What I miss from previous decades is for it to be socially acceptable to ride cheap bikes (which actually lasted for years). These days, you're expected to pay £100's or even £thousands for one. And why is there so much special equipment to buy? The only stuff you might want in the past was a pair of bicycle clips to keep your plus-fours out of the chain. What's more, things like mudguards came as standard, you weren't expected to pay extra for them.
Quote: Nogget @ February 12 2012, 4:10 PM GMTWhat I miss from previous decades is for it to be socially acceptable to ride cheap bikes.
They still do in other parts of the world, particularly Holland. Most people don't even bother locking up their bikes because they are so ubiquitous and cheap.
Britain is a very brand conscious environment and this extends to our cycling culture as well.
I don't know how far back you go Nogget, but I personally remember the BMX craze of the 80s and brand recognition was everything. (Man, I miss my Mudcruncher!)
Mine was £50, and it still got nicked by some little c**tweasel.
Admittedly it did look awesome.
Quote: zooo @ February 12 2012, 4:16 PM GMTAdmittedly it did look awesome.
Quote: zooo @ February 12 2012, 4:16 PM GMTMine was £50, and it still got nicked by some little c**tweasel.
My Mudcruncher got ruined when I got hit by a car. 
ROBOT BIKE!
Mine was just black and cool and shiny. Sigh.
Now I have my mum's old one. Which is bright pink.
Quote: Renegade Carpark @ February 12 2012, 4:14 PM GMTThey still do in other parts of the world, particularly Holland.
My jaw dropped when I got off the train in Amsterdam a few years ago. I have never seen so many bicycles in one place.
Quote: DaButt @ February 12 2012, 4:23 PM GMTMy jaw dropped when I got off the train in Amsterdam a few years ago. I have never seen so many bicycles in one place.
Amsterdam is just the scariest place in the world to British people when it comes to crossing the road.
Most of the time we're mashed up on drink and drugs, we look the wrong way and don't even notice the bicycles and trams hurling towards at high speeds until the last second.
I still love the place though and have ex-pat friends who live there, so it's always party time.
I hate the half ton of gadgets on bikes now. I just want a chopper.
YOU REALLY WISH.
From you, we are looking at 8=D 
Quote: Renegade Carpark @ February 12 2012, 4:14 PM GMTI don't know how far back you go Nogget, but I personally remember the BMX craze of the 80s and brand recognition was everything. (Man, I miss my Mudcruncher!)
I go back far enough to remember when Choppers first came out, with the big gear-shift in the middle. That was the start of the rot, IMO. Quite why people became misty-eyed about them later on is beyond me; only twats rode them back in the day (before Roo was born, probably).
Quote: Rooface @ February 12 2012, 4:29 PM GMTYOU REALLY WISH.
Please refrain from unnecessary capitalisation, it's putting me off.
No, it's gone now.
8-D
Quote: DaButt @ February 12 2012, 4:23 PM GMTMy jaw dropped when I got off the train in Amsterdam a few years ago. I have never seen so many bicycles in one place.
Try driving, with them zooming unexpectedly onto main roads out of side streets - total nightmare.
