What keeps you from riding?
11-04-05, 10:01 AM
#1
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What keeps you from riding as much as you like? Is it lack of special bicycle facilities (bike lanes/paths)? Is it the speed/volume of traffic? Is it the condition of the roads? Is it the attitude of the motorists? Is it the weather?
What changes, if any, would encourage you to ride your bike more often for transportation or pleasure?
edit--
Physical health?
/edit
What changes, if any, would encourage you to ride your bike more often for transportation or pleasure?
edit--
Physical health?
/edit
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Last edited by LittleBigMan; 11-04-05 at 10:19 AM.
11-04-05, 10:05 AM
#2
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For me, it's the length of time. I don't mind the energy required but it currently takes me an hour and 30 minutes to ride to work and an hour and 45 minutes to get home (more climbing on the return trip.) Since I can make the same trip in 20 minutes, garage to parking spot, by car, it's sometimes hard to justify. But it's fun and I need the exercise so I'm doing a one-way commute now, hoping to build to the full round trip in the spring.
11-04-05, 10:07 AM
#3
Senior Member
Now that the doctor scoped my right knee, I have to go through physical therapy to get adequate strength to work/ride.
I think that if fewer bikes got stolen, many that don't use bicycles would do it.
I think that if fewer bikes got stolen, many that don't use bicycles would do it.
Last edited by Dchiefransom; 11-04-05 at 11:37 AM.
11-04-05, 10:31 AM
#4
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Lack of money. 
I recently had my rear wheel (including cassette/hub) blow out. So now the roadie will sit for a while so I can build the fixed.
Other than that I would say lack of infrastructure. I fortunately live inside the city, but the vast majority of friends and family live 50+ miles one way from my home. While the bike lanes are pretty decent inside the city, once you venture out they are few to non-existent. Not to mention the neighborhoods on the fringe can be sketchy, and the time involved would be overwhelming.
On the upside, the area around my house has a great biking network, shopping is close by on low-traffic roads with bike lanes, and I'm only 4 miles from work.
I recently had my rear wheel (including cassette/hub) blow out. So now the roadie will sit for a while so I can build the fixed.
Other than that I would say lack of infrastructure. I fortunately live inside the city, but the vast majority of friends and family live 50+ miles one way from my home. While the bike lanes are pretty decent inside the city, once you venture out they are few to non-existent. Not to mention the neighborhoods on the fringe can be sketchy, and the time involved would be overwhelming.
On the upside, the area around my house has a great biking network, shopping is close by on low-traffic roads with bike lanes, and I'm only 4 miles from work.
11-04-05, 10:47 AM
#5
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I own a car that's in good shape. Passengers, bad weather, cargo, long distances or time considerations keep me off the bike and in the car. I guess if I didn't own the car, I'd be far more likely to take the bike even because of those 5 considerations.
Overall, I'm on my bike 5 days a week and put in half the mileage on the bike as I do in the car.
Overall, I'm on my bike 5 days a week and put in half the mileage on the bike as I do in the car.
11-04-05, 11:01 AM
#6
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Nothing. If I wanted to ride more I would.
Although there are some errands I run on rare occasion that are very far away (i.e. 60miRT to specialist I have been referred to by Dr.) that I don't cycle to, not that I wish I could as I get enough cycling anyway.
Al
Although there are some errands I run on rare occasion that are very far away (i.e. 60miRT to specialist I have been referred to by Dr.) that I don't cycle to, not that I wish I could as I get enough cycling anyway.
Al
11-04-05, 11:04 AM
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More hours in the day or fewer competing responsibilities would be best, a global shift making the Ohio climate more Hawaii-like would be nice too.
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"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
11-04-05, 11:29 AM
#9
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Hours in the day, heavy traffic, and the demands of work... and of course early night during this part of the year.
11-04-05, 11:36 AM
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Originally Posted by genec
Hours in the day, heavy traffic, and the demands of work... and of course early night during this part of the year.
Originally Posted by webist
Darkness.
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"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
11-04-05, 11:40 AM
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Well last weekend I had to unstick a cleaning brush from my chimmny.Thant and cutting enough wood to heat with, working in the garden and hunting as well as working. Working really is the curse of the drinking class -
Joe
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11-04-05, 11:40 AM
#12
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My lazy a$$ . Working on that though. What is the saying...
"Courage is taking one more step."
Yea, that's it.
. Working on that though. What is the saying..."Courage is taking one more step."
Yea, that's it.
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Cat 2 Track, Cat 3 Road.
"If you’re new enough [to racing] that you would ask such question, then i would hazard a guess that if you just made up a workout that sounded hard to do, and did it, you’d probably get faster." --the tiniest sprinter
11-04-05, 11:44 AM
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The only thing that keeps me from riding is really bad weather. Being from Seattle I don't mind the rain, but drivers in Los Angeles react to rain the same way Seattle drivers react to snow. It's just not worth the risk. Otherwise, day or night I have no problem getting on the bike. Of course that could easily change if I change jobs and have to commute to one of the more freeway encased neighborhoods.
