On 6/7/2025 9:26 AM, Roger Merriman wrote:
Frank Krygowski <frkrygow@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
Sure, as I've explained. Remember, I used to commute to work by bike.
Getting ready meant strapping my briefcase on the bike's rear rack,
clipping on an eyeglass mirror (optional but handy in traffic), putting
on an appropriate jacket, and using a safety pin to tighten my right
pants cuff so it stayed away from the chain.
Tom, you probably do more to prepare for your recreational rides. I'll
bet you change into a riding costume. I commuted in ordinary business
casual clothes.
Depends on the distance I found for 3 ish miles then as long as one’s
trousers where’s flappy just jump on and go.
My commute was about 15 miles round trip. The only time I bothered with
a change of clothing was when teaching evening classes in summer, which
meant riding in during the heat of the day.
After retirement, I took classes myself for quite a few years. I then extended my ride home, through the big metropark system. As I recall,
that was about 20 miles per day, but still in normal street clothes.
Different choices for different folks.
Frank Krygowski <frkrygow@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
On 6/7/2025 9:26 AM, Roger Merriman wrote:
Frank Krygowski <frkrygow@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
Sure, as I've explained. Remember, I used to commute to work by bike.
Getting ready meant strapping my briefcase on the bike's rear rack,
clipping on an eyeglass mirror (optional but handy in traffic), putting >>>> on an appropriate jacket, and using a safety pin to tighten my right
pants cuff so it stayed away from the chain.
Tom, you probably do more to prepare for your recreational rides. I'll >>>> bet you change into a riding costume. I commuted in ordinary business
casual clothes.
Depends on the distance I found for 3 ish miles then as long as ones
trousers wheres flappy just jump on and go.
My commute was about 15 miles round trip. The only time I bothered with
a change of clothing was when teaching evening classes in summer, which
meant riding in during the heat of the day.
After retirement, I took classes myself for quite a few years. I then
extended my ride home, through the big metropark system. As I recall,
that was about 20 miles per day, but still in normal street clothes.
Different choices for different folks.
Possibly your an outlier though my memory was the heat, didnt you say it >dropped in elevation from Youngstown to the college? Made a quick and dirty >Strava route from Poland to the colleges which suggests a gentle roll into >town so perhaps not surprising youd not get sweaty on the way in!
Do I take it that Sheridan road which Strava seemed keen to plot the route >down, was an old streetcar route?
Roger Merriman
On 8 Jun 2025 09:03:49 GMT, Roger Merriman <roger@sarlet.com> wrote:
Frank Krygowski <frkrygow@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
On 6/7/2025 9:26 AM, Roger Merriman wrote:
Frank Krygowski <frkrygow@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
Sure, as I've explained. Remember, I used to commute to work by bike. >>>>> Getting ready meant strapping my briefcase on the bike's rear rack,
clipping on an eyeglass mirror (optional but handy in traffic), putting >>>>> on an appropriate jacket, and using a safety pin to tighten my right >>>>> pants cuff so it stayed away from the chain.
Tom, you probably do more to prepare for your recreational rides. I'll >>>>> bet you change into a riding costume. I commuted in ordinary business >>>>> casual clothes.
Depends on the distance I found for 3 ish miles then as long as ones >>>> trousers wheres flappy just jump on and go.
My commute was about 15 miles round trip. The only time I bothered with
a change of clothing was when teaching evening classes in summer, which
meant riding in during the heat of the day.
After retirement, I took classes myself for quite a few years. I then
extended my ride home, through the big metropark system. As I recall,
that was about 20 miles per day, but still in normal street clothes.
Different choices for different folks.
Possibly your an outlier though my memory was the heat, didnt you say it >> dropped in elevation from Youngstown to the college? Made a quick and dirty >> Strava route from Poland to the colleges which suggests a gentle roll into >> town so perhaps not surprising youd not get sweaty on the way in!
Do I take it that Sheridan road which Strava seemed keen to plot the route >> down, was an old streetcar route?
