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Much like skiing or recreational hockey, cycling (if you’re an amateur athlete) is an expensive hobby to have. The new parts, upkeep, and obviously the bike itself will all cost you a pretty fucking penny. It’s incredibly niche and it’s why high-performance road bikes cost like seven grand.
I’ll never be so serious about biking that I pony up several thousand dollars to do it, but as of late, my interest has been piqued. I had an opportunity a few days ago to briefly ride one of my friend’s bikes and, I have to tell you, I’m very into it.
I forgot what it was like to just go for a nice bike ride on a summer’s day. Learning to ride a bike is something I remember vividly. I scraped up my elbows and knees as any kid learning to ride does, but after a few hours I got the hang of it. I had a Schwinn beach cruiser that was way cooler than the weirdos in my neighborhood bike gang who had the tiny BMX bikes that you couldn’t even relax on.
Putting the fun between your legs. Getting out on an open expanse and really letting it rip. I don’t really know if serious cyclists use words like that but I have to assume from my very little knowledge of the sport that they do.
At best, cycling is a fringe sport and, at worst, a hobby. I’m not here to rip on cycling although it would be incredibly easy to do so if I really wanted to. The war between cabbies/idiots who still own cars in large cities and cyclists is a tale as old as time.
Are cyclists incredibly annoying on the road? Do they honestly believe that they’re entitled to road space more than a car? Yes to both questions. But the same can be said for car owners. The road is a shared space between cyclist and car driver. Much like Israel and Palestine, I don’t think there will ever be peace between these two warring factions. Some rivalries are meant to burn forever (I do hope for peace between Israel and Palestine one day), but the war between cyclist and driver will never not be funny to me.
We’re in the trust tree right now so please just let me air a few grievances I have. I mean, let us be fucking honest for a second. Cyclists are dickheads. There is no disputing this. To ride around thinking that you have just as much right to a road built for cars is absurd. I don’t care that cities all over this country give you guys your own little lanes and encourage more people to ride bikes to work.
The bitching never stops with you people on your fixies and your ten speeds and for that, I have to admit that I resent you a little bit.
I have a few friends who do triathlons and roll around on three thousand dollar bicycles. That’s all well and good but I’m not trying to win the Tour de France here. Four hundred bucks is probably the most I’m willing to spend on a road bicycle and I refuse to budge.
I know people who do bike rides from Chicago to Indiana to drink beer. Casual thirty-mile rides that sound fucking exhausting but nonetheless rewarding because you get to drink dank beers in between trips.
I want in on this activity. Biking is, for all intents and purposes, really fucking fun. For all of my bitching and moaning about rude, idiotic cyclists I have to say that there’s a part of me that respects them.
It’s got to be terrifying to hop on a bike in midtown Manhattan and weave your way in and out of disgruntled cabbies and chauffeurs. Biking to work would be awesome. Avoiding crowded, hot trains and getting a little wind in my hair before an eight-hour stint in cubicle jail sounds incredible. So while there is a part of me that really despises cyclists for their unwarranted entitlement, I’m taking the plunge this week and buying myself a nice little road bike. If I ever become like this guy I give you permission to punch me square in the face. .
Respond
jduda@grandex.co
You probably saw me and all the admiring glances I was getting from the soccer moms this weekend, rolling up to the neighborhood pool on my bike with daughter in tow in the bike trailer. I don’t blame you. It was inspirational.
The last thing we need is another Lance Armstrong Jr. walking into Starbucks with his nuts bulging out of his spandex as he tells the barista he needs something cold and refreshing after his 15 mile ride.
Yes – bike all you want, but there is absolutely no reason to wear the outfit
Bike riding through the streets of Manhattan has been the only time I’ve felt alive after graduating college.
Yeah I take Citibike to work, east village to midtown west. Great fun, only almost died once!
Cycling reduces your sperm count which is perfect if you don’t wear condoms
Everybody loves the dude that breezes through the office wheeling his bike around.
yo cycling rules. ripping down hills at 40 miles an hour in the drops like you’re lance armstrong is the best thing in the world.
ride fast, take chances duda
Big Divvy guy here. Can confirm, the endorphins coupled with a commute time cut in half is enough to have me looking forward to hitting the road to work each day.
Theres a difference between bikers and the cities they’re in. If you’re in NY and weaving in and out of cars, i give you a lot of props and I’m truly jealous, but if your on a single lane road in a state like MD or VA, I hate them, like a lot. They stay in the middle of the road and go fast when you would normally have time to get around them and then they tend to slow when you are in blind spots just making the situation worse, and making me want to hit them even more. If you’re going to bike, know your roads and don’t be a dick. We get it, you bike, but I don’t care and you don’t deserve a medal.
Moved to Chicago in January, bought a bike in April (roscoe village bikes). Several places around town that fix old bikes and resell for $200, and you have a plenty good bike if you’re just looking to casually ride. I’ve saved a ton on Uber’s alone this summer. Any bar within 5 miles and I’m riding. Gf started using hers to get from lakeview to west loop for work every day, saving about $25/week for the El. And they’re great when cars are bumper to bumper on Lincoln, Ashland, Belmont, etc – and you’re just cruising along past them.
Hit a bike swap at a local bike shop and you can get some really great value on used bikes.