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Post by fumobici on Oct 2, 2009 2:44:59 GMT
Rain, just above 0 short of Arctic cold is the worst. Often at that point I'd wish it'd just drop a couple of degrees so it'd snow and be nicer.
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Post by lagatta on Oct 2, 2009 11:55:34 GMT
Snow at just below 0 (C, of course) is much nicer to walk in, but the problem with snow in the city when cycling is that it often melts and freezes into ICE, which is very dangerous.
I mustn't dwell on this now. Must enjoy cycling while I can. Hate winter, hate not getting enough exercise too.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 2, 2009 12:17:45 GMT
I have biked a few times on ice in Paris, and I am not a big fan of it. However, I rode so carefully those times that nothing scary ever happened. When it is just cold, no problem for me -- I don't mind wrapping myself up as much as necessary.
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Post by lagatta on Oct 2, 2009 13:31:22 GMT
No, cold doesn't bother me either. For one thing, you are doing exercise and warming yourself up. I often cycle at about -5c or so, when there isn't too much snow and ice. Sometimes we get cold snaps like that without snow or ice. You mostly need good leather gloves and a scarf and hat - no extremities exposed. Warm clothes yes, but they mustn't be too bulky either. If you visit www.copenhagencyclechic.com you'll see lots of people looking great, dressed for winter. Of course being tall and blond(e) doesn't hurt.
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Post by livaco on Oct 2, 2009 22:28:52 GMT
-5c with not much snow and ice, sure... But I'm sure you get much worse weather than that in Montreal that would make it much more difficult.
Here in Milwaukee we had 100 inches of snow last winter, and we get plenty of days where it is below 0 degrees Fahrenheit. (below -18c) Usually it's just one or the other -- very cold or lots of snow, not both. But it's hard to bike year-round here.
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Post by lagatta on Oct 3, 2009 0:05:36 GMT
livaco, of course we get weather like you describe. I don't cycle year-round, but I do cycle most of the year. Of course they could build covered cycle paths!
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Post by livaco on Oct 3, 2009 0:26:18 GMT
Of course they could build covered cycle paths! What a great idea!
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Post by Deleted on Oct 3, 2009 17:46:41 GMT
Or a whole underground network, parallel to the subway!
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Post by bixaorellana on Oct 3, 2009 19:16:25 GMT
Anyone know anything about cycling in Iceland? Isn't that where the sidewalks are heated by thermal springs?
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Post by Deleted on Oct 4, 2009 19:40:55 GMT
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Post by bixaorellana on Oct 23, 2009 18:11:02 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Oct 23, 2009 21:02:58 GMT
That's great St. Louis has made such great strides. When I lived there (a long time ago) it was ok out in the suburbs but that's about it. I see New Orleans got an honorable mention. Thanks for this B.
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Post by bixaorellana on Oct 23, 2009 21:41:10 GMT
Did you see Baton Rouge got it? (Baton Rouge!)
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Post by Deleted on Oct 23, 2009 23:20:55 GMT
I did see Baton Rouge with a bronze. You know,as long as I've lived in LA, I can count on one hand the times I've been to Baton Rouge. I never have a reason to go there. But, I am thrilled that anyplace in LA is doing something noteworthy in a positive bend. Maybe BR because of all the students?
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Post by bixaorellana on Oct 23, 2009 23:52:22 GMT
I don't really know Baton Rouge, but parts of it are gorgeous -- very green and with huge old trees -- and as you say, it does have the university.
What I found a little discouraging about the article is that the BFC has been at this since 1995. It seems that things should be further along by this time.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 24, 2009 0:20:41 GMT
Alot of things should be further along...let's be hopeful and grateful they're going this way. Hanging out with younger people does this for me. As for cycling,there are so many more people visible on the street going to and fro work and school. I see them early in the morning when I take Papi out for his walk and again in the early evening. It wasn't that way ten years ago,at least not here. The farmer's market is working on giving discounts to cyclists.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 24, 2009 4:36:49 GMT
My nephew was thrilled to see all of the bicycles in Paris and very much approved of them. Then he admitted that his car is a 4x4.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 24, 2009 11:05:57 GMT
Hopefully he will carry that enthusiasm back to where he lives. Does he reside in the States?
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Post by Deleted on Oct 24, 2009 14:08:57 GMT
San Diego.
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Post by lagatta on Oct 25, 2009 2:20:45 GMT
Why on earth would a young single person have a 4 x 4? Is that what is known also as an SUV, or urban tank? Big lumbering thing. I can't even understand that - seems to me a young guy would want a fast, nervy sportscar if he has a car. Guess I remember what my cousins had - they were never new - they spent countless hours fixing them up and getting them shiny paint jobs.
It's as if even youthful machismo has gone all supersized...
In the meantime, 50-something cyclist encountered her first snow squall of the season a couple of days ago. Nasty snow-sleet-rain. And incredibly rude and impatient drivers.
No snow now, temps are more seasonal, but is far from those beautiful sunny red and golden autumns people from Europe gasp about in these parts. (Our springs are woeful; usually our autumns are nice).