Roger Merriman
7 piddly miles at 13/14/15 mph is not enough to draw sweat on me even
at 90+ degrees, unless, perhaps a following wind cancels out what the
forward motion creates.
--
C'est bon
Soloman
Catrike Ryder <Soloman@old.bikers.org> wrote:
On 8 Jun 2025 09:03:49 GMT, Roger Merriman <roger@sarlet.com> wrote:Might want to look at the elevation around Youngstown! Its not
Frank Krygowski <frkrygow@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
On 6/7/2025 9:26 AM, Roger Merriman wrote:
Frank Krygowski <frkrygow@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
Sure, as I've explained. Remember, I used to commute to work by bike. >>>>>> Getting ready meant strapping my briefcase on the bike's rear rack, >>>>>> clipping on an eyeglass mirror (optional but handy in traffic), putting >>>>>> on an appropriate jacket, and using a safety pin to tighten my right >>>>>> pants cuff so it stayed away from the chain.
Tom, you probably do more to prepare for your recreational rides. I'll >>>>>> bet you change into a riding costume. I commuted in ordinary business >>>>>> casual clothes.
Depends on the distance I found for 3 ish miles then as long as one?s >>>>> trousers where?s flappy just jump on and go.
My commute was about 15 miles round trip. The only time I bothered with >>>> a change of clothing was when teaching evening classes in summer, which >>>> meant riding in during the heat of the day.
After retirement, I took classes myself for quite a few years. I then
extended my ride home, through the big metropark system. As I recall,
that was about 20 miles per day, but still in normal street clothes.
Different choices for different folks.
Possibly your an outlier though my memory was the heat, didn?t you say it >>> dropped in elevation from Youngstown to the college? Made a quick and dirty >>> Strava route from Poland to the college?s which suggests a gentle roll into >>> town so perhaps not surprising you?d not get sweaty on the way in!
Do I take it that Sheridan road which Strava seemed keen to plot the route >>> down, was an old streetcar route?
Roger Merriman
7 piddly miles at 13/14/15 mph is not enough to draw sweat on me even
at 90+ degrees, unless, perhaps a following wind cancels out what the
forward motion creates.
exceptionally high though its significantly higher than your riding nor
that steep but youd absolutely work harder center to home on that commute >which while not huge your gaining a few hundred foot as you go from 800ish
to 1100 ish
Let alone that commuting set ups tend though not always tend to be heavier >slower aka more utility focused.
Back in wales ride home from the cafe is just shy of 6 miles and climb to
800 ish foot from the town at the valley base at 150ft, though being old >railway mostly its grade isnt significant though at some point one needs
to hit the lanes where it will get steeper I tend to just go straight up so >20+ % as my bikes have the gearing.
But if one takes the lanes closer it will only just touch double digits
which for Wales is positively flat!
The industrial old heartlands of wales are built on the sides of steep >valleys hence the Welsh Valleys which makes transportation more difficult >as roads/trains need to go around than over or under said hills.
--Roger Merriman
C'est bon
Soloman
On 6/8/2025 5:03 AM, Roger Merriman wrote:
Frank Krygowski <frkrygow@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
My commute was about 15 miles round trip. The only time I bothered with
a change of clothing was when teaching evening classes in summer, which
meant riding in during the heat of the day.
After retirement, I took classes myself for quite a few years. I then
extended my ride home, through the big metropark system. As I recall,
that was about 20 miles per day, but still in normal street clothes.
Different choices for different folks.
Possibly your an outlier...
I'm definitely an outlier, in multiple ways.
though my memory was the heat, didn’t you say it
dropped in elevation from Youngstown to the college? Made a quick and dirty >> Strava route from Poland to the college’s which suggests a gentle roll into
town so perhaps not surprising you’d not get sweaty on the way in!
One of the many things I love about my location is that yes, it's flat
to downhill to the university, except for the short steep rise in the
last half mile. But on those summer afternoons, I definitely arrived
sweaty. I didn't use cycling clothes, but I'd ride in normal shorts and
a t-shirt.
