It's FASTER to Travel by Bike Than CTA! (Chicago: safe, automobile)

[Aleking]

Originally Posted by Jesse69

Well, cheap bikes are NO INSPIRATION to ride. They're only value is in they are less likely to be stolen, as a thief would steal the better bikes off a rack. Otherwise, cheap bikes make you look poor. When I first started my bike workouts in 2003 on LSD with my $1500 Giant TCR Aero 2 - some people insulted me as if I was riding a cheap bike. Only when I started riding my Cervelo or Kestrel did they not look down on me.

so does being unemployed

[MannheimMadman]

Originally Posted by Aleking

so does being unemployed

Ha! I was just going to say this. Hilarity ensues.

[rparz]

Originally Posted by jwaiter

I used to commute by bike, I love, love, love the idea. In reality though it's only a matter of time before a car or truck lands you in the ER. It happened to me, that's when I stopped biking in the city. The car and truck drivers are total f'ing pr**cks and act like they own the road, even the bike lanes they use, f*ck that, it's not safe as long as the vehicle drivers act like they do. But I also hate the bikes who blow red lights, they should stop like everyone else.

I used to ride the neighborhood streets when I'd go to the gym and almost was clipped a couple times. There's no need for someone to be doing upwards of what had to be 40 on Hoyne. A residential street that has stop signs every block. But every idiot in the world thought they had the right to blow down the street since it was the only street that's not one-way to get off of Damen and Western.

I think I had 5 close calls on Hoyne, and never had even so much as a quick move when I would ride my Harley around the surface streets. Absolute insanity. And I thought I was doing the smart thing staying off the main drags.

[tomcho]

Originally Posted by cubssoxfan

WHen I started riding Centuries and with a local bike club, I was doing it on a 20 year old Trek 1000 and NOBODY looked down on me. Maybe because I could still haul a** or maybe because the majority of cyclists aren't d-baggy enough to "look down" on me. I have a new road bike that was expensive, but should last me another 20 years yet I still have no qualms riding my Raleigh M-60 that is almost 15 years old and has been used and abused. I have also ridden the Lakefront path on the old Trek 1000 and never got insulted. Maybe it's in your head. Not saying there's anything wrong with your bike choices, but insinuating someone is going to get insulted by the cycling "elite" for riding a beater is ridiculous. I perceive most of us wouldn't give a spit and would give anyone insulting our bike choice the middle finger salute.

Most people using their bikes for commuting purposes, purposely ride less expensive bikes. I think just the opposite, people riding $2,000 + bikes for commuting are the ones getting the looks.

[ChicagoMeO]

Originally Posted by rparz

I used to ride the neighborhood streets when I'd go to the gym and almost was clipped a couple times. There's no need for someone to be doing upwards of what had to be 40 on Hoyne. A residential street that has stop signs every block. But every idiot in the world thought they had the right to blow down the street since it was the only street that's not one-way to get off of Damen and Western.

I think I had 5 close calls on Hoyne, and never had even so much as a quick move when I would ride my Harley around the surface streets. Absolute insanity. And I thought I was doing the smart thing staying off the main drags.

It's like this on the lakefront path - the cement that goes right next to the water, in the middle of summer, around noon to dinner time - bikes come so fast and so close to you, that some of them, - you can feel the air swooshing from their bike onto your skin as they fly past you going too fast.

Same with those skaters. Oh dont get me started with the skaters! The ones that - in order to skate, they take up a lot of room when they have to do that thing where they lean to the right and take a step and lean over to the left and take the next step to skate, meanwhile they elbow you and your just a pedestian trying to keep to the right, and yet, they seem to take up half the sidewalk when skating. And they go very fast. One time, one of them said something that i later figured out they said "On your left".. but i couldn't heart it, and they almost ran into me. And i was not wearing headphones. Imagine if someone deaf or with earphones was in one of the speeders way.

They are so rude to be going that fast amongst the many pedestrians. Best time to walk or jog over there is early morning before it gets crowded.

[rparz]

I think someone on here once asked about taking the Metra down to ride the lakefront. I told them not to bother with the hassle.

[It'sAutomatic]

Originally Posted by Jesse69

Well, cheap bikes are NO INSPIRATION to ride. They're only value is in they are less likely to be stolen, as a thief would steal the better bikes off a rack. Otherwise, cheap bikes make you look poor. When I first started my bike workouts in 2003 on LSD with my $1500 Giant TCR Aero 2 - some people insulted me as if I was riding a cheap bike. Only when I started riding my Cervelo or Kestrel did they not look down on me.

Maybe they insulted you because you sound desperate for attention when you show off your little bicycle collection.

[jahk]

Originally Posted by cubssoxfan

WHen I started riding Centuries and with a local bike club, I was doing it on a 20 year old Trek 1000 and NOBODY looked down on me. Maybe because I could still haul a** or maybe because the majority of cyclists aren't d-baggy enough to "look down" on me. I have a new road bike that was expensive, but should last me another 20 years yet I still have no qualms riding my Raleigh M-60 that is almost 15 years old and has been used and abused. I have also ridden the Lakefront path on the old Trek 1000 and never got insulted. Maybe it's in your head. Not saying there's anything wrong with your bike choices, but insinuating someone is going to get insulted by the cycling "elite" for riding a beater is ridiculous. I perceive most of us wouldn't give a spit and would give anyone insulting our bike choice the middle finger salute.

I ride a beater. Actually, it was probably a pretty nice bike when new, but I bought it used, thinking if I end up selling or giving it away after my year here, it won't be much of a loss. And it looks like a beater, so I doubt anyone will try to steal it. It works great for my mile and a half commute, or for a longer ride if I want to go somewhere farther away. I've got a CTA Plus card as my backup bad weather transportation, or for trips where I need to arrive un-sweaty.

I don't pay for gas or parking, but I did have to pay to replace the headlight someone stole while I was at work.

[cali3448893]

One less person drving a car, this can help traffic.

[flamadiddle]

You can get an adequate bike at costco for a few hundred bucks, but as mentioned, that doesn't help when it's raining, snowing or you need to wear nice clothes.