2008 Great Miami River Days
Miami RedHawks football
Run for Vision 5K
Happy Earth Day!
Happy Earth Day!
Today is the 38th annual celebration of the planet we call home, and a day to step back and think about things we can do to preserve and restore our natural resources…
So that’s the official line on Earth Day, but I want to know: what do YOU think about Earth Day?
Is it a time to reflect on accomplishments?
A time to call for more action?
Or something in-between?
Send a post, let us know, then go outside and do something good for the planet.
Home > Blogs > Living Green > Archives > 2008 > June > 12 > Entry
Horses for courses
The revolution is upon us.
While driving the three miles from my condo to the new West Chester Library site, I passed the following: three cyclists, two scooters and a motorcycle, all commuting from work.
Good; we can learn better ways to do things!
I had some observations about the riders I saw; read on, and feel free to add your thoughts.
First, only two of the bicyclists and one scooter rider were wearing helmets. Come on, folks, I can’t say it enough: WEAR A FREAKIN’ HELMET! Your hair, or your perception of how you look while riding, is not worth your life. Ask any serious cyclist, and they’ll tell you about one or two people they know who are here because they had on helmets, or aren’t here because they didn’t.
That’s not a gamble worth playing. WEAR A HELMET!
Second, one of the cyclists I saw was cruising home near Cin-Day Road on a road bike, while one other was on the same road riding a dual-suspension mountain bike, of the type that you can buy at a big-box retailer. Guess who looked more comfortable?
While fat tires and shocks may leave you thinking that shiny mountain bike on the rack at Target is the way to go, in practice the weight of those “features” far outweighs their usefulness. Don’t be scared of the thin tires of a road bike, or the lack of suspension - after a day of riding, you won’t even notice the tires, beyond the higher speed they’ll allow you to maintain. Likewise, suspension only comes into its own off-road. If your commute snakes over gnarly singletrack, then you live in a much prettier place than I do.
In addition, I know the shiny bikes lined up in the toy section of (insert closest big-box retailer here) may look appealing, and even like decent bargains.
Don’t be a sucker.
I will admit to a little bias on this one, having once worked at a bike shop. But I have seen enough big box bikes broken on the first ride or incorrectly assembled and adjusted to back up that sentiment. In bicycles, you get what you pay for, and a reliable commuter bike from a reputable shop is going to cost at least $500 to $1,000 plus accessories (LIKE A HELMET). Shop smart, and it’ll pay off later.
So with those critiques out of the way, I have to say I was really impressed yesterday. Oil and transportation issues won’t be fixed by politicians or policy. They’ll be fixed by you, me and the people riding their bikes or scooters to work, changing long-ingrained habits for the sake of a worthy greater cause.
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