dereksticks

In the past two days I have seen quite a few new commuters. I say they are new at it because of what I see them doing. For example; yesterday I saw a redneck looking guy with chain drive wallet , a huge back pack and steel toe boot's , going the wrong way up a busy street. Then right after that there was another guy with a big chrome motorcycle helmet and a large rucksack, smoking a cigarette. Also going the wrong way on the same road. Both were on those Wal-Mart type mtb's with suspension forks and knobby tires. niether looked very comfortable.

When I first started commuting, I did every thing wrong. It did not take long to realize that right turning traffic is not looking for me when I'm on the wrong side of the road and on the side walk. I nearly got creamed more than a couple of times.

I hope that alot of these high gas price commuters figure every thing out quick or I'm affraid that are going to be alot more accidents with cyclists this summer.

pedalMonger

"a big chrome motorcycle helmet" ... lol, I have one those. I'm not gonna wear it riding the pedal bike tho! Talk about over-heating, my brain would fry pumping pedals without a vented helmet

froze

I was wondering when someone would mention this here! I too have noticed a lot more bike commuters in the last 2 weeks. Use to be when I rode to work I would see none, usually one, maybe two other riders on a rare day going to work. Now I see at least 10 to 12 out there riding!

Problem is I find myself yelling at these other riders to stay alive by buying lights! I get a mix reaction when I do this, from go to hell to what should I get.

commutr

As one of the fools on a mountain bike (Trek 4900 Alpha) the past few weeks commuting to work, I can say my best incentive to think and research has been other riders offering suggestions. I don't see many commuters. I do appreciate it when they don't act elitist and tell me how wrong everything I'm doing is to them. I appreciated it most when a few suggested a good bike shop and to mention their name. I have had the spandex freaks tell me to get off the road.

As someone who used to ride a motorcycle to work daily, I know all about JAMs and every SUV-driving idiot trying to kill me. At least on the motorcycle, I had full leathers and lots of power on demand.

Riding a bike has been a completely humbling experience. I started commuting because I'd leave work early to put in 10k a night. I figured with a 15km commute each way, 30km a day would be a great way to get my exercise. Rather than driving into work early, leaving early, mounting the bike, driving to a dirt trail and riding. My car longs to be driven.

Having to deal with elitist fellow cyclists was something I expected. So far, these jerks have been the exception, which isn't what I expected. More bikes on the road should be good? right?

dereksticks

I hope that I did not come off as one of those elitists. I just don't want to see or hear about any one getting hurt while they are just trying to save some money.Those same elitists look down on me because I have a motor on my bike to help me on the hills.

I really did not mean to imply that any of these guys was a fool. I just found it sort of comical to see the chrome helmet on the guy who was smoking while riding.

More bikes on the road is a good thing, and I for one am happy to see it.

edit: now that I read your post again, I am the fool. I must have been up too late because it reads way different today than it did last night.

commutr

These were my words. I didn't take your post as elitist. And riding a mountain bike with knobbies on pavement 15km makes me the fool (my words, not yours). I was just posting as a newbie commuter and probably fit right into that group of 'clueless riders'. I was talking in general, sorry to concern you.

Allen

Today there were several more bikes on the street than usual even here in the sticks.
Must be the jump in gas prices for the holiday weekend.