exchanging speed for utility

[Andy Gee]

I've been doing slow rides - way under my top speed -- for the past week.
Long story short, I challenged myself to find and catalogue emerging
artistic trends in graffiti in New York City to see what I really know
about art and about opportunity. Looks like the answers will be "there
aren't any" and "not much."

But anyway. A bike is absolutely the ideal method for doing this. I can't
even imagine trying to do it by car and it would take forever by foot. A
bike is just right: being able to look all over, stop where I want, whip
out the camera, and go on for the next few blocks or miles. But I haven't
been getting the thrill and pulse pounding excitement of going faster than
the cars. I feel satisfied when I get home, and my knees certainly aren't
complaining, but I won't be able to tell till next week if i've done any
thermodynamic/caloric damage.

Anyone else trade training and speed for doing something "useful"?

Any thoughts?

[cycle-one]

"Andy Gee" > wrote in message
.201...

> I've been doing slow rides - way under my top speed -- for the past week.
> Long story short, I challenged myself to find and catalogue emerging
> artistic trends in graffiti in New York City to see what I really know
> about art and about opportunity. Looks like the answers will be "there
> aren't any" and "not much."
[...]
> Anyone else trade training and speed for doing something "useful"?
>
> Any thoughts?

I've found that stopping to take photos of off-road scenery disrupts my
ride. I can't think of a solution except for some sort of techno-geek
helmet-cam contraption that would require more aptitude to construct than I
possess.

Can't really think of a good way to carry my camera [it isn't a small
digital but a large 35 mm] that is both protected from trail mishaps yet
easy and quick to access on the fly.

Not much to do except make the choice between photo rides and 'real' rides.

[Matt O'Toole]

On Mon, 02 Jan 2006 23:21:19 -0500, cycle-one wrote:


> "Andy Gee" > wrote in message
> .201...

>> I've been doing slow rides - way under my top speed -- for the past
>> week. Long story short, I challenged myself to find and catalogue
>> emerging artistic trends in graffiti in New York City to see what I
>> really know about art and about opportunity. Looks like the answers
>> will be "there aren't any" and "not much."
> [...]
>> Anyone else trade training and speed for doing something "useful"?

Like shopping and errands, for instance?

>> Any thoughts?

Just do it.

> I've found that stopping to take photos of off-road scenery disrupts my
> ride. I can't think of a solution except for some sort of techno-geek
> helmet-cam contraption that would require more aptitude to construct
> than I possess.

> Can't really think of a good way to carry my camera [it isn't a small
> digital but a large 35 mm] that is both protected from trail mishaps yet
> easy and quick to access on the fly.

A backpack works fine for me.

> Not much to do except make the choice between photo rides and 'real'
> rides.

How about both?

No mile on a bike is a bad mile. Riding for errands, photo expeditions,
etc., is good for you, whether or not it fits perfectly into a planned
training regimen.

I've found biking to be the best and most pleasant way to scope out real
estate. I also enjoy the reactions of pompous, snooty agents when I
arrive by bike!

Matt O.

[GaryG]

"Andy Gee" > wrote in message
.201...
> I've been doing slow rides - way under my top speed -- for the past week.
> Long story short, I challenged myself to find and catalogue emerging
> artistic trends in graffiti in New York City to see what I really know
> about art and about opportunity. Looks like the answers will be "there
> aren't any" and "not much."
>
> But anyway. A bike is absolutely the ideal method for doing this. I
can't
> even imagine trying to do it by car and it would take forever by foot. A
> bike is just right: being able to look all over, stop where I want, whip
> out the camera, and go on for the next few blocks or miles. But I haven't
> been getting the thrill and pulse pounding excitement of going faster than
> the cars. I feel satisfied when I get home, and my knees certainly aren't
> complaining, but I won't be able to tell till next week if i've done any
> thermodynamic/caloric damage.
>
> Anyone else trade training and speed for doing something "useful"?

Nope....speed is life.

Even when I commute or run errands, I like to go fast. Guess I'm just not a
"stroll along and smell the roses" kind of guy.

GG

>
> Any thoughts?
>

[Earl Bollinger]

"Andy Gee" > wrote in message
.201...
> I've been doing slow rides - way under my top speed -- for the past week.
> Long story short, I challenged myself to find and catalogue emerging
> artistic trends in graffiti in New York City to see what I really know
> about art and about opportunity. Looks like the answers will be "there
> aren't any" and "not much."
>
> But anyway. A bike is absolutely the ideal method for doing this. I
> can't
> even imagine trying to do it by car and it would take forever by foot. A
> bike is just right: being able to look all over, stop where I want, whip
> out the camera, and go on for the next few blocks or miles. But I haven't
> been getting the thrill and pulse pounding excitement of going faster than
> the cars. I feel satisfied when I get home, and my knees certainly aren't
> complaining, but I won't be able to tell till next week if i've done any
> thermodynamic/caloric damage.
>
> Anyone else trade training and speed for doing something "useful"?
>
> Any thoughts?
>

