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Note: It is a midly lengthy read. If you intend to comment, please read the whole thing. Thoughtful replies only. I don't care if you want to voice disagreement or say something humorous, but be thoughtful about it please. Thanks.
Edit: There are a lot of positive reactions here, and a number of folks here apparently bicycle much too. Feel free to talk about your bicycles as well as your bicycling habits.
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I've been an avid cyclist for just over a year. I began bicycling when my car needed significant repairs. My car was in the shop and I had to get around, so I bought a bike and began driving* it everywhere I needed to go. It took a few weeks for my body to adapt, but right from the beginning I loved cycling. Now that my car is fixed, I almost never use it. Soon I will be rid of it entirely.
*A note about driving and riding. People say one drives a car and rides a bicycle. This is precisely backwards. To drive means to use energy to make something move. When you ride in a car, the engine drives it. When you drive a bicycle, YOU are the engine.
I've always hated cars. They seal one off from the rest of the world. One cannot drive slow (notice it, the automobile compels you to move quickly), and it always feels as if one must contend with a million annoying obstacles (like other cars and people and animals and so on), which makes life stressful and irritating. Cars are false economy - people think they are fast, but when you consider how much work you have to do to afford a vehicle, maintain it, and keep gas in it, you realize you'd be getting around just about as quickly if you walked (I'm not joking - this holds true unless you are quite financially well off.) Over a quarter of this country's wealth goes towards producing cars and the infrastructure to support them (several trillion per year). The price of the car is land covered in concrete and asphalt which smother precious soil. Cars kill 47,000 Americans a year in collisions, and an estimated 30,000 more by pollution. (No one has statistics for the animal deaths, and probably many folks don't care about the animals anyway, but I do). Cars contribute to global climate change and necessitate unjust wars for resources. (Irony: the multitudes that complain about the war in Iraq but ride in cars on a regular basis).
What a sad state. One must sell a significant portion of their life for the "luxury" of a car. Ironic, because the car signifies freedom for the typical American. Freedom? Having to be a slave to afford a car? Turning clean air to smog, clean water to poison, precious soil to asphalt...? Such sad things to associate with freedom.
The bicycle is a liberating force. While the car epitomizes false economy, the bicycle is a highly economizing machine. There is no more efficient way to move across smooth terrain than a bicycle. The bicycle combines exercise with transportation, while the car necessitates extra time set aside for exercise (and many people who drive do not exercise at all, and they suffer obesity and all manner of degenerative diseases as a result). The bicycle immerses one in their environment, stimulating all the senses and invigorating the body and mind. Cycling connects one with the weather and the seasons. Cycling allows a great degree of mobility and freedom of movement. Cycling is cheap and allows one to sustain themselves with considerably less work and money.
It is sad that the bicycle is viewed as a child's toy. The joy of bicycling is wasted on children. I'd love to see young people looking forward to their first bicycle the same way young people look forward to their first car. Bicycles aren't mere toys, and they aren't mere sports machines. And the bicycle isn't merely for silly looking people in spandex shorts. The bicycle is a tool for everyone. Bicycles are an extremely useful and viable mode of transportation. With a rack equipped bike and pannier bags, one can transport far more on a bicycle than they could on foot, and at much greater speeds
The bicycle has given me strength. I pity many people I know, people who are astounded that I drive my bicycle 4 miles to work every day, not realizing how pathetically easy a 4 mile trip is, even in very unfavorable conditions. They are weak. I'm not; I can bicycle at a good pace all day long. I get sick less often and my outlook on life is vastly improved. I rarely suffer depressive moods.
More than anything, the bicycle has taught me to appreciate the journey and not to merely focus on the destination. Most so called "time saving" technologies merely increase dependence and hasten the pace of life, increasing stress and causing us to feel out of control, and we embrace all this because we are so focused on the next thing, getting to the next appointment, getting to work, getting home, getting here, getting there, taking care of this, and taking care of that... The bicycle taught me to focus on the present; to focus on the movements of my body and to focus on the the terrain and the sun and the air, and to just be. Cycling is my Zen.
