Originally Posted by Mild Al

The problem is not that we don't have decent bikes in this country. We do--including many good commuting bikes.

The problem is that most Americans think of cycling as a sport for young, spandex-wearing, highly-trained, uncomfortable-looking athletes. When they think of cycling, they think of Lance Armstrong; then they look in the mirror, notice that they're not like Lance Armstrong, and give up the whole idea of riding to work, even if they live within a reasonable distance.

To publicize the idea that cycling is for everyone, we need some sort of friendly competition that--unlike the Tour de France--would pit ordinary, overweight people against each other. So, I propose some sort of triathlon that would involve cycling 5 miles to the grocery store and bringing back, say, 10 pounds of dog food, then mowing a half-acre lawn with a reel-type mower, and then maybe pushing a toddler in a stroller for a couple of miles while leading a labrador retreiver--in short, the kinds of things that real people actually need to do in real life. (I'm open to other kinds of events; these are just suggestions.) This could be aired on ESPN. The winner would be determined not by speed alone, but by a number of other factors, such as style, originality, and the ability to keep the dog from attacking joggers.

The vast American couch potato audience would be able to see cycling being done by people who look like them. Then they'd say, "Hey! I could do that! I think I'll ride to work tomorrow!"

Or maybe not. But it's worth a try.