Is recreational riding ever the same...
10-29-15, 08:19 AM
#51
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my recreational riding has really tailed off over the past several years, but that probably has more to do with settling down, getting married, and starting a family.
time has fast become the most elusive of commodities.
perhaps when the kids are older and riding bikes themselves i'll get back into the groove of riding purely for the fun it. as it is now, commuting/errand running is >99% of my biking.
time has fast become the most elusive of commodities.
perhaps when the kids are older and riding bikes themselves i'll get back into the groove of riding purely for the fun it. as it is now, commuting/errand running is >99% of my biking.
10-29-15, 09:23 AM
#52
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My commute took me 1hr each way, plus a few extra minutes for going to a different building for showering, etc. The same commute by car took on average about 40 minutes. In essence, I've 'bought' 2 hours of cycling for an equivalent 'cost' of (2hrs - 2*40 minutes) = 40 minutes. If I did not commute, I would either 1. not ride as much, or 2. ride recreationally for a much greater 'cost'. The time savings is one reason
why I chose to commute.
why I chose to commute.
My car commute about 60 minutes round-trip. My bike commute is 100 minutes, if I take the most direct route. So I've bought an 100 minutes of cycling for 40 minutes.
Maybe there should be a name for this ratio--time cost quotient (TCQ) = (time spend commuting)/(average car commute time). The lower the quotient, the easier the commute. The quotient would be largely determined by your speed, stop lights, circuitousness of your cycling route compared to your drive, etc. It'd be interesting to compare.
My TCQ is 1.67.
Anyone with a TCQ of 1 (or less)? Or TCQ more than 2?
10-29-15, 09:30 AM
#53
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When ever I ride no matter where I am going it is recreational. I ride because I love it. It does a world of wonder for my mental health. It is a choice I make to get on my bike whenever I ride. So even though I commute by bike, I may if the weather is good still go for a ride on the weekend with no particular place to go.
10-29-15, 09:54 AM
#54
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10-29-15, 11:32 AM
#55
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My commute took me 1hr each way, plus a few extra minutes for going to a different building for showering, etc. The same commute by car took on average about 40 minutes. In essence, I've 'bought' 2 hours of cycling for an equivalent 'cost' of (2hrs - 2*40 minutes) = 40 minutes. If I did not commute, I would either 1. not ride as much, or 2. ride recreationally for a much greater 'cost'. The time savings is one reason why I chose to commute.
That's an interesting way to look at it.
My car commute about 60 minutes round-trip. My bike commute is 100 minutes, if I take the most direct route. So I've bought an 100 minutes of cycling for 40 minutes.
Maybe there should be a name for this ratio--time cost quotient (TCQ) = (time spend commuting)/(average car commute time). The lower the quotient, the easier the commute. The quotient would be largely determined by your speed, stop lights, circuitousness of your cycling route compared to your drive, etc. It'd be interesting to compare.
My TCQ is 1.67.
Anyone with a TCQ of 1 (or less)? Or TCQ more than 2?
My car commute about 60 minutes round-trip. My bike commute is 100 minutes, if I take the most direct route. So I've bought an 100 minutes of cycling for 40 minutes.
Maybe there should be a name for this ratio--time cost quotient (TCQ) = (time spend commuting)/(average car commute time). The lower the quotient, the easier the commute. The quotient would be largely determined by your speed, stop lights, circuitousness of your cycling route compared to your drive, etc. It'd be interesting to compare.
My TCQ is 1.67.
Anyone with a TCQ of 1 (or less)? Or TCQ more than 2?
Total round trip time takes as little as 2:10 by bike, or as much as 2:40, depending on winds, temperature, rain, etc. Round trip by car takes 45 minutes. I take a slightly longer route by bike (15.5 vs. 12.5 miles direct for car), and my average speed is usually in the 12-13's, sometimes as low as in the 11's with a headwind, or a couple times as high as 15 average with a huge tailwind.
10-29-15, 11:47 AM
#56
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Been hitting over 100 miles a week commuting (10 miles each way, but I explore and zig-zag). And I'm still planning on 50+ miles this weekend just "for fun".
10-29-15, 11:52 AM
#57
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One reason I'm so happy to be living in NYC again is that cyclocommuting is possible. I sold my car!
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
10-29-15, 03:56 PM
#58
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Yes. I take surprisingly few rides just for fun. I LOVE the feeling of doing something useful on the bike. Last night, I took Citi Bike from home to a jazz performance across town. It was raining pretty hard, it was after dark, and visibility was poor, but I had fun anyway. I got pretty wet, but it wasn't cold, and I was fine. I like to go shopping on bike, too.
One reason I'm so happy to be living in NYC again is that cyclocommuting is possible. I sold my car!
One reason I'm so happy to be living in NYC again is that cyclocommuting is possible. I sold my car!
How are those Citi Bikes in terms of pedaling efficiency, comfort, handling, etc? I'm interested in hearing the opinion of a cyclist on those bikes.
Also, that's awesome that you were able to sell your car! I hope to have a realistic option to go car-free when enter the real world.
10-29-15, 06:59 PM
#59
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How are those Citi Bikes in terms of pedaling efficiency, comfort, handling, etc? I'm interested in hearing the opinion of a cyclist on those bikes.
Also, that's awesome that you were able to sell your car! I hope to have a realistic option to go car-free when enter the real world.
Also, that's awesome that you were able to sell your car! I hope to have a realistic option to go car-free when enter the real world.
The gears are too low for me. Basically, it's a terrible bike for me, but it's nearly perfect for the masses.
There is a new model which looks the same to the untrained eye but is better in every respect. It might be lighter because it feels it. The geometry makes it feel faster the gears are higher and I'm so glad. The hubs are sturmey archer rather than Shimano, and the brakes require a lot less hand strength. Both models are tanks.
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
10-30-15, 11:27 PM
#60
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If you're in Virginia, you could come up to Northern VA or DC and try Capital Bikeshare bikes - they can't be that much different from NYC's City Bikes. The Bikeshare bikes have 3 speeds (internal gear hub) and are heavy according to others. I'm not a fast rider - no aspirations to compete in Giro D'Italia or Tour De France - so bike weight makes little difference to me, but they're great for when I want to go somewhere right after work that is not Metro-accessible.