 
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I bike everywhere now, it's amazing. To school it takes me around 25 mins, or 7 by car. But I wouldn't have it any other way, biking is seriously awesome.
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Right on, Ryot! I hope you keep it up. Bicycling is the transportation of the future.
I bicycle to the store everyday (I like doing this - I know all the cashiers by name and enjoy the trip in general). I bicycle to work and home everyday. I bicycle a good 10 miles to the mountains every weekend, and frequently hike up there. I bicycle to bookstores and thriftstores. I bicycle to school (I'm a senior in college). I bicycle to friend's houses. I bicycle during the hottest days of the summer, shirt free and in shorts. I bicycle on the coldest days of winter, wearing 2 layers of pants and as many coats as needed. I ride against intense wind in the Spring - in very low gear.
I cycle every damn day. It's amazing. I am psyched that you enjoy it so much, too! Don't grow out of it!
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United States22883 Posts
Bicycling is fun and enjoyable, but so is going really really fast.
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I haven't done any cycling lately, and I really ought to, because it is absolutely fantastic.
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Great post. I also prefer to bike instead of drive, for many of the reasons you`ve listed. the main problem with cycling is the hills, since that requires a lot more work... aside from that, it`s awesome.
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To Jibba: I realize that my hatred of cars is not shared by everyone. And I realize many people love driving really fast in cars. But I'll just say that I often feel like I am going faster on my bicycle than I do in my car. There is something castrating about riding in a car. All the stop lights... all the other traffic... the damn traffic laws, etc. On the bike, you are "out in it." To me, cycling is way more intense and feels way faster. I realize this is entirely subjective.
Doctor Helvetica, I hope you will begin cycling again soon, then!
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It's a pity I haven't used a bike in a while.
Mainly, because I walk everywhere, or use public transportation. I live in Chicago, and it's fairely easy to get anywhere using the CTA, and plus you don't have to worry about parking.
A lot of people take the train to downtown, and that's something I like about Chicago. People taking the initiative to use the train, not only, because it's easier on their wallets, but because it's better for everyone in the long run.
I'm 19, and I still don't have a drivers license.
My Dad is always on my back about getting it, but in reality there's no real tangible reason I should have one.
1. I don't have a car.
2. I don't have a job, so therefore paying for gas/upkeep of a car is nearly impossible.
3. I hardly ever go anywhere far, and I do. It's usually somewhere close to a train stop, or a widely used bus stop route.
I'm also pretty scared of all the idiotic people driving out there. I'm not saying most people who drive are morons, but I've seen people do the most idiotic things driving. Eating, talking on their cell phones, texting, etc..
Not to mention everything you talked about relating to pollution, and effects to economic stability. Hybrid, and more efficient cars are becoming available, but nowhere where I think it should be.
My girlfriend, and I have no problem taking public transportation, and walking anywhere.
Although sometimes we go driving, but locally of course since I refuse to waste her Mother's gas substantially. We go in her Mother's car, and she drives.
Great Blog.
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29 fps - I feel you about the hills. It helps to have a good gearing bike. If it is a long incline, but not too steap, I will gear down a bit and just slog through it. If it is a short and steep incline, I'll stay in a reasonably high gear and stand up and pump it - but your bike should be well maintained if you do this.
I live in New Mexico, and we get some pretty intense wind conditions. Riding against intense wind is like riding up a steep hill for a long time. Same deal - gear down and slog through it.
Admittedly, there are plenty of difficult and uncomfortable aspects of bicycling - hills and wind in particular - but those things make me feel alive!
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It's -40C here in the winter and it's bloody difficult to bike around. Cars are required for some socities. However, I bike all the time in the summer and it is great. Too bad I was just biking in the rain and fractured my wrist (read: no biking or SC for a while).
