Letter to the editor

Claire Petersky said:

In the paper this morning, a letter to the editor:

---

["commuting by bike is impossible for women"]

Quoted message said:

---

(Complete letter here:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2002900658_frilets31.html)

My reply:

I broke up in laughter reading Martha Parker's letter to the editor this
morning. She claimed that bicycling to work was impossible for women in high
profile jobs with fluffy hair. Well, this middle-aged suburbanite rides her
bike every day to her suit-and-panty-hose finance job in a downtown
high-rise, and is able to overcome the horrors of helmet hair. It isn't that
hard to be at your desk perfectly presentable. It just takes problem solving
abilities, something required in managerial positions. Besides, riding to
work much better than being stuck in traffic. Not everyone gets to have so
much fun as I do on the commute. I feel sorry for them -- they don't know
what they're missing.

Let us know if it gets published. Also, I would have mentioned that you
don't pedal with your heels 😉

\\paul

The Dutch manage to pull it off. They don't wear helmets, so no helmet
hair. There's nothing hotter than a hottie on a bike. :-D

If you're so Channel'ed and Aquanetted that cycling is bound to spoil
your look, my sympathies to you.

landotter said:

The Dutch manage to pull it off. They don't wear helmets, so no helmet
hair. There's nothing hotter than a hottie on a bike. :-D

If you're so Channel'ed and Aquanetted that cycling is bound to spoil
your look, my sympathies to you.

During Texas summers, it is impossible not to be truly hot, but I don't
think that is exactly the way you mean it.

"Claire Petersky" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

In the paper this morning, a letter to the editor:

---
Pedal Pushers: They don't suit everyone

You're still publishing letters from dreamers. Taking bikes to work!
["Exercise between miles," Northwest Voices, March 24.] That might be fine
for young men with their pants, low-heeled sturdy shoes, and hair easily
combed. It's ridiculous for many women, especially those in high-profile
offices. These people don't wear hiking boots to work and crunch their

hair

Quoted message said:

with a helmet.

[snip]
---

(Complete letter here:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2002900658_frilets31.html)

My reply:

I broke up in laughter reading Martha Parker's letter to the editor this
morning. She claimed that bicycling to work was impossible for women in

high

Quoted message said:

profile jobs with fluffy hair. Well, this middle-aged suburbanite rides

her

Quoted message said:

bike every day to her suit-and-panty-hose finance job in a downtown
high-rise, and is able to overcome the horrors of helmet hair. It isn't

that

Quoted message said:

hard to be at your desk perfectly presentable. It just takes problem

solving

Quoted message said:

abilities, something required in managerial positions. Besides, riding to
work much better than being stuck in traffic. Not everyone gets to have so
much fun as I do on the commute. I feel sorry for them -- they don't know
what they're missing.

--
Warm Regards,

Claire Petersky
http://www.bicyclemeditations.org/
See the books I've set free at: http://bookcrossing.com/referral/Cpetersky

That is a letter the editor will not have to edit. Good grammar and syntax,
not bogged down with lots of unnecessary detail. Your point is well
summarized in a way the average reader can understand.

Max

"Claire Petersky" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

(Complete letter here:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2002900658_frilets31.html)

My reply:

I broke up in laughter reading Martha Parker's letter to the editor this
morning. She claimed that bicycling to work was impossible for women in
high profile jobs with fluffy hair. Well, this middle-aged suburbanite
rides her bike every day to her suit-and-panty-hose finance job in a
downtown high-rise, and is able to overcome the horrors of helmet hair. It
isn't that hard to be at your desk perfectly presentable. It just takes
problem solving abilities, something required in managerial positions.

I think the letter highlights the difference between reasons and excuses.
If someone really does not want to ride then there will always be a reason
to use as an excuse. If they really want to ride then there is always a way.

They are making excuses to not ride. We find reasons to ride.

Claire Petersky said:

In the paper this morning, a letter to the editor:

---
Pedal Pushers: They don't suit everyone

You're still publishing letters from dreamers. Taking bikes to work!
["Exercise between miles," Northwest Voices, March 24.] That might be fine
for young men with their pants, low-heeled sturdy shoes, and hair easily
combed. It's ridiculous for many women, especially those in high-profile
offices. These people don't wear hiking boots to work and crunch their hair
with a helmet.

