6 ms·

My my all the hating on bikes here. What gives? Have any of you actually commuted on a decent bike-- not one of the cheap $300 Walmart ones? It's glorious.

My my all the hating on bikes here. What gives? Have any of you actually commuted on a decent bike-- not one of the cheap $300 Walmart ones? It's glorious. Is it wrong for Denmark to impose such a high tax? There's probably better economic means to accomplish the task. But the hating on the bike counter? Now that's just silly. If you're in SF South Bay, there are plenty of low-traffic roads where you will beat the cars back home and be much, much less stressed out from not needing to jockey in traffic-- at least if you could give up your prejudice for a moment. It also does your burn rate well for those of you doing startups.

henrikschroder 17y ago
I'll take your word for it that biking in California is glorious. However, biking in the rainy, cold, northern Europe is anything but glorious. Yes, it's very nice in the summer, it's the remaining 9 months that are bad. Let's just say that the overwhelming majority of the people I see biking in Copenhagen don't seem to enjoy it very much. I bet the majority of them would really want a car instead, but chose not to get one because of the very high price due to the extra tax.
- houseabsolute 17y ago
  Even biking in California can be tough. I gave it up because drivers are so unfriendly and I don't like feeling sweaty when I get to work.
- berntb 17y ago
  >>biking in the rainy, cold, northern Europe is anything but glorious. Let us not exaggerate. Biking in northern Europe is OK -- if the roads are ploughed, you have the right clothes and winter tyres (2 * 60 Euro for my bike, shudder. Damn thieves.) The "right clothes" is admittedly a bit much this week, when it is below minus 10 Celsius. Sigh, maybe I should look for a job down south, in warm and sunny Copenhagen. >>I bet the majority of them would really want a car instead I bike because I need the exercise. I won't get a car until I live so I get enough exercise anyway.
  - derefr 17y ago
    I think you have the right idea: if you need an environmental bubble (a car) to get between your larger environmental bubbles (home, work), the problem may not be you, but rather your environment. Live somewhere you could [theoretically] get by without clothing, insulation, or electric heat/AC, and I guarantee you a better life.
  - henriklied 17y ago
    I wouldn't call this exaggerated. Biking to work in anything below 0°C isn't what I'd call safe or comfortable. The winter tires available for bikes are ok, but cycling outside in a huge winter suit is everything but. This wouldn't work in Norway. Only 35% of the population live in the larger cities, I know lots of people who have a 60km (~35 miles) commute. Hell, I even know people who get on a plane daily to go to work. Denmark is also damn flat, at least compared to Norway, which is more "mountainy", like Switzerland.
    - vidarh 17y ago
      It does work in Norway for a lot of people. I used to bike to and from school through most of winter, and most of my friends did the same. If you need a "huge winter suit" you're not dressing properly. Maybe it won't work for as many people as in Copenhagen, but that doesn't mean it doesn't work and wouldn't work for a lot more people than presently.
      - jrockway 17y ago
        Exactly. The second you start moving, a "huge winter suit" will cause you to overheat very quickly.
RyanMcGreal 17y ago
I commute on a bike that's several levels below a cheap $300 Walmart one -- and it's glorious. Every day, I get to work in a better mood than when I left home. I defy anyone who drives to work to make the same claim honestly.
- verisimilitude 17y ago
  I agree completely -- 5 days ago my bike commute took me through 6 inches of snow. The day after, -25°F (-31.6°C) windchills. Your body gets used to the cold if you bike every day as winter sets in. There really is nothing like putting on the thermal underwear + face mask and pedaling home. Keeps one's spirits up during these short winter days.
  - RyanMcGreal 17y ago
    If anything, hot summer days are harder. After all, you can always add layers if it gets colder, but public decency suggests that removing layers caps out at shorts and t-shirt.
- ams6110 17y ago
  What are the temperatures like in your area? If I biked to work, at least 6 months out of the year I'd arrive a dripping, sweaty mess.
  - RyanMcGreal 17y ago
    Northeastern rustbelt city. Hot and muggy in the summer, freezing cold in the winter (it's raining today but last Thursday and Friday were baltic), soggy the rest of the year. Oh, yeah: and hilly. And there are almost no bike lanes.
  - jrockway 17y ago
    So shower when you get to work instead of before leaving for work. Or, don't bike. There is no magical thing that is going to prevent you from sweating.
- 17y ago
mitko 17y ago
$300 for a average bike is not cheap. Even in USA, where in my opinion the bikes are very overpriced. Yet, if you want top of the line bike $300 is not enough.
- jvdh 17y ago
  I don't know, but any half-decent front wheel (hub, spokes, inner and outer tire) will already set you back at least $50. And there are lots of different other parts on a bike. Even in the Netherlands where we have a mass market for cheap bicycles they still cost at least €200 (new).
mseebach 17y ago
Where do you see hating on bikes?
anamax 17y ago
> If you're in SF South Bay, there are plenty of low-traffic roads where you will beat the cars back home Yes, there are plenty of low-traffic roads in the South Bay, but how many people can bike faster than cars go on said roads?

henrikschroder 17y ago

I'll take your word for it that biking in California is glorious. However, biking in the rainy, cold, northern Europe is anything but glorious. Yes, it's very nice in the summer, it's the remaining 9 months that are bad. Let's just say that the overwhelming majority of the people I see biking in Copenhagen don't seem to enjoy it very much. I bet the majority of them would really want a car instead, but chose not to get one because of the very high price due to the extra tax.

houseabsolute 17y ago
Even biking in California can be tough. I gave it up because drivers are so unfriendly and I don't like feeling sweaty when I get to work.
berntb 17y ago
>>biking in the rainy, cold, northern Europe is anything but glorious. Let us not exaggerate. Biking in northern Europe is OK -- if the roads are ploughed, you have the right clothes and winter tyres (2 * 60 Euro for my bike, shudder. Damn thieves.) The "right clothes" is admittedly a bit much this week, when it is below minus 10 Celsius. Sigh, maybe I should look for a job down south, in warm and sunny Copenhagen. >>I bet the majority of them would really want a car instead I bike because I need the exercise. I won't get a car until I live so I get enough exercise anyway.
- derefr 17y ago
  I think you have the right idea: if you need an environmental bubble (a car) to get between your larger environmental bubbles (home, work), the problem may not be you, but rather your environment. Live somewhere you could [theoretically] get by without clothing, insulation, or electric heat/AC, and I guarantee you a better life.
- henriklied 17y ago
  I wouldn't call this exaggerated. Biking to work in anything below 0°C isn't what I'd call safe or comfortable. The winter tires available for bikes are ok, but cycling outside in a huge winter suit is everything but. This wouldn't work in Norway. Only 35% of the population live in the larger cities, I know lots of people who have a 60km (~35 miles) commute. Hell, I even know people who get on a plane daily to go to work. Denmark is also damn flat, at least compared to Norway, which is more "mountainy", like Switzerland.
  - vidarh 17y ago
    It does work in Norway for a lot of people. I used to bike to and from school through most of winter, and most of my friends did the same. If you need a "huge winter suit" you're not dressing properly. Maybe it won't work for as many people as in Copenhagen, but that doesn't mean it doesn't work and wouldn't work for a lot more people than presently.
    - jrockway 17y ago
      Exactly. The second you start moving, a "huge winter suit" will cause you to overheat very quickly.

RyanMcGreal 17y ago

I commute on a bike that's several levels below a cheap $300 Walmart one -- and it's glorious. Every day, I get to work in a better mood than when I left home. I defy anyone who drives to work to make the same claim honestly.

verisimilitude 17y ago
I agree completely -- 5 days ago my bike commute took me through 6 inches of snow. The day after, -25°F (-31.6°C) windchills. Your body gets used to the cold if you bike every day as winter sets in. There really is nothing like putting on the thermal underwear + face mask and pedaling home. Keeps one's spirits up during these short winter days.
- RyanMcGreal 17y ago
  If anything, hot summer days are harder. After all, you can always add layers if it gets colder, but public decency suggests that removing layers caps out at shorts and t-shirt.
ams6110 17y ago
What are the temperatures like in your area? If I biked to work, at least 6 months out of the year I'd arrive a dripping, sweaty mess.
- RyanMcGreal 17y ago
  Northeastern rustbelt city. Hot and muggy in the summer, freezing cold in the winter (it's raining today but last Thursday and Friday were baltic), soggy the rest of the year. Oh, yeah: and hilly. And there are almost no bike lanes.
- jrockway 17y ago
  So shower when you get to work instead of before leaving for work. Or, don't bike. There is no magical thing that is going to prevent you from sweating.
17y ago

mitko 17y ago

$300 for a average bike is not cheap. Even in USA, where in my opinion the bikes are very overpriced. Yet, if you want top of the line bike $300 is not enough.

jvdh 17y ago
I don't know, but any half-decent front wheel (hub, spokes, inner and outer tire) will already set you back at least $50. And there are lots of different other parts on a bike. Even in the Netherlands where we have a mass market for cheap bicycles they still cost at least €200 (new).

mseebach 17y ago

Where do you see hating on bikes?

anamax 17y ago

> If you're in SF South Bay, there are plenty of low-traffic roads where you will beat the cars back home Yes, there are plenty of low-traffic roads in the South Bay, but how many people can bike faster than cars go on said roads?