bicycle_people ever dumbening i just don't get the culture. someone please educate me. 070418 ... high viscosity im taking a shot here: people very fond of bicycles, a bit more concerned about their health or environment or their wallets (or as in my case all of the above). i don't participate in any of the bicycle-related events in my city but it's clear there is a significant amount of people that are into their bikes and my only guess is that these are people that are proud of using a bicycle as their primary form of transportation. the fact is -and those of you who use your bikes to get around know this: is not easy to get around in a two-wheeler. my city needs a lot more bike lanes for instance and, the trek can be quite demanding depending on where you're going and weather conditions. however some people simply prefer to ride their bike than own a dirty, expensive car or ride the unpredictable public transit system. i do it 'cause is fun. 070418 ... pete i bike because its efficient (you can use more trails than cars or pedestrians), its convenient (no waiting on buses) and its fun ('nough said). sadly my deformed lock key can't open my lock so i need to find my spare to get going again this season.. i also don't participate with those who do all the crazy events. 070418 ... jane i bike because i have to. bike people are like horse people: i find it best not to ask questions. 070419 ... LOCK AND GROOM ......because they love their bikes and their horses... i don't have a bike or a horse.. they groom them and lock them up. why don't they have communal bikes and horses ? they would if Karl was around ! why doesn't Ken make lots of bikes with his money like they do in Amsterdam. People would stop stealing if everyone had one and guess what its green and cheap for parking. he eats the money though... where does all our fine money go ? to the Olympics ? 070420 ... misstree it's amplified here in portlandia. biking is a very strong way for people to get around, the town is small enough and friendly enough to it that it's not usually a logistic nightmare (though we do regularly have car-bike accidents, which are rarely pretty), and the weather is often tolerant for it. beyond just bike commuters, we have things like the zoobombers, who go up to the top of a very steep hill and ride down kid's dirt bikes with no brakes, often while in silly costumes... there's tallbikes, and an anarchist clown house that specializes in shows performed on such... there's all manner of art bikes, and bike activities, and just general love for it. personally, not my thing, but that's because i got my quota of sore bike butt when i was a kid riding with my da. seeing it is lovely, and one of the many types of community that crop up when the soil is fertile. 070420 ... Strideo I have noticed two distinct cycling cultures in and around my neighborhood. The hardcore fitness cyclists who wear all the spandex and and cycling shop paraphernalia and the sort of urban hipster cyclist who either reject that sort of thing or don't care enough to try fit any particular mold. Then I suppose you've got the casual cyclist and the poor folks just trying to get around town on hand-me-down bikes but I don't know if you'd consider them a true part of the "cycling culture" at least not as enthusiasts. I guess I'm on my way to becoming a bicycle person since I'm looking at getting a significantly better bike and I want to ride much more often including doing some commuting. Also on a side note: to the person above who asked "why don't they have communal bikes and horses?". Because people treat communal property like shit and someone always fails to return stuff. ... 090310 ... past S, I'd fit myself in the "casual" side, and it is a kind of culture--biking places as a mode of transport redefines how you see your spatial and material surroundings, even if you're not too cool to care or care so much you're cool. it may not be a defining factor, but once the ice leaves the roads i'll definitely be biking half the places i now bus too (hell, half the places i walk to too!). i'm kind of a skating person that way too--if i can skate somewhere rather than bus or walk, most of the time i will. 090310 ... ergo Watch out for bike messengers, they're liable to dance you into the floor. It 's a great way to get floored. 090311 ... unhinged i have noticed both kinds that strideo mentioned in milwaukee also. and around here there are even the super hardcore that winterize their bikes and ride in the ice and snow. personally, i'm too klutzy to ride a bike in the street around here. it's always seemed a little scary to me. 090311 ... Strideo there's actually a bicycle messenger/delivery service office not too far from my apartment. it has sort of a generic name like "Speedy Delivery" or something. I never knew we had bicycle messengers in Atlanta until I saw it. I really don't like riding in the cold either. I'm not a cold weather person at all. ... 090314 ... daxle I went from "I don't know" to "cause it's the best thing EVAR!" in about 6 months. I don't like using my bike to commute. In my neighborhood, most of what I want to get to involves treacherous riding through people in cars who think bikes belong on sidewalks. (illegal, stupid, hard to get anywhere) But I am willing to ride through it to a place where there's less traffic. I've turned into a spandex wearing nut, because if you're riding 30+ mi you will kill yourself w/o a chamois. Why, though? I think it's the brain drugs. On a ride I usually get several doses of WOOOOOOHOOOOOO!! And there's the wind in your face, scenery, feeling of freedom, etc. As for the kids in the mission and at CCA, I think it's about fashion. And I do have to admit that I alternate between envying and loathing their bikes. H says he won't disown me as long as I don't get deep V's. My bike is already pretty snazzy looking though. We got my frame powdercoated with little rainbow sparkles on a black background, silver handlebar tape, black/silver chain rings, etc. Seriously though, brain drugs. 090314 ... nocturnal just got a new bike yesterday and am so freaking psyched. speaking of, why am I blathering? I'm going for a ride. lata, suckas. 090315 ... Caroline 452 i was a bicycle person until today when someone stole my bike that i just put a basket on (for carrying my lunch to work) by cutting right thru the cord. oh well. i wanted an new one with thin tires anyway for city riding. i will be a bicycle person again. 090315 ... unhinged never been much of an adrenaline junkie. adrenaline makes my heart want to pop out of my chest. in a bad way. 090315 ... mass transit birdmad i buy bikes that are presumably purpose built to withstand some hard riding, but these shitty streets conspire to fuck_shit_up every time, so i just take the bus or the Metro 090316 ... daxle The feeling of clipping into my "clipless" pedals reminds me of the feeling I used to get from dropping ice cubes into an empty glass (clink) before pouring in some booze. 090326 what's it to you? who go blather from