Reasons to ride a bicycle
#51
Sophomoric Member
This thread made me smile almost as much as a good bike ride.
This is going to sound shallow compared to the other posts. But one new reason I like riding is all the positive comments I've been getting since gas prices went up so high. Even strangers at work have come up to me and said things like, "I hear you really rock on a bike. Is it true you even ride to work in the winter? I've been thinking about doing something like that. Can you give me some pointers?"
Like I said, it's shallow, but it feels good. For years, a lot of co-workers thought I was nuts for riding my bike.
This is going to sound shallow compared to the other posts. But one new reason I like riding is all the positive comments I've been getting since gas prices went up so high. Even strangers at work have come up to me and said things like, "I hear you really rock on a bike. Is it true you even ride to work in the winter? I've been thinking about doing something like that. Can you give me some pointers?"
Like I said, it's shallow, but it feels good. For years, a lot of co-workers thought I was nuts for riding my bike.
__________________
"Think Outside the Cage"
#52
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Posts: 2,206
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Nothing shallow about that reason. You're spreading the message. You're helping introduce people to cycling. That's quite important and worthwhile.
#54
that strange guy
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 108
Bikes: Surly Long Haul Trucker, Nishiki Century (frame only for now), Costco mountain bike
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I ride a bike because it's practical: fast enough to be convenient, simple enough for me to work on by myself (usually), exercise when I want and relaxing when I don't, stress relief, cheap way to go on vacation, no charge for parking or looking for spots, etc.
The final reasoni gave up my car was I absolutely hated paying car insurance. Good reasons had been nagging at me to go car free... mostly environmental concerns, but once I realized I could get rid of my $150+/month "don't give me a ticket" charge, I was all for it.
The final reasoni gave up my car was I absolutely hated paying car insurance. Good reasons had been nagging at me to go car free... mostly environmental concerns, but once I realized I could get rid of my $150+/month "don't give me a ticket" charge, I was all for it.
#55
Bike ≠ Car ≠ Ped.
#56
Biscuit Boy
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Speeenard 'laska
Posts: 1,355
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Is it still there? WTH? Go buy some bike swag, you tightwad..
#57
In Real Life
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Down under down under
Posts: 52,152
Bikes: Lots
Mentioned: 141 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3203 Post(s)
Liked 596 Times
in
329 Posts
Lots of Reasons but I'll just name three ...
1. Fun. I enjoy being out in the middle of nowhere with fields and forests and lakes and the ocean and nature all around. I enjoy watching the animals and listening to the birds sing.
2. Fitness. The more I cycle, the more in-shape I get.
3. Adventure. There's something about cycling to places I've never been before that gives me a bigger sense of adventure than driving there. And many times I'll come back to work on a Monday and talk about visiting an interesting place maybe 50 km away ... but no one else has been there. They didn't know it existed, or thought it was too far to drive.
1. Fun. I enjoy being out in the middle of nowhere with fields and forests and lakes and the ocean and nature all around. I enjoy watching the animals and listening to the birds sing.
2. Fitness. The more I cycle, the more in-shape I get.
3. Adventure. There's something about cycling to places I've never been before that gives me a bigger sense of adventure than driving there. And many times I'll come back to work on a Monday and talk about visiting an interesting place maybe 50 km away ... but no one else has been there. They didn't know it existed, or thought it was too far to drive.
__________________
Rowan
My fave photo threads on BF
Century A Month Facebook Group
Machka's Website
Photo Gallery
Rowan
My fave photo threads on BF
Century A Month Facebook Group
Machka's Website
Photo Gallery
#58
Sophomoric Member
Lots of Reasons but I'll just name three ...
1. Fun. I enjoy being out in the middle of nowhere with fields and forests and lakes and the ocean and nature all around. I enjoy watching the animals and listening to the birds sing.
