mac

What the average person thinks is very important and it sets the policy in our country and around the world. Just take a look at politics and advertising. The "fringe" groups don't matter. It's the "average" Joe that everyone tries to market to.


Yeah, I commute to work once in a while on my touring bike for fitness. That's why my co-workers quickly associated that guy with me. And if my commute didn't take 1 1/2 hours to climb up the Angeles Crest area (1,700' ascent in the morning), I'd commute a lot more often. I don't see that as utility cycling. I'm getting my morning exercise. Most of the time I drive, then do an afternoon ride. That's different than modifying my bike with a platform and hauling all of my office gear with me.

moxfyre

So, for you there's no reason to commute other than fitness. But for me, there are lots: saving money, time (yes, time), saving the madness of being stuck in traffic, etc.

But I guess as soon as I start getting carried away and strapping my laptop to my bike, I'm just a crazy nut... you better not hire me because I'm probably one of those damn drunks

What makes your reasons for commuting good ones, while the guy with the ladder is laughable?

mac

In the Advocacy & Safety forum, someone from Texas was wondering how to improve bicycling's image. One of his complaints was that the average person thinks the only reason an adult rides his bike is for DUI. Here in CA, bicycling is more accepted if you are riding for fitness. The average adult bicyclist who is not a fitness rider (i.e. not decked out in spandex & lycra) is either a migrant worker or a DUI case. The response from my co-workers and my observations while I ride confirmed that.

I don't see cycling's image change anytime soon - not while we still have cheap oil. And we learned nothing from Hurricane Katrina when we got a mini-gas scare. Gas prices have dropped much lower just in time for the Nov elections. No, there's really nothing at all we can do to get cycling more accepted. But all we have to do is just wait for the decline curve of Peak Oil and bicycling, by default, will be accepted. However, that could be a couple decades away.

BTW - a laptop can fit in your pannier or a messenger bag. For all practical purposes, carrying something bigger than your bike other than a surfboard is funny.

timmhaan

yeah, but look at what they're marketing...cars, trucks, fast food, etc. to break out of that you have to do something different. utility cycling is one of those things. the "average" joe used to think that women didn't have a right to vote, or that black people didn't deserve freedom. the fringe groups that did believe in those things were shut down time and time again. but they kept pushing and things do change (slowly).

you seem vaguley interested in the perception of cycling, but quickly fall back into what everyone else is doing. that's the biggest trap anyone can fall into. either you want to move ahead, or you want things to stay the same. i look around and i can't imagine the disappointment i would feel if things didn't change during my lifetime. i'm tired of being harassed when i ride somewhere and having people bully me with their cars. it ain't right.

qmsdc15

Your co-workers were laughing because you were there and they were laughing at you. You are a commuter, you are the guy with the ladder. Don't you get it? I'm sorry that your feelings were hurt, but why take it out on us? Good luck fitting in with your stupid co-workers. I'm sure you'll do just fine.

aztoaster

I'm curious how he carried the ladder and supplies. How was it rigged up? Sounds like a sweet setup!

Typically, a painting job takes more than a day so keep that camera ready. There's always tomorrow

wahoonc

+1

Aaron

GGDub

Oh man. I just realized I don't fit in with my coworkers. I'm leaving to slit my wrists.

Did it really bug you that much? I don't give a ***** what the painter shows up with, just as long as he's cheap and does a good job.

Never go to Holland man, all those people using bikes without spandex and not only for fitness, will drive you mad.

mac

From high above it looked like a normal frame, but with the rear wheel pulled off and an "extension frame(?)" put in. I think there was a flat platform around the extended frame. The ladder was on the left side (street side) and the big cans distributed on the other side (for balance I assume).

qmsdc15

Maybe an Xtracycle. https://www.xtracycle.com/

moxfyre

So, why does the painter have to care what cycling's "image" is? If he's good, he's probably a lot more concerned with getting his work done, keeping his costs down, and keeping his customers happy.

