Comments on: Come Saturday Morning: Pulling Your Weight (And A Bit More) — By Bike!

By: DonS

DonS — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 22:59:45 +0000

You might not believe this but I think you will.

Outsiede the wine store (I was inside!), a clunky old fat tired bike pulled up — with a bike on it! On closer inspection, the guy had welded a frame on the clunker upon which he had a mount. And the other bike, a decent communter, sat on top of that mount, all cantilevered behind the seat.

A real second look getter.

By: debit

debit — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 21:52:05 +0000

PW, I almost never post here, but I logged in just to say ”thanks.” After your first post I hauled out my daughter’s old bike, got it tuned up and road ready and have been biking to work ever since. It’s only four miles each way, but I’m forty-five, thirty pounds overweight and a recent ex-smoker, so those four miles were murder at first. After just a few weeks, my ride is a breeze.

I had a heavy duty rack installed and bought two sets of panniers; one for normal use (change of clothes, lunch, the essential carafe of coffee) and one designed for groceries. I mention this because now I’m biking to the grocery store and for running errands as well. And I love it.

I feel good -not fit, not yet- but better than I had been, both physically and emotionally and financially. I last filled up on my car on Memorial Day; my goal is to make it through the summer without putting any more in the tank. It seems a reasonable goal these days.

So, thanks. You not only inspired me to get off my butt, but now my two children, shamed at having Mom out man them, are riding their bikes to work as well. You really made a difference. Thank you.

By: Starbuck

Starbuck — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 20:00:31 +0000

Do you have any mountains to cross?

By: MicheleC

MicheleC — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 19:43:03 +0000

Thank you for posting this continuing bicycling series! Just back from a ride . . .

By: lemondloulou

lemondloulou — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 19:16:26 +0000

There’s a contractor around town here in Mpls who hauls a ladder behind his bike. I don’t know for sure what rig he uses, but it is impressive to see him riding around. In Amsterdam it’s not uncommon to see two people on a bicycle at one time.

By: rich2506

rich2506 — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 18:43:57 +0000

In response to hazmaq

I spent two years in Italy. Oh man, the trains there are SO-O-O-O much nicer there then they are here in Philly! When I travel from center city to a suburban station, I have to walk a good 10 minutes to get to a restroom, which is sometimes fine, but sometimes I spent a number of minutes waiting on the platform and then about a half an hour on the train. In Italy, the restrooms were open 24/7 and they had a full bar/eating place and magazine stands. Granted, there were stations further out in the country that were less equipped, but man, what a difference!

For one of my “fun facts,” yes, bicycles can be used to haul heavy things! The Vietcong used bicycles to carry supplies down the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Not riding the bikes, but pushing them. They could cart some serious weight that way.

By: tejanarusa

tejanarusa — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 18:24:27 +0000

Cool…I think. That store’s in Austin (just up the road).
But single speed – does that mean no help going up hills?
Yes, I’m a bike dummy – bought a too-fancy one 2 yrs ago, have hardly ridden it. Before that, — 40 years before — last bike was a one-speed, brake-by-pedaling-backward Schwinn that was killer to get up a hill, and I was young and skinny then.
I need help w/ the new one – and am still not sure it fits right. I’m tall, and the fitter insisted it was right, but I have to get on a curb to get on, and that doesn’t seem right. (Last year it rained all summer and I never took it out. gotta start over, I guess)

By: tw3k

tw3k — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 18:21:14 +0000

Thanks! Left a comment.

By: Elliott

Elliott — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 18:19:46 +0000

Boy PW, you sure started something here. I had no idea how many bike enthusiasts there were at the Lake. You rock!

By: SueTheRedWA

SueTheRedWA — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 18:18:34 +0000

Yes, we can discuss bicycling!

Today, I went on my first bike ride in probably 17 years. It will be a while before I can make it back up the 1.5 mile steep hill and 1/4 mile even steeper driveway without getting off and walking. I enjoyed biking while stationed in England and Germany, but have been wary of American drivers. It felt nice to go biking again.