I commute by bike because...
12-29-05 | 10:56 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 95
Likes: 0
From: Santa Fe, NM
Bikes: '96 X-Calibur
I commute by bike because...
...I can get home at 9PM from a 12 hour work day, chow down a load of crackers, left over chinese food, and ice cream for dinner, and still stay slim and feel good all day long. Well, that is a main reason at least.
12-29-05 | 11:15 PM
#5
Prefers Cicero
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 12,860
Likes: 146
From: Toronto
Bikes: 1984 Trek 520; 2007 Bike Friday NWT; misc others
In some old 60's cop movie the main character played by Richard Widmark was kvetching about the lousy life of a cop, and his new girlfriend asked him, so why he was still a cop, and he looked a little puzzled as if he didn't understand the question and after mulling it over for 1-2 seconds he said matter-of-factly "It's what I do".
I probably started commuting for some noble or practical reason, but now I just do it because I do it.
I probably started commuting for some noble or practical reason, but now I just do it because I do it.
12-29-05 | 11:18 PM
#6
or tarckeemoon, depending
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 7,017
Likes: 2
From: the pesto of cities
Bikes: Davidson Impulse, Merckx Titanium AX, Bruce Gordon Rock & Road, Cross Check custom build, On-One Il Pomino, Shawver Cycles cross, Zion 737, Mercian Vincitore, Brompton S1L, Charge Juicer
I like not owning a car and not having all of the associated hassle and expense.
I hate riding the bus.
I really enjoy cycling.
Getting a guranteed hour of exercise every weekday is nice too.
I hate riding the bus.
I really enjoy cycling.
Getting a guranteed hour of exercise every weekday is nice too.
12-29-05 | 11:24 PM
#7
New! With Self Loathing!
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,618
Likes: 0
From: Fairfield, California
Bikes: 2013 Jamis Xenith T time trial bike, 2013 Jamis Xenith Elite
...because I cannot wear a yellow ribbon and drive an SUV, they're contradictory.
12-29-05 | 11:48 PM
#8
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 612
Likes: 1
From: Berkley, Michigan
Bikes: Commuter(s), MTB(s), bent(s), folder(s) and a road.
Exercise.
I've belonged to a multitude of gyms in the past. From high school to a really really nice Fitness center called Lifetime Fitness (If this place had a hotel, it would be known as a resort). Now, I just don't have the time to drive 15 - 45 mins, workout for 2 hours, and then drive home (after work of course). It looks good on TV, but man I'd rather be doing something else with all that time. Especially now that I have my own family.
So, I have to incorporate working out into my schedule. And biking seems to do a good job of keeping the weight down. I find every excuse not to drive my car. From getting a take out dinner, shuttling my 3 yr old from day care, trips to the grocery.....etc.... I'll take the bike.
I supplement the rides with pushups and situps, and for my new years resolution, I'm gonna add a short weightlifting routine (30-45 min) every other day.
In the end, I really enjoy biking and fiddling with my bikes.
I've belonged to a multitude of gyms in the past. From high school to a really really nice Fitness center called Lifetime Fitness (If this place had a hotel, it would be known as a resort). Now, I just don't have the time to drive 15 - 45 mins, workout for 2 hours, and then drive home (after work of course). It looks good on TV, but man I'd rather be doing something else with all that time. Especially now that I have my own family.
So, I have to incorporate working out into my schedule. And biking seems to do a good job of keeping the weight down. I find every excuse not to drive my car. From getting a take out dinner, shuttling my 3 yr old from day care, trips to the grocery.....etc.... I'll take the bike.
I supplement the rides with pushups and situps, and for my new years resolution, I'm gonna add a short weightlifting routine (30-45 min) every other day.
In the end, I really enjoy biking and fiddling with my bikes.
12-30-05 | 03:15 AM
#11
commuter all star
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 806
Likes: 0
From: Seattle, WA
Bikes: '05 Fuji Cross, '04 Cannondale R1000
because
I love cycling
I don't want to ride the bus (no parking space where I work)
It feels really good to get some exercise after a stationary day in lab and get my blood flowing
I want to see if I can do it throughout the year, despite the weather, despite how I'm feeling in the morning and especially despite the random fits of laziness that attack me at 6am from time to time
I love cycling
I don't want to ride the bus (no parking space where I work)
It feels really good to get some exercise after a stationary day in lab and get my blood flowing
I want to see if I can do it throughout the year, despite the weather, despite how I'm feeling in the morning and especially despite the random fits of laziness that attack me at 6am from time to time
12-30-05 | 06:03 AM
#12
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 827
Likes: 0
i dunno. natural contrariness. natural practicality. lots of what other people have already said, but i think it's really all about something i heard michael marra say once: 'i can not bear for anyone else to be in control of my time'. if i'm doing everything the same way everyone else does everything, for the reasons why everyone else does everything, i get this feeling like that's exactly what's going on. i never could stand that awful board-game 'life' where everyone gets in their little car and drives around on the pre-ordained track all doing exactly the same grownup-life things according to an arbitrary schedule sucked out of some thumb at milton bradley.
and people assume you will do certain things in a certain way and a certain order every day for some certain reason, based on certain unquestioned desires and values. i'm supposed to be driving to work and then driving home from work in order to drive out to some gym in order to have someone else tell me how to go about keeping myself 'in shape' according to some unexamined set of instructions and values and a new fashion handed down to them by i dunno, oprah winfrey or someone.
you could mail in your entire existence under a mind-set like that. i don't think it's worth the price of the stamp.
and people assume you will do certain things in a certain way and a certain order every day for some certain reason, based on certain unquestioned desires and values. i'm supposed to be driving to work and then driving home from work in order to drive out to some gym in order to have someone else tell me how to go about keeping myself 'in shape' according to some unexamined set of instructions and values and a new fashion handed down to them by i dunno, oprah winfrey or someone.
you could mail in your entire existence under a mind-set like that. i don't think it's worth the price of the stamp.
12-30-05 | 07:06 AM
#13
Señior Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 13,748
Likes: 10
From: Michigan
Bikes: Windsor Fens, Giant Seek 0 (2014, Alfine 8 + discs)
Why? Top 5 reasons:
#1-So that I can ride my bike.
#2-So that I can ride my bike.
#3-So that I can ride my bike.
#4-environmentalism
#5-exercise
#1-So that I can ride my bike.
#2-So that I can ride my bike.
#3-So that I can ride my bike.
#4-environmentalism
#5-exercise
12-30-05 | 07:49 AM
#15
flaccid member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
From: winter-peg, manitoba
- no gas
- no insurance
- no parking
- free maintenance
- better for environement
- i hate cars
- excersise
- i'm too impatient for the bus
- i like it
- make me a better skater
- more connected with weather/nature/outdoors
- makes me healthier/more resistant to colds etc.
- good role model for the kids
that about sums it up...
jim
- no insurance
- no parking
- free maintenance
- better for environement
- i hate cars
- excersise
- i'm too impatient for the bus
- i like it
- make me a better skater
- more connected with weather/nature/outdoors
- makes me healthier/more resistant to colds etc.
- good role model for the kids
that about sums it up...
jim
12-30-05 | 08:07 AM
#16
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,372
Likes: 1
From: Munich
Bikes: Lemond Alpe d´Huez, Scott Sub 10, homemade mtb, Radlbauer adler (old city bike), Dahon impulse (folder with 20 inch wheels), haibike eq xduro
I enjoy it
I feel better
I get fitter
I lose weight (a lot)
time to think
delay cardiovascular decay
I HATE public transport (unreliability and being at the whim of others)
driving is not much better
save money
not pumping out totally unneccessary poisonous smog
thats it for me
I feel better
I get fitter
I lose weight (a lot)
time to think
delay cardiovascular decay
I HATE public transport (unreliability and being at the whim of others)
driving is not much better
save money
not pumping out totally unneccessary poisonous smog
thats it for me
__________________
only the dead have seen the end of mass motorized stupidity
Plato
(well if he was alive today he would have written it)
only the dead have seen the end of mass motorized stupidity
Plato
(well if he was alive today he would have written it)
12-30-05 | 08:19 AM
#19
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 249
Likes: 0
From: Savannah, Georgia
Bikes: '79 Peugeot UE8, '89 Schwinn Mesa Runner, '79 Schwinn Traveler
I feel it's my civic duty. Increased transportation/utility cycling would help solve many of my community's most pressing problems.
