cycling and hearing damage?

Elmo Spam King

On Tue, 13 Apr 2004 08:26:16 -0700, Jeff Starr wrote:
> Ok, I have to ask, what is so bad about taking your bike to a place to
> ride? I refer to:
>> Worst, of course, is those people who put their bicycles on top of
>> their cars to take them out to "rides" every weekend.

Well, why bother taking your bike out on your car when you can take your
body out on your bike? It's like putting a tent up over your house to
keep it dry.

The only reason to put a bicycle on or in a motor vehicle is if you're
transporting more vehicles than people or either the rider or bike are
somehow broken.

> What I think is "worst" is when people want to dictate on how and where
> others ride.

I don't see much of that going on.

> You know when I see some guy out on a 30 year old road bike, with the
> dropbars turned up, with accessories all over the bike, it would be easy
> to critize them.

Huh? On what grounds would you criticize the guy? He's got some unusual
tastes, certainly, but if he's got a bike that's 30+ years old and still
ridable, I give him big props.

> Instead, I give anyone credit who is out riding. They are getting some
> exercise and are enjoying bicycling, in their own way.

Phew, while you've totally won that battle, the war against straw is not
over! The straw men MUST be destroyed! Keep stuffing!

Sorry, but who the heck would do anything BUT give that hypothetical guy
credit?

> When I started riding, after parking the the bike for 25 years, I wasn't
> very comfortable riding in traffic. I still prefer not to be in traffic.

You ARE traffic.

> So I put the bike on a car rack and drive to a nearby parkway, that then
> gives me many options on route and distance. Occasionally I drive the
> bike quite a distance to take advantage of a paved trail that goes for
> over 30 miles, the Ozaukee Interurban Trail. I have my limitations and
> first having to ride through the city to get to this ride, would sure
> limit how far I could go on it.

Well, keep at it. Keep riding out to the trail and one day you'll be able
to make the full circuit. Sounds like a good motivator!

But really, you're not going to get over your fears by avoiding them. And
this particular fear has negative impact on everybody not just you.

> I guess the point is, rather than find fault in anothers riding habits
> or dictate how and when they should ride, show some tolerance for
> others.

Do you show tolerance for smokers that stand next to you while you're
eating or next to your newborn baby? Do you show tolerance for public
drunkenness?

Sure, in the situation, you show tact and appropriate respect for the
individuals you must confront, but you can't just sit back and let other
people's laziness and hedonism (and if you're able-bodied and driving a
car, 99 times out of 100 that's what's making you do it) degrade people,
society, and the entire planet.

> We aren't all commuters,

You work at home? I do that several days a week, but it's not an option
every day. When I can't work at home, I commute.

> for me anyway, I bike for recreation, exercise, and because it is fun.

Me, too! I love riding my bicycle and I try to put as much physical
effort into it as I can in order to maximize the exercise I get. I
capitalize on my need to travel in my daily life by using that time for
recreation, exercise and fun!

> I get a great deal of satisfaction out of riding 15-20 miles, 5 or 6
> days a week, weather permitting.

If you used your bicycle instead of your car for daily travel, you'd have
more time either on the bike or doing something else you love.

> That's right, I'm a fair weather rider.

<URL: http://www.burley.com/products/raingear/default.aspx >

It's like magic. The weather's always fair in a good rain suit. Just
pretend it's a very small, flexible car or a house you can wear.

> Life is Good!

Imagine how much better it could be!

EK