#80bicycles

[bicycleclipdiaries]

Never had a hotel with an exercise bike in it before...if you adopt an Obree-style riding position it’s almost an anti obesity work station. I feel a Kickstarter coming on. #retirementplan #80bicycles #africa (at Zambia)

[bicycleclipdiaries]

Conversations about Africa’s urban obesity epidemic are focussed on fast food, but I’m interested in how inactive lifestyles play a part in those places where people who can afford to drive don’t walk or cycle any more. Here in rural Zambia, there are plenty of bicycles which convert to last mile portage as required. Charlie’s is a good example. Bikes here need to be solid due to the terrible roads, which spit out the second hand saloon cars people tend to drive here: 4x4s being too expensive for the majority. Also good in a fuel crisis, which can be useful here. Quite often singlespeed, not because it’s trendy - it seems to be hipster-free round here - but because they are easy to maintain. You push uphill. Nice bloke too, although he was definitely confused as to why anybody would take an interest in his bicycle. In turn, I wished I had something to ride here. I suppose I could be considered a #bikegeek. #80bicycles #bicycles #africa (at Solwezi, Zambia)

[bicycleclipdiaries]

Customisation, bright cable ties, riding a bike under African skies, brown paper packages, tied up in strings, these are a few of my favourite things* #bicycles #custombike #moshi #creative #80bicycles (* apols Rodgers/ Hammerstein) (at Moshi)

[bicycleclipdiaries]

This is what a slow bicycle looks like; whether you travel fast or slow, go carefully, use a front brake and respect other road users, even if they chose another mode of transportation to you. #cycling #utilitybike #80bicycles #zanzibar #singlespeed #africa #urbancycling (at Zanzibar, Tanzania)

[bicycleclipdiaries]

'Most bicycle geeks tend to specialise in a particular area of recreational cycling […] personally, I will ride any bike and I’m interested in all them all, but I have a particular fondness for utility bicycles of the kind ridden by ordinary people as a form of transport across the world. Ordinary #bicycles like this one….' Bonus points but no cash prize if you can name the city. #80bicycles

[bicycleclipdiaries]

With a look this fierce, nobody is good by to shout 'wear a helmet' but in #Tokyo, as most places in the world, they focus their energies on not falling off rather than specialist clothing #80bicycles #bicycles #cyclechic (at Tokyo)

[bicycleclipdiaries]

Sharing honeymoon photographs on social media is illegal and punishable by death for good reason, but when the #bicycles of #Marrakesh are involved it’s possibly okay? As I explained to my new bride, I was drawn to the contrast between the #luggedsteel fork on the older bike, with the over-engineered and unnecessary suspension fork on the more modern bicycle. 'Tell me more,' she didn't say. #vintagebicycles #nofilter #vintagebicycles #morocco #80bicycles (at Marrakech-مراكش الحمراء)

[bicycleclipdiaries]

'Sure it’s nice for a holiday, but there’s no point in going to the Caribbean coast to help with your crazy bicycle book idea.' That’s what the #colombians were saying. Whilst nobody could decide their country’s best place for cycling, pretty much everyone told me that the #caribbean coast was the worst. They aren’t into their #cyclesport, it’s too relaxed, too hot for lycra, too tropical, that kind of thing. The implication was that they sat around all day waiting for coconuts to fall, driven to a state of lethargy by the infernal heat. But when I got there, I found that there was an unpretentious, utilitarian DIY #bicycleculture, like nowhere else. In #cartegena their #bicycles seemed to suit the personality of the riders, and have nothing to do with marketing trends #80bicycles #colombiancycling (at Cartagena De Indias, Colombia)