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Main
Date: 25 Sep 2006 18:31:35
From: pelotonjim@gmail.com
Subject: How can we get more people interested in our sport?
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Our sport has enough bad publicity! Can we use modern viral keting
techniques to show off the side of the sport we love?
http://pelotonjim.wordpress.com/2006/09/26/how-can-we-get-more-people-interested-in-cycling/
Thoughts?
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Date: 30 Sep 2006 08:31:07
From: Tom Keats
Subject: Re: How can we get more people interested in our sport?
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In article <1159234295.225782.144510@i3g2000cwc.googlegroups.com >,
"pelotonjim@gmail.com" <pelotonjim@gmail.com > writes:
> Our sport has enough bad publicity! Can we use modern viral keting
> techniques to show off the side of the sport we love?
>
> http://pelotonjim.wordpress.com/2006/09/26/how-can-we-get-more-people-interested-in-cycling/
>
> Thoughts?
Sure -- just stop testing for doping and performance enhancing
drugs. Such things don't exist, and all competitive riders are
as pure as the driven snow. So there's no need for testing.
Maybe also bring back wooden-track 6-day races, with a betting
aspect similar to horse racing or dog racing.
Gambling always makes sports popular.
cheers,
Tom
--
-- Nothing is safe from me.
Above address is just a spam midden.
I'm really at: tkeats [curlicue] vcn [point] bc [point] ca
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Date: 28 Sep 2006 07:12:59
From:
Subject: Re: How can we get more people interested in our sport?
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"Ya like what this administration is doing?? You must be living in a
glass jar. This 'kook' party is going to get us out of the biggest
mistake since 1973...can you name that one?"
Yes, I like what this Administration is doing very much. I am SO glad
the Democrats didn't get elected in 2000 and 2004! I'll never vote for
those Democratic liars, hypocrites and America-haters again.
The "kook" party isn't going to do ANYTHING because they're not going
to get elected. Nobody trusts them with our national security.
John Kerry: "I have a plan to win the war in Iraq!"
Reporter: "What is your plan?"
John Kerry: "I'm not going to go into it right now. It's on my
website."
(Checked website. Nothing.)
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Date: 28 Sep 2006 06:41:22
From: qui si parla Campagnolo
Subject: Re: How can we get more people interested in our sport?
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Johnny Sunset aka Tom Sherman wrote:
> qui si parla Campagnolo aka Peter Chisholm wrote:
> > Johnny Sunset aka Tom Sherman wrote:
> > > qui si parla Campagnolo aka Peter Chisholm wrote:
> > >
> > > > First, it's not about racing, it's about riding. Safer places to ride
> > > > along with cars would go a long way as well. Dedicated bike lanes, as a
> > > > matter of course, mandated by the US Gov(if the staes want fed $) as
> > > > required on all non freeway roads would be a good start....
> > >
> > > Hey Peter, trying to start a bike lane/bike path flame war? ;)
> > >
> > > I think that bike lanes should be built along controlled access urban
> > > freeways, in particular I-794.
> >
> > As do I. I think they should be included in every hard surfaced road
> > except for interstates...
>
> To prevent any possible misunderstanding, I was referring to a bike
> lane that would be physically separated from the motor vehicle lanes
> with a concrete barrier.
I don't think that is necessary...just our own lane is all, take us out
of the auto lanes, into our own is all.
>
> As an example, I used to live in an urban area where there were five
> bridges crossing the Mississippi River. Three were Interstate bridges
> with no access for bicycles and pedestrians, one was a swing span that
> opened for every barge and riverboat, and the last one had narrow
> lanes. If the three Interstate bridges had bicycle lanes, it would have
> made getting around by bicycle much easier.
>
> Other elevated Interstate highways (e.g. the aforementioned I-794) have
> spectacular views that should not be denied to cyclists.
>
> Finally, as a Colorado resident, Peter is likely aware that in some
> places the Interstate is the ONLY road.
>
> --
> Tom Sherman - Here, not there.
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Date: 27 Sep 2006 21:00:07
From:
Subject: Re: How can we get more people interested in our sport?
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pelotonjim@gmail.com wrote:
> Our sport has enough bad publicity! Can we use modern viral keting
> techniques to show off the side of the sport we love?
>
> http://pelotonjim.wordpress.com/2006/09/26/how-can-we-get-more-people-interested-in-cycling/
>
> Thoughts?
I get the most grins from drivers when, baskets full of groceries and
riding on even a parallel sidewalk, pass them by during rush hour.
I don't know what kind of expressions I get when just weaving through
traffic snarled, at rush hours too, even making u-turns---and 360
degree turns to pass them by again just to rub it in.
Sometimes I even tell them to get out of my way.
Now, imagine a pack of riders doing that at a certain intersection in
your city or town at rush hour?
Imagine having the local news station's Eye-in-the-Sky reporting on it?
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Date: 27 Sep 2006 20:00:42
From: Johnny Sunset aka Tom Sherman
Subject: Re: How can we get more people interested in our sport?
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bill wrote:
> Werehatrack wrote:
> > On Tue, 26 Sep 2006 23:16:48 -0700, tkeats2005@hotmail.com (Tom Keats)
> > wrote:
> >
> >> If tyros and returners-to-cycling don't have an easily
> >> accessible, comfortable, safe place to build up that
> >> fitness base, I think they're more likely to just give up,
> >> and another garage ornament is born.
> >
> > Based in part on the comments of people selling bikes (often really
> > good ones) at garage sales, I think you've hit the nail squarely on
> > the head with that. When I ask why they are selling, they almost
> > always say there's really no place to ride it safely in their
> > neighborhood....despite the fact that in many cases, I'm not the only
> > one who arrived at the sale on two wheels.
> >
> Giving up is a great way to give up ten years of your life to.
> I bought a vintage 3 speed from an old man at a garage sale and got
> thousands of miles out of it with almost no trouble. He said he was
> selling it because his knee was giving him problems after riding, yet he
> had no noticeable limp or lasting ill effects. A few years later I went
> to a yard sale at the same house and asked where he was and his 'widow'
> said that when he quit riding his health really went down and he passed
> away. Oddly enough I was riding the bike that had kept him alive, sore
> knee or not.
> True story, and a good reason why I ride.
Hey, if we overwork and overstress people and keep them off bicycles so
they die in their late 50's or early 60's, the long-term Social
Security and Medicare funding issues will vanish.
--
Tom Sherman - Here, not there.
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Date: 28 Sep 2006 08:42:38
From: bill
Subject: Re: How can we get more people interested in our sport?
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Johnny Sunset aka Tom Sherman wrote:
> bill wrote:
>> Werehatrack wrote:
>>> On Tue, 26 Sep 2006 23:16:48 -0700, tkeats2005@hotmail.com (Tom Keats)
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> If tyros and returners-to-cycling don't have an easily
>>>> accessible, comfortable, safe place to build up that
>>>> fitness base, I think they're more likely to just give up,
>>>> and another garage ornament is born.
>>> Based in part on the comments of people selling bikes (often really
>>> good ones) at garage sales, I think you've hit the nail squarely on
>>> the head with that. When I ask why they are selling, they almost
>>> always say there's really no place to ride it safely in their
>>> neighborhood....despite the fact that in many cases, I'm not the only
>>> one who arrived at the sale on two wheels.
>>>
>> Giving up is a great way to give up ten years of your life to.
