"I can't commute because...."
06-24-07 | 01:02 AM
#53
put our Heads Together
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 3,155
Likes: 1
From: southeast pennsylvania
Bikes: a mountain bike with a cargo box on the back and aero bars on the front. an old well-worn dahon folding bike
' too lazy' is the answer I get a lot.
06-24-07 | 04:07 AM
#54
Every lane is a bike lane
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 9,666
Likes: 16
From: Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia - passionfruit capital of the universe!
Originally Posted by notfred
I don't worry about it. My coworkers all take the bus. That's fine with me. If they ask me for cycling tips, I'll give them, but I don't want to hear about how the bus is great any more than they want to hear about how cycling's great.
__________________
I am clinically insane. I am proud of it.
That is all.
I am clinically insane. I am proud of it.
That is all.
06-24-07 | 06:41 AM
#55
...
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 708
Likes: 2
From: Minneapolis, MN
Originally Posted by chipcom
Why should I care if they 'make an effort to think about it more seriously' or not? It's their life, not mine. If they express an interest I am happy to help in any way I can, but if they don't, oh well, nothing for me to be concerned, angry or even spend time thinking about.
06-24-07 | 09:06 AM
#56
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 758
Likes: 1
From: Newark, Ohio
Bikes: 2002 Dahon Boardwalk 1, 2003 Sun EZ-Sport Limited, 2011 TerraTrike Path 8, 2018 Gazelle Arroyo C8 HMB
Here's one from a coworker of mine, whose wife also works there, and has some health issues (and wouldn't be able to ride a bike.) My work is moving to less than 2 miles from where he lives, I believe.
"I want to do it, but it wouldn't be taking a car off the road - my wife would have to drive anyway."
(They do drive in the same car as it is, though, so at least they carpool.)
Why don't I commute the full distance? I don't feel like doing a century commute. And, why don't I do my "hybrid commute" every day? I'm lazy, ill-prepared for weather, and like to sleep in WAY too much.
"I want to do it, but it wouldn't be taking a car off the road - my wife would have to drive anyway."
(They do drive in the same car as it is, though, so at least they carpool.)
Why don't I commute the full distance? I don't feel like doing a century commute. And, why don't I do my "hybrid commute" every day? I'm lazy, ill-prepared for weather, and like to sleep in WAY too much.
06-24-07 | 09:39 AM
#57
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,383
Likes: 22
From: Calgary
Bikes: 2018 Ghost Square Trekking B2.8 e-bike; 2015 MEC Cote gravel/touring bike; 1985 Boyes-Rosser tourer, now outfitted as Winter Trundle-bike
Originally Posted by cerewa
I use my bike instead of other means of transport whenever I can, and part of the reason is that I'm too lazy... to exercise any other way. I have no motivation whatsoever to exercise on a regular basis, long-term, unless it's playing a sport or going from one place to another on a bike.
Then I discovered how much fun it is to tinker with bikes
06-24-07 | 10:50 AM
#58
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,369
Likes: 0
From: Reston, VA
Bikes: 2003 Giant OCR2
I put off cyclocommuting for about 6 months because, with young twins, our schedule is nuts and I need to be able to get home quickly. Then, it finally dawned on me that if I alter my commute a bit, I can actually get home *faster* on a bike because our traffic is so dysfunctional. This way I get my 50 miles/week on a bike (short commute) without having to stick my wife alone with the kids to do it. Everybody's happy.
06-24-07 | 06:39 PM
#59
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,306
Likes: 0
From: Aurora, CO
Bikes: CAAD9-1, Windsor Cliff 29er
Originally Posted by chipcom
Why should I care if they 'make an effort to think about it more seriously' or not? It's their life, not mine. If they express an interest I am happy to help in any way I can, but if they don't, oh well, nothing for me to be concerned, angry or even spend time thinking about.
Agreed, it shouldn't affect me.
I've had the same thing happen to me. A couple of guys said they want to commute but don't like riding on this one particular street. I sit with a window to that street and I probably see half a dozen to a dozen bicyclist every day traveling it, including me for a small portion. But I don't care, that's their loss if it's preventing them from enjoying the ride.
