Bicycle

[Thomas Knierim]

Sorry, haven't had much time to post the last few days. Both baby and mum are sick, nothing serious, but dad is twice as busy...

I just want to know your opinion on locomotion.

I have always liked bicycling, but unfortunately traffic in Bangkok is far too dangerous, so there is not much opportunity for bicycling there. I only bought a new mountain bike after we moved to Chiang Mai. It's the first bicycle I bought in 15 years, and I definitely love it. The city is small enough so I can go anywhere by bicycle.

We also have a car. It's a best make German car and it's convenient. But I hate cars. I don't like the dirty 19th century technology. Combustion engines suck. They are noisy, smelly, and wasteful. -- The car belongs to my wife. I never owned a car. -- Bicyles are so much more elegant and efficient. They don't need fuel, they are silent, and they are much less clunky than motor cars.

The Thai people think I am crazy. Bicycling is very unpopular in Thailand. Thai people don't like to walk or drive in the sun. If they need to walk more than 100 metres, they use the car or motorcycle. They tell me that only poor peasants would use bicycles.

I don't give a damn about it. I love riding my bike. :P

Cheers, Thomas

[scameter]

Well, unfortunately my bike riding experience has been by my mom forcing me to, so it wasn't exactly pleasant. Just before I left her, I was beginning to know how to and it wasn't too bad, but because of her and my stepfather, it was simply another thing lacking of enjoyment for me, unfortunately. And as for cars, the American South is nothing but car lovers: if you meet someone here who doesn't like nascar, doesn't know every part of a car, and doesn't love working on them, you should record your finding. But, I, as well as my dad, have never really cared for cars. I think their technology is interesting, but only insofar as it is incorporated into other technologies; not as a technology it's self. And I don't have my learner's lisence yet, so as you can see I'm not overly fond of driving; but honestly, the little experience I've had at it hasn't been too bad and I'm somewhat good at it (and I didn't do it with my mom or any of her association) so it's not terrible, but I'm not very fond of it. It pollutes the earth, it hurts my knee, and people are simply too ignorant to drive appropriately. As far as other locomotion goes, I somewhat like planes because they allow for much freedom, but not when flying them for any corporation. I'm not very fond of trains (except, of course, as with nearly everything, insofar as it's incorporation into other technologies goes) either. I like military ships though, but not regular ships, and submarines aren't my favourite either; I like the incredibly large guns on the battleships though. :P Oh, and I do like military planes and helicopters alot, but anything military I like, except the killing. I think that's all the locomotion mobiles right?

[Smurf]

yeah Bicycle all the way!!

one: it cuts pollution

two: it keeps you fit

and three: it cuts congestion

I don't like the stinky, dirty 19th century technology. Combustion engines suck. They are noisy and wasteful. -- The car belongs to my wife. I never owned a car.

I hate driving too :D it is so annoying, and I think that Bicycles are less expensive to replace/maintain

[locomotive]

and crash hehe
I use two means of transportation: the tram and subway and the bicycle.
I live in amsterdam and have a city bicycle. I don't like the feel of mountain bikes with changeble gears and you need to bend your back forward. No need for them anyway, the country is flat. It's actually really entertaining making your way through the traffic beeing one with the bike. standing or sitting on your bike making turns, going fast with little effort.
I don't like bicycling in the sun. It's cloudy most of the time here.

[Smurf]

hey they have multi-storey bicycle parks in Holland don't they?

[Thomas Knierim]

locomotive: I live in amsterdam and have a city bicycle.

Amsterdam must be the bicycle capital of Europe. It seems that everybody in Holland is into "peddelen" or at least owns a "fiets".

I don't like the feel of mountain bikes with changeble gears and you need to bend your back forward.

It's the same on a racing bicycle. The posture is ideal to apply maximum power to the pedals and you need those gears for mountainous terrain or for fast start/stop manoeuvres. Here in Chiang Mai, it's quite rangy outside the city.

Of course, a typical Holland bicycle allows a much more relaxed posture and easy riding. But then again, a Holland bicycle is to a mountain bike what a Volkswagen is to a sports car.

Cheers, Thomas

[locomotive]

"hey they have multi-storey bicycle parks in Holland don't they? "

uh..no I think that would be cool though. you mean multi leveled parking places or multi stores ?

"least owns a "fiets"."
hehee

"It's the same on a racing bicycle. The posture is ideal to apply maximum power to the pedals and you need those gears for mountainous terrain or for fast start/stop manoeuvres. Here in Chiang Mai, it's quite rangy outside the city.

Of course, a typical Holland bicycle allows a much more relaxed posture and easy riding. But then again, a Holland bicycle is to a mountain bike what a Volkswagen is to a sports car.
"

true . I lose grip when I try to accelerate fast and I therefore either bend forward or pull on the handles. For the rest I can sit back and watch the scenery. :thumbsup:

[Smurf]

uh..no I think that would be cool though. you mean multi leveled parking places or multi stores ?

yeah multi-parking spaces,

it was either in Holland or Belgium I saw one... so many bikes .. :D

[locomotive]

empty central station-multi storey bicycle park (http://www.staalbouwnauta.com/assets/graphics/projecten/foto/fietsenstalling1.jpg) wow I am learning some new words :lol:
and now full (http://www.duffergeek.com/hello/226/145/1024/Amsterdam%20329.jpg)
http://www.st-maartenscollege.nl/school/schoolinfo/fietsenstalling.jpg some efficient use of space
herd passing by (http://www.affiliate.viator.com/graphicslib/2942/SITours/zoom1.jpg)
whatever (http://www.traveljournals.net/pictures/l/2/21546-oh-the-bikes-oh-amsterdam-amsterdam-netherlands.jpg)

indeed "there are 750.000 bicycles in amsterdam for the 1 million people and 3000 are stolen each day" you can go to a busy square and bums will offer bicycles that they steel, sell, steel etc. only 10 dollars. those bums crack me up.

enough about bikes! -_-

[Smurf]

yeah! I knew I saw some walking through Amsterdam... man that was a looong trip through Holland the track between Essen and Roosendaal? we had to catch a bus... and before that there was un coo on the tracks... man we waited in Den Haag for an hour... then we caught the French fast train, without a ticket hehe the French conductor got reaaally angry :D

[locomotive]

hehehe

[Moonchild]

I love bikes! here in the philippines almost everyone has bikes even kids as young as 3yrs old, theirs have training wheels and a handle so parents or nannys can push them and assist them while they are biking.... :)

right now, what people enjoys are scooters and motorcycles.. i'm actually interested in learning how to ride a motorcycle.. <_< but i'm kinda afraid.... i think it's quite confusing... or maybe because i'm easily confused.... joke! :lol: