[SDCBC] re wired mag article on city bikes

[Stephan Vance]

According to a 2006 Federal Highways Administration report, nearly half of
all trips are three miles or less. Most of those trips are made in a car.
While many of them may not be easily converted to bicycle trips, changing
those that could be to bike trips would result in a significant increase in
bicycling.

Stephan Vance

-----Original Message-----
From: sdcbc-bounces at bikesandiego.org [mailto:sdcbc-bounces at bikesandiego.org]
On Behalf Of Jim Baross
Sent: Sunday, September 30, 2007 5:40 PM
To: markw; sdcbc at bikesandiego.org
Subject: Re: [SDCBC] re wired mag article on city bikes

Let's remember, or maybe you hadn't heard, that a HUGE percentage of 
car trips in the US are less than five miles! Although most of us 
would agree that a fixie may not be the appropriate bike for most 
people (until more motivated and skilled), the one-speed or few-speed 
city-bikes are likely to be pretty useful for lots of people to use 
for replacing some car trips... and for getting some exercise and fun.

At 03:33 PM 9/29/2007, markw wrote:
>Big50_1 at yahoo.com wrote:
> > Interesting article.  My first two bikes, years and years ago, 
> were three speed "English Racers".  Did a lot of miles on them. Now 
> I ride for the enjoyment of biking, exercise, and seeing different 
> places in SD county.  But once I discovered derailleurs and, better 
> yet, clipless pedals (WOW, using the whole leg/gluts to pedal, 
> kool!!), there wasn't no goin' back!!!  I do see the inexpensive 
> one speed as a bike you can throw in the SUV or hang off the car 
> bike rack so you can park away from a crowded beach or recreational 
> area and easily ride there and back but for more than about 5 miles 
> or so, one speed????  But, hey, whatever excites ya'.
> >
>
>Yup, for someone who lives in downtown SF, or NYC those bikes are great.
>  But if you're commute is any distance with hills you need gears.  I
>couldn't imagine doing my old commute from NE Santee to Downtown SD on a
>single speed.  I just can't see cruising at 22+ on a single speed, or if
>it's geared for speed, then you'd be avoiding hills.   Gearing is always
>a compromise on those.   I'll take my Aero any day over an SS for the
>way I ride.   However, if I lived downtown, a SS (not fixie) would
>probably be the grocery getter.  I use an LHT for that now.
>
>Mark



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