2. Fitness. The more I cycle, the more in-shape I get.
3. Adventure. There's something about cycling to places I've never been before that gives me a bigger sense of adventure than driving there. And many times I'll come back to work on a Monday and talk about visiting an interesting place maybe 50 km away ... but no one else has been there. They didn't know it existed, or thought it was too far to drive.
1. Fun. I enjoy being out in the middle of nowhere with fields and forests and lakes and the ocean and nature all around. I enjoy watching the animals and listening to the birds sing.
2. Fitness. The more I cycle, the more in-shape I get.
3. Adventure. There's something about cycling to places I've never been before that gives me a bigger sense of adventure than driving there. And many times I'll come back to work on a Monday and talk about visiting an interesting place maybe 50 km away ... but no one else has been there. They didn't know it existed, or thought it was too far to drive.
Exploration has always been a big part of my enjoyment of bikes. Cycling has always ties in very nicely with my love of history and geography, and helps me to explore some of the places mentioned in history books.
For example, I once spent a weekend riding to places mentioned in books by and about Malcolm X, who grew up here in Lansing.
Another time I explored along the routes where the trolleys and interurban trains used to run. This was a fascinating era when carfree living was at its height. It was interesting to see how the houses near former streetcar stops were older than other houses in the area, because the first development in suburbs was near streetcar stops.
It might seem strange to say this on a carfree forum, but I also enjoyed riding my bike to locations that were important in the early days of automobile manufacturing. Car manufacturing was pioneered seaprately, but at the same time, by Henry Ford and R. E. Olds. Weirdly, I have lived within a few blocks of their first factories, Ford's plant in Highland Park (Detroit) and Olds's first two plants in Lansing. There is well over 100 years of automotive history here in Michigan, obviously with tremendous impact (good and bad) on the entire world.
__________________
"Think Outside the Cage"
#59
Senior Member
I've said this before, but it stands reinforcing... being free of car ownership, at least initially, makes a person think a lot more about the options available to them. Things such as better and more amenable cycling routes; loading a bike with groceries, or even getting trailer; calculating appropriate travel times; organising social activities; appropriate clothing; even the best bike set-up for the prevailing conditions such as hills or winter. A bicycle rider also is more inclined to stop and look at interpretation boards which seem to be omnipresent, at least throughout Australia.
As to your last paragraph, it isn't really that strange. Where we are today, irrespective of what part of the world, is due to history. It contains success and mistakes. It's a matter of whether history repeats itself that can make interesting viewing.
#60
Senior Member
Another time I explored along the routes where the trolleys and interurban trains used to run. This was a fascinating era when carfree living was at its height. It was interesting to see how the houses near former streetcar stops were older than other houses in the area, because the first development in suburbs was near streetcar stops.
Quite a while ago, the relevant councils negotiated for part of the railway easement to become the Intercity Cycleway. We rode along it today... it's one of the better examples of a MUP.
Luckily, there is a steam appreciation society that has preserved some of the steam and diesel locomotives and other rolling stock, but the track now stands a good chance of falling into disrepair because of a lack of commitment from business and government to come up with an adequate plan to continue using it.
#61
Member
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Florida
Posts: 37
Bikes: Raleigh Cadent; Specialized Secteur
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
To haul several people with luggage long distances at high speeds over routes not served by other means of transportation, cars are appropriate technology. To haul myself six miles to work, they are overkill.
^^This is my main reason for riding, too! :0)
#62
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Northwest Arkansas
Posts: 291
Bikes: 2015 Kona Rove AL, 2016 Giant Escape 2, 1995 Giant attraction SS,
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
WHY WOULD'NT SOMEONE RIDE A BIKE? Automobiles are loud, take up space, expensive, pollute the air, make you fat, and contribute to tens-of-thousands of deaths per year.
I suppose you could say I'm kinda "anti-car". I've seen so many automobiles from so close up(they pass too close pretty often) to where they're just not even appealing to me anymore. I just see each one as a 4000lb weapon/killing machine.
