Where do you work?
01-24-14 | 02:34 PM
#177
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 30,447
Likes: 4,541
From: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
BS in industrial technology with emphasis on CAD and Electronics...
I design Printed Wire Boards or PCBs and housings for wireless products. These are all multi-layer complex designs that require the latest in Design for Manufacture processes... think of the heart of the iphone (good friend and former co-worker did that) or handheld Sat phones as examples of the kind of work I do. I joke with my family that due to the transmitter/receiver radio nature of my work, and the small designs demanded by the public, I essentially figure out how to put an elephant in a shoebox in a way that he can't smell his own butt.
OK, so now reading through several pages of this thread... it seems like there are an awful lot of professionals with degrees that bike commute... hardly the case that "if you commute by bike, you don't have an education."
So how do we convey to the world that hey, we cyclists are indeed not the lowlifes that some apparently think we are... we are regular breadwinners who are your neighbors and co-workers and we merely choose to bike rather than drive. (although I have to admit I do look rather scroungy when I commute in my t shirt and shorts on my comfortable old ride... )
Contrast that to my college days...
I design Printed Wire Boards or PCBs and housings for wireless products. These are all multi-layer complex designs that require the latest in Design for Manufacture processes... think of the heart of the iphone (good friend and former co-worker did that) or handheld Sat phones as examples of the kind of work I do. I joke with my family that due to the transmitter/receiver radio nature of my work, and the small designs demanded by the public, I essentially figure out how to put an elephant in a shoebox in a way that he can't smell his own butt.
OK, so now reading through several pages of this thread... it seems like there are an awful lot of professionals with degrees that bike commute... hardly the case that "if you commute by bike, you don't have an education."
So how do we convey to the world that hey, we cyclists are indeed not the lowlifes that some apparently think we are... we are regular breadwinners who are your neighbors and co-workers and we merely choose to bike rather than drive. (although I have to admit I do look rather scroungy when I commute in my t shirt and shorts on my comfortable old ride... )
Contrast that to my college days...
01-24-14 | 03:23 PM
#179
always rides with luggage
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,109
Likes: 20
From: KIGX
Bikes: 2007 Trek SU100, 2009 Fantom CX, 2012 Fantom Cross Uno, Bakfiets
Oh you and your bike shop p0rn.
__________________
--Ben
2006 Trek SU100, 2009 Motobecane Fantom CX, 2011 Motobecane Fantom Cross Uno, and a Bakfiets
Previously: 2000 Trek 4500 (2000-2003), 2003 Novara Randonee (2003-2006), 2003 Giant Rainier (2003-2008), 2005 Xootr Swift (2005-2007), 2007 Nashbar 1x9 (2007-2011), 2011 Windsor Shetland (2011-2014), 2008 Citizen Folder (2015)
Non-Bike hardware: MX Linux / BunsenLabs Linux / Raspbian / Mac OS 10.6 / Android 7
--Ben
2006 Trek SU100, 2009 Motobecane Fantom CX, 2011 Motobecane Fantom Cross Uno, and a Bakfiets
Previously: 2000 Trek 4500 (2000-2003), 2003 Novara Randonee (2003-2006), 2003 Giant Rainier (2003-2008), 2005 Xootr Swift (2005-2007), 2007 Nashbar 1x9 (2007-2011), 2011 Windsor Shetland (2011-2014), 2008 Citizen Folder (2015)
Non-Bike hardware: MX Linux / BunsenLabs Linux / Raspbian / Mac OS 10.6 / Android 7
01-24-14 | 03:36 PM
#180
aka Tom Reingold
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 44,138
Likes: 6,360
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
I moved to NYC from a NJ suburb this past summer. There, I was an oddball to use my bike as transportation. There are Hispanic immigrants who commute by bike, and they outnumber me, but there are not many people on bike in the suburbs. That is where transportation cycling is more correlated with poverty. The good news is that this is slowly changing. More middle class people are choosing it. The numbers are tiny, but the slope of the increase is sharp.
__________________
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.
01-24-14 | 03:45 PM
#181
Fork and spoon operator
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 577
Likes: 11
From: Hopkins, Minnesota
Bikes: 2013 Surly Crosscheck, 1990 Schwinn Impact, 1973 Schwinn Continental
I just like the part of this thread where everyone says what they do. The part about proving that we're all highly educated doesn't appeal to me as much.
01-24-14 | 04:19 PM
#182
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 27,266
Likes: 150
From: YEG
Bikes: See my sig...
01-24-14 | 04:53 PM
#183
Keepin it Wheel
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 5,203
From: San Diego
Bikes: Surly CrossCheck, Krampus
I have a PhD and work in software R&D for aerospace.
