DnvrFox

As a 50+'r, do you have a bike for which you don't have to "get ready" to ride. I mean, slip on a pants leg clamp or wear regular shorts, put on the helmet and gloves, no special bike clothes or shoes, and just take off with about 2 minutes preparation - to do errands, cruise the neighborhood or whatever - and do you do that?

what bike?

what do you do when you ride like that?

Garilia

sort of. I have a couple of those bikes I need to repair.

XR2

That's all I have. It's an '88 Bridgestone T700. Ride.
Don't go for speed,distance or anything. Just a ride.

bjjoondo 

I do now, my two Sun Recumbents, don't need "padded" shorts or jerseys and since I use old style road pedals and Power Straps, even plain Tennis Shoes work GREAT!!

Daspydyr 

A couple of 90s Mountain bikes with platform pedals. I also ride to the post office and bank as well.

outwest5

Yep, although it has been a little lonely the last couple weeks. Has a nice big basket and it's build like a tank. I weighed it for fun- weighs 34.5 pounds without the basket. Disk brakes are flawless. I went to the garage and patted it today. It's a great bike. He even has a big giant mirror and a bell- ding, ding!

I use it to run to the store for stuff and plan to use it when I need to go somewhere and leave the bike locked, but unattended.

Wake

Actually, for short errands I frequently dispense with the helmet and gloves, but I slip on my Keen Commuters and clip into my Jamis Sputnik. I have an old Trek 830 that I recently set up with a trailer, and I plan to add a rack, etc. and put more miles on that.

DnvrFox

I have two - my Windsor Leeds road bike set up with panniers, two front lights and tail blinker and toe clamps I use only to keep my tennis shoes in the right place, and a Specialized Rock Hopper, also with panniers and two front lights and rear blinkie, with just platform pedals. I frequently ride in just regular nylon type athletic shorts and a t shirt or sweat shirt with a wind breaker.

I use them for erands, grocery shopping, to go to the rec center, and for up to 20 mile rides.

I like not having to go through the ritual of special bike clothes, shoes, etc., but I do that if I want to go for a "real" ride on my Lemond with clipins, bibs, jersey, etc.

seenoweevil

I have two: an old GF Tassajara that's my usual commuter/grocery getter with a rack, panniers and platform pedals, and an 80's Takara with a small handlebar bag and platform pedals. I'll grab a backpack if I'm getting anything bigger than the bar bag will hold.
Wrap a strap around the right pants leg, throw on the helmet and gloves, turn on the blinkies and go.
I need to get some pics!

lphilpot

+1

...for now, at least.

prathmann

Most of my bikes have SPD pedals, but I think they still meet your criteria. At home I almost never wear shoes so as I step out the door I either step into my MTB-style shoes or my tennis shoes. If just going to the store for something I don't bother with any special shorts, gloves, helmet, etc. and my touring bike always has lights, lock, and at least one bag attached so I usually don't have to change anything on it before riding off.

Louis

I have most of the parts, including a frame, laying around waiting for me to build up such a bike. I've been hoping for a 27" fork to come along for cheap or, better yet, for free.

Mr. Beanz

Gina has a hybrid that she can jump on at any minute. She's done some trail rides on it (40 milers), and some around the neighborhood rides for funzies. I had a hybrid years ago and sold it to a friend that wouldn't quit begging me to sell it. Now I wish I hadn't. I do have my MTB that I used as a jump and ride bike. We'd stroll the through the park to stretch out the day after a long ride. But now that I've been using it more inthe dirt, I hate to tear up the new knobbies on the pavement so I haven't been using it as a jump and ride.

If I get another hyrid, which I've been thinking of doing, we'd do more rides to eat breakfast, convenince stores etc.


Ginas hybrid

ciocc_cat

I have on numerous occasions jumped on my Ciocc (sans helmet/gloves/shorts/jersey) wearing an old tee-shirt, jeans and tennis shoes for short rides up-and-down our long driveway with my daughter. Riding on clipless pedals in tennis shoes isn't very efficient, but for this type of riding who cares?

qmsdc15

I have pump, patch kit, mini tool on my other bike, so I don't have to worry about gathering that stuff before a ride.

