Fifty Plus (50+) - did anyone catch this?

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/07/fear-and-cycling/

nice.

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/07/fear-and-cycling/

nice.

"When I’m balanced on two thin wheels at 30 miles an hour..."

A BS Flag has been thrown on the play.

"When I’m balanced on two thin wheels at 30 miles an hour..."

A BS Flag has been thrown on the play.

What? You figure he never goes downhill? I'm a fraidy cat just like he is, and even I've hit 30 mph on some downhills.

I thought it was an interesting article. He writes very well.

Well done, once he got past the slightly too long neurotic intro. 30mph may seem unrealistic to a flatlander, but I rarely do a ride where I don't exceed that at some point, usually while coasting.

I routinely go over 30mph even in the city > http://connect.garmin.com/activity/117323775
With all the hills we have in San Francisco it is hard to avoid.


Wow just realized this is my first post here. I've spent most of my time at the Velonews forum, Paceline (formerly Serotta forum), Weight Weenies and Road Bike Review.

We have little in the way of hills here and I routinely hit 34 on almost every ride. Not hard to do. Didn't get past his first two paragraphs. Dork-writing.

Well done, once he got past the slightly too long neurotic intro. 30mph may seem unrealistic to a flatlander, but I rarely do a ride where I don't exceed that at some point, usually while coasting.

I know, as do I. He's in Manhattan, with traffic... at least that's the imagery and setting of his piece. I'd be hard pressed to go much over 20 mph there. You'd have to have a death wish. That's all I'm saying. The two don't go together. 30 mph on the open road. Okay.

Summaries help others decide whether to bother reading. It is an entertaining piece about a typical guy neurotically waking up in the night with various fears - mostly trivial - and plagued by worries during the day. The only time he is anxious is while on the bike in NYC traffic. Here is his conclusion:


"...Your brain’s glad to finally have a real job to do, instead of all that trivial busywork. You are all action, no deliberation.You are forced, under pain of death, to quit all that silly ideation and pay attention. It’s meditation at gunpoint.I’m convinced these are the conditions in which we evolved to thrive: under moderate threat of death at all times, brain and body fully integrated, senses on high alert, completely engaged with our environment..."

Enjoyable read.

I couldn't finish the second paragraph. That guy needs therapy. A lot of it. I guess the neurotic intro is an attempt to connect with his audience, but I think it's a polarizer: if a person can empathize his neuroses, there's a connection. If not, it alienates the reader. I fell into the second group. If I want to read stuff like that, I open a Pcad thread.

EDIT: Thanks, donheff, for pulling the best nugget out of the piece. I can certainly identify with that snippet. It is kind of exhilarating to herd cars.

I didn't read past the second paragraph either, the whole Woody Allen, neurotic self-examination thing is so not my style.

Terrible writer but good message, once I could dig through to get it.

Typical baby-boomer navel-gazing neurotic BS.

I didn't read past the second paragraph either, the whole Woody Allen, neurotic self-examination thing is so not my style.

Random question: Do you ever read Bike Snob NYC? Do you like it?

Typical Gen X-er navel-gazing neurotic BS.

fify

I thought the writing was good. Sometimes how you say it is more important than what you say..

I enjoyed the writing, I liked the message, I thought it was all good. But then I like Woody Allen too. Well, I like Diane Keaton better, but still . . . I don't have all those worries he has but it was fun reading about them!

Rick / OCRR

The description of going into a medative state because of all the things you are processing is spot on.

De gustibus non est dispudandum.


It was a well-written article, one with which I have a great deal of sympathy.

The thought of drowning really creeps me out, as does the Zombie Apocalypse. Be ready.

Summaries help others decide whether to bother reading. It is an entertaining piece about a typical guy neurotically waking up in the night with various fears - mostly trivial - and plagued by worries during the day. The only time he is not anxious is while on the bike in NYC traffic. Here is his conclusion:

"...Your brain’s glad to finally have a real job to do, instead of all that trivial busywork. You are all action, no deliberation.You are forced, under pain of death, to quit all that silly ideation and pay attention. It’s meditation at gunpoint.I’m convinced these are the conditions in which we evolved to thrive: under moderate threat of death at all times, brain and body fully integrated, senses on high alert, completely engaged with our environment..."

Enjoyable read.

Good summary, but I fixed a word that you missed (bolded), otherwise it would be a bit confusing. :)