La Flamme Rouge **off topic discussion**

I've been in a a position where I've had a hybrid and a road bike "go from under me" over the years on a few occasions and yeah I'd rather that happened on a hybrid or Dutch style bike it's always ended better for me !!!!

I'm going to seem like a bike nerd when I'm anything but (though I did build my favourite racer but anyhow...) but the differences are relatively subtle, saddle, gears, lock, handlebar grips and basket, afaik. In all those the Dublin bikes are of better quality imo. The Dublin saddle for example is (iirc) more solid which means it's easier to dry and harder to crack, the Limerick ones soak water. The Dublin lock is attached to the bike and has a key. the Limerick ones are coded and can be removed (and who can remember the code that you get told for a few seconds when you check out the bike). The baskets are fixed in limerick now but originally weren't cages so things could fall out the side. the Dublin bikes have plastic handlebar grips, which feel clean to use. The Limerick ones are rubber that stick to your hands etc. Just cheap all the way through.

The gears are very different. I could be wrong, but iirc, the Limerick ones are more resistance based whereas the Dublin ones have defined settings (not sure on this, doesn't matter as the gears are usually broken on Limerick ones).

I reckon the Limerick bikes are probably a bit lighter too.

In my experience (and as was pointed out, everyone's preferences are different) you are less likely to go arse over tit if you come off a Dutch bike, or come to a sudden halt. I've never found them to be clumsy, maybe a bit more cumbersome which can prevent you squeezing through tighter spots in traffic but that's rare enough for me (and ideally would be rare for everyone with proper infrastructure).

I know, I'm like one of those Democrats who's going to come along and seize everyone's guns in America... I won't rest til other bikes are off the road and out of harms way...

People have preferences and that's totally fair. Fixies work for some people, racers for others etc. I was making a general comment that I think the bikes we generally use to commute are sub optimal for commuting. I was reading somewhere (here maybe?) that the Dutch have different verbs to describe the cycling they intend to do (something like commuting vs sports-racing), it's a useful distinction, imo.

Ah here, serious projection going on there lad. Don't think i've mentioned paths or grannies at all, nor do I particularly factor either into my cycling.

I want an Ireland like I've experienced in the Netherlands, where everyone (virtually) has the option of cycling to school or work on safe cycle lanes.

Out of curiosity, why do you think the Dutch prefer upright bikes to racing bikes for commutes?

how did you get that i think road bikes make cycle lanes unsafe?

I don't, even slightly, think that.

I don't worry about other cyclists.

At best, I might, maybe worry about other potential cyclists who don't feel our roads are safe (due to cars and no bike lanes in general) but honestly i asked in my original post about the style of bike because it's not one i'm familiar with.

You are needlessly defensive tbh, hope your Friday improves.

I'm not blaming anyone for anything. You are confusing me discussing a safer style of bike with safer roads, but that's wholly on you (and frankly at this stage I suspect you are bored on a Friday and looking for a distraction...)

Of course your choice of bike matters, not if you get hit by a car but if you have to stop suddenly for any other reason, but it's an individual choice.

I have zero issue with whatever bike you cycle, frankly i couldn't give a single fúck about it.