Living Car Free - Linebacker for Bengals is car-free!!

You guys have to check out the sept. issue of Bicycling mag. It has a short article on Dhani Jones, a linebacker for the Cincinnati Bengals who's car-free...and he rides a fixie!

He rides a Surly fixie to/from work and all over town (and even rides when it's cold/winter). He said that his teammates at first laughed at him but now they think the bike's cool (and especially some of the new parts he gets for it) and some of them borrow it to try riding it. He parks it right across from his locker, against a post (so essentially like everyone who leans it against their cubicle ;) ).

He's also apparently environmentally-minded and has done some work with Al Gore (yes, I know, but stil...) and given some talks himself. Pretty cool and unusual in the NFL.

Props to him. Lot of rich people talk the talk (Al Gore) but never walk the walk.

There are a few major league players and teams that either commute by bicycle or are encouraged to for fitness. Jones, a baseball team and a few basketball players have come up before in fixed gear, commuting and fitness threads respectively.

This is impressive. We rarely here about car free athletes but this should be well known because the majority of them spend all their money buying luxury cars. In fact, the only time athletes get any time is when they are showing off their huge homes and luxury autos.

There should be no shame in being car free and those that are should be looked at as role models. There are millions of folks right on the brink of bankruptcy driving cars they can't afford, yet these multi-millionaire sports players who do all this traveling all over the country can still manage to be car free. Think about it.

Surly FTW!!!!

Car-free athlete?? I am! Pro ice canoe racer, university rugby player....

.... oh, wait, you meant REAL pro players??? :D

(sorry, couldn't resist that; I'm bored at job today and it's still raining for the 56th day since the beginning of June)

Not long ago someone posted a story of a Baltimore sports team. Most of the team rode into training sessions on their bikes. / Cincinnati, strikes me as being bike unfriendly. So that is saying something.

Not long ago someone posted a story of a Baltimore sports team. Most of the team rode into training sessions on their bikes. / Cincinnati, strikes me as being bike unfriendly. So that is saying something.

Positive peer pressure at work.

Cincinnati, strikes me as being bike unfriendly. So that is saying something.

I lived in Cincinnati for 8 years. It is bicycle unfriendly, and in the winter it gets insanely cold. I don't care if his commute is only 3 blocks, it's still not easy when it's -10 degrees. Props to him for sticking with it year 'round there.

Hopefully as a well known (rich) athlete he can convince some younger people to try and be like him and wish for a new bike instead of a new car. :)

Not long ago someone posted a story of a Baltimore sports team. Most of the team rode into training sessions on their bikes. / Cincinnati, strikes me as being bike unfriendly. So that is saying something.

It's one thing to be some 47 year old hippie dude commuting to work at your non-profit. You think some random driver in Cincinnatti is going to get into it with Dhani Jones? Not to mention that if said driver were to hit and injure a Bengal's linebacker there would be far less "anti-cyclist" backlash and more "This asswipe just ruined our chance for the playoffs". We need more people like this riding bikes. There was definitely an Oakland Raider who rode to the stadium a few years back - I think he got out of some running at practice or something by convincing the coach that his ride was part of his workout.

...I think he got out of some running at practice or something by convincing the coach that his ride was part of his workout.
Great concept, actually. I bet if cycle commuting got aerobic workout credit, lots more players would do it.

that dude stinks! thank god he isnt on the eagles anymore!

but props for living car-free...haha

Props to him. Lot of rich people talk the talk (Al Gore) but never walk the walk.

TGFT!

A Cincinnati Bungle who rides to the stadium? And not because his license is suspended for DUI?

(I kid, I kid.)

Great concept, actually. I bet if cycle commuting got aerobic workout credit, lots more players would do it.

When my daughter and I rode to her soccer games the coach mentioned that she arrived more ready to play than when her mother drove her. Some day word will get around to the over zealous soccer parents and more kids will bike to their games.

that's awesome. but i was wondering if it's amazing that a cyclist is car free

With as many hills as Cinnci has (IIRC), why would he want to ride a fixie? (Actually, why would anyone? If fixies are so great, why were freewheels and gears invented in the first place?)

