I'm in this club. I ride solitary every day. If I pass or, more likely, get passed, I try to say Hi, but unless the other rider is a commuter like me, they usually just blow me off. No biggie.

I do rides on nice weekends just for fun. No real planning; I just decide I've got a few hours to kill and go out for a ride. The one thing I'll do on these rides is *avoid* my normal commute route, even though that's the way my bike automatically points itself. I've even done a century with only a couple of days "prep," most of which was trying to figure out what route I'd take. That was also a solitary ride.

Yes, I've biked to my doctor. The first couple of times they remarked, but now I think they pretty much expect it.

I just got through a round of physical therapy. Most of the appointments I managed to get for right after work, so I showed up in full winter kit and only took off as much as necessary to get the exercises done. It was a shoulder injury, so I was riding the hand bike, doing the rubber band things, etc. wearing my base layer, rain pants, and shoe covers. They let me bring the bike inside and park it in the exam room during my sessions.

Oh, and the best part is when the weather is nasty here and the other guys come dragging in because they knew I'd make it and they couldn't let themselves be shown up by the guy who rides the bicycle to work! I just smile.

Count me in!

I don't have a road bike and just from riding the bike path daily, I know I'd be pushing it to keep up with group rides on my commuter. Even so, I ride to go somewhere--it seems silly to do otherwise. Occassionally, I'll do a loop if I'm facing a long car ride, but that's it. Rarely does it work out to go somewhere with someone else, both on a bike.

Nothing says you have to go fast. When I get the dead legs, I just take 'er easy. Especially when I'm pushing my big, fat, wide-tire winter bike, sometimes it just doesn't seem worth the effort. I've gotten to the point where if I'm riding on a flat, and I look down at the computer and see a 14 or 15, I'm OK with that.

I'll still hit it pretty hard at least 3 days a week, but you have to have a recovery day.

About the only thing that makes me think "man, I don't want to be out there" is nasty cold rain like we had today. That was miserable.

And those who drove were complaining until they saw you.

Yesterday my coworkers were offering me rides home because it was raining terribly hard, and it was very cold rain. I thanked them but declined. I knew it was going to rain, and if I didn't want to ride in it I wouldn't have. Today part of the MUP I travel to work was flooded, so I rode down some railroad tracks to avoid it, and I would do the same thing again tomorrow even if I knew about it beforehand. I ride to work when it's 10 degrees and I have ridden home from work when it was 110 degrees, and I'll do it again as long as I'm able. Last year I drove to work less than 5 times, and I hated every one of those commutes. So far this year...well actually, I haven't even driven my truck since the day before Thanksgiving, and certainly not to work! My coworkers no doubt think I'm crazy, but most of them spend more on gas in two months than I did in all of 2007. Who's crazy?

It's very, very rare that I ride with other people, and when I do it's usually with my brother who is also a bike commuter. Occasionally I'll ride with my parents on the MUP or a married couple I'm good friends with, but they only ride in the summer. I've never belonged to any sort of club nor ever ridden in a group ride. To be perfectly honest, I simply wouldn't fit in with the clubs around here. I have a feeling they ride as a fun means of exercise, and I ride as a fun means of transportation. I'm always happy to see people out riding bikes, but I also find it a shame that one of our most ingenious inventions is, to most, considered nothing but a piece of exercise equipment or a child's toy. That's like if I used my computer only for the calculator.

I have to say that every single post I've read in this thread has touched a chord in me, without exception. So if I single this one out, it's only because I can no longer restrain myself.



Doesn't it go without saying that with a bicycle, so many things are possible? For motorists to be astonished that I travelled the same distance by bicycle that they did in their cars is equally astonishing to me. How did this modern marvel of transportation technology get overlooked?

Nevermind. They'll just have to find some other way to:

a) get to work
b) get exercise
c) have fun
d) save money
e) conserve fuel
f) lose weight
g) boost mental function
h) attack depression
i) balance blood sugar
j) get away from it all
k) protect the environment
l) lower blood pressure
m) strengthen the heart
n) insertyourowncommentshere

LBM: I posted one of the replies above, and agree with you -- this was a fun thread to read/contribute to. I enjoyed reading the personal accounts of cycling experience, and reasons for riding, posted by fellow SBC club members.
P.S. When can we expect our custom (sublimated graphics) SBC club jerseys to arrive? Personally, I think it's time we as a tribe banded together, formed club chapters, and began to organize well-structured group rides on week-ends; the only restriction, really, is that while on a group ride club members must maintain a minimum distance of 1 km. between themselves and the next closest rider, AND that any member proven to have attempted to ride with another rider, club member or not, while actually commuting shall receive a life-time ban.