>> I bought a vintage 3 speed from an old man at a garage sale and got
>> thousands of miles out of it with almost no trouble. He said he was
>> selling it because his knee was giving him problems after riding, yet he
>> had no noticeable limp or lasting ill effects. A few years later I went
>> to a yard sale at the same house and asked where he was and his 'widow'
>> said that when he quit riding his health really went down and he passed
>> away. Oddly enough I was riding the bike that had kept him alive, sore
>> knee or not.
>> True story, and a good reason why I ride.
>
> Hey, if we overwork and overstress people and keep them off bicycles so
> they die in their late 50's or early 60's, the long-term Social
> Security and Medicare funding issues will vanish.
>
That's why I turn 58 next month and plan to keep riding. When I do go to
see the doctor I always get a good comment on my health as compared to
the others in the waiting room. I feel like I am a twenty something
instead of an antique. The people in the waiting room are mostly younger
than me and have done it to themselves, by smoking, hugely overweight,
drugs, alcohol, or in some way not taking care of them selves. I saw a
guy in the waiting room with balding gray hair and he was only 42.?????
My stepdaughter is 40 and has to use a power chair to get around Walt
because she never really exercises and smokes.
As for stress I quit the 60 hour a week style in 2001 and now work when
and if I want.
How long you live is up to you for the most part unless you inherit
something or happen to get hit by a bigger car in your Kia.
I still have to pay $40 a month liability on my old Mazda whether I
drive it or not. When I told the insurance guy I only drive it maybe
twice a month to haul something, he said mileage doesn't matter. Mostly
I ride, but that $40 every month still ticks me off.
Bill Baka
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Date: 30 Sep 2006 09:33:00
From: Chris Y.F.N.W.
Subject: Re: How can we get more people interested in our sport?
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Group: rec.bicycles.misc Date: Thu, Sep 28, 2006, 8:42am (EDT+4) From:
bbaka@syix.com (bill)
>When I told the insurance guy I only
>drive it maybe twice a month to haul
>something, he said mileage doesn't
>matter. Mostly I ride, but that $40 every
>month still ticks me off. Bill Baka
For the twenty five years before I moved to Carolina i didn't own a car.
the only time i drove was to fresno for the Climb to Kaiser, and I
rented a car. Have you considered this route?
- -
Compliments of:
"Your Friendly Neighborhood Wheelman"
Messages sent to the above "E" addy will be lost forever! If you want to
E-mail me:
ChrisZCorner "at" webtv "dot" net
My website:
http://geocities.com/czcorner
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Date: 30 Sep 2006 17:00:58
From: bill
Subject: Re: How can we get more people interested in our sport?
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Chris Y.F.N.W. wrote:
> Group: rec.bicycles.misc Date: Thu, Sep 28, 2006, 8:42am (EDT+4) From:
> bbaka@syix.com (bill)
>
>> When I told the insurance guy I only
>> drive it maybe twice a month to haul
>> something, he said mileage doesn't
>> matter. Mostly I ride, but that $40 every
>> month still ticks me off. Bill Baka
>
> For the twenty five years before I moved to Carolina i didn't own a car.
> the only time i drove was to fresno for the Climb to Kaiser, and I
> rented a car. Have you considered this route?
I have thought about it but by the time I rent a car for one day that
costs about as much as 3 months insurance anyway. I thought about
changing carriers but none of them buy into me riding the bike most of
the time. Right now the car has a bad alternator and I am not in a hurry
to spend $110 on a damn Mazda alternator, much less spend the whole day
changing it on a f'ing front wheel drive car.
It is what it is.
Bill Baka
>
> - -
> Compliments of:
> "Your Friendly Neighborhood Wheelman"
>
> Messages sent to the above "E" addy will be lost forever! If you want to
> E-mail me:
>
> ChrisZCorner "at" webtv "dot" net
>
> My website:
> http://geocities.com/czcorner
>
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Date: 27 Sep 2006 19:55:52
From: Johnny Sunset aka Tom Sherman
Subject: Re: How can we get more people interested in our sport?
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Werehatrack wrote:
> On Wed, 27 Sep 2006 04:51:24 GMT, k <kfelber@earthlink.net>
> wrote:
> ...
> >Bike paths next to freeways where there is no non-freeway alternative
> >would be nice, though.
>
> They exist in some places now, in the form of bike access to the wide
> paved shoulder. (As of a few months ago, it looks like there's one
> less, though.) Their usefulness varies; in rural, low-traffic
> environments where crossing the exit and entrance lanes is easily
> done, they can work well. I would not want to try riding the shoulder
> of the I-610 loop (as it is currently built) here in Houston under any
> circumstances; it would be suicide. In a couple of areas, that
> shoulder would be a great shortcut between major areas if it could be
> safely ridden...but the road's design, traffic levels, and driver
> procilivities make it a no-go zone.
In most major cities, a few drivers with anti-social personality
disorder will use the shoulder as a passing lane - mixing 60-80 mph
motor vehicles with 10-20 mph bicycles is not healthy for the cyclists.
The other place I see bicycle only roads being useful is for areas
where motor vehicle traffic is banned due to ecological impact (pace
Mikey V.)
--
Tom Sherman - Here, not there.
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Date: 28 Sep 2006 08:32:33
From: bill
Subject: Re: How can we get more people interested in our sport?
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Johnny Sunset aka Tom Sherman wrote:
> Werehatrack wrote:
>> On Wed, 27 Sep 2006 04:51:24 GMT, k <kfelber@earthlink.net>
>> wrote:
>> ...
>>> Bike paths next to freeways where there is no non-freeway alternative
>>> would be nice, though.
>> They exist in some places now, in the form of bike access to the wide
>> paved shoulder. (As of a few months ago, it looks like there's one
>> less, though.) Their usefulness varies; in rural, low-traffic
>> environments where crossing the exit and entrance lanes is easily
>> done, they can work well. I would not want to try riding the shoulder
>> of the I-610 loop (as it is currently built) here in Houston under any
>> circumstances; it would be suicide. In a couple of areas, that
>> shoulder would be a great shortcut between major areas if it could be
>> safely ridden...but the road's design, traffic levels, and driver
>> procilivities make it a no-go zone.
>
> In most major cities, a few drivers with anti-social personality
> disorder will use the shoulder as a passing lane - mixing 60-80 mph
> motor vehicles with 10-20 mph bicycles is not healthy for the cyclists.
>
> The other place I see bicycle only roads being useful is for areas
> where motor vehicle traffic is banned due to ecological impact (pace
> Mikey V.)
>
A concrete post sticking up in the middle would discourage that rather
in a hurry. I have seen it in a few places around here and I just drive
the bike around it. Much safer and if some motorist wants to try it then
it becomes a Darwin thing.
Bill Baka
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Date: 28 Sep 2006 17:00:38
From: Werehatrack
Subject: Re: How can we get more people interested in our sport?
|
On Thu, 28 Sep 2006 08:32:33 GMT, bill <bbaka@syix.com > wrote:
>Johnny Sunset aka Tom Sherman wrote, discussing freeway shoulders:
>> In most major cities, a few drivers with anti-social personality
>> disorder will use the shoulder as a passing lane - mixing 60-80 mph
>> motor vehicles with 10-20 mph bicycles is not healthy for the cyclists.
>>
>>
>A concrete post sticking up in the middle would discourage that rather
>in a hurry. I have seen it in a few places around here and I just drive
>the bike around it. Much safer and if some motorist wants to try it then
>it becomes a Darwin thing.
