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It's sad, really...

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Old 06-20-08, 09:37 PM
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Lots of people commute now that it's nicer and gas is $4 a gallon. It seems to be about 4-6 every day (50 person company).

Back in the winter it was generally looks of shock and questions of why. But those wore off after a while.

I got encouragement from family, so I suppose I'm lucky there. And I promised my wife I'd never nag her to commute by bike (although she did do it once without prompting). I nag her enough to go on joy rides.
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Old 06-20-08, 09:41 PM
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Yep, I've been getting that. At a seminar promoting cutting your carbon footprint no less! When I mentioned that I would like to start commuting a few days a week and taking the bike for occasional grocery runs, they all looked at me like I was nuts. Granted, I live in a particularly hilly part of town and my commute is going to have a ton of evil hills, but I think it's doable, especially since I can take the bus halfway. (My first dry run is probably going to be Monday.) I'll admit that I am scared of the hills more than the traffic, but there are so many bike commuters here since it's a college town, that I figure if they can do it, so can I. I saw a woman on a bike today who had to be at least 65, that gave me hope.
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Old 06-20-08, 09:41 PM
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Ooooh I'm gunna have fuuuuun with this one...I really could give a rat's ass what you say but, you took the time to say what you said and I'm bored so hey...why not?

...but before I make you look like a moron, I want to first say I really do know where you're coming from and respect your perspective and all that. Just as I do my parent's and everyone else's. I'll happily listen to and honestly hear out anyone's views on just about anything.

I do not dismissively insult my parents. They know exactly how I stand as goes the same for them. What you say makes no sense. I was referring to the legality of their perspective. Not their actions. They yell and scream at bike riders in the street even though we all know that we have as much of a right to be there as anyone. This is what I was referring to.

Originally Posted by Hydrated
OK... lemme see if I got this right:
Nope...you don't...let me explain why...

Originally Posted by Hydrated
You complain vehemently about the people that live around you and in your community...
Nope. I do not. I DID. I HATED living in the country, Dry Ridge, Ky, where I did but was forced to live there temporarily due to circumstances out of my control. I have no problem being where I live now. Apparently you missed that part.

Originally Posted by Hydrated
...you intentionally go out of your way to antagonize them with blaring music, your self-described silly appearance, and obnoxious behavior...
Antagonize? How can I be antagonizing people if I not bothering anybody? I'm not one of those thumper cars that goes around annoying everyone with loud subs and blaring rap that you, in your apparent old age, must have mistakenly pegged me as.

Ah...my appearance. If my appearance "antagonizes" people, that ROCKS!!

Originally Posted by Hydrated
...then you complain that they don't accept you because they're closed minded.
No, man...go take your Geritol...I was saying the racist ass holes in dry ridge are closed minded, moron.


Originally Posted by Hydrated
...You complain that your surroundings are hell because it's not SoCalifornia...
Aaaaand again...I don't have any problem where I am nooooow...I hated where I waaaaaaaaaas. And it had nothing to do with it being SoCal (yea...it's "SoCal"...not "SoCalifornia" for all you old people out there...). I just hate racist redneck ass holes.

Originally Posted by Hydrated
...then you dismissively insult your parents because they don't follow your instructions to live the way that you think that they should.
Follow my instructions? Live the way I think they should? What the hell are you talking about? I was only referring to their mindset in relation to bikers on city streets. But it's the LAW, you ass. Bikers over the age of 16 in the state of Kentucky are NOT ALLOWED to ride on sidewalks. THIS is what my parents don't seem to understand or give a **** about.

Here...read up: https://www.uky.edu/Pubs/Bicycle/kyrules.html

The sources of their info are listed on the bottom.

Originally Posted by Hydrated
...Have you ever thought about the possibility that you're just a spoiled little kid who acts like an ass?
I don't know who the hell you think you are you ass. I'm almost 25 years old with a 9 month old daughter, 2 cars, an apartment and a degree. I'm far from a kid, thank you very much.

Spoiled? I've bought and own everything I have. Go ask your mommy how much he paid for your bike.

Originally Posted by Hydrated
...One day you'll grow up and realize that people are the same everywhere... and all we want is to be treated with respect.
Who the hell do you think *I* am? Some 15 year old kid on here ranting about how his mom won't let him out past when the street lights come on? Wrong, man. I have grown up. A looooong time ago, actually. And in the process, I've learned respect is earned. You deserve none for assuming I am what I'm not.

