The Reality of Bicycle Commuting

All photos by Mike Levin unless otherwise noted

NYTimes, "A Bicycle Evangelist With the Wind Now at His Back", by Cornelia Dean: "Mr. Blumenauer’s goals are larger than putting Americans on two wheels. He seeks to create what he calls a more sustainable society, including wiser use of energy, farming that improves the land rather than degrades it, an end to taxpayer subsidies for unwise development — and a transportation infrastructure that looks beyond the car."

It's 49F outside and raining. Not your usual sunshine day in the Swamp. I see that guy I see every day riding his road bike back from a loop around the neighborhood. And, I think "Wow, he must be cold. He must be wet." Why is he out there? Sure, it's good exercise. But, traction isn't good in the rain. Every day, bikers are killed riding on the streets. "It is important to always wear a bicycle helmet, obey traffic signals, and always be vigilant around cars and trucks in hopes of avoiding a bicycle accident.", says Levin & Perconti, personal injury lawyers. A whole industry centered around accidents.

photo from WeatherUnderground dot com

What's the reality about bicycle commuting? It's great if you can do it. There are many reasons why it's not feasible for everyone to ride. Health, logistics and weather are but a few. You can argue away just about everything related to the benefits of bike commuting, but we still do it. Why? Because it feels good. It gets you there. No gas required. It's stimulating. Better than a cup of coffee in the morning, or a wonderful addition to a cuppa.

But, faced with a perilous ride down the road, across the freeway and through traffic to the garden, I often choose to throw the bike up on my trusty car and drive part of the way. As Bill Hannahs says, "The easiest way to turn your car into a hybrid is with a bike in the trunk. Drive halfway, bike the rest and you've doubled your miles per gallon!"

photo from Python Shirts

I used to feel indestructible. I can remember thinking how lucky I was to have never broken a bone or suffered a serious injury. Years ago, in Texas, I had a friend in the oil patch whose brother died falling from a mountain in a climbing accident. Tim's brother was also a bicycle enthusiast.

I bought his Saracen bike. (photo from Saracen) A gorgeous powder blue racer with toe clips. It took me a long time to pay Tim weekly dosh for that bike. I loved it. I had never used toe clips before. One day after work, I strapped those clips on tight and went for a ride down a back road in Houston. You know those white bumps that separate lanes? I rode along about 5 MPH in and out of the bumps, cutting an "S" in the road. The bike was so agile that before I knew it, the front wheel crossed up and I tumbled over the handlebars. Instinctively, I put my hands out to catch myself as I fell forwards. No luck. You can't imagine how much it hurt landing face first on the cement. I can practically smell the sickening smell of concrete mixed with enamel. And, they say "Life's better without braces". My hands were a bit numb, too. Yep, I can still see the scar where the concrete met my palm. I later learned that people wear bike gloves to protect against just that situation. Gloves also reduce vibration and help your grip. All that at only 5 MPH. I learned that it's not a good idea to tighten your toe clip straps too much.


Bicycle commuting in Dublin, Ireland was a hoot. It was a thrill to cruise down Merrion Road from my job on Dawson Street on my Dawes Edge. The buses would come so close behind me I could practically hear the driver saying "Have ye no homes to go to?" while the passengers read their Irish Daily Star newspapers in heated bliss. I couldn't believe it! Even cooler was seeing the bicycle delivery guys flying around on their hybrids. Cool is a relative term.

Now, fixies are all the rage.



(photo of that Villin fixie by Amanda) That's a single speed bike with no freewheel. Fixies were originally designed to be a track bikes. You'd ride a fixed gear around a velodrome. These days, fixed gear bikes are an art form and an addiction for lots of folks. Just ask The Bike Snob.

I bought that yellow Dawes in Ireland you see in the picture above. For some reason, Irish driving and bikes are arranged differently that most other places. The brakes are not right-rear, left-front. It's right-front. Hmmm. One day, I was riding home from work in Winter Park, FL. Again, I was going no more that 5 MPH. I was minding my own business, listening to an MP3 player. I came to a corner and saw a car coming. About that time, my earphone fell out of my ear. My right ear. So, I touched the left brake and reached up to put the ear plug back in. Bad idea. Wham! That was the front brake, not the rear my instincts told me to use. Again, toe clips and all, I crumpled. My left knee, the lateral meniscus, got nailed. Luckily, arthroscopic surgery is a walk in procedure these days. It's better now, but my days of marathon (singular) and racquetball are over. A wiser man I am.


For some reason, that old Candid Camera tune is running through my head: "When you least expect it, you're elected. It's your lucky day!" That's the fact about bicycle commuting. When you least expect it, you're elected. It's your day to crash. And, you better be ready. Wear a helmet. Heads are like eggs when it comes to collisions. You're rarely ready for an accident. It happens in a split second. All these freedom fighters that protest helmet laws and claim personal freedom are well and good. Fool me once, shame on you. You cain't get fooled again.