Surprising Bicycle Facts
Oct. 2nd, 2005 09:29 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
livingdebIn the past year, more bicycles than cars have been sold in the United States. Shocking. The article attributes this to the rising cost of gas, concern for the environment, and the cost of cars. That just seems so unlikely. I mean, maybe if gas was $70 per gallon. Or if you could see pollution actually reaching its ugly hands to people's throats as they died.
Bicycles are also outselling cars in Australia. That article attributed their similar numbers to the idea that cycling is a fun, healthy activity that the whole family can do together rather than to using bicycles to commute. That seems easier to believe, though I'm not sure how risking your lives in single file is fun for the whole family.
I'm sounding horribly jaded. Or biased--I don't ride a bike to work. (And why do they call it "riding a bike"? I ride on a bus, but on a bike, I have to do work. It should be called driving a bike or pedaling a bike or powering a bike or even taking a bike.)
I also found an interesting site on overcoming excuses for not commuting to work on a bike. The most surprising thing I read is that most bicycle commuters do not shower at work. It was recommended that you ride slowly so you don't get too sweaty on the way to work. You can ride faster for good exercise on your way home where you have a shower. Interesting idea. I don't think that's actually possible for anyone in my town during the summer--merely sitting in the sun for five minutes leads to sweating. Although that might not be true at 7:00 in the morning. And I guess it can feel windy riding a bike. But I'm so bad at bike riding that I don't think I can ride slowly enough to keep from sweating much, and if I could, I doubt there'd be much wind. I should try it sometime though.
The guy who wrote this Bicycle Commuter Guide says, "I take it a bit easy on the ride in, then soak my face in a cool, wet towel, and wait to change my shirt (from the T-shirt used on the ride) until I've cooled, 30-60 minutes later." So, getting to work quite early is another strategy, but seems like missing the point for me. If I have to leave an hour before I have to be at work, I may as well walk.
Another interesting recommendation is to take the bus to work (my bus has a bike rack on it) and then ride the bike home.
Riding Without Working Up a Sweat, also recommends slowing down at the end of your ride, wearing wicking fabrics, and keeping loads off your back and on your bike
I still think I prefer to take a bus both ways, which feels safer, and during which I can read.
Bicycles are also outselling cars in Australia. That article attributed their similar numbers to the idea that cycling is a fun, healthy activity that the whole family can do together rather than to using bicycles to commute. That seems easier to believe, though I'm not sure how risking your lives in single file is fun for the whole family.
I'm sounding horribly jaded. Or biased--I don't ride a bike to work. (And why do they call it "riding a bike"? I ride on a bus, but on a bike, I have to do work. It should be called driving a bike or pedaling a bike or powering a bike or even taking a bike.)
I also found an interesting site on overcoming excuses for not commuting to work on a bike. The most surprising thing I read is that most bicycle commuters do not shower at work. It was recommended that you ride slowly so you don't get too sweaty on the way to work. You can ride faster for good exercise on your way home where you have a shower. Interesting idea. I don't think that's actually possible for anyone in my town during the summer--merely sitting in the sun for five minutes leads to sweating. Although that might not be true at 7:00 in the morning. And I guess it can feel windy riding a bike. But I'm so bad at bike riding that I don't think I can ride slowly enough to keep from sweating much, and if I could, I doubt there'd be much wind. I should try it sometime though.
The guy who wrote this Bicycle Commuter Guide says, "I take it a bit easy on the ride in, then soak my face in a cool, wet towel, and wait to change my shirt (from the T-shirt used on the ride) until I've cooled, 30-60 minutes later." So, getting to work quite early is another strategy, but seems like missing the point for me. If I have to leave an hour before I have to be at work, I may as well walk.
Another interesting recommendation is to take the bus to work (my bus has a bike rack on it) and then ride the bike home.
Riding Without Working Up a Sweat, also recommends slowing down at the end of your ride, wearing wicking fabrics, and keeping loads off your back and on your bike
I still think I prefer to take a bus both ways, which feels safer, and during which I can read.