more and more people will make the choice to use a recumbent. And when they are used to the phenomenon, they eventually will go for a velomobile. The only reason most of them keep using a car is because it is relative cheap and it is supposed to give social “status”.
Of course this “status” is a false one, just as the status of a guy with a beer-belly in spandex and aerodynamic-helmet on a time-trial bike is false.

Keep on cycling!
Wim.

By: John

John — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 23:52:28 +0000

The Dublin Bikes Bike Vélib that we have are Three Speed Gears and the Lights stays on, they seem to be very Nippy and not slow at all. You Apply on line and you will get your Card in about a Week or two,you Forfeit a Deposit of €150 Euro on your Credit Card in case something happens to the Bike. It is free for first half Hour and then gets charged after that. Very much like the Paris Vélib except we only have at the moment 450 Bikes. They were afraid there might be Vandalism of the Bikes but so far none has been damaged.

By: Mike Rubbo

Mike Rubbo — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 23:35:14 +0000

You are very welcome, David. Now, I need to make the second film on with you in which we get to you special love, the infrastructure. I hope I can find the material in what Violeta has given me, to do it justice. Mike

By: Mike Rubbo

Mike Rubbo — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 23:32:04 +0000

John, seems like we think alike far as sit -up bikes are concerned. it amazes me that so many people, here ride uncomfortable bikes, convinced that the aches and pains they feel, the sore bum, are all part o the process of riding. But as we know, it’s all avoidable. I hope that Bike share, if we get it here will change the thinking. people will have a chance to try without buying on, a sit up bike, and they’ll be converted, I’m sure.

They are going to find too that they interact with traffic differently. Sitting up straight you are friends with the world and get treated accordingly. it’s a revoultion we have to have.

You know, i think there is a good business opportunity for some bike shops to offer special retro fits. You bring in your narrow seat, flat bar hybrid, and they turn it into a sit-up for you . Do you think that’ possible within a fairly modest price range? Mike

By: John

John — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 23:13:10 +0000

Hi Mike I already replied on the Video as Sunny Joe 66. But here is my thoughts on Sit up and Beg Bikes. I have always loved this style as they reminded me of the Old Fashioned Raleighs of the 1950ties,and when I was on Holiday in Amsterdam in 05 I just knew I had to get one. So I Ordered one from Work Cycles in A/Dam in Sept 07. I got the Kruisframe Pasteurs Fiets/ Crossframe Preachers Bike with a Detachable front Carrier and it is the most comfortable Bike I have ever Ridden.

At that time only about two People had these Bikes in Dublin now a few have them, together with a Courier Company who has Danish Bulitt Bikes like the one Mikael Colvile Anderson has. I also seen a few Bakfiets around Dublin carrying Children in them.

My Bike is immensely Strong and Built like a Tank, The Suv 4+4 of Bikes. When more People use these Bikes it shows that Bikes are not just for Recreational use but Day to Day Utilitarian Transport and Cargo use. Not for the Lycra Clad Speed Freaks but for the more Mundane Cycling to get around type Wear your own City Clothes and a Hat as opposed to a Helmet and Hunched down over the Handlebars with a Grimace on your Face Sore Ar*e Person who constanty has to Rub Assos Cream on his Derriere. I also like Reading up on Cycling Infrastructure in the Netherlands and I have commented on the Fietsberaad site from time to time. Happy Christmas, Dublin Ireland.

By: David Hembrow

David Hembrow — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 22:20:01 +0000

Mike, you’re taunting me ! Yes, it’s true I’m enthusiastic about what there is here. The Dutch are ludicrously modest about their achievements, in cycling as well as in other things, but they’ve achieved many things which are amazing compared with elsewhere.

However, that doesn’t mean anyone should give up on anything. If you want a high cycling rate, a lovely example has been provided to copy.

Anyway, thanks very much for making this film, and the others.

Merry Christmas !