Weird, Nit-Picky Complaint About CaBis

[Drewdane]

I just got a CaBi account for my downtown Metro – office – Metro commute, and am wondering why it took me so long!

However, I’m also wondering why the seats on the bikes are angled the way they are? Riding along, I have to constantly scoot back because I’m continuously sliding towards the nose of the seat. Is there a way to put in a request for CaBi to change their default seat angle, or is that just the way the seatpost/saddle interface is? 😎

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[DismalScientist]

Are you sure it’s the saddle/post angle? It could just be a function of the wide seat pushing your butt forward while you pedal because of contact with the back of your legs. After all, you are used to riding a bike with a better, more efficient, seat.

[kwarkentien]

That is an issue with some bikes. I don’t think there is a stock seat “angle”; I think it’s just a matter of who put the saddle on and how he/she happened to angle it that day.

[PotomacCyclist]

I do most of my riding on CaBi. I haven’t really noticed anything like this. Maybe it’s because I shift on the seat often, no matter what bike I’m riding, to relieve pressure points.

As for the seats, Motivate (the new operator of Capital Bikeshare as well as all the former Bixi/Alta systems such as Citi Bike NYC and Chicago’s Divvy) is now manufacturing new bikes and stations themselves (or subcontracting the work). Bixi is no longer involved in the supply chain.

The bikes have been modified slightly. One new feature is a center hole in the seat, which allows for water drainage. The bikes are always sitting out there in every rainstorm, so this is a good change. I think the shape of the seat may have been modified slightly as well, to be a little more efficient. Ben Serotta helped to design the new Motivate bikeshare bikes. They also have a slightly different gearing system (still three gears only) and a European-style two-legged kickstand.

They haven’t added any of the new bikes here. I haven’t had a chance to ride Citi Bike either, so I can’t offer a personal review. But there have been a few articles about the new Motivate bikeshare bikes. I’m not sure when we would see them here. The older bikes would be phased out gradually, beginning in NYC. DC, Arlington and Alexandria have each been planning to expand their bike systems this year, depending on the supply of new stations and bikes. If Motivate is able to deliver new equipment, those bikes would likely be the new Serotta design (but that’s just my educated guess).

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/exclusive-redesigned-citi-bikes-hitting-streets-month-article-1.2249184
http://www.businessinsider.com/citibike-new-and-improved-2015-6
http://velojoy.com/2015/07/02/new-citi-bike-design/

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[Drewdane]

@DismalScientist 120683 wrote:

Are you sure it’s the saddle/post angle? It could just be a function of the wide seat pushing your butt forward while you pedal because of contact with the back of your legs. After all, you are used to riding a bike with a better, more efficient, seat.

Huh. I hadn’t thought of that. Could be!

[Tim Kelley]

@DismalScientist 120683 wrote:

Are you sure it’s the saddle/post angle? It could just be a function of the wide seat pushing your butt forward while you pedal because of contact with the back of your legs. After all, you are used to riding a bike with a better, more efficient, seat.

Yeah, it’s the seat design, just give in and sit farther forward on the nose.

Are you above average height? It’s particularly bad for taller folks trying to extend their legs all the way when pedaling.

[Drewdane]

@Tim Kelley 120784 wrote:

Yeah, it’s the seat design, just give in and sit farther forward on the nose.

Are you above average height? It’s particularly bad for taller folks trying to extend their legs all the way when pedaling.

Thanks. I’m not tall, but I have long legs in proportion to my height, so the explanation makes sense.

[Drewdane]

@DismalScientist 120683 wrote:

Are you sure it’s the saddle/post angle? It could just be a function of the wide seat pushing your butt forward while you pedal because of contact with the back of your legs. After all, you are used to riding a bike with a better, more efficient, seat.

You know, this could be a teaching moment – CaBi should replace the comfort seats on their bikes with regular ones, thus sending a subtle message to casual cyclists that they are the norm. Eventually, everyone will be used to riding better, more efficient seats and comfort seats (Misnomer from Hell) will be considered “weird” and to be avoided.

I’m partial to WTB Laser V’s, myself. 😎

[Author]

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