frustrations that non bikers won't understand

- that feeling when you are running errands (ie like getting produce from the farmers market and then running into CVS for shampoo or whatever) on your bike and you have to make more than one stop, but you cant just leave the groceries on your bike, so you have to unload everything and carry it in with you and then people look at you like you're an old bag lady.

Also applies to when I'm taking my clothes to the dry cleaners and I stop at my bank beforehand and I walk in with this big garment bag full of clothes and they look at me with suspicion as if I'm coming in to rob the place.

And all I can think of is "maybe if more of you were bikers you'd understand."

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Permalink Reply by Beans on January 23, 2015 at 12:06pm

Yes.

Permalink Reply by Tom A.K. on January 23, 2015 at 12:10pm
V W, these are the realities of being a "cyclist".
Permalink Reply by V W on January 23, 2015 at 12:37pm
- When a jaywalker runs to avoid the cars and then slows to a crawl once they reach the bike lane

- When people waiting to cross at the crosswalk gather in the bike lane as if it is extra side walk space and act surprised when they see a cyclist flying at them

- When the bike lane is treated as excess snow storage space by city snow removal trucks

- When the bike lane is treated as parking space for cars

- horribly designed spots to lock up my bike like at Jewel where it has all these slots that in theory can accommodate lots of bikes but in reality can accommodate one or two

- bike lock up spots (what's the word I'm looking for?) situated so close to a building my handlebars hit the building long before my frame can get close to the thing I'm supposed to attach to my u lock
Permalink Reply by Louis K on January 24, 2015 at 2:42am
Yes. I brought some lumber into CVS just last week. No one even gave me a second look.
Permalink Reply by Irvin Steinert on January 24, 2015 at 7:37am

The reality of living in a world where someone would steal your stuff if you take your eye off it for a second...

Tom A.K. said:

V W, these are the realities of being a "cyclist".
Permalink Reply by Haddon on January 24, 2015 at 8:08am

The grease chain line on many of my pants, getting flats 3 times in a week, the way cycling seems to destroy my clothes, the need to cycle and wash clothing after one short sweaty ride, no I can't join a warehouse club because I can't ride home with 36 rolls of toilet paper.

Personally I think cycling, despite the drawbacks, is a blessing. A while ago I had to take a bus+train and it was basically traumatic.  Between the crammed people, the stink, the grinding crush of people, the noise, the stuffy air. It was a route that would have taken me a relaxing, mind clearing half an hour to bike in the fresh air and it took an hour between waiting at the stops, the added walking, listening to people yell at their phones and more.  

In the whole plus/minus I put cycling way head of the other options.  Sure, a car in the cold would be nice but if I don't get regular exercise I get depressed, when I had a car and drove back and forth between the desk and the couch I was utterly miserable

But the real issue here is - that if people don't know your trials and tribulations it's that your not complaining enough. People will say "I can't complain" NO one can always find something to complain about.  Let your angst out and stop suffering in silence. 

The longer list would be the opposite, crap you don't have to deal with or befits if the ride: Not needing to find a parking space or paying for it, not putting up with public trans, the solitude of the ride (underrated), the self sufficiency and more.

Permalink Reply by daWillinChi on January 24, 2015 at 10:02am

This only compares to driving. You'd run to the same issues if you took PT.

- that feeling when you are running errands (ie like getting produce from the farmers market and then running into CVS for shampoo or whatever) on your bike and you have to make more than one stop, but you cant just leave the groceries on your bike, so you have to unload everything and carry it in with you and then people look at you like you're an old bag lady.

Also applies to when I'm taking my clothes to the dry cleaners and I stop at my bank beforehand and I walk in with this big garment bag full of clothes and they look at me with suspicion as if I'm coming in to rob the place.

And all I can think of is "maybe if more of you were bikers you'd understand."

Permalink Reply by yai danche on January 24, 2015 at 3:15pm

Having a pigeon fly past your face.  Riding past geese/squirrels/rabbits and hoping they don't freak out.  Hitting squirrels/rabbits probably won't end with a crash, but I think a goose might.  

Adding to taking all your packages/bags with you, the frustration of taking all your lights with you because anything not locked down WILL get stolen.  I don't know how people can leave their helmets outside, because I can see people being evil and messing with it.

People treating your basket/pannier as a garbage can.  I've found cigarettes, coffee cups, and a STICKY LOLLIPOP.  Adding insult to injury, there's a street garbage can a few feet away.  

Permalink Reply by V W on January 25, 2015 at 3:54am


Jeff Schneider said:

Being in a collision and having a police report completed by an officer who does not know the law.


From what I gather CPD has an unofficial policy of blaming cyclists for doorings. It happened to me when I got doored. And why did they send an SUV cop and not a bike cop. I'm sure when a bike cop gets doored they're just as sympathetic (roll eyes).
Permalink Reply by Josh L. on January 25, 2015 at 2:41pm

I just have the big Orlieb and it comes on and off in a second.  It is an engineering marvel. I routinelyu put 30-35 lbs in it (estimate) and carry with the shoulder strap with no problems.  I bring it to bars, restaurants..not sure anybody gives me a second look. 

The saddest thing is that many supermarket cashiers can't understand that somebody doesn't need bags. A nice by product of Pannier...food goes right in!


yai danche said:

Having a pigeon fly past your face.  Riding past geese/squirrels/rabbits and hoping they don't freak out.  Hitting squirrels/rabbits probably won't end with a crash, but I think a goose might.  

Adding to taking all your packages/bags with you, the frustration of taking all your lights with you because anything not locked down WILL get stolen.  I don't know how people can leave their helmets outside, because I can see people being evil and messing with it.

People treating your basket/pannier as a garbage can.  I've found cigarettes, coffee cups, and a STICKY LOLLIPOP.  Adding insult to injury, there's a street garbage can a few feet away.  

Permalink Reply by JeffB on January 26, 2015 at 8:44am

I'm probably in the minority opinion on this, but I'm not looking forward to the plastic grocery bag ban coming this year. 

Shopping for me is often spur-of-the-moment, so how am I supposed to get my groceries home when I haven't planned ahead and brought bags with me. Paper bags with handles are a disaster waiting to happen, and I'm not going to buy a reusable bag every time I come unprepared.

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on January 26, 2015 at 9:27am

Some officers really get it, are sympathetic, and write tickets on drivers. Others are either clueless about laws regarding bikes or openly hostile. Some of the latter write really bad crash reports.
 
Jeff Schneider said:

Being in a collision and having a police report completed by an officer who does not know the law.

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