06-24-07 | 10:03 PM
#60
2-Cyl, 1/2 HP @ 90 RPM
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 15,762
Likes: 5
From: NYC
Bikes: 04' Specialized Hardrock Sport, 03' Giant OCR2 (SOLD!), 04' Litespeed Firenze, 04' Giant OCR Touring, 07' Specialized Langster Comp
Every time I walk into work all bandaged up, my coworkers are like, "That's why I don't ride to work."
I'm a horrible example...
I'm a horrible example...
06-24-07 | 10:16 PM
#61
Erectible Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 515
Likes: 0
From: Enroute
Originally Posted by slvoid
Every time I walk into work all bandaged up, my coworkers are like, "That's why I don't ride to work."
I'm a horrible example...
I'm a horrible example...
06-24-07 | 10:23 PM
#62
Je pose, donc je suis.
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,463
Likes: 0
From: Odense, Denmark
Originally Posted by JonathanGennick
Your friends are just making polite conversation with you. They mean "I wish I could" in a very abstract way. When my cousin tells me of his latest trip to the Boundary Waters, or to Isle Royale, I probably respond very similarly sometimes. For example, I might respond by saying: "Yeah, that'd be a great to do someday", or "I'd love to do that someday." It's a way of acknowledging how cool something is that someone else does. And I sort of mean what I say, in that I do think the things my cousin does are cool, and I do think they would be fun to do. But, truth be told, I have other things that I am interested in more than canoeing and backpacking (like biking and cross-country skiing).
So your friends are just saying in their own way that they think what you do is really cool. Just take that for what it is, and don't put them on the spot by trying to get them on a bike. The few who are really serious about bike commuting will follow-up more purposefully. You'll know when someone is serious.
So your friends are just saying in their own way that they think what you do is really cool. Just take that for what it is, and don't put them on the spot by trying to get them on a bike. The few who are really serious about bike commuting will follow-up more purposefully. You'll know when someone is serious.
06-25-07 | 10:05 AM
#64
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,369
Likes: 0
From: Reston, VA
Bikes: 2003 Giant OCR2
Originally Posted by cooleric1234
+1
Agreed, it shouldn't affect me.
I've had the same thing happen to me. A couple of guys said they want to commute but don't like riding on this one particular street. I sit with a window to that street and I probably see half a dozen to a dozen bicyclist every day traveling it, including me for a small portion. But I don't care, that's their loss if it's preventing them from enjoying the ride.
Agreed, it shouldn't affect me.
I've had the same thing happen to me. A couple of guys said they want to commute but don't like riding on this one particular street. I sit with a window to that street and I probably see half a dozen to a dozen bicyclist every day traveling it, including me for a small portion. But I don't care, that's their loss if it's preventing them from enjoying the ride.
06-25-07 | 11:29 AM
#66
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,383
Likes: 22
From: Calgary
Bikes: 2018 Ghost Square Trekking B2.8 e-bike; 2015 MEC Cote gravel/touring bike; 1985 Boyes-Rosser tourer, now outfitted as Winter Trundle-bike
Baby wipes and a change of clothes. You'd be amazed what you can do with those in a pinch! As long as you start your commute reasonably clean, you're not going to get that stinky no matter how much you sweat on the way in.
If you have short hair, consider dunking your head under the faucet and rinsing your hair. If it's long, I find that letting the sweat dry and then brushing really thoroughly does the trick.
If you have short hair, consider dunking your head under the faucet and rinsing your hair. If it's long, I find that letting the sweat dry and then brushing really thoroughly does the trick.
06-25-07 | 11:30 AM
#67
Senior Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,508
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by Buglady
"It would mess up my hair." From a guy. A balding guy. I had no response...
06-25-07 | 11:44 AM
#68
Senior Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 97
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by tlupfer
for me, I think it's the unsolicited implication that somehow circumstances dictate that I am able to ride my bicycle and the other person is not....
