And thats bad because...?

Chicbicyclist has one of the coolest bikes around. I really like the utilitarian, no non-sense appeal of these machines. The Breezer Uptown 8 is a great bike to bomb around on. If I hadn't breathed new life into my old Trek 830, I probably would buy something like those. I still ride my old English 3-speed with the club when the theme is social.

There's something to be said about the difference in conditions between Holland, Belgium, many parts of Germany and Denmark, to be truthful. Americans use bikes differently because we have to mostly. I think that drives the type of cycles we buy.

Here's a website that talks a little about the relative distances and speeds of cycling in different countries: http://www.bicyclinglife.com/Effecti...oadsWeHave.htm

Thanks Jcm, Im gonna update the pic soon, I just had my handlebar shellaced.
Or you can simply move to a denser area and start riding more. Be an example.

Funny, your statements about riding a high horse applies to cyclist who do it for fitness too and cannot see that practical bicycling is feasable, or even "appropriate" here in the USA anyway.

I don't understand the attraction of those tanks. Between (flatbar) road bikes and mountain bikes we've good plenty of good light bikes to make efficient commuters out of. What I don't like about American bike choices is the default race gearing with the useless 52 chainring. Put on a mountain bike drivetrain and fenders, and she's a commuting machine.

This is the commuting list isn't it? Thought I mistakenly clicked on the road cycling list.

Oh, the horror! Bikes should require lengthy preparation in order to ride and be as inconvenient as possible to use. Everyone should drive an SUV to the corner store and spend ten minutes circling the block to find a parking lot -- it builds strenght of character. The unfit should never be allowed in the park, anyhow -- that's simple eugenics.

Paul

Or perhaps even more inconveniently, suit up (special shoes and pants) for a ride to the store on a high tech roadie delite, speed on over, carrying 10 pounds of locks, lock up (or perhaps hassling store clerks, security people inside while walking your pride and joy), buy your stuff, unlock the 10 lbs of chains, and have nowhere to put your purchases, school books, etc. but on your back like a dang [EDITED for PC purposes:] donkey. Those dummy Dutch will never get it will they?:rolleyes:

What's a dang coolie? I googled and it appears to be maybe some Korean guy. What has he got to do with a backpack?:o

Backpacks are cool, hence 'coolie'.

Oh DANG, I should have known that. Oh wait "dang"..... I've got it. thank you d:D

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.

I think this is more what I was driving at.........GETTING MORE "REAL" PEOPLE BACK ON BIKES THAT
ARE COMFORTABLE,SIMPLE TO OPERATE, AND VERY DEPENDABLE......."DUTCH" BIKES IF YOU WILL.

In the small rural town I live in there are lots of bike riding ADULTS but for the most part they all
have to choose from MTB or Road bikes because the comfort bikes are all dressed up hybrids that
are not right for anything. That said, I believe that a line of "Dutch" type bike would sell well to the
common city folk's who just want to hop & go & hop off & shop. No mess , no fuss......in comfort.

I just took delivery of a new Worksman PAV trike and am stunned at the number of folk's who ask
where I got it!!!!! Two even took down info to contact the company!! So, at least where I live, the
interest is there but the marketing folk's are asleep at the switch. Many of the people who ride bikes
a lot have older Schwinn Cruisers that they've rehabbed to ride. Some tell me that they don't get the
new bikes because they percieve them to be kids toys or for "racers". Can't sell many bikes that way....

One poster mentioned Breezer which is close to a "Dutch" bike because Joe Breezer sees the need. But
with alumium frames I wonder how long they will last. "Dutch" bikes are all about utility & dependablity
which means, to me, steel. "Dutch" bikes are not about weight at all.

Here's one I've been looking at. http://www.ransbikes.com/fusion26x26.htm I briefly test rode one last winter, and it was comfortable, stable, and fun (even in a parking lot with patches of ice.) It weighs only about 27 lbs. and there are racks and fenders available for it. I'm thinking about getting one this summer; if I do, I'll do a post about it.

You missed the point, which was these bikes would be fine for occational light use. It is not something I would want to ride 6, 8, 16 miles to work everyday. Off course I have nothing against people taking a bike to the store or riding in the park. It would make the world a better place if more people did that and if that is the only thing they did with their bike, this would be one option for them.

Comfortable, simple, dependable are good. However, heavy clunky 3-speeds aren't going to be comfortable to ride in the US. The very idea of riding one pains me. Take a bike like the single-chainring disc brake Novara Buzz, add fenders, enclosed chain, bags, etc and you'd have a comfortable, affordable, general purpose commuter bike suitable to the US.

