Ever Ride in City Traffic?

"wafflycat" waffles*A*T*v21net*D*O*T*co*D*O*T*uk wrote in message
...

"Paul Hobson" wrote in message
...


Paris was easily the scariest. Also, it was my first time riding on the
streets of a major city ever, so let's throw that one out.


Yet I loved cycling in Paris - the Parisian rush hour was so easy! Yes, it
was busy, but the motorists had such an excellent attitude to cyclists,
giving me loads of room. As well as me cycling, my husband and our then 14
year-old son cycled said Parisian rush hour, and we all thought the same.
At the hotel where we were staying was an American (Texan, but no, not
that one) who was also cycling and he too thought cycling in Paris was
fun. Are we talking the same Paris? ;-)

Cheers, helen s

helen s most likely has Paris, France confused with Paris, Texas. Paris,
Texas is doubtless a fun town in which to ride a bicycle. Paris, France is a
haven for traitors and cowards to the West and a real American would not be
caught dead there on a bicycle - or on anything else either for that matter.
Let us leave the despicable French to themselves. The less said about them
the better.

Ed Dolan the Great - Minnesota

"NYC XYZ" wrote in message
oups.com...

Edward Dolan wrote:

Why post this message to multiple newsgroups when what you want to know
will
only be found on ARBR.

I doubt that. I didn't even know ARBR existed until half-way through
my research into recumbents!

We are an elite group of cyclists and we do not often deign to honor others
with our august presence.

I once spent several years in NYC and never saw a single recumbent
bicycle.
Forget nyc.general.

You tend to see them mostly during the annual 5 Boro Bike Tour, but you
know, it was this past Thursday, when I saw the stereotypical fat
bearded middle-aged white guy on a 'bent that I remembered my long-ago
interest in those bikes.

That must have been Larry Varney of this group that you saw. He is old, he
is ugly and he has a white beard down to his knees. He is from Kentucky but
he likes to get around and do tours in various parts of the country.

Rec.bicycles.misc is too miscellaneous for any information of a
worthwhile
nature.

I dunno...was hoping there'd be folks like myself, upright riders who
also believe in the virtues of a 'bent.

Nope, ARBR is your best bet. Most upright cyclists do not know squat about
recumbents, and what they think they do know is mostly wrong.

I guess I'll stick to my Trek 7500FX for NYC, then, and use a 'bent for
other travels.

You have got that right, NYC XYZ!

If you want to know something about recumbents, then post to ARBR and
only
to ARBR. After all, we are the experts on the subject of recumbents. All
you
will get from other newsgroups is a lot of bum information.

Ed Dolan the Great - Minnesota

Yes, Your Cycleness!

Jeez! NYC XYZ has got me figured out to perfection after just one post.
These NYC guys are just plan smarter than us Midwestern yokels. I keep
telling my local newsgroup (ARBR) that if they can't accept me as their God,
then they can at the least accept me as their King.

Hmm...is it not possible to have a rather more upright position -- but
still relatively reclined compared to real uprights -- and maybe front
wheel drive? Someone ought to design a bike that's half-way between an
upright and a 'bent...it'd be more upright than 'bent, but still
recognizably non-upright...the legs are elevated just enough to allow
for a real seat, but an upright otherwise so as to be manuverable....

You do not want any kind of a reclined position for the kind of riding you
have to do in the big city. New York is not Podunk, or even Minneapolis. If
and when you want to ride a recumbent, you will have to get out of the city
and find a sensible sized town.

I think the only way I would ever ride a recumbent in NYC is on a bike path
and/or if they closed the streets to automotive traffic. Do they not do this
in Central Park on weekends? I think it would be one hell of a lot of fun to
ride a recumbent bike in Central Park. You would be the center of attention.

Ed Dolan the Great - Minnesota

"NYC XYZ" wrote in message
oups.com...

NYC, that is! On a weekday in mid-town Manhattan?

I've lived in and around NYC all my life. When I was riding into Manhattan
on a regular basis it was always on an upright. I would be willing to do the
occasional ride or even commute but I wouldn't want to spend my days zipping
through midtown traffic on a 'bent. For bent riding I'd limit myself to the
extreme west side, extreme east side, and Central Park.