[snip]
---

(Complete letter here:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2002900658_frilets31.html)

What a crackpot. Increased urban density obviates the need for cars and
the ensuing traffic jams. (This is why they don't let civilians run the
BZA.)

Quoted message said:

My reply:

I broke up in laughter reading Martha Parker's letter to the editor this
morning. She claimed that bicycling to work was impossible for women in high
profile jobs with fluffy hair. Well, this middle-aged suburbanite rides her
bike every day to her suit-and-panty-hose finance job in a downtown
high-rise, and is able to overcome the horrors of helmet hair. It isn't that
hard to be at your desk perfectly presentable. It just takes problem solving
abilities, something required in managerial positions. Besides, riding to
work much better than being stuck in traffic. Not everyone gets to have so
much fun as I do on the commute. I feel sorry for them -- they don't know
what they're missing.

Claire, what about your manicure?!?!?

--Karen D.

Claire Petersky said:

Well, this middle-aged suburbanite rides her
bike every day to her suit-and-panty-hose finance job in a downtown
high-rise, and is able to overcome the horrors of helmet hair.

Someone sent me this link this morning. I'm not sure if it's actually
Claire on the way to work, or not...

http://www.dpchallenge.com/image.php?IMAGE_ID=305317

--
John Calnan
http://www.calnan-web.com/weblog

recycled-one said:

I think the letter highlights the difference between reasons and excuses.
If someone really does not want to ride then there will always be a reason
to use as an excuse. If they really want to ride then there is always a way.

They are making excuses to not ride. We find reasons to ride.

There exists a gulf between the people with the spirit vs. the ones
simply emulating the style.
--
zk

On Fri, 31 Mar 2006 10:23:22 -0500, Paul Hobson <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Let us know if it gets published. Also, I would have mentioned that you
don't pedal with your heels 😉

One lasting image from last July's pedal-powered wedding is seeing
140 people dressed in their Sunday best and riding their bikes in the
procession.
Particularly the women wearing heeled pumps with ankle straps pushing
pedals with toe-clips. It's semi erotic in a fetishistic sort of way.
--
zk

Zoot Katz said:

On Fri, 31 Mar 2006 10:23:22 -0500, Paul Hobson <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Let us know if it gets published. Also, I would have mentioned that you
don't pedal with your heels 😉

One lasting image from last July's pedal-powered wedding is seeing
140 people dressed in their Sunday best and riding their bikes in the
procession.
Particularly the women wearing heeled pumps with ankle straps pushing
pedals with toe-clips. It's semi erotic in a fetishistic sort of way.

Zoot,
You gotta find yourself a woman who like both bikes and beds.;<😉
Bill

Claire Petersky said:

In the paper this morning, a letter to the editor:

---
Pedal Pushers: They don't suit everyone

You're still publishing letters from dreamers. Taking bikes to work!
["Exercise between miles," Northwest Voices, March 24.] That might be fine
for young men with their pants, low-heeled sturdy shoes, and hair easily
combed. It's ridiculous for many women, especially those in high-profile
offices. These people don't wear hiking boots to work and crunch their hair
with a helmet.

[snip]
---

(Complete letter here:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2002900658_frilets31.html)

My reply:

I broke up in laughter reading Martha Parker's letter to the editor this
morning. She claimed that bicycling to work was impossible for women in high
profile jobs with fluffy hair. Well, this middle-aged suburbanite rides her
bike every day to her suit-and-panty-hose finance job in a downtown
high-rise, and is able to overcome the horrors of helmet hair. It isn't that
hard to be at your desk perfectly presentable. It just takes problem solving
abilities, something required in managerial positions. Besides, riding to
work much better than being stuck in traffic. Not everyone gets to have so
much fun as I do on the commute. I feel sorry for them -- they don't know
what they're missing.

--
Warm Regards,

Claire Petersky

These people are doing the impossible!

http://www.domela.com/photos_people/projects_fietsen/web_preview_2006.pdf

- Frank Krygowski

John Calnan said:

Claire Petersky said:

Well, this middle-aged suburbanite rides her
bike every day to her suit-and-panty-hose finance job in a downtown
high-rise, and is able to overcome the horrors of helmet hair.

