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Comments:
Eric - 2004-07-08 02:19:13 Although loath to respond to rudeness, I will say--nonsense. There's no reason a bike can't look snazzy. Plenty of industrial designers, like all other groups of people, are too self-important to use common sense, or too uncultured to have an inner sense of beauty--witness the hideous Element and the Aztek. Designed by people who are just too out of touch to even see how ugly they are.* * * * * * * * * * * * ypsidweller - 2004-07-08 09:56:01 I started riding my mountain bike to work from Ypsi to AA. Being totally out of shape and a smoker I did it in 42 minutes there, 50 minutes home. I feel better already after only three times. I think I could knock it down to 30 minutes eventually. I have an older bike. Ride from the old High school to 7th and Miller.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-07-08 10:14:34 Welcome ypsidweller! It is so fun to hear from people who are making the Y-AA trek, all of them faster than me, I notice. Ypsidweller, am I correct in thinking that you take Packard all the way in, from YHS? Is that a good route? Any rough spots/sidewalk shortages, or do you brave the traffic? That route would certainly be less convoluted than the St.Joe's-Gallup Park route. * * * * * * * * * * * * Eric - 2004-07-08 10:15:35 You read too much into my comment. Engineers had nothing to do with how those bikes look. They just made the designer's vision a reality. The Element is awesome. I guess you just have to be younger and hipper to enjoy it's styling. (That's a joke in case you didn't see it.)* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-07-08 10:36:06 Half of it hideous cheapo plastic panels and cladding, the Element is a boxy, graceless, ostentatious eyesore, in my opinion. * * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-07-08 10:46:44 At any rate, sorry for OT: how about that Cannondale? :) Darn cute li'l thing--darn pricey li'l pricetag. I have seen cheaper recumbents but I think this one/$3000 Bigha has the best design by far; and the Bigha is unique in having a mostly-enclosed chain, a nice touch.* * * * * * * * * * * * ypsidweller - 2004-07-08 10:48:23 I leave at 7am and there is virtually no traffic until 7:30 or so. I take Huron/Huron River Dr, past St. Joes (where it turns into Clark. Right on Hogback to Huron River dr. again. Along the golf course to Huron Parkway to Geddes, up the killer hill. The only change from my car drive is you can shoot though campus and downtown in the morning on a bike and avoid all hills. The hill by all the new Life sciences construction should be avoided. Campus is prettier anyway. On the way home I go into Gallup from Geddes and take it all the way to Parker Mill Park (Single Male Park) then Geddes to Leforge to Forest to Adams. I always stop at Dixboro Dam or Parker Mill to down the after work Blue Can. But I find the benifits of riding a bike are many. And it only takes me ten or 15 minutes longer than driving. Much quieter and peaceful. The cars don't bother me much. I bought a helmet and ride close to the edge. I find about 1/2 the trip there is plenty of room or bikepaths. The worst are the curves/railings with litle visual distance up ahead (By Chalmers on Huron Pkwy, and Geddes just west of Superior Rd.) I cross my fingers then and ride fast.* * * * * * * * * * * * ypsidweller - 2004-07-08 10:51:15 Recumbents are a stupid fad.* * * * * * * * * * * * ypsidweller - 2004-07-08 10:57:38 I live by the old High School that is now a senior residence (Cross & Washington)* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-07-08 12:14:19 Ypsidweller, those routes sound great. I think I'll try them. The idea of taking different routes each way somehow never occurred to me, but I like it. I also like the quietness & peacefulness of biking relative to hectic driving. And the blue can stop is another good idea. I also used to think that recumbents were ridiculous contraptions bought by eccentrics with more money than sense. However, I've been reading a lot about them lately, and over and over people talk about how much more radically comfy they are--no neck cricks, &c. People bike all day on these things, which sounds great to me. So I'm thinking about it (put off for the moment by the astronomical prices though).* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-07-08 13:11:31 p.s. oh, and I had to laugh at "Single Male Park." Sounds scenic.* * * * * * * * * * * * ypsidweller - 2004-07-08 14:30:19 I choose routes each way that maximize the downhill portions. Though you figure if you follow the river from AA to Ypsi you are essentialy going downhill. Most people I know call Parker Mill Park "Single Male Park" I never go there except to ride through it. Sit alone in your car there (If you are male) and it will take about ten seconds to get propositioned. I prefer sittng at Dixboro Dam when I drive my car to work. After work that is. But you still get overflow from the park sometimes. A cold stare usually keeps away unwanted advances. * * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-07-08 14:54:01 Silly me, I misunderstood--I was picturing mixed-sex flirting. At any rate, your Parker Mill--Geddes route reminds me that there's a beautiful rural stretch of Geddes leading to Leforge--I'm going to check that out; thanks for the info, ypsidweller.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-07-08 22:22:18 ypsidweller, I tried your geddes route on the way home today. Found it a bit scary! The stretch of Geddes after Parker Mill Park has lots of blind curves and zero shoulder, lots of gravel and a broken beer bottle to boot. Lots of tiring hills. Then the straight stretch to LeForge features a 50 mph speed limit and two narrow lanes, again with no shoulder. I conclude that you are both a stronger and braver biker than me! The Geddes stretch was beautiful and green, I must say, although I didn't like seeing the big "for sale" sign on the cornfield by the straight stretch. Well, I tried it--but I think I'll timidly revert to my placid (and hill-free) St. Joe's route. Roadkill: 2 dead baby raccoons, 1 dead baby something.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-07-08 22:24:18 p.s. oh, and time: a pathetic 85 minutes (I gotta get a new non-leaden bike).* * * * * * * * * * * * ypsidweller - 2004-07-09 15:41:47 I still prefer my way home, and my way to work which seems to be the way you go both ways. I really like the Geddes route. Not that many cars, and more serene. * * * * * * * * * * * * ypsidweller - 2004-07-09 15:41:50 I still prefer my way home, and my way to work which seems to be the way you go both ways. I really like the Geddes route. Not that many cars, and more serene. * * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-07-09 15:55:45 Well, it was rush hour when I tried it yesterday, so that probably changes things; I have the impression, since you leave so early, that you're returning earlier. At any rate.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-07-09 18:15:20 Well, it's been 2 weeks now as of Friday that I've ridden home at least 3 times a week, and I feel great. It's fun, I like the people-watching, and I know I'm healthier. Tried to shave some minutes off my time today (70 mins) by secretly picking a biker guy in Gallup Park in a burgundy T shirt and black shorts as a "pace car"--phew, he was fast--it was a lot of effort to keep him in sight. At any rate.* * * * * * * * * * * * add your comment: |