Oh, the cries of horror from the "Life must be free of hazards!"
types, and the grins of glee from the PI/WD sharks if those were
installed. Even law enforcement would be unhappy about it, but they'd
have better reason; an unencumbered shoulder is, to them, a legitimate
resource to use when they need to get emergency vehicles to a wreck
site.
--
Typoes are a feature, not a bug.
Some gardening required to reply via email.
Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.
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Date: 29 Sep 2006 19:50:51
From: bill
Subject: Re: How can we get more people interested in our sport?
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Werehatrack wrote:
> On Thu, 28 Sep 2006 08:32:33 GMT, bill <bbaka@syix.com> wrote:
>
>> Johnny Sunset aka Tom Sherman wrote, discussing freeway shoulders:
>>> In most major cities, a few drivers with anti-social personality
>>> disorder will use the shoulder as a passing lane - mixing 60-80 mph
>>> motor vehicles with 10-20 mph bicycles is not healthy for the cyclists.
>>>
>>>
>> A concrete post sticking up in the middle would discourage that rather
>> in a hurry. I have seen it in a few places around here and I just drive
>> the bike around it. Much safer and if some motorist wants to try it then
>> it becomes a Darwin thing.
>
> Oh, the cries of horror from the "Life must be free of hazards!"
> types, and the grins of glee from the PI/WD sharks if those were
> installed. Even law enforcement would be unhappy about it, but they'd
> have better reason; an unencumbered shoulder is, to them, a legitimate
> resource to use when they need to get emergency vehicles to a wreck
> site.
>
>
Perhaps I didn't state that 100% correctly. The posts are on some of the
non-Freeways where people will drive 60-80 MPH, but the freeways are
cars only and a bicyclist would get a ticket for 'pedestrian on
freeway'. This may only apply to California since that is where I am at.
Bill Baka
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Date: 27 Sep 2006 19:46:42
From: Johnny Sunset aka Tom Sherman
Subject: Re: How can we get more people interested in our sport?
|
qui si parla Campagnolo aka Peter Chisholm wrote:
> Johnny Sunset aka Tom Sherman wrote:
> > qui si parla Campagnolo aka Peter Chisholm wrote:
> >
> > > First, it's not about racing, it's about riding. Safer places to ride
> > > along with cars would go a long way as well. Dedicated bike lanes, as a
> > > matter of course, mandated by the US Gov(if the staes want fed $) as
> > > required on all non freeway roads would be a good start....
> >
> > Hey Peter, trying to start a bike lane/bike path flame war? ;)
> >
> > I think that bike lanes should be built along controlled access urban
> > freeways, in particular I-794.
>
> As do I. I think they should be included in every hard surfaced road
> except for interstates...
To prevent any possible misunderstanding, I was referring to a bike
lane that would be physically separated from the motor vehicle lanes
with a concrete barrier.
As an example, I used to live in an urban area where there were five
bridges crossing the Mississippi River. Three were Interstate bridges
with no access for bicycles and pedestrians, one was a swing span that
opened for every barge and riverboat, and the last one had narrow
lanes. If the three Interstate bridges had bicycle lanes, it would have
made getting around by bicycle much easier.
Other elevated Interstate highways (e.g. the aforementioned I-794) have
spectacular views that should not be denied to cyclists.
Finally, as a Colorado resident, Peter is likely aware that in some
places the Interstate is the ONLY road.
--
Tom Sherman - Here, not there.
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Date: 30 Sep 2006 09:25:17
From: Chris Y.F.N.W.
Subject: Re: How can we get more people interested in our sport?
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Group: rec.bicycles.misc
Date: Wed, Sep 27, 2006, 7:46pm (EDT-3)
From: sunsetss0003@yahoo.com (Johnny=A0Sunset=A0aka=A0Tom=A0Sherman)
>Finally, as a Colorado resident, Peter is
?likely aware that in some places the
>Interstate is the ONLY road.
>--
>Tom Sherman - Here, not there.
That's the way it is in California as well. and bicycles are (or at
least were when i lived there) allowed to ride on the shoulder if
freeways when no other accessable roads were available (alas, no
barriers).
- -
Compliments of:
"Your Friendly Neighborhood Wheelman"
Messages sent to the above "E" addy will be lost forever! If you want to
E-mail me:
ChrisZCorner "at" webtv "dot" net
My website:
http://geocities.com/czcorner
|
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Date: 30 Sep 2006 17:04:42
From: bill
Subject: Re: How can we get more people interested in our sport?
|
Chris Y.F.N.W. wrote:
> Group: rec.bicycles.misc
> Date: Wed, Sep 27, 2006, 7:46pm (EDT-3)
> From: sunsetss0003@yahoo.com (Johnny Sunset aka Tom Sherman)
>
>> Finally, as a Colorado resident, Peter is
> ?likely aware that in some places the
>> Interstate is the ONLY road.
>> --
>> Tom Sherman - Here, not there.
>
> That's the way it is in California as well. and bicycles are (or at
> least were when i lived there) allowed to ride on the shoulder if
> freeways when no other accessable roads were available (alas, no
> barriers).
All the major designated freeways have a "No bicycles, pedestrians
allowed" sign on the entrance ramp and the police just love to hand out
tickets for that. There may be some places waaaay out in the desert but
I have never seen them.
Bill Baka
>
> - -
> Compliments of:
> "Your Friendly Neighborhood Wheelman"
>
> Messages sent to the above "E" addy will be lost forever! If you want to
> E-mail me:
>
> ChrisZCorner "at" webtv "dot" net
>
> My website:
> http://geocities.com/czcorner
>
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Date: 28 Sep 2006 08:30:13
From: bill
Subject: Re: How can we get more people interested in our sport?
|
Johnny Sunset aka Tom Sherman wrote:
<snip >
>
> To prevent any possible misunderstanding, I was referring to a bike
> lane that would be physically separated from the motor vehicle lanes
> with a concrete barrier.
About 300% agreement there. I have some bridges that force me to walk or
ride on the sidewalk and some roads with 0.0" on the right of the little
white line. Bicycle lanes were very much not considered when these roads
and bridges were first built.
>
> As an example, I used to live in an urban area where there were five
> bridges crossing the Mississippi River. Three were Interstate bridges
> with no access for bicycles and pedestrians, one was a swing span that
> opened for every barge and riverboat, and the last one had narrow
> lanes. If the three Interstate bridges had bicycle lanes, it would have
> made getting around by bicycle much easier.
>
> Other elevated Interstate highways (e.g. the aforementioned I-794) have
> spectacular views that should not be denied to cyclists.
Good places to stop and take that picture if you can even get there.
>
> Finally, as a Colorado resident, Peter is likely aware that in some
> places the Interstate is the ONLY road.
>
Amen.
Try going west from Denver and it is the highway, period, as in no bikes.
Bill Baka
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Date: 28 Sep 2006 13:56:16
From: mark
Subject: Re: How can we get more people interested in our sport?
|
bill wrote:
> Amen.
> Try going west from Denver and it is the highway, period, as in no bikes.
> Bill Baka
Not true. There's a series of frontage roads and nearby secondary roads
that roughly parallel I-70 west from Denver. In a few places the
shoulder of I-70 is signposted as a bike route, and gets used as such on
a very regular basis.
k
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| | | | |
Date: 29 Sep 2006 19:46:41
From: bill
Subject: Re: How can we get more people interested in our sport?
|
k wrote:
> bill wrote:
>
>> Amen.
