Comments on Cranky Fitness: Out of The Basement and Into the Streets

I hadn't ridden a bicycle since I got my driver's ...

2008-04-24T23:12:00.000-04:00

I hadn't ridden a bicycle since I got my driver's license about 15 years ago. Then, I registered for my first ever triathlon last year. I figured I had better relearn, so I spent the summer doing it. I LOVE it now, however, I am still pretty reluctant to ride in traffic when there is no bike lane. You just never know what kind of idiots are behind the wheels of those cars. Love the pic! It is so nice to have a face to put with one of my fave blogs! You look so unCrabby! :) I knew it!

There is also the strain of B.A.C.R. Bicycle as Cl...

2008-04-24T14:55:00.000-04:00

There is also the strain of B.A.C.R. Bicycle as Clothes Rack.

With gas prices getting closer to the $5 mark here, the bike is looking far more appealing. I can save on gas and stay in the skinny jeans. That's got to be the greatest 2fer around...lol

I have disadvanages #s 1, 2, and 5, but I ride any...

2008-04-24T01:41:00.000-04:00

I have disadvanages #s 1, 2, and 5, but I ride anyway. I went car-less in SoCal of all places after 35 years of having one. I sold my old F150 a couple years ago and still have 4 wheels, two on my fully suspended 27 speed pearl yellow and navy Specialized Stumpjumper FSRxc (her name is Hornet), and two on my 500cc motorcycle (her name is "Zen"). And two spares on my old hardtail MTB (Plum), which I use to trot my pup (Bogart). I rode the moto today with my biking buddy hubby, and we will also take the bikes out later. It is more than exercise or fun, it is a way we stay sane here!

We live in an extremely population dense city with a few bike paths that aren't all that safe, as we are squeezed between moving cars on the left and parked cars on the right, that can "door" us or pull out suddenly. We are urban stealth bikers, we use the sidewalks whenever we don't feel safe on the street, for example if we have to choose between it and the bus lane, with buses accelerating behind us. One has to be really cautious but also bold to some degree in an urban environmet. However, we do NOT impede or disrespect pedestrians like some bike riders, who I want to swat with something hard and spikey as they hurtle by in complete disregard for my rights as a pedestrain when I am one. We always stop or give people on foot plenty of room, and also often apologize, because we *are* breaking the law. Better than being dead or maimed, and the walkers here seem to mostly understand that.

We take our bicycles on most of our day trips and vacations. There is something so satisfying about riding, it is a freedom and a feeling of being one with the bike that is fabulous. We call riding "blowing out the cobwebs" from our heads. We wear helmets and gloves, shove a couple mini twix bars in a shirt pocket, water bottles in the cages, slip into our bright yellow jackets and we're off.

The sore butt thing: I never get it on a properly fitted seat. Counter intuitively though, bigger and softer isn't necessarily better. The seat has to be an ergonomic fit, and it took me about 4 seats from stock on the Specialized to get one I can ride for hours. Often you can try a seat for a couple of days, if it doesn't work out you can exchange it for a different one if you are a good customer of your local bike shop.

I'd encourage everyone to ride, even if you have to start out again in a parking lot somewhere because it's been awhile. I have a bad back, hip, knee and ankle, and neck, and I still ride singletrack up in the mountains. I will ride until it's no longer possible, and then dream about it!

And I'm not entering even though I like the bike brands because I already have a yellow bike and a purple one, I am bike wealthy, and I would love to see a worthy crabber get a nice bike! :D

My husband is an avid rider (even commutes by bike...

2008-04-23T23:29:00.000-04:00

My husband is an avid rider (even commutes by bike when the weather cooperates), but I was one of those kids who didn't have a safe place to ride as a kid, so I'm not so confident on a bike. BUT, winning that bike might be JUST the motivation I need to give it a try so we can make biking a family experience with my kids, too. Hmmmm . . . can't wait to see who gets that snazzy yellow bike!

What Amy said! Ditto for me :)

2008-04-23T22:17:00.000-04:00

What Amy said! Ditto for me :)

Alas, I don't own a bike. 'Sigh' Can I sit on the ...

2008-04-23T20:07:00.000-04:00

Alas, I don't own a bike. 'Sigh' Can I sit on the sidelines and cry along with Katieo?