In those days, my typical riding speed on flat ground was about 19 mph.
Even in winter, just above freezing, I normally wore just a sweater and windbreaker jacket over office casual clothes. I'd frequently peel off
the jacket along the way.
I parked my bike in my Robotics laboratory. For those summer rides I
changed clothes there, after sitting in front of a workshop pedestal fan until I cooled off.
On 8 Jun 2025 11:58:51 GMT, Roger Merriman <roger@sarlet.com> wrote:
Catrike Ryder <Soloman@old.bikers.org> wrote:
On 8 Jun 2025 09:03:49 GMT, Roger Merriman <roger@sarlet.com> wrote:Might want to look at the elevation around Youngstown! Its not
Frank Krygowski <frkrygow@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
On 6/7/2025 9:26 AM, Roger Merriman wrote:
Frank Krygowski <frkrygow@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
Sure, as I've explained. Remember, I used to commute to work by bike. >>>>>>> Getting ready meant strapping my briefcase on the bike's rear rack, >>>>>>> clipping on an eyeglass mirror (optional but handy in traffic), putting >>>>>>> on an appropriate jacket, and using a safety pin to tighten my right >>>>>>> pants cuff so it stayed away from the chain.
Tom, you probably do more to prepare for your recreational rides. I'll >>>>>>> bet you change into a riding costume. I commuted in ordinary business >>>>>>> casual clothes.
Depends on the distance I found for 3 ish miles then as long as one?s >>>>>> trousers where?s flappy just jump on and go.
My commute was about 15 miles round trip. The only time I bothered with >>>>> a change of clothing was when teaching evening classes in summer, which >>>>> meant riding in during the heat of the day.
After retirement, I took classes myself for quite a few years. I then >>>>> extended my ride home, through the big metropark system. As I recall, >>>>> that was about 20 miles per day, but still in normal street clothes. >>>>>
Different choices for different folks.
Possibly your an outlier though my memory was the heat, didn?t you say it >>>> dropped in elevation from Youngstown to the college? Made a quick and dirty
Strava route from Poland to the college?s which suggests a gentle roll into
town so perhaps not surprising you?d not get sweaty on the way in!
Do I take it that Sheridan road which Strava seemed keen to plot the route >>>> down, was an old streetcar route?
Roger Merriman
7 piddly miles at 13/14/15 mph is not enough to draw sweat on me even
at 90+ degrees, unless, perhaps a following wind cancels out what the
forward motion creates.
exceptionally high though its significantly higher than your riding nor
that steep but youd absolutely work harder center to home on that commute >> which while not huge your gaining a few hundred foot as you go from 800ish >> to 1100 ish
Let alone that commuting set ups tend though not always tend to be heavier >> slower aka more utility focused.
The Catrike weighs 35 lbs and I had more the 10 lbs of stuff, although
I don't think weight is a significant factor.
I have ridden in far more hilly terrain (Wisconsin)
https://www.flickr.com/photos/j_soloman/54039010402/
and back then I never wore anything but street clothes. To this day,
I wouldn't caught dead in any of those garish, circus parade biking
outfits. Making a spectacle of myself is not my thing.
Back in wales ride home from the cafe is just shy of 6 miles and climb to
800 ish foot from the town at the valley base at 150ft, though being old
railway mostly its grade isnt significant though at some point one needs >> to hit the lanes where it will get steeper I tend to just go straight up so >> 20+ % as my bikes have the gearing.
But if one takes the lanes closer it will only just touch double digits
which for Wales is positively flat!
The industrial old heartlands of wales are built on the sides of steep
valleys hence the Welsh Valleys which makes transportation more difficult
as roads/trains need to go around than over or under said hills.