Also, as others mentioned, I enjoy riding my bike and hope to derive health benefits from it.
Also, as others mentioned, I enjoy riding my bike and hope to derive health benefits from it.
12-30-05 | 08:26 AM
#20
@#$% cars
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 405
Likes: 0
From: Chicago
Bikes: '02 Schwinn Frontier;'03 Fisher Tiburon; '04 Raleigh Companion; 04 Dahon SpeedPro; 69 Raleigh Sport fixed
It keeps us a one-car family.
It makes me feel like a kid again (sometimes).
I get a little extra exercise.
Too many people think they can't ... that makes me more determined!
It makes me feel like a kid again (sometimes).
I get a little extra exercise.
Too many people think they can't ... that makes me more determined!
12-30-05 | 08:26 AM
#21
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 962
Likes: 0
From: Washington DC
Because I'm cheap.
Driving to work would cost 100 bucks a month for parking, plus gas and maintenance on the car. And I'd have to buy a car.
Taking the subway to work would cost 74 dollars a month. I do take the subway sometimes.
Sure, I spend money on my bike, but I would probably do that anyway.
Driving to work would cost 100 bucks a month for parking, plus gas and maintenance on the car. And I'd have to buy a car.
Taking the subway to work would cost 74 dollars a month. I do take the subway sometimes.
Sure, I spend money on my bike, but I would probably do that anyway.
12-30-05 | 09:04 AM
#22
SERENITY NOW!!!
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 8,739
Likes: 2
From: In the 212
Bikes: Haro Vector, IRO Rob Roy, Bianchi Veloce
Cuz it's fun.
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HHCMF - Take pride in your ability to amaze lesser mortals! - MikeR
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We demand rigidly defined areas of doubt and uncertainty!
12-30-05 | 09:38 AM
#24
Cat None
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 4,508
Likes: 0
From: San Diego
Bikes: LOOK KG 461, LeMond Zurich, Giant Talon 29er 0
1. I love biking!
2. It only adds about 20 minutes to my commute.
3. It's good for me.
4. I love biking!
5. I don't have to work out in the evening after I get home.
6. I love biking!
2. It only adds about 20 minutes to my commute.
3. It's good for me.
4. I love biking!
5. I don't have to work out in the evening after I get home.
6. I love biking!
12-30-05 | 09:41 AM
#25
dirtbag roadie
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 894
Likes: 1
From: PDX
Bikes: Della Santa Corsa Speciale -- Kish custom -- Santa Cruz Stigmata -- Niner Air 9 Carbon
Originally Posted by Me last year
I love biking along the expressway during rush hour and keeping pace with the same car (usually I pick a Hummer or Imperial Star Cruiser---err, Ford F250 xtended cab) for a mile or two.
I love coming home in the afternoons now that it stays light out. If I can duck out fifteen minutes early or so, I'll take the long way home and feel like I'm getting away with something.
I love meeting other commuters on the road, drop or be dropped matters not. I like the cameraderie conveyed in head-nods and two-finger salutes off the bars.
I love the tired feeling in my legs by Wednesday night and the gradual-but-noticable improvements in muscle tone, in my door-to-door times, and in my technique handling tricky traffic merges.
I love most of all though the fact that I found a way to get the exercise my body and brain need without resorting to a contrivance like driving to the gym; a way that integrates into my daily routine so it doesn't take time away from my family; and that incidentally allows me to be part of the solution rather than part of the problem.
I love coming home in the afternoons now that it stays light out. If I can duck out fifteen minutes early or so, I'll take the long way home and feel like I'm getting away with something.
I love meeting other commuters on the road, drop or be dropped matters not. I like the cameraderie conveyed in head-nods and two-finger salutes off the bars.
I love the tired feeling in my legs by Wednesday night and the gradual-but-noticable improvements in muscle tone, in my door-to-door times, and in my technique handling tricky traffic merges.
I love most of all though the fact that I found a way to get the exercise my body and brain need without resorting to a contrivance like driving to the gym; a way that integrates into my daily routine so it doesn't take time away from my family; and that incidentally allows me to be part of the solution rather than part of the problem.
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