tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310088157925720041.post3074886716128704976..comments2023-09-20T08:48:41.660-05:00Comments on Cycling in Wichita: Some observations on this cycling-lifestyle thingJohn B.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06358811061653958120noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310088157925720041.post-34323543147908426132008-07-26T22:00:00.000-05:002008-07-26T22:00:00.000-05:00I hope it was a carillon and not an ungracious cla...I hope it was a carillon and not an ungracious clang. After I wrote that, I caught up on my blog reading of NY City Bike Snob, who, of course, has said it all and better here: http://bikesnobnyc.blogspot.com/2008/06/too-much-irony-too-little-time-elusive.html<BR/><BR/>One of the commenters remarked that using a fancy bike for everyday purposes is like "taking an F1 car for a trip to the convenience store." Indeed. I also learned the phrase "ironic coffee bike," which delights me. Not actually having one, but the phrase.Cordeliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06815187015516177232noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310088157925720041.post-55428412558623703142008-07-26T12:19:00.000-05:002008-07-26T12:19:00.000-05:00Cordelia,Thanks for the visit--and for this "chime...Cordelia,<BR/>Thanks for the visit--and for this "chime" that's more like a carillon.<BR/><BR/>As you make clear, and as I thought about as well when I imagined the size of vehicle that would require $70 worth of gas, a subtext to Mr. Schatz's story is worth giving some thought to: How should one go about shopping for a bike? In some ways, it's more complicated than buying a car--as your own circumstances make clear, one rarely has to carry one's car up 3 flights of stairs. Yet, so long as the default setting for thinking about cycling is "sport/recreation" rather than "transportation," the flashy bikes that the cool kids are riding will the ones more likely to turn our heads.<BR/><BR/>When I get some time, I'll have a look around for (and link to) some substantive articles/posts on bike-shopping.John B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/06358811061653958120noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310088157925720041.post-86697117400934540622008-07-26T11:46:00.000-05:002008-07-26T11:46:00.000-05:00I'll chime in on that one: if the story on Mike Sc...I'll chime in on that one: if the story on Mike Schatz was accurately reported (did he really just hop in his car and buy a $2,500 dollar bike ?), I had to laugh: "The pluses included conservation and fitness as well as frugality" ? Frugality ? Did he compute how many miles he would have to do to break even on his money ? Not only was the bike expensive, but as you point out in the rest of your post, it was most likely the wrong bike for him to commute on. He bought a touring bicycle, most likely a very light weight and extremely responsive--- too responsive--- bit of machinery, making his ability to control it well iffy at best if he was just getting back to riding. The situation reminds me of when I learned to sail: boats that are extremely responsive and heel to the wind more and quickly are called "tender." You don't learn on a very tender boat unless your reflexes are quicker than most humans. They are pretty, they are fast, and the first time I took one out, I ended up in the water a good deal of the time. It was, as you conclude, more power than I needed. When I bought a new bike after years of riding the same Schwinn Worldsport, I did upgrade, in the $800.00 range, for an aluminum framed, 27 speed bike, with "comfort features" wuch as upright handlebars, click shifting, wider seat, that I could outfit for commuting but would provide me with the option of fun and ability for serious hills for non commuting adventures. I look at the beautiful Dutch and Danish city bikes with a good deal of envy. However, since I have a steep three story climb to my apartment and limited upper body strength, a heavy bike was out of the question. I also had tried a number of bikes (something our double broken elbowed protagonist also did not do). The guy is head of an ad agency, so his expense may be the same percentage, or less, of his income than mine was for me. As you write, that may not be the point at all: could his bike do what your Fuji can do ? Less. It is specialized for a purpose he did not have in mind. I love my bike. I'll bet we both are happy that we can finally afford what feels to us like a <I>really nice bike</I>.Better still is the fact that a really nice bike is one that suits its purpose well.Cordeliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06815187015516177232noreply@blogger.com