First real ride!
No pics, we were moving too fast! Today Rick and I (the guy who went on the North Holland trip with me) went on return commute ride together. We left work about 16 30 and did the 11 or so miles(17 or so km) in about 1 hour 10 (keep in mind I ride a single speed Mountain Bike). We zig zagged in and out of residential streets keeping off the main car commuter roads. It was very pleasant. We got down to the train platform about 17 40 just in time for the 17 44 train going west bound. I took the train two stops and Rick took it almost to the end of the line on the far west side. From there I rode another 3 miles (5km) home. I felt so pumped!
This ride today was the realization of what Rick and I have been talking about doing for almost two years. You might ask, what took us so long? Upon interspection, I really feel that driving to work in Cleveland (if you live in Cuyahoga county) is like eating a fast food burger; simple, compact, no surprises, efficient (if your car is running good), and is easy to digest(mentally). Where as commuting by public transport is like eating bugs for protein. You don't want to do it, it is nasty, it kind of feels weird as it goes down into your stomach, but in the end is functional for staying alive. Maybe that is a bit harsh, but I think that is the first impression that probably 99% of the car commuters have when thinking of travelling in this fashion.
Really, I felt the same way. Just the other day, but when Rick and I got down to the platform we looked at each other and said, "that was easy!"
Cycling into work is great too. I am not a sports fanatic or a athelete in training, just a guy who likes to drink beer, eat frites with mayo and I love burgers! So... what to do with all these calories?? I don't know!! Excercise or something, maybe but that is like putting in overtime hours at the office. So, I figured to continue with the habits I picked up in Holland, and just get it done. Just ride, walk, take the bus/train. Be mobile on my own, without the four walls.
Now the only thing I need is a big chain! To lock my bike, I observed how the riders in NYC do it, they get a chain that is like huge and wrap it around their waist when they ride, and as a security measure, I think you need a mig welder to break the thing.
This ride today was the realization of what Rick and I have been talking about doing for almost two years. You might ask, what took us so long? Upon interspection, I really feel that driving to work in Cleveland (if you live in Cuyahoga county) is like eating a fast food burger; simple, compact, no surprises, efficient (if your car is running good), and is easy to digest(mentally). Where as commuting by public transport is like eating bugs for protein. You don't want to do it, it is nasty, it kind of feels weird as it goes down into your stomach, but in the end is functional for staying alive. Maybe that is a bit harsh, but I think that is the first impression that probably 99% of the car commuters have when thinking of travelling in this fashion.
Really, I felt the same way. Just the other day, but when Rick and I got down to the platform we looked at each other and said, "that was easy!"
Cycling into work is great too. I am not a sports fanatic or a athelete in training, just a guy who likes to drink beer, eat frites with mayo and I love burgers! So... what to do with all these calories?? I don't know!! Excercise or something, maybe but that is like putting in overtime hours at the office. So, I figured to continue with the habits I picked up in Holland, and just get it done. Just ride, walk, take the bus/train. Be mobile on my own, without the four walls.
Now the only thing I need is a big chain! To lock my bike, I observed how the riders in NYC do it, they get a chain that is like huge and wrap it around their waist when they ride, and as a security measure, I think you need a mig welder to break the thing.
posted by flockjcu at 6:08 PM
1 Comments:
fyi, your text is setting up funny next to pictures in your most recent post. i am viewing your page on mozilla firefox on a mac running osx
also, great writing here >>
"I really feel that driving to work in Cleveland (if you live in Cuyahoga county) is like eating a fast food burger; simple, compact, no surprises, efficient (if your car is running good), and is easy to digest(mentally). Where as commuting by public transport is like eating bugs for protein. You don't want to do it, it is nasty, it kind of feels weird as it goes down into your stomach, but in the end is functional for staying alive. Maybe that is a bit harsh, but I think that is the first impression that probably 99% of the car commuters have when thinking of travelling in this fashion."
excellent point and very well said.
enjoy the blog. keep it up!
let me know if you are ever in the OC, we'll grab a belgian brew at the bier market.
be sure to check out this sunday's walk and roll at rockafeller park and maybe clevelandbikes.org for local advocacy. we CAN change this city!
pEACE,
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