Are you into Cycling?

[Vitaphone Racing]

I own a 2009 Orbea Enol frame with Shimano Sora running gear.

Meh. Losa+Campagnolo all the way, myself.

If any of that was in my budget, I'd probably be using something similar

[Northern Dominus]

You know why people ride fixies? Because it's awesome.

Or because it's trendy currently to ride fixies everywhere and therefore makes things hazardous as hell and generates bad PR for bicycles becase you not only have a bunch of unskilled riders schlepping around on day-glo bicycles, but because they're mostly wanna be bike messengers they ride in the most dangerous way possible without that skill set, and the ensuing carnage is blamed on all cyclists.

I'm not saying all fixie riders do that, but the ones that do are a big part of the bad PR cyclists receive. They're in the same camp of problem riders as the spandex-clad roadies with at least two power meters that take up an entire line rather than get into single file and draft off of each other liker real racers, and the methed-out creepers on big-box store cruiser BMX bikes that just sit around on them at street corners and make people feel highly uncomfortable by staring at them.

But then again I might be just ever so slightly biased because I like not having to pedal all of the time and think the Shimano Nexus-3 hub is possibly the best invention for commuters ever.

Right, so you took a few years off, get on a BMX bike which is designed to be inherrently slightly unstable and "whippy" for doing tricks, and your resulting failure means all bicycles are bad. Can you follow the train of flawed logic on your part and the improper application.

It's not flawed logic because I tried normal bicycles again and still hated it. However, if there is anything I can point out, it's that massive penis on your forehead.

Still, for the sake of being fair, recall one of those incidents if you don't mind. Where it happened, what you were doing prior to the conflict, what the cyclist was doing, any and all pertinent information.

(1) Because apparently I'm lying for shits and giggles now? I was walking along a walkway by a river which is what can be considered these days as a "shared path" minding my own business and listening to music with proper, big eared headphone and not those little plugs you usually see these days. I was on the left of the path which was away from the river and any other hazards and a cyclist comes past and yells "are you fucking deaf?" at me. I tell the man to "fuck off, I'm listening to music as you can see" and he then threatened to beat me up.

Because the truth is while bad cyclists usually get the most publicity half of the problem comes from self-entitled motorists with bad time budgeting skills or clueless pedestrians who think that they have this magic pedestrian bubble around them that gives them the right to walk out into traffic whenever they damn well please.

(2) You sound like the sort of person that gets easily annoyed.

(1) Right, so you were wearing noise-cancelling headphones on a path that is designated multi-use for foot traffic and bicycle traffic, you were yelled at, and somehow the big bad cyclist is at fault here? Sound is how cyclists let runners and walkers know they're coming up on them from a long way back, so that a person on foot doesn't drift out and into the path of an oncoming cyclist and cause a big wreck that injures somebody.
Yes that particular cyclist could have been less abrasive in his dealings with you, however you're the one that was walking in public on a multi-use path listening to music via headphones that cancel any outside noise and therefore made you a larger liability to bicycle traffic around you because they couldn't communicate their intentions with you, especially when coming up from behind.

(2) Not really. I get annoyed by people displaying ignorance and then blaming others for their own failings. Pedestrians simply strolling out into traffic after they've been warned twice that there's a cyclist in a bicycle lane that's oncoming and has a green light, that's one example, or some "hiker" that has to stop and stare every half mile because they're too horribly out of shape but somehow think that because they're hiking on a dedicated mountain bike trail they somehow get special privileges to stop in the middle of it around a blind turn, then wonder why they're being yelled at for making the trail unsafe for mountain bikers.
In a nutshell, I get annoyed when somebodies blatant ignorance puts anybody else at risk.

I own a 2009 Orbea Enol frame with Shimano Sora running gear.

Meh. Losa+Campagnolo all the way, myself.

You know I've never really understood the appeal of Campagnolo. I mean sure, italian stuff always makes certain sectors of the bicycle world go ga-ga, but I have to say Shimano has never steered me wrong, ever, so unless there's some big secret I'm missing I fail to see the appeal beyond liking the name brand.

[Gift-of-god]

Or because it's trendy currently to ride fixies everywhere and therefore makes things hazardous as hell and generates bad PR for bicycles becase you not only have a bunch of unskilled riders schlepping around on day-glo bicycles, but because they're mostly wanna be bike messengers they ride in the most dangerous way possible without that skill set, and the ensuing carnage is blamed on all cyclists.

Yes, the tidal wave of fixie related injuries has swamped ERs across the developed world. And the resulting backlash has killed more cyclists than a Chinese human rights incident.

Or maybe people ride fixies because it's awesome.

I'm not saying all fixie riders do that, but the ones that do are a big part of the bad PR cyclists receive. They're in the same camp of problem riders as the spandex-clad roadies with at least two power meters that take up an entire line rather than get into single file and draft off of each other liker real racers, and the methed-out creepers on big-box store cruiser BMX bikes that just sit around on them at street corners and make people feel highly uncomfortable by staring at them.

