A large disconnect

Been cycling to work and have taken note of one hell of a
large disconnect between the average weekend cyclist and
the people who used their bikes for commuting to work.

When I ride around the local golf course, all I see are high
end bikes running many thousands of dollars in price. I never
never see a low end bike and in fact my trek touring bike in
at the low end of this group.

And when I am cycling to work all I see are the very very
low end machines, the kind you pick up a Walmart for a hundred
dollars. Theses cyclists had commented on what a great bike I own,
something that never happen around the weekend cyclists!

Yes it make sense that a large percent of thoses who used
a bike to commuted to work are doing so out of need and can
not afford a higher end bike, but you would think that at least
some of the people who own thousand dollars plus bikes and take
them out on the weekends would also from time to time used them
to get to work.

So far in many thousands of miles of cycling, I can't think of one
time I saw a high end bike being used as a tool to get to work,
other then mine, or a lower end bike being ridden for the joy of
it by an adult.

Bill M

"Bill from Miami" wrote in message
oups.com...

So far in many thousands of miles of cycling, I can't think of one
time I saw a high end bike being used as a tool to get to work,
other then mine, or a lower end bike being ridden for the joy of
it by an adult.


If we're talking commuters, I see just about everything on the road on the
way to work. Thinking about who I typically see...easily about two dozen
folks coming the other way to the suburbs while I'm going in to the city.
There's maybe 10% are on old mountain bikes, not suspension-types, but old
hard-tails. 10% on suspension mountain bikes, including immigrants on *mart
bikes. 20% on old road bikes, defined as having downtube shifters, of
various quality, ranging from old 70s Japanese bikes up to some old nice Ti
bikes. Maybe another 20% on hybrid/comfort style bikes? 30% on newer style
road/touring bike, but nothing such that you suck in your breath with the
idea that this guy spent $5000 on a bike. One or two recumbents I see on a
regular basis. And there's some small fraction of folks where yeah, they
probably did drop big bucks on that bike.

Maybe it's just different in Miami than it is in Seattle, who knows?

--
Warm Regards,

Claire Petersky
http://www.bicyclemeditations.org/
See the books I've set free at: http://bookcrossing.com/referral/Cpetersky

Maybe it's just different in Miami than it is in Seattle, who knows?
--
Warm Regards,

Claire Petersky

Claire I had always hear that Settle is a very very bike friendly area
compare to the rest of the country.

Miami is not all that friendly to cyclists in my opinion and there are
only two people at the moment cycling in at my place of employment, a
few hundreds person manufacturing faculty. Myself and a temp employee
with a Walmart type machine.

The fact that I cycle in is view with amusement and some shock that
anyone would use a bike to travel the long distance of 17 miles!

Now Key West have bikes all over, but that is the only spot of land in
the south florida area that I seen that.

Bill M

I think it's an image thing...

I've seen plenty of Treks, Giants, and the odd Marin on my morning commute.

== I myself ride an old 12 speed, redone as a commuter. Features MTB
gears, MTB bars, Freddy Fenders...well, you know. There ain't an original
part on it save the wheels and the frame, eh? ==

I also carry a day-glo orange mini-ruck (which I refer to as "an apartment
with straps")

Now...in all seriousness:

Could you really see ANY of those "weekend warriors" hopping curbs, riding
graveled or crushed clay trails and hauling around 10lbs of stuff while
riding a 2200$ Colnago?? Could you see any of them doing it in a Rain
Poncho?

Heck no...

Just my 0.02$ worth.

Brian.

Work to eat.
Eat to live.
Live to Ride.
Ride to work...

Bill from Miami wrote:
So far in many thousands of miles of cycling, I can't think of one
time I saw a high end bike being used as a tool to get to work,
other then mine, or a lower end bike being ridden for the joy of
it by an adult.

Bill M

In Salt Lake, one sees more quality bikes on the commute, about 1/10 to
1/5.

There are cyclists, and then there are people riding bikes.

--
Lynn Wallace http://www.xmission.com/~lawall
I have nothing but contempt and anger for those who betray the
trust by exposing the name of our sources. They are, in my view,
the most insidious of traitors."
George H.W. Bush, April 16, 1999,

When I rode into my LBS with my 40lb son in a bike seat on the back of my
cannondale road bike they just shook their heads. The rear wheel was shot
from the abuse bent rim ect...


"Bill from Miami" wrote in message
oups.com...
Been cycling to work and have taken note of one hell of a
large disconnect between the average weekend cyclist and
the people who used their bikes for commuting to work.

When I ride around the local golf course, all I see are high
end bikes running many thousands of dollars in price. I never
never see a low end bike and in fact my trek touring bike in
at the low end of this group.

And when I am cycling to work all I see are the very very
low end machines, the kind you pick up a Walmart for a hundred
dollars. Theses cyclists had commented on what a great bike I own,
something that never happen around the weekend cyclists!