I manage to **** off enough drivers in the 'burbs by taking up a lane of
traffic on my trike. I could only imaging how the Manhattanites would find
it.


How do you lock up a 'bent, anyway?


I use a lock that is shaped like a large pair of handcuffs and I use a
supplimental cable to go through the wheels. Still I wouldn't lock up my
bike or trike in NYC where it wouldn't be in my constant view.

Is it good for weaving in and out of traffic?
Does it brake just like an upright?
Is it harder to go real slow?
Ever run red lights with them?
How would they fare on the sidewalk? How well do they go over curbs
and speed bumps?

I think that for this type of riding an upright is going to be better.

And they're actually worse for certain kinds of back problems???

That is what I've heard although I don't have back problems. I ride them for
comfort. If I were working on my bike in NYC I doubt it would be a 'bent.

There have recently been a lot of Pedicabs in NYC and they are almost all
upright. I think you want the kind of power and control afforded by an
upright when you are trying to get through traffic. Bikes are not well
respected by either pedestrians or drivers in NYC.

NYC XYZ wrote:

How do you lock up a 'bent, anyway?

U-lock around the frame or steering riser

Is it good for weaving in and out of traffic?

Depends on the bike. The Speedmachine I use as my #1 commuting bike (in
central London) is not very good at this; the Kingcycle I ran for many years
was almost as handy as an upright.

Does it brake just like an upright?

Better.

Is it harder to go real slow?

Not with practice, though track-stands are out.

Ever run red lights with them?

No. Nor on an upright bike or in a motorcar.

How would they fare on the sidewalk? How well do they go over curbs
and speed bumps?

I neither know nor care, coz I ride on the road.

Ever get mugged on one? (Serious! Twice I had to jet away from some
miscreants in broad daylight in the parks.)

No.

And apparently they make lots of squeaky noises??

No.

And they're actually worse for certain kinds of back problems???

Can't say I've noticed...

--
Dave Larrington - http://www.legslarry.beerdrinkers.co.uk/
Apparently Guy has now got a Brompton. I'd never have guessed.

On 17 Jul 2005 17:33:54 -0700, "NYC XYZ"
wrote:

How do you lock up a 'bent, anyway?

I use a Master Street Cuff round the main tube behind the steerer.

Is it good for weaving in and out of traffic?

Not particularly, a higher bike, maybe with USS, is probably better
for that than a sports bike like mine.

Does it brake just like an upright?

Much better :-)

Is it harder to go real slow?

Not really.

Ever run red lights with them?

I imagine it's not different than running them on a wedgie, but no I
don't (on either)

How would they fare on the sidewalk? How well do they go over curbs
and speed bumps?

I have no idea, I have never felt the slightest urge to find out!

Ever get mugged on one? (Serious! Twice I had to jet away from some
miscreants in broad daylight in the parks.)

No. I've never met anyone who could keep up for long :-)

And apparently they make lots of squeaky noises??

LOL! So do any bikes if you neglect them! Mine runs pretty much
silently

And they're actually worse for certain kinds of back problems???

Allegedly.


Guy
--
http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk

"Let’s have a moment of silence for all those Americans who are stuck
in traffic on their way to the gym to ride the stationary bicycle."
- Earl Blumenauer

wrote:
Like http://www.easyracers.com/ ?


Hey, cool!

But why is the $5K titanium modeal almost 27 lbs.???

Would also like a 26/26 version....

I'll go out on a limb here and volunteer the name of a very nice gentleman
who runs a messenger service in downtown Manhattan that you could talk to
and possible test ride one of his several recumbents.
Shelly Mossy
I borrowed his EZ1 last August for the day
Any *head first* style vehicle is out of the question for this person no
matter what the reason.
LWB oss works well in the tight confines of NYC, SF, Seattle, L.A., Indy
and Portland
the only big cities I have had the chance to ride.
Speedy

NYC XYZ wrote:

NYC, that is! On a weekday in mid-town Manhattan? I did bike
messenging for almost two months one summer -- only job where I wish I
had more time in the day for (second hardest after Army infantry, no
joke!) -- and now that I'm curious about recumbents, I'm trying to
picture myself in all kinds of situations.