>> Try going west from Denver and it is the highway, period, as in no bikes.
>> Bill Baka
>
> Not true. There's a series of frontage roads and nearby secondary roads
> that roughly parallel I-70 west from Denver. In a few places the
> shoulder of I-70 is signposted as a bike route, and gets used as such on
> a very regular basis.
>
> k
You got me. That was 20 years ago and I was driving and using one of
those state maps that didn't show the smaller roads. Even my van had a
hard time making it up I-70 out of Denver although the side road to the
top of Mt. Evans was worth it. I-70 did not strike me as a place I would
want to ride, but maybe it has been resurfaced with some bike friendly
lanes by now.
Bill Baka
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Date: 30 Sep 2006 05:34:59
From: mark
Subject: Re: How can we get more people interested in our sport?
|
bill wrote:
>
> You got me. That was 20 years ago and I was driving and using one of
> those state maps that didn't show the smaller roads. Even my van had a
> hard time making it up I-70 out of Denver although the side road to the
> top of Mt. Evans was worth it. I-70 did not strike me as a place I would
> want to ride, but maybe it has been resurfaced with some bike friendly
> lanes by now.
> Bill Baka
There are a few stretches between Denver and Loveland Pass where I-70 is
the only option. Good wide shoulder, rumble strip between you and the
travel lane, reasonably safe but not much fun. US40 and US 6 run along
side the Interstate in some places, which is fairly pleasant riding, and
there are a few stretches of bike/shared use path through Clear Creek
Canyon that are fairly pleasant.
Idaho Springs to the top of Mt Evans is a fun ride, but dress warm.
k
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| | | | | | |
Date: 30 Sep 2006 07:22:27
From: bill
Subject: Re: How can we get more people interested in our sport?
|
k wrote:
> bill wrote:
>
>>
>> You got me. That was 20 years ago and I was driving and using one of
>> those state maps that didn't show the smaller roads. Even my van had a
>> hard time making it up I-70 out of Denver although the side road to
>> the top of Mt. Evans was worth it. I-70 did not strike me as a place I
>> would want to ride, but maybe it has been resurfaced with some bike
>> friendly lanes by now.
>> Bill Baka
>
> There are a few stretches between Denver and Loveland Pass where I-70 is
> the only option. Good wide shoulder, rumble strip between you and the
> travel lane, reasonably safe but not much fun. US40 and US 6 run along
> side the Interstate in some places, which is fairly pleasant riding, and
> there are a few stretches of bike/shared use path through Clear Creek
> Canyon that are fairly pleasant.
>
> Idaho Springs to the top of Mt Evans is a fun ride, but dress warm.
>
> k
I have to admit I drove up to the top with my van since we were on
vacation and had no room for a bike. I did do a lot of running around
with my then 6 year old daughter and found it quite pleasant in July.
Probably the idea for a ride would be to stash some warm clothes on a
rack back, because you know you're gonna cook on the way up, then freeze
on the way down even with a few extra layers.
Next time I pass there on vacation I will have to find room to stash a
bike, but by then I probably will have bought a Winnebago, too.
Bill
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Date: 27 Sep 2006 06:22:11
From: qui si parla Campagnolo
Subject: Re: How can we get more people interested in our sport?
|
k wrote:
> qui si parla Campagnolo wrote:
>
> >
> > First, it's not about racing, it's about riding. Safer places to ride
> > along with cars would go a long way as well. Dedicated bike lanes, as a
> > matter of course, mandated by the US Gov(if the staes want fed $) as
> > required on all non freeway roads would be a good start.
> >
> > Scarce fuel would also help-and a POTUS that was not in big oil, big
> > auto's pocket as well.
> >
>
> I'd settle for well maintained shoulders and wide outside lanes
Paint a little bcicyle on that shoulder and bob's yer uncle!!. NO
shoulder roads should not exist.
, and
> better educated drivers who understand that bicycles are vehicles and
> are entitled to use the roads. Dedicated bicycle lanes and bicycle paths
> reinforce the misconception that bicycles do not belong on the roads.
>
> Bike paths next to freeways where there is no non-freeway alternative
> would be nice, though.
>
> k
|
| |
Date: 27 Sep 2006 06:20:49
From: qui si parla Campagnolo
Subject: Re: How can we get more people interested in our sport?
|
Johnny Sunset aka Tom Sherman wrote:
> qui si parla Campagnolo aka Peter Chisholm wrote:
> > pelotonjim@gmail.com wrote:
> > > Our sport has enough bad publicity! Can we use modern viral keting
> > > techniques to show off the side of the sport we love?
> > >
> > > http://pelotonjim.wordpress.com/2006/09/26/how-can-we-get-more-people-interested-in-cycling/
> > >
> > > Thoughts?
> >
> > First, it's not about racing, it's about riding. Safer places to ride
> > along with cars would go a long way as well. Dedicated bike lanes, as a
> > matter of course, mandated by the US Gov(if the staes want fed $) as
> > required on all non freeway roads would be a good start....
>
> Hey Peter, trying to start a bike lane/bike path flame war? ;)
>
> I think that bike lanes should be built along controlled access urban
> freeways, in particular I-794.
As do I. I think they should be included in every hard surfaced road
except for interstates...
>
> --
> Tom Sherman - Here, not there.
|
| | |
Date: 27 Sep 2006 16:53:14
From: Werehatrack
Subject: Re: How can we get more people interested in our sport?
|
On 27 Sep 2006 06:20:49 -0700, "qui si parla Campagnolo"
<peter@vecchios.com > wrote:
>
>Johnny Sunset aka Tom Sherman wrote:
>> qui si parla Campagnolo aka Peter Chisholm wrote:
>> > pelotonjim@gmail.com wrote:
>> > > Our sport has enough bad publicity! Can we use modern viral keting
>> > > techniques to show off the side of the sport we love?
>> > >
>> > > http://pelotonjim.wordpress.com/2006/09/26/how-can-we-get-more-people-interested-in-cycling/
>> > >
>> > > Thoughts?
>> >
>> > First, it's not about racing, it's about riding. Safer places to ride
>> > along with cars would go a long way as well. Dedicated bike lanes, as a
>> > matter of course, mandated by the US Gov(if the staes want fed $) as
>> > required on all non freeway roads would be a good start....
>>
>> Hey Peter, trying to start a bike lane/bike path flame war? ;)
>>
>> I think that bike lanes should be built along controlled access urban
>> freeways, in particular I-794.
>
>As do I. I think they should be included in every hard surfaced road
>except for interstates...
Retrofitting them is harder than putting them in to begin with, but I
still see very few bike lanes getting built as part of road
construction projects. Added to that, other road projects can take
away what was previously useful. Recently, the bump dots were removed
from the shoulders of US290 west of Houston so that the shoulders of
the road could be used as an evac lane during hurricane emergencies,
but in the process it appears that the DOT managed to make it illegal
for vehicles (and thus, by definiion, *us*) to use those lanes for
anything other than emergency stopping at any other time. It's
ambiguous, but I have no doubt that there is at least one bike-hating
cop in the hinterlands who will, at some point, pull over an entire
group of roadies and cite them all for use of the evac lane since it's
no longer just a paved shoulder.
--
Typoes are a feature, not a bug.
Some gardening required to reply via email.
Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.
|
| |
Date: 27 Sep 2006 06:19:49
From: qui si parla Campagnolo
Subject: Re: How can we get more people interested in our sport?
|
folson@innercite.com wrote:
> "First, it's not about racing, it's about riding. Safer places to ride
> along with cars would go a long way as well. Dedicated bike lanes, as a
> matter of course, mandated by the US Gov(if the staes want fed $) as
> required on all non freeway roads would be a good start."
