Plan B Forum

It occurs to me, I've been cycling (as opposed to driving) the roads and boulevards of fair San Ho city for two years now.

It has had its perks and its downcycles, but I've noticed I'm not the only one pedaling myself on the streets. In recent news, Bay Area bicycling has risen by 50% -probably due to The Recession, of course. No surprise there.
However, It's not just wetbacks behind the bike wheels, anymore.

You ride the avenues, and you notice the number of cyclists of all shapes and sizes, sharing the asphalt these days.

Me, I categorize them into three groups:

The Fitness Fanatics

They have the most exquisite and expensive bikes, while sporting the most fashionable cycling clothes, that all match each other: the helmet color matches the jersey, which matches the shoes. All of which is complimented by a tortoise-shell shaped hard plastic backpack that seamlessly accommodates the aerodynamic helmet.
Clothes are not for function necessarily, although The Tour de France color-coordination look is cool; these bikers can go home after they exercise and change into something normal. at the end of the ride.

Which brings us to;

The Commuter

He bikes to work in similar attire. (93% are 'he's, not a lot of she's ride to work.)

Sometimes out of necessity; but mainly out of green inspired guilt. If he has to travel the same route every day, then at least he can save a buck and some ozone by doing so on a Schwinn. Well, maybe not a Schwinn as they are the acknowledged armored tanks of the cycling world, meaning: muy heavy machines to try cycle to work ever day ...but you get my point-people are pedalin'
You see these guys in sportin' clothes that don't quite accessorize, since the neon jacket is functional and worn every day, regardless it doesn't match the shoes and helmet. The reflective tape stripes are there for a purpose, not a fashion statement. They want to be seen, and served.
Also Fanatics seem to rely on speed to escape auto encounters (Fanatics don't even pause at red lights, but balance and pedal in place); the Commuter starts to wear 'blinkies' or flashing lights at various places on his person- fore, aft, top or on the spokes, etc.
Usually they're carrying a regular non-tortoise-shell, nylon backpack, or bike saddle bags, that contain their clean work clothes, shoes, laptop and lunch. If they're not going to and from work though, they'll drive ...probably a mini-van.

And ends with: The City Cycler

No money for fancy bike or clothes, but might have a cheap Home Depot safety vest that is worn every day over the same street attire, that they'll wear while at work/home/shopping. The well-worn backpack is filled with tools, toiletries, foodstuffs (not just for lunch, you never now when/how long you'll be stranded somewhereZ) paperwork, office supplies, weather gear (hot/cold) and multiple miscellaneous- me, I like to carry zip-ties. You never know when you're gonna need a zip-tie; they're like bungee-cords, which I carry too.
Helmet is optional according to the California traffic code, so since they can't afford one, they/me don't wear one. (I've heard, you're safer without it, since drivers give you more distance, seeing as you're braincaseless.) However the accessories are in the blinkies! City Cyclers love the blinkies; like low-riders love bling! We don't just pick one place to place a blinkie; we place them simultaneously everywhere: fore, aft, top or on the spokes, etc. The fore and aft is the law, the everywhere else is our fashion statement to the world- there ain't no law against chingo bling! Personally, I'm saving up for this bad boy, ultimate, blinkie;



Pues si, it flashes!

more 2morrow

With all of the money you're saving on gas, you can buy yourself a car!

What money? I work; I pay the bills and have nada left over.
That's how I lost my car in the first place: couldn't pay the associated fees and fines.
A tall, dark, handsome car is not in my future -so what?


Mi papá se fué al puerto y me dejó una navaja
con un letrero que dice “si quieres comer, trabaja”.


BTW I have tweaked the above bread; it needed tweakin', I posted it too fast. Read it again.

loCAtek wrote:What money? I work; I pay the bills and have nada left over.
That's how I lost my car in the first place: couldn't pay the associated fees and fines.
A tall, dark, handsome car is not in my future -so what?


Mi papá se fué al puerto y me dejó una navaja
con un letrero que dice “si quieres comer, trabaja”.


BTW I have tweaked the above bread; it needed tweakin', I posted it too fast. Read it again.

Luv that Timster, mean it

FYI;

Mi papá se fué al puerto y me dejó una navaja
con un letrero que dice “si quieres comer, trabaja”.

My dad left to the harbor and left me a knife
With a legend that says “if you want to eat, then work”.

See Timster? How could it be clearer than that?

Meaning you don't work, Sean? Just sit around the office...

Yeah, it doesn't matter what I actually post... she'll pretend I posted something completely different.

Makes it difficult to read what you have written...

I never see "city cyclers" without helmets. Mostly its the suburban idiots who don't wear them around here.