--Roger Merriman
C'est bon
Soloman
--
C'est bon
Soloman
Catrike Ryder <Soloman@old.bikers.org> wrote:
On 8 Jun 2025 11:58:51 GMT, Roger Merriman <roger@sarlet.com> wrote:
Catrike Ryder <Soloman@old.bikers.org> wrote:
On 8 Jun 2025 09:03:49 GMT, Roger Merriman <roger@sarlet.com> wrote:Might want to look at the elevation around Youngstown! It?s not
Frank Krygowski <frkrygow@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
On 6/7/2025 9:26 AM, Roger Merriman wrote:
Frank Krygowski <frkrygow@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
Sure, as I've explained. Remember, I used to commute to work by bike. >>>>>>>> Getting ready meant strapping my briefcase on the bike's rear rack, >>>>>>>> clipping on an eyeglass mirror (optional but handy in traffic), putting
on an appropriate jacket, and using a safety pin to tighten my right >>>>>>>> pants cuff so it stayed away from the chain.
Tom, you probably do more to prepare for your recreational rides. I'll >>>>>>>> bet you change into a riding costume. I commuted in ordinary business >>>>>>>> casual clothes.
Depends on the distance I found for 3 ish miles then as long as one?s >>>>>>> trousers where?s flappy just jump on and go.
My commute was about 15 miles round trip. The only time I bothered with >>>>>> a change of clothing was when teaching evening classes in summer, which >>>>>> meant riding in during the heat of the day.
After retirement, I took classes myself for quite a few years. I then >>>>>> extended my ride home, through the big metropark system. As I recall, >>>>>> that was about 20 miles per day, but still in normal street clothes. >>>>>>
Different choices for different folks.
Possibly your an outlier though my memory was the heat, didn?t you say it >>>>> dropped in elevation from Youngstown to the college? Made a quick and dirty
Strava route from Poland to the college?s which suggests a gentle roll into
town so perhaps not surprising you?d not get sweaty on the way in!
Do I take it that Sheridan road which Strava seemed keen to plot the route
down, was an old streetcar route?
Roger Merriman
7 piddly miles at 13/14/15 mph is not enough to draw sweat on me even
at 90+ degrees, unless, perhaps a following wind cancels out what the
forward motion creates.
exceptionally high though it?s significantly higher than your riding nor >>> that steep but you?d absolutely work harder center to home on that commute >>> which while not huge your gaining a few hundred foot as you go from 800ish >>> to 1100 ish
Let alone that commuting set ups tend though not always tend to be heavier >>> slower aka more utility focused.
The Catrike weighs 35 lbs and I had more the 10 lbs of stuff, although
I don't think weight is a significant factor.
I have ridden in far more hilly terrain (Wisconsin)
https://www.flickr.com/photos/j_soloman/54039010402/
No idea if Wisconsin is more hilly or not though if so that photo doesnt >particularly do it justice.
Would appear to reach heady heights of just under 2k foot so a touch more >than Ohio that tops out at 1500ft ish, one of the mild surprises as Ive >learned more about US and places like Australia is how generally flat they >are, while there are big hills mountains even, thats not the norm.
and back then I never wore anything but street clothes. To this day,
I wouldn't caught dead in any of those garish, circus parade biking
outfits. Making a spectacle of myself is not my thing.
There is no obligation to wear roadie kit from the 80s which was rather as >you describe, lot of the more modern stuff is quite muted and indeed number >of urban clothing for on/off the bike which I use for the commute, and >generally the trend is for small labels and so on.
Roger MerrimanBack in wales ride home from the cafe is just shy of 6 miles and climb to >>> 800 ish foot from the town at the valley base at 150ft, though being old >>> railway mostly it?s grade isn?t significant though at some point one needs >>> to hit the lanes where it will get steeper I tend to just go straight up so >>> 20+ % as my bikes have the gearing.
But if one takes the lanes closer it will only just touch double digits
which for Wales is positively flat!
The industrial old heartlands of wales are built on the sides of steep
valleys hence the ?Welsh Valleys? which makes transportation more difficult >>> as roads/trains need to go around than over or under said hills.