>
> As in most endeavors, if you make it too easy to participate, you
> reduce the group to a lower common denominator. I am concerned about
> the quality of cyclists, not just the quantity. If they don't really
> love cycling, and have a fairly large commitment to it, what's the
> point of trying to get them involved? Let it be THEIR decision. As
> in, they might make that decision the next time we get a big gas price
> spike, or a fuel shortage.
>
> "Scarce fuel would also help-and a POTUS that was not in big oil, big
> auto's pocket as well."
>
> I really wish you wouldn't inject politics into it. Nobody is going to
> be elected President if he advocates limiting gasoline consumption, or
> high gas prices. I think you are out of touch with the people.
Why not? This is a discussion group after-all-'Misc' while Tech is i;;
via Google. We'll see in 2008...
> Gasoline is what they want, and they will continue to want it until it
> becomes too expensive.
I think as Mike J pointed out once, when it becomes scarce, not
expensive. I think euro-type pricing at $4+ will still have people
going to the pump-pissed, but buying like always.
Sure, the Democrats can give lip service to the
> idea of green energy, etc., but they can only afford to do so because
> they've become the kook party and are never going to be elected to
> anything, or even if they do get elected, they wouldn't dare do
> anything different than Bush is doing. They'll just talk
> hypocritically about it a lot. I actually prefer the Republicans
> because they're much less hypocritical.
Ya like what this administration is doing?? You must be living in a
glass jar. This 'kook' party is going to get us out of the biggest
mistake since 1973...can you name that one?
|
| |
Date: 27 Sep 2006 06:12:22
From: Will
Subject: Re: How can we get more people interested in our sport?
|
pelotonjim@gmail.com wrote:
> Our sport has enough bad publicity! Can we use modern viral keting
> techniques to show off the side of the sport we love?
>
> http://pelotonjim.wordpress.com/2006/09/26/how-can-we-get-more-people-interested-in-cycling/
>
> Thoughts?
I have often wondered why high schools and universities have not
fielded cycling teams. It's athletic, has tactics. There's an
engineering component: gears, ratios, etc... There's extensive
nutrition and metabolic instruction. There's a place for specialists:
short and long races, time trials, velodrome, cyclocross... It's
appropriate for both sexes. And it's a leveling sport... you don't have
to be 6'10" (basketball) or 225 pounds (football).
|
| | |
Date: 27 Sep 2006 15:43:09
From: mark
Subject: Re: How can we get more people interested in our sport?
|
Will wrote:
> pelotonjim@gmail.com wrote:
>> Our sport has enough bad publicity! Can we use modern viral keting
>> techniques to show off the side of the sport we love?
>>
>> http://pelotonjim.wordpress.com/2006/09/26/how-can-we-get-more-people-interested-in-cycling/
>>
>> Thoughts?
>
> I have often wondered why high schools and universities have not
> fielded cycling teams. It's athletic, has tactics. There's an
> engineering component: gears, ratios, etc... There's extensive
> nutrition and metabolic instruction. There's a place for specialists:
> short and long races, time trials, velodrome, cyclocross... It's
> appropriate for both sexes. And it's a leveling sport... you don't have
> to be 6'10" (basketball) or 225 pounds (football).
>
Plenty of universities have cycling teams, and have had for a long time.
Bicycle racing is a good bit more equipment intensive (and therefore
more expensive) than just bicycle riding, which could account for the
lack of participation at the high school and university level. People
would be more likely to show an interest in bicycle racing if just plain
bicycle riding played a bigger part in their lives.
k
|
| | | |
Date: 27 Sep 2006 18:52:59
From: Chris Y.F.N.W.
Subject: Re: How can we get more people interested in our sport?
|
Group: rec.bicycles.misc
Date: Wed, Sep 27, 2006, 3:43pm (EDT+4)
From: kfelber@earthlink.net (k)
>Plenty of universities have cycling
>teams, and have had for a long time.
>Bicycle racing is a good bit more
>equipment intensive (and therefore more
>expensive) than just bicycle riding, which
>could account for the lack of participation
>at the high school and university level.
>People would be more likely to show an
>interest in bicycle racing if just plain
>bicycle riding played a bigger part in
>their lives.
>k
The answer to this could be a standard make/model of bike (perhaps
donated by a bike company in return for the "free" advertising). All the
bikes would be the same for all universities a-la "Indiana University's
"Little 500". Yes, Virginia, it really does exist, they really use
Huffy's and they cannot be modified, thereby "levelling the playing
field" by ensuring any advantage is due to the riders, not their
machines.
Requiring the students to maintain their machines would be a good idea
as well, both as a learning experience as well as lessening the
financial burden on the schools. Riding the bikes to and from school
would come to the students naturally as being an excellent way to train.
thereby promoting the idea of bike commuting.
- -
Comments and opinions compliments of,
"Your Friendly Neighborhood Wheelman"
Messages sent to the above "E" addy will be lost forever!
to E-mail me:
ChrisZCorner "at" webtv "dot" net
My website:
http://geocities.com/czcorner
|
| |
Date: 27 Sep 2006 12:37:33
From:
Subject: Re: How can we get more people interested in our sport?
|
On 25 Sep 2006 18:31:35 -0700, "pelotonjim@gmail.com"
<pelotonjim@gmail.com > wrote:
>Our sport has enough bad publicity! Can we use modern viral keting
>techniques to show off the side of the sport we love?
>
>http://pelotonjim.wordpress.com/2006/09/26/how-can-we-get-more-people-interested-in-cycling/
>
>Thoughts?
Get rid of MHL's.
|
| |
Date: 26 Sep 2006 23:16:48
From: Tom Keats
Subject: Re: How can we get more people interested in our sport?
|
In article <1159276857.438269.259240@m7g2000cwm.googlegroups.com >,
"qui si parla Campagnolo" <peter@vecchios.com > writes:
>
> pelotonjim@gmail.com wrote:
>> Our sport has enough bad publicity! Can we use modern viral keting
>> techniques to show off the side of the sport we love?
>>
>> http://pelotonjim.wordpress.com/2006/09/26/how-can-we-get-more-people-interested-in-cycling/
>>
>> Thoughts?
>
> First, it's not about racing, it's about riding.
In that case, what many adults need is some confidence-building
reassurance and encouragement that they're /physically able/
to ride.
As you probably know, when an older adult who hasn't ridden
since childhood (or perhaps never at all) sets foot to pedal
and sets off for the first time in decades, they don't get very
far before getting all pooped out. When they make it back home
and dismount, they stagger around on "spaghetti legs" for a
little while. Especially if they've been pushing a
harder-working, too-high gear. Double especially if they've
been riding city streets, and thinking they have to always
keep up with the car traffic.
I figure that's the make-it-or-break-it point.
They might either realize they've set themselves up for the
challenge of developing some level of cycling fitness base
and rise to meet that challenge, or they might decide it's
just too difficult, and shine it on.
If tyros and returners-to-cycling don't have an easily
accessible, comfortable, safe place to build up that
fitness base, I think they're more likely to just give up,
and another garage ornament is born.
cheers,
Tom
--
-- Nothing is safe from me.
Above address is just a spam midden.
