Why do you ride bikes? [Blog Local]

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Why do you ride bikes? [Blog Local]

Submitted by Sarah on Wed, 11/28/2007 - 8:36am.

1. There's no better way to feel like a kid again
2. It slows life way down
2. It's great exercise(easy or hard-you pick)
3. It's a romantic way to spend time with the one you love
4. It's good for the environment
5. We sail right on by the fuel pump
6. We don't sit in traffic
7. It's a great rush(mtn biking)

The above is from Derek's blog bikerubbish.com and I suggest everyone take some time to browse through. Gorgeous photos to be seen including recent ones of a sunrise ride in Olympia.

Sarah's blog
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good design

Submitted by chad360 on Wed, 11/28/2007 - 9:15am.

I ride bikes because the bike is an evolved design, unlike most products.

Bikes are "better".

I wish that the transportation rules in our community worked with the topography to create flows that makes sense: I don't like stopping during downhills or starting while stopped on a hill-- I like being able to move under my own power, but I HATE sharing the road!

I'd have to disagree with Derek's #1: playing with LEGOs is my preferred method to feel like a kid again!...this year's Dwarven Mine rocks!

I SO hope LEGO "does" Lord of the Rings property.

Bike-On! fellow bloggers

oh yes, LEGO...

Submitted by einmaleins on Wed, 11/28/2007 - 3:00pm.

I second the love for LEGO! I can't wait till SAM, my son, is old enough, so I can play LEGO with him and buy him all the kits, I reason myself out of buying... LOTR Lego would be awesome! mathias eichler einmaleins Be an Inspiration.

Bike and Me got some history.

Submitted by paisleyboxers on Wed, 11/28/2007 - 10:36am.

I have had my bike for two years now, which was a first for me since I was 13. With help of some really cool local guys, I built my bike.. had it stolen from me.. got it back.. spent some money making it nicer.. and can't live without it.

Friendblog: None are known to exist since bloggers don't have friends.

Bike

Submitted by Robert Whitlock on Wed, 11/28/2007 - 11:11am.

I ride my bike primarily because I like to. I like to because it makes me feel good. It makes me feel good because the exercise warms me up and makes my body and heart strong. It also makes me feel good because I am not contributing to the pool of pollution that stems from the automotive industry.

Automobiles have a place, and some people need them. But there are so many people who could benefit from leaving the car at home and using a bicycle instead. If you don't need to drive, please consider using a bicycle.

Less Guilt

Submitted by Robert Whitlock on Thu, 11/29/2007 - 2:33am.

I feel less guilty, or shameful, riding a bike than I do when I drive or ride in a car.

I don't have think about how I am contributing to all the suffering in Iraq, and elsewhere, that the crusade for control over oil has caused.

cheap, fast, and out of control?

Submitted by epersonae on Wed, 11/28/2007 - 12:37pm.

1) I'm a cheap bastard. I bought my bike 3 1/2 years ago for around $400. I've put a couple hundred more into it in new saddle, rack, pump, cyclocomputer, light, tubes, etc. And that's it. (I need rainpants, tho.)

2) It makes for a relaxing commute, most of the year. I get to work happy and awake.

3) Biking is a key components of my mental health. It provides a sense of independence & autonomy, plus the exercise boosts all the right brain chemicals. (Or dampens the wrong ones.)

4) It's one of the few forms of exercise that fits naturally into my day without making special effort. If I weren't biking to work, I'd be taking the bus. Freakishly, I save about 10 minutes biking. I don't have to think about when or how I'm going to get my exercise.

And like chad360 says, a good bike is just a wonderful piece of design. (chad360 picked my current bike, which is the one I finally learned how to bicycle with. ::kisses:: I just feel happy looking at it.)

These bike posts are inspiring

Submitted by Guglielmo on Wed, 11/28/2007 - 12:00pm.

Makes me want repair those flat tires and get that heart pumping more often. Reminds me of the days when I worked in downtown Seattle and lived in the East Lake neighborhood. Some times I'd race the bus on foot and beat it to the home bus top. Yeah, traffic was that bad even way back then.

I bike because it's safer,

Submitted by chaney on Wed, 11/28/2007 - 12:57pm.

I bike because it's safer, cheaper, healthier, more fun, more ethical, easier to maintain (and possibly sexier) than driving a car... The only downsides are that it's slower, more difficult, and there's nothing between you and the car fumes. You can't go on a road trip unless you and your bike are really awesome. I can deal with those though. I actually didn't learn until I was 17 or so, so it doesn't remind me of being a kid at all. Lying belly-down on a skateboard and shuffling myself along with my hands, yeah, or carrot cake, or dinosaurs, sure. Walking. Not bikes though.

Re: topography. Yeah, grrr!!!! Legion & Capitol Way, going east on Legion. Get stuck behind a car at that red light and you're done, or at least my bum knee and I are. I guess you can get started again, but it's going to take roughly 10 times the energy it takes to get off the bike, go to the sidewalk, and walk up the rest of the hill...

Not a kid either

Submitted by epersonae on Wed, 11/28/2007 - 2:44pm.

I was 29 before I learned how to ride a bike, so yeah, it doesn't hit that particular brain-space for me either. :)

I'm crazy about biking and can't wait to do it again...

Submitted by Debmonstrative on Wed, 11/28/2007 - 3:51pm.

I've been bicycling all my life because it is poetry in motion for me, a dance on wheels, immersing me in the world visually, aurally, and mechanically. It also makes me feel strong, fluid, daring, and nearly invincible (in spite of the fact I've had a few bad accidents). The fact that it became touted as a beautiful environmental alternative a couple decades ago only heightened its appeal.

