Commuting - Is anyone else bothered by how bike companies enable drinking/riding

I've been thinking about this recently and wasn't sure where to discuss it. Since many people on this forum use their bikes are their primary source of transportation I would be interested in your opinion. I have become increasingly more annoying with how bike companies seem to glorify drinking and riding bicycles. Many bike companies describe their urban single speeds as "the perfect barhopper" or sell bottle opener attachments or even come with them on the bike themselves. It seems to me like this is fairly irresponsible behavior on the part of bike companies.

I am a firm believer that bikes belong on the road and should have the same rights/responsibilities as drivers (although I will admit to yielding at stop signs and running red lights that have sensors) and to me advertising drinking/riding seems grossly irresponsible on the part of bike companies. Not to say that I think people cannot make responsible decisions on their own, I just see it in poor taste to see bike companies glorifying it.You would never see a car that has a bottle opener as a special feature (I also realize that drunk driving can have far greater impacts than bicycles) .


/rant

No.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/541606-42Ride-A-huge-bike-ride-across-the-country-And-people-get-paid-to-do-it-!

Alcohol companies as corporate sponsors are different than bike companies encouraging people to drink while they ride

Biking while intoxicated (BWI?) is not illegal in every state. The Revised Code of Washington (state) has specific provisions that allow it.

Where's my bottle opener? :)

Seriously. Wasn't aware of it. I bought a brand new Trek 2 yrs ago. No mention of drinking, alcohol or bar hopping when I did.

http://www.performancebike.com/bikes/Product_10052_10551_1116293_-1___400317

"A no-nonsense single-speed bike that's perfect for commuting, cruising or bombing through the burbs, the SE Bikes Draft is easy-rolling, low-maintenance and as rugged as a horse. SE has spec'd the Draft with removable cable clips, high-profile double-wall rims and a seat-mounted bottle opener (cold beverages sold separately). "


http://forums.mtbr.com/beer-forum/bike-mounted-bottle-openers-644420.html

Here's a whole thread dedicated to different bottle openers on bikes


There's lots of stuff out there.

Meatwad, would you prefer they Drive?


NB: I live in a small Town with 3 Taxi companies, so here, people can take a cab home
for $5, including the tip.

I don't see anything wrong with bottle openers on bikes. If they had something that would help with recalcitrant twist off caps, that would be wrong.

I have some dropouts that have a bottle opener. Don't really have plans for a frame for them though.

Bar-hopping doesn't necessarily mean drunk cycling either. In any event, I'd rather have drunks on bikes than driving cars any day. Around here, they have charged people with DUI while operating horses and ride-on lawnmowers. I really don't see the problem with either of those two methods of conveyance -- as long as the horse isn't drunk.

Cycling while drunk would be stupid, but it only endangers the cyclist, not others on the road, unless there are pedestrians.

Last summer, I had a beer bottle in my handlebar bag and made a point to sip from it while pedaling. I guess I was feeling rebellious that day. I'm not sure what the laws in NJ are, but the cops never enforce traffic rules for cyclists, and I wish they did. I once ran a red light in front of a cop just to see if he'd stop me. He didn't.

I'm not really sure what my message here is. It looks jumbled to me, and I'm not drunk.

It doesn't bother me.

Fietsbob, if your town is that small people could probably walk everywhere.

Where's my bottle opener? :)

Seriously. Wasn't aware of it. I bought a brand new Trek 2 yrs ago. No mention of drinking, alcohol or bar hopping when I did.
Did you get an Earl? That's their bar hopper special- built into the split top tube ;).

Personally, I don't see it as 'enabling' as much as savvy marketing. Face it, most people (typically males) like to drink after physical activity- baseball, basketball, football, bike polo.... beer aids in recovery and not everyone likes to go hang out in a bar after a century ride either. Moderation is the key.

mexican cokes require bottle openers too brah.

Where's my bottle opener? :)

Seriously. Wasn't aware of it. I bought a brand new Trek 2 yrs ago. No mention of drinking, alcohol or bar hopping when I did.

Specialized used to have a front rack designed to carry a 6-pack, complete with built-in bottle opener.

mexican cokes require bottle openers too brah.

And so does IBC Root Beer :thumb:, and I think various flavors of Crush soda comes in non twist cap glass bottles as well.

if your town is that small people could probably walk everywhere.

