Biking is new.
Biking is about the most stylish thing you can do. If you bike, no one will question your political preferences. If you bike, you’re sophisticated. You obviously care about the environment. I can’t say this enough: you’re about as in as it gets.
Don’t just assume you can pick up a shiny new Huffy and be part of this phenomenon though. As with any reverse snobery topic, there are rules to follow.
If you’re riding a bike with gears, what’s wrong with you? Life was much better before gears came along. The look of a bike is more important than the function anyway.
Don’t be seen on the road with a factory bike. I repeat: DON’T BE SEEN ON THE ROAD WITH A BIKE THAT HASN’T BEEN TWEAKED. Bikes are made for dismantling. It is absolutely essential that you, at the very least, get new tires and handlebars. If you aspire to be especially cool, try some exciting colors that really stand out on the road. Thin tires are non-negotiable.
A true Reverse Snob will find an old beater road bike, like a '78 Schwinn like the one above, and take it to his local shop to be converted to a fixed gear setup (if you go this route, make sure your Schwinn is from Japan and not one of those imposters from China).
Let's touch on brake use. What do you need those for? Take them off. They really mess with the lines of your bike. Learn how to ride a bike the real way or don’t crowd the road.
Lastly, don't slack on learning how to do a track stand. Even if you're not the kind of douche that would show off like that in public, you need to be good at them in order to make fun of the people that actually do them. Practice at your parents' place in the 'burbs where people still think it's cool.
Stay tuned for: Bike fashion.
An article published this summer, when gas prices were high and the stock market was boring:
ReplyDeleteThe Raleigh Rally
I drive a beastly, gas guzzling machine. It’s stupid; I hate it. But I’m having trouble getting rid of it as it appears no one seems to be in the market for a 20-year old SUV right now. And while I may have time to write articles for fun, I’m not exactly in the position to purchase a second vehicle. So I’ve set myself a weekly fuel budget and do my best to get around as much as I can on a bicycle. These days, it looks like I’m not the only one trading a little sweat for a few less trips to the pump.
While Bozeman definitely has its share of road-hardened bike warriors, helmeted forms whizzing by car chains stuck at stop lights, eyes sharp to traffic, fingers poised to the brakes, bodies braced for the parallel-parked open-door surprise, it’s the influx of slightly unbalanced and perhaps a bit timid newcomers to the commuter bike scene that I’ve been noticing in increasing numbers in and around town lately. Obscene fuel prices are no fun for anyone, but I have to admit that it’s great to see folks on bikes that would otherwise never consider one as a regular means of transport flooding the streets on pedal in rebellion, Mavic Mavericks on a Raleigh rally, a Surly insurgency.
According to the Department of Transportation’s government site, “Americans drove 1.4 billion fewer highway miles in April of 2008 than in April 2007.” The study finds this trend continuing, with Americans driving less now for the sixth month in a row. So if we are spending less time behind the wheel, can it be that we are spending more time in the saddle? Indeed, says Tim Bluementhal, executive director of the Bikes Belong Coalition of Boulder: “In the past year, more bicycles than cars have been sold in the US. That hasn't happened since the 1973 oil crisis! Bicycle sales are near an all-time high with 19 million sold last year--close to the 20 million sold during the oil embargo in the early 1970s.” A good number of those bikes are made in China by companies like Giant, who mass produce a few of the box-store brands like Boulder, Yukon and Iguana. Giant expects to pull in a Billion dollars in international sales this year, showing a 10% increase in profits despite a steep climb in the price of metals, the key raw material in the bicycle manufacturing industry.
Giant’s electric bike diversion is also killing it this year, especially overseas. For 3350 Yuan or about $450, a Chinese factory worker can purchase a production Giant electric bike and get to and from work without ever paying a penny on fossil fuel. In a nation famous for its reliance on two-wheeled transportation, this electronic assist upgrade is selling well. But like their four wheel counterparts, electric bikes are deficient in speed and range, most with a top end of 15 mph and needing a charge after a mere 20 miles. Though still an anomaly in the US with just under 200,000 electric bikes sold nationally, as technology improves and prices ease, we are likely to see electric bikes everywhere.
Recreational riding is awesome, but there is something special for me about making the daily commute to work, school, or to the store on a bicycle. The day just seems to lay out different. I find myself drinking way less coffee when I ride in the morning: the air is crisp and the breeze as I roll down the hill cools my face; my heart warms up for the day, my blood starts pumping, synapses pop, and I feel awake and good about life. It’s an eighteen mile round trip into town from my house, with the morning cruise mostly downhill. After a day at the office, I appreciate the exercise it takes to get home.
If you are just getting into bicycle commuting, you should know a few things about the road, because it’s Carmagetton out there (just today, as I write this, a friend was hit by a motorist on her way to the doctor’s office). First and foremost, please understand that you are considered a vehicle, not a pedestrian, in the ways of the law and the rules of the road. Pay attention to signs and consider how cars will react to you on the street. Unless you are a toddler on training wheels, don’t ride the sidewalks; get on the right shoulder and keep your eye on those parked cars and the traffic coming up behind you. Wear a helmet. Make handle signals if you are approaching congested intersections so cars know which direction you plan to go: this is a good measure to take to keep from getting flattened (unless of course, you given them the universal hand signal, in which case then, you’re on your own). Make ferocious eye contact with drivers if you suspect they aren’t paying attention to you (that means you, soccer mom in the van texting on the PDA while drifting into the shoulder). And wave at fellow cyclers; if they aren’t wrapped in spandex and gritting their teeth, chances are they’ll wave back.
For gear, get a basket or a bike rack so you can haul stuff. I have a milk crate zip-tied to my bike rack on the “house bike” here; it’s heavy and cumbersome, but it can bring a hefty load of groceries home. Full fenders are key to keep your work clothes nice; I used to commute in dress slacks and shoes even on the rainiest days in Washington, and could blaze my way through puddles unfettered. Reflectors are good, but night lights are even better. If you are out on you bike after dark often, red blinkers for your rear and a light for the front are smart add-ons. Headlamps are sweet for looking ahead. And please, stay away from the fixed gear rig unless you are Kevin Bacon in Quicksilver.
There’s a myriad of bicycle safety and commuter bicycling-specific websites available. Check out the Practical Pedal, and online resource published here in Bozeman at www.practicalpedal.com for commuter bike banter, repair tips, links, fun photos, and a forum for asking questions. If you are interested in learning some basic bike maintenance like changing a tire, adjusting the brakes, or even truing a wheel, or if you already know how to do these things and just want to help out a good cause, contact the Bozeman Bike Kitchen at 1214 West Durston at info@bozemanbikekitchen.org. The Kitchen stages mechanical sessions on Tuesday nights from 6-8pm where volunteers help fix up donated bikes for charity with an experienced bike mechanic on hand to offer advice. The Kitchen offers organized bicycle maintenance and repair classes taught in a hands-on, fun environment, and will partner mentors and at-risk youth. For more information check out: http://www.bozemanbikekitchen.org