Slowing down to "smell the roses" does work fine too. At least you aren't
sitting on the couch or driving someplace.
Just the effort you expend to take a easy ride does help. Sort of like
taking a walk.
I do this regularly with my son who doesn't like to ride hard and fast. I
let him set the pace and my HR usually doesn't get out of the trash area.
My shopping bike is a old 3 speed Huffy, with racks and front and rear
baskets, and it doesn't want to go fast anyway.
But I still get a decent workout from it. My recovery day rides are the slow
easy rides.
I keep a heavy single speed bike at work for "going out for lunch", it just
doesn't go fast at all, unless you are going downhill.

[Tom Keats]

In article >,
Matt O'Toole > writes:

>>> Anyone else trade training and speed for doing something "useful"?
>
> Like shopping and errands, for instance?

Especially (trading-off speed) when carrying a dozen eggs
among other groceries.


cheers,
Tom

--
-- Nothing is safe from me.
Above address is just a spam midden.
I'm really at: tkeats [curlicue] vcn [point] bc [point] ca

[cycle-one]

"Matt O'Toole" > wrote in message
...
> On Mon, 02 Jan 2006 23:21:19 -0500, cycle-one wrote:

>> Can't really think of a good way to carry my camera [it isn't a small
>> digital but a large 35 mm] that is both protected from trail mishaps yet
>> easy and quick to access on the fly.
>
> A backpack works fine for me.
>
>> Not much to do except make the choice between photo rides and 'real'
>> rides.
>
> How about both?

That isn't possible as in order to take a photo I have to stop, unpack and
click and this disrupts the ride. hence the distinction between photo rides
and the rest.

> No mile on a bike is a bad mile.

I'm not saying it is. But some are better than others.

[Claire Petersky]

"Matt O'Toole" > wrote in message
...

> I've found biking to be the best and most pleasant way to scope out real
> estate.

I agree with this. I sometimes have the opportunity to view projects before
we finance them at work, and I find looking at them by bike to be the best
combination of efficiency and effectiveness.

--
Warm Regards,

Claire Petersky
http://www.bicyclemeditations.org/
Personal page: http://www.geocities.com/cpetersky/
See the books I've set free at:
http://bookcrossing.com/referral/Cpetersky

[andy gee]

Matt O'Toole > wrote in
:

>>> Anyone else trade training and speed for doing something "useful"?
>
> Like shopping and errands, for instance?

I love shopping trips! I'm going full speed between stops, plus I'm
carrying cargo. The graffiti runs need a slower speed so I can see what's
doing on the walls.

--ag

[Leo Lichtman]

"Claire Petersky" wrote: (clip) I sometimes have the opportunity to view
projects before we finance them at work, and I find looking at them by bike
to be the best combination of efficiency and effectiveness.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
That would make some of your biking expenses tax deductble. I'm trying to
picture the reaction of the IRS.

[Dane Buson]

GaryG > wrote:
>
> Nope....speed is life.
>
> Even when I commute or run errands, I like to go fast. Guess I'm just not a
> "stroll along and smell the roses" kind of guy.

I too have this problem. The few times I've ridden on organized rides it's
difficult for me to pace with the crowd. Especially if it's a leisurely 11
or 12 mph stroll. I'm a little better when I'm out getting groceries, but
not much.

--
Dane Buson - z u v e m b i @ u n i x b i g o t s . o r g
When you meet a master swordsman,
show him your sword.
When you meet a man who is not a poet,
do not show him your poem.
-- Rinzai, ninth century Zen master

[Luke]

In article >, Matt
O'Toole > wrote:

> I've found biking to be the best and most pleasant way to scope out real
> estate. I also enjoy the reactions of pompous, snooty agents when I
> arrive by bike!
>

LOL! My experience is the reverse: every time I ride up for a viewing
it's as if the Rockefeller's are moving in. Are your prospective homes
mounted on wheels by chance? Matt, you'll be the envy of your neighbors
with a rusting lugged steel relic in the front yard; they really
accentuate the esthetics of double-wide Winnebagos - definitely a more
stylish lawn ornament than the burned out hulk of a pickup truck.

But if the residence is an Airstream, nothing less than a double butted
7005 AL frame will do. One must keep up appearances.

Luke

[OhioPlayer]

Andy Gee wrote:
> I've been doing slow rides - way under my top speed -- for the past week.
> Long story short, I challenged myself to find and catalogue emerging
> artistic trends in graffiti in New York City to see what I really know
> about art and about opportunity. Looks like the answers will be "there
> aren't any" and "not much."
>
> But anyway. A bike is absolutely the ideal method for doing this. I can't
> even imagine trying to do it by car and it would take forever by foot. A
> bike is just right: being able to look all over, stop where I want, whip
> out the camera, and go on for the next few blocks or miles. But I haven't
> been getting the thrill and pulse pounding excitement of going faster than
> the cars. I feel satisfied when I get home, and my knees certainly aren't
> complaining, but I won't be able to tell till next week if i've done any
> thermodynamic/caloric damage.
>
> Anyone else trade training and speed for doing something "useful"?
>
> Any thoughts?