90+% of it is on top of the hill and it , and it rains 9 months out of the year.

I must have missed this. Commuting home usually makes me thirsty for a beer, but I haven't had one on the way home yet.

Not really, no.

Doesn't bother me that much other than the basic hamhanded idiocy of it. It's just an effort to align cycling with other things that are considered cool to appeal to a certain demographic. Alcohol marketing itself is much more blatant and reaches a much larger audience.

In most situations an intoxicated cyclist poses the greatest risk to him/herself. I'm sure at some point some fool will try to sue the maker of their flask cage though.

Drinking has been a part of cycling culture for a long time. My cross team has a beer sponsor. Having a post-race beer or two before noon is beautiful thing.

We have a few around here too: Lange Twins Winery, Sierra Nevada Brewery.
There's a CX-centric team in Sacto called "Team Beer." BF member Cynikal races for them. Good guys.
Oh, and Two Rivers Cider is a big backer of our planned velodrome.

nah. i'm right near Ommegang brewery, so the 'cross / beer connection is well established. i've got a Surly Tugnutt w/ bottle opener on my Nature Boy, but have yet to use it as such....

our Monday night town rides start/end at a bar, so......

Obviously I could care less what you do once you are off the bike in your home, but many of these products imply that people will be drinking while on the bike. Why else would they attach a bottle opener directly to the bike itself? Anyway, I'm not holding a protest, just was bored at work and was thinking about how other people would feel on the subject. Also Mexican Coke rules.

Drinking seems to be encouraging bicycling in my area.

It certainly beats the alternative of breaking the bottle neck and leaving it in the path of the next cyclist.

But no, it's never occurred to me that it should be an issue. I'm guessing people buy them more for the cool factor than for regular use. It sounds less painful than getting a body piercing if one must stand out.

We commuters seem to be a pretty easy-going crowd. For a thrill, you might want to post this in Advocacy and Safety, or whatever that 100 year helmet war group is. Or for some good sarcastic and snarky comments, try it out in the 41 (Road cyclists).

Plus, around here this time of year, a good cup of coffee with Irish Creme, or cocoa with peppermint schnapps has more appeal than a cold one. I'll be looking for a bottle cage-sized thermos in my stocking this year...

Biking while intoxicated (BWI?) is not illegal in every state. The Revised Code of Washington (state) has specific provisions that allow it.

Is this state wide or just in certain Municipalities? What is the RC code #? Thanks!

when I saw this subject, I thought about Ahern flask cages (http://www.ahearnecycles.com/blog/2012/11/25/flasks-flask-holders-new-products.html)

thought about getting one, but I rarely drink the hard stuff

So guess somebody better put a bounty out on me. I have one of those Specialized Six-pack front racks with a built in bottle opener. Holds a case of Coke perfectly. Also got a 'beverage opener' included with set of Pedro's tools, and noticed that both clamps on the Pedro's work stand are ...... bottle openers.

Haven't seen it printed anywhere that those can only be used for beer - in fact -they've only been used for sodas. OK .... maybe I do have a thing for root-beer. And since most beer here is sold in cans or twist caps that don't require a bottle opener - assuming they'd be used for beer is ..... a big OOPS!

I suspect that beer opener thread just just started for amusement by a few bored individuals and none of this has anything to do with any beer companies anywhere. Anyone thats actually transported beer any distance on a bike knows that it needs to sit for quite a while afterwards to avoid foaming over.

Drinking seems to be encouraging bicycling in my area.

heh... that's kinda funny!

Seriously, I once saw an older fellow on a beater MTB that had a bottle of Jack strapped to his rear rack. He just left the liquor store. Made me smile...

And don't forget this:

http://www.labicicletta.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/1293x798/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/c/a/campagnolo-corkscrew-1.jpg

Just thought of this: Isn't there a bike company that makes a cage that holds a liquor flask? Not sure where I had seen that....

Just thought of this: Isn't there a bike company that makes a cage that holds a liquor flask? Not sure where I had seen that....
See post #25

^^^Surly

Bottle openers on a bike are stupid. Most parties I've been to there's not enough room in the house for all the bikes,so most folks have to lock up outside. You meet some cutie who needs an opener,what are you gonna do,take it outside to where your bike is locked up? By the time you come back somebody's already opened another one for her with their keychain or lighter.

