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Messages - qajaq

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Urban Cycling / why bike?
« on: February 07, 2007, 07:22:08 pm »
Hey, Ron! I ride for many of the same reasons. Although I've been riding to work nearly every workday since I moved to Gainesville in August, 2000, I still owned a motor vehicle for much of that time. But two years ago I started to think seriously about getting rid of the van and going 100% human-powered.

Two months later, the van threw a rod, giving me my opportunity.

I haven't regretted it at all. I love the work-out, love the way I feel, the way I am energized when I get to work (and get back home). I love not spending a few thousand bucks a year on vehicle ownership, and not contributing that bit to environmental degradation.

And I just love the sense of freedom I get when I roll out of my driveway on two wheels!


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Urban Cycling / commuting by bike
« on: February 07, 2007, 07:15:29 pm »
I have a short commute -- four miles one-way -- and a good climate for it . . . I'm in Gainesville, Florida. Only time I don't ride is when a hurricane is bearing down on us.

Gainesville claims to be a "bicycle friendly community" though I don't know if the League takes into account bicyclist deaths when they award that moniker. My ride, anyway, is mostly on quiet residential streets, and I've been able to adjust my work schedule so I'm commuting outside the major drive times.


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General Discussion / Starting over.
« on: February 08, 2007, 02:00:58 pm »
I was in a similar situation several years ago. I took up riding again when I was 51, after not having ridden (except a couple isolated, ten-minute rides in a park) since I was probably 14 or 15. Lotsa years in between there!

I got back into bicycling after reading an Adventure Cycling magazine in my dentist's office, so the dream that led me to the bike shop was the long-distance trip. But I didn't try doing LD rides right out of the box. I've done that with other things, and have finally learned that I can spoil anything by trying too hard at the start.

Instead, I used the bicycle for short errands. I was fortunate in that my job was just four miles from my home, so I could ride to work, too. Short rides got me re-acquainted with the feel of riding, and gave me oppportunity to know what I needed to change--most noticably, the saddle!

Get the old bicycle tuned, make sure it still fits, and go out for a quick spin around the neighborhood. Good luck!Text


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