Riding a bike is FREEDOM. God gave me two strong legs for a reason.
I suppose you could say I'm kinda "anti-car". I've seen so many automobiles from so close up(they pass too close pretty often) to where they're just not even appealing to me anymore. I just see each one as a 4000lb weapon/killing machine.
Riding a bike is FREEDOM. God gave me two strong legs for a reason.
#63
Full Member
1. Riding a bicycle is the definition of freedom. Freedom from the oil companies. Freedom from monthly car payments. Freedom from expensive car maintenance. Freedom from monthly insurance payments. Freedom from obesity and all of its associated health risks. Freedom from bus schedules. Freedom to stop and admire the view any time you want. Freedom to choose your own route. Freedom to go at your own pace. Freedom to be yourself.
Choose Life. Choose a job. Choose a career. Choose a family. Choose a ****ing big television, choose washing machines, cars, compact disc players and electrical tin openers. Choose good health, low cholesterol, and dental insurance. Choose fixed interest mortgage repayments. Choose a starter home. Choose your friends. Choose leisurewear and matching luggage. Choose a three-piece suit on hire purchase in a range of ****ing fabrics. Choose DIY and wondering who the **** you are on Sunday morning. Choose sitting on that couch watching mind-numbing, spirit-crushing game shows, stuffing ****ing junk food into your mouth. Choose rotting away at the end of it all, pissing your last in a miserable home, nothing more than an embarrassment to the selfish, ****ed up brats you spawned to replace yourselves. Choose your future. Choose life... But why would I want to do a thing like that? I chose not to choose life. I chose somethin' else. And the reasons? There are no reasons. Who needs reasons when you've got a bike?
#64
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Eugene, Oregon
Posts: 1,345
Bikes: 2014 Specialized Dolce Triple, 1987 Schwinn Tempo, 2012 Windsor Kensington 8
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
When people ask me why I ride to work, I always ask them, "If you could fish/golf/play poker/insert-hobby-here to work, wouldn't you?"
#65
In Real Life
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Down under down under
Posts: 52,152
Bikes: Lots
Mentioned: 141 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3203 Post(s)
Liked 596 Times
in
329 Posts
Good answer!
__________________
Rowan
My fave photo threads on BF
Century A Month Facebook Group
Machka's Website
Photo Gallery
Rowan
My fave photo threads on BF
Century A Month Facebook Group
Machka's Website
Photo Gallery
#67
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Eugene, Oregon
Posts: 1,345
Bikes: 2014 Specialized Dolce Triple, 1987 Schwinn Tempo, 2012 Windsor Kensington 8
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#68
In Real Life
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Down under down under
Posts: 52,152
Bikes: Lots
Mentioned: 141 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3203 Post(s)
Liked 596 Times
in
329 Posts
It does. I have had people being a bit critical about the amount I spend on cycling and the amount of time I spend cycling ... so I turn the question around. One coworker was going on about all that, and I said to him, "How much did you spend on the boat you just bought? How much time do you spend on the lake?" He thought about it a moment and then said he had never really thought of it that way. He said, "You're doing what you love, and I'm doing what I love." Absolutely! It's all good. And I bet if he could have commuted to work in his boat, he would have.
__________________
Rowan
My fave photo threads on BF
Century A Month Facebook Group
Machka's Website
Photo Gallery
Rowan
My fave photo threads on BF
Century A Month Facebook Group
Machka's Website
Photo Gallery
#69
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Eugene, Oregon
Posts: 1,345
Bikes: 2014 Specialized Dolce Triple, 1987 Schwinn Tempo, 2012 Windsor Kensington 8
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
One of the doctors I work with sometimes commutes in on his boat- one of the hospitals he works at is downstream from his house.
#70
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 219
Bikes: Five active bikes: 1983 Diamondback RidgeRunner (early production mountain bike), 1951 Raleigh Sports 3spd, 2012 Novara Safari, 2013 Schwinn 411 IGH, 2016 Jamis Roughneck Fatbike; plus a Trek T900 tandem shared with the family
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Because it makes me smile.
