Name: Dylan
From: New York City
Age: 35
Job: I work in the word processing department at a law firm. I'm also an indolent cartoonist and artist bookmaker.
Years SS: 18 years
Fixed/SS Bike(s): Raleigh One Way
For as long as I can remember, I've always had a bike. They are, for me, the best way to get around locally. Over the past few years I've become more of a motorist than a biker, though, mainly because the distances I travel are longer than they've ever been. In order to make a change in my life, I recently decided to commute to work on a bicycle as a "thing to do." This is partly about getting some exercise and partly about just finding a place in my life where I can eke out some space for myself.
My commuting route takes me from Bay Ridge, Brooklyn to Wall Street and back. I'm a reverse commuter, too, so I leave for work at midnight and ride home through the rush hour hordes. It's not the safest route in the world, but I find that it's a lot of fun (and much safer) if done slowly. The Brooklyn Bridge is my nemesis.
When I started looking for a bike again, a friend who has built bikes for me in the past recommended Road Bike Review as a good place to get ideas about what's available. I'm primarily interested in the "causal clothes" mode of bike riding (as opposed to the more competitive and specialized "spandex and crotch cream" kind of aesthetic), but I've found the site to be an excellent resource for learning about gear and techniques.
So, basically, I'm just lurking in order to soak up the info. I'm posting in this thread because Dave Hickey said he wanted to hear from lurkers. Hello!
