Let me add to this, at the time, 6 day racing was seen as a huge event by all... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six-day_racing

"Annual six-day races in Boston finished in 1933, Detroit in 1936, and Chicago in 1948. New York hung on until 1950."

Cycling was indeed quite popular in this country at one time. If you watch US television, you are constantly bombarded by the idea that baseball was the nation's most popular sport prior to World War II. This is false. There were a number of sports which were more popular than baseball with six day racing being the most popular sport in the US.

https://hauns.com/~DCQu4E5g/TDF/uscycling.html

Very nice setup and family and I'm still impressed with your arrangement even without the corner office. Maybe someday in the future.

My twin hauling method was far less sophisticated 25 years ago.

Aw...What are they there, about a year old?

I wish I could do that, but the lighter one is about 42 pounds.

I have gargantu-boys.

I'm not sure my being imaginative would result in Washington Heights getting one of those, but that's going on my birthday wish list.

9 months; boy on my back, girl in the seat.

Me too and I think it is a narrow way to think about it. The built and they will come idea over simplifies the situation but I have come to the conclusion that people who linger around these threads are overly idealist. They want to ignore the relevant realities such as a US society that was based on cheap gas for 60 years, deficient public transportation, and longer commutes even when you point these things out.

For all this concern about practicality nobody ever brings up intermodal bike commuting with folding bikes. I think this makes more sense for many people who deal with a long commute and can take advantage of what public transportation does exist.

in bahasa indonesia (indonesian language) there's this proverb
LAIN PADANG LAIN BELALANG, LAIN LUBUK LAIN IKANNYA
meaning:
DIFFERENT REGION, DIFFERENT CULTURE

What's wrong with commuting in spandex? On my hilly 10 mile commute it is far more comfortable than a pair of slacks and a dress shirt. I have to shower and change anyway so why wear clothes that soak up the sweat and hold it close to my skin?

If there's one thing I've learned over the years it's that what works well for some may not work well for others.

-Cheers

I've taken my bike a variety of places, to the supermarket, to the bookstore, to the bar, to friends' houses, to work, to the park, etc.. It is a realistic way to get around, and it seems especially silly for me to drive distances a couple of miles or less.

In addition to that, I would probably love the Netherlands. I have never bought specialized bike clothing (not dissin' those who do, either) because, until I came to this forum, I was under the impression that those were for cyclists who were way more serious than me (as in, the folks who do the centuries). T-shirt and shorts or pants are what I wear around the house, and hence, ride with. When going to work, I may need to change clothes during the hot season because things can get pretty sweaty. Still, it's T-shirt and shorts and then changing into the work clothes. During the fall-winter this year, I hope get by with wearing the work clothes. (The soon-coming electric motor is specifically for that reason--less sweat in the 15 miles in the morning.) When my commute used to be 5 miles or less, I didn't even worry about the sweat. I could throw the bike on the bus or just pedal slowly.

I've also been known to haul 10 bags of groceries on the handlebars, talk on a cell phone, refuse to wear a helmet, and even smoke a cigarette on a slow, short commute. I know I'm just curling the toes of the safety-oriented folk right now. Sorry, but those are just some of the things I've done...in America. ...I don't think I'm tough enough to haul an 8-year old who is precariously balanced on the back rack, though; he/she would need to self-propel.

It's all about the attitude.

...And I really don't judge what set-up any other person has. One of the things that makes bicycling fabulous to me is how every person does it their own way to meet their own needs. I like looking at what other people ride and how they ride it. There is far more individuality with cyclists' vehicular set-ups than I see with cars that are usually only individualized with a bumper sticker.

i was just in germany. I like how it's a mode of transportation, but it's still very annoying to get dinged at by a bike bell while walking on the sidewalk, or almost ran over by a bunch of ladies in heels or men in business suits.

viplala

what's the weather like in Amsterdam anyway?

https://weather.yahoo.com/forecast/NLXX0002.html

Hehehe... Nog een verdwaalde Hollander hier...

The past few months reading this forum have been a revelation for me too. To sum it up: spandex, helmets and expensive bikes (*generally* speaking, based on stories and comments on this forum). Obviously very different countries and cultures.

Eh ? My main commuting bike was a 2nd hand bike (made in '79, refurbished by my father in 1985 and given to me as the bike with which to go to school (20 km/day for 6 years). It has been 23 years in my possession by now. If I'm not mistaken it still has the original chain from '79. That 3-speed bike has seen about 40.000-50.000 km, I estimate. Two years ago the chain made a lot of squeeky noises so I took it off, cleaned it, boiled in grease and reinstalled. I don't think it had been cleaned for 10-15 years. Chain is still going strong today. As everything else on that bike. No need to be 'eeked out' by that. I doubt there are a lot of bikes here that ever get their chains replaced in their lifetime (apart from a few bike hobbyists/racers).



What did that bike cost me in the past 23 years ? Nothing, apart from the occasional new tyre and tube. That was my main bike (the one with which I've done everything since 1985) till I got my 'racebike' (don't laugh), a 1978 Peugeot UO8. Riding that last bike really made me appreciate the old, good-for-all-uses Union...


https://www.ski-epic.com/amsterdam_bicycles/

Reading the above story had me ROFL. To think that anyone would be *amazed* by us not wearing helmets, spandex, using old bikes, 2-on-a-bike, taking kids with you and groceries (simply in a plastic bag) is hilarious. That story tells much more about the observer than the observed.

Anyone wearing a helmet on the streets here would gather more attention than someone who loudly swears in a packed church...

Anyway, enjoyed your post.

That's true--but I think what it tells most about us is how difficult it can be to do some of those things where we live.

Kids and groceries on a bike in New York takes some work--to the point where even someone really determined can't necessarily make it happen. One big obstacle for me is, where am I going to leave the bike while I shop? On the street isn't a choice because of the bike theft rate here (and where I live, the general crime rate), and there's barely room for customers in most of the shops, let alone for a customer's bike.

I haven't given up, but I also haven't solved the problem yet. I will...but I can't say how.

And just to clarify my outlook, I'm not amazed by any of the things in that article--but I am very, very envious that you live in that kind of place. The only time I'll see even a fraction of that many bikes parked in one place is when I'm at a specifically bike-friendly hangout, like the Runcible Spoon in Nyack or Dinosaur BBQ in Harlem. Anywhere else, it just doesn't happen, partly because people's minds don't think in that direction, but also partly because of all the obstacles involved.

Valid points, Noteon.

It really becomes a 'chicken or the egg' problem then, doesn't it ? We don't cycle because we don't have the infrastructure, and we don't have the infrastructure because no one uses it (no cyclists).

Yes.

I'm managing to some extent, but I also have a personal history of doing almost everything the hard way, even if it costs more money than other people think is sane. Unfortunately, I don't think it's realistic to hope the less bloody-minded will make significant sacrifices just so they can bike, especially if they've already invested all their money in houses 33 miles from where they work (that's the U.S. average) and cars to make the trip possible.

I hope it changes.. but on the other hand, more bike crowding would make my ride along the Hudson River less fun. Everything's a tradeoff...

You've just found your new business, at least if you are in Minneapolis. I went to the link on the bicycle bar's sign, https://www.fietscafe.nl/. This web site has a link to PedalPub LLC in Minneapolis, MH. LINK

I'd assume it costs somewhat less than other modes of transport, when you figure in maintenance (more frequent when drivin is more frequent), gas, parking, public transit fare, etc.. Even with the amount I just laid out on my new vehicle (which is the first time in my life that I've ever spent over $200 on a bike), I will have most of it re-couped in 2-3 years. Plus, you'll save more in healthcare for yourself and you won't have to pay for counseling for kids who don't know how to have fun and spend no time with dad. Even when we get into the pricey stuff, it is still worthwhile.

Yet not a single bicycle helmet in the picture.

thanks
I was actually more interested in seasonal weather conditions - snowy winters or cold and dry? hot or temperate summers?

I agree that it's more than worthwhile, but $81/month would get me an unlimited-use MetroCard, and small children ride for free. So mass transit would probably be cheaper in NYC--but not hugely so. (And I'm sure mass transit plus a gym membership would add up to more than my bicycle costs--and I'd never find time to get to the gym.)

And even splurging on things like Brooks saddles and Giro helmets, it's still a twentieth the cost of a car.

Think Seattle. But without the sun...

https://servlet.dmi.dk/rejsevejr/serv...a?by=200001207

https://servlet.dmi.dk/rejsevejr/serv...a?by=120031001

It varies. A lot.

https://www.eyelogue.com/donniecam.html

As far as climate goes, it's a marine climate: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oceanic_climate. Mild winters (don't recall having seen snow in the past few years), mild summers, lot of rain. No real extremes in weather. Generally pretty pleasant conditions for a bicyclist.

thanks, that helps put it in perspective.

"The ol' Batavus" is unknown here. You either get cheapo bikes from Walmart or similar places that tend to fall apart, or you get into the $400+ range which becomes attractive to theives.

I challenge anyone to ride any distance in a dress shirt, tie, and long pants in 105 degree temperatures and not be sweat-soaked when they get there.