--Roger Merriman
C'est bon
Soloman
--
C'est bon
Soloman
On 6/8/2025 5:37 PM, Roger Merriman wrote:
I found I did start to get problems with having got sweaty and then in same >> clothes all days but I’ve discovered that is number of cycling kit designed
for on/off the bike, which seems to work.
I'm open to suggestions on clothes that work well for cycling, but look
more like normal street clothes for when I'm not riding. I've tried a
couple different pairs of shorts intended that way, but both were uncomfortable for me when riding.
On 8 Jun 2025 21:31:44 GMT, Roger Merriman <roger@sarlet.com> wrote:
Catrike Ryder <Soloman@old.bikers.org> wrote:
On 8 Jun 2025 11:58:51 GMT, Roger Merriman <roger@sarlet.com> wrote:
Catrike Ryder <Soloman@old.bikers.org> wrote:
On 8 Jun 2025 09:03:49 GMT, Roger Merriman <roger@sarlet.com> wrote: >>>>>Might want to look at the elevation around Youngstown! It?s not
Frank Krygowski <frkrygow@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
On 6/7/2025 9:26 AM, Roger Merriman wrote:
Frank Krygowski <frkrygow@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
Sure, as I've explained. Remember, I used to commute to work by bike. >>>>>>>>> Getting ready meant strapping my briefcase on the bike's rear rack, >>>>>>>>> clipping on an eyeglass mirror (optional but handy in traffic), putting
on an appropriate jacket, and using a safety pin to tighten my right >>>>>>>>> pants cuff so it stayed away from the chain.
Tom, you probably do more to prepare for your recreational rides. I'll
bet you change into a riding costume. I commuted in ordinary business >>>>>>>>> casual clothes.
Depends on the distance I found for 3 ish miles then as long as one?s >>>>>>>> trousers where?s flappy just jump on and go.
My commute was about 15 miles round trip. The only time I bothered with >>>>>>> a change of clothing was when teaching evening classes in summer, which >>>>>>> meant riding in during the heat of the day.
After retirement, I took classes myself for quite a few years. I then >>>>>>> extended my ride home, through the big metropark system. As I recall, >>>>>>> that was about 20 miles per day, but still in normal street clothes. >>>>>>>
Different choices for different folks.
Possibly your an outlier though my memory was the heat, didn?t you say it
dropped in elevation from Youngstown to the college? Made a quick and dirty
Strava route from Poland to the college?s which suggests a gentle roll into
town so perhaps not surprising you?d not get sweaty on the way in! >>>>>>
Do I take it that Sheridan road which Strava seemed keen to plot the route
down, was an old streetcar route?
Roger Merriman
7 piddly miles at 13/14/15 mph is not enough to draw sweat on me even >>>>> at 90+ degrees, unless, perhaps a following wind cancels out what the >>>>> forward motion creates.
exceptionally high though it?s significantly higher than your riding nor >>>> that steep but you?d absolutely work harder center to home on that commute >>>> which while not huge your gaining a few hundred foot as you go from 800ish >>>> to 1100 ish
Let alone that commuting set ups tend though not always tend to be heavier >>>> slower aka more utility focused.
The Catrike weighs 35 lbs and I had more the 10 lbs of stuff, although
I don't think weight is a significant factor.
I have ridden in far more hilly terrain (Wisconsin)
https://www.flickr.com/photos/j_soloman/54039010402/
No idea if Wisconsin is more hilly or not though if so that photo doesnt >> particularly do it justice.
That was whereI lived. There's several arreas of low land between
where I took the picture and my home.
This one is nearby where I sometimes rode.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/j_soloman/54040249059/
Here's a state park along a gravel bike trail that also ran near my
home. Some friends and I used to ride up the twisty road to the top
and then race each other to the bottom.
https://verdanttraveler.com/blue-mound-state-park/
Would appear to reach heady heights of just under 2k foot so a touch more
than Ohio that tops out at 1500ft ish, one of the mild surprises as Ive
learned more about US and places like Australia is how generally flat they >> are, while there are big hills mountains even, thats not the norm.
and back then I never wore anything but street clothes. To this day,
I wouldn't caught dead in any of those garish, circus parade biking
outfits. Making a spectacle of myself is not my thing.
