I was discussing my plans to upgrade my current bicycle with a couple of friends when of them said he wishes he could ride a bike but can’t. I thought maybe he had never learned, or had some physical limitations, but his answer was “If anyone from the hood saw me on a bicycle, they’d think I fell off.”
Huh? I’d expect that anyone that self-conscious would be even more inclined to hop on a bike. They’re great for recreation, fitness, and for some of us—yes! A commute!
Every bike isn’t pink with streamers and double baskets! There are plenty of comfortable, reliable and sturdy models to choose from.
There are great deals to be had on used bikes, if you know what to look for. However, if you’re in the market for something brand new, expect to shell out $300+ for one of the better models.
That may seem like a lot of money, but in New York City, many of us pay $104/mo for our MetroCards, and for those of you who drive, gas is nearing $5 a gallon, so you do the math.
Here in NYC , the city has slowly but surely been integrating bike lanes throughout the boroughs, making it much easier to find safe routes and bike parking. For me, it’s just silly to drive and wasteful to take public transportation everyday.
My commute to work is approximately 15 minutes via train—if there’s no delay, 30 minutes by bus, and 20 minutes on my bike. If I drive I spend 30 minutes looking for parking before I cave and end up paying for it. Why am I wasting my money?
In regards to my pending upgrade, I’d originally limited my budget to no more than $200, but after calculating the cost savings (vehicle/public transportation) over time, I feel comfortable exceeding that and getting something that will outlast my riding years.
Since I’m looking for a great bike, a general retailer just won’t do. I’ve been going about this search by patronizing bike shops where the associates are trained to fit people to the best bikes for their body types. I’ve sat, stretched, spread, and rode. My department store Schwinn will do for now, but I’m ready for the big time!!
So if you see me in the hood on a Surly…..holler!!