A link to the article for those too lazy to use google: http://www.bicycling.com/article/0,6610,s1-3-12-17716-1,00.html

And freewheels and gears were invented for the same reason cars have automatic transmissions. Take from that what you will.

A link to the article for those too lazy to use google: http://www.bicycling.com/article/0,6610,s1-3-12-17716-1,00.html

I've seen that article. It still makes no sense.

What doesn't make sense? The article as a whole or the part about fixed gears? Basically, it's all positive that somebody rich and famous chooses to go car free and gets publicity for it, whatever kind of bike he rides. If only it got picked up by say, Sports Illustrated or something else not read just by bikers.

What doesn't make sense? The article as a whole or the part about fixed gears? Basically, it's all positive that somebody rich and famous chooses to go car free and gets publicity for it, whatever kind of bike he rides. If only it got picked up by say, Sports Illustrated or something else not read just by bikers.

The part about fixed gears, of course. It goes without saying that the fact that he's a car-free cyclist is a good thing. Before I read this thread I had no idea who he was, as I don't like American football, but I guess he's something of a role model for some people. But I just can't see the attraction of fixed gear; why make things harder for yourself?

We're still talking trendiness. A fixie is every bit as stylish (and a personal style accoutrement) as a dubbed-out Escalade. It's just a matter of which group appreciates which.

And yeah, both the above make about the same amount of sense to me.

With as many hills as Cinnci has (IIRC), why would he want to ride a fixie? (Actually, why would anyone? If fixies are so great, why were freewheels and gears invented in the first place?)

Fun, heightened fitness, training, spinning, major major style.

When my daughter and I rode to her soccer games the coach mentioned that she arrived more ready to play than when her mother drove her. Some day word will get around to the over zealous soccer parents and more kids will bike to their games.

I used to experience this when I was on a competitive football(soccer) team myself as a teen. I biked everywhere and for a while our games and practices were often 3-4 miles away. I loved it as it was a nice downhill ride to games and practices that allowed me to easily moderate my warmup and be ready to go. And I did get out of the 2 laps or w/e we did to start getting warm. To me at that point was more about saving my energy for the match/practice since I was warm more than trying to 'get out' of something.


I love that there are some high profile people showing that there are simple and effective ways to live.

I'm incredibly surprised the Bengals allow him to ride everyday.

Of course I think it's great.

But NFL teams are pretty paranoid with players and ANY physical activity other than their training regimen and pretty much anything with two wheels (motorcycles especially, Ben Roethlisberger anyone?). Good for them for letting him be.

but motorcycles have engines and can reach much higher speeds without much effort, as apposed to bikes. and wasn't roethlisberger not wearing a helmet?

but motorcycles have engines and can reach much higher speeds without much effort, as apposed to bikes. and wasn't roethlisberger not wearing a helmet?

As we are told frequently on these boards, helmets are for wimps.

that' guy is really screwing up his media career. Now he'll never be featured on "cribs" without a couple bentley's, a Navigator, and a couple convertible low-riders.

His agent should drill some sense into that guy's head.

he could always rent some for the show. that's what i did :D

but motorcycles have engines and can reach much higher speeds without much effort, as apposed to bikes. and wasn't roethlisberger not wearing a helmet?

Yes they can go much faster - but Roethlisberger was going around 30mph and a lady pulled out infront of him. I hit 30mph on my morning bicycle commute and I'm fat. He went straight into the windshield w/out a helmet. Regardless of helmet - all it takes is a messed up shoulder or a jacked up knee - something that's easy to happen in an accident on a motorcycle or bicycle - to mess up a season or a career.

Also, one of the Browns players the year before was lost for a season due to motorcycle, and he did it in a parking lot. He was being a jackass - but sheer speed wasn't the culprit.

I'm as "pro-people-on-bikes" as anyone else on these boards, just pointing out I was surprised the team allows it.