There is no obligation to wear roadie kit from the 80s which was rather as >> you describe, lot of the more modern stuff is quite muted and indeed number >> of urban clothing for on/off the bike which I use for the commute, and >> generally the trend is for small labels and so on.
I wear black or grey. Same as both our vehicles. The Catrike is black.
Roger MerrimanBack in wales ride home from the cafe is just shy of 6 miles and climb to >>>> 800 ish foot from the town at the valley base at 150ft, though being old >>>> railway mostly it?s grade isn?t significant though at some point one needs >>>> to hit the lanes where it will get steeper I tend to just go straight up so
20+ % as my bikes have the gearing.
But if one takes the lanes closer it will only just touch double digits >>>> which for Wales is positively flat!
The industrial old heartlands of wales are built on the sides of steep >>>> valleys hence the ?Welsh Valleys? which makes transportation more difficult
as roads/trains need to go around than over or under said hills.
--Roger Merriman
C'est bon
Soloman
--
C'est bon
Soloman
--
C'est bon
Soloman
I'm open to suggestions on clothes that work well for cycling, but look
more like normal street clothes for when I'm not riding. I've tried a
couple different pairs of shorts intended that way, but both were uncomfortable for me when riding.
On 6/16/2025 10:20 PM, Joy Beeson wrote:
... the
dentist installed a bike rack (a *functioning* bike rack!)
just for me.
That's very nice! Our local bank used to have a bike rack near the door.
When we first moved here, I'd lock my bike to the rack before spending
time in the bank, but then things changed.
1) They removed the rack
B) I moved my accounts to the credit union, about 6 miles away
III) I realized bike theft just isn't an issue here, nor at the credit
union.
So now at the CU, the grocery, the library, the pharmacy, etc. I just
lean my bike against a wall. I have "brake blocks" that I jam into my
bikes' brake levers to lock the front wheel. They stabilize the parked
bike and might perhaps confuse a potential thief, but I don't believe
they've ever been tested.
Once in Paris, we'd parked our bikes just a bit inside some underground garage. When we returned, some policemen were blocking access to the
garage - I don't know why. I asked if I could please retrieve the bikes,
and the (apparent) head cop said he'd get them for me; but he was
baffled by the locked front wheel. I gingerly went in and removed the
block so the bike would roll. He said in heavily accented English "Oh!
That's a good system!"
On 6/19/2025 6:58 AM, Roger Merriman wrote:
Frank Krygowski <frkrygow@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
On 6/16/2025 10:20 PM, Joy Beeson wrote:
... the
dentist installed a bike rack (a *functioning* bike rack!)
just for me.
That's very nice! Our local bank used to have a bike rack near the door. >>> When we first moved here, I'd lock my bike to the rack before spending
time in the bank, but then things changed.
1) They removed the rack
B) I moved my accounts to the credit union, about 6 miles away
III) I realized bike theft just isn't an issue here, nor at the credit
union.
So now at the CU, the grocery, the library, the pharmacy, etc. I just
lean my bike against a wall. I have "brake blocks" that I jam into my
bikes' brake levers to lock the front wheel. They stabilize the parked
bike and might perhaps confuse a potential thief, but I don't believe
they've ever been tested.
Indeed security by obscurity only works so far, much like value hence the
“old school roadie” as it isn’t so attractive to thieves I hope at least!
Right, my bikes are not fashionable. The closest I come (not very) might
be my touring bike. A new guy on a ride last week was gushing over its
bar end shifters and other features.
But I recall one time I rode my commuting/shopping/utility bike over to
pick up my car after a shop installed four new tires. The guy at the
counter was charmed at my geeky bike - fenders, mudflap, headlight, rear rack, huge homemade handlebar bag, etc. I guess people like what people
like.
