General Cycling Discussion - Why do Americans consider bicycles toys? A theory

I've seen threads recently in which angry cyclists curse clueless motorists. In one thread many posters said they feel uncomfortable in their local bike shop because of the arrogance of the clerks. Another deals with bad feelings on the part of a rider who was ridiculed for the jersey he or she wore.

Why do Americans think of bikes as toys?

Too many cyclists behave like children.

Comes with the territory.
Riding keeps us young.

Why do Americans think of bikes as toys?

.


Because most people stop riding bikes after they get their driver's licenses.

For most of us they are toys!

I regard my bike like I regard my skis or my in-line skates. Pure toys for the enjoyment of the soul.

the extremely long distance the nearest walmart is from the house.

Pain Train - you from Orangevale? I met my wife in Orangevale and have a special place in my heart for it.

To answer your question, it has to do with how important the almight automobile is here in this country. If more Americans were to utilize other methods of transportation - bike, bus, train, etc. - then the public perception of the credibility of each of them would rise significantly. We are taught at a very young age that a car represents the freedom to exercise many choices that people who don't have cars cannot.

55/Rad

Um not to mention the fact that you can fit 2 or 3 moderate sized european countries inside the state of TX. The fact that the US is so geographically large has quite a bit to do with out dependence on the auto, like it or not.

I've seen threads recently in which angry cyclists curse clueless motorists. In one thread many posters said they feel uncomfortable in their local bike shop because of the arrogance of the clerks. Another deals with bad feelings on the part of a rider who was ridiculed for the jersey he or she wore.

Why do Americans think of bikes as toys?

Too many cyclists behave like children.

Only those dedicated to driving think bikes are toys. And far too many cagers think their personalities are linked to their transportation.

I recall being in an accident in 1983 and telling the insurance co. of the kook that hit me that my bike cost $900, and they just freaked... $900... they wanted "salvage rights." "Sure" my reply... "two tacoed wheels and a bent frame and handle bars... no problem."

"How can anyone own a $900 bike?"

"I don't own a car."

It's just a bicycle, there's really not that much to it.
Stop being so thin skinned.

It's just a bicycle, there's really not that much to it.
Stop being so thin skinned.


Not a matter of thin skin, but of the attitude that one gets from drivers that feel you should be on the sidewalk... or anywhere but "in their way."

Pain Train - you from Orangevale? I met my wife in Orangevale and have a special place in my heart for it.



As Oakland is to San Francisco, so Orangevale is to Folsom.

Just someplace to hold up the other end of the bridge. :D

It's just a bicycle, there's really not that much to it.

I think I have an unhealthy obsession with my bikes, cause I just can't relate to that. Especially my first real road bike that I bought about 20 years ago & still put over 2000 miles/per year on. It's a bond. I definately don't consider it a toy. It's like a member of my family. :)

Why do Americans think of bikes as toys?

Many Americans think of cars as toys too. I know many that are obssessed with their vehicles like some of us are with bicycles. It's part of our crazy culture.... We regard many things as toys.
My collection of bicycles is just hobby for me. But cycling is part hobby and part way of life for me, as besides running, it keeps me in ideal physical condition.

Many Americans think of cars as toys too. I know many that are obssessed with their vehicles like some of us are with bicycles. It's part of our crazy culture....
My collection of bicycles and cycling are just a hobby for me.

I agree.

When ever I say this to an old car collector. He sees my point of view.

One writer said that if you looked at us from space, you'd conclude the dominant life form was the car. It's crazy, but that's what we are.

I think I have an unhealthy obsession with my bikes, cause I just can't relate to that. Especially my first real road bike that I bought about 20 years ago & still put over 2000 miles/per year on. It's a bond. I definately don't consider it a toy. It's like a member of my family. :)

i had a Sam Benotto like that, I did give it away, i told him to not throw it away if he didn't want it.
I bought a new bike last year, I can't wait to buy a new touring bike next, so new is good too.
It's more about me riding, than what I'm riding.

Because most people stop riding bikes after they get their driver's licenses.

Exactly.

Um not to mention the fact that you can fit 2 or 3 moderate sized european countries inside the state of TX. The fact that the US is so geographically large has quite a bit to do with out dependence on the auto, like it or not.

