Commuting - Outnumbered

We commuting cyclists are outnumbered, both by motorists and by other cyclists.

There is something about this that makes us think differently. We have to be self-motivating. Immune to criticism. Steadfast.
Without need of someone else to light a fire under our fannies.

We will go on beyond the fads.

Fresh off a mid-size stint in college, I was poor, partially educated and under employed. Due to these combination of factors, I found a car was impractical to own. Thus begun my bicycle commuting career. Even the long Iowa winters weren't harsh enough to convince me to buy a car and I soon discovered I was tough enough to cycle year around.

Now, nine years later, gainfully employed with a 401K and enough mutual funds to make up a nice, little nest egg, I still do not own a car. Not that I don't drive my GF's car once in a while, but I don't see any reason to have a car of my own. As I have gotten older, certainly I can see how owning a car becomes more of a necessity, but somehow, I think I will never be in a two car family.

So, Pete, do I think differently? I like to think that I think just right.

A little off the topic, or maybe not, but how do you get around during the winter in Iowa? I went to college down the road from ya in Mt. Vernon and dang those winters were harsh!

Dave

This has been a maddening season for me. I was riding most everyday until right around x-mas when the bike slipped out from under me and I bruised my tail bone. It gave me a reason not to ride, and I got comfortable. Now, it's been two weeks since I was last on the bike, and it's getting to me.
Commuting is a blast! I love getting out there and pushing myself. I need it. My job's been stressful lately, and pushing not just the six miles but an extra 14-24 miles a day is like a relief.
arghhh

Originally posted by Dwagenheim
A little off the topic, or maybe not, but how do you get around during the winter in Iowa? I went to college down the road from ya in Mt. Vernon and dang those winters were harsh!
Dave

Winter biking is a lot of fun...if done correctly. I have always said that there is no bad weather, only bad clothing choices.

Mt. Vernon's a great little town. One of my good friends went to Cornell. Nothing like the U of I, though.

i think the hardest part is dealing with people's expectations... for a while i had a car that i rarely drove and always had to explain why i chose to bike instead...

for example, someone would invite me to dinner or i'd call a local business and ask for directions or whatever and then they'd give me directions via the Interstate... i'd have to explain i'd be coming on my bike and thus not on the Interstate...

plus all the offers for a ride "so i wouldn't have to ride the bike' or 'because of the bad weather [where any sane person obviously wouldn't ride a bike]"

now that i don't have i car, i think i still confuse people, but at least it's easier to say "i don't have a car" than "i'm leaving the car at home and i'll be coming by bike"

i also race MTBs and do long-distance bike tours plus many other sports, so i can also "explain" my cycle-commuting as training.

but it definitely takes some getting used to the questions, criticism and confusion from the car-dominate culture around us.

as for the winter:: i've never lived someplace with huge snow accumulation (western massachusetts has lots of snow on the ground and snows of 3ft+ but not huge huge snowplow piles everywhere), so i use studded tires and all the technica clothes (neoprene overshoes, snowboarding gloves, skull cap under helmut, etc) and winter riding works out very OK... these things aren't cheap but they're not any more expensive than winter car accessories like snow tires and de-icer and extra coolant, etc.