jadetiger962 said:I tend to be pretty law-abiding; I rarely find myself blowing through a red light. Honestly, I’m usually quite content just sitting there patiently in line with all the other cars.
I was actually quoting myself there. Where on earth did I claim that I always follow the rules? It just seemed a bit ridiculous to suggest you should wait for the world to become a perfect utopia before you decide to start following the rules occasionally.
Of course, a justification is tucked away a few posts down. 🤣
I really don't see what the big deal is here. Have you ever even ventured out on a bike beyond your own little neighborhood or the outskirts of Washington, D.C.?
neonhound32 said:And what's the logic behind having to get off your bike when you hit a crosswalk? It's never made any sense to me.
It's because that isn't a "crosswalk," it's a "pedestrian crossing." If there isn't a dedicated bike lane running alongside it, you have to dismount. Generally speaking, whenever a bike path ends on a sidewalk, you're expected to hop off and walk the bike until the path picks up again.
Before anyone starts another war over this—I don't do that. But then again, I don't even ride on streets that have those kinds of paths; I just avoid them altogether.
The thing is, I didn't really have much of a choice at the time. We were driving through Albania and eventually hit a point where there was a highway sign, so we tried to figure out our next move—using hand gestures, obviously, since nobody there spoke a lick of English. We basically signaled asking which route to take, and they gestured for us to just hop on the highway, though they made sure to signal that we should stick strictly to the side. Later on, once we actually got onto that stretch of road, we started seeing houses with direct driveways leading right onto it and even farm equipment crossing it. It was pretty surreal, honestly.🤣
William Alvarez35 said:In my opening sentence, I specifically noted, "...but again, in a way that doesn't jeopardize other drivers on the road"—I figured anyone with half a brain would catch that bit.☕.
Look, that little disclaimer you added doesn't really change the math. It’s like if I decided to blow through a red light whenever I felt like it and just claimed I wasn't putting anyone at risk. It doesn't work that way.
William Alvarez35 said:It’s honestly because of that kind of harsh reality that I don't give much weight to traffic signs, though I try to stay mindful enough not to put anyone else in actual danger. It’s only when those "higher-ups" finally have a lightbulb moment—when they stop just blanket-punishing everyone for parking cars, scooters, or delivery trucks on bike lanes, and instead actually build continuous paths without those ridiculous wooden barriers blocking the way—that we'll see any real sense of civic duty develop among drivers. Only then will I start playing by all the rules, like stopping at a red light when there hasn't been a soul in sight for a mile... and so on. But until then, just floor it, Mickey.
Fair enough, but why don't you think road culture could actually start with you?
I’m pretty much a stickler for the rules most of the time; I rarely find myself blowing through a red light. In fact, you’ll often catch me just sitting there patiently in line alongside the cars.
I don't know, I guess I just feel like it’s a way to show other drivers that we aren't some secondary nuisance, but an actual equal part of the road. They aren't ever going to start giving us any respect if we're always acting like we own the place. 🤷
John Palmer4 said:I don't mind a few little things, honestly, I can deal with that. But when I'm driving my kid over to his grandma's before work, or doing the same thing after hours, I really need some actual space for his clothes, a water bottle, random bits and pieces, and ideally a toy or two. I need room for everything. I'm not even worrying about diapers yet—those things are way too bulky to fit in panniers 😬
I've been looking everywhere and coming up empty 😢 🤷 any idea where else I should look? At this point, I wouldn't even say it's about the price (as long as we're talking within a reasonable budget), it's just that if I could find something to take the load off my back during this brutal heatwave, I'd be set.
I have disc brakes on mine too. Should I expect a total circus if I try to get a front rack installed? (The rear one works like a charm, even with the disc setup)
Regarding those bags, I've spotted them over at Dick's Sporting Goods and ESPN.
I didn't run into any issues on the front, mostly because I had V-brake mounts available. You might run into a bit of a headache if you don't have them.