Because bicycles are one of the best inventions in history.
Because if you ride in a convertible, only your head and shoulders are in the breeze.
Because exercise is optional for young people, and necessary for old folks.
Because you always have your own bags at the market.
During the winter you never have to scape your windshield or wait forever for the heater to warm up (about a block and I'm warmed up inside my wind shell).
Because bicycles are one of the best inventions in history.
Because if you ride in a convertible, only your head and shoulders are in the breeze.
Because exercise is optional for young people, and necessary for old folks.
Because you always have your own bags at the market.
During the winter you never have to scape your windshield or wait forever for the heater to warm up (about a block and I'm warmed up inside my wind shell).
#71
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 7,384
Mentioned: 49 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 800 Post(s)
Liked 218 Times
in
171 Posts
I did however post specifically about my most “extreme” cycling, winter commuting:
Why would you bike commute in the winter?
I only have the time and inclination to obtain my excercise on my daily bike commute since it fits so well into my day, and I enjoy cycling. More specifically for winter commuting:
I only have the time and inclination to obtain my excercise on my daily bike commute since it fits so well into my day, and I enjoy cycling. More specifically for winter commuting:
- Maintain a base level of fitness over the winter
- Meet the challenges of winter cycling, in particular acquiring and/or innovating my winter equipment, and seeing how well it prepares me to take on further challenges
- Increase my tolerance for the cold weather
- Answer that perennial question, “You didn’t ride your bike today, did you?.”
#72
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Atlanta, GA. USA
Posts: 3,804
Bikes: Surly Long Haul Disc Trucker
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1015 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
I love to ride a bicycle. I have a stressful work life and a very busy schedule. But I never worry while I'm riding the bicycle. I learned a long time ago that if you hurry on a bicycle, it won't make hardly any difference in the time it takes to get there. And it might make you slower. So I enjoy the ride, where ever I'm going. The time to worry about what I'm going to accomplish, how I'm going to handle challenges, etc. is not while I'm on the bicycle. I shut all that out quite well.
I've had some people kind of challenge my lifestyle choices (mostly my own family) and suggest that my life would be easier with a car because it would not take me "so long" to commute, shop, etc. I accept that this might accelerate certain days in an important way. But fitness is important to me and I won't push that aside for long. If you take that into account, the bicycle is not adding much to my schedule. I'm really killing two birds with one stone. I'm doing the commute on my bicycle, which gets the commuting and fitness activity done at the same time. If I did them separately it would take longer.
And besides, the world is in too big a hurry to do everything. Why always be efficient with your time?
I've had some people kind of challenge my lifestyle choices (mostly my own family) and suggest that my life would be easier with a car because it would not take me "so long" to commute, shop, etc. I accept that this might accelerate certain days in an important way. But fitness is important to me and I won't push that aside for long. If you take that into account, the bicycle is not adding much to my schedule. I'm really killing two birds with one stone. I'm doing the commute on my bicycle, which gets the commuting and fitness activity done at the same time. If I did them separately it would take longer.
And besides, the world is in too big a hurry to do everything. Why always be efficient with your time?
#73
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Atlanta, GA. USA
Posts: 3,804
Bikes: Surly Long Haul Disc Trucker
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1015 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Maybe it's a cultural thing. I can't IMAGINE somebody at my office saying that. I would probably respond "huh?"
#74
Been Around Awhile
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Burlington Iowa
Posts: 29,965
Bikes: Vaterland and Ragazzi
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Liked 1,530 Times
in
1,042 Posts
#75
Sophomoric Member
Or someone who isn't grumpy all the time. You'd probably be surprised to learn that many people will speak with you if you're not always sarcastic and negative. (Assuming your real life demeanor is like your online personality.)
__________________
"Think Outside the Cage"