<rant> I saw some poor kid on one of those bigarse 'chopper' SS's today - you know, the ones that K-mart sell...as soon as he hit a small incline, the gearing was so bad he had to get off and walk the thing...
I'd be lying to say I wasn't a scene [censored] (gimmmmeee more CF!) but when it comes to things that don't actually improve the task at hand, I dont see the logic... hauling some 20kg+ hunk of [censored] bike around that cant even be properly ridden is insane..
Isn't this why there is restricted gearing in younger grades for racing, to ensure kiddies don't wreck their knees while they are still developing?
First impressions of things as a kid can be everlasting.. so imagine the damage being done to their perception of cycling if all they know are these clunky [censored]?..
Sure, these bikes would be fine if we all lived in some magical place where is always summer, near a beach, only rode very small distances at sunset, while drinking Coke(tm) and eating Snickers(tm), while watching hot chicks surfing (who are using tampons).... but no.. this was Doncaster East and some kid was trying to ride to school...
</rant>
now, to continue looking for my 'pro' style wheel bags so I can look the part on the weekend..
cheers, GPL :expert on childhood cognitive development for today - my uni results prove it: 🙂
Sort of hoping I will be an expert in video and audio editing by tonight. .. exam at 2
First impressions of things as a kid can be everlasting.. so imagine the damage being done to their perception of cycling if all they know are these clunky [censored]?..
If you look carefully inside the head of a child riding one of these things you will see glowing image of a Harley/Norton or whatever. I don't think they are designed to promote cycling.
First impressions of things as a kid can be everlasting.. so imagine the damage being done to their perception of cycling if all they know are these clunky [censored]?..
If you look carefully inside the head of a child riding one of these things you will see glowing image of a Harley/Norton or whatever. I don't think they are designed to promote cycling.
P
I think you are right Peter, pushing that bike is ideal practice for owning a Harley in the future...
Bought for said kid by moronic parent, living out his own dreams through his children.
Or quite possibly bought by parent due to the kids insistence that 'this' is the bike they want(purely because it looks cool or because Fred/Ethel have one) despite the parent's consideration of a more mainstream bike due to it being sensible (how boring for a kid!)... Kids desires aren't always for the practical - Which I'm reminded of everytime I see a schoolkid riding home on a jump-style mountainbike with the saddle down as low as it can go, tilted painfully backwards and knees around their ears.
Bought for said kid by moronic parent, living out his own dreams through his children.
Remembering my own longterm campaign to guilt and annoy parents into buying a "chopper" style bike with the bannana seat and 3 speed stick shift on the top tube, plus apehanger bars (and I really wanted the one with the glitter yellow seat) I wouldn't make that assumption.
Zebee
-- Zebee Johnstone ([email hidden]), proud holder of aus.motorcycles Poser Permit #1. "Motorcycles are like peanuts... who can stop at just one?"
Remembering my own longterm campaign to guilt and annoy parents into buying a "chopper" style bike with the bannana seat and 3 speed stick shift on the top tube, plus apehanger bars (and I really wanted the one with the glitter yellow seat) I wouldn't make that assumption.
My son insisted on the glitter silver. Now he rides a RSV1000 Mille, his wife has a Ducati 750 Sport, his daughter a three wheeled Hyosung. So all was not lost.
I'm with you Zebee. I had a dragster, complete with apehangers, t-bar three speed shift, green glitter seat in my case. I remember also a 24" hand-me-down with horrendously extended front forks at one stage ...
Two motorbikes in the shed (no HDs thanx), about to add the third bicycle in the back room.
My son insisted on the glitter silver. Now he rides a RSV1000 Mille, his wife has a Ducati 750 Sport, his daughter a three wheeled Hyosung. So all was not lost.
Now aint that interesting. I have a Ducati 900SS ... NOT glitter green, though!
"eddiec" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Donga said:
Bought for said kid by moronic parent, living out his own dreams through his children.
Or quite possibly bought by parent due to the kids insistence that 'this' is the bike they want(purely because it looks cool or because Fred/Ethel have one) despite the parent's consideration of a more mainstream bike due to it being sensible (how boring for a kid!)... Kids desires aren't always for the practical - Which I'm reminded of everytime I see a schoolkid riding home on a jump-style mountainbike with the saddle down as low as it can go, tilted painfully backwards and knees around their ears.
But who's to say they aren't ducking down to the local jump track on their way home? Or kerb hopping, leaping over convenient mounds of topsoil?
Although, I still don't get the seat angle (and I have a mtb that leans towards jump style) or low height for normal riding. Apparently the seat angle helps them get off the back without entangling their goolies. Still doesn't sound right, but I've seen these guys jump, and know heir goolies must be bigger than mine!
But I was raised on 3-spd Dragsters in the '70s. :o
...was there any other kind of bike?
I still got one, lovingly covered in rainbow fur, green quilted banana seat, tassells and twin overhead bells. Since the passing of the Melb Fringe Parade I've had nowhere to ride it. (*sob*)
Although, I still don't get the seat angle (and I have a mtb that leans towards jump style) or low height for normal riding. Apparently the seat angle helps them get off the back without entangling their goolies. Still doesn't sound right, but I've seen these guys jump, and know heir goolies must be bigger than mine!
praps used to be bigger, thats why the seat is at an angle now 😉
Swoon. I want a dragster with stickshift, banana seat and sissy bar. Not the tassells though.
Donga
The stick shift on the top bar is now banned for safety reasons. How many of us who rode dragsters or choppers inthe 70's got de-knackered (or the female equivalent) by them? :eek:
Anyway if top mounted stick shifts on bikes did have such an effect, surely they would just be removing the less skillful from the gene-pool (apologies to the crash bandicoots who frequent this forum) so they could not breed more of their type. 😄