DnvrFox

Good idea. All my wife and my bikes that we generally ride (5) have tools, pumps, tubes, water bottles, patch kits, etc. - ready to go from that perspective. That makes it really convenient.

NOS88

My everyday commuter is my go to bike for short trips to the store, a casual ride with kids in the neighborhood, a run to the post office, etc. It has platform pedals, racks, and fenders. I ride it in everyday street clothes, and my commute to work is short enough I don't need to wear anything other than the clothes I wear at work. The bike is a nine speed/triple drive train with touring geometry and drop handlebars. It has one rear panier on it at all times with patch kit, CO3 inflator, bike lock, and depending on the weather, an extra jacket/rain jacket.

DnvrFox

One of the reasons I asked the question about a "go to" bike is that I recently read in a thread here about an individual complaining that it took him 15 minutes to get ready to go for a ride (padded shorts, special shoes, jersey, special socks, etc.) - and that was discouraging him from riding - and I was wondering if he (and others) ever considered that some folks just jump on and ride as they are. Heck, that is what kids do all the time. None of the kids in my neighborhood wear padded shorts or jerseys or anything like that. And that is what the hundreds of thousands of folks in countries like the Netherlands do - wearing even nightgowns, business dresses suits, etc. - regularly. Interesting how our western American society has identified that in order to "ride" one must go through a lengthy preparation process prior to the "ride."

NOS88

Denver: I was smitten with the cycling culture in the Netherlands when we visited last summer. It is indeed as you say. We saw folks in business suits (men & women), people in casual wear, a Domino's pizza delivery bike, you name it we saw it.... Except, we didn't see a single rider in Lycra cycling shorts with a helmet and typical 3 rear pocket cycling jersey. But, I think the big difference is that cycling there is a major form of transportation. Here in the USA, it's only transportation for a small percentage of those who ride. For the rest, self included, the ride is more about fitness and recreation. I tend to straddle both worlds. I commute to work by bike and wear street clothes. I also ride for fitness and recreation and wear dedicated cycling clothes. I kind of like the mix. Getting ready to ride in the summer on a recreation/fitness ride is no real time consumer for me. The winter...., well, that's another story. It's include taking a few minutes to determine what the weather will be at the start of the day (for the commute to work) and what it will be at the end of the day. Then making sure I've enough of the right layers. It does take longer, but I think it's worth it. Like Eugene Delacroix the French painter said, "We work not only to produce, but to give meaning to time." I look at the prep for a ride as just another way to give meaning to time. It's purposeful, and to me that's a far cry better than sitting in front of a TV or a half-dozen other things I can think of.

DnvrFox

I like a mix of the two, also, and enjoy both. I am so glad that I CAN and DO just jump on a bike and ride to the bank or the store - a lot. I also like a more "formal" ride with all the getup and paraphernalia. Thanks for the comment.

Agave

Fixed that for you.....

I'll be able to kit up for a ride faster than 15 minutes 2 weeks after I've died.

For god sakes........

I don't have sex naked though......it's just to much effort to get undressed.

DnvrFox

Well, you changed my statement, but you didn't answer the question. ABout the sex thing - each person to their own way, I guess.

Ron B

Absolutely! I have my Trek 7200 and my wife has a new (last year) 7100. We ride a LOT! Being married over 30 years, its a way of doing something fun together again.
We generally hit the paths or lakefront during the weekends and go for hours......lots of fun. I also have a single speed folder that I keep in the trunk in summer for getting around the University campus I work at. NO lycra, special shoes etc. for us.......we just love being out there and enjoying the scenery and time together.
I have done 50+ miles in a charity ride last year on my bike.......thinking about doing it again this year. We generally go for 2-4 hours, no concern about how fast or how far.....just enjoy......

Retro Grouch 

Yup.

Agave

I do but I don't anymore then I'd go skiing in blue jeans and a Cahart jacket......