It started when some young men in Oakland California decided to “scrape” their bikes because they couldn’t afford the cars that were the original scrapers. They then made a video rapping about their bikes, posted it on YouTube. Other people posted their scraper vids. and mock scraper vids and a phenomenon was born. 18 months later there’s a scraper bike section on YouTube and the vids are worth checking out for the comments alone – particularly like the shocked commenter who spots a scraped Bianchi Pista. One of the interesting things about most of the bikes in the vids thoughthe original scraper video is that the bikes aren’t all that flash one of them is is a trike – actually it looks like a Pashley Workbike and there’s what looks like a rather nice Pashley Tuberider in there. Pashley out on the edge as ever. And that tune is also so damn infectious. So what is scraping? Originally a collision of hip hop and car modding: cars with big rims and candy paint jobs, and, as the name suggests, scraper bikes is a collision of… hip hop and bicycles with big rims and candy paint jobs. The scraping bit refers to the fact that the original scrapers had rims so big that they scrape the inside of the wheel well. Basically it’s all about pimping your ride – with a big emphasis on the wheels. How soon till it goes mainstream? Well, check out the vid then look with fresh eyes at Trek’s new District… 
Scraper bikes… coming our way, or already here?
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@matthewn5 I don't see this as a problem. USB-C takes up more space and is not waterproof by design. It's the same reason why most watches have non USB-C charging pins. The most important bit is the other end, that plugs into the power source itself.
I declare myself officially brainwashed. My first thought about the 1,199 quid price tag was "Huh, not that bad".
@arowland Which again makes sense, given that such limits are for where vehicles are 'guests' in pedestrian spaces, and you're not going to be able to go much faster than a cyclist anyway, so attempting passes would be both pointless and inadvisable.
Brilliant, another new charger plug style. They really didn't get the USB-C memo did they? FFS, every iteration of Di2 has a new plug style.
These new (Spanish) rules sound good... providing all road users learn them and choose to abide by them.
@goodolfin And if *I* understood the article correctly, if the speed limit is 20km/h, cars can only overtake when stationary...
@MarsFlyer I like it without the band, as it’s more discrete (and the band design was getting on). But it’s personal preference. However, I dislike the price. £195 is exorbitant in my opinion.
@Zjtm231 I completely agree. So many streets around me have cars perpetually parked on one or both sides, effectively losing a lane of highway each way, and nobody even seems to be aware of the impact, but someone leaves a lime bike lying on its side and everyone loses their minds. I think the other point to make is that badly parked lime bikes are almost always left by thieves who take them without paying for them, or by hacking them. Anyone who actually uses lime bikes will know that they simply don't let you end the ride, unless and until you send them a photo of it parked neatly in a location where parking is permitted. So further outlawing/restricting hire bikes won't have any effect, because people who break the law don't take account of said further laws/restrictions.
@Zjtm231 I completely agree. So many streets around me have cars perpetually parked on one or both sides, effectively losing a lane of highway each way, and nobody even seems to be aware of the impact, but someone leaves a lime bike lying on its side and everyone loses their minds. I think the other point to make is that badly parked lime bikes are almost always left by thieves who take them without paying for them, or by hacking them. Anyone who actually uses lime bikes will know that they simply don't let you end the ride, unless and until you send them a photo of it parked neatly in a location where parking is permitted. So further outlawing/restricting hire bikes won't have any effect, because people who break the law don't take account of said further laws/restrictions.
@Paul J "You know that thing in your head you have that tells you to be careful? Yeah, we don't have that." – Mark Cavendish
2 thoughts on “Scraper bikes… coming our way, or already here?”
HAHAHAHAHA
That’s the first time i’ve ever seen a rap song dedicated to a tricycle. and they really look like they mean it. genius. that has absolutely made my day.
i remember seeing this a
i remember seeing this a couple of years ago, it must of been, and it still makes me laugh, a song dedicated to a scraper. Let it roll!