True, very true, In Europe there is more of a local flavor to everything. The smaller countries and the geography make biking to work a shorter ride and more typical. It just seems like more of a big deal to go a long way too, because you're going into another country, the language is different, the money is different, the customs to go through,etc.it keeps a lot of people thinking local.

Over here you drive to work a long way in a straight line with less problems.

Also Europe is thousands of years old, bikes and narrow roads were well into the culture when cars came along. Many cities have very close quarters. The town was there before the car.

The roads over here were made for cars before the town in many cases. Instead of the other way around.

This country is just a kid, only two hundred years old, the cars were there when we were becoming a teenager. Maybe in a thousand years we will have smaller cars and bikes will be more accepted.

As Oakland is to San Francisco, so Orangevale is to Folsom.

Just someplace to hold up the other end of the bridge. :D


i...never thought about oakland like that, but you're right.

god i gotta get out of here. :(

Why do Americans think of bikes as toys?

Too many cyclists behave like children.

Precisely. If you ride it like it's a toy, people will treat you like you are riding a toy.

One writer said that if you looked at us from space, you'd conclude the dominant life form was the car. It's crazy, but that's what we are.

I think I saw that as a cartoon on PBS - it was really funny!

some even think of women as toys (not implying specific nationalities), i think it´s about respect and love. i love my bike and for me it´s not a toy, just like what nick says it´s more a member of the family.

The United States was still very much early in its development when motor vehicles arrived. So, there was still great possibility of planning and building towns, cities, workplaces, etc., with the car in mind. Just to provide some contrast, in Europe, there was less possibility for complete bottom-up development of these things by the time cars came onto the scene.

So, now cars very important for intercity travel in the United States. Distances are often not so amenable to biking as, say, in Europe. So, bikes are more often just toys here.

Unless a bicycle is used for transportation (ie: taking miles away from a motorcar - which is only a very small percentage of U.S. bicyclers) then it IS a toy.

Agreed.

I don't see what the big deal is with america looking at them as toys. I don't care (I am alittle different situation) Why does anyone care if people view them as a sport, toy or transportation. Being any one thing won't make a difference to the lazy people actually riding them.

Personally I use 2 bikes as toys and 1 as a commuter, is this somehow evil or wrong?

the extremely long distance the nearest walmart is from the house.

I consider that a Good Thing (TM) ;)

Um not to mention the fact that you can fit 2 or 3 moderate sized european countries inside the state of TX. The fact that the US is so geographically large has quite a bit to do with out dependence on the auto, like it or not.
As I recall France is bigger than Texas.Besides, I do not consider a ride across Texas to be a challenge..Not even 1/5 the distance of North America...
I think it has mostly to do with our status placed upon stupid cars and a selfishness that all the world's resources belongs to us...

Why do Americans consider bicycles (to be) toys?
They've seen our BMX section?

Maybe in a thousand years we will have smaller cars and bikes will be more accepted.

If there are any people around in 1000 years, they won't be driving cars. No Gasoline!!! LOL!!!

But they might still be biking!

The problem is when car drivers think bicycles are toys, they try to drive bicyclists of the road by playing "Whack-the-Bicycle".

Do you depend on your bike to get to work or as a part of your income, it is a tool.
If you ride purely for fun, it is a toy.

If you ride for work AND have fun...you're just lucky.

Agreed. You will see a very different attitude toward cycling in the recreational forums (like BMX and Road Cycling) than you see in the Commuting section. The recent discussions about the denial of service in drive-thru's also demonstrates a difference. People who use their bikes as toys don't see this as a big deal.

I think the fast food thing is really lame

I think the fast food thing is really lame
It's not just fast food, it's the bank, the pharmacy, etc., etc., etc. But to avoid a thread jack, more comments on the drive-thru issue should probably go to this well-established thread (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=8845&page=6) (already on it's 6th page) in the advocacy forum.

Sorry for introducing a potential thread-jack topic.

some even think of women as toys (not implying specific nationalities), i think it´s about respect and love. i love my bike and for me it´s not a toy, just like what nick says it´s more a member of the family.

It's nothing more than an inanimate object.
It's about riding, not WHAT you are riding.

As I recall France is bigger than Texas.Besides, I do not consider a ride across Texas to be a challenge..Not even 1/5 the distance of North America...
I think it has mostly to do with our status placed upon stupid cars and a selfishness that all the world's resources belongs to us...