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11-04-05, 12:04 PM
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Pain. Although that should improve in the next few months as the bones heal more (pelvis). I did walk 2 miles this morning ... longest so far.John Wilke
Milwaukee
11-04-05, 12:34 PM
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Work and fatherhood. I try to ride as much as I can within that context by commuting, doing early morning training rides, and pulling the kids in the Chariot. Would I like to be able to put in 300 mile weeks and race every weekend? Sure, but not at the expense of my job and marriage.
11-04-05, 12:38 PM
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Originally Posted by chipcom
Why do so many people have a reservations about riding in the dark? Personally, I enjoy the heck out of it.
Now on the weekends the town I live in has exceptional roads to ride on and the drivers are very used to cyclists (Davis, CA). I ride all the time at night there, and will be out tonight as a matter of fact.
It just depends on the local environment as to whether or not it is viable to ride in the dark.
11-04-05, 12:52 PM
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Work. Wasting the entire day on a computer floor when I could be out riding.
Also,I have mild carpel tunnel,so I like to give my wrists at least one day off a week to be on the safe side.
Also,I have mild carpel tunnel,so I like to give my wrists at least one day off a week to be on the safe side.
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11-04-05, 01:17 PM
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Originally Posted by chipcom
Why do so many people have a reservations about riding in the dark? Personally, I enjoy the heck out of it.
Where I live now is an area of mostly 35-45MPH boulevards, surrounded by mini malls with their own lights... bike lights are lost in the background of these other distracting lights. In order to ride these boulevards I have to be seen... (I have to take the lane) So there is a bit of a contridiction there... I can't be seen, therefore it is not safe to ride these areas at night. BTW I have a Niterider 35 watt system... ain't much more light available then that.
11-04-05, 01:20 PM
#21
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Originally Posted by John Wilke
Pain. Although that should improve in the next few months as the bones heal more (pelvis). I did walk 2 miles this morning ... longest so far.John Wilke
Milwaukee
11-04-05, 01:49 PM
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Originally Posted by dan828
For me, during the week the town I am in has nothing but lightless, shoulderless, high speed limit rural roads to ride on. Traffic is infrequent but consists mainly of large pickups and farm equipment. I have, as of yet, not seen any other cyclists riding in this area, so no one is used to seeing cyclists on these roads at all. I'm willing to risk it in the daylight, but at night I just do not feel safe enough on these roads to ride.
Now on the weekends the town I live in has exceptional roads to ride on and the drivers are very used to cyclists (Davis, CA). I ride all the time at night there, and will be out tonight as a matter of fact.
It just depends on the local environment as to whether or not it is viable to ride in the dark.
Now on the weekends the town I live in has exceptional roads to ride on and the drivers are very used to cyclists (Davis, CA). I ride all the time at night there, and will be out tonight as a matter of fact.
It just depends on the local environment as to whether or not it is viable to ride in the dark.
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"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
11-04-05, 01:54 PM
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Originally Posted by genec
I used to too... to the point of riding around neighborhoods late at night without lights. But those were relatively quiet neighborhoods.
Where I live now is an area of mostly 35-45MPH boulevards, surrounded by mini malls with their own lights... bike lights are lost in the background of these other distracting lights. In order to ride these boulevards I have to be seen... (I have to take the lane) So there is a bit of a contridiction there... I can't be seen, therefore it is not safe to ride these areas at night. BTW I have a Niterider 35 watt system... ain't much more light available then that.
Where I live now is an area of mostly 35-45MPH boulevards, surrounded by mini malls with their own lights... bike lights are lost in the background of these other distracting lights. In order to ride these boulevards I have to be seen... (I have to take the lane) So there is a bit of a contridiction there... I can't be seen, therefore it is not safe to ride these areas at night. BTW I have a Niterider 35 watt system... ain't much more light available then that.
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"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
"Let us hope our weapons are never needed --but do not forget what the common people knew when they demanded the Bill of Rights: An armed citizenry is the first defense, the best defense, and the final defense against tyranny. If guns are outlawed, only the government will have guns. Only the police, the secret police, the military, the hired servants of our rulers. Only the government -- and a few outlaws. I intend to be among the outlaws" - Edward Abbey
11-04-05, 01:59 PM
#24
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Originally Posted by chipcom
I can see that...yes, come to think of it I don't like those kinds of areas either. It's not only all the lights, but it seems like drivers are more spastic in those types of places. Always in a hurry or trying to find some location in a maze of lights and signs, not paying enough attention to the road around them.
11-04-05, 02:00 PM
#25
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Originally Posted by caloso
Work and fatherhood. I try to ride as much as I can within that context by commuting, doing early morning training rides, and pulling the kids in the Chariot. Would I like to be able to put in 300 mile weeks and race every weekend? Sure, but not at the expense of my job and marriage.
What keeps me from riding on the weekend is that I'm trying to rest up for Monday.
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