Comments on: National Bike Month: Draisines are the new fixies

By: penguinchris

penguinchris — Wed, 02 May 2012 12:54:00 +0000

I can imagine one of these being pretty fun in the right environment, more so than a bicycle would be, like in a small park with a couple hills. It must feel more out-of-control (and thus more exciting) than a bicycle with silly things like brakes.

By: Wreckrob8

Wreckrob8 — Wed, 02 May 2012 06:53:00 +0000

There is also the French term draisienne which can only mean dandy horse.

By: alissa mower clough

alissa mower clough — Wed, 02 May 2012 02:21:00 +0000

…and let me remind you, a draisienne (the way I was taught it was spelled) is still faster than most horses, and the best way to learn how to ride for young and old.

By: Mitch_M

Mitch_M — Tue, 01 May 2012 23:11:00 +0000

That’s how I ride when the grease in my freewheel gets stiff in the cold and the pawls won’t engage or when I break a crank or a pedal. Bikers must have been tough back them- passing motorists feel emboldened to make rude remarks which invite a thrashing when a cyclist rides in such a manner.

By: snagglepuss

snagglepuss — Tue, 01 May 2012 22:35:00 +0000

This is National Bicycle Month ?

How about that. I’ll take it as a sign – I just started back on my bike after a two-year lay-off.

By: inkfumes

inkfumes — Tue, 01 May 2012 21:50:00 +0000

If you like bikes than bike rod and custom has the coolest, also it’s the creator was the producer of the vintage Saturday Night Live “Mr.Bill” spots: http://bikerodnkustom.homestead.com/

I even got my old custom bike in the gallery: http://bikerodnkustom3.homestead.com/gallery177.html

By: Antinous / Moderator

Antinous / Moderator — Tue, 01 May 2012 21:17:00 +0000

Nothing says seating comfort like a stuffed dachshund.

By: Robert Cruickshank

Robert Cruickshank — Tue, 01 May 2012 20:59:00 +0000

Obligatory Kate Beaton cartoon: http://www.harkavagrant.com/index.php?id=331

By: Gabriel Nagmay

Gabriel Nagmay — Tue, 01 May 2012 20:35:00 +0000

Fair enough, I was under the interpretation that this draisine was a rail bike, the precursor to the dandy-horse. The term “draisine” was also once the common name for the dandy-horse.

The more you know…

By: dragonfrog

dragonfrog — Tue, 01 May 2012 20:29:00 +0000

Yeah, there’s one in our house, still in its box, waiting for me to put it together in time for our daughter’s second birthday. She’s been getting super excited about bikes and trikes lately, so the timing should be good.

By: VyperX

VyperX — Tue, 01 May 2012 20:24:00 +0000

Yes, it is. But it is used correctly here, too. Many words have more than one meaning. These things are still made. Or were in the 1970s. A neighbor kid had one.

By: standingstill

standingstill — Tue, 01 May 2012 20:09:00 +0000

Ouch.

By: Gabriel Nagmay

Gabriel Nagmay — Tue, 01 May 2012 20:08:00 +0000

A draisine is a rail vehicle. This is like celebrating National Car Month by featuring a train…

By: EH

EH — Tue, 01 May 2012 19:20:00 +0000

This looks pretty much like the Skoot-type bikes that small children are receiving nowadays. Except older, natch.

By: OriGuy

OriGuy — Tue, 01 May 2012 19:14:00 +0000

From the BBC show Three Men in a Boat Go to Ireland, comedians Dara O Briain and Rory McGrath pedal a draisine while Grif Rhys Jones rides. I was watching this just last night.

By: Guest

Guest — Tue, 01 May 2012 19:08:00 +0000

Just saw a local Chinese immigrant on a bike, jogging along. It took me a second to realize there was no chain or pedals involved. Pretty fast for an obvious septagenarian, and it had a hand brake!