Sandlynx

I just joined today because some of the forums are full of very useful information.
Currently I have 4 bicycles and I ride year round. The bikes are Bianchi MTB, Trek hybrid, Raleigh road bike, and Magna MTB (rebuild project)-(for seriously bad weather riding). Looking for a touring bicycle.
Like everyone, I rode when I was a kid. Because I had to earn a living, I didn't have much time to ride until about 1970 or so, and rode a 3-speed road bike, that, at that time was cutting edge stuff. I didn't know that at the time; it was just transportation.
After another long time break, 2005, I started riding again. Yup, I have grey hair and an "older" body, but that doesn't stop me from riding year round and in every type of riding; MTB, touring, and road racing. I'm not good, nor fast, just intense and love to ride.
What really cracks me up is the fact that everyone assumes that we who use bikes to get everywhere in all kinds of weather, do so because we either can't drive for some reason, or are too poor to own a car, neither of which applies in the real world for most of us. We just love to ride, stay healthy, and save a ton of money in the process, which is a minority group in America! I think we bikers are really Europeans born on the wrong continent. Most people just cannot grasp that you can climb on a bike in sub-zero weather, in a snow storm, and love the doing it. I get the "Are you crazy" response quite a lot.
When I tell people that I banked 3,300 dollars last summer (2006) because I used a bike and parked the car in the garage, they begin to see a bicycle as something other than a kid's toy, which is what most American adults still consider bicycles to be.

Sandlynx

East Hill

Hello Sandlynx, it comes as a big shock to many people that not every adult who rides a bicycle is doing so because he or she has had one too many DUIs...and they never stop to think about how much money they could save, or how much better their health could be.

Oh well...eventually more people will get the message, and more people will be happy.

Welcome to BF!

East Hill

bac

Hey Sandlynx. You make a lot of sense. The quote above is an example for sure. Oh yeah, many welcomes to BikeForums!

... Brad

2wheeled

I totally agree with you, there's a real backward mentality when it comes bicyclists on the roads.

Anyway, good to have you here. Enjoy the forums.

Siu Blue Wind

Welcome to Bike Forums!!

At least you are doing the right thing. Riding, saving the environment (and saving money) is always a healthier choice.

rsd212

$3300 would buy you a pretty decent road bike

Michigander

People in the Detroit area, due to the way that the city and suburbs were designed, will never be substanitally in favor of bicycles. Anybody who doesn't use a car for trips bigger than a quarter mile is considered stupid or poor. The roads weren't made for it, and neither were the sidewalks. It's an admirable thing indeed to bike commute. You gotta give it an extra effort to find a good way to go. I wish I could do regular bike commutes, but I have to transport tools like 15-40 miles each way for my work commute.

It's a refreshing thig to visit other big cities with substantial methods of public transportation and an overall friendliness to bike riders. The Detroit area is a place of car drivers. Even when it hits people in the wallet hard, they don't seem to care. It's sad, and idiotic, but for some reason unchangeable.

Sandlynx

#6
rsd212
Senior Member (wrote):
"$3300 would buy you a pretty decent road bike"
Yup, and that's what I used it for too! As well as a really nice trailer for my pets.
---------------------------------------------
Michigander (wrote):
" People in the Detroit area, due to the way that the city and suburbs were designed, will never be substanitally in favor of bicycles. Anybody who doesn't use a car for trips bigger than a quarter mile is considered stupid or poor. The roads weren't made for it, and neither were the sidewalks. It's an admirable thing indeed to bike commute. You gotta give it an extra effort to find a good way to go. I wish I could do regular bike commutes, but I have to transport tools like 15-40 miles each way for my work commute.

It's a refreshing thig to visit other big cities with substantial methods of public transportation and an overall friendliness to bike riders. The Detroit area is a place of car drivers. Even when it hits people in the wallet hard, they don't seem to care. It's sad, and idiotic, but for some reason unchangeable."
Michigander: I go to Detroit on regular basis, and I agree that it looks very cyclist unfriendly. However, don't despair. With the economy going south, and all the people in Detroit hurting from loosing jobs, homes, etc, they will be soon looking for less expensive and more healthy ways to get around. When more of the sensible people hit the roads walking, jogging, and cycling, the ciy will have to take note and build those bike lanes. I keep looking for this to happen. I have relatives in Detroit who are cyclists, and they are seeing changes favorable to bikers. Hang in there. Yeah, they have the "motor city" mentality, but that's going south real soon. (Lansing has that "motor city-nobody walks!" mentality too, but that's changing. I am one of the many cyclists in Lansing seeing to it that this mentality gets changed.) Reality is going to whack them all in the butt soon. -- I see quite a few cyclists in downtown Detroit. I really feel a change coming.
As for any Detroiters thinking you're "stupid or poor", tell them to take a hike. Cyclists get this "stupid or poor" reaction everywhere, and simply needs to be persisted against. Who cares what they think? That's like the reaction I got at the bank the other day. I rode my bike to the bank, to open an account. They were really curious about an "old lady" riding a bike, and assumed that I was poor (or an active drunk who wasn't allowed to drive any more) -- that is until they saw the quality of road bike I was riding what I had in my bank account. See, now, their whole attitude changed! HMMMM. One at a time, and slowly, we can change attitudes. Michigander: I hope I meet you someday. Don't they have a bike trail out in Inkster or Redford Township?

East Hill

Have you met Roody, then? If not, I invite you to visit us in the Living Car Free forum .

East Hill

zonatandem

Welcome to the Bicycle Forums and welcome back to cycling!
Started riding in the early 70s in the Detroit/Mt. Clemens area. We used to average 4,000 miles a year on tandem and singles then. Rode when it was 20 degrees and dry out in winters.
No there were no bike paths/trails, we are entitled to the road, so we use it.
We were a bit of an oddity back then, especially on a 10-speed racing tandem!
Belonged to the Slow Spokes of Macomb bike club and rode with the Cycling Saddlemen from Dearborn too.
Did a 2-day Tour of Lake St.Clair back in 1973. Detroit (over the Ambassador Bridge) to Sarnia, Ontario the first day (120 miles). Second day Sarnia (over the Blue Water Bridge) to Port Huron and back to downtown Detroit (only 80 miles). Have ridden many centuries in that area.
Wised up to the weather and moved to Arizona in 1978 where we rode year 'round averaging 10,000+ miles a year.
Now at ages 75 and 72 we've scaled down a bit and will only hit 5,000+ miles this year.
As to the 'European' reference, I was born in Europe and could not afford a bicycle!
We own one car and have always been able to afford good bikes (no need to pay for 2nd car/insurance etc) so it makes sense $$$-wise too!
Attached photo of us 'seniors'!
Welcome back to riding!
Pedal on TWOgether!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem