I'm Stuart. I have loved bike riding since I was very small (I'm 190cm now). I am almost 50 years old, and my bike riding is largely commuting and shopping excursions. I try to commute daily by bike to the many schools where I am an AET, but sometimes the frosty Kushiro weather gets too life threatening!
I am not sure this is the right cycling club for me. My reasons for bike riding are environmental and health considerations, not road racing. During registration for this site, I noticed "commuting" wasn't even offered as a choice for bike riding style.
My bicycle is probably one no one has ever heard of, a Diamant made in Chemnitz, in the German state of Saxony. It is 19 kilos heavy and has big 47-622 tires on it. The gearing is a Sachs 3x7 (3 internal hub gears, 7 derailleur gears). It was meant for cruising on rocky paths between farm fields, but is well-suited to the bumpy asphalt sidewalks of Japan. It came complete with lights, fenders and luggage rack. I put a Brooks suspension saddle on it and a right rear view mirror. I also have two big baskets ideal for grocery shopping that just hook unto the sides of rear luggage rack and can be easily removed and carried into the store(those Germans think of everything!).
I noticed a lot of angry opinions regarding riding bikes on sidewalks here at the Tokyo Cycling Club. My perspective is different. I feel bicyclists should have the best of both worlds: when riding in the street is too dangerous (this should be the bicyclist's call, not some desk jockey's in City Hall), bicyclists should be allowed to ride on the sidewalk. When riding on the sidewalk, however, bicyclists MUST change their riding style to give pedestrians priority. Isn't that just common sense? Why shoot ourselves in the foot, by demanding bicycles be banned from sidewalks?
My typical commute is about 12 kilometers during rush hour, about 6 kilometers are along heavily congested roads, some are two lanes in each direction, I have to cross one big convex-shaped bridge with heavy traffic, another 6 kilometers are on designated bicycle lanes (painted on the sidewalk), quiet streets, and a beautiful dedicated bicycle path along a canal. I am sorry, but I am not going to risk my life battling the traffic in those four lane roads or crossing that bridge. I am going to join the other school kids, mothers and old people who are bicycling on the sidewalk. I drive my bike SLOWLY, use a bicycle bell and try to give the pedestrians a wide berth when passing, always thanking them as I pass.
Maybe the hard core road racers here feel this almost 50 year old bicyclist should be tossed out into the heavy car traffic just on principle. But do you want your child, your wife/girlfriend, or your grandmother/grandfather who are on a bicycle to have to do the same?
I am not sure this is the right cycling club for me. My reasons for bike riding are environmental and health considerations, not road racing. During registration for this site, I noticed "commuting" wasn't even offered as a choice for bike riding style.
My bicycle is probably one no one has ever heard of, a Diamant made in Chemnitz, in the German state of Saxony. It is 19 kilos heavy and has big 47-622 tires on it. The gearing is a Sachs 3x7 (3 internal hub gears, 7 derailleur gears). It was meant for cruising on rocky paths between farm fields, but is well-suited to the bumpy asphalt sidewalks of Japan. It came complete with lights, fenders and luggage rack. I put a Brooks suspension saddle on it and a right rear view mirror. I also have two big baskets ideal for grocery shopping that just hook unto the sides of rear luggage rack and can be easily removed and carried into the store(those Germans think of everything!).
I noticed a lot of angry opinions regarding riding bikes on sidewalks here at the Tokyo Cycling Club. My perspective is different. I feel bicyclists should have the best of both worlds: when riding in the street is too dangerous (this should be the bicyclist's call, not some desk jockey's in City Hall), bicyclists should be allowed to ride on the sidewalk. When riding on the sidewalk, however, bicyclists MUST change their riding style to give pedestrians priority. Isn't that just common sense? Why shoot ourselves in the foot, by demanding bicycles be banned from sidewalks?
My typical commute is about 12 kilometers during rush hour, about 6 kilometers are along heavily congested roads, some are two lanes in each direction, I have to cross one big convex-shaped bridge with heavy traffic, another 6 kilometers are on designated bicycle lanes (painted on the sidewalk), quiet streets, and a beautiful dedicated bicycle path along a canal. I am sorry, but I am not going to risk my life battling the traffic in those four lane roads or crossing that bridge. I am going to join the other school kids, mothers and old people who are bicycling on the sidewalk. I drive my bike SLOWLY, use a bicycle bell and try to give the pedestrians a wide berth when passing, always thanking them as I pass.
Maybe the hard core road racers here feel this almost 50 year old bicyclist should be tossed out into the heavy car traffic just on principle. But do you want your child, your wife/girlfriend, or your grandmother/grandfather who are on a bicycle to have to do the same?