These days, I had to quit by the sixth month of pregnancy. As soon as feasible after the twins are born, I will set them up in a bike trailer behind my mountain-bike-with-slicks and that's how they will spend many nap times. Knowing this possibility to get out of the house exists, gives me an extra measure of sanity. The strength and freedom I feel on a bicycle is something I rarely achieve elsewhere.

I used to commute a couple times a week from the East Side to Evergreen even though it took me an hour. I'd like to do that again but life will involve daycare pickups etc. so I'll have to stick to recreational biking, I guess. (Another thing that keeps me from riding as much as I'd like is that I have a great dog who needs exercise, but isn't able to run alongside my bike for long distances.)

But yeah, biking is the bomb and these days I dream of it. And one of my remaining life goals (I've met a bunch of them already) is to bike Route 66 the whole way, from Chicago to LA.

Hwy 101

Submitted by epersonae on Wed, 11/28/2007 - 4:53pm.

I knew someone at my last job who had ridden from Steilacoom to SF with her husband on their bicycles. I would love to do that someday.

I road from Kansas City to Louisville

Submitted by JulieM on Wed, 11/28/2007 - 5:00pm.

with my dad one summer. It was such a great time, and a fun way to see a part of the country I hadn't visited. Missouri has a a rails-to-trails path that runs the length of the state which includes campgrounds and a couple of restaurants right on the trail. It made for fairly stress-free biking.

That's really cool! also that you did it with your dad.

Submitted by Debmonstrative on Wed, 11/28/2007 - 7:22pm.

I've heard about Missouri's rails-to-trails paths. I'll bet that was some cool trip. Thanks for the description.

I used to go bicycling with my dad in the Midwest, where I grew up (Iowa and Minnesota). He's 77 years old now and still hops on his 1940 Western Flyer from time to time....his old paper-route bike, and the only bike he has ever owned. Sometimes I ride it when I go back to MN to visit and want the workout-of-the-month. People give me the strangest looks when I ride that beast.

Frankly, the longest I've ever ridden is from Duluth to Minneapolis a few times, from northern Iowa to central Minnesota a few times (to visit Grandma), and a couple legs of RAGBRAI (Des Moines Register's Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa -- you have to win a lottery to ride in it). There are so many, many trips to yet go on....I can't wait. Anyone else that's been on a cool trip should post it here. The Steilacoom to SF trek sounds marvelous too.

I'm thinking, realistically, the next reasonably long bike ride I'll take is around one of the San Juan islands. I met a couple this summer making their 5- and 7-year-olds bike around San Juan Island with them. That's the spirit.

By the way, Chaney, recent studies have shown

Submitted by Debmonstrative on Wed, 11/28/2007 - 3:52pm.

that a commuter actually is the beneficiary of more pollution while driving a car than while riding a bike! I was surprised to hear this too, but it makes some degree of sense...on a bike, you are surrounded by air that diffuses the pollution, but in a car the fumes are trapped to a greater degree. Circulate this fact! pun intended.

I Bike Because

Submitted by JstPlnOnry on Wed, 11/28/2007 - 1:16pm.

1. There's no better way to feel like a kid again - especially when you fire up the motor and hear the roar of the pipes!
2. It speeds life up

3. It's great exercise(easy or hard-you pick) - holding up a 400 lb. motorcycle is hard work! Especially on winding roads!
4. It's a romantic way to spend time with the one you love - especially when they wrap their arms around you & hang on tight as you speed down the winding road!
5. It's good for the economy - Motorcycles, helmets, gloves, leathers, parts... Buying them keeps businesses open
6. We sail right on out of the fuel pumps faster than cars because our tanks are smaller
7. We don't sit in traffic because we can take winding side roads
8. It's a great rush - because the speed and thrill pump your adrenaline, you smell the fresh air and people look at you lbecause they wish they had your spirit, sense of adventure and motorcycle!

bicycle

Submitted by chad360 on Thu, 11/29/2007 - 12:35am.

cute hijack

--can you ride a bicycle or are you too out of shape/not coordinated enuf? jus curious >grin<

Motorcycles are >neat & all< but until I can ride a superconductive ZPE two-wheel, I think I'll keep my money instead of bitching-up to big oil...I'm pissed I cant ride a HORSE to work man, so sorry if come of cranky (cuz I am)--

2bfair, I'll take most bikers over most drivers anyday, so keep cruisn!

Seriously

Submitted by Norm on Wed, 11/28/2007 - 7:25pm.

I picked up a bike from my sister, and want to get it running before next spring/summer. I have not ridden a bicycle since I was 13 or so. That saying about "it's like riding a bike", I really hope that it's true.

Love my bikes!

Submitted by DJW on Wed, 11/28/2007 - 8:25pm.

I bike for the exercise, stress relief and it's the best way to stay fit for ski season!!!

I was thinking of riding the entire S.T.P. next year but not sure I want to train that hard. I was part of a team a few years ago and rode a middle 40 and the last 40. Long day!

My only suggestion for anyone wishing to get into the habit/sport of bike riding is don't buy new right out of the gate. Look around and you can find some great deals on used bikes. I'm real partial to TREK.

My Neighbor

Submitted by JstPlnOnry on Wed, 11/28/2007 - 8:39pm.

rides the STP every year! He's a hardcore bicyclist!

I ride them because...

Submitted by smws on Fri, 11/30/2007 - 11:21pm.

I ride them because... Hmm... I don't know. It's mostly nice, it does leave me energized, and it's quite a rush to ride through traffic (commute times especially)... probably me being poor has a lot to do with it too. I like it so much I rode it from here to San Francisco last summer (one way). Best trip ever. I just decided one day, and a month later I did it! It was great!

Ooh nice job on the ride to SF.

Submitted by Debmonstrative on Sat, 12/01/2007 - 12:52am.

....especially on rather short notice. What route did you take?

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