Comments on: We’re rolling with a Bike Month video #ghcc http://blog.cascade.org/2011/05/were-rolling/ Creating a better community through bicycling, throughout Seattle, King County and Washington state. Fri, 24 May 2013 16:22:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Merlene Shedlock http://blog.cascade.org/2011/05/were-rolling/comment-page-1/#comment-22201 Merlene Shedlock Thu, 16 Jun 2011 10:00:59 +0000 http://blog.cascade.org/?p=5893#comment-22201 Riding with groups of people is good to start with. Helps to boost courage while your out there navigating with vehicles. Riding with groups of people is good to start with. Helps to boost courage while your out there navigating with vehicles.

]]> By: The first-time commuter arrives at work #ghcc « Cascade Bicycle Club Blog http://blog.cascade.org/2011/05/were-rolling/comment-page-1/#comment-21013 The first-time commuter arrives at work #ghcc « Cascade Bicycle Club Blog Sat, 28 May 2011 01:01:40 +0000 http://blog.cascade.org/?p=5893#comment-21013 [...] case you missed them, here’s where to catch video #1 and video #2 in the [...] [...] case you missed them, here’s where to catch video #1 and video #2 in the [...]

]]> By: On the road again (with video camera) #ghcc « Cascade Bicycle Club Blog http://blog.cascade.org/2011/05/were-rolling/comment-page-1/#comment-20700 On the road again (with video camera) #ghcc « Cascade Bicycle Club Blog Mon, 23 May 2011 18:44:43 +0000 http://blog.cascade.org/?p=5893#comment-20700 [...] it is — the second in Cascade’s very own Bike Month video series. Please note: These videos are not meant to be a comprehensive overview of everything a first-time [...] [...] it is — the second in Cascade’s very own Bike Month video series. Please note: These videos are not meant to be a comprehensive overview of everything a first-time [...]

]]> By: Cindy http://blog.cascade.org/2011/05/were-rolling/comment-page-1/#comment-20413 Cindy Wed, 18 May 2011 17:38:53 +0000 http://blog.cascade.org/?p=5893#comment-20413 Mike: I concur with everything in your statement - no you do not need to look like you are riding the Tour de France..... - respectfully with the exception of: no helmet Perhaps if you are riding on flat terrain, not likely around here, you MAY not need one. However - as its not likely that you will be riding flat - its more likely that you will be at least some decents, and you will be riding in traffic. If you crash and burn with no helmet, chances are very good that you are going to suffer cranial injury. I have been riding (commuting) for a number of years now - when I started, I felt like you do - no helmet necessary, they look doofy, they smoosh your hair, etc. Until - I met a person that I work with, that had the unpleasant experience while commuting, of having a thoughtless (and brainless) individual open their car door without looking. My friend was launched like a human projectile, and hit so hard that his helmet split in two. He was OK, his helmet was not. If he had not been wearing the helmet, it would have been his skull that was split asunder. he is a very careful rider, was riding in accordance with the law, and has been riding for many years. IF you are riding in traffic as you should be, and not on the sidewalk, for your commute, the helmet is not optional equipmnent - (and its the law). Mike:
I concur with everything in your statement – no you do not need to look like you are riding the Tour de France….. – respectfully with the exception of: no helmet
Perhaps if you are riding on flat terrain, not likely around here, you MAY not need one. However – as its not likely that you will be riding flat – its more likely that you will be at least some decents, and you will be riding in traffic. If you crash and burn with no helmet, chances are very good that you are going to suffer cranial injury. I have been riding (commuting) for a number of years now – when I started, I felt like you do – no helmet necessary, they look doofy, they smoosh your hair, etc. Until – I met a person that I work with, that had the unpleasant experience while commuting, of having a thoughtless (and brainless) individual open their car door without looking. My friend was launched like a human projectile, and hit so hard that his helmet split in two. He was OK, his helmet was not. If he had not been wearing the helmet, it would have been his skull that was split asunder. he is a very careful rider, was riding in accordance with the law, and has been riding for many years. IF you are riding in traffic as you should be, and not on the sidewalk, for your commute, the helmet is not optional equipmnent – (and its the law).