Exactly wrong. Promoting athletic competition (friendly or not) as a necessary component for commuter cycling will convince few people to cycle the relatively short distances that are considered practical by the public.


Also a mistake to confuse the needs and requirements for the relatively few enthusiasts who consider it practical to commute long distance, with the needs and requirements for the vast majority of the public who might even consider cycling a viable commuting option.

How many gears, or how light does a bike have to be to tackle the hills of Chicago?

Few people , especially people who have any family responsibilities, are going to consider cycling 16 miles to work on any kind of bike, anywhere. IMO, as the one way commute distance stretches out beyond 5 miles, you are not going to find too many people who are going to care what their bike weighs, because they won't even consider commuter cycling a viable option for themselves for that distance, period.

Please don't retort with individual example of bicycling enthusiasts who do do just that. I know about it already, as I commute 24 miles R/T. I also recognize how unusual such long distance commuting behavior is in any city, anywhere.

Next time try a dictionary. I should have used a less potentially offensive term and will go back and edit to indicate a creature used as a beast of burden.

Its a great idea to encourage people to get simple bikes for commuting. Many people are wary of derailleur bikes because they think they are too complicated or require too much maintenance. A good three speed is pretty bullet proof and almost maintenance free, or at least, it will tolerate neglect better than many bikes.

My Dunelt weighs about as much as my MTB, a little over 30 pounds. The tires are fairly narrow for low rolling resistance, intrnal hub, fenders and chainguard. I ride to work wearing a suit and my pants don't get greasy and no water stripe up the back.

They are easy to gear down so that if you set your primary gear as third, you have two lower gears for hills.

I had a DL1 (rod brake 3 spd) that must have weighed well over 40 pounds that I used to get around in San Francisco wothout a problem.

Exactly. In Holland, Denmark, Germany, et al, people ride very short distances. A typical commute is less than a mile or two. Same with errands. America, and Cananda, are so spread out that short commutes like mine (3 miles one way) are rare. Cyclists who commute over 7 miles or so one way are not your everyday Joe Dutcher. They are most likely avid cyclists who live to bike. Such a breed wouldn't consider a 3-speed or a Euro-Commuter. They will mostly prefer a thoroughbred of some sort. It's our geography and poor municipal planning that drives the auto-centric society and the need for faster, lighter bikes.

Personally, I like my 3-speed mule alot but I have to admit I don't use it anymore for commuting up that hill. It's a fair huff at one mile long and 390 ft. I sometimes use it as an anachronistic alternative talking point on flatter club rides under 30 miles. It is among the most comfortable bikes I have ever ridden. So much so, that I have North Road bars on my other Treks on which I ride centuries.

http://www.giant-bicycles.com/us/030...sp?model=11306

My Giant Cypress EX is on the way.. seems like a good compromise of features for an American commuter bike.. I've got about a 6 mile mostly bike path commute in Minneapolis...

Nor are such cyclists everday Joe (USA) Six Pack either. The US citizens who might like to cycle the relatively short distances practical for everyday cycling are ill served by the industry and so-called advocates; who when thinking about cyclists (including commuters) only think of suburban enthusiasts who shop at LBS' and ride with their club on weekends, and the priorities of those relatively few individuals.

I ride my bike-tank up top 10 miles one way. With several hills. Muahahaha.

Electric is the answer. Electrify to Satisfy™.

/Salesperson persona off

I think the Dutch style bikes are cool and would serve many people quiet well. But why accept status quo?;) I want the manufactures to come up with a faster, lighter, more durable, cheaper, and last but not least better looking modern day utility bike. 29" x2.35 schwalbe big apple tires, internal gear hubs, 8speed minium, available fenders, hub dynamos, and racks. Under 30 lbs. for the fully loaded. Low 20lbs. for the stripped ones. :love: Have you guys ever seen the Cannondale vintage headshock nexus that they sell in the UK? Cdale thinks so little of the american market they want even sell it here.:rolleyes: Get after your favorite manufacturer if you want to see city style bikes here in the USA. If you don't like city style bikes I have no problem with that.:eek: But why do you not want other riders to have what they want? Seems like you would be happy to see another cyclist get the bike they want just as you got what you wanted.:fight: Ride the bike of your choice and be happy.:beer:

I have a friend who is a prosthetist, she was telling me that when someone rides with a fake leg, they screw the cleats directly to the foot (for those that can afford a leg specifically for riding, usually triatheletes and pros).