John Palmer4 said:Hey everyone, I could really use some advice or even just a quick opinion on something. Ever since I mounted a child seat on my bike and started using it for the daily commute, I’ve completely lost all my pannier space. Right now, I’m stuck lugging everything around in a backpack, which is honestly becoming a real pain. I haven't had much luck finding decent front rack setups. I might even be open to trying something like this
but I can't find any bags that actually attach to it properly. 🤷
Does anyone have any ideas, even if it's just a makeshift DIY solution?
There are definitely bags out there, they just tend to be a bit pricier. Usually, you'd go with individual bags rather than a single connected set of panniers.
As for improvising, absolutely—it's possible. Back when I was riding an old bike with disc brakes, I couldn't fit a heavy-duty rear rack, so I moved everything to the front. I ended up fashioning a little custom bracket out of some sheet metal just so I could clip standard panniers onto it.
mistywolf17 said:But seriously. Every single time I issue a ban, that automated message gets saved to my inbox, and more often than not, the banned user actually replies to it. Then there are all the other PMs regarding moderation duties. And just regular PMs. 😢 😁
I suppose I am fully behind you all in your fight for greater rights. 😁
Look, when you're issuing a warning, there's an option at the bottom that says, "Save a copy of this message to your Sent folder." You can just uncheck that box. 🙂
Roger Gomez38 said:I’ve been seeing some chatter online suggesting that cycling might not be the best move for guys dealing with prostate issues. There's also that old concern about how the heat buildup during long rides can basically "cook" everything down there, potentially tanking sperm counts and all that good stuff. Does this kind of risk apply to someone just riding for fun a few times a week for a couple of hours, or is it really only an issue for the pros who are living in their saddles? If there actually are downsides to worry about, is there a way to mitigate them through better gear, specific shorts, or other equipment?
Honestly, I wouldn't lose any sleep over it. When you weigh it all up, the benefits of staying active far outweigh those potential drawbacks.
Back in elementary school, I spent some time playing chess, though most of those strategies have slipped my mind by now. In high school, I did karate, and I’ve pretty much been a hiker at heart for as long as I can remember. About five years ago, I decided to get back into a real fitness routine; I started out hitting the gym and then spent a few years doing jazz dance. Somewhere along the line, I picked up a bike and started tackling the hills around my local area, which has become my main obsession alongside the occasional game of badminton and some rollerblading. A few days ago, I actually gave bouldering a shot, though I was absolutely terrible at it 😬. 🙂
Oh, and I’ve also been playing bridge about once a week for the last three or four years.
I actually own one just like it, though mine has different labeling on it. Honestly, I’d recommend it to anyone; it feels incredibly solid and the size is just right for what I need.
Look, there’s no such thing as a shortcut here. Just head over to the thread index, find the sections that actually interest you, and start reading. It takes a bit of patience, but that's how you learn the ropes.
Sean Myers31 said:Well, they make those storage boxes for bikes too... you know, much better than just using a basket. Do you have a link for where to find one in New York City?
I’ve spotted some of them over at Walmart or even Kroger, but honestly, they feel pretty cheap compared to mine. I picked up my current setup about three years ago from Strauss, though I did see an identical version once while browsing through Cape Cod.
Mine is actually the exact same model, just without that specific sticker on it. 😬
In my experience, you really can't go wrong with a solid set of waterproof panniers—especially if they’re designed to clip on and off the bike without a massive headache.
I’ve been riding with this older version for a while now:
They’ve been fantastic. I don't actually bother using them for my daily commute through the city, though; I try not to lug around extra weight when I'm just heading into the office. For those trips, a simple top box mounted on my rear rack—kind of like one of those storage trunks you see on a Vespa—does the trick perfectly well.
I’ve already figured out that if you actually want to play handball, there’s probably a dedicated thread for that somewhere. Honestly, trying to pull a team together this way is going to be an uphill battle; I’ve seen plenty of people try to organize similar groups for various sports before, and it rarely works out.
I can already see this spiraling into yet another heated vegan flame war. It’s just plain wrong to claim that plants only offer trace amounts of amino acids; I mean, soy actually provides a complete amino acid profile on its own.
If anyone is actually looking for real answers, they should head over to the Meatless Cooking subforum over in the Foodie section—I’m fairly certain I’ve already addressed this exact question there more times than I care to count. Lock.
