[Rant] Can anyone think of a stupider way to recognize Bike to Work week than...

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Melissa on June 12, 2013 at 11:57am

++1

notoriousDUG said:

People pay a membership to ride a spin bike or on a Computrainer because it provides them with a better workout in less time than riding on the street or path.  With a trainer people can set resistence and maintain a certain power output and cadence because there is no traffic to contend with.  You also get a better workout in less time so it makes training for an event fit into the rest of life easier.  There is also usually a coach or trainer involved to help them with form and push them towards goals and help create a program that will result in strength and endurance gains they would not be able to realize riding outside under uncontrolled conditions.

Riding a trainer is not for me and is no substitute for riding outside when it comes to bike handling skills and traffic experience.  It is, however, a far better way to gain strength and endurance on the bike.  

Riding indoors on a trainer is not crazy, stupid or bad in any way; in fact I would rather have people training there than on the LFP passing everyone super close at 20mph...  

Mike Zumwalt said:

I don't know anyone pays for a gym membership to ride a stationary, it's not like real riding just pedaling.

If you have children at home or are in some type of muscle rehab. then yeah but even then you can get a simple stand that raises your back wheel off the ground or you want to watch a loop video of Pee Wee or E.T. flying, or you love texting while pedaling.

I saw a kid on training wheels get his rear wheel just off the ground so he was pedaling like crazy going nowhere and it was fun, if you're 5.

Permalink Reply by h' Zerocats on June 12, 2013 at 12:39pm

Hey, no fair reading the discussion before responding!

Adam Herstein (5.5 mi) said:

No one is saying that spinning/training is stupid. It clearly has its purposes. The point we are trying to make is that it has no place at an event that is promoting bike riding for transportation.

Permalink Reply by Tony Adams on June 12, 2013 at 12:47pm

especially this part:

... in fact I would rather have people training there than on the LFP passing everyone super close at 20mph...  

Melissa said:

++1

notoriousDUG said:

People pay a membership to ride a spin bike or on a Computrainer because it provides them with a better workout in less time than riding on the street or path.  With a trainer people can set resistence and maintain a certain power output and cadence because there is no traffic to contend with.  You also get a better workout in less time so it makes training for an event fit into the rest of life easier.  There is also usually a coach or trainer involved to help them with form and push them towards goals and help create a program that will result in strength and endurance gains they would not be able to realize riding outside under uncontrolled conditions.

Riding a trainer is not for me and is no substitute for riding outside when it comes to bike handling skills and traffic experience.  It is, however, a far better way to gain strength and endurance on the bike.  

Riding indoors on a trainer is not crazy, stupid or bad in any way; in fact I would rather have people training there than on the LFP passing everyone super close at 20mph...  

Mike Zumwalt said:

I don't know anyone pays for a gym membership to ride a stationary, it's not like real riding just pedaling.

If you have children at home or are in some type of muscle rehab. then yeah but even then you can get a simple stand that raises your back wheel off the ground or you want to watch a loop video of Pee Wee or E.T. flying, or you love texting while pedaling.

I saw a kid on training wheels get his rear wheel just off the ground so he was pedaling like crazy going nowhere and it was fun, if you're 5.

Permalink Reply by Gene Tenner on June 12, 2013 at 12:57pm

Holding the Bike Chicago Film Night at Millenium Park, a venue that does not allow bikes and has only two small bike racks. I was kicked around 3 times: you have to walk your bike (although riding a trike is much safer); you cannot sit on your bike; and then no bikes are allowed at all, so leave or lock it up at the opposite end from where you are at those two racks in the back.

Permalink Reply by Tony Adams on June 12, 2013 at 1:02pm

The Pritzker Pavilion has only two small racks, but there are a lot of racks around the perimeter of Millennium Park. There are not enough racks to meet the demand during high-turnout events, but there are a lot more than just two racks. 

Gene Tenner said:

Holding the Bike Chicago Film Night at Millenium Park, a venue that does not allow bikes and has only two small bike racks. I was kicked around 3 times: you have to walk your bike (although riding a trike is much safer); you cannot sit on your bike; and then no bikes are allowed at all, so leave or lock it up at the opposite end from where you are at those two racks in the back.

Permalink Reply by Sarah D. on June 12, 2013 at 1:08pm

Agreed. Let's get people (safely) out on the streets on bikes this week. Why not have neighborhood rides with Aldermen each day, or something? Bike Ambassadors doing free lunchtime rides downtown? Anything like that? Spin classes could be any week of the year, gateway or not. 

Adam Herstein (5.5 mi) said:

No one is saying that spinning/training is stupid. It clearly has its purposes. The point we are trying to make is that it has no place at an event that is promoting bike riding for transportation.

Permalink Reply by yai danche on June 12, 2013 at 4:48pm

I think bike commuting, with its starts and stops, requires less exertion.  I should've phrased it that way. 

notoriousDUG said:

Wait; you think riding a trainer requires less physical exertion?

Have you ever even been on one?

yai danche said:

It's not terrible!  It's like those driving simulators before you get into a car.  Actually not really.  Spinning isn't a very accurate introduction to bike commuting.  For one thing, there's less physical exertion.  I hope their stationary bike mile counter at least encourages them to think they could physically bike commute.  

Permalink Reply by h' Zerocats on June 12, 2013 at 5:18pm

Strange how trainers, stationary bikes and spin bikes are being conflated here.

Anyways, I doubt that anyone actually believed anywhere along the way that Spin classes would be a useful tool in introducing anyone to bicycle commuting-- more likely, this fitness company or gym or whatever it is saw a promotional opportunity and approached the city wanting to get in on the action, and the events person said "hey, one less thing for us to organize."

yai danche said:

I think bike commuting, with its starts and stops, requires less exertion.  I should've phrased it that way. 

notoriousDUG said:

Wait; you think riding a trainer requires less physical exertion?

Have you ever even been on one?

yai danche said:

It's not terrible!  It's like those driving simulators before you get into a car.  Actually not really.  Spinning isn't a very accurate introduction to bike commuting.  For one thing, there's less physical exertion.  I hope their stationary bike mile counter at least encourages them to think they could physically bike commute.  

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