I'm really at: tkeats [curlicue] vcn [point] bc [point] ca
|
| | |
Date: 27 Sep 2006 17:11:21
From: Werehatrack
Subject: Re: How can we get more people interested in our sport?
|
On Tue, 26 Sep 2006 23:16:48 -0700, tkeats2005@hotmail.com (Tom Keats)
wrote:
>If tyros and returners-to-cycling don't have an easily
>accessible, comfortable, safe place to build up that
>fitness base, I think they're more likely to just give up,
>and another garage ornament is born.
Based in part on the comments of people selling bikes (often really
good ones) at garage sales, I think you've hit the nail squarely on
the head with that. When I ask why they are selling, they almost
always say there's really no place to ride it safely in their
neighborhood....despite the fact that in many cases, I'm not the only
one who arrived at the sale on two wheels.
--
Typoes are a feature, not a bug.
Some gardening required to reply via email.
Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.
|
| | | |
Date: 27 Sep 2006 17:29:02
From: bill
Subject: Re: How can we get more people interested in our sport?
|
Werehatrack wrote:
> On Tue, 26 Sep 2006 23:16:48 -0700, tkeats2005@hotmail.com (Tom Keats)
> wrote:
>
>> If tyros and returners-to-cycling don't have an easily
>> accessible, comfortable, safe place to build up that
>> fitness base, I think they're more likely to just give up,
>> and another garage ornament is born.
>
> Based in part on the comments of people selling bikes (often really
> good ones) at garage sales, I think you've hit the nail squarely on
> the head with that. When I ask why they are selling, they almost
> always say there's really no place to ride it safely in their
> neighborhood....despite the fact that in many cases, I'm not the only
> one who arrived at the sale on two wheels.
>
Giving up is a great way to give up ten years of your life to.
I bought a vintage 3 speed from an old man at a garage sale and got
thousands of miles out of it with almost no trouble. He said he was
selling it because his knee was giving him problems after riding, yet he
had no noticeable limp or lasting ill effects. A few years later I went
to a yard sale at the same house and asked where he was and his 'widow'
said that when he quit riding his health really went down and he passed
away. Oddly enough I was riding the bike that had kept him alive, sore
knee or not.
True story, and a good reason why I ride.
Bill Baka
|
| | | | |
Date: 27 Sep 2006 18:58:31
From: Chris Y.F.N.W.
Subject: Re: How can we get more people interested in our sport?
|
Group: rec.bicycles.misc
Date: Wed, Sep 27, 2006, 5:29pm (EDT+4)
From: bbaka@syix.com (bill)
>A few years later I went to a yard sale at
>the same house and asked where he
>was and his 'widow' said that when he
>quit riding his health really went down
>and he passed away. Oddly enough I
>was riding the bike that had kept him
>alive, sore knee or not.
>True story, and a good reason why I ride.
>Bill Baka
That's sad. I can't help but ask though, did she recognise the bike?
- -
Comments and opinions compliments of,
"Your Friendly Neighborhood Wheelman"
Messages sent to the above "E" addy will be lost forever!
to E-mail me:
ChrisZCorner "at" webtv "dot" net
My website:
http://geocities.com/czcorner
|
| | | | | |
Date: 28 Sep 2006 01:55:56
From: bill
Subject: Re: How can we get more people interested in our sport?
|
Chris Y.F.N.W. wrote:
> Group: rec.bicycles.misc
> Date: Wed, Sep 27, 2006, 5:29pm (EDT+4)
> From: bbaka@syix.com (bill)
>
>> A few years later I went to a yard sale at
>> the same house and asked where he
>> was and his 'widow' said that when he
>> quit riding his health really went down
>> and he passed away. Oddly enough I
>> was riding the bike that had kept him
>> alive, sore knee or not.
>
>> True story, and a good reason why I ride.
>
>> Bill Baka
>
> That's sad. I can't help but ask though, did she recognise the bike?
Actually not at first, but as soon as I said "I bought this bike here
and it still works.", she remembered. It was an original oldie, from the
50's, with wire racks on the back and a wire basket on the front, with
fenders and all the stuff that you could get back then. I actually rode
that bike to almost all the garage sales for about 3 summers and even
rode it in some 40-60 mile charity rides. It always got me strange looks
from the hard core 700c roadies, but it never broke down. It finally got
stolen, out of my back yard no less. I still miss the click, click
coming from the rear when it was in a gear other than direct.
Bill Baka
>
> - -
> Comments and opinions compliments of,
> "Your Friendly Neighborhood Wheelman"
>
> Messages sent to the above "E" addy will be lost forever!
>
> to E-mail me:
> ChrisZCorner "at" webtv "dot" net
>
> My website:
> http://geocities.com/czcorner
>
|
| |
Date: 26 Sep 2006 20:10:02
From: Johnny Sunset aka Tom Sherman
Subject: Re: How can we get more people interested in our sport?
|
catzz66 wrote:
> pelotonjim@gmail.com wrote:
> >
> > Thoughts?
> >
>
> You can help by being a good ambassador for the activity when you are on
> your bike, by not being elitist about it when people ask questions or
> comment on their level of interest and involvement in it.
One gets tired of the stupid questions after a while.
--
Tom Sherman - Here, not there.
|
| |
Date: 26 Sep 2006 20:03:22
From: Johnny Sunset aka Tom Sherman
Subject: Re: How can we get more people interested in our sport?
|
qui si parla Campagnolo aka Peter Chisholm wrote:
> pelotonjim@gmail.com wrote:
> > Our sport has enough bad publicity! Can we use modern viral keting
> > techniques to show off the side of the sport we love?
> >
> > http://pelotonjim.wordpress.com/2006/09/26/how-can-we-get-more-people-interested-in-cycling/
> >
> > Thoughts?
>
> First, it's not about racing, it's about riding. Safer places to ride
> along with cars would go a long way as well. Dedicated bike lanes, as a
> matter of course, mandated by the US Gov(if the staes want fed $) as
> required on all non freeway roads would be a good start....
Hey Peter, trying to start a bike lane/bike path flame war? ;)
I think that bike lanes should be built along controlled access urban
freeways, in particular I-794.
--
Tom Sherman - Here, not there.
|
| |
Date: 26 Sep 2006 13:52:36
From: catzz66
Subject: Re: How can we get more people interested in our sport?
|
pelotonjim@gmail.com wrote:
>
> Thoughts?
>
You can help by being a good ambassador for the activity when you are on
your bike, by not being elitist about it when people ask questions or
comment on their level of interest and involvement in it.
|
| |
Date: 26 Sep 2006 10:49:45
From: Marz
Subject: Re: How can we get more people interested in our sport?
|
Dave wrote:
> When gas gets up to 5 bucks a gallon......
.... it'll still be cheaper than anywhere in Europe where there may by
more cyclists, but they're still the minority on the roads.
The future of cycling lies in getting children interesting, which is
going to be tough. When was the last time you saw a cycling game for
the PC, XBOX or PS2 and how many driving games are there? Has there
been any movies in the last 10 years which featured any of the main
characters cycling anywhere? Most kids seem to think cycling is dumb
and their parents consider it too dangerous to use on the road. For me,
I think cycling as a sport for kids is the answer, whether it's track,
x-country, downhill, 4x, bmx, crit or jump. Away from traffic and under
supervision. Maybe once you've got them to love riding you could say,'
Hey, guess what, you could ride it to school too.'
Laters,
z
|
| | |
Date: 26 Sep 2006 15:19:46
From: Chris Y.F.N.W.
Subject: Re: How can we get more people interested in our sport?
|
Group: rec.bicycles.misc
Date: Tue, Sep 26, 2006, 10:49am (EDT-3)
From: zjennings@gmail.com (z)
>Dave wrote:
>>When gas gets up to 5 bucks a
>>gallon......
>.... it'll still be cheaper than anywhere in
>Europe where there may by more
>cyclists, but they're still the minority on
>the roads.
Europe was already a well established society built well before the
automobile, with centralized communities and narrow streets that don't
lend well to automobile traffic. When the bicycle came along, it offered
an ideal method of transportation that many could afford and was tailor
made for the European city structure of the day, A structure they
(wisely) never really abandoned. In fact, some older, smaller
communities don't even allow automobile traffic within city limits.
Unfortunately, here in the US, almost half of our history came after the
automobile was invented, therefore most of our city planning has
revolved around it. so it'll take some really high gas prices or
shortages before our planners realize the practicality of redesigning
our infrastructure to favor things like bicycles, walking and public
transport.
>The future of cycling lies in getting
>children interesting, which is going to be
>tough. When was the last time you saw a
>cycling game for the PC, XBOX or PS2
>and how many driving games are there?
>Has there been any movies in the last 10
>years which featured any of the main
>characters cycling anywhere? Most kids
>seem to think cycling is dumb and their
>parents consider it too dangerous to use
>on the road. For me, I think cycling as a
>sport for kids is the answer, whether it's
>track, x-country, downhill, 4x, bmx, crit
>or jump. Away from traffic and under
>supervision. Maybe once you've got
>them to love riding you could say,' Hey, >guess what, you could ride it
to school
>too.'
>Laters,
>z
Riding to school was what got me into bicycling in the first place.
Sure, I rode before that, but mainly just around the neighborhood.
Realising I could ride my bike to school, and avoid the trip on the bus
(I was one of those kids that everyone picked on) was probably the best
cognition I ever had.
Unfortunately, if "parents consider it too dangerous to use" they're
certainly not going to let their kids "jeopardize their lives" twice a
day, five days a week riding to school.
- -
Comments and opinions compliments of,
"Your Friendly Neighborhood Wheelman"
Messages sent to the above "E" addy will be lost forever!
to E-mail me:
ChrisZCorner "at" webtv "dot" net
My website:
http://geocities.com/czcorner
|
| |
Date: 26 Sep 2006 16:19:16
From: Dave
Subject: Re: How can we get more people interested in our sport?
|
When gas gets up to 5 bucks a gallon they all will
Dave
http://www.noweldrecumbent.com
<pelotonjim@gmail.com > wrote in message
news:1159234295.225782.144510@i3g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...
> Our sport has enough bad publicity! Can we use modern viral keting
> techniques to show off the side of the sport we love?
>
> http://pelotonjim.wordpress.com/2006/09/26/how-can-we-get-more-people-interested-in-cycling/
>
> Thoughts?
>
|
| | |
Date: 27 Sep 2006 09:20:53
From: Jim Higson
Subject: Re: How can we get more people interested in our sport?
|
Dave wrote:
> When gas gets up to 5 bucks a gallon they all will
> Dave
> http://www.noweldrecumbent.com
Here in the UK, it is about £1/litre
That is $7.14 per gallon.
While we don't drive as much as in the USA, and use bikes a bit more, cars
are still the most common way to get around.
--
Jim
|
| |
Date: 26 Sep 2006 16:46:46
From: Jim Higson
Subject: Re: How can we get more people interested in our sport?
|
pelotonjim@gmail.com wrote:
> Our sport has enough bad publicity! Can we use modern viral keting
> techniques to show off the side of the sport we love?
>
>
http://pelotonjim.wordpress.com/2006/09/26/how-can-we-get-more-people-interested-in-cycling/
>
> Thoughts?
Maybe the best way to promote cycling in the USA would be to concentrate on
utility cycling, not cycling as a sport.
This is the way it is in much of Europe, India, China - a lot more people
using bikes to get around than for recreation.
There seems to be an upturn in money being spent on developing technology
for non-sports bikes at the moment. Take a look at these bikes for example:
http://www.smover.com/publish/content/smover/en/smovers.html
Maybe persuading your LBS to push a few of those bikes, or something similar
but less expensive, instead of the usual road/mountain sports bike would
help cycling reach a larger audience? Not everyone wants to race.
--
Jim
|
| | |
Date: 27 Sep 2006 00:47:47
From: Cathy Kearns
Subject: Re: How can we get more people interested in our sport?
|
"Jim Higson" <jh@333.org > wrote in message
news:1JSdnZ3ZX8b51oTYnZ2dnUVZ8qqdnZ2d@eclipse.net.uk...
> pelotonjim@gmail.com wrote:
>
> > Our sport has enough bad publicity! Can we use modern viral keting
> > techniques to show off the side of the sport we love?
> >
> >
>
http://pelotonjim.wordpress.com/2006/09/26/how-can-we-get-more-people-interested-in-cycling/
> >
> > Thoughts?
>
> Maybe the best way to promote cycling in the USA would be to concentrate
on
> utility cycling, not cycling as a sport.
This birthday I went out and got one of those town bikes like Jim Higson
mentioned. (I'm not going to say how hard it was to find one...) Last
birthday I bought me a carbon fiber road bike. So I see both sides. But
I'm thinking they don't need the same things.
When I'm out on my town bike MUPs and off road paths are my best friend. I
love cut-thrus between streets as when going grocery shopping I'm not
looking for a work out, I'm looking for the shortest path home. When going
to meetings, or shopping, I'm wearing street clothes. Just yesterday I did
my grocery shopping on my bike in a skirt.
When on my road bike I'm on the road. I'm looking for hills and I'm wearing
the full lycra sporting outfit. I purposely will take longer way to get
more of a workout, and don't take MUPs as I don't want to be slowed by
slower vehicles.
My experience riding on the same streets in both situations (one on my way
home from the afterride coffee) is that cars are polite to commuters/town
bike folks. I got lots of smiles, and no one buzzed me. Perhaps they figure
we are all in the same boat, running errands. Dressed in lycra cars cut
closer, perhaps figuring I know how to hold a line, perhaps figuring that I,
out on my leisure pursuits, is slowing them down in running doing something
more important.
Either way, if we want more untility cycling, we need more MUPs, places
where the slow moving cyclists feel safe. If we want more sport cycling we
need more laws and enforcement to make the roads we have safer to share.
|
| |
Date: 26 Sep 2006 08:35:58
From:
Subject: Re: How can we get more people interested in our sport?
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"First, it's not about racing, it's about riding. Safer places to ride
along with cars would go a long way as well. Dedicated bike lanes, as a
matter of course, mandated by the US Gov(if the staes want fed $) as
required on all non freeway roads would be a good start."
As in most endeavors, if you make it too easy to participate, you
reduce the group to a lower common denominator. I am concerned about
the quality of cyclists, not just the quantity. If they don't really
love cycling, and have a fairly large commitment to it, what's the
point of trying to get them involved? Let it be THEIR decision. As
in, they might make that decision the next time we get a big gas price
spike, or a fuel shortage.
"Scarce fuel would also help-and a POTUS that was not in big oil, big
auto's pocket as well."
I really wish you wouldn't inject politics into it. Nobody is going to
be elected President if he advocates limiting gasoline consumption, or
high gas prices. I think you are out of touch with the people.
