Bicycle Rant

[snubbyfan]

Seeing how some folks are posting their rides, it thought it funny how after racing, TT's randos etc, I'm back riding my first new bike-bought 30 years ago. Some sort of circle of life thing

We see those contraptions out on the Towpath occasionally. Looks like a more comfortable way to go for a nice long bike ride.

 

[Onomea]

I was riding up Park Avenue, NYC, just south of the PanAm building, one day about 50 years ago when a pedestrian in front of me in the crosswalk began behaving like a squirrel in front of an approaching car, darting first one way and then another. I moved one way, back again, etc., until, finally, I slammed on the brakes, skidded, and stopped right in front of the guy. He fell over, without my making contact, ripping off my shirt pocket as he did so.

We did not exchange a word, but if looks could kill we’d have both been dead meat!

In retrospect, of course, I should have slowed down or just stopped. Was young and foolish, etc.

But it is a memory that still makes me realize how maneuverable, nimble, a bicycle is. Nowadays, when walking, and one approaches, I just stop. Sometimes, from behind, I’ll hear an “On your left!” I just stop dead, rather than trying to move out of the way to the right. By the time I have figured out which way to move to avoid the cyclist, he/she’s long gone.

 

[Gamecock]

'Roads are for vehicles not a bunch of bored housewives'

Roads are for everyone. You can even walk.

 

[BC38]

Wow, so much hate for something that may actually get you in shape.
I ride my bicycle on the greenways, areas set aside for riders, walkers, joggers, skateboarders, etc.
I will not deal with all the rude, distracted cagers.

It may do well for people to get out and ride considering Americans are bursting at the waistlines of their pants.

I have to ask...

What is up with the HATE thing? Disliking something isn't hate. Disagreeing with someone isn't hate. Hate is a very strong word and one that is being so frequently misused and overused - mostly by Millenial types for the purpose of hyperbole - that it is loosing any real meaning.

There are very few things that most people feel strongly enough about for it to qualify as something they HATE. For me, bicycles and bicycle riders certainly aren't one of them. And they probably aren't for 99% of the people - including the ones in here.

 

[llowry61]

Wow, I had a couple of beers and decided to throw this up as I really don't start many if any threads. I even got a ding for my creative spelling which now I know about. I can see why they don't allow politics, religion etc.

Thanks to all for participating and sharing it has be an interesting "ride".

 

[DeathGrip]

For those that got their panties in a wad,

That explains spandex.
_____________________________________________

Don't take everything you read too seriously.

 

[Puller]

I have to ask...

What is up with the HATE thing? Disliking something isn't hate. Disagreeing with someone isn't hate. Hate is a very strong word and one that is being so frequently misused and overused - mostly by Millenial types for the purpose of hyperbole - that it is loosing any real meaning.

There are very few things that most people feel strongly enough about for it to qualify as something they HATE. For me, bicycles and bicycle riders certainly aren't one of them. And they probably aren't for 99% of the people - including the ones in here.

You are exactly right, words used to have meaning but now days words which used to have significant meaning are bandied around quite freely. Not calling anyone out here, but usually internet cowards go all out on unnecessarily strong words to make their point seem significant. It's too bad.

 

[delcrossv]

We see those contraptions out on the Towpath occasionally. Looks like a more comfortable way to go for a nice long bike ride.

It is. Sort of like a La-Z-Boy with wheels.

 

[kmyers]

The safe from everything way to ride in comfort while exercising.

Air conditioned house, with fans going while watching TV and movies on a computer screen.

 

[ladder13]

Lot’s of wadded panties it seems.

 

[snubbyfan]

It is. Sort of like a La-Z-Boy with wheels.

I'll be thinkin' of that on tomorrow's ride while I'm sittin' on Frankenbike's hard little seat.


Yes, I'll be wearing spandex, a tank top, a bike helmet and my special cycling shoes.

 

[snubbyfan]

The safe from everything way to ride in comfort while exercising.

Air conditioned house, with fans going while watching TV and movies on a computer screen.

I'll ride our home spin bike for an hour or so when the weather's too yucky to go outside to play.
Keeps me in biking form.

 

[ladder13]

For the record, yes I wear padded spandex. Do you wear hearing protection, or safety eyewear to protect something?

 

[johngalt]

..words which used to have significant meaning are bandied around quite freely. ... but usually internet cowards ... unnecessarily strong words to make their point seem significant.

??? (need 10 chars buy don't know what else to say)

 

[Eltioloco]

[ame]https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KB_lTKZm1Ts&fbclid=IwAR2u4783HYFEo7KwlQqGUvPY5vRurK1LHRIT-wv8XAEH5dsZ2-_1DRE7ZvY&feature=share[/ame]
I quit riding on the streets for fear of being hit again by a car. There have been a couple friends killed by distracted drivers. If you cycle you should obey the traffic laws, and if your are driving a car, give cyclists a little room, it won’t kill you.

 

[Absalom]

That’s a great test. “Moon-walking bear” is good . It’s usually known as the Gorilla Test because the original researchers used a guy in a gorilla suit. First time I was shown it, nobody including me saw the gorilla.

Brings up an important point. Despite all the heavy-duty complaining here, bicyclists aren’t a very common component of daily traffic in the US, and American drivers never develop any standardized skills how to deal with them. So they don’t “see” them the way drivers in bicycle-heavy countries do.

On the flipside, there is no bicycle culture where riders internalize safe behavior either, and not enough riders to justify bike paths everywhere.

The result: uneasy encounters in the road that make people nervous, that translates into anger, and voila, we have threads like this one

 

[delcrossv]

I'll be thinkin' of that on tomorrow's ride while I'm sittin' on Frankenbike's hard little seat.
...

Ow, ow, ow! Thank you, no. Gave up on those 30+ years ago and never looked back.

 

[BC38]

I'll be thinkin' of that on tomorrow's ride while I'm sittin' on Frankenbike's hard little seat.

That looks like a torture device to me.
My bike seat is at least 2-3 times that wide, and spring mounted.
I'm built for comfort - not for speed. So is my bike.

 

[johngalt]

I'll be thinkin' of that on tomorrow's ride while I'm sittin' on Frankenbike's hard little seat.


Yes, I'll be wearing spandex, a tank top, a bike helmet and my special cycling shoes.

Brooks! I have a B17N on mine. The break-in period can be rough, but is by far the best saddle I've found.

 

[snubbyfan]

Ow, ow, ow! Thank you, no. Gave up on those 30+ years ago and never looked back.

It's actually not as bad as it looks. Fits my sit bones, has a kevlar cover and titanium rails.
The titanium flexes a bit and helps to cushion the little bumps.
I've got several thousands of miles on that saddle.
Even so, it still ain't as comfy as my easy chair.