Oh, I see. You're right. Every one should simply ride bikes like you do. Or maybe people should just ride whatever they think is awesome.

But then again I might be just ever so slightly biased because I like not having to pedal all of the time and think the Shimano Nexus-3 hub is possibly the best invention for commuters ever.

I have no idea why you're biased. I am biased about fixies because they're awesome.

[Costa Alegria]

Right, so you were wearing noise-cancelling headphones on a path that is designated multi-use for foot traffic and bicycle traffic, you were yelled at, and somehow the big bad cyclist is at fault here?

There weren't any signs specifically designating it as a shared path. It's used both by cyclists and pedestrians.

Yes that particular cyclist could have been less abrasive in his dealings with you, however you're the one that was walking in public on a multi-use path listening to music via headphones that cancel any outside noise and therefore made you a larger liability to bicycle traffic around you because they couldn't communicate their intentions with you, especially when coming up from behind.

You obviously didn't read the part of my post where it clearly says that I was walking on the left hand side of the path out of the way of cyclists. The pathway was wide enough for two people to cycle past comfortably let alone a lone pedestrian and a cyclist.

I get annoyed by people displaying ignorance and then blaming others for their own failings.

Says the man with the penis on his head. Failing is clearly something you do best, seeing as you failed to read all the crucial parts of my post because you'd rather launch into some sort of patronising rant about how selfish and ignorant pedestrians are.

In a nutshell, I get annoyed when somebodies blatant ignorance puts anybody else at risk.

I get annoyed by people who don't read posts closely enough.

[Wisconsin9]

Whenever it's warm enough and my rear tire isn't committing suicide I'll bike to and from just about everywhere.

[Gift-of-god]

Winter riding is actually quite easy, and it's not the cold that's the problem.

It's the wind.

A windbreaker with a good ass covering and elastics, neck tube, mitts that go far up the fore arm, gaiters, and a thin toque under your helmet. You're little cold at first then you warm up.

Oh, and the ice can be slippery. If roads around you are icy in the winter, you should practice losing control on slick ice a bunch of times and buy studded tires.

Lights and reflectors are also important because it's dark out.

[Wisconsin9]

Winter riding is actually quite easy, and it's not the cold that's the problem.

It's the wind.

A windbreaker with a good ass covering and elastics, neck tube, mitts that go far up the fore arm, gaiters, and a thin toque under your helmet. You're little cold at first then you warm up.

Oh, and the ice can be slippery. If roads around you are icy in the winter, you should practice losing control on slick ice a bunch of times and buy studded tires.

Lights and reflectors are also important because it's dark out.

Put all four of those together and you have a mild winter day in Madison.

[Gift-of-god]

Put all four of those together and you have a mild winter day in Madison.

I live in Canada.

[Wisconsin9]

Put all four of those together and you have a mild winter day in Madison.

I live in Canada.

Do you live in a city in between two lakes, very hilly, and just east of the Great Plains so you've got wind rolling in literally all the time?

[Gift-of-god]

Do you live in a city in between two lakes, very hilly, and just east of the Great Plains so you've got wind rolling in literally all the time?

I live in Montreal, where we recently had wind blowing cars and trucks off the road and tonight's temperature is quite a warm -13. It will go down to twenty below in the morning.

Before this starts sounding like a duck measuring contest, I will now admit I weep like a little girl on some of the colder days.

[Lunaka]

I live in flat, hot, and humid Florida, and I bike just about every other day.

[Northern Dominus]

Or because it's trendy currently to ride fixies everywhere and therefore makes things hazardous as hell and generates bad PR for bicycles becase you not only have a bunch of unskilled riders schlepping around on day-glo bicycles, but because they're mostly wanna be bike messengers they ride in the most dangerous way possible without that skill set, and the ensuing carnage is blamed on all cyclists.

Yes, the tidal wave of fixie related injuries has swamped ERs across the developed world. And the resulting backlash has killed more cyclists than a Chinese human rights incident.

Or maybe people ride fixies because it's awesome.

I'm not saying all fixie riders do that, but the ones that do are a big part of the bad PR cyclists receive. They're in the same camp of problem riders as the spandex-clad roadies with at least two power meters that take up an entire line rather than get into single file and draft off of each other liker real racers, and the methed-out creepers on big-box store cruiser BMX bikes that just sit around on them at street corners and make people feel highly uncomfortable by staring at them.

Oh, I see. You're right. Every one should simply ride bikes like you do. Or maybe people should just ride whatever they think is awesome.

But then again I might be just ever so slightly biased because I like not having to pedal all of the time and think the Shimano Nexus-3 hub is possibly the best invention for commuters ever.

I have no idea why you're biased. I am biased about fixies because they're awesome.

First, I never indicated that fixies alone were related to skyrocketing bicycle injury rates. However they are part of a wave of petulant "look at me" cyclists who take the whole bike rights thing a little far afield, especially in larger urban areas where the hipsters tend to congregate.

