Cycling Thread

[carbonrod]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Not a very scientific study, but one thing I've kind of noticed lately, is that there seem to be a lot more casual bike riders than I remember there to be in the past. It used to be mostly hardcore dudes in lycra, or weekend warriors with 3 kids in tow. Now you see a lot more people in street clothes, often without helmets, just riding around, or going places.

I think that's a good sign that things are moving in a positive direction. Cycling is becoming less of a "sport" and just more of a way to get around.

I was just talking about this with a fried at the park last night. The observation we made is that as kids, we wouldn't have even known where to get a helmet, then now everyone wears one. Then we paused and said that we see lots of people not wearing them again.

[TSXCman]

I've been biking to downtown on the new 5th st path, then home on the river pathway towards the talisman center every day. Pretty casual in the sense that I wear my business attire with my legs rolled up.

The morning ride I observe more casual riders, the evening ride has more spandex.

[gasman]

Originally Posted by peter12

Personally, I don't think it will ever be a thing close to Vancouver or Portland. People have to remember that these bike lanes come with huge infrastructure trade-offs that will really impact decision-makers under a significant amount of lobbyist pressure.

Cyclists like yourself, who essentially treat it like a vocation, overestimate the interest that the regular commuter in Calgary has in cycling.

I work at 8th avenue place and I have been pleasntly surprised with the noticable increase in bike traffic. prime times I have been at the intersection of 9th and 5th are 8:00am, noonish and between 4-6, and everytime I am there, there is never less than 5 bikes waiting at the intersection.

I also drive down 9th and 8th, and haven't noticed any realy issues with traffic (agiain 7:30-8ish, and between 4-6)


anecdotal I know, but

[Northendzone]

Originally Posted by TSXCman

I've been biking to downtown on the new 5th st path, then home on the river pathway towards the talisman center every day. Pretty casual in the sense that I wear my business attire with my legs rolled up.

The morning ride I observe more casual riders, the evening ride has more spandex.

i would say that this may be driven in large part to the fact that the spandex crowd prehaps ride longer/faster and are riding in earlier in the morning to shower - but they still leave by 5.00 or so.

[peter12]

What would people say is the average commute for cyclists in Calgary? I go 8 km each way, and it doesn't feel like much at all.

[Coys1882]

Originally Posted by peter12

What would people say is the average commute for cyclists in Calgary? I go 8 km each way, and it doesn't feel like much at all.

Mine is from Cranston to 50th Ave SE and MacLeod - 19km.

[Fuzz]

Mine is 6km, nice and short!

[KTrain]

I'm a pretty fair weather cyclist from McKenzie Towne. A couple times a week at around 24km each way.

[Baron von Kriterium]

Originally Posted by peter12

What would people say is the average commute for cyclists in Calgary? I go 8 km each way, and it doesn't feel like much at all.

I commute from Country Hills to Currie Barracks. The distance varies between 20km and 29 km one way, depending which route I take.

[habernac]

I don't ride near as much anymore as my work moved from downtown to Southland drive so it's 50km return. Family commitments have knocked my rides down to one a week.

[TSXCman]

Mine is so short... 2.5km to work and 5.5km home (different path preference for each ride). The 2.5k in the morning still gets me to work sweaty and uncomfortable though! short sprints to every red light... one of these days I'll beat them.

[Northendzone]

i ride from new brighton to macleod and 58th - 17km each way

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by carbonrod

I was just talking about this with a fried at the park last night. The observation we made is that as kids, we wouldn't have even known where to get a helmet, then now everyone wears one. Then we paused and said that we see lots of people not wearing them again.

Yeah, its funny. As a kid I never had a helmet. 10 years ago you wouldn't ever see anyone WITHOUT a helmet. And now, I would say half the people I see biking around are without helmets again.

[cracher]

16kms each way for me.

The helmet is the main problem with commuting. Sweaty helmet hair does not go well with an E Zegna suit.

[habernac]

Originally Posted by cracher

16kms each way for me.

The helmet is the main problem with commuting. Sweaty helmet hair does not go well with an E Zegna suit.

go bald like me, problem solved!

[TSXCman]

Biked to work today and got a bit wet of course. I used to have a breathable, waterproof jacket that I could wear with a tshirt on days like this. I think I left it in Ontario. Anyone have some companies or models to look for? a nice shell with a hood for biking?

[peter12]

Originally Posted by TSXCman

Biked to work today and got a bit wet of course. I used to have a breathable, waterproof jacket that I could wear with a tshirt on days like this. I think I left it in Ontario. Anyone have some companies or models to look for? a nice shell with a hood for biking?

I use the Patagonia Torrentshell. Light, breathable, and very water-resistant.

[TSXCman]

Crap... someone pulled my cable lock for my front tire. I park underground at work and just used my U-lock for the frame today, and my cable that loops through was pulled off of my rear rack.

Cheap part but... thanks for the inconvenience...

[cracher]

Bum Hulkface: How did 24hoa go?

I have some cousins looking for looking for an old guy (me) to make the middle age category for next year. Details on how incredibly difficult and grueling it was please. Help me say no!

[I-Hate-Hulse]

I've got a 4km communte into work one -way and go slow enough to avoid working up enough of a sweat that would require a shower.

Male pattern baldness is taking care of the helmet hair issues.

As for good rain gear - you actually don't want a hood for the rain, I find a jacket with a good gasket-like collar and a helmet cover is the best for ventilation.