Ahhh, biking...wind in the hair (through the helme...

2008-04-23T18:04:00.000-04:00

Ahhh, biking...wind in the hair (through the helmet), legs pumping, singing to myself, I roll on. Nearly every day, and it almost always puts a smile on my face. Even today, when I got rained on.

Having a bike that fits your body goes a long way ...

2008-04-23T16:35:00.000-04:00

Having a bike that fits your body goes a long way for curing BIBD. I hated riding bikes for years. A couple years ago I bought a good bike and had the person at the bike shop help me pick out one that works for me. Now I love biking.

I don't have a car and it gets me around town quickly. I am always surprised how fast I can get places on my bike (and when I arrive I'm usually not that sweaty). I live about 7 miles from work and it is faster for me to bike there than take the bus.

i so wish i rode a bike! i have no idea how much ...

2008-04-23T14:57:00.000-04:00

i so wish i rode a bike! i have no idea how much they cost, but i'm pretty sure i couldn't afford one. and, i haven't ridden one in years. do you really never forget how to ride a bike? anyway, maybe if i win this contest i entered....

I picked up a used bike last year and rode it quit...

2008-04-23T14:48:00.000-04:00

I picked up a used bike last year and rode it quite often. I am pretty sure that I would be happier with a bike with more gears though. It only has 6 speeds and kind of drives me crazy. Plus, it is old and weighs a ton, which given my size is probably a good thing! as soon as we lose our snow though, it is coming out of storage.

I want to act smug about parking and gas prices!

2008-04-23T13:30:00.000-04:00

I want to act smug about parking and gas prices!

Yup, my girlfriend was afflicted with this until w...

2008-04-23T12:48:00.000-04:00

Yup, my girlfriend was afflicted with this until we finally got her a bike she loves: a yellow Electra Amsterdam. It's not my first choice, but now she bikes to work as opposed to coming with me begrudgingly.

Ha! BIBD is hilarious and is an affliction that a...

2008-04-23T12:06:00.000-04:00

Ha! BIBD is hilarious and is an affliction that affects many of us. Thanks for the excellent tips!

Waaa. I would totally use a bike if it weren't for...

2008-04-23T11:37:00.000-04:00

Waaa.
I would totally use a bike if it weren't for the fact that I don't OWN one.

(hint hint HINT wink wink)

Great post! I'm more of a walker than a rider, bu...

2008-04-23T11:26:00.001-04:00

Great post! I'm more of a walker than a rider, but I do enjoy biking. The scenic route is definitely very important to getting myself on a bike! And having an actual destination is usually very necessary.

I'm TERRIBLE when it comes to fixing things... if I've got a flat tire or something it'll take me forever to getting around to fixing it. I just need to stop being so lazy when it comes to that:)

Hey Crabby! Lookin' good on the bike.I wish that e...

2008-04-23T11:26:00.000-04:00

Hey Crabby! Lookin' good on the bike.

I wish that enjoyed biking, but I tend to be a bit nervous of it. I grew up in the country and I had a bike, but I never really got very good at riding it. There wasn't really anywhere to ride, since my Mom was very nervous of the whole idea and wouldn't let us take our bikes out on the road.

The only place that I've ever really enjoyed biking is the National Park where we camped every summer. Traffic on the roads is slower, and there are lots of trails, so it feels safe.

The only way I'd really be comfortable riding around in the city (even my tiny little city) is on the sidewalks, and I think that is frowned upon.

Yeah, I'm a wimp.

Hi. Please join the Bicycle to Work! LinkedIn net...

2008-04-23T10:53:00.000-04:00

Hi. Please join the Bicycle to Work! LinkedIn networking group. Members pledge that they will try to ride their bicycle to work or on an errand at least once a week. Although the benefits should be obvious, let me outline them here.

Right now people in the industrialized world are facing two very grave problems: obesity and a growing scarcity of oil. Compounding this problem is the new food shortage brought about, in part, by the conversion of food cropland to bio-fuel crop production. Most people feel powerless to help, but there is one thing that we can do. Ride our bicycles to work.