Once in Paris, we'd parked our bikes just a bit inside some undergroundI believe some Dutch bikes have a wheel lock, though it’s much like a cafe >> lock only really for stepping in to get stuff.
garage. When we returned, some policemen were blocking access to the
garage - I don't know why. I asked if I could please retrieve the bikes, >>> and the (apparent) head cop said he'd get them for me; but he was
baffled by the locked front wheel. I gingerly went in and removed the
block so the bike would roll. He said in heavily accented English "Oh!
That's a good system!"
I only used to do shopping by bike when my work was local, so I’d pick up >> something on way past. But with my commute being longer and being on a
bypass well bypasses retailers.
And frankly I have supermarkets, bike shop, pharmacy, bakers, post office, >> dry cleaners so can get clothes cleaned/repaired and so on, all within 10
min walk most within 5 mins and multiple cafes to enjoy and so on.
Ie bike doesn’t add anything for my utility wanders.
That's London, right? Suburban America is much less dense, and
especially less dense with services. I sometimes do walk to the
pharmacy, library, dentist etc. but it would be more than a five minute
walk so I usually use my three speed. Groceries are something like six
miles round trip, so I never walk there. It's a nice little bike ride.
Frank Krygowski <frkrygow@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
On 6/19/2025 6:58 AM, Roger Merriman wrote:London has largely grown by swallowing other settlements so lots of
Frank Krygowski <frkrygow@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
On 6/16/2025 10:20 PM, Joy Beeson wrote:
... the
dentist installed a bike rack (a *functioning* bike rack!)
just for me.
That's very nice! Our local bank used to have a bike rack near the door. >>>> When we first moved here, I'd lock my bike to the rack before spending >>>> time in the bank, but then things changed.
1) They removed the rack
B) I moved my accounts to the credit union, about 6 miles away
III) I realized bike theft just isn't an issue here, nor at the credit >>>> union.
So now at the CU, the grocery, the library, the pharmacy, etc. I just
lean my bike against a wall. I have "brake blocks" that I jam into my
bikes' brake levers to lock the front wheel. They stabilize the parked >>>> bike and might perhaps confuse a potential thief, but I don't believe
they've ever been tested.
Indeed security by obscurity only works so far, much like value hence the >>> “old school roadie” as it isn’t so attractive to thieves I hope at least!
Right, my bikes are not fashionable. The closest I come (not very) might
be my touring bike. A new guy on a ride last week was gushing over its
bar end shifters and other features.
But I recall one time I rode my commuting/shopping/utility bike over to
pick up my car after a shop installed four new tires. The guy at the
counter was charmed at my geeky bike - fenders, mudflap, headlight, rear
rack, huge homemade handlebar bag, etc. I guess people like what people
like.
Once in Paris, we'd parked our bikes just a bit inside some underground >>>> garage. When we returned, some policemen were blocking access to theI believe some Dutch bikes have a wheel lock, though it’s much like a cafe
garage - I don't know why. I asked if I could please retrieve the bikes, >>>> and the (apparent) head cop said he'd get them for me; but he was
baffled by the locked front wheel. I gingerly went in and removed the
block so the bike would roll. He said in heavily accented English "Oh! >>>> That's a good system!"
lock only really for stepping in to get stuff.
I only used to do shopping by bike when my work was local, so I’d pick up >>> something on way past. But with my commute being longer and being on a
bypass well bypasses retailers.
And frankly I have supermarkets, bike shop, pharmacy, bakers, post office, >>> dry cleaners so can get clothes cleaned/repaired and so on, all within 10 >>> min walk most within 5 mins and multiple cafes to enjoy and so on.
Ie bike doesn’t add anything for my utility wanders.
That's London, right? Suburban America is much less dense, and
especially less dense with services. I sometimes do walk to the
pharmacy, library, dentist etc. but it would be more than a five minute
walk so I usually use my three speed. Groceries are something like six
miles round trip, so I never walk there. It's a nice little bike ride.
villages and towns, dating back to Anglo Saxon ish beginning or so and has that layout. Are some post 2nd world war infill that are more like US Suburbs, but the majority is based around an old Center.