Someone sent me this link this morning. I'm not sure if it's actually
Claire on the way to work, or not...

http://www.dpchallenge.com/image.php?IMAGE_ID=305317

If Claire was willing to sacrifice a pair of heels, I could probably
even set her up with SPD cleats. Heh.

--
Dane Buson - [email hidden]
If the aborigine drafted an IQ test,
all of Western civilization would presumably flunk it.
-- Stanley Garn

Dane Buson said:

John Calnan said:

Claire Petersky said:

Well, this middle-aged suburbanite rides her
bike every day to her suit-and-panty-hose finance job in a downtown
high-rise, and is able to overcome the horrors of helmet hair.

Someone sent me this link this morning. I'm not sure if it's actually
Claire on the way to work, or not...

http://www.dpchallenge.com/image.php?IMAGE_ID=305317

If Claire was willing to sacrifice a pair of heels, I could probably
even set her up with SPD cleats. Heh.

If the sole was 3/4 of an inch thick or so, you could use a router and
recess them. You'd probably want to peel the foot bed back, and rig up
some kind of rigid back plate to screw them into. Wouldn't be that
hard, and who doesn't want a set of spd compatible strappy 3" heels for
spring. :-D

Dane Buson said:

John Calnan said:

Claire Petersky said:

Well, this middle-aged suburbanite rides her
bike every day to her suit-and-panty-hose finance job in a downtown
high-rise, and is able to overcome the horrors of helmet hair.

Someone sent me this link this morning. I'm not sure if it's actually
Claire on the way to work, or not...

http://www.dpchallenge.com/image.php?IMAGE_ID=305317

If Claire was willing to sacrifice a pair of heels, I could probably
even set her up with SPD cleats. Heh.

If the sole was 3/4 of an inch thick or so, you could use a router and
recess them. You'd probably want to peel the foot bed back, and rig up
some kind of rigid back plate to screw them into. Wouldn't be that
hard, and who doesn't want a set of spd compatible strappy 3" heels for
spring. :-D

Dane Buson said:

John Calnan said:

Claire Petersky said:

Well, this middle-aged suburbanite rides her
bike every day to her suit-and-panty-hose finance job in a downtown
high-rise, and is able to overcome the horrors of helmet hair.

Someone sent me this link this morning. I'm not sure if it's actually
Claire on the way to work, or not...

http://www.dpchallenge.com/image.php?IMAGE_ID=305317

If Claire was willing to sacrifice a pair of heels, I could probably
even set her up with SPD cleats. Heh.

If the sole was 3/4 of an inch thick or so, you could use a router and
recess them. You'd probably want to peel the foot bed back, and rig up
some kind of rigid back plate to screw them into. Wouldn't be that
hard, and who doesn't want a set of spd compatible strappy 3" heels for
spring. :-D

Well done that woman!

Cheers, helen s

"John Calnan" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Claire Petersky said:

Well, this middle-aged suburbanite rides her bike every day to her
suit-and-panty-hose finance job in a downtown high-rise, and is able to
overcome the horrors of helmet hair.

Someone sent me this link this morning. I'm not sure if it's actually
Claire on the way to work, or not...

http://www.dpchallenge.com/image.php?IMAGE_ID=305317

If those shoes can take Look cleats, I want a pair ;-)

Cheers, helen s

wafflycat said:

If those shoes can take Look cleats, I want a pair ;-)

Cheers, helen s

I sense there may be a market for these. I may have to talk to Steve
Madden about this...

--
John Calnan
http://www.calnan-web.com/weblog

John Calnan said:

Claire Petersky said:

Well, this middle-aged suburbanite rides her bike every day to her
suit-and-panty-hose finance job in a downtown high-rise, and is able
to overcome the horrors of helmet hair.

Someone sent me this link this morning. I'm not sure if it's actually
Claire on the way to work, or not...

http://www.dpchallenge.com/image.php?IMAGE_ID=305317

I have seen this several times around Harvard Sq. in Cambridge, MA. It's
not that unusual to see women in suits and heels riding bikes. I doubt
they're riding any distance, though.