Originally Posted by Hydrated
And remember... there's always a Greyhound bus just waiting to take your hiney back west whenever you want.
No...you remember...there's always a Greyhound just waiting to take me to beat another little prick's ass.

So where am I going this weekend?

Last edited by rmp5s; 06-20-08 at 09:48 PM.
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Old 06-20-08, 09:43 PM
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Originally Posted by aixia
Yep, I've been getting that. At a seminar promoting cutting your carbon footprint no less! When I mentioned that I would like to start commuting a few days a week and taking the bike for occasional grocery runs, they all looked at me like I was nuts.
Exactly what I was talking about! lol
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Old 06-20-08, 10:05 PM
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Originally Posted by rmp5s
Who the hell do you think *I* am? Some 15 year old kid on here ranting about how his mom won't let him out past when the street lights come on? Wrong, man. I have grown up. A looooong time ago, actually. And in the process, I've learned respect is earned. You deserve none for assuming I am what I'm not.
Yes... you do sound like a little kid ranting about how others don't understand you. I've found that most men don't have to tell people how grown up they are. You apparently have not arrived yet.

Read your own posts that came before my first response to you. You boasted about running around blaring Pantera music that you claimed that few people like... sounds like you do indeed go out of your way to annoy others. So quit whining when they get annoyed and stop playing nice with you.

Originally Posted by rmp5s
No...you remember...there's always a Greyhound just waiting to take me to beat another little prick's ass.

So where am I going this weekend?
Impressive. From your puerile response, it sounds like I hit a nerve. I love it when people threaten me over the internet. Just be careful... I have a lot of redneck relatives...

[/thread disengage]
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Old 06-20-08, 10:06 PM
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I like the "lobsters coming out of my ears" bit. :rofl:

I must just seem generally weird because nobody so much as blinks when I tell them how much I ride. They do, however, get all confused by the restoration and tinkering on bikes that I do. Girl on bike = yay, nice legs, girl with tools = brain sprain? I don't know.
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Old 06-21-08, 12:26 AM
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Originally Posted by Hydrated
Yes... you do sound like a little kid ranting about how others don't understand you. I've found that most men don't have to tell people how grown up they are. You apparently have not arrived yet.
When did I ever say anything about being "understood"? Again...putting words in my mouth. This whole thread is about the responses I get...not my approval/disapproval of them. I don't CARE if people condone what I do or not, be it with bikes, what I listen to, the way I dress, the way I wear my hair, whatever. You have taken this thread for something it's not. Something that apparently hit your "nerve".

Originally Posted by Hydrated
Read your own posts that came before my first response to you. You boasted about running around blaring Pantera music that you claimed that few people like... sounds like you do indeed go out of your way to annoy others. So quit whining when they get annoyed and stop playing nice with you.
I read them over and over...doesn't make you sound any smarter, moron. And again...I do cruise town blaring Pantera as loud as I can. Pantera...Maching Head...Tool...whatever floats my boat...but, AGAIN...nothing loud enough for anyone else to hear at any distance. I have dynamat in all my doors and my trunk to keep the sound IN the car. If sound escapes, you're not hearing it...I like hearing what my speakers put out and not broadcasting it to the neighborhood. My "appreciation for volume" has nothing to do with other people, be it trying to annoy them (or "antagonize" them, as you put it) or entertain them or whatever. I like music. I've been a musician for around 12 years now and, for the most part, the louder the better.

Originally Posted by Hydrated
Impressive. From your puerile response, it sounds like I hit a nerve. I love it when people threaten me over the internet. Just be careful... I have a lot of redneck relatives...
Hit a nerve? You wish. Sounds like I hit the nerve. Did I insult your stupid, redneck relatives?

And I wasn't threatening you. I was merely stating that Greyhound busses make lots of stops, man.