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Post by Deleted on Oct 27, 2009 5:51:38 GMT
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Post by bixaorellana on Oct 27, 2009 6:27:58 GMT
Something occurred to me while looking at the bad cycle lanes -- I'll bet you there are government funds for municipalities which provide "green spaces" and "cycle-friendly environments" and other things that sound good on paper. The municipality executes a cursory nod towards these benevolent concepts, writes a report, then rakes in the dough.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 27, 2009 11:44:50 GMT
Jeez,frightening,I would say comical in the worst possible way because of the absurdity of most of them. I suspect you are very correct in what you say B. We happened to luck out in some respect to this. After Katrina, the mayor and City Council hired the now gratefully departed so called Recovery Czar,who turned out to be a major disappointment to many. One of the things he did do was address this very issue. Because he was an enthusiastic cyclist himself he recognized and highlighted NOLA's potential as a cycle friendly city. While he was here,he organized bicycle tours into the various districts of the city and accompanied by key officials and citizens of these districts cycled into the sections to survey the damage and needs to be addressed. (Some of these tours were quite comical as some of these officials had not rode a bicycle in god knows how long. Some sent staff members in lieu of). In my district I rode along and it was great fun. Some parts of the district that I would never go due to high crime, I was able to ride alongside NOPD members and view the area with fresh and astonished eyes. What will happen with all this is yet to be seen. At least it's on record.
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Post by lagatta on Feb 10, 2010 2:36:43 GMT
Yes, anywhere it is flat with levées... I'm obsessing about getting this: montreal.fr.craigslist.ca/bik/1592884060.html An old Robin Hood 3-speed (Robin Hood is a Raleigh line). Not expensive at all, but I don't really need it. It is so cute. After the bit of a snow squall, I cycled pleasantly all through November and well into November, and plants brought in during December are alive and well. This is odd here.
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Post by bixaorellana on Feb 10, 2010 2:41:01 GMT
Oooo ~~ the adorable little chain guard is SO Raleigh!
LaGatta, that is good news on the cycling weather front. I'm sure you were dreading being stuck indoors.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 10, 2010 10:31:38 GMT
I forgot all about this thread! Anyone bound for Miami Beach will be thrilled by the bicycle friendliness of that town.We did not use a car the 5 days I was there except to take an excursion to the Everglades(to ride bikes!). Well paved accessible bike lanes and courteous drivers. I was able to zip wherever I wanted to go with the greatest of ease. Also,a long,long (again,well paved) path all along the Atlantic made for lovely rides anytime of day. There were a few patches of sand here and there that were a little cumbersome but,not a big deal. Love the old Raleigh Lagatta! And ,you know I am thrilled about your being able to ride this time of year!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 11, 2010 6:10:57 GMT
Time to get out the bicycles in the northern hemisphere!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 11, 2010 19:47:25 GMT
Time to get out the bicycles in the northern hemisphere! It sure is and I am so ready! Generally,one can ride year round here. This year (winter),the exception due to record cold,wind and of late major deluges. There is currently work being done to widen two major avenues here to accommodate cyclists. I am dubious of some of the work I've seen,but am hoping for the best. My main fear is that the racing cyclists,arrogant SOB's will not take them over and mow down the likes of cyclists such as myself. Is there monitoring done in other places that anyone knows of to curb this? There are plenty other places here for them to do their racing.
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Post by lagatta on Mar 11, 2010 22:36:00 GMT
Usually, only the boldest ride year-round here. Young guys with a suicidal bent, or courriers (sometimes one and the same). But many more did this year. I'm so enjoying tooling around on my bicycle, though I've mostly been working at home so it has just been to run errands, none very far.
There is a lot of crap on the streets - and I don't literally mean just "crap" as in dogshit, but pieces of stuff, broken glass, metal, nails. One of my tires blew out - not just the inner tube but the tire. I suspect the tire was ready to be changed anyway, although it still had a tread. Fortunately I wasn't too far from my home, so I could walk it back and have it repaired at my usual repair place.
casimira, I HATE those lycra louts. I've had more problems with them than with the macho type of car (and SUV) driver.
There was a car ad here with the theme "tasse toi, mon oncle!"
"Tasse toi, mon oncle" or "Tasse toi, ma tante", are things that sort of young'un shouts at people a generation (or two) older who is assumed to be going too slow. Note the tutoyage to top it off. (Although the familiar "tu" is more common in Québec than in France, it would still be extremely rude from a younger person to an older person he or she doesn't know).
As for curbing such arseholes, there is also a cultural aspect. In really cycling-friendly cultures, there is space for people of all ages and speeds. It is rare that people will try to race in Amsterdam or Copenhagen - people wanting to do so will go out on the roads in the countryside.
By the way casimira, I'm so glad to see you've returned. Bisous.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 11, 2010 22:47:30 GMT
Cycling over this past year, I have found the automobiles to be surprisingly courteous in Paris. Particularly in the smaller streets, when they would have gone barreling through in the past, they do pay attention to whether a bike is coming up on the right, and they stop if they see one. Trucks are another problem.
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