Tons of commuters out!
#1
Thread Starter
Nobody, et al.
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 170
Likes: 0
From: Longmont, CO
Bikes: Surly LHT
Tons of commuters out!
Maybe it's everybody's new years resolution but there have been a ton of bike commuters out on the bikeways yesterday and today. I usually see one or two people, but I probably saw a dozen yesterday and a handful on the way in this morning.
Who knows, maybe a fluke, but it'd be really cool if it was the start of something, eh?
Anybody else seen an increase in cyclists?
Who knows, maybe a fluke, but it'd be really cool if it was the start of something, eh?
Anybody else seen an increase in cyclists?
#2
Infamous Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 24,360
Likes: 7
From: Ohio
Bikes: Surly Big Dummy, Fuji World, 80ish Bianchi
Yeah, it seems like the entire population gets out on their bikes when the temps are in the single digits and there is six inches of snow on the ground being blown around by 15mph winds. The roads are so crowded with bikes that I have been tempted to drive.
__________________
"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
#3
Thread Starter
Nobody, et al.
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 170
Likes: 0
From: Longmont, CO
Bikes: Surly LHT
ha HA HA!
Sorry man, I forget the rest of the country isn't "dealing" with lows in the 40s.
I guess you're right, I wouldn't be starting from scratch with snow on the ground either.
Nevermind...
Sorry man, I forget the rest of the country isn't "dealing" with lows in the 40s.
I guess you're right, I wouldn't be starting from scratch with snow on the ground either.
Nevermind...
#6
Older than dirt
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 5,342
Likes: 2
From: Winchester, VA
Bikes: Too darn many.. latest count is 11
#7
Infamous Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 24,360
Likes: 7
From: Ohio
Bikes: Surly Big Dummy, Fuji World, 80ish Bianchi
and blinding innocent bystanders with them lily white legs? No thanks.
__________________
"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
#8
I saw only a couple of other cyclists today. One was a mom was pulling her kid in a trailer on the bike path. Pretty hardcore for -9 and not so great traction. It was a lot of work just getting myself up to speed, let alone having to deal with a trailer.
#9
Senior Member

Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,299
Likes: 16
We had about a foot of new snow last night and this morning I saw at least a dozen mountain bike commuters. Way more than usual. For some reason, the snow brings them out in droves. Perhaps they like the challenge of it, or maybe it's just plain fun to ride in snow. I don't mind the snow myself, but it's not something I would deliberately seek out.
#12
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 882
Likes: 1
From: Suburbia, Ontario
Bikes: Specialized FSR
#15
I do wear shorts in the 40's. It's nice! I've been in California for three years now, and I swear I'll never get used to this weather. I miss snow. People complaining when the temperature 'drops' to 50F is pathetic, if you ask me.
But I certainly have seen an increase in commuters. It's encouraging, but disheartening that so many cyclists (and car drivers for that matter) have no idea how to handle a vehicle on the street.
But I certainly have seen an increase in commuters. It's encouraging, but disheartening that so many cyclists (and car drivers for that matter) have no idea how to handle a vehicle on the street.
#16
Damn! I was wondering what was going on. I saw probably 5x the normal number of bike commuters in the last 2 days, and was actually part of a 'parade' of 3 last night. It's been weird, but kind of cool. I say 'hi' to anyone on a bike in winter because winter cyclists are so uncommon. I've said 'hi' a lot the last two days.
Of course, it must be the whole new year's resolution thing. That does explain it. What a wrong time of year to decide to start riding a bike... in Saskatoon! It was -20C all day today, and the roads are icy. I appreciate the thought, but I think a lot more people would stick with it if they just eased into it in May, or kept going through fall, instead of trying to go whole-hog in January.
It's kind of cool to know that that many people are on the cusp of being bike commuters. Even if they don't wind up keeping their resolution, at least they're interested in the concept. Maybe there's hope for bikes as a 'normal' mode of transportation after all.
Of course, it must be the whole new year's resolution thing. That does explain it. What a wrong time of year to decide to start riding a bike... in Saskatoon! It was -20C all day today, and the roads are icy. I appreciate the thought, but I think a lot more people would stick with it if they just eased into it in May, or kept going through fall, instead of trying to go whole-hog in January.
It's kind of cool to know that that many people are on the cusp of being bike commuters. Even if they don't wind up keeping their resolution, at least they're interested in the concept. Maybe there's hope for bikes as a 'normal' mode of transportation after all.
Last edited by hshearer; 01-05-10 at 03:52 PM.
#17
aka Tom Reingold




Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 44,193
Likes: 6,426
From: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
We don't have many bike commuters here, but they do seem to be on the increase. Seeing any at all this week, with low temps and high winds, is heartening. I think I saw faces of incredulity today as I sped along. I don't yet have a good hat for under the helmet, and I had to make a choice between hat and helmet. I chose the hat.
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments. Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments. Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#18
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,410
Likes: 0
From: Long Beach,CA
Bikes: Kona Ute, Nishiki 4130, Trek 7000, K2 Mach 1.0, Novara Randonee, Schwinn Loop, K2 Zed 1.0, Schwinn Cream, Torker Boardwalk
I saw a lot more yesterday and today. Unfortunately most were riding on flats or tires indeed of a bit more air. If I were not on my scooter and on my bike, I would have given them a pump or two.
#19
xtrajack
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,058
Likes: 0
From: Maine
Bikes: Kona fire mountain/xtracycle,Univega landrover fs,Nishiki custom sport Ross professional super gran tour Schwinn Mesa (future Xtracycle donor bike)
I haven't seen any other commuters yet this year. Actually there are not that many around here in the summer either.
#21
Senior Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 8,896
Likes: 7
From: Raleigh, NC
Bikes: Waterford RST-22, Bob Jackson World Tour, Ritchey Breakaway Cross, Soma Saga, De Bernardi SL, Specialized Sequoia
I never see any other commuters, even when the weather is ideal. So I certainly don't expect to see any with the weather we are having lately -- lows in the teems and lower 20s, highs in the 30s, plus cold north winds.
#23
Born Again Pagan
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,241
Likes: 2
From: Southwestern Ontario
Bikes: Schwinn hybrid, Raleigh MTB
Temps were right around the freezing mark with light drizzle in my part of Ontario today. Made me wish my glasses had a wiper/washer mechanism on them. I've seen plenty of commuters so far this winter, that being said it's my first winter commuting so I'm more aware of them.
Last edited by irclean; 01-06-10 at 12:48 PM.
#25
Seņior Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 13,748
Likes: 10
From: Michigan
Bikes: Windsor Fens, Giant Seek 0 (2014, Alfine 8 + discs)
Heck, around here I don't see any other commuters even in the summer. People call the men in white coats and butterfly nets when they see me riding in the winter.
It's a red-letter day for me when I see even one other person on a bicycle, and then it's usually someone on a road bike with no cargo (almost certainly not a commuter). A couple of years ago at the peak of $4/gal gasoline, I actually saw TWO other commuters in one day! I just about fainted.
It's a red-letter day for me when I see even one other person on a bicycle, and then it's usually someone on a road bike with no cargo (almost certainly not a commuter). A couple of years ago at the peak of $4/gal gasoline, I actually saw TWO other commuters in one day! I just about fainted.
__________________
Work: the 8 hours that separates bike rides.
Work: the 8 hours that separates bike rides.