Originally Posted by Hydrated
[/thread disengage]
[/asshat_disengage]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Now that THAT'S over, yea Buglady...in all honesty, I heard the lobsters thing somewhere in a movie or something and it just stuck with me over the years. I have no idea where but it's not original! lol

I just wonder what my parents will say as I pedal by them at the pumps paying ~6 bucks a gallon later this year. I heard it's likely to get up there. They've been saying crazy stuff like that for a while now but, for once, I kinda believe it. I wouldn't be surprised at all if it got at least NEAR 6/gal by Christmas. It's gone up at a record pace for months now and, if it keeps it up, who knows where it will stop.
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Old 06-21-08, 12:29 AM
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Originally Posted by rmp5s
Ooooh I'm gunna have fuuuuun with this one...I really could give a rat's ass what you say but, you took the time to say what you said and I'm bored so hey...why not?

...but before I make you look like a moron, I want to first say I really do know where you're coming from and respect your perspective and all that. Just as I do my parent's and everyone else's. I'll happily listen to and honestly hear out anyone's views on just about anything.

I do not dismissively insult my parents. They know exactly how I stand as goes the same for them. What you say makes no sense. I was referring to the legality of their perspective. Not their actions. They yell and scream at bike riders in the street even though we all know that we have as much of a right to be there as anyone. This is what I was referring to.



Nope...you don't...let me explain why...



Nope. I do not. I DID. I HATED living in the country, Dry Ridge, Ky, where I did but was forced to live there temporarily due to circumstances out of my control. I have no problem being where I live now. Apparently you missed that part.



Antagonize? How can I be antagonizing people if I not bothering anybody? I'm not one of those thumper cars that goes around annoying everyone with loud subs and blaring rap that you, in your apparent old age, must have mistakenly pegged me as.

Ah...my appearance. If my appearance "antagonizes" people, that ROCKS!!



No, man...go take your Geritol...I was saying the racist ass holes in dry ridge are closed minded, moron.




Aaaaand again...I don't have any problem where I am nooooow...I hated where I waaaaaaaaaas. And it had nothing to do with it being SoCal (yea...it's "SoCal"...not "SoCalifornia" for all you old people out there...). I just hate racist redneck ass holes.



Follow my instructions? Live the way I think they should? What the hell are you talking about? I was only referring to their mindset in relation to bikers on city streets. But it's the LAW, you ass. Bikers over the age of 16 in the state of Kentucky are NOT ALLOWED to ride on sidewalks. THIS is what my parents don't seem to understand or give a **** about.

Here...read up: https://www.uky.edu/Pubs/Bicycle/kyrules.html

The sources of their info are listed on the bottom.



I don't know who the hell you think you are you ass. I'm almost 25 years old with a 9 month old daughter, 2 cars, an apartment and a degree. I'm far from a kid, thank you very much.

Spoiled? I've bought and own everything I have. Go ask your mommy how much he paid for your bike.



Who the hell do you think *I* am? Some 15 year old kid on here ranting about how his mom won't let him out past when the street lights come on? Wrong, man. I have grown up. A looooong time ago, actually. And in the process, I've learned respect is earned. You deserve none for assuming I am what I'm not.



No...you remember...there's always a Greyhound just waiting to take me to beat another little prick's ass.

So where am I going this weekend?
I've never been there, but I have made the observation that KY can do this^ to people. My roommate just recently escaped life in KY, and she "in concept" will reflect this attitude. She has definitely "chilled tha' Fuk out" now that she has moved to sunny FL with us! Her friend recently came to visit and he also told me about this "ky attitude".

I'm from NoVA/DC metro area, and now live in the panhandle. I left the stress (and traffic) in the city. I now only return to ride the city with my "recently converted" friends. They have learned to escape the stress and traffic by riding.

"Think about it....you'll get it."
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Old 06-21-08, 09:09 AM
  #34  
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Originally Posted by GoldIngot
Yes they think I'm a freak for riding my bike. I get all sorts of labels ranging from 'dedicated' to 'crazy f-er' but that's fine. It really opens the door to more subversive behavior like wearing my socks with sandals and walking the halls eating oatmeal out of a stryrofoam coffee cup. They've come to expect something a little off.
How else would you eat oatmeal?
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Old 06-21-08, 09:45 AM
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Originally Posted by rmp5s
- My girlfriend got a nice laugh when I told her she should get a bike and ride too since it was only 5.9 miles to work for me and not even 5 for her.
That's an easy ride, especially if you have a good route with bike lanes or if you can take routes not heavily traveled. I wish I had that opportunity. The quickest route to work for me is 15 miles one way and that is using interstate....which bikes are prohibited. If I travel back roads then the route is almost 30 miles one way.

