EPTBicycles = Joyous Liberation - Page 2
| Blogs > nA.Inky |
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il0seonpurpose
Korea (South)5638 Posts
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JeeJee
Canada5652 Posts
On August 15 2008 11:06 JohnColtrane wrote: 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) as long as all your jogs aren't like that.. make sure to have easy jogs/rest days to reduce risk of injury  ice baths are really amazing though, they save my shins for sure. | ||
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JohnColtrane
Australia4813 Posts
its hot here and thus i sweat more, and i make sure i drink plenty of water so i dont dehydrate and cramp up and get sick | ||
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GeneralStan
United States4789 Posts
Due to this increase in freedom, we see corresponding explosive growth in scientific knowledge, leading to ever increase production leading to ever increasing scientific knowledge. They are two cycles that really feed each other. This current cycle of scientific growth was precipitated by none other than cars, which you hate so much. After the construction of the Instate Highway System, we landed on the moon, trounced the Russians in the Cold War, began the Internet, and became the most powerful nation in history. On the whole though I agree with you. Despite this massive increase in productivity, man doesn't really seem happier than before. A large part of that is probably that increases in production and scientific knowledge also make life more complex and difficult to live. Personally, I ride a bike everywhere. It is much better for your body and better for the planet. When cars are run on renewable energy, I'll start driving again | ||
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JohnColtrane
Australia4813 Posts
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JeeJee
Canada5652 Posts
although this part was downright silly: On August 15 2008 12:40 GeneralStan wrote: After the construction of the Instate Highway System, we landed on the moon, trounced the Russians in the Cold War, began the Internet, and became the most powerful nation in history. reminds me of: From Anonymous Lawyer: Since Lay formed Enron after a merger in 1985, the Berlin Wall has fallen, we've seen the rise of the Internet and new information technologies, AIDS has become a manageable illness instead of a death sentence, and the Red Sox have won the World Series. Surely Ken Lay and Enron deserve credit for much of this. But all that gets forgetten because of some fraudulent partnerships and financial schemes. It's unfair. Unfair to the legacy of Ken Lay, and unfair to the lawyers who tried to defend him. It's a sad day for corporate America when a man like Kenneth Lay dies. =) | ||
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nA.Inky
United States794 Posts
GeneralStan - I can't do an adequate reply now, but I recommend you check out Ivan Illich's books. Relating specifically to transportation and freedom is the book "Energy and Equity." He explains how cars actually reduce freedom for most people. This book can be found online for free. I am not against the transport of goods. I'm mostly against automobiles for individuals and families. I think we could reap the benefits of vehicles without every family/person having one. I'm glad you added in some critical words of progress/science. It shows you aren't blindly accepting of science. I am rather critical of science and technological development, but don't have a black and white view either. Obviously I do tend towards a more neo-luddite position, without quite being a neo-luddite. I'll aim to type more tomorrow when I'm less fatigued. Thanks all for the wonderful comments, critical, praising, and in between. | ||
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BanZu
United States3329 Posts
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JohnColtrane
Australia4813 Posts
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qrs
United States3637 Posts
My bike is a Univega Rover--good bike; I don't think they make them anymore. It's a mountain bike (I believe that when I got the bike, mountain bikes were in fashion for some reason): the thick tires are pretty much wasted for the street riding that I do, and the bent-over position you need to take for the handlebars can get annoying, but it does have quite good balance, so if it's not uphill, I often ride without hands so that I can sit upright. I've had this bicycle for a long time now, and I like it very well, although I can't quite see myself naming it. | ||
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AcrossFiveJulys
United States3612 Posts
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JohnColtrane
Australia4813 Posts
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paper
13196 Posts
On August 15 2008 17:28 JohnColtrane wrote: whenever i ride my bike now i sing the bike theme from pokemon red hahahah | ||
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nA.Inky
United States794 Posts