6 miles gets me half way to work or to the big shopping area if I need something there, though I can do a fair bit locally.
I’ve ordered a new frameset from my local bike shop for example, which is 5 mins or less walk?
Roger Merriman
On 6/20/2025 10:37 AM, Roger Merriman wrote:
Frank Krygowski <frkrygow@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
On 6/19/2025 6:58 AM, Roger Merriman wrote:London has largely grown by swallowing other settlements so lots of
Frank Krygowski <frkrygow@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
On 6/16/2025 10:20 PM, Joy Beeson wrote:
... the
dentist installed a bike rack (a *functioning* bike rack!)
just for me.
That's very nice! Our local bank used to have a bike rack near the door. >>>>> When we first moved here, I'd lock my bike to the rack before spending >>>>> time in the bank, but then things changed.
1) They removed the rack
B) I moved my accounts to the credit union, about 6 miles away
III) I realized bike theft just isn't an issue here, nor at the credit >>>>> union.
So now at the CU, the grocery, the library, the pharmacy, etc. I just >>>>> lean my bike against a wall. I have "brake blocks" that I jam into my >>>>> bikes' brake levers to lock the front wheel. They stabilize the parked >>>>> bike and might perhaps confuse a potential thief, but I don't believe >>>>> they've ever been tested.
Indeed security by obscurity only works so far, much like value hence the >>>> “old school roadie” as it isn’t so attractive to thieves I hope at least!
Right, my bikes are not fashionable. The closest I come (not very) might >>> be my touring bike. A new guy on a ride last week was gushing over its
bar end shifters and other features.
But I recall one time I rode my commuting/shopping/utility bike over to
pick up my car after a shop installed four new tires. The guy at the
counter was charmed at my geeky bike - fenders, mudflap, headlight, rear >>> rack, huge homemade handlebar bag, etc. I guess people like what people
like.
Once in Paris, we'd parked our bikes just a bit inside some underground >>>>> garage. When we returned, some policemen were blocking access to the >>>>> garage - I don't know why. I asked if I could please retrieve the bikes, >>>>> and the (apparent) head cop said he'd get them for me; but he wasI believe some Dutch bikes have a wheel lock, though it’s much like a cafe
baffled by the locked front wheel. I gingerly went in and removed the >>>>> block so the bike would roll. He said in heavily accented English "Oh! >>>>> That's a good system!"
lock only really for stepping in to get stuff.
I only used to do shopping by bike when my work was local, so I’d pick up
something on way past. But with my commute being longer and being on a >>>> bypass well bypasses retailers.
And frankly I have supermarkets, bike shop, pharmacy, bakers, post office, >>>> dry cleaners so can get clothes cleaned/repaired and so on, all within 10 >>>> min walk most within 5 mins and multiple cafes to enjoy and so on.
Ie bike doesn’t add anything for my utility wanders.
That's London, right? Suburban America is much less dense, and
especially less dense with services. I sometimes do walk to the
pharmacy, library, dentist etc. but it would be more than a five minute
walk so I usually use my three speed. Groceries are something like six
miles round trip, so I never walk there. It's a nice little bike ride.
villages and towns, dating back to Anglo Saxon ish beginning or so and has >> that layout. Are some post 2nd world war infill that are more like US
Suburbs, but the majority is based around an old Center.
6 miles gets me half way to work or to the big shopping area if I need
something there, though I can do a fair bit locally.
I’ve ordered a new frameset from my local bike shop for example, which is 5
mins or less walk?
Roger Merriman
Small quibble:
Londinium was an established Roman city 500 years before
those Teutonic Anglo Saxons showed up.
On 6/20/2025 11:37 AM, Roger Merriman wrote:
I’ve ordered a new frameset from my local bike shop for example, which is 5
mins or less walk?
Sounds lovely. It may be a five minute walk to the post office and local
hair cutter. Everything else is farther.
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