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On August 15 2008 10:08 nA.Inky wrote:
To Jibba: I realize that my hatred of cars is not shared by everyone. And I realize many people love driving really fast in cars. But I'll just say that I often feel like I am going faster on my bicycle than I do in my car. There is something castrating about riding in a car. All the stop lights... all the other traffic... the damn traffic laws, etc. On the bike, you are "out in it." To me, cycling is way more intense and feels way faster. I realize this is entirely subjective.
Doctor Helvetica, I hope you will begin cycling again soon, then!
Yeah. I need to lose weight also.
Have you ever seen a fat cyclist?
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this inspired me to go rent some bike to XT instead of rest on my days when i dont run =) (I was planning it anyway, but consider this the final nudge  )
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Thanks Mickey! Be proud of your car-freedom! Even if you don't cycle, as long as you are car-free, you are doing well. I have a great friend who hasn't even been in a car in nearly 10 years, and he walks nearly everywhere, or else takes a bus.
If you go for the car, you'll have to sell your soul. Don't let your dad push you into it. The mistake many people make is associating cars with freedom and adulthood. That is the trap!
You're on the right track!
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United States22883 Posts
On August 15 2008 10:08 nA.Inky wrote:
To Jibba: I realize that my hatred of cars is not shared by everyone. And I realize many people love driving really fast in cars. But I'll just say that I often feel like I am going faster on my bicycle than I do in my car. There is something castrating about riding in a car. All the stop lights... all the other traffic... the damn traffic laws, etc. On the bike, you are "out in it." To me, cycling is way more intense and feels way faster. I realize this is entirely subjective.
Doctor Helvetica, I hope you will begin cycling again soon, then!
I'm not sure how it works in New Mexico, but here bikes still have to follow traffic laws and stop lights as well.
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Durak - I am sorry to hear about your accident! Don't let it keep you off the bike forever! But do heal up.
Doctor Helvetica - Cycling is an excellent choice for getting in shape. It is my favorite form of exercise because it is the one kind of exercise I know of that doesn't bore me - I enjoy it greatly!
I have seen fat cyclists, but I know what you mean. Avid cyclists are usually very lean. I am quite lean at 6'1'' 160 pounds. I was fairly lean when I started cycling a year ago, but I've gotten leaner, my endurance has gone way up, and I am in pretty good shape (better than 90% of Americans, easy).
JeeJee - Right on dude! Go for it!
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Jibba - you make an excellent point. Yes, bicycles do have to follow traffic laws. However, here we have many bicycle trails that are totally separate from streets. Also, as a cyclist, you tend to take more side streets and residential streets, and while you should obey traffic laws, you can be somewhat relaxed about stop signs if it isn't a trafficky area and you have good visibility. I'm a little lax about it because I can stop on a dime on the bicycle, so I frequently merely slow down a bit for stops. In a car, I'd stop completely.
In situations where there is another car or anyone else around, I do follow the laws completely, and think everyone should.
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A lot of positive response here, and a lot of bicyclists here as well. Feel free to talk about your bicycles!
I didn't know a thing about bikes when I got mine a year ago. I started out with one I already had - a cheap Wal-Mart mountain bike. IT was too small for me (I didn't realize the frame size mattered, since I always rode BMX as a kid). The brakes wore out after 2 or 3 days of use, and the gears never worked right AT ALL. I went to a bike shop and GAVE that bike to them. I bought a new mountain bike for 280. That is the bike I still have. But I've made significant changes as I've learned more about cycling.
I don't need a mountain bike because I don't ride off road trails. So I switched out my mountain tires for the smoothest, thinnest tires I could get. I switched out my suspension fork for a rigid fork, making the bike lighter and more efficient. I added a rear rack for pannier bags, and bought the bags as well. I got front and rear lights (you should have them by law, here, and I wouldn't ride without them regardless.) I got an air pump that attaches to the frame. I got bar ends on the handles for extra/better grip positions. Bottleholder. U-lock with holster. Altogether I probably have 500 in the bike. Maybe less. I named him Jimmy. I ride Jimmy every day and he shifts fine and serves me perfectly well. I don't need a better bike. 300 bucks is plenty to get a fully functional, good bicycle.
