Butch Femme Planet - View Single Post - Cycling

imperfect_cupcake · 07-08-2011, 01:03 AM

Incubus, I'm the opposite. when I cycle in amsterdam (where my in laws are and we visit 3-4 times a year. they always give us their guest bikes so we can get around) I'm *always* impressed with how much easier it is on my body, those dutch bikes. I'm used to hunched over, pressure on my wrists, light weight quasi mountain bikes (city bikes). I do see people with dutch bikes in the UK and yeah, they look nice, yeah, they are Huuuuuge (for the tall and well built nordics), but they are impractical for any place that has a slight hill.

But jesus those things are comfortable for me. built like you could drive it into a wall several times, wheel locks, massive wheel base, completely covered to protect good clothing, high off the ground and wide seats for my ass and completely upright. I get no swollen bursitis pains, no saddle chafing, no sore wrists.

I *can* cycle to work, but I can't take the saddle sores (even with a moderately wide seat) and the aching wrists. So I have to work up to it.

I do love cycling in Oxford in many ways - cycling through all of the universities in the morning is lovely. All the side streets and many bikes... when it's sunny the gold gleaming of the sandstone buildings... but the thing I do not like is the people who drive in from the surrounding villages to work and back and their inability to drive *with* bikes. In London that was a good thing - people didn't crowd you. I was near suicidal on my bike and very gladitorial - I often zipped between double deckers, darted in and out of traffic and got very aggressive with people who didn't give me space.

here... even though it has a MASSIVE demographic of bike users, people seem to turn stupid about what a fucking bike lane is. it seems to mean, "pull into it when you want to turn that way or if you have a new car or are very intimidated about traffic getting too close to you."

I used to have an air horn on my bike - I may return to this for those cars.

Best thing about biking in Oxford - cycling home along the river, on the gravel pathways, after a couple of pints at the gay bar. Totally dark. In places can't see a thing. I find this amusing and slightly thrilling. I remember cycling on the gulf islands at night when visiting friends and camping - the same thrill of cycling in the complete dark...

07-08-2011, 01:03 AM	#34
imperfect_cupcake Senior Member How Do You Identify?: feminine dolly dyke Preferred Pronoun?: Your Grace Relationship Status: I put my own care first Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: In a gauze of mystery Posts: 1,776 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 2,426 Thanked 9,712 Times in 1,611 Posts Rep Power: 21474853	Incubus, I'm the opposite. when I cycle in amsterdam (where my in laws are and we visit 3-4 times a year. they always give us their guest bikes so we can get around) I'm always impressed with how much easier it is on my body, those dutch bikes. I'm used to hunched over, pressure on my wrists, light weight quasi mountain bikes (city bikes). I do see people with dutch bikes in the UK and yeah, they look nice, yeah, they are Huuuuuge (for the tall and well built nordics), but they are impractical for any place that has a slight hill. But jesus those things are comfortable for me. built like you could drive it into a wall several times, wheel locks, massive wheel base, completely covered to protect good clothing, high off the ground and wide seats for my ass and completely upright. I get no swollen bursitis pains, no saddle chafing, no sore wrists. I can cycle to work, but I can't take the saddle sores (even with a moderately wide seat) and the aching wrists. So I have to work up to it. I do love cycling in Oxford in many ways - cycling through all of the universities in the morning is lovely. All the side streets and many bikes... when it's sunny the gold gleaming of the sandstone buildings... but the thing I do not like is the people who drive in from the surrounding villages to work and back and their inability to drive with bikes. In London that was a good thing - people didn't crowd you. I was near suicidal on my bike and very gladitorial - I often zipped between double deckers, darted in and out of traffic and got very aggressive with people who didn't give me space. here... even though it has a MASSIVE demographic of bike users, people seem to turn stupid about what a fucking bike lane is. it seems to mean, "pull into it when you want to turn that way or if you have a new car or are very intimidated about traffic getting too close to you." I used to have an air horn on my bike - I may return to this for those cars. Best thing about biking in Oxford - cycling home along the river, on the gravel pathways, after a couple of pints at the gay bar. Totally dark. In places can't see a thing. I find this amusing and slightly thrilling. I remember cycling on the gulf islands at night when visiting friends and camping - the same thrill of cycling in the complete dark...