06-25-07 | 11:46 AM
#69
Urban Biker
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 731
Likes: 0
From: Durham, NC
Bikes: Trek 720 hybrid; 2007 Specialized Tricross Comp
I once thought more bicycle commuters would be a good thing, but now I struggle to find a bare spot on the bike rack to lock my bike to at work. When people say things like, "I wish I could do that", I say, "no you don't. It's really hard and the drivers are crazy and you get all stinky and sweaty and and and..."
06-25-07 | 01:32 PM
#70
Senior Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 593
Likes: 1
From: Syracuse, NY
Originally Posted by jimmuter
I once thought more bicycle commuters would be a good thing, but now I struggle to find a bare spot on the bike rack to lock my bike to at work. When people say things like, "I wish I could do that", I say, "no you don't. It's really hard and the drivers are crazy and you get all stinky and sweaty and and and..."
06-25-07 | 03:17 PM
#71
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,502
Likes: 9
From: Dallas Suburbpopolis
"well if I lived as close as you did...."
I live 6 miles away. My co-workers intentionally bought their places 20+ miles away because they "liked the neighborhood" (cookie-cutter master-planned boxes) and "liked the amenities" (same chain stores as found friggin everywhere).
hard to argue with that...
I live 6 miles away. My co-workers intentionally bought their places 20+ miles away because they "liked the neighborhood" (cookie-cutter master-planned boxes) and "liked the amenities" (same chain stores as found friggin everywhere).
hard to argue with that...
06-25-07 | 03:27 PM
#72
Top Speed 53.1mph
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 159
Likes: 0
From: Jacksonville, AL
Bikes: GMC Denali Road Bike ($150), Generic MTB ($50)
Originally Posted by acroy
"well if I lived as close as you did...."
I live 6 miles away. My co-workers intentionally bought their places 20+ miles away because they "liked the neighborhood" (cookie-cutter master-planned boxes) and "liked the amenities" (same chain stores as found friggin everywhere).
hard to argue with that...
I live 6 miles away. My co-workers intentionally bought their places 20+ miles away because they "liked the neighborhood" (cookie-cutter master-planned boxes) and "liked the amenities" (same chain stores as found friggin everywhere).
hard to argue with that...
It's give and take. You give up some time in the morning to drive (or bike) to work, but you make up a lot by having a lower house payment and generally lower bills and less people in the same chain stores found everywhere.
I'm mixed on what I prefer. Part of me likes saving $$$ a month in my house payment and the better land taxes and the bigger house for my wife and three kids to enjoy... the other part of me wishes i was a bit closer to work so bicycle commuting would be easier and I could save more on gas.
Finding a happy medium is a challenge.
06-25-07 | 04:36 PM
#73
put our Heads Together
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 3,155
Likes: 1
From: southeast pennsylvania
Bikes: a mountain bike with a cargo box on the back and aero bars on the front. an old well-worn dahon folding bike
Finding a happy medium is a challenge.
06-26-07 | 05:11 AM
#74
2nd Century TBD
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 145
Likes: 0
From: Rochester, NY
Bikes: Felt F75, Trek 7.2 FX
No good routes to work
My driving route to work, about 12 miles, cuts right across six-lane bridge with minimal area for bikes. The next route around the bay is roughly 5 miles out of the way, and is a very fast four-lane that also doesn't make me feel safe. Unfortunately, without adding MANY miles to the commute, there really is no good way to get to work from here. Guess I'd best change jobs!
06-26-07 | 12:26 PM
#75
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,602
Likes: 0
From: Cleveland
Bikes: Pugsley, fixie commuter, track bike
Originally Posted by Mr. Underbridge
I put off cyclocommuting for about 6 months because, with young twins, our schedule is nuts and I need to be able to get home quickly. Then, it finally dawned on me that if I alter my commute a bit, I can actually get home *faster* on a bike because our traffic is so dysfunctional. This way I get my 50 miles/week on a bike (short commute) without having to stick my wife alone with the kids to do it. Everybody's happy.
Craig