If everyone would agree to ride their bikes to work one day per week we could cut oil consumption by as much as 10-15%. No one would argue that riding a bike burns more calories than driving the car. Although popular politically right now, most bio-fuels consume more energy than they produce. We would be much better to eat those bio-crops then use our own energy to transport us around.

So spread the word. Make it a movement! Bicycle to work one day a week and do your part to cut back obesity and the overuse of oil and precious cropland.

Just go to my profile at http://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreylstevenson and you can click on the group to be included. While you are there, don't forget to ask to link to my network of more than 7,000.000 like-minded professionals. I accept all invitations and look forward to meeting you.

Jeff

I suffer from BSOB disorder: Bike Sits on Balcony....

2008-04-23T10:29:00.000-04:00

I suffer from BSOB disorder: Bike Sits on Balcony. Also, the tires are flat and have been for years. I would love to bike the 7 miles to work, but sometimes don't leave until after dark and don't really live in a safe biking town (read: one of my professors got hit by a car biking 2 years ago).

But, I'm going to the beach this summer, so maybe I'll get my flat tires fixed, and make the husband rent a bike when we get out there. Thanks for the idea!

I ride my bike to work all summer and fall - I can...

2008-04-23T10:17:00.000-04:00

I ride my bike to work all summer and fall - I can't wait for the snow to melt so I can get at it.
It's a great way to fit exercise in to your day. I'm lucky in that I have city paths all the way to work, so there's very little street driving to do.
I love it. The more you yo uthe more kitted you get out, making it more convenient. I'm planning on some panier bags this year. I saved up for a new bike last year and I love it - it's a great way to get out and about.

Well, my bike is in the garage, but in desperate n...

2008-04-23T10:13:00.000-04:00

Well, my bike is in the garage, but in desperate need of a fix. It is finally at the top of the honey do list. :)

I agree with Marijke, Leth Reader and Bunnygirl --...

2008-04-23T09:50:00.000-04:00

I agree with Marijke, Leth Reader and Bunnygirl -- if you have a riding partner, it is much easier.
The hardest part of bike riding, for me, is getting a)out the door and b) on the bike.
On, and the first moment that I push off seems a bit strenuous too. After that, it gets much easier ;)

I suffer from "I just know I'm going to wipe out o...

2008-04-23T09:49:00.000-04:00

I suffer from "I just know I'm going to wipe out on the pavement and make an ass of myself" disorder, as well as "The idea of riding in the street on a (comparatively) flimsy little bicycle with a bunch of cars kinda freaks me out" syndrome. O.O

Alas, unless I want to ride around and around on a...

2008-04-23T09:27:00.000-04:00

Alas, unless I want to ride around and around on a 1.5 mile loop, there is no safe place to ride within an hour's drive of where I live.

This wasn't a problem when hitting the weekly organized rides was something my husband and I did together. It was our little fun thing to do as a couple. But now that I have to do it alone, I simply can't justify hitting the door at 5:30 am on a Sunday and not returning until after noon.

I can accomplish the same level of activity by putting the bike on the trainer in my studio and not having to drive anywhere, pay anything, or schlep around any gear. This leaves me time to cook up a batch of healthy meals for the week. I miss riding in the great outdoors, though.

I suffer from "bike chained up in my parking spot ...

2008-04-23T09:22:00.000-04:00

I suffer from "bike chained up in my parking spot and gathering mold syndrome" as well as "my good friend and I made a pact to ride our bikes a few times a week last year and made it out on the bike path once syndrome"

It doesn't help that the bike path I'm near fills up with oblivious children and overexcited dogs.

I suffer from BPD (Biking Preparation Disorder) I ...

2008-04-23T09:19:00.000-04:00

I suffer from BPD (Biking Preparation Disorder)

I have 2 bikes - road and mountain (and a funny old english thing with a bell), both are tuned up, tires full, and I have lots of places to ride... but I don't do it. For me, the issue is the amount of prep work involved: decide which bike, choose a route, find outfit, pick shoes, get supplies ready for bike bag (id., money, phone, chapstick, key, snack), pre-hydrate, contemplate poisons lurking in bike water bottle, fill it anyway, eat something, apply sunscreen, try to fix hair so it isn't blowing all over the place under my helmet, and on and on.

When I figure out how to just hop on the bike and go it will be a happy day.