On long bicycle treks (50-70 miles a day for 3 days), I never sat down during rest stops because I thought if I did I wouldn't be able to get back on the saddle and continue riding.

lol

You just caused me to think--not that that's a good thing neway, that was funny, but at the same time, seriously Badger1, look at where we're from (This list would be world-exahustive if I went beyond this thread:

Ontario
Georgia
Virginia
Michigan
Arizona
Colorado
Shanghai
Wisconsin
Arkansas
Iowa
Nevada
Ohio
Washington

That doesn't scratch the surface.

At the same time, this list kind of gives us at least 1 km. of distance between us...

^^
You can add Connecticut to that list :-)

Have you ever built a frankenbike because your main bike is broken?
My main bike broke, I built a frankenbike, fell in love with it, and now thats my main bike (although its had some upgrades). In fact, I wasn't a canadate for this club until I had that bike.

I've got about 10x more money invested in my ol' Panasonic Sport than any "sane" person would pay for the bike to begin with. My last car was a Jeep Cherokee which about a year ago I rear ended a schoolbus with. Don't worry, no injuries. But the Jeep was totaled, and I barely got by on the money that I was making, so I couldn't afford another car.

Lucky for me, a couple days later an old Panasonic 10 speed showed up in my yard. Happy that I found a way to work, but dreading the 10 mile distance, I decided that I had no choice but to suck it up and go to work. I HAVENT LOOKED BACK SINCE.

Its amazing how much money you can save by riding a bicycle. No more gas, insurance (they wanted $300/month after they found out I hit a schoolbus), maintenance, but the most overlooked savings comes in when you think about all the free time that you have to spend money when you drive a car. I used to have an addiction to bringing home every interesting stereo component I could get my hands on. But, a 3 foot tall speaker isn't very practical to haul with a 10-speed.

Also, I do consider myself addicted to the bike. Even if I did have the money theres no way I'd go back. It is pretty funny how people look at you when you tell them the most pleasant part of your work day is the 20 mile bike commute. If I find myself in a conversation about bicycling and someone says "this one time I rode 25 miles on my bike...", I can proudly say that I've gone further than that running on a flat front tire. In fact, I also refused 2 offers for a ride that day, simply because I was curious about how far I could really get it to go. I even took a detour on the way home. And I'm happy to say that after I replaced the tube, I was still able to use that very same tire on that very same rim.

I don't know, its somewhere between the amazingly un-lonely solitude and the people in cars you can chuckle at for owning something that cost 100x what you use to do the exact same thing they use it for that you realize that you've found your own little chunk of paradise.

....and you can add Australia to that list

I've done commutes over the years that are longer than what many people are willing to drive to work because they considered it too far to drive like 65+ miles a day 5 days a week. I currently do 67 miles a day but only twice a week, the other 3 days I only do 55 miles a day.

I'm the only person I know that is willing to commute those distances therefore I ride alone.

LBM: we just keep going! Kaotical and Cyclaholic: great posts! I think the geo. distribution is great, as well -- lots of perspectives. Some of us do some pretty impressive mileage, as well; mine is nothing in comparison, but even so, averaging 20+kms. day over 9+ months does add up on a year-on-year basis, I've found, once all the 'extended' rides are factored in.
Not to brag, but I will anyway -- just got my bi-annual physical results last week; I'm 56, 5'9", 148 lbs weight, blood pressure/good-bad cholesterol (sp?) numbers all bog normal, and resting h/r of 55. This is ENTIRELY the result of the addiction to cycling I (re)discovered in '02 (at which time couldn't walk up a flight of stairs w/o wheezing), and have pursued since. So, the way I figure it I'm saving myself money (well, in theory, though some of that goes on upgrades to the BlueBeast [my bike]), improving my health (physical and emotional), indulging in the 'guy thing' for mechanical/engineering- related piddling about, having one h_ll uv a lot of fun, AND (for me, last but by no means least) making (however small) a contribution to environmental conservation -- all as a result of one activity/passion; what could be better? Putting it another way, I do devote time and a bit of money to being an SBC, but have NO GUILT!