01-24-14 | 05:03 PM
#184
aka Tom Reingold
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 44,138
Likes: 6,360
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
Funny, I know a few PhD's here on bikeforums. Which should be called bikefora.
__________________
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.
01-24-14 | 05:29 PM
#185
Senior Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 7,381
Likes: 219
I've been lurking here for awhile and I haven't seen any threads on the subject. So, I'd like to know where you all work and what your job entails. I got thinking about it since anyone that I talk to believes that if you commute by bike, you don't have an education. I'll start it off...
01-24-14 | 07:37 PM
#186
Motorcycle RoadRacer
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 3,826
Likes: 4
Sloughed through high school, graduated, but just barely. Technical training "A School" in the Navy. Community college, part time "high school do-over", this time college prep. Then real college work, all while working my way up as a machinist. Transferred, and eventually graduated from a State University with an engineering degree, nineteen years after getting out of high school.
01-25-14 | 10:24 PM
#187
Stealing Spokes since 82'
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,875
Likes: 0
From: Boy-z, Ideeeho
Bikes: The always reliable kuwie
I've got an associates in advanced diesel tech. And I'm an automotive electrician that builds fire apparatus (fire trucks). Basically I get paid money to play with fire trucks.
01-26-14 | 03:56 PM
#189
Slogging along
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,148
Likes: 0
From: San Fernando Valley, SoCal
Bikes: Cannondale Synapse '06, Mongoose titanium road bike '00--my commuter. Yes, Mongoose once made a decent ti road bike.
I work. This May I will retire. No more work. No more commuting to work. More overall riding. Can't wait.
01-26-14 | 05:28 PM
#190
Member
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: Fremont, CA
Bikes: Montague Paratrooper, Cannondale Synapse Carbon 6, Downtube Nova
I am a software engineer at "the old evil empire". I ride pass "the social network" company and "the new (don't be) evil empire" everyday as part of my commute.
Last edited by stanleyl; 01-26-14 at 05:31 PM.
01-26-14 | 07:31 PM
#191
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 83
Likes: 0
From: Wilmington, NC
Bikes: Novara Randonee
I'll play: I'm a counselor with behaviorally challenged adolescents. Master's in counseling psychology, finishing my doctorate in clinical psych. Fun fact, my dissertation concerns the relationship between trauma, humor, and coping. The type of humor I study is generally called dark humor. So that means I get to read dirty jokes for research and eventually I'll be called a doctor.
My commute is a flat 7 miles each way, mostly on back roads and part on a MUP. I'm a 5x weekly rider as we recently downsized to one car for the family.
My commute is a flat 7 miles each way, mostly on back roads and part on a MUP. I'm a 5x weekly rider as we recently downsized to one car for the family.
01-26-14 | 09:00 PM
#192
rebmeM roineS
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,230
Likes: 363
From: Metro Indy, IN
Bikes: Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
01-26-14 | 09:22 PM
#193
always rides with luggage
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,109
Likes: 20
From: KIGX
Bikes: 2007 Trek SU100, 2009 Fantom CX, 2012 Fantom Cross Uno, Bakfiets
Helps that the first and third corporations have offices in the same neighborhood along the same MUP.
__________________
--Ben
2006 Trek SU100, 2009 Motobecane Fantom CX, 2011 Motobecane Fantom Cross Uno, and a Bakfiets
Previously: 2000 Trek 4500 (2000-2003), 2003 Novara Randonee (2003-2006), 2003 Giant Rainier (2003-2008), 2005 Xootr Swift (2005-2007), 2007 Nashbar 1x9 (2007-2011), 2011 Windsor Shetland (2011-2014), 2008 Citizen Folder (2015)
Non-Bike hardware: MX Linux / BunsenLabs Linux / Raspbian / Mac OS 10.6 / Android 7
--Ben
2006 Trek SU100, 2009 Motobecane Fantom CX, 2011 Motobecane Fantom Cross Uno, and a Bakfiets
Previously: 2000 Trek 4500 (2000-2003), 2003 Novara Randonee (2003-2006), 2003 Giant Rainier (2003-2008), 2005 Xootr Swift (2005-2007), 2007 Nashbar 1x9 (2007-2011), 2011 Windsor Shetland (2011-2014), 2008 Citizen Folder (2015)
Non-Bike hardware: MX Linux / BunsenLabs Linux / Raspbian / Mac OS 10.6 / Android 7
01-26-14 | 09:25 PM
#194
always rides with luggage
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,109
Likes: 20
From: KIGX
Bikes: 2007 Trek SU100, 2009 Fantom CX, 2012 Fantom Cross Uno, Bakfiets
Oh yeah, I told everyone where I work, but left out the horn-tooting. I have a BS in Materials Engineering with a focus on metallurgy... and worked on Unix machines in my spare time... which is precisely how I ended up in IT.