]]> By: Mike Stead http://blog.cascade.org/2011/05/were-rolling/comment-page-1/#comment-20334 Mike Stead Wed, 18 May 2011 05:59:44 +0000 http://blog.cascade.org/?p=5893#comment-20334 Hi Stacey, How far is your commute, in both distance and time it takes you? How about you remake the video, showing yourself in your normal work clothes, getting onto a proper commuter bike - one with an enclosed chainguard, nice upright handlebars and a carrier/basket. If I filmed my commute, it would be me in jeans, collared shirt and Tweed jacket, no helmet, no tools, riding out my drive to the train, then from the train to my work in London. Maybe 3 miles of cycling all-up, but if you doubled or tripled that all it would mean was another 15 minutes ride. I wouldn't change clothes or require a toolkit. I argue that no-one has to cycle so far and up so many hills that they *need* professional cycling gear. People cycletour hundreds of miles a day in 'normal' clothes. There's a massive industry and vested interests from your local bike shop to sell you all this cack. It's off-putting. No-one's going to lay out $300 to buy all this stuff just to try cycle commuting for a week. Cheers Mike Hi Stacey,

How far is your commute, in both distance and time it takes you?

How about you remake the video, showing yourself in your normal work clothes, getting onto a proper commuter bike – one with an enclosed chainguard, nice upright handlebars and a carrier/basket.

If I filmed my commute, it would be me in jeans, collared shirt and Tweed jacket, no helmet, no tools, riding out my drive to the train, then from the train to my work in London. Maybe 3 miles of cycling all-up, but if you doubled or tripled that all it would mean was another 15 minutes ride. I wouldn’t change clothes or require a toolkit.

I argue that no-one has to cycle so far and up so many hills that they *need* professional cycling gear. People cycletour hundreds of miles a day in ‘normal’ clothes. There’s a massive industry and vested interests from your local bike shop to sell you all this cack. It’s off-putting. No-one’s going to lay out $300 to buy all this stuff just to try cycle commuting for a week.

Cheers

Mike

]]> By: Paul Mckay http://blog.cascade.org/2011/05/were-rolling/comment-page-1/#comment-20329 Paul Mckay Wed, 18 May 2011 03:48:09 +0000 http://blog.cascade.org/?p=5893#comment-20329 what do we think fat people should wear when pedaling - knicks seem like a turn off for me what do we think fat people should wear when pedaling – knicks seem like a turn off for me

]]> By: Luke Harris http://blog.cascade.org/2011/05/were-rolling/comment-page-1/#comment-20307 Luke Harris Wed, 18 May 2011 00:11:29 +0000 http://blog.cascade.org/?p=5893#comment-20307 I want to echo Stacey's call for people to make their own video and submit it to the contest. It's obvious biking around Seattle that cyclists have distinct styles. The video is simply one way to prepare for a ride, and for some people, especially less-experienced and first-time commuters, the extra gear and preparation is really helpful. Yes, you can hop on a bike in a skirt and carry all the gear you need in a purse, cycle chic-style, but that doesn't mean everyone has to. If someone is more comfortable and more likely to ride if they wear bike specific gear and carry tools, then thats great, right? For example, this winter I started wearing waterproof pants for the first time, and it's been awesome. I now ride when otherwise I would have taken the bus. Do you need waterproof pants to bike to work? No. Maybe the messaging needs to be tweaked, but there's a lot of great advice to take from the video and it directly address many of the apprehensions a new commuter might face. Make a video for new commuters showing how you get ready to ride or how to address some common barriers to biking. I want to echo Stacey’s call for people to make their own video and submit it to the contest. It’s obvious biking around Seattle that cyclists have distinct styles. The video is simply one way to prepare for a ride, and for some people, especially less-experienced and first-time commuters, the extra gear and preparation is really helpful. Yes, you can hop on a bike in a skirt and carry all the gear you need in a purse, cycle chic-style, but that doesn’t mean everyone has to. If someone is more comfortable and more likely to ride if they wear bike specific gear and carry tools, then thats great, right?
For example, this winter I started wearing waterproof pants for the first time, and it’s been awesome. I now ride when otherwise I would have taken the bus. Do you need waterproof pants to bike to work? No.
Maybe the messaging needs to be tweaked, but there’s a lot of great advice to take from the video and it directly address many of the apprehensions a new commuter might face. Make a video for new commuters showing how you get ready to ride or how to address some common barriers to biking.

