Are you a victim of Bikism ?
Some may say that I am a bikist. I confess that I think that my bike is better than other bikes. Sure, I know that any human-powered vehicle moving down the road is worthy of respect. But when I see a person suffering along the road on an uncomfortable road bike, I actually have pity for them. I see them rub their straining neck. I see them shake out their numb hands. I know, like only a doctor can know, what the saddle on that road bike is doing to their perineum, especially if they are overweight…
the compression of the small arteries and nerves against the pubic rami, decreasing blood flow, and the cumulative effects of recurrent ischemia. But some of the “roadies” are trapped in their own “bikism”. They are unable to break free of their own pride and prejudice to try a recumbent bicycle that doesn’t look like they think a bike should look. I have been a victim of bikism, too. I tried to enter a triathlon and ride my Cruzbike, and was told that I couldn’t. They said it wouldn’t be fair, because I would be too fast, and I said, “so disqualify me, but let me ride.” They said “no”. I think this is a clear example of institutional bikism because the USAT holds a position of power, and uses that power to discriminate against bicycles that are actually safer to ride. While the vast majority of the road bikers I meet are polite and even complimentary of the look and performance of my Cruzbike, I have occasionally felt the sting of bikism from individuals on the road.
“Get a real bike!” someone shouted just after a group of us crossed the Golden Gate Bridge on Cruzbikes and were heading to Sausalito. I think it peaved this roadie that the spectacular beauty of bicycling in this area was accessible to recumbent cyclists, who didn’t have to suffer, like he did, to partake in the experience.
Bikism is rampant in the recumbent world, perhaps even more than in the road bike community. Because Cruzbike aren’t rear wheel drive and don’t have the long chain, little wheels, and long wheel base of most other recumbents, we are considered outside the “mainstream” of recumbent bicycles, if such a thing were possible. It’s not uncommon for Cruzbike not to be included in “comprehensive” buyer’s guides to recumbent bicycles by people considered “experts” on recumbents. An individual recumbent rider who has never ridden a Cruzbike, recently explained to me why my bike can’t turn and climb a hill at the same time.
My reply: “quite the contrary, Sir… and I’d like to see your recumbent climb up and over the spiral pedestrian bridge near the Santa Monica pier… and what’s your turning radius on that 8-foot-long telephone-pole-on-wheels that you call a bicycle?”
I won’t deny that I am a Cruzbike Supremacist, but until Cruzbike grows into a dominant force in the bicycle world, which is my goal, I probably am not technically a bikist.
As I ride my conversion kit
As I ride my conversion kit cruzbike back and forth across Jerusalem I get jeers and cheers. I try to take the cheers and disregard the jeers, but have to admit that a jeer just as I am struggling up a steep hill can 'take the wind out of my sails'.
Would it be possible to get a
Would it be possible to get a google earth picture of the spiral pedestrian bridge near the Santa Monica pier?
Riding my Sofrider around
Riding my Sofrider around Melbourne I've attracted a lot of comments, almost universally positive. I've only once heard the "Get a real bike". What is really common is for kids to be yell our something like "Cool!", "Awesome!" "Wicked!" and often "I want one!". Sometimes I'll attract similar comments from adults as well. Compared to when I was riding my DF bike I suspect that I get more smiles from other adult riders a bit more often, possibly more so from women than men. (Are women more accepting of innovation than men?) When stopped at lights its pretty common to get into conversations about the bike; all seem very positive and interested. Most are especially interested when I say that the increased comfort has roughly doubled the range of my weekend rides. My theory about those that quickly criticise is that they are insecure. I suspect that (possibly unconsciously) they recognise something positive but feel as though that is a challenge to their existing choices and immediately become defensive by criticising the "threat". A person who is more secure in themselves is likely to be more open to new ideas.
Riding my Sofrider around
Riding my Sofrider around Melbourne I've attracted a lot of comments, almost universally positive. I've only once heard the "Get a real bike". What is really common is for kids to be yell our something like "Cool!", "Awesome!" "Wicked!" and often "I want one!". Sometimes I'll attract similar comments from adults as well. Compared to when I was riding my DF bike I suspect that I get more smiles from other adult riders a bit more often, possibly more so from women than men. (Are women more accepting of innovation than men?) When stopped at lights its pretty common to get into conversations about the bike; all seem very positive and interested. Most are especially interested when I say that the increased comfort has roughly doubled the range of my weekend rides. My theory about those that quickly criticise is that they are insecure. I suspect that (possibly unconsciously) they recognise something positive but feel as though that is a challenge to their existing choices and immediately become defensive by criticising the "threat". A person who is more secure in themselves is likely to be more open to new ideas.
This morning we did a 40
This morning we did a 40 miles along the Space Coast here in Florida. Myself on my "gorgeous" Cruzbike and some friends on the std bikes. Half way there, some of the "other" riders were already complaining of sore backs, necks, butts etc. I was in no pain. We stopped at the beach and kids would flock around my Cruzbike and yes, in their curiosity, they had all kinds of questions about my bike and I was so happy to talk to them, maybe we'll get one or more Cruzbike riders out of them in the future.