Gasoline is what they want, and they will continue to want it until it
becomes too expensive. Sure, the Democrats can give lip service to the
idea of green energy, etc., but they can only afford to do so because
they've become the kook party and are never going to be elected to
anything, or even if they do get elected, they wouldn't dare do
anything different than Bush is doing. They'll just talk
hypocritically about it a lot. I actually prefer the Republicans
because they're much less hypocritical.
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Date: 26 Sep 2006 11:23:40
From: Chris Y.F.N.W.
Subject: Re: How can we get more people interested in our sport?
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Group: rec.bicycles.misc
Date: Mon, Sep 25, 2006, 6:31pm (EDT-3)
From: pelotonjim@gmail.com
>Our sport has enough bad publicity! Can
>we use modern viral keting
>techniques to show off the side of the
>sport we love?
>Thoughts?
Most bad publicity stems from bad practice. good behavior MAY be
remembered, but bad behavior is NEVER forgotten, and there are a lot of
examples out there of why cyclists are a "nuisance" and by bad examples,
I mean bad bicyclists.
I think that proper bicycle riding should be taught right alongside
(perhaps as a part of) driver education / training, which is probably
one of the most sought after classes in school. Not only would this
educate up-and-coming drivers that the same rules apply when they're on
two wheels, but it would also educate them how to treat us when they
drive.
It's a shame that a TdF champion or three-dollor-a-gallon gas has to
come along before anyone notices the bicycle as a viable means of
transportation
- -
Comments and opinions compliments of,
"Your Friendly Neighborhood Wheelman"
Messages sent to the above "E" addy will be lost forever!
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My website:
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Date: 26 Sep 2006 06:20:57
From: qui si parla Campagnolo
Subject: Re: How can we get more people interested in our sport?
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pelotonjim@gmail.com wrote:
> Our sport has enough bad publicity! Can we use modern viral keting
> techniques to show off the side of the sport we love?
>
> http://pelotonjim.wordpress.com/2006/09/26/how-can-we-get-more-people-interested-in-cycling/
>
> Thoughts?
First, it's not about racing, it's about riding. Safer places to ride
along with cars would go a long way as well. Dedicated bike lanes, as a
matter of course, mandated by the US Gov(if the staes want fed $) as
required on all non freeway roads would be a good start.
Scarce fuel would also help-and a POTUS that was not in big oil, big
auto's pocket as well.
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Date: 27 Sep 2006 04:51:24
From: mark
Subject: Re: How can we get more people interested in our sport?
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qui si parla Campagnolo wrote:
>
> First, it's not about racing, it's about riding. Safer places to ride
> along with cars would go a long way as well. Dedicated bike lanes, as a
> matter of course, mandated by the US Gov(if the staes want fed $) as
> required on all non freeway roads would be a good start.
>
> Scarce fuel would also help-and a POTUS that was not in big oil, big
> auto's pocket as well.
>
I'd settle for well maintained shoulders and wide outside lanes, and
better educated drivers who understand that bicycles are vehicles and
are entitled to use the roads. Dedicated bicycle lanes and bicycle paths
reinforce the misconception that bicycles do not belong on the roads.
Bike paths next to freeways where there is no non-freeway alternative
would be nice, though.
k
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Date: 27 Sep 2006 17:07:34
From: Werehatrack
Subject: Re: How can we get more people interested in our sport?
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On Wed, 27 Sep 2006 04:51:24 GMT, k <kfelber@earthlink.net >
wrote:
>qui si parla Campagnolo wrote:
>
>>
>> First, it's not about racing, it's about riding. Safer places to ride
>> along with cars would go a long way as well. Dedicated bike lanes, as a
>> matter of course, mandated by the US Gov(if the staes want fed $) as
>> required on all non freeway roads would be a good start.
>>
>> Scarce fuel would also help-and a POTUS that was not in big oil, big
>> auto's pocket as well.
>>
>
>I'd settle for well maintained shoulders and wide outside lanes, and
>better educated drivers who understand that bicycles are vehicles and
>are entitled to use the roads.
There will always be assholes in pickups and cars; absent real
enforcement of bike use right regs against such types, they will
continue to drive way too close intentionally, toss beer bottles at
us, and generally try to "get those fucken bikes offa the goddam
road", as one of them so eloquently declared the other day.
>Dedicated bicycle lanes and bicycle paths
>reinforce the misconception that bicycles do not belong on the roads.
OTOH, they also provide a safe place for the less confident to start
riding, and to get in the habit of using a bike. This is a central
issue; to take the strets, cyclists must have greater numbers, and
anything that swells those numbers is helping to achieve that end.
This includes the construction of bike paths along useful routes. If
the number of cyclists grows enough, they will end up taking to the
streets in any event; at that point, the motorists will have little
choice but to adapt.
This really is a chicken-and-egg issue; to get the infrastructure
adapted, we need the numbers; to get the numebrs, we need
infrastructure that more non-riders will view as suitable and
attractive. That means, in most cases, both bike lanes and paths.
>Bike paths next to freeways where there is no non-freeway alternative
>would be nice, though.
They exist in some places now, in the form of bike access to the wide
paved shoulder. (As of a few months ago, it looks like there's one
less, though.) Their usefulness varies; in rural, low-traffic
environments where crossing the exit and entrance lanes is easily
done, they can work well. I would not want to try riding the shoulder
of the I-610 loop (as it is currently built) here in Houston under any
circumstances; it would be suicide. In a couple of areas, that
shoulder would be a great shortcut between major areas if it could be
safely ridden...but the road's design, traffic levels, and driver
procilivities make it a no-go zone.
--
Typoes are a feature, not a bug.
Some gardening required to reply via email.
Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.
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Date: 26 Sep 2006 11:42:11
From: Chris Y.F.N.W.
Subject: Re: How can we get more people interested in our sport?
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Group: rec.bicycles.misc
Date: Tue, Sep 26, 2006, 6:20am (EDT-3) From: peter@vecchios.com
(qui=A0si=A0parla=A0Campagnolo)
>pelotonjim@gmail.com wrote:
>>Our sport has enough bad publicity!
>>Can we use modern viral keting
>>techniques to show off the side of the
>>sport we love?
>>http://pelotonjim.wordpress.com/2006/09/26/how-can-we-get-more-people-in=
terested-in-cycling/
>>Thoughts?
>First, it's not about racing, it's about
>riding. Safer places to ride along with
>cars would go a long way as well.
>Dedicated bike lanes, as a matter of >course, mandated by the US Gov(if
the
>staes want fed $) as required on all non
>freeway roads would be a good start.
I disagree. Bike lanes only reaffirm [in the motorist's mind] that we
don't belong on the roads, or that it's unsafe for cars and bikes to
coexist. Granted, there are roads where this is true, but most cyclists
avoid them for that reason anyway.
I believe that education of both bicyclist and motorist on the R'sOTR
and proper riding etiquette, perhaps as a part of driver's education /
training, and better enforcement of those rules both in the case of
cyclist as well as auto would go much further to create more good
examples. Most "bad publicity stems from bad examples, and I hate to say
it but we have no shortage of those. And it's not only the kids on
"Wally-bikes" I'm referring to either.
Please excuse me if these arguments pop up twice, but my connection cut
out and I'm not sure the other reply made it.
- -
Comments and opinions compliments of,
"Your Friendly Neighborhood Wheelman"
Messages sent to the above "E" addy will be lost forever!
to E-mail me:
ChrisZCorner "at" webtv "dot" net
My website:
http://geocities.com/czcorner
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