]]> By: Paul http://blog.cascade.org/2011/05/were-rolling/comment-page-1/#comment-20302 Paul Tue, 17 May 2011 23:01:08 +0000 http://blog.cascade.org/?p=5893#comment-20302 It's a fun video, but is she touring France or just going to work? The costume and all the gear & supplies might be off-putting. A bike with a full chain cover and a briefcase should do the trick. :) It’s a fun video, but is she touring France or just going to work? The costume and all the gear & supplies might be off-putting. A bike with a full chain cover and a briefcase should do the trick. :)

]]> By: Stacey Panek http://blog.cascade.org/2011/05/were-rolling/comment-page-1/#comment-20299 Stacey Panek Tue, 17 May 2011 22:01:21 +0000 http://blog.cascade.org/?p=5893#comment-20299 @Jake: The bag is an Ortlieb Flight . @Meriln and @Mike Stead: We’ve got a Video, Photo and Story contest going on (http://blog.cascade.org/2011/04/contest/) …make a video and show us how you’d do it! Seriously. We’re having fun with these Bike Month videos and warmly welcome good-hearted efforts to show other ways of getting a bike commute going. (And btw—we never said both of those bikes were perfectly maintained. You should have seen the tires on that mountain bike!) @Jake: The bag is an Ortlieb Flight
.
@Meriln and @Mike Stead: We’ve got a Video, Photo and Story contest going on (http://blog.cascade.org/2011/04/contest/) …make a video and show us how you’d do it! Seriously. We’re having fun with these Bike Month videos and warmly welcome good-hearted efforts to show other ways of getting a bike commute going.

(And btw—we never said both of those bikes were perfectly maintained. You should have seen the tires on that mountain bike!)

]]> By: Mike Stead http://blog.cascade.org/2011/05/were-rolling/comment-page-1/#comment-20296 Mike Stead Tue, 17 May 2011 21:17:31 +0000 http://blog.cascade.org/?p=5893#comment-20296 Wow - hard to know just where to begin. Just how did you manage to fit so much fail into one video? I carry less gear and wear more relaxed clothes for a 3hr off-road MTB ride. Can I suggest you visit a few places where LOTS of people commute by bike - namely, anywhere in Europe apart from the UK - and see how you need only the following: A cheap bike. Preferably 30 years old, battered and more or less theft-proof, with fully enclosed chain and full mudguards. Normal clothes. That's it. This video does nothing to dispel the image of cycling as something only for people rich enough to afford all that stuff and weird enough to be seen in public wearing it. (Sorry Stacey, I'm sure you are a lovely person, but the director(s) really do need to be shot. Or at least taken out the back and beaten with a flourescent vest). Wow – hard to know just where to begin. Just how did you manage to fit so much fail into one video?

I carry less gear and wear more relaxed clothes for a 3hr off-road MTB ride. Can I suggest you visit a few places where LOTS of people commute by bike – namely, anywhere in Europe apart from the UK – and see how you need only the following:

A cheap bike. Preferably 30 years old, battered and more or less theft-proof, with fully enclosed chain and full mudguards.

Normal clothes.

That’s it.

This video does nothing to dispel the image of cycling as something only for people rich enough to afford all that stuff and weird enough to be seen in public wearing it.

(Sorry Stacey, I’m sure you are a lovely person, but the director(s) really do need to be shot. Or at least taken out the back and beaten with a flourescent vest).

]]>