I used to live in a condo which was only 2 miles from my office and the route was all through neighborhoods with no primary roads. Oh WHY did I move!?

Have fun, ride safe,
Brian
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Old 06-21-08, 09:49 AM
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rmp5s,

The vast majority of people that have seen me commute to work are just really impressed that I do it. Every once and a while I will meet a recreational cyclist that doesn't think riding on the road is safe.

Last I checked, cycling (per vehicle mile) was ~1.8x more dangerous than driving a car the same distance. This compares favorably to motorcycling at 6x more dangerous. However: take that 1.8x number with a grain of salt. There are lots of people that lost their drivers license due to being alcoholics that ride at night against the flow of traffic, erratically (drunk), a night with no lights. I know because I used to be the one selling them malt liquor.

Actually, the same is true for motorcycles, but instead of being drunks they are teenagers with a death wish.

EDIT- BTW, I started cycling to work because I was short on time and it allowed me to combine commuting with exercising. Few people can argue with that logic. Especially, since I am far more likely to die of an obesity related disease than I am of getting hit by a car (and killed).

EDIT2- 50% of fatal motorcycle accidents are with riders who were intoxicated. Another 50% of motorcycle fatalities were with riders that did not have a motorcycle endorsement. ANOTHER 50% of fatalities are from riders without helmets. Obviously, these sets intersect.

Last edited by Tabor; 06-21-08 at 09:52 AM.
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Old 06-21-08, 02:42 PM
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I live in Tennessee, and only 9 miles from Kentucky. I rode over 5000 miles last year, commuting and receratinaly. Many of these miles have been on rural KY roads and I find the drivers here and in West KY to be polite and curtious. I have many more problems with the attitude of the TN and KY yard hounds than the drivers. Have you ever drafted a farm tractor? They run at about the same speed as a fast recerational group. Heck, I've been known to beg for a tractor to draft into a cold NorthWest wind in the winter!
Back to commuting. I started commuting several years ago to squeez in more ride time. It had nothing to do with saving fuel, nice fringe benifet though, just more time to be on a bike. My coworkers know I'm a little out'a'balance so I get no flack for riding. I have 4 grown children, and can run circles around any of them any day. My 13 mile ride is some of the best medicine money can't buy.

Has anyone ever been "almost ran over" by deer? I have had this happen twice now! I ride to work at 3:30 am. BTW.
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Old 06-21-08, 08:49 PM
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I work with 4 other guys, and all think I am absolutely off the rockers. "3 miles, you're F'n kidding, right?!" Then again, I am also the one who wears slim jeans, hair longer than an inch, asics, glasses, and listens to techno.
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Old 06-21-08, 08:53 PM
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I got a lot of "why in the hell would you want to do that?" when i started. was the only person doing it and the other night i went to work and there was four bikes parked in the back hallway.... i guess it catches on pretty easy.
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Old 06-21-08, 09:02 PM
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Originally Posted by jakbikesdc
I've never been there, but I have made the observation that KY can do this^ to people. My roommate just recently escaped life in KY, and she "in concept" will reflect this attitude. She has definitely "chilled tha' Fuk out" now that she has moved to sunny FL with us! Her friend recently came to visit and he also told me about this "ky attitude".

I'm from NoVA/DC metro area, and now live in the panhandle. I left the stress (and traffic) in the city. I now only return to ride the city with my "recently converted" friends. They have learned to escape the stress and traffic by riding.

"Think about it....you'll get it."
Not sure what to say to this other than I also lived in FL (West Palm Beach) for 2 years...lol

Don't get me wrong, either...I don't care for ky myself...

Originally Posted by PAJ3Cub
That's an easy ride, especially if you have a good route with bike lanes or if you can take routes not heavily traveled. I wish I had that opportunity. The quickest route to work for me is 15 miles one way and that is using interstate....which bikes are prohibited. If I travel back roads then the route is almost 30 miles one way.

I used to live in a condo which was only 2 miles from my office and the route was all through neighborhoods with no primary roads. Oh WHY did I move!?

Have fun, ride safe,
Brian
I know! I tried telling her that! Most of the trip would be looooong, straaaaaaaight, wiiiiiide road WITH A BIKE LANE!!! I WISH my ride was so awesome! But she won't do it...yet...maybe when gas gets more expensive or she sees me dropping weight (more than I already have) or she gets whatever motivation she needs. It'd be a GREAT ride.