And besides,PBR comes in cans anyway.:p

Kind of a self regulating problem both from a practical standpoint i.e. balance as a function of alcohol consumption and from an evolutionary/quality of the gene pool perspective.

J.

It certainly beats the alternative of breaking the bottle neck and leaving it in the path of the next cyclist.

But no, it's never occurred to me that it should be an issue. I'm guessing people buy them more for the cool factor than for regular use. It sounds less painful than getting a body piercing if one must stand out.

We commuters seem to be a pretty easy-going crowd. For a thrill, you might want to post this in Advocacy and Safety, or whatever that 100 year helmet war group is. Or for some good sarcastic and snarky comments, try it out in the 41 (Road cyclists).

Plus, around here this time of year, a good cup of coffee with Irish Creme, or cocoa with peppermint schnapps has more appeal than a cold one. I'll be looking for a bottle cage-sized thermos in my stocking this year...
There's been a few good discussions about bottle cage sized thermoses over the years. I like mine - it's got the scuff marks to prove I do too!

I wouldn't recommend getting plastered and then riding a bike. That said I'd prefer that sloshed people ride bicycles vs. drive a 3000+ pound weapon.

I wouldn't recommend getting plastered and then riding a bike. That said I'd prefer that sloshed people ride bicycles vs. drive a 3000+ pound weapon.

Statistically far, far more dangerous to you to cycle drunk than drive a car drunk. You just involve others when you drive your car sloshed.

I live 12.43 miles from the Rogue Brewery hopyard and tasting room. If I ride hard, that's a beer's worth of calories each direction. So I can start with two pints and go from there.....

http://forums.mtbr.com/beer-forum/bike-mounted-bottle-openers-644420.html

Here's a whole thread dedicated to different bottle openers on bikes


There's lots of stuff out there.

Perfect. Thanks for starting this thread, aquateen. I would have missed that thread otherwise.

Drunk cyclists that have crashed might increase helmet sales.

Drunk cyclists that have crashed might increase helmet sales.

True story. I've seen it happen.

Drunk cyclists that have crashed might increase helmet sales.

I see an opportunity for someone to start a Drunk Cyclists Helmet Thread in A & S.

I ride with a group that does pub crawls. We've had a few riders go down and bump their heads, had to call the ambulance two or three times. Suddenly, a lot more people wear helmets. Go figure.

I ride drunk when I'm camping, but never in an urban situation. There's something very Darwinian about that.

Which reminds me, a drunk ninja was killed somewhere around here recently when he raced down a hill and slammed into a truck.

^^^Surly

Bottle openers on a bike are stupid. Most parties I've been to there's not enough room in the house for all the bikes,so most folks have to lock up outside. You meet some cutie who needs an opener,what are you gonna do,take it outside to where your bike is locked up? By the time you come back somebody's already opened another one for her with their keychain or lighter.

And besides,PBR comes in cans anyway.:p

I'd take out my Leatherman if I need a bottle opener.

Putting a bottle opener on a bike seems kind of pointless to me. Drinking booze while riding will get you busted around here. Riding after drinking... depends how wobbly you are.

I am a lot more worried about drunk drivers then drunk cyclists. A drunk driver is a threat/danger to a lot of people, a drunk cyclist is only a danger to themselves.

um...no.

weeble woobles

One of my main requirements when buying my bike was that it had at least two 'cupholders'.

"Is anyone else bothered by how bike companies facilitate drinking/riding"?

Not me.

is this state wide or just in certain municipalities? What is the rc code #? Thanks!

RCW 46.61.790 (http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=46.61.790)

There's a lot of wiggle room in how this can be interpreted. I'll leave that to the lawyers.

I thought Ironic, Amgen a maker of EPO, an anemia treatment drug, often abused in Cycling,
Was the Sponsor of the Tour of California..

when I saw this subject, I thought about Ahern flask cages (http://www.ahearnecycles.com/blog/2012/11/25/flasks-flask-holders-new-products.html)

thought about getting one, but I rarely drink the hard stuff

And this, of course, would be the perfect compliment: http://profunn.blogspot.com/2011/04/bicycle-ashtray.html