Generational differences

[Osiris]

These are some remarks that were made either directly to me in conversation, or while passing other riders on popular bike routes. I have to confess that when I first saw a recumbent in 2011, my reaction was much like those in the first group.

Adults:

"How can you ride something like that?"
"That doesn't look very safe."
"I'm not old enough for one of those."
"Looks like a lawn chair on wheels."

Kids:

"Awesome!"
"That's so cool!"
"Dad, look at that! I want one of those!"
"That's the bike I want, right there!"

I'm sensing a pattern here...

 

[Bruce B]

Kids = Imagination

 

[John Dorlon]

When adults make comments like that, smile and pass them (assuming they are on "normal" bikes). When kids make comments like that, smile and wave.

 

[Osiris]

The ancestor of every road bike in production today is the "Safety Bicycle", which made it's debut in 1885. It's what my great-grandparents would have thought of when hearing the word "bicycle". No doubt that at the time, people thought it just as strange a contraption as the modern day recumbent.

 

[ElyDave]

the ancestor of every bicycle would be the velocipede, perhaps lacking one or two modern feature, like brakes!

 

[DavidCH]

Simply heritage... I remember my first Raleigh

 

[Zzzorse]

Make mine a Crypto #3, time travelers

 

[Rampa]

My most common remark from adults is, "I thought you were doing a wheelie!"

 

[Osiris]

My most common remark from adults is, "I thought you were doing a wheelie!"

That's actually what a cycling friend thought when I sent him one of my videos. He had no idea that I'd switched from DF's to a recumbent, so the only way to account for the fact that the pedals were in the video was to assume that I was doing a wheelie!