And why do YOU care what cycling's "image" is? You should know better, you ride a bike yourself, you've even figured out that it can get you to work Why join in with the folks who stereotype cyclists?

moxfyre

That sounds like an Xtracycle to me. They make frames with the platform built in, and you can also buy an extension that attaches to a standard bike. Cool!

Cyclist0094

I also feel all warm and fuzzy when I use my trailer to get groceries or go to the garden center. But I have 20 bucks that says the guy got his drivers license revoked.

moxfyre

Most of the cyclists I see who (I think) have lost their licenses ride on the wrong side of the road, with no lights, and they flout traffic laws. It's their *behavior* that suggests they're irresponsible people, NOT their *vehicle*.

The OP didn't mention any dangerous or irresponsible behavior by the painter on the Xtracycle. So, why assume it??

Rowan

velonomad, I am a bit surprised... unless you are trying to take the mickey.

Your premise is almost as bad as the OP's misguided attitude. You have tarred the rider and at the same time tarred with the same brush all of us who have used or continue to use bicycles as their transportation means. I have held my driver's licence continuously for 34 years, but for the past nine, bicycles have been my primary mode of transport.

And mac, I don't care what other people think of me as a cyclist or bicycle rider. The idea that a person should worry about what people think is yet another symptom of American/Western lifestyle.

catatonic

Bah, who cares.

Everyone at work knows I'm not a drunk, poor, or incompetant....they just accepted me as the kindly weirdo on a bike

There's a difference between doing something because there's no other option, and doing it because it's your passion. If your co-workers can't tell the difference, f them, because they obviously don't seem to know you enough to realize this difference.

Oh, and the painter was using an Xtracycle....those are not cheap. So he was probably an entusiast as well. It's not what you ride, or how you ride....it's that you ride in the first place.

Rowan

Hope you don't mind, but I've just borrowed that for my sig, with credit to you. Did you craft that, or borrow it from someone else?

donnamb 

Thank you for sharing that you're doing your part to help use up the cheap oil that much faster. Also, thanks for sharing your generalizations and narrow-minded judgements about people you don't know anything about. I suppose some sociologist would find your perspective interesting, but I got my fill of that kind of mean-spiritedness in high school.

Chris L

That's exactly right. I suspect the guy hauling the ladder and painting supplies on his bike probably thinks the same thing about people trolling on message boards.

CommuterRun

Do I detect a twinge of inadequacy in the OP?

I can see where the painter is coming from. I, myself, have carried all manner of power and hand tools on a bike trailer when I was doing private contracting and lawn care.

I often tow a 14 1/2 foot canoe on a trailer behind a bicycle to go hunting and fishing.

Bicycles are viable transportation for much more than just getting to work, or riding just to be riding around. To think that they're not, is a very inexperienced point of view.

As far as the image of cycling is concerned, utility cyclists promote a viable and versatile mode of transport that goes far beyond what appears to be someone simply playing with an oversized childs toy.

catatonic

I heard something similar to that in the past on the forums. I'm not sure who said it, so it's probably best to null credit it....but it does sum up how I feel about cycling in general.

Cyclist0094

Tarred? Oh get over it Rowan, I have been riding a helluva lot longer than most people here and I have gone car-free a few years along the way myself. I didn't say the painter was a bad guy I am just betting he lost his license.
I am sure plenty of people see me riding down the road and think I lost my license also.
Now if the painter had a 6 of Milwalkee's Best in a plastic bag swinging from his handlebars I will be upping my bet

slowandsteady

He isn't fixing anything. He is a painter. Painting is about the easiest thing to do. You don't need special equipment or anything more than a 1st grade education to paint. And I am being generous with the 1st grade education.

Cyclaholic

The only thing sadder than this being a troll, is it not being a troll.

You ride a bike but you just don't get it.

TheEmray

What's so weird about bike commuters? In Boston bike commuters are ubiquitous. It's totally normal for people in the city to ride their bikes to work and a huge amount of people do. Maybe since I'm not from LA I'm not shallow enough to understand you're whole issues of image. But do you think that guy on his bike with the ladder really cared what an insecure prick like you thinks of him?

Try not to be the LA stereotype of a shallow, image obessed person, maybe people would take you more seriously.