I needed a few things from the hardware store, so I pedaled up there to get them. When I got there, I noticed several bikes parked near the door. They weren't chained up to anything.
I chained up to my familiar parking sign (there is no rack) and headed for the door with my helmet under my arm. As I approached the door, this big fellow of a man, at least 20 years my senior and with a nice white beard, comes out and starts beating his chest.
"Isn't it a just splendid day to be riding a bike?!!" he proclaims to me. I turn my head and look at him oddly because I ride my bike every day, rain or shine and he goes on, "Yes, a glorious day and what a glorious way to keep the cardiologist at bay!!!"
It began to click in that he wasn't speaking to me, but to his younger, probably whiny children or grandchildren. So I agreed with him and ducked in the store to buy my air conditioner filters.
"vey" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
I needed a few things from the hardware store, so I pedaled up there to get them. When I got there, I noticed several bikes parked near the door. They weren't chained up to anything.
I chained up to my familiar parking sign (there is no rack) and headed for the door with my helmet under my arm. As I approached the door, this big fellow of a man, at least 20 years my senior and with a nice white beard, comes out and starts beating his chest.
"Isn't it a just splendid day to be riding a bike?!!" he proclaims to me. I turn my head and look at him oddly because I ride my bike every day, rain or shine and he goes on, "Yes, a glorious day and what a glorious way to keep the cardiologist at bay!!!"
It began to click in that he wasn't speaking to me, but to his younger, probably whiny children or grandchildren. So I agreed with him and ducked in the store to buy my air conditioner filters.
You shoulda thoed a coke can at his head. Somebody in a pickup threw something at me today. Frank, where were you at 5:30 pm eastern?
I needed a few things from the hardware store, so I pedaled up there to get them. When I got there, I noticed several bikes parked near the door. They weren't chained up to anything.
I chained up to my familiar parking sign (there is no rack) and headed for the door with my helmet under my arm. As I approached the door, this big fellow of a man, at least 20 years my senior and with a nice white beard, comes out and starts beating his chest.
"Isn't it a just splendid day to be riding a bike?!!" he proclaims to me. I turn my head and look at him oddly because I ride my bike every day, rain or shine and he goes on, "Yes, a glorious day and what a glorious way to keep the cardiologist at bay!!!"
Well, Greens, most people ride sparingly, most ride for 'fun' and do not use their bicycle for everyday transportation and probably never will until fuel is scarce and anarchy reigns...remember golf is growing faster than cycling.
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It began to click in that he wasn't speaking to me, but to his younger, probably whiny children or grandchildren. So I agreed with him and ducked in the store to buy my air conditioner filters.
It was recently reported in the media that 17 million fewer Americans are cycling. I can't recall what the comparison time frames were. In any event, American cycling is contracting rather than growing.
It was recently reported in the media that 17 million fewer Americans are cycling. I can't recall what the comparison time frames were. In any event, American cycling is contracting rather than growing.
Wouldn't know that if you looked at my neighborhood. I've watched cycling increase dramatically in the last few years and a new branch LBS opened 3 years ago and they are doing well. But if you go a few miles away, to a less prosperous neighborhood, you will not see children riding bikes, much less adults.
It was recently reported in the media that 17 million fewer Americans are cycling. I can't recall what the comparison time frames were. In any event, American cycling is contracting rather than growing.
That can't be possible, as there is no mandatory helmet law for adults. We all know that the _only_ reason for fewer people cycling is the establishment of an MHL.
It was recently reported in the media that 17 million fewer Americans are cycling. I can't recall what the comparison time frames were. In any event, American cycling is contracting rather than growing.
That can't be possible, as there is no mandatory helmet law for adults.
Not true.
MHLs exist in many countries, including the USofA, where, starting in 1991 46 MHLs for ALL ages have been enacted.
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We all know that the _only_ reason for fewer people cycling is the establishment of an MHL.
The reduction in cycling correlated with the introduction of MHLs is well established; but the characterisation of that as the only reason for this decline is (to put it most charitably) disingenuous - there are a number of anti-cycling measures and attitudes which frequently occur in places that are willing to pass MHLs, and it is probable that they each have some effect on the numbers of cyclists. If SMS wishes to encourage cycling he would do well to focus not only on MHLs, but on the other factors as well.
"vey" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
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Tim McNamara said:
In article <[email hidden]>,
Qui si parla Campagnolo-www.vecchios.com said:
remember golf is growing faster than cycling.
It was recently reported in the media that 17 million fewer Americans are cycling. I can't recall what the comparison time frames were. In any event, American cycling is contracting rather than growing.
