I-Like-To-Bike

I am well aware of how well the Dutch speak English, having visited at least once a year for the 10 years I lived in Germany. In fact I only once came across a Dutchman who couldn't speak or at least understand English.

I think it would be a little more accurate to state that Bikeforums caters to bicycle enthusiasts and zealots of all nationalities who prefer to post and read about their hobby in English.

I-Like-To-Bike

Exactly.

I-Like-To-Bike

You can read lots of BS "somewhere on the Internet" about something that might have occurred somewhere at some time. Some of it might even be true, or written in an obscure passage in an archaic tome on a dusty shelf in somebody's attic.

Maelochs

I am a citizen of the cosmos, a denizen of the multiverse .... in real life, i try to be a decent human being and to realize how much more than that we all are.

But I have no interest in being a cycling ambassador.

livedarklions

I am the Minister of Cycling War.

No lycra in the Thunderdome.

Siu Blue Wind

Nuh uh no way. You're lying.

jefnvk

Can I? Legally, yes. As a matter of practice, you'd have ro be acting in a fairly egregious manner. Far more likely you'd get something like drunk in public.

I left the bar Saturday night after 2am, and there were eight or so cops in the lot watching cars while two were cuffing people and it seemed a tow truck was on its way. Not a single one cared about me on a bike

700

I appreciate their common sense.

jasnooks

Umm, nope

pope

Perhaps the only benefit of my 40's so far is exactly this ^^

pope

**GASP!!!!***
A STATUS SYMBOL**********???? In Belgium? Have you ever cycled there? Do you even understand their culture or national sport?
The only subjective statement, based on the everyday cycling that I experienced, was that "they" don't wear helmets.
I did. And I was teased! I'm pretty sure I heard GASPS!!!

maartendc

To the OP's point, bicycling to the store / for utility for people of all ages is definitely more common in Europe, particularly Belgium (where I am from), the Netherlands, Germany (where i have lived), and I hear Denmark and other Scandinavian countries as well. It is common to see 60+ year olds ride their bike to the local grocery store, bakery, butcher shop, etc. My grandmother, 88 years old, still regularly bikes around her small town in Belgium to go to the local stores.

I've lived in Atlanta for 4 years now, and I have NEVER seen a 60+ year old biking for utilitarian reasons (aka going to the grocery store or other destination). You regularly see 60+ year olds on a recreational trail though.

The amount of people biking here for utilitarian reasons / commuting are either;

- Young, in their 20's or 30's and clearly dedicated to leading a healthy and/or sustainable lifestyle or to avoid traffic.
- Extremely poor, minority groups, with beat-up bicycles and clearly have no other option to get around that they can afford. (which is fine, I am all for more people biking, no matter the reason)

This is Atlanta though, I cannot speak for other US cities / towns.

That being said, I think the attitude towards biking is neutral to slightly positive here in Atlanta, and getting better. People ask me about my bike trailer when I go to the local supermarket. Except when it comes to investing in cycling infrastructure or creating bike lanes, in which case people actually vote it down, because it takes space away from their precious cars. (true story sadly)

Cruiser2112

CalvinR

I'm familiar with that attitude, but I quit caring about it around 1970. (I don't try to read the expressions of passers-by, but I occasionally get it from people I meet who notice or if I mention it. I have a milk crate on my luggage rack that's a much better way to carry stuff.) I have noticed that I don't get much of that negativity nowadays in my less-affluent neighborhood. Probably that's because riding a bicycle for practical transportation has become much more common.

lkoyanagi

W Why do you care? Are your comments in passing or a serious treatise on attitudes using Belgium to generalize Europe? I guess you generalize the US based on your limited experiences. You dont know what those ladies were saying. Maybe your fly was open.

dddd

Maybe because I have been riding for over 50 years, I have learned to make much of the hauling possibilities using a standard mtb or road bike, by carrying some doubled-and-folded plastic grocery bags.

Tying bags to the bars can be done such that not only are the knots quickly untied upon arrival (by triple-knotting), but swaying is never an issue unless one has to ride out of the saddle, in which case one must try to pedal in circles.
The keys are to twist the handles before tying knots, and to first pull all of the slack out of the handles.
Where serious climbs require out-of-saddle efforts, securing the shortened handles to the bars, just above the brake levers, prevents bags from contacting one's knees or swaying at all, if at some cost to the bag's volume. It's the outside of the upper and lower bar that braces the load against the tension in the bag/handles. For relatively flat cruising, the bags can just hang adjacent to the headtube, usually just clearing the rider's knees, though the maximum steering angle may be limited.
Care needs to be used near the front brake QR lever, to prevent snagging/tearing the doubled-up-for-strength bags. Today's heavier bags (in areas where regular bags have been banned from grocery stores) require new strategies to secure to the bars, since the bags are bigger/longer and the handles a little shorter and harder to tie. So I stock up on the traditional bags at places like Home Depot, and double or triple them before folding into a tight bindle held with a rubber band.
I've also carried big cat/dog food bags on my shoulder, or a case of beer, but it's uncomfortable riding like that for more than a few blocks. I'm on some kind of road bike usually, and any of them can really haul the groceries without the need for panniers, baskets or racks.
I once tried hauling my truck's wheel/tire to the tire shop for a quick local repair, but made it just one block before turning around with a fast-fatiguing left arm.
On the other hand, I've ghost ridden more than a few used-bike purchases home over many miles, and once carried a small, light desk and drawers unit home in Silicon Valley. At the end of the day it's just exercise and reduced use of the motor vehicles.

Since I live in California I know that conditions are favorable for cyclists here, but can be very different in different regions of the country, any country.
To the OP, it sounds like there might be something about your attire or appearance that causes those people to react strangely. Do you wear your helmet inside of the store and is it a normal-looking bike helmet? Do People typically use bike helmets in your area?

jefnvk

Someday they'll crash in both America and Belgium, and realize it hurts equally as much in both countries and change their tune

Colnago Mixte

It's easy to forget how painful crashes are. An excellent point that I hope we can all agree upon.

jefnvk

They are, but have you ever cycled on wet cobble? SO mych easier to crash

Cruiser2112

musicmaster

I completely disagree, except in downtown Chicago. I grew up and lived in the Naperville/Wheaton/Lisle area. At my two jobs I had out there post college, I didn't know anyone in my office who biked to work (One office was in Downers Grove, the other was in Oak Brook). Not to mention, you had to be extremely careful when riding as outside of a handful of bike paths, there weren't many (if any) bike lanes in the suburbs and cars would rarely give me more than a foot or two of space on the shoulder. Even downtown, the Lakefront path is always crowded and many of Chicago's streets aren't in the best condition.

Moving to Denver 2 years back has been night and day. Bike paths everywhere that connect, plus bike lanes on many major roads and cars actually give you space when passing. Plus, three others on my street bike commute.

fiat0

I did that "bag of grocerie in a bag that hangs from the handlebars" thing when I was younger and it just never worked out very well. Too easy to loose control, poor steering. A backpack is so much better.

But, I get the gist of what you are saying. Bikes are more popular in Europe or so it seems.

bgeer

Apparently RAGBRAI hasn't gone thru your small rural town? :-)