Author Topic: Things most people don't know exist. (Read 9299 times)

Arch · « **on:** 22 November, 2012, 01:33:10 pm »

Sort of inspired by the 'guess what's been invented again' thread...

Some years ago, I was unlocking my winter bike from outside the supermarket and an old chap came up to me and said "has that got a hub gear?"

Yes, I said. And he went on to tell me that he'd had 3spd hub geared bikes when he was younger, and how good they were, and how he'd once done some thinking and reckoned it might be possible to get as many as 5 gears into a hub.

I had to tell him that, yes, mine has 8... I didn't mention the existence of Rolhoff.

When I was doing cycle promotion work, and try out roadshows, there were large number of people astonished by cycle technology that seemed commonplace to me. Even on forums, there are keen cyclists who seem to have missed out on certain areas of cycle technology.

I suppose it's just what you're exposed to - it was only due to a post on here that I found out that there's such a thing as an electronic handbrake on modern cars.

geraldc · « **Reply #1 on:** 22 November, 2012, 01:36:20 pm »

The thing on rear view mirrors to flip them slightly so they don't dazzle you when a car is behind you.

mrcharly-YHT · « **Reply #2 on:** 22 November, 2012, 01:49:02 pm »

Third party insurance (for cycling) and the fact that a lot of cyclists have it.

Charlotte · « **Reply #3 on:** 22 November, 2012, 02:26:17 pm »

Decent coffee.

Seriously - most people seem to go through their entire lives drinking the sort of acrid muck that passes for a cup of joe these days.

tiermat · « **Reply #4 on:** 22 November, 2012, 02:31:13 pm »

Quote from: Charlotte on 22 November, 2012, 02:26:17 pm

Decent coffee.

Seriously - most people seem to go through their entire lives drinking the sort of acrid muck that passes for a cup of joe these days.

I'll see you this and raise you decent tea. Like coffee there are those that believe the mass produced stuff you get from the local Spar/Co-op/7-Eleven* is the height of sophistication and good taste (don't get me started on "premium" brand instant coffee)

*Delete as appropriate according to location

Canardly · « **Reply #5 on:** 22 November, 2012, 02:37:30 pm »

That Brazil nuts contain radium. (and lots of other interesting things)

Cudzoziemiec · « **Reply #6 on:** 22 November, 2012, 10:21:45 pm »

Folding tyres.

Perky · « **Reply #7 on:** 22 November, 2012, 10:30:42 pm »

String

It's all tie-wraps and velcro and straps with fancy buckles and whatnot these days

aidan.f · « **Reply #8 on:** 22 November, 2012, 10:44:36 pm »

(Upright) Tricycles

Kim · « **Reply #9 on:** 22 November, 2012, 10:50:40 pm »

Hub dynamos.

De-soldering braid.

Vibrating alarm clocks.

Typetalk and equivalent relay services.

Scripted backups.

Nick Clegg's political career.

rogerzilla · « **Reply #10 on:** 23 November, 2012, 10:26:28 am »

Quote from: geraldc on 22 November, 2012, 01:36:20 pm

The thing on rear view mirrors to flip them slightly so they don't dazzle you when a car is behind you.

The POB has an auto dimming feature instead. It works.

Most people don't know about the free paper towels outside supermarkets, for wiping wet trolley handles.

Peter · « **Reply #11 on:** 23 November, 2012, 10:30:18 am »

Most supermarkets don't know about it, either.

tiermat · « **Reply #12 on:** 23 November, 2012, 10:35:55 am »

Back on a cycling theme, most people don't know how loud that un-exceptional looking cyclist on a Green On-One can shout. Until they upset him, that is....

Wobbly John · « **Reply #13 on:** 23 November, 2012, 12:23:04 pm »

Quick releases's on caliper brakes.

Woofage · « **Reply #14 on:** 23 November, 2012, 01:40:01 pm »

Quote from: geraldc on 22 November, 2012, 01:36:20 pm

The thing on rear view mirrors to flip them slightly so they don't dazzle you when a car is behind you.

Do they still have that feature? Our current pack horse and (at least) the previous 2 have done it automatically.

Fountain pen ink that isn't blue or black.