Coltrane - bicycling is perhaps more wasteful than walking/running because it takes resources to produce a bicycle, and there is probably some pollution generated in the process. Bicycles require lubricant, which is oil based, and some of the chemicals involved are pretty toxic. The tires wear out and need to be replaced, and they are rubber. Compared to a car, we might as well say a bicycle doesn't pollute at all (even compared to hybrid cars and such). But if we are truly honest, we must admit that they aren't as environmentally friendly as walking or jogging. The one thing I will say, though, is that cycling uses far fewer calories than walking, and WAY fewer than jogging. This means you need more fuel to jog. If your diet incorporates meat, then it may work out that your jogging is more wasteful than cycling. I won't attempt to calculate this here, but merely point out that it is something to consider. Good question! QRS - good post. It's good to hear about your bike, too! I think mountain bikes are more popular in general (also more targeted by thieves). One thing you could do if you cycle much is to switch out your tires with some slicks. It will make a difference! I'd also like to point out that while it SEEMS more effortless to move places in a car, this is an illusion, since you also have to factor in all the time you work to earn money to keep a car. Cars are, as I said, false economy. Across Five July's - Good post. Keep on being car free! You are right, it does take a little more thought if you get around with just a bicycle, but it is very doable, and I find that having to be more aware of what I am doing is kind of nice. But the main thing I'll say is that the best thing you can do for a bike is get a rear rack and some good pannier bags. This makes shopping easy. I virtually never ride without at least one pannier bag - what if I find something cool and want to take it home? Also, if you use panniers to replace a backpack, your back won't get so sweaty. Perhaps you already know and do this! Anyhow, more power to ya! | ||
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nA.Inky
United States794 Posts
The main thing I'll say is that if a fixed gear bicycle gets you into bicycling as a way to get around, it's a good thing. But it ain't for me! | ||
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ulszz
Jamaica1787 Posts
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thedeadhaji
39489 Posts
I definitely want to be able to bike to work, we'll see if situations allow for it. | ||
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Ancestral
United States3230 Posts
My bike is some steel Bianchi with a top tube that's a little too long so my back hurts when I ride it. But I usually man up and deal with it. There's this tour in my city called TOSRV, and my brother does it every year (though he lives 700 miles away). In April I said "I'll go with you" (the tour was in May). So I did. He raped me ruthlessly, I didn't expect it to be so hard. But ever since, I've been into cycling. Of course, I rode the tour on some POS 25 year old Raleigh, but then he got me this new bike, since one of his cycling friends also likes motorcycles, but he's a hippie. My brother is a Ducati mechanic, and so fixed his motorcycle, but being a hippie he couldn't afford the bill so he gave my brother that Bianchi. Now I ride it and can go slightly faster. Interesting how all sorts of chance things come together, just like in your case. | ||
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Ancestral
United States3230 Posts
After 2 or 3 thousand years it probably ends up more efficient than running. | ||
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GeneralStan
United States4789 Posts
On the other hand, I agree that for many, a car is a luxury rather than a necessity, and a luxury that binds us into a way of living that we may not be comfortable with. Where I live in Arizona, a car really isn't a luxury, given the scale of things (I'm somewhat of an oddity, having chosen to live within easy biking distance of groceries and work (which - truly - many more could make the decision to live closer to those requirements)). However, it is the initial luxury of fast travel that allows those great distances skewing what was once a method of faster travel into merely a device of greater travel (that is to say, without cars, things would be within biking distance and instead of spending 30 minutes to go 10 miles in our cars, we would be doing the same 30 minutes to go 2 miles on a bike, and be happier for it). For transporting goods across the country (the very lifeblood of this modern economy), cars are completely necessary. In day to day living a good argument can be made that they bind us to a life of traveling more than we really need to, along with contributing to global warming, resource wars, and a sedentary lifestyle. I'm probably getting to cerebral about this, but I'm curious to hear your thoughts @ JeeJee. Give me a break. My analogy has some pretty solid backing while that guy was just pulling shit from his ass. Simply listing things that happened after an event is useless, I agree, but I can make a pretty solid case that the Interstate highway system really did contribute to the marvels of the modern era. | ||
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