Excuse me, but I've been through a related exam, with the same unholy preparations, and that tops everything.

Are you kidding? LittleBigMan is one of the greatest inspirations on Bikeforums! That was true a few years ago when I was starting to ride, and it's still true with this thread.

Thank YOU!

Again, not to single out a post, but this thread is peppered with comments like these that you know are genuine, because only a bicycle commuter would think of saying it.

I'll send you a pm. Thanks!

I think we're all a lot more inspirational than we realize when we simply say what's on our minds!



(That is, as long as it's a positive thought! )

+1 except for the half- dead thing that would be me. I just have so much energy...biking keeps it down to a roar so I don't annoy other workers.

me too, but I've been commuting every day for 23 years (more, if you count the years where I commuted only on fair weather days)

me too

naw. I've had rides with various groups over the years, but by and large, I do almost all my rides by myself

yup

yup

nope, I give myself enough time to include the ride

I've left work in the middle of a shift and returned to get a ride in

yup

even did it this morning

all the time

just last week, I rode the bike I bought for my 12 year old (who is now 25) to make it in to work in the snow

my main bike is a "frankenbike"

many times

all the above and many more

As a solo rider, sometimes I worry about over-use injuries - or just plain wearing out like a football player does. There's no one around to tell me -don't ride. So I take a break between Christmas and most of January. So far, my body doesn't seem to complain - if it wines, I do let up on the intensity though and I'm careful about feet and knee issues - any wining and I swap out shoe pads or recheck my riding position (or gear).

Anyone encounter that?

I've occasionally suffered a little knee pain from time to time, usually after cranking hard in higher gears. I'm all for resting when I've overdone it, and for getting the right position, which in my case, can be as little as a few millimeters of seatpost length.

But the good news is that cycling is considered one of the few exercises recommended (along with swimming) for people who have damaged the cartilage in their knee(s) because it doesn't involve impact, like running, jumping or fast walking.

I'm guilty of all 4, i can leave at 630am and still get to work on time, sometimes if I sleep in I'll still ride, if anyone has a problem (never do), i'll tell them i got a flat.

I definalty try to make better food choices, more subway, less wendys. More water, less soda.

Then when the wifee mentions doing something after work, i wonder "how will this affect my ride"

my name is Josh and I'm a bicycle commuter-aholic

I am not addicted, it's those crazy other people who ride around all the time. I can control it! Honest!

+1 again; I summarized above what a mere six full years as an SBC has done for this 56 yr. old git -- above is the other part of the story. I have two b_ggered knees and ankles as a legacy from my misspent youth (soccer, rugby), + generalized mild osteoarthritis elsewhere; cycling is the thing for me, esp. since I dislike swimming

i hear ya there...i hate taking days off from riding
i see other commuters and i just stare longingly from the coffin car

Are you, or is anyone else you know, primarily a solitary bicycle commuter of many years?

Yes!

Are you so hopelessly addicted that you can't imagine your life without bicycle commuting?

Pretty much

Do you plan activities so that you can include a bike ride?

All the time! I work from home, so when I'm not at client sites - no commute. I almost always find some errand that I HAVE to do on the bike

Are you ever late somewhere because you wanted to ride, even though you could have driven?

Hmmm. I'm pretty much never late, but that's not to do with cycling one way or the other!

Have you ever gotten off early from work to get in a bike ride before an appointment?

Yep

Been to the doctor's in sweaty clothes?

Doctors? I cycled home from the hospital after minor surgery two years ago!

Suffered uncomfortable weather so that you could ride, and you'd do it again in a hearbeat?

Yep

Give people a confused look when they ask you, "Are you going to ride today?"

Yep

Ridden a junk bike because that's all you had at the moment?

Yes, though not any more. There's a reason I have >20 bikes....

Built a "Frankenbike" when your preferred ride was broken down and you didn't have the cash to fix it, just to feed your addiction?

Yes, and just for fun. I love to knock something up out of all the parts I have lying around. Twice in the last 6 months for myself, and once for someone else!

Stayed up way too late at night fixing your bike so you could ride tomorrow, or to put on a new part that took longer than you thought it would take?

All the time my friend, all the time.