Originally Posted by
banjo_mole
If not everywhere, than certainly here. This is my theory:
Cycling today is dead because people think,
"Oh, I'd like a bicycle to ride to work/school/etc."
They go to dept. store X and buy some *** welded 40lb steel monster that's out of adjustment for $100. It's a mountain bike, by the way, because road bikes are usually not there, or look "too unconfortable and twitchy."
It is slow, hard as hell to pedal, and out of adjustment. Saddle's too low. Miserable. It gets lost, thrown away, or never ridden.
Road bikes were the standard bicycle until the MTB boom. People could cycle transportively.
The development of the MTB killed any remaining transportational cycling in america.
The lack of affordable road bikes for the youth keeps youth interest in cycling minimal.
Boyo, I really couldn't disagree more.
For starters, there are more cyclists on the road now than there were 30-odd years ago.
And not all of them buy wally-world ATBs. I sell lots and lots of hybirds of all stripes to folks who are looking for bikes for the purposes you mention.
Last summer when gas got stupid I set up a large pile of those old ATBs as commuters with narrow slicks, fenders, lights, and a little fitting. Made lots of regular customers, a good many who have been back to get new bikes.
As to kids and bikes, around here if you live within a couple of miles of the elementary school it's odds on your kid rides his bike in the non-snow months. in fact, I dimed the principal for letting the kids leave school property without helmets in violation of state law (and yeah, I know, we didn't wear them either back in the day, we didn't ever HAVE them, but this administrator really needs the harassment
)
Lastly, 'transportational' cycling, to use your spelling, would be better addressed by an old-school 3-speed with fenders and a basket.
Folks who really want to bike will find a bike they like to ride.
Top