Not affordable? Safer to ride without one? Wholly untrue. You can protect your brain for $30. People who chose not to --- and lets face it, that is a choice -- are absolutely nuts.

And many places have freebie programs for those who can't afford a helmet.

Guinevere wrote:I never see "city cyclers" without helmets. Mostly its the suburban idiots who don't wear them around here.

Not affordable? Safer to ride without one? Wholly untrue. You can protect your brain for $30. People who chose not to --- and lets face it, that is a choice -- are absolutely nuts.

Living in an 'optional' state for motorcycle helmets, have I ever gone without - rarely but yes.

bicycles? always. since birth. bike wrecks occur more frequently by kids of all ages than motorcycle wrecks, and the helmet used by cyclers just looks sooooo.....well stupid is a polite word.

And since it only protects (and minimally at that *) in the event you go off headfirst and land as such (which lets face it, if you have any speed up you are already dead - the 5 cyclists killed each year doing just that) its a waste worth considering ditching since it looks soooooo....stupid.


* = I can smash into unrenderable plastic any bike helmet with anyone of my motorcycle helmets. and not vice versa. that should speak volumes for legislative stupidity - in the event that recent events were not enuf.

To clear up 'bread' for those who've forgotten; I coined the term when I started writing threads that read like blogs, hence 'Breads'. Hmmm, looking back in search, this is about the third or fourth time I've explained that, too bad some people weren't paying attention.



The helmet thing: Seriously, I read that auto drivers give cyclists without headgear more room; what's most important is being SEEN by those drivers. I can understand motorcycle helmets, but we're not cycling at those speeds, in that kind of traffic. Besides if the idea is to protect yourself from impact injury then why aren't bikers all wearing body armor?; a co-worker of mine was involved in a motorcycle accident that while his head was spared, his arm was nearly scrapped off.

Two years biking the same commuter roads as cars, and I'm convinced the secret to survival is VISIBILITY.

For example: recently I've increased the distance cars will keep away from me by just changing the color of my blinkie light.

The CA regulation is to have a rear RED light that flashes, if you're cycling at night. Well, I've mentioned in other breads, that I like to accessorize with different colored glow sticks according to the season? (These are battery-powered so I can use them repeatedly through out the year.) Last year, had a bonanza of ORANGE glow sticks on clearance, partly due to Halloween and partly due to the Giants win of the World Series ...so, I'd stocked up. When my last red blinkie burned out; I quickly switched it with an orange one for safety's sake.
...And the results were amazing!
With a red light, I'd get a few feet of distance from the disgruntle drivers.
With an orange light, they'd change lanes to keep away from me!

I think that's because a common red taillight is just another damn bike on the road; while an orange light is usually reserved for road hazards like potholes and construction. The social conditioning of orange was telling them: I was hazardous to their auto-body health, so stay away!

loCAtek wrote:To clear up 'bread' for those who've forgotten; I coined the term when I started writing threads that read like blogs, hence 'Breads'. Hmmm, looking back in search, this is about the third or fourth time I've explained that, too bad some people weren't paying attention.

I see no one questioning it.

If they are questioning it, perhaps if you used words as they were intended, then they wouldn't. Just a thought ....

loCAtek wrote:To clear up 'bread' for those who've forgotten; I coined the term when I started writing threads that read like blogs, hence 'Breads'. Hmmm, looking back in search, this is about the third or fourth time I've explained that, too bad some people weren't paying attention.

First off, I had not forgotten it as I never knew about it. That's why I asked- what? Secondly, it has nothing to do with paying attention as I do not read every post of every person on this or any other board.

Lastly, it would have never dawned on me to do a search on a typo...

Well maybe it'll dawn on you next time mister!

The helmet thing, seriously, you're fooling yourself. Get one and wear it every time you ride. I don't know a serious cyclist that doesn't wear one, or doesn't know people whose lives have been saved because of a helmet.

Yes, when car and cyclist meet its not going to be pretty, but you want to give yourself every chance.

Guinevere wrote: Yes, when car and cyclist meet its not going to be pretty, but you want to give yourself every chance.

Recent experience has proved the benefit of wearing a crash helmet to me!

bike helmets are "less sturdy" because they tend to occur at much lower speeds than motorcycle accidents.

Timster wrote: First off, I had not forgotten it as I never knew about it. That's why I asked- what? Secondly, it has nothing to do with paying attention as I do not read every post of every person on this or any other board.

Lastly, it would have never dawned on me to do a search on a typo...

Well, you did ask Timster [proving Hen wrong] while I do luv your gif, it was a little vague as to what you were asking for clarification on ...and then some control freaks went into the throws of a grammar Nazi tail spin.

I really should post a sign in here;


BEWARE OF FAILING FREAKS