Originally Posted by Tabor
rmp5s,

The vast majority of people that have seen me commute to work are just really impressed that I do it. Every once and a while I will meet a recreational cyclist that doesn't think riding on the road is safe.

Last I checked, cycling (per vehicle mile) was ~1.8x more dangerous than driving a car the same distance. This compares favorably to motorcycling at 6x more dangerous. However: take that 1.8x number with a grain of salt. There are lots of people that lost their drivers license due to being alcoholics that ride at night against the flow of traffic, erratically (drunk), a night with no lights. I know because I used to be the one selling them malt liquor.

Actually, the same is true for motorcycles, but instead of being drunks they are teenagers with a death wish.

EDIT- BTW, I started cycling to work because I was short on time and it allowed me to combine commuting with exercising. Few people can argue with that logic. Especially, since I am far more likely to die of an obesity related disease than I am of getting hit by a car (and killed).

EDIT2- 50% of fatal motorcycle accidents are with riders who were intoxicated. Another 50% of motorcycle fatalities were with riders that did not have a motorcycle endorsement. ANOTHER 50% of fatalities are from riders without helmets. Obviously, these sets intersect.
Funny you compare bikes to motorcycles cuz I WAS going to get one of those but don't have the money for one. Plus, my parents didn't want me getting one of those, either. I'll just tell them how much safer this is. lol

Originally Posted by uciflylow
I live in Tennessee, and only 9 miles from Kentucky. I rode over 5000 miles last year, commuting and receratinaly. Many of these miles have been on rural KY roads and I find the drivers here and in West KY to be polite and curtious. I have many more problems with the attitude of the TN and KY yard hounds than the drivers. Have you ever drafted a farm tractor? They run at about the same speed as a fast recerational group. Heck, I've been known to beg for a tractor to draft into a cold NorthWest wind in the winter!
Back to commuting. I started commuting several years ago to squeez in more ride time. It had nothing to do with saving fuel, nice fringe benifet though, just more time to be on a bike. My coworkers know I'm a little out'a'balance so I get no flack for riding. I have 4 grown children, and can run circles around any of them any day. My 13 mile ride is some of the best medicine money can't buy.

Has anyone ever been "almost ran over" by deer? I have had this happen twice now! I ride to work at 3:30 am. BTW.
It'll be interesting to see how the people are on the roads here. I FINALLY made up my mind as to what bike to get. I went to check out some Marin bikes, intending to pay most attention to the Muirwoods 29er but rode a Novato first and it was game over. That thing rocked. I should be getting it next week so we'll see how everyone is then. Good to hear they're good where you are. I hope for the same!
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Old 06-21-08, 11:52 PM
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I've had four people from work consider and talk about it. Then they and the others swing to the other side and say I'm crazy for commuting by bike. Guess what...I don't care what they think...I'm committed to riding my bike for commuting and pleasure.
BTW I'm also a redneck who enjoys my pick up truck and the country. I just gotta get it fixed.
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Old 06-22-08, 12:28 AM
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Originally Posted by sourdoughT
I've had four people from work consider and talk about it. Then they and the others swing to the other side and say I'm crazy for commuting by bike. Guess what...I don't care what they think...I'm committed to riding my bike for commuting and pleasure.
BTW I'm also a redneck who enjoys my pick up truck and the country. I just gotta get it fixed.
I don't care what they think, either. Their reactions are amusing though. I'm yet to have a single person say anything positive. Had ~75% of them say I was insane (had another one of these today) and the rest just say "good luck"...lol. Fine with me. I still like riding...lol

Also...while I was at work today, I remebered that one of the managers rode to work from time to time. I asked the GM where he kept his bike when he rode (which I've NEVER seen him do...so I know it's not often...but oh well...lol) and she showed me this little meter room in the back of the place behind a locked door! I could lock it to one of the meter pipes or the wall mounted ladder in there and not worry about it, easy! She was like "you could put it in there if you want". That's pretty sweet...cuz I had no idea what I was going to do till she said that.