How do you lock up a 'bent, anyway?

Is it good for weaving in and out of traffic?

Does it brake just like an upright?

Is it harder to go real slow?

Ever run red lights with them?

How would they fare on the sidewalk? How well do they go over curbs
and speed bumps?

Ever get mugged on one? (Serious! Twice I had to jet away from some
miscreants in broad daylight in the parks.)

And apparently they make lots of squeaky noises??

And they're actually worse for certain kinds of back problems???


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NYC XYZ wrote:
How do you lock up a 'bent, anyway?

Standard issue bicycle chain. Almost nobody rides one, so it's much less
in demand than ATB's and racebikes.

Is it good for weaving in and out of traffic?

Depends on traffic. Very dense city traffic : nope. Any other kind of
city traffic : yes.

Does it brake just like an upright?

Roughly the same to better. Used to ride an ATB with v-brakes, now on a
Optima Baron with discbrakes. The only difference is that you tend to
drive the recumbent much faster.

Is it harder to go real slow?

Nope and remember practise makes perfect ;-)

Ever run red lights with them?

Almost every light I encounter on my daily commute.

How would they fare on the sidewalk? How well do they go over curbs
and speed bumps?

Hmmm. My bike has no springs whatsoever, so in my case real steep bumps
cause me to slow down. Normal speedbumps are no problem.

Ever get mugged on one? (Serious! Twice I had to jet away from some
miscreants in broad daylight in the parks.)

Nope.

And apparently they make lots of squeaky noises??

Nope.

And they're actually worse for certain kinds of back problems???

So are uprights. I have a bad back, by the way nothing to do with me
starting to ride a recumbent. Even bought and tested my bike while being
under serious pain. Once I'm on the bike the pain is gone.

My city travels are made in Amsterdam and The Hague (The Netherlands).
Amsterdam is pretty relaxed compared to the italian like scenes one
sometimes encounters in the Hague. Been to NYC as well and would drive
my bike anyday.

Arnold.

In article .com, NYC
XYZ wrote:

NYC, that is! On a weekday in mid-town Manhattan? I did bike
messenging for almost two months one summer -- only job where I wish I
had more time in the day for (second hardest after Army infantry, no
joke!) -- and now that I'm curious about recumbents, I'm trying to
picture myself in all kinds of situations.

There is a documentary called "Pedal" about the messengers in NYC. An
odd group of people to be sure. (crackheads, one legged riders, jesus
preachers) I recommend it to anyone that rides a bike. One fellow in
the movie rides a BikeE for his messenger work.
Some ride track bikes. Which to me seems completely crazy because these
track bikes typically don't have brakes. So if you think riding a bent
in NYC is crazy, there are far crazier bikers on the road than a bent
rider.

wafflycat wrote:

"Paul Hobson" wrote in message
...


Paris was easily the scariest. Also, it was my first time riding on
the streets of a major city ever, so let's throw that one out.


Yet I loved cycling in Paris - the Parisian rush hour was so easy! Yes,
it was busy, but the motorists had such an excellent attitude to
cyclists, giving me loads of room. As well as me cycling, my husband and
our then 14 year-old son cycled said Parisian rush hour, and we all
thought the same. At the hotel where we were staying was an American
(Texan, but no, not that one) who was also cycling and he too thought
cycling in Paris was fun. Are we talking the same Paris? ;-)

Cheers, helen s



I'm sure I'd love Paris now. But riding from wherever the hell I was to
Le Louvre was scary as hell for a 17 yr-old kid who had never ridden a
road bike before and had zero experience riding on streets (my hometown
has a series of golfcart/bike/ped. paths that connect the whole town).

Looking back on it...I'd eat all up now

--
Paul M. Hobson
Georgia Institute of Technology
http://www.underthecouch.org
..:you may want to fix my email
address before you send anything:.