Extreme and Odd

[aj1152]

How many of us see it this way?....




From Yehuda Moon and the Kickstand Cyclery: www.yehudamoon.com

[Tom M]

For the racing folks, commuting might seem like "low-quality" mileage that eats into their training time, unless their commute is long enough and hard enough to qualify as training. Most of the performance riders I know would rather not encumber their hotrod road or mountain bikes with fenders, lights, racks and bags, so this also means they need another bike.

For the recreational types, some of them are intimidated by traffic, and some don't want to arrive at work sweaty/wet/cold, or to seem like a countercultural oddball to their co-workers.

For either group, bike parking and security can be a difficulty. Then there's the logistics of e.g. picking up the kids from soccer practice, bringing home four bags of groceries, or even just bike-maintenance chores. Between charging my light systems, cleaning my drivetrain, picking glass out of my tires, and washing my cycling clothes, I have to admit it would be simpler to just jump in the car or ride the bus.

I think that's the crux of the problem... there are alluring soft, warm, dry, low-effort options and our culture has become very accustomed to them. My commute home last night was pretty much the polar opposite, and I probably would classify it as "extreme" Rain, cold, darkness, >180 HR at times, 60mph traffic. Good training ride, anyway.