Well it only took me about six years. About a year ago I did get 16 years old mtb, a real piece of shit banger for about 50 bucks. But it works (though, I've already spent more money on tools and spare parts).
Took it out of the shelter the other day and went out to some nearby dirt roads and forest paths. Good fun (although the chain tends to drop and brakes are weak).

My god I am in bad shape. I hope by the end of the summer I feel a bit less awful after a bike ride. Cycling is probably the only type of exercise that I can tolerate.

It's weird that these days you can't find a simple steel frame rigid cheapo mountain bike new anymore. It wasn't like this in the 90s.

I rode a bike for two years across LA. I loved it. Of course, people in LA aren't bike friendly, and so I had too much shit happen. I gave it up and strictly c-walk to the bus or train now..

if you ride a bike....don't be an asshol.e.

Bike life 4 life.

who... is this?

Ride your bike on the pavement and you'll get to taste some of this!

http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:A...ZzAoVfeF-CBNkg

Tonight while walking to train:

Stupid bike bell goes off behind me. I turn around and the girl gives me a polite "please watch out" sort of smile. I don't. Make the bitch ride around me. Bikes are cool. Bikes on sidewalks are for pussies and children.

I'm on the riverfront paths 95% of the time, in the street 2% and on the sidewalk 3%. Been bike commuting for over 10 years, no collisions yet with peds or cars!

The issue isn't whether or not a collision takes place. The issue is pedestrians shouldn't be expected to look out for bikes in an area that is not intended for bikes.

I'm real considerate of sidewalk sharing, generally peds are not aware that the sidewalks are LEGALLY bike routes, and don't act accordingly. So, I give them lots and lots of room and pass slowly and ask respectfully to get by. Works great so far.:p

IN Texas bikes are not allowed legally on sidewalks.

same in chicago, some streets do have designated bike lanes as well.

If I'm not mistaken, the sidewalks in Chicago aren't legal bike routes. I could be wrong...

the trolley tracks got him!

When I was in NYC a few years ago me and my friends saw a bike messenger eat it hard, slamming directly into the rear of a delivery van that had itself slammed on it's brakes. Insane. Fucker went flying.

seemed like a deathwish to me, knowing how NYC cabbies haul ass.

in Oregon, our sidewalks are bike lanes except for downtown

I got myself a bicycle and naturally I'm super excited. The first thing I've noticed though is how some people can get aggressive if you're cycling on the pavement before you try chaining it up somewhere outside a shop. Some idiot tried to pick up a fight with me just for riding past him, which is weird because it seldom happens if I'm just walking.

the idiot was partially right. riding on the sidewalk is for 5 year olds, and you're a grown man, which means you can run someone over on your 2-wheel steel contraption. which is not the same as walking.

Seriously? Thanks for the advice mum!

ps: Why do you not try opening some shelter for the hopeless and guideless after you finish eating your amazing meals, instead of wasting all this good advice on the internet? You seem to love giving plenty of it to people who should better themselves and become more like you.

the best gang image is that of people riding bikes together.
there is an obvious harmony, a speed that you can relate your own breathing to and most of all, it looks like they are protecting eachother.

most cities are hostile to bicycle riders.

Seriously. I've also noticed it's not the cars I should be really afraid of but pedestrians. Some of them seem to think that bycycles are only meant to be used by children, which is the sort of thing I expect 9f77f% to think.

I'm slightly hostile to bikers.....slightly.

Many zoom in and out as they please....without any consideration that I too am trying to get somewhere....2,000lb vehicle. If yer a biker who minds their own business, I too am a driver who minds my own business and will gladly give you your space....as long as I get mine too.

you're welcome. i will! yes.

swamp bands play in the swamp

to be fair, bike riders can also be assholes.

http://deadspin.com/can-you-ride-a-b...hol-1447378693

Maybe I should become more of an asshole and ride my bike over people on purpose to prove a point.

i'm not saying you did, but pedestrians will get spooked by bikes on sidewalks just like bikers get spooked by cars who won't share the road (assholes all).

Are you Google Local?

i don't know what you mean, but i've got a great salami sandwich and a glass of red wine that need attention. ha! (i'm not making this shit up.) alright man, best wishes, don't break a leg.

Guys, enough with your problems now, I8%^ is in need of some food and will be back in a few days to sort our lives out. A little bit of patience please, the man has a lot on his shoulders.

eh-- i don't agree with that. i internet-know him for what, a decade, now, i think, maybe more? (fucking crazy, time), and i know he can be bitchy, and vicious in a fight, but i like him just like that. might not seem like it, but i do.

i just have respect for bicycle riders.
and they all are free. i -positively- am jealous of them for that.

It used to take me over 1 hour to get to work by bus and 50 minutes walking. If I cycle it takes me 1/2 hour. Kiss my arse bike haters!

thats awesome! and in few time you will notice changes in your body, if you havent already.
do you dare to have music on, or is that not desirable as you like walking without music.?

I only listen to music when I get to the part of the journey where I'm cycling along the river, and only if there aren't many people around. Definitely not on the street in the morning. Too busy and too dangerous. My legs already feel much stronger and I'm generally full of energies.

Obviously you've never ridden a bike in LA street traffic before, because simply put, people will hit your ass if you ride in the street, period. I got hit TWICE by assholes driving like shit when I used to ride a bike, even the fucking former Mayor had to get his elbow surgically reconstructed after getting hit by a car, and he was riding as part of a "ride-your-bike-to-work" promotion!!!!

In LA, most people ride on the sidewalks, and its a common courtesy to dip into the street to go around people walking or to stop and let them walk by you. Riding on the street or sidewalk etiquette is to be determined locally, there are no universal rules. Also, generally speaking, the people who bitch and moan the most about bike riding folks are generally those people who drive cars and so their opinions are irrelevant. If it hurts y'all feelings that much to be inconvenienced in the five fucking minutes a day y'all are walking from your parked car to your destination than its y'all who are the five-year-olds ;)

My old bike needed some major works to be done on it, so the guy who was going to repair it for me sold me a heavily modified BSO which is much fitter for city rides than when it came out of the box and it looks in better shape. This one will do until I upgrade to something more expensive and I'll learn more about servicing it via his workshops.

http://youtu.be/SckD99B51IA Bike Ridin'

The tyres are going to be changed to puncture-proof ones soon and the gears will be ''stabilsed'' (maybe that's not the word) because they can throw tantrums in the middle of a busy road. But I love this piece of soon to be rotting metal. It took me on an ambitious journey from East to West London, then to the North and back, last Sunday. BIKES 4EVAH!