tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4097293516411888153.post1347827538880956482..comments2023-12-04T10:02:29.445-06:00Comments on Mark's China Blog: My Daily Commute in Kansas CityMarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00967364257656897151noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4097293516411888153.post-51293713440526433072013-03-15T13:49:55.886-05:002013-03-15T13:49:55.886-05:00Since I have been riding my bike to work I feel he...Since I have been <a href="http://bit.ly/b34zeC" rel="nofollow">riding</a> my bike to work I feel healthier and happier, and I am saving lots of dollars in gas!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4097293516411888153.post-62655907945175955882010-05-08T02:11:29.503-05:002010-05-08T02:11:29.503-05:00Very cool. And what lovely places to ride through....Very cool. And what lovely places to ride through.<br /><br />One of my biggest disappointments in China has been cycling. Before I came here, we had always heard how big cycling was and it would be so nice to cycle to work or to the market. But of course, you have to be insane to try to cycle, at least in Guangzhou. Its amazing how few cycle here. Real real pity. When they invested such huge sums in infrastructure, couldn't they create bicycle lanes a la Holland. They didn't; so the accepted mode of cycling is on the sidewalk and now darting cycles have become something to look out for all the time while walking.Rameshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11782192840421019943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4097293516411888153.post-58592594895164149992010-05-07T21:41:57.771-05:002010-05-07T21:41:57.771-05:00No I don't bike anymore. I remember when I de...No I don't bike anymore. I remember when I decided to splurge on that first mountain bike about 15 years ago. It was between, wouldn't ya know it, a Gary Fisher Wahoo and a GT Avalanche. I took both out for a test ride and the Gary Fisher was definitely the smoother ride. However, being young and superficial, I went with the GT cause it looked cool. A good bike never the less.<br /><br /><br />Yeah if you can stay with it, being in shape really does wonders for you both physically and spiritually. I am always amazed that I find myself falling out of good habits when I know damn well how great they make me feel. I guess its because it requires effort and sometimes, its easy to forego effort. I'll be revisiting this issue in a few months to see if you are still at it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4097293516411888153.post-13648671976499667562010-05-07T12:23:03.205-05:002010-05-07T12:23:03.205-05:00@LEB - Thanks a lot for the kind words. If you eve...@LEB - Thanks a lot for the kind words. If you ever want to chime in with anything, go for it and leave some comments.<br /><br />@Hopfrog - I know what you mean on actually sustaining this commute. I'll be disappointed if, in a couple months, my bike is sitting unused on my balcony. I've been enjoying it so far though and I figure these first few weeks are going to be the really tough rides. The summer weather will surely be a test though. I'm already going to concede that I have no plans on doing this during the winter. There's no way I'm going to freeze in the snow and slush in a KC winter.<br /><br />Thanks for the props on the bike. I got into biking my last few months living in China. I wrote about having <a href="http://markschinablog.blogspot.com/2009/07/cruisin-on-e-bikes.html" rel="nofollow">this bike</a> last year. It was a decent, relatively cheap bike. I really got used to the disc brakes on it. I didn't want to go back to a non-disc brake bike here in the States.<br /><br />I was looking at some Trek bikes, but then this Gary Fisher Wahoo was only $20 more than a decent Trek. I really couldn't justify not spending $20 more on a bike with a lot better components.<br /><br />You're right, the back fender is an add on. It's very nice. I'd like to get one for the front too.<br /><br />I assume you don't ride any more? I'm finding bike riding as something of a fountain of youth. Riding bikes reminds me of being a kid. We all need that sometimes. Especially when we're engaged in the daily grind of being an adult!Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00967364257656897151noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4097293516411888153.post-41864217770342229732010-05-07T09:20:45.073-05:002010-05-07T09:20:45.073-05:00@LEB, Mark runs a really great blog on China from ...@LEB, Mark runs a really great blog on China from an American perspective, glad you found it.<br /><br />Geesh Mark, you manage to come back from halfway around the world, into the deepest recession of our lifetimes, and not only do you land a job in fast fashion, but that is what your commute looks like! Must be all that clean livin'. At first I was like, 9 miles, pffft, this will last a week. Then looking at those pictures, what a great ride!<br /><br />I was really into mountain biking at one time in my life, and man, that is a sweeeet ride you got there. Gary makes top notch rides. I'm assuming that fender is an aftermarket add on though.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4097293516411888153.post-38696092097931941882010-05-07T01:44:34.843-05:002010-05-07T01:44:34.843-05:00Wow...at the pictures and the fact that you ride t...Wow...at the pictures and the fact that you ride to work everyday. First time to your blog and I am a fan already. A lot of us stay close to beautiful trails but never push to do what you are doing. Kudos.LEBhttp://lebblogs.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4097293516411888153.post-52026665402303427062010-05-06T22:17:49.718-05:002010-05-06T22:17:49.718-05:00Those trails over by College Blvd. are awesome. I&...Those trails over by College Blvd. are awesome. I'm pretty sure that's an extension of the Indian Creek Trail. Both it and the trail that these photos are of start down at Leawood Park. Following trails next to creeks like these do are so nice and scenic.<br /><br />If you go to <a href="http://jcprd.com/parks_facilities/trailguide.cfm" rel="nofollow">this site</a>, you can get a free Johnson County trail map sent to you in the mail. It is what I used to map out my route.<br /><br />If you still have a bike kicking around in your garage, we should try to get a ride in some time. I'd love to go to Shawnee Mission Park and ride out there.Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00967364257656897151noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4097293516411888153.post-9157487374949779702010-05-06T21:37:06.721-05:002010-05-06T21:37:06.721-05:00I love that you are doing this. So cool. Back in t...I love that you are doing this. So cool. Back in the day when I first moved to KC, my room mate and I used to ride the trails by College BLVD. Sad to say I hardly ever ride anymore. Maybe you've inspired me.Jim Vhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01036641652593470946noreply@blogger.com