Yes it make sense that a large percent of thoses who used
a bike to commuted to work are doing so out of need and can
not afford a higher end bike, but you would think that at least
some of the people who own thousand dollars plus bikes and take
them out on the weekends would also from time to time used them
to get to work.

So far in many thousands of miles of cycling, I can't think of one
time I saw a high end bike being used as a tool to get to work,
other then mine, or a lower end bike being ridden for the joy of
it by an adult.

Bill M

Bill from Miami wrote:
Been cycling to work and have taken note of one hell of a
large disconnect between the average weekend cyclist and
the people who used their bikes for commuting to work.

How many Ferraris and Lambos do you see commuting compared to weekend
jaunts?

Here it's similar but I think there is a reason. For example, I ride
weekends on my high end bike, but commute on my rather rough mtn bike
(or did until it was stolen). The reason is that when commuting I may
need to hit a sidewalk, jump a curb, run through a field and can't
tolerate a flat so I use a heavier bike.

Also around here those who commute on bikes are often those who are on
drunk driving breaks or too poor to own a truck. Both lend themselves to
cheaper bikes.

I do see some higher end bikes commuting with me, but not nearly the
show you see on weekends or in club rides.

-paul

Bill from Miami wrote:

So far in many thousands of miles of cycling, I can't think of one
time I saw a high end bike being used as a tool to get to work,
other then mine, or a lower end bike being ridden for the joy of
it by an adult.

I have a friend who did everything from a 15 mile/day commute to ultramarathons
on a Klein, after 8 years the frame died of fatigue. Frame #2 lasted over
ten years, he had already quit doing the ultramarathon races. His idea of a
camping trip is to find some big hills and ride 80-160 miles per day with tent,
sleeping bag, etc on board. One recent winter (in Michigan) he drove a car
to work five times. He did use an old Shogun in the worst weather, the
Klein doesn't have fenders. Over 200 days a year, he can be seen commuting
in relatively heavy traffic on a Klein road bike.
Note to Trek: You need to resume production of the Klein Performance, it was
a much more versatile long distance bike than the Quantum. I don't know anybody
who has been able to stand riding a Quantum for long enough to wear out two frames.

Mitch.

Originally Posted by Bill from Miami

Been cycling to work and have taken note of one hell of a
large disconnect between the average weekend cyclist and
the people who used their bikes for commuting to work.

When I ride around the local golf course, all I see are high
end bikes running many thousands of dollars in price. I never
never see a low end bike and in fact my trek touring bike in
at the low end of this group.

And when I am cycling to work all I see are the very very
low end machines, the kind you pick up a Walmart for a hundred
dollars. Theses cyclists had commented on what a great bike I own,
something that never happen around the weekend cyclists!

Yes it make sense that a large percent of thoses who used
a bike to commuted to work are doing so out of need and can
not afford a higher end bike, but you would think that at least
some of the people who own thousand dollars plus bikes and take
them out on the weekends would also from time to time used them
to get to work.

So far in many thousands of miles of cycling, I can't think of one
time I saw a high end bike being used as a tool to get to work,
other then mine, or a lower end bike being ridden for the joy of
it by an adult.

Bill M

This assumes that the the guy with the top end bike only owns one bike. Personally I never used my best bike for commuting because:-

There was no decent bike parking at work, meaning it would be left out in all weathers.
There would be a significant risk of it being stolen whilst out of my sight.
Riding in all weathers was mechanically punishing, it got dirty quickly when used every day (without the opportunity to clean it after every trip)

I decided on a second (third,fourth,fifth?) hand, very much older frame, but of good quality lightweight construction. It had been a top end frame in its day, but was now pretty long in the tooth. However, its engineering quality was unchanged, it was well made, nicely balanced and rode as sweet as a nut. Brush painted an unattractive green to dissuade thieves, fitted with panniers for carrying tools, weather gear, and any other luggage, fitted with a dynamo (generator) lighting set, mudguards, and mid range lightweight mechanicals (again rather outdated but still of decent performance without being over priced), it served me well for over 12 years until I retired, and is still in daily use. It's dropped bars suit me more than using straights, and stops it looking like a mountain bike. Since mountain bikes are all that your average thief understands this also makes it less likely to be stolen!

A club mate of mine rides a top range machine for weekend rides, but his commuting bike is a diabolical engineering disgrace. His reasoning is that it is plenty good enough to get wrecked or stolen, and can be cheaply replaced by a token payment to the bloke at the recycling site for a salvagable bike some dumbo has thrown out with the garbage.

I reckon a lot of those bottom end clunkers you see may belong to guys with much better bikes who don't want their best machine to get ruined or stolen.

Paul Cassel wrote:

Also around here those who commute on bikes are often those who are on
drunk driving breaks or too poor to own a truck. Both lend themselves to
cheaper bikes.

Thanks for perpetuating a stereotype!