You can have the country...it's NOT for me...:-D
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Old 06-23-08, 03:34 PM
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Originally Posted by Hydrated
OK... lemme see if I got this right:

You complain vehemently about the people that live around you and in your community... you intentionally go out of your way to antagonize them with blaring music, your self-described silly appearance, and obnoxious behavior... then you complain that they don't accept you because they're closed minded. You complain that your surroundings are hell because it's not SoCalifornia... then you dismissively insult your parents because they don't follow your instructions to live the way that you think that they should.

Have you ever thought about the possibility that you're just a spoiled little kid who acts like an ass? One day you'll grow up and realize that people are the same everywhere... and all we want is to be treated with respect.

And remember... there's always a Greyhound bus just waiting to take your hiney back west whenever you want.

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Old 06-23-08, 04:05 PM
  #44  
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Originally Posted by PunkMartyr
After getting in and out of fitness over the years and deciding fitness is for me for life, I realized I don't care what other people think as long as i'm burning calories or pumping some iron.
Sweaty backs, Lycra, Gym Clothes, Helmets, Clip Clop shoes all are signs of health.
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Old 06-23-08, 04:07 PM
  #45  
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Originally Posted by fishtime
Hi , I tried the commute today too, first time ! Took the road bike, was very bumpy going up the the approches on the bike/ ped path for the first 5 miles. I have a Trek 400 Steelie and a mt. bike. I am thinking I might try the old Mt. Bike. I did like the quickness of the road bike, but when it is poorer conditins I might try the tank. ( BTW very heavy and not suspension )
I got a lot of junk from fellow workers wearing my bibs and gear but hey 10.5 miles each way was not too bad. The Big dump trucks are a pain in the back side though. Any hints would be helpful.

TY.
Take the Mtn Bike... I started commuting in to Milwaukee in April, and have the same situation with a road bike and old heavy steel rigid mtn bike to choose from. I didn't want to trash the road bike, so started out on the mtn bike (with smooth tires). Last week I had a little mechanical issue with the mtn bike, so I took the road bike instead. Man, that beat the crap out of me. The roads are in awful shape! I also found that I barely saved much time at all on the nice light carbon fiber road bike compared to the ridiculously heavy mtn bike (with rack, panniers, etc...) I haven't seen the crews out fixing the roads yet, so I think the mtn bike is going to be the permanent ride!
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Old 06-23-08, 04:17 PM
  #46  
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Originally Posted by rmp5s
no more getting stuck behind rednecks going 20 in a 55 in their big, noisy, stinky trucks...
Gee, you're a fast cyclist!
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Old 06-23-08, 05:33 PM
  #47  
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As far as bike safety goes, years ago I read an actuaries comparison of a multitude of activities. I recall that study was done on the basis of fatalities per million hours of activity A million hours equates to about 114 years, so greater than the average life expectancy for sure.

What I remember was that sky diving was by far the riskiest activity to undertake. It yielded something like 160 deaths per million hours of activity. Following behind in second place, was riding in I believe a single engine plane - something like maybe 100 deaths per million hours of activity.

Bicycling and driving of automobiles ranked well below these activities and bicycling was ranked much lower than the auto.

It should be mentioned that the article was published by a bicycle advocacy group, opposing mandatory helmet use.
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Old 06-23-08, 08:47 PM
  #48  
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That article doesn't make any sense. I have ridden motocycles and bicycles, plus a few other risky hobbies and the bicycle wrecks have been way worse. Then I read in threads here about folks that have been stuck more than once by cars. In the past most of my riding friends have been struck by cars and I don't know any that have not broken a bone or two.

I mean no maybe we didn't die but (and I really hate to use this phrase) "serious" bicyclists riding at a good clip, riding in traffic, it's just inevidable you will wreck, and a wreck on the road is not like a wreck on the trail where you can just pick yourself up and dust yourself off.
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Old 06-24-08, 07:03 AM
  #49  
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i give all the people in my building funny looks for driving to work...
 
Old 06-24-08, 07:10 AM
  #50  
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Originally Posted by ironhorse3
Re your safety question, I have looked into this on the 'net and I think it's slightly more risky than driving or walking,
Huh? Care to provide some cites for this dubious factoid?

I've see stats that claim cycling is more dangerous than driving per mile, but when you break down the data you find that most of the cycling accidents come from people not following the rules of the road. I been commuting on the roads for over 30 years...without a helmet. Unless I am some kind of superman, I'd have to say that my experience is a much better indicator than a bunch of numbers.
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