Wowbagger · « **Reply #15 on:** 23 November, 2012, 01:51:58 pm »

The remnants of the pimple just under my right buttock.

tatanab · « **Reply #16 on:** 23 November, 2012, 01:52:58 pm »

Quote from: Woofage on 23 November, 2012, 01:40:01 pm

Quote from: geraldc on 22 November, 2012, 01:36:20 pm
The thing on rear view mirrors to flip them slightly so they don't dazzle you when a car is behind you.
Do they still have that feature? Our current pack horse and (at least) the previous 2 have done it automatically.

I've never had a car with an automatic one.

In about 1990 I picked up a hire car and drove it with my head pressed to one side (I am 5ft 8in). When I stopped to collect a colleague I asked him to drive. Of course he lowered the seat straight away. At that time I did not know that such a feature existed, never mind where to find the lever.

urban_biker · « **Reply #17 on:** 23 November, 2012, 01:54:01 pm »

Quote from: Wowbagger on 23 November, 2012, 01:51:58 pm

The remnants of the pimple just under my right buttock.

I call off-topic. This should be in the thread "Things people don't know exist and would rather not find out"

De Sisti · « **Reply #18 on:** 23 November, 2012, 01:58:49 pm »

Quote from: Wobbly John on 23 November, 2012, 12:23:04 pm

Quick releases's on caliper brakes.

Little screw (Shimano) or allen-key bolt (Campag) on brake calipers that are for adjusting brake caplipers.

hubner · « **Reply #19 on:** 23 November, 2012, 02:01:27 pm »

Quote from: geraldc on 22 November, 2012, 01:36:20 pm

The thing on rear view mirrors to flip them slightly so they don't dazzle you when a car is behind you.

It seems most drivers don't know about the in-car knob for adjusting the beam angle of their so called dipped lights. Dipped lights are suppose to point downwards, not almost straight ahead like a main beam.

tatanab · « **Reply #20 on:** 23 November, 2012, 02:09:46 pm »

Quote from: hubner on 23 November, 2012, 02:01:27 pm

It seems most drivers don't know about the in-car knob for adjusting the beam angle of their so called dipped lights.

The only vehicle I've ever had with one of these was a 1970s Renault (a 16, fine car for carrying bikes). Perhaps my aspirations on car ownership are too far down the pecking order of features.

Jacomus · « **Reply #21 on:** 23 November, 2012, 02:19:12 pm »

Quote from: tatanab on 23 November, 2012, 02:09:46 pm

Quote from: hubner on 23 November, 2012, 02:01:27 pm
It seems most drivers don't know about the in-car knob for adjusting the beam angle of their so called dipped lights.
The only vehicle I've ever had with one of these was a 1970s Renault (a 16, fine car for carrying bikes). Perhaps my aspirations on car ownership are too far down the pecking order of features.

Our, now deceased, bottom of the range P-Reg Micra had one.

Many new cars have self levelling lights, though of course the efficacy of which is predicated on their correct unloaded set up.

rogerzilla · « **Reply #22 on:** 23 November, 2012, 02:20:05 pm »

Quote from: tatanab on 23 November, 2012, 02:09:46 pm

Quote from: hubner on 23 November, 2012, 02:01:27 pm
It seems most drivers don't know about the in-car knob for adjusting the beam angle of their so called dipped lights.
The only vehicle I've ever had with one of these was a 1970s Renault (a 16, fine car for carrying bikes). Perhaps my aspirations on car ownership are too far down the pecking order of features.

All cars made since about 1998 have them, unless they have auto headlamp levelling (required for HIDs).

dave r · « **Reply #23 on:** 23 November, 2012, 05:53:39 pm »

Off topic and personally very embarrassing. A few years ago I hired a car for a trip to Kent, I got down the M1 from Coventry almost to the M25 before I discovered it had 5 gears,

there was nothing on the gear stick or any where else in the car showing the gear pattern and the hire company hadn't shown me, though I should have worked it out sooner.

Pancho · « **Reply #24 on:** 23 November, 2012, 08:43:18 pm »

I once borrowed my wife's car. Drove off and arrived at my destination. And found NO HANDBRAKE. There was a release thingy that she'd pointed out to me to get going. But it didn't put the handbrake on - it just released it. Had to drive back again and ask her. To be told to use a weird "extra pedal" and that every car she'd ever had was so equipped.