Towards A Slower, Simpler, More Civilized Bicycle Culture

[Owlie]

There is so much stupidity in this piece one hardly knows where to begin with the snark. The author attributes a lot of power to clothing and gear in general.

"Not only does that protective gear imply that cycling is inherently dangerous and complicated (actively discouraging the average by-stander from giving it a try), it also leads to risk compensation, causing the wearer to ride faster and more recklessly than they otherwise would.

In choosing style over speed, and elegance over exertion, you are a completely predictable vehicle on the road, travelling at a jogging pace, yielding to pedestrians and cars, and following all traffic laws."

How is riding "faster and more recklessly" risk compensation?

I usually chuckle at articles like this but this one deserves an award of some sort.

Is now the time to point out that the people I see doing STUPID things in traffic are the ones wearing regular clothing? What the...?

[Crankin]

I only wish my spandex made me go faster...

[PamNY]

There's finally a positive comment. Here's a portion of it:

"... if, as a cyclist, you want to model behavior that captures the imagination of pedestrians and drivers around you, and thus influence them to consider cycling themselves, then you need to shed the chamois. If you're looking cute, wearing everyday work clothes, casually cycling an upright bike to the office, you are much more likely to subconsciously influence someone to consider cycling. When we're all sprinting around downtown in our spandex kits, it's much easier for "othering" to occur — pedestrians and drivers won't see themselves in you."

So -- if I want to be a cycling advocate, I have to spend a jillion dollars on one of those heavy Dutch bikes and (this may be the hardest part) look "cute."

[nuliajuk]

...
So -- if I want to be a cycling advocate, I have to spend a jillion dollars on one of those heavy Dutch bikes and (this may be the hardest part) look "cute."

Ha ha! Ever notice most of those cycle chic bloggers are under 35? I guess you aren't supposed to ride a bike unless you're young, chic and attractive. That counts me out!

One thing I noticed a long time ago was that the most competitive people of all are those that call themselves non-competitive. These are the people who glare at you and mutter something about "show-offs" if you just happen to pass them while riding/running/skiing/pick your activity. Their egos are so fragile they absolutely can't stand to be shown up, even inadvertently. So they'll either stop doing the activity, or they'll do it in a "non-competitive" way and loudly denounce anyone who "takes it too seriously". Because of course, they've re-invented the activity and theirs is the only proper way to do it. I'm guessing that a lot of the militantly anti-lycra dutch bike crowd fit into this category.

[Eden]

oh yeah.... some of the most "competitive commuters" - you know the ones, if you pass them they've got to suddenly speed way up and do something idiotic to get back in front of you.... I come across are the retro-grouch set.... other racers are generally doing their own thing and don't give a darn about whether or not you pass them or they pass you.

[Owlie]

Ha ha! Ever notice most of those cycle chic bloggers are under 35? I guess you aren't supposed to ride a bike unless you're young, chic and attractive. That counts me out!

One thing I noticed a long time ago was that the most competitive people of all are those that call themselves non-competitive. These are the people who glare at you and mutter something about "show-offs" if you just happen to pass them while riding/running/skiing/pick your activity. Their egos are so fragile they absolutely can't stand to be shown up, even inadvertently. So they'll either stop doing the activity, or they'll do it in a "non-competitive" way and loudly denounce anyone who "takes it too seriously". Because of course, they've re-invented the activity and theirs is the only proper way to do it. I'm guessing that a lot of the militantly anti-lycra dutch bike crowd fit into this category.

I've never fit into the "chic" crowd. And I'm incapable of looking "cute" on a bike. I'm out.

I've got it! Let's have a competition to see how non-competitive we are!

[Eden]

lol.. I won't try to tell you I'm not competitive.... I'm on a racing team.... I just have a proper outlet for it, namely a competition. I'd much run a real race and lose than kick the crap out of some poor unsuspecting commuter or person training who doesn't even know they are racing me... Where's the sport in that?