Wouldn't know that if you looked at my neighborhood. I've watched cycling increase dramatically in the last few years and a new branch LBS opened 3 years ago and they are doing well. But if you go a few miles away, to a less prosperous neighborhood, you will not see children riding bikes, much less adults.
When you play golf, you get to sit. Hardly anyone walks around the course anymore. Can you really say it's a sport if all you do is get off your cart every few miles and hit the ball? The calorie burn per hour must be less than a quarter of what you get with cycling.
It was recently reported in the media that 17 million fewer Americans are cycling. I can't recall what the comparison time frames were. In any event, American cycling is contracting rather than growing.
You are typically more careful with statistics than this.
I judge the increase in bicycling around here by the rate of riders going the wrong way on the street. Riding is up.
In article <[email hidden]>, "Qui si parla Campagnolo-www.vecchios.com" <[email hidden]> wrote:
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
> remember golf is growing faster than cycling.
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
It was recently reported in the media that 17 million fewer Americans are cycling. I can't recall what the comparison time frames were. In any event, American cycling is contracting rather than growing.
Quoted message said:
Wouldn't know that if you looked at my neighborhood. I've watched cycling increase dramatically in the last few years and a new branch LBS opened 3 years ago and they are doing well. But if you go a few miles away, to a less prosperous neighborhood, you will not see children riding bikes, much less adults.
When you play golf, you get to sit. Hardly anyone walks around the course anymore. Can you really say it's a sport if all you do is get off your cart every few miles and hit the ball? The calorie burn per hour must be less than a quarter of what you get with cycling.
Not to mention the gallon of beer at the nineteenth hole.
It was recently reported in the media that 17 million fewer Americans are cycling. I can't recall what the comparison time frames were. In any event, American cycling is contracting rather than growing.
Much of the blame should go to the "cul-de-sac residential block surrounded by high speed/high traffic arterials" development pattern. In a metropolitan area of more than 1.5 million persons, I hardly see any cyclists in the suburban neighborhoods that fit the above pattern, and they are mostly lyrca wearing and on expensive road and tri/TT bikes. More cyclists are seen in the older grid pattern neighborhoods, while the downtown area has numerous "transportation" cyclists, sensibly dressed on sensible bikes.
-- Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia A Real Cyclist [TM] keeps at least one bicycle in the bedroom.
It was recently reported in the media that 17 million fewer Americans are cycling. I can't recall what the comparison time frames were. In any event, American cycling is contracting rather than growing.
That can't be possible, as there is no mandatory helmet law for adults. We all know that the _only_ reason for fewer people cycling is the establishment of an MHL.
Nonsense. Being forced by social pressure to "bicycle lanes" and "bike paths" also is detrimental to cycling.
-- Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia A Real Cyclist [TM] keeps at least one bicycle in the bedroom.
In article <[email hidden]>, "Qui si parla Campagnolo-www.vecchios.com" <[email hidden]> wrote:
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
> remember golf is growing faster than cycling.
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
It was recently reported in the media that 17 million fewer Americans are cycling. I can't recall what the comparison time frames were. In any event, American cycling is contracting rather than growing.
Quoted message said:
That can't be possible, as there is no mandatory helmet law for adults. We all know that the _only_ reason for fewer people cycling is the establishment of an MHL.
Nonsense. Being forced by social pressure to "bicycle lanes" and "bike paths" also is detrimental to cycling.
And the siytuation could get worse, IMO. Once a network of "official" bicycle paths and lanes are established in a given area, the pressure to use those routes and "stay on the path and stay off the road" mounts.
Cyclists who believe in working for bike paths and bike lanes instead of insisting on equal acceptance on and equal access to roads should reconsider their position.
the downtown area has numerous "transportation" cyclists, sensibly dressed on sensible bikes.
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Unlike yourself, of course. ;^)
Hey, I know someone who uses an Earth Cycles Sunset Lowracer [1] to get groceries!
Unlike many cyclists, I DO NOT pay to wear advertising.
I am one of those people who got caught in the work location change situation, so I drive 300+ miles per week. 🙁
[1] The most Fun Bicycle in the Known Universe [TM].
-- Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
And I know a guy that has hauled 2x4 studs and drywall on the roof of a Porsche 911. That doesn't make it a sensible thing to do. As for "not paying to wear advertisement", most of the cyclists I know that wear logo jerseys do so because they simply like the jersey or, in the case of team wear, like the team. What's so bad about either?
As for "not paying to wear advertisement", most of the cyclists I know that wear logo jerseys do so because they simply like the jersey or, in the case of team wear, like the team. What's so bad about either?
If that's the way you feel about it, I'm just glad you aren't a figure skating fan.