Get a bike that better suits the purpose. I tried riding my "fast"
bike for commuting, and errands and whatnot. I was trying to hammer
all the time. So, I bought an old steel road bike, added moustache
handlebars and brooks saddle. Old school style that is just right
under 15mph.

Added bonus: after 4-5 weeks of hauling back and forth on the steel
bike, I picked up some speed on my fast ride.

BTW, I used to follow graffiti trends myself a while ago. I'd be
intersted in seeing your pictures. Got a link?

[[email protected]]

Alternate between hi speed days and photgraphy days.
Lots of slow days can reduce your peak speed.
Having a slow day between high speed days gives the muscles a chance to
rebuild.

Andy Gee wrote:
> I've been doing slow rides - way under my top speed -- for the past week.
> Long story short, I challenged myself to find and catalogue emerging
> artistic trends in graffiti in New York City to see what I really know
> about art and about opportunity. Looks like the answers will be "there
> aren't any" and "not much."
<delete>
> Anyone else trade training and speed for doing something "useful"?
>
> Any thoughts?

[Andy Gee]

"OhioPlayer" > wrote in
oups.com:


>
> Get a bike that better suits the purpose. I tried riding my "fast"
> bike for commuting, and errands and whatnot. I was trying to hammer
> all the time. So, I bought an old steel road bike, added moustache
> handlebars and brooks saddle. Old school style that is just right
> under 15mph.

I'm doing this mainly on a 3-speed metro, an old steel street bike!
>
> Added bonus: after 4-5 weeks of hauling back and forth on the steel
> bike, I picked up some speed on my fast ride.
>
> BTW, I used to follow graffiti trends myself a while ago. I'd be
> intersted in seeing your pictures. Got a link?
>
>

I put up a blog for an arts group at www.graffitirider.blogspot.com. It
looks better in video than in print, though.


My long-neglected bike blog is www.andygeeon2wheels.com

--ag

[[email protected]]

i have lost 2 bikes in my school. there are too many theves in my
around life.
but i still very intereting in your long-neglected bike blog ! could
you please just email your article to me?because i cant open the url.

[POHB]

I don't know about the US IRS but the UK tax folks are cool with biking
expenses.
I claim mileage when I visit a customer, last time I looked it was 20p/mile.


"Leo Lichtman" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Claire Petersky" wrote: (clip) I sometimes have the opportunity to view
> projects before we finance them at work, and I find looking at them by
> bike to be the best combination of efficiency and effectiveness.
> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> That would make some of your biking expenses tax deductble. I'm trying to
> picture the reaction of the IRS.
>
>

[Claire Petersky]

"POHB" > wrote in message
...

> "Leo Lichtman" > wrote in message
> ...
>>
>> "Claire Petersky" wrote: (clip) I sometimes have the opportunity to view
>> projects before we finance them at work, and I find looking at them by
>> bike to be the best combination of efficiency and effectiveness.
>> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>> That would make some of your biking expenses tax deductable. I'm trying
>> to picture the reaction of the IRS.


>I don't know about the US IRS but the UK tax folks are cool with biking
>expenses.
> I claim mileage when I visit a customer, last time I looked it was
> 20p/mile.

I've already gone through trying to claim bike miles at work, and I've come
to the conclusion that either you lie and say you drove, or forget it. The
automobile reimbursement is 40.5 cents/mile, which I feel I can claim with a
clear conscience for bike reimbursement. I just don't charge the extra time,
if any, for the cycling vs. driving.

I wouldn't bother the IRS, though. Get them interested in one thing, and
maybe they'd rummage through our entire return, looking for trouble. No
thanks.

--
Warm Regards,

Claire Petersky
http://www.bicyclemeditations.org/
Personal page: http://www.geocities.com/cpetersky/
See the books I've set free at:
http://bookcrossing.com/referral/Cpetersky

[Andy Gee]

wrote in news:1136346753.828049.206450
@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com:

> i have lost 2 bikes in my school. there are too many theves in my
> around life.
> but i still very intereting in your long-neglected bike blog ! could
> you please just email your article to me?because i cant open the url.
>

Sorry, that should have been:

www.andygeeon2wheels.blogspot.com

Thanks --

--ag

[james]

i often like to bike downtown to a railyard area and watch trains being
put together from a few bridges - i do lots of photos, and on sunday
afternoons many times just putter down there or to library going slow
and meandering about

completely opposite of my commute to/from work