Comments on: Are we competing? A tale of two bicyclists. http://dangerousintersection.org/2008/09/04/are-we-competing-a-tale-of-two-bicyclists/ Human Animals at the Crossroads of Culture, Science, Religion and Media Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:27:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 By: grumpypilgrim http://dangerousintersection.org/2008/09/04/are-we-competing-a-tale-of-two-bicyclists/comment-page-1/#comment-24123 grumpypilgrim Sat, 06 Sep 2008 20:40:50 +0000 http://dangerousintersection.org/?p=3062#comment-24123 Erich, your story reminds me of an important tip for people who claim they don't commute to work by bicycle because they fear it will make them sweaty: just ride slower. People perspire all the time (it's how our skin avoids dryness cracks that might allow the ingress of infection); what makes us "sweat" is when we generate perspiration faster than the surrounding atmosphere can remove. The best way to avoid that is to just reduce the exertion level; i.e., by riding slower to work and saving the hard-core hammering for the ride home. Significantly, as your story above illustrates, the difference in commute time might be negligible. Erich, your story reminds me of an important tip for people who claim they don’t commute to work by bicycle because they fear it will make them sweaty: just ride slower. People perspire all the time (it’s how our skin avoids dryness cracks that might allow the ingress of infection); what makes us “sweat” is when we generate perspiration faster than the surrounding atmosphere can remove. The best way to avoid that is to just reduce the exertion level; i.e., by riding slower to work and saving the hard-core hammering for the ride home. Significantly, as your story above illustrates, the difference in commute time might be negligible.

]]> By: Dan Klarmann http://dangerousintersection.org/2008/09/04/are-we-competing-a-tale-of-two-bicyclists/comment-page-1/#comment-24093 Dan Klarmann Fri, 05 Sep 2008 22:46:08 +0000 http://dangerousintersection.org/?p=3062#comment-24093 I notice these competitors driving on city highways. You've seem them They work hard, rapidly changing lanes. Fast acceleration, and sudden braking as they try to gain any advantage in traffic. After 5 or 10 miles, they usually have succeeded in gaining a few car lengths over my more polite and zen-like driving style. Those few car lengths add up to several seconds at cruising speed. Over perhaps a 20 minute drive. Congratulations, I think. I notice these competitors driving on city highways. You’ve seem them They work hard, rapidly changing lanes. Fast acceleration, and sudden braking as they try to gain any advantage in traffic. After 5 or 10 miles, they usually have succeeded in gaining a few car lengths over my more polite and zen-like driving style.

Those few car lengths add up to several seconds at cruising speed. Over perhaps a 20 minute drive. Congratulations, I think.

]]> By: Erika Price http://dangerousintersection.org/2008/09/04/are-we-competing-a-tale-of-two-bicyclists/comment-page-1/#comment-24080 Erika Price Fri, 05 Sep 2008 16:10:16 +0000 http://dangerousintersection.org/?p=3062#comment-24080 Well, Erich, when I show this blog to real-life acquaintances, people tend to judge from your photo that you look about 30-something! Sure, it's a small photo, but apparently the mistake does extend to people who see you in person! All that bicycling is good for a lot more than saving gas, it seems. So "race" the cars all you want. Well, Erich, when I show this blog to real-life acquaintances, people tend to judge from your photo that you look about 30-something! Sure, it’s a small photo, but apparently the mistake does extend to people who see you in person! All that bicycling is good for a lot more than saving gas, it seems. So “race” the cars all you want.

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