I-Like-To-Bike

Now all you have to do is find a circle of friends, or at least one special friend, who will share your opinion about yourself because of the money you are saving.

SPECELIZEDRIDER

yes this is true and in Vegas that will be a challenge.

TheDavid 

You're suddenly a Winner!!!

SPECELIZEDRIDER

lol

technoD

Nope, you're not the loser ... they are! Think about it? They now have the insurance, payments, license to worrry about for their big expensive piece of crap, so guess what you don't have, and how much does it cost you to keep that bike tooling you around?

yep202

ahahahahaha

SPECELIZEDRIDER

I love the fact that I can actually afford stuff like stuff from REI, that is nice.

acorn54

i was talking with a girlfriend who said she thinks people start acting "funny", when they see people on beat up bikes. she says car people think that the bike people are on some sort of welfare and that they, the car people, are being taxed to support them.

Nickfrogger

Well, here in WA, they pay 37.5 cents per gallon. And I'm a student (read:drain on the economy) that some would label "funny," so I think she's at least a little right. On the other hand, I'm not taking gov't assistance for school, nor am I riding a beat up bike 3 out of 5 isn't bad though.

wahoonc

That gas tax doesn't even come close to paying for the full costs of roads. In many locales local property tax, use taxes and sales taxes make up the difference. If you pay rent, and buy products you are helping support the roadways. You may also pay income tax. I was hit with a first for me a while back, the town of Lafayette, IN charges you income tax, just like the state and the feds. I am sure that goes into the general fund which in turn is tapped to help pay for road maintenance.

Aaron

loneviking61

I'm not who you were posing this question too, but I'll bite anyway. I live in northern Nevada, and I've found that perception can have an affect on how businesses treat cyclists---especially when it comes to bike racks or the lack thereof. The first time I pedaled over to the local Grocery Outlet I couldn't find a bike rack so i locked the bike up to a sign post. I asked one of the clerks that I know there why they didn't have a bike rack. She said it was because there are so many homeless folks around town on bikes and they didn't want to attract that sort of crowd with bike racks! Now whether she knows what shes talking about and whether thats the reason for no racks, I'd have to say that perception does count for something. There sure are a lot of homeless sorts on old, beat up mountain bikes cruising around town that businesses would rather have stay away. That affects ALL of us.

I-Like-To-Bike

1. Whether a business places a bike rack out front or not, whatever the reason, is small change IMO. If that is the bottom line affect of the "perception" of bike riders, I think the OP has nothing to be concerned about.
2. If a person behaves or gives the appearance of poor hygiene, lack of concern for personal appearance (shabbily dressed, poorly groomed) and/or mentally challenged, whether he rides a bike or not, he is likely to be perceived by many, including himself, as a loser and treated as such.

Ekdog

So, people who are mentally challenged are "losers" in your book, are they? I'll refrain from telling you what I think of "winners" like you who pass judgement on them.

agent pombero

Mentally challenged people are not losers.

Ekdog

+1

CenturionIM

Just wait until we start paying for European priced Gas. Tell the "winners" then: hey man dont be a loser now. Stay on the winning side! Wait and grin.
Meanwhile, you can enjoy thinking your life expectancy is significantly higher since you are a carfree biker.

I-Like-To-Bike

While you are enjoying your "thinking" mode, please tell what you think being a car free biker does for the "expectancy" for a better sex life, IQ, and good looks.

agent pombero

Biking keeps the sex life strong! And the good looks for being fit!

Bike for sex, bike for good looks

I-Like-To-Bike

OK, but I thought the "winner" stuff was the result of not spending money on car payments. I must have been misinformed.

AsanaCycles

Ekdog

Rowan

He is saving the money to spend on sex. <wink wink, nudge nudge>

AsanaCycles

Andy Singer, classic

I-Like-To-Bike

An Internet connection might be a lot cheaper.

AsanaCycles

I haven't had a car for over 10yrs now and took 5yrs off from my job, returning last december. 5yrs was long enough and a big enough stretch of time to see changes in old friends, our lives,etc.

I have 3 bikes that I use, a surly big dummy, a custom hunter 29er and a cannondale caad10. Everyone knows I ride a bike, my best friends ride, my social life revolves around bikes... In most ways my life is bike-centric. A typical week is about 20hrs on the bike and about 18,000 calories.

I work in a hospital pharmacy, where we are health conscious. I suppose an interesting point is that of "Time Scarcity". That is in order to have the luxury of putting 20hrs/wk on the bike, a degree of simplicity or perhaps reducing, is what typically takes place. At first it may seem as if "looser-esq" to not have certain material objects, but in scope of having time and fitness to ride every day, and the example of taking 5yrs off to help with my dad and grandparents... Not many people can afford a time surplus as such.