__________________
--Ben
2006 Trek SU100, 2009 Motobecane Fantom CX, 2011 Motobecane Fantom Cross Uno, and a Bakfiets
Previously: 2000 Trek 4500 (2000-2003), 2003 Novara Randonee (2003-2006), 2003 Giant Rainier (2003-2008), 2005 Xootr Swift (2005-2007), 2007 Nashbar 1x9 (2007-2011), 2011 Windsor Shetland (2011-2014), 2008 Citizen Folder (2015)
Non-Bike hardware: MX Linux / BunsenLabs Linux / Raspbian / Mac OS 10.6 / Android 7
--Ben
2006 Trek SU100, 2009 Motobecane Fantom CX, 2011 Motobecane Fantom Cross Uno, and a Bakfiets
Previously: 2000 Trek 4500 (2000-2003), 2003 Novara Randonee (2003-2006), 2003 Giant Rainier (2003-2008), 2005 Xootr Swift (2005-2007), 2007 Nashbar 1x9 (2007-2011), 2011 Windsor Shetland (2011-2014), 2008 Citizen Folder (2015)
Non-Bike hardware: MX Linux / BunsenLabs Linux / Raspbian / Mac OS 10.6 / Android 7
01-26-14 | 09:36 PM
#195
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
We have a few that do it, too, but in the other direction.
01-26-14 | 09:55 PM
#196
LET'S ROLL
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 4,789
Likes: 59
From: NEW YORK, NY - USA
Bikes: 2014 BMC Gran Fondo, 2013 Brompton S6L-X
I've been to Tijuana twice; walked over the border after parking my relative's car in one of the parking lots by the US border.
Both times I didn't bring my bike from the east coast; but would have liked to have a bike to roam around. The only hassle for
me is the line coming back to the US; usually it's 3 hours.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIjt3...6zPoymgKaIoDLA
I work at the United Nations in New York City. I usually park my bike(s) inside our locker rooms with showers.
Both times I didn't bring my bike from the east coast; but would have liked to have a bike to roam around. The only hassle for
me is the line coming back to the US; usually it's 3 hours.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIjt3...6zPoymgKaIoDLA
I work at the United Nations in New York City. I usually park my bike(s) inside our locker rooms with showers.
I am an engineer in product development for a company that makes personnel protective clothing for the health care sector. I commute 65 miles (55 of it by commuter rail) from North San Diego County to Orange county's Medical/Technological Business district. My position now includes frequent trips (about once a month, though three times this month) to our manufacturing facility in Tijuana, though I haven't gotten up the nerve to bike there yet.
Pay particular attention to the road surface. This one is in good condition. (relatively)
Pay particular attention to the road surface. This one is in good condition. (relatively)
__________________
One day: www.youtube.com/watch?v=20X43026ukY&list=UUHyRS8bRu6zPoymgKaIoDLA&index=1
One day: www.youtube.com/watch?v=20X43026ukY&list=UUHyRS8bRu6zPoymgKaIoDLA&index=1
01-26-14 | 10:53 PM
#197
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 3,082
Likes: 24
From: Southern CaliFORNIA.
Bikes: KHS Alite 500, Trek 7.2 FX , Masi Partenza, Masi Fixed Special, Masi Cran Criterium
I've been to Tijuana twice; walked over the border after parking my relative's car in one of the parking lots by the US border.
Both times I didn't bring my bike from the east coast; but would have liked to have a bike to roam around. The only hassle for
me is the line coming back to the US; usually it's 3 hours.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIjt3...6zPoymgKaIoDLA
Both times I didn't bring my bike from the east coast; but would have liked to have a bike to roam around. The only hassle for
me is the line coming back to the US; usually it's 3 hours.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIjt3...6zPoymgKaIoDLA
01-27-14 | 01:41 AM
#198
Member
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: Fremont, CA
Bikes: Montague Paratrooper, Cannondale Synapse Carbon 6, Downtube Nova
Yes I am one of those Dumbo guys. I see a couple of folks from the other side from time to time in the morning from and one regularly in the evening. It is hard to say hi in the evening since I usually meet him on the bridge (either of us going down fast on the narrow MUP) and it is pretty dark out there. There seems to be a lot less people on Dumbo during winter months.
Last edited by stanleyl; 01-27-14 at 01:52 AM.
01-27-14 | 01:51 AM
#199
Member
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: Fremont, CA
Bikes: Montague Paratrooper, Cannondale Synapse Carbon 6, Downtube Nova