Yes but France is a BIG country in europe and that is exactly my point we are talking about countries that are the size of our states. My father rode from San Fran to VA beach in 2003 and it took him 56 days I believe. It wouldn't take 56 days of riding to cross any 2 countries in europe.

Plus what the others have said cities in europe were built hundreds of years before the existance of the car and in the US the car came very early and allowed the development of many far reaching areas.

It's nothing more than an inanimate object.
It's about riding, not WHAT you are riding.

No way man. My bike has a soul. :D

No way man. My bike has a soul. :D


Have a picture posted of it anywhere?

Have a picture posted of it anywhere?

I have one of my commuters in the commuter forum:

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=49471&page=8&pp=25

It's an old Puch Mistral SLE.

I just picked up an old Motobecane Grand Touring off ebay & decked it out with Conti cross tires for the winter commute. Love it. I'll post that one soon.

The bike I'm referring to in my earlier posts is a Puch Luzern I built up with first gen. Campy Athena. Heavy components, but beautiful Baroque style. Had the frame repainted by CycleArt a couple years ago and recently found a pantographed Cinelli stem for it last year, same as in my signature. I'll see if I can get a pic up soon.

And yes, I'm stuck in the 70's & 80's ;)

I really don't think that this is true - at least no more than Americans think cars, motorcycles, etc. are toys. In fact it bothers me far more that cars are treated like toys and folks treat driving like a video game.

Al

Personally I use 2 bikes as toys and 1 as a commuter, is this somehow evil or wrong?

"The only difference between men and boys.....", as my grandma used to say.

"The only difference between men and boys.....", as my grandma used to say.

I can't figure out what you are trying to say with this. It can either be taken as an insult or otherwise.

Is a treadmill a toy?

True, very true, In Europe there is more of a local flavor to everything. The smaller countries and the geography make biking to work a shorter ride and more typical. It just seems like more of a big deal to go a long way too, because you're going into another country, the language is different, the money is different, the customs to go through,etc.it keeps a lot of people thinking local.
You may have something there, but nowadays if you cross borders within the EU the money will be the same (within the Monetary union countries) and there won't be much of a customs to go through.

Also, I don't know if one's commuting distance varies by the geographical size of their country alone. Even the freaks in the Commuting Forum seem to think think a 40-50 kms commute one way is a lot. That sort of distance is easy to find in a country, unless you live in the Vatican, Monaco or some such place.

--J

Is a treadmill a toy?

A treadmill's a tool for achieving & maintaining fitness.

I can't figure out what you are trying to say with this. It can either be taken as an insult or otherwise.

Sorry, the entire quote is "The only difference between men and boys is the price of their toys."

No offense intended.

Is a treadmill a toy?

Most homes I see them in, it's a very expensive clothes rack.

Sorry, the entire quote is "The only difference between men and boys is the price of their toys."

No offense intended.

I knew the quote almost seemed familiar. Yeah I suppose if I was 13 it would be a BMX, now, it is an oversized bmx and undersized mtb haha Amazing how that adds 2000$ to the cost of the bike.

A treadmill's a tool for achieving & maintaining fitness.


That's what my bike is then, I just happen to enjoy this method of fitness.

That's what my bike is then, I just happen to enjoy this method of fitness.

Agreed. I couldn't say that my bike's a toy, because I don't play with it. I use it/them for specific purposes like transportation or fitness (physical and mental ;) ).

Enjoy a treadmill?! :eek:

I don't much of an answer to the toy theory, except that for some people, bikes are what kids use. This attitude is not exclusive to Americans.

As for drivers being jerks, cyclists are just another group to be mad at. These people (most of us, at some point) also get mad at ball-cap-wearing-Civic-drivers, woman, Grandpa-with-a-hat, SUVs, etc. You name it, someone is getting mad at them.

I knew the quote almost seemed familiar. Yeah I suppose if I was 13 it would be a BMX, now, it is an oversized bmx and undersized mtb haha Amazing how that adds 2000$ to the cost of the bike.

That's why people think bicycles are toys. The majority of people riding on city streets are kids on BMX bikes and $99.00 dollar Huffy's. It's rare to see a top of the line road bike or any good bike during the work week.