And when did I reference that EVERY SINGLE roadie or BMXer is either of the stereotypes that I mentioned? If I have to get that specific fine, those are exceptions to the rule. However they're ultra visible and the public, being the public, automatically associates those subgroups with everyone and it doesn't do anyone any favors.

And bias is a human thing. We have preferences. That's why I think technology and freewheels are good things and integrate them onto my own daily "commuter" bicycle, and why you prefer fixies. I just happen to think that given the skill level of most fixie riders I've observed they're more trouble than they're worth, especially since they're almost intrinsically connected to the hipster subculture where they're more of a fashion accessory than a means of transportation. And forgive me if I don't think the ability to ride backwards rather shakily and skid at will is worth trading in a tighter turning circle and not paying a premium for a BMX cog and a singlespeed crank.

[Gift-of-god]

Fixies are awesome because they are simply the sweetest cycling experience known to humanity.

And I go faster than anyone else uphill.

[Northern Dominus]

Fixies are awesome because they are simply the sweetest cycling experience known to humanity.

And I go faster than anyone else uphill.

Right, so its low geared...how good are you on the flats then

[Rereumrari]

I tried since I don't have a car, but the terrain is way too hilly for my bike, so I just take the bus.

[Northern Dominus]

I tried since I don't have a car, but the terrain is way too hilly for my bike, so I just take the bus.

What kind of bike do you have? And there's no shame in walking the bike uphill if its too tough to make it up. Keep it up and eventually you'll be able to ride up those hills, no problem.

[Rereumrari]

I tried since I don't have a car, but the terrain is way too hilly for my bike, so I just take the bus.

What kind of bike do you have? And there's no shame in walking the bike uphill if its too tough to make it up. Keep it up and eventually you'll be able to ride up those hills, no problem.

It's just a cheap bike from Wal-Mart lol. The brand name is Avalon and its gears go up to 7. That's all I really know about it.

[Northern Dominus]

What kind of bike do you have? And there's no shame in walking the bike uphill if its too tough to make it up. Keep it up and eventually you'll be able to ride up those hills, no problem.

It's just a cheap bike from Wal-Mart lol. The brand name is Avalon and its gears go up to 7. That's all I really know about it.

Oh yey.

I take it back, kill that abomination with fire and go to your local bike shop to find a proper bicycle. Believe me, the difference is astounding.

[Wisconsin9]

Do you live in a city in between two lakes, very hilly, and just east of the Great Plains so you've got wind rolling in literally all the time?

I live in Montreal, where we recently had wind blowing cars and trucks off the road and tonight's temperature is quite a warm -13. It will go down to twenty below in the morning.

Before this starts sounding like a duck measuring contest, I will now admit I weep like a little girl on some of the colder days.

It's a matter of principle that I don't surrender. I will, however, make a tactical retreat.

[Northern Dominus]

I live in Montreal, where we recently had wind blowing cars and trucks off the road and tonight's temperature is quite a warm -13. It will go down to twenty below in the morning.

Before this starts sounding like a duck measuring contest, I will now admit I weep like a little girl on some of the colder days.

It's a matter of principle that I don't surrender. I will, however, make a tactical retreat.

Only to get the mountain bike, wait till the trails thaw, the point and laugh at everyone who hasn't discovered the magic of flowing singletrack, knobby tires, and microwbrew?

[Frisbeeteria]

Says the man with the penis on his head.

I'm not quite sure if you think you're starting a meme or you think you're being clever by quoting one, but it doesn't really matter. Knock it off. NOW. Your record for flamebating is spotty enough that you can't afford to even appear like you're doing it.

[Trollgaard]

No, I prefer not to be a road hazard and a nuisance to other people.

That explains why you don't drive a car, but this thread is about bicycles.

I explained why I don't cycle quite clearly.

[Genivaria]

I wish I could drive to my job interviews, I absolutely hate driving my car in public.
I've been in once accident and the knowledge that it takes only one idiot to be distracted or to hesitate when they should move to cause a potentially deadly accident makes me nervous behind the wheel.

[Curiosityness]

We have a trash bag for cans

[Northern Dominus]

I wish I could drive to my job interviews, I absolutely hate driving my car in public.
I've been in once accident and the knowledge that it takes only one idiot to be distracted or to hesitate when they should move to cause a potentially deadly accident makes me nervous behind the wheel.

Which is why protected bicycle lanes are indeed a wonderful thing:
http://theexpiredmeter.com/wp-content/u ... -lanes.jpg

Does a lot to not only make sure everyone is safe but reduce the whole "who goes where and has the right of way when" arguments, although one can never fully account for clueless pedestrians.

That being said there will always be the deviant assholes who, despite having protected lanes, will insist on riding in traffic. Usually they're of the specific urban variety that thinks its trendy to wear "Ironic" t-shirts and sip PBR on their gaudy ridiculous fixed-gear bicycles, but not always. Either way I have no problems screaming at them to use the goddamn bike lanes or I'll laugh when they get run over by a pissed-off bus driver.