If I could do it over, I would get a touring bicycle. Jimmy is essentially a touring bicycle now, but a typical touring bicycle has the larger wheels of a road bike, and that would be faster and more efficient than what I have. But I don't plan to upgrade until Jimmy is worn out entirely. Jimmy does a perfect job.
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If you live in the middle of nowhere, you have almost no choice but to have a car. With a bike I would be driving forever to get everywhere I would usualy go, especially since here are hills everywhere, and if you try to hurry you will be sweating so much. Also, public transportation sucks where I live, and for biking everywhere its too far.
Other than a lot of Germans though, who love their car, I just see my car as a way of getting from A to B.
For cycling, I see cycling mostly as a sport. And although I really enjoy it, its my least favorite part of Triathlon.
Edit:
Also this is a picture which resembles my bike. It is quite old, got it from my father, but still runs great. Complete Shimano 105, and very lightweight, despite having a steel frame:
+ Show Spoiler +
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h3r1n6 - I dig your bike!
To your other comments: they say that a commute beyond 15 miles one way is probably not ideal for a bike. I'd do more but only if it wasn't a regular commute. For a daily commute, I'd say 15 one way is a good max.
Something to consider though: people often have to go far away because of work. But people work so they can have things like a car... So you get this vicious circle of sillyness. It's not always true, but often...
Given all the problems with driving, it is wise to relocate closer to the places you must be, or else replace your normal destinations with ones closer to home. This is a good long term goal.
As to sweating... I don't mind it at all. I ride hard and fast, and I sweat much. It cleans out my body. Strangely, if I smell bad (I don't use deodorant and I bathe once a week), I find a long ride often makes me smell OK. Sweating removes toxins from the body.
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great blog, and i agree with everything you said
i like to cycle, but i find myself running more often than not. for the past few years ive been jogging to and from school, about 4km i think, and whenever i go anywhere local i always go on foot. if i ever go anywhere really far away, i take the bus or the train. i like to jog more than i like to cycle, but obviously cycling is more efficient than running so i may adopt to using a bike when i finish school and need to travel to uni or work. thanks for the recommendation!
i consider myself a fit and healthy person, and i dont see that long, hard rides on a bike would tax me enough to make me stop and consider driving (like you mickey, i dont have my licence and dont plan on getting it anytime soon). like i said earlier, i jog about 4km to school and back everyday, and on the weekends i try to get in about 10-15km on at least one day and rest for most of the other, but i can understand people that like the convenience of a car, but really cycling is such a blessing for health even if you are relatively unfit you can improve dramatically.
smog from cars and trucks can really piss me off, especially if im on a route on a populated road, so most of the time i try to jog / cycle away from all that. nearby my house there is a park i cross, and it leads into a dense-ish forest/shrubbery area and connects with a boardwalk into a swamp/creek. i run past beautiful creeks, plants and animals and there is almost no one i see, its almost deserted so i dont get bothered
like you inky, i dont use deodorant, mainly because im a prick and i dont care if people think i smell or anything, in the same way that i dont care if other people smell. but bathing once a week, dont you just love having a hot shower in the cold months at night?
enjoyed this insightful read, you seem like a nice guy inky. keep posting these cycling, vegetarianism and any other related stuff plz 
edit: there are very few things in this world that can compare to the joy and pride that i experience when i finish up a jog covered in sweat. when im running and my face is saturated with sweat so much that my eyes begin to sting from the sodium, come home and jump in the pool or pour cold water onto myself - feels great both physically and mentally (i feel proud that i worked so hard)
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EPT![[image loading]](http://img166.imageshack.us/img166/6061/smallrolf02xu0.jpg)
