For quite some time now I have been thinking of buying a bicycle. It would make going to ‘medium’ distance places (where it’s a fair distance to walk but really shouldn’t need to take a car) much easier, fun, healthier and friendlier on the environment.
On a trip to Japan last year I came across these bicycles at a very reasonable price, that would fold-up in half for easy storage – perfect for an apartment dweller with limited space. But I couldn’t bring myself to buy it, carry it around during my holiday and post it back to Australia! I really should have made the effort, I’m kicking myself for it now as I haven’t been able to find anything quite like them since. If you’re enjoying a bike ride this weekend, I’m very jealous.
{jazzed up for mardi-gras in New Orleans}
{part of everyday life in Japan}
{cycling through Pipe and Waimea Bay, North Shore - Hawaii}
{funky bike stands for riders at Coogee Beach, Sydney}
Get the best bike you can, it will make all the difference in the world. Bicycling is wonderful but a clunker bike takes all the fun out of it. Of course, ‘best’ depends on your riding conditions. I have a great old touring bike, a little heavy, but it handled everything from all of the Bay Area routes to Glacier Park to Germany, but again it depends on where you think you’ll ride. A good bike can last for decades so it’s easily worth the price.
I really appreciate everyone’s friendly (and some such informative) advice! As some knowledgable people have suggested, I think I’m going to go with a beach cruiser – a few of my friends own lovely ones and I’ve seen a couple of cool stores selling them locally so decision almost made… thanks again
Go ahead and get a bike, so much fun. I noticed on another of your recent posts you enjoyed Melbourne. On a recent visit there I discovered Melbourne Bikes, an almost free city bike scheme. These little blue bikes were a fantastic way to explore the city, really added to the Melbourne experience . The idea of bike stations all over the city so you can park your trusty steed and then grab another for the next leg of your journey is brilliant.
Re folding bike, I’m not a fan and would encourage you to consider a road or commuter bike, as these will give you a much better ride and you can explore over greater distances
Happy pedaling.
The Mardi-gras one is too funny! Thank you for sharing,
Artphalt (http://artphalt.wordpress.com)
I like it, congratulations!!
You should definitely buy a bike, or you could hire one where ever you go. I recently hired one in Siwa, Egypt to get around. Even though the bike was rusty and had seen better days, it was fun to cycle past villages and go at the pace I wanted. I’m sure purchasing a bike will be the best thing you could do.
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
Mark Twain
http://www.hugyourbackpack.wordpress.com
Love the photography!!
<3
http://wattwewear.wordpress.com/
Great post, and congrats on your freshly pressed.
nice photos.
Reblogged this on Chailah.
Good luck with your folding bike search, if you are unsuccessful I recommend finding a nice used bike! I live in Copenhagen, a cyclist’s dream city, it’s cheaper and faster than taking public transport and not to mention great exercise!
I’ll grab my antique folding bike and ride for you this weekend
Great shots, I like that pink bike…the one on the first photo.
This is featured on freshly pressed; congrats!
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Great pictures. It doesn’t matter what kind of bike you ride, it is fun anyway you do it. I’ve been riding for sixty-five years and I still love it. I was an avid commuter at one time. Now I ride a recumbent for comfort. Keep doing it no matter how.
Reblogged this on Makais Blog and commented:
interesting bike racks at coogee beach
I completely relate to your post here, and I really enjoyed the photos! During the past year I have travelled to four different locations in the Middle East and Southeast Asia and, strangely enough, the common theme running through my photography of each place is bicycles! There’s just something about them that draws the eye and describes a place. You’ve given me some inspiration to get more of my bicycle photos posted!
http://trestone.com I adore this. You absolutely must keep it up.
I couldn’t agree more, a bike gives a certain freedom and tactile experience that you don’t get otherwise. I just bought an ElliptiGo and I love it! It’s a cross between a bike and an Elliptical machine. I have a bad back and it does not bother it like sitting on a bike, no seat. I just saw another post where the fold up bikes are hot in Rome. Beautiful photos you took!
Reblogged this on aonesmog.
try cycling in kute bali, it’s amazing
You can pick up a folding bike on eBay in Australia. I recently went all out and bought myself an electric bike. It’s awesomely fun and really easy to ride.
Awesome! This motivates me to start biking more.
I spent some time in The Netherlands and bought the most awesome cheap, probably stolen, kichy European bike and I wish I could have kept it as mine own once I left. I now live in an awesomely bike-friendly town in CA, and I loves it. Nothing brings back that youthful feeling like riding a bike.
Yes, you should be jealous of me, actually. Because just tomorrow morning I’m going out with my bike for a weekend ride called Bike Friday with a local group of enthusiast cyclists called BDCyclists. You can see some photos from last month’s Critical Mass which is held on last Fridays in many cities around the world.
Does your city arrange a Critical Mass?
I skipped past all the other comments so whatever kennels of knowledge lay hidden there…who cares? ON the issue of folding bikes…I haven’t ridden one, but I’ve seen a ridiculous amount of them in Taipei. The wheels are small and they look like more of a hassle then they are worth. If I were u I’d just go with a full fledged bike and take if from there. Trust me, I’ve just recently done the same thing and I’ve got no regrets.
I posted something similar on Pacific NW Author earlier this year. I live in a bike culture city, but still have not bought a bike, mainly because I don’t have the money yet to splurge on one.
Reblogged this on Suprapto7's Blog and commented:
see
i like it
Nada igual que andar con la bicicleta en la ciudad o en el campo, yo retomé la costumbre de salir de paseo y desde entonces es como cambiar el chip. Lo recomiendo a cualquier indeciso.
Bonitas fotos -¡ah! da lo mismo el modelo si plegable o no, todo es cuestión del espacio que dispongas. -.
I lived in japan and enjoyed the cycling culture there. Whenever i hear a bicycle bell, I look over my left shoulder
I also lived in SD and enjoyed the beach cruiser lifestyle in PB. No-one ever listens, because they all think they know it better, but I’ve been biking for 20 years now, and here is my advise. Get a 24″ bike-NOT A MOUNTAINBIKE- (oh no, he wrote in all caps, better tune this guy out, right, haha) Get either a 24″ beach cruiser or bmx. I wrote that in all caps, because a lot of people see me on my bike http://t.co/xzQEG7gU ,and then they say “I’m getting a bike.” They go and buy a bike, almost always something that doesn’t suit their needs, and they never ride it. The main reason you should get a 24″ instead of a 26″ is weight; generally about 20 pounds less weight. This means I can easily pick it up and bring it inside, or put it on the bus-bike-holder. The overall size of the bike is smaller too, and can be put in the trunk of a car if needed.
So to re-cap,
A 20″ bmx is too small for adults.
A 26″ beach cruiser is too big to bring/have inside the house/apartment(kinda, ya know), but it is certainly to big to go in the trunk of a car.
24″ bikes give you the best of both worlds; big enough for adults, but small and light enough to carry/store.
So there’s my biking advise that people never take. I usually ride about 10 miles per day on my single gear 24″ bmx, but can easily do 25–you don’t need gears for a general purpose bike. I also run all my errands on the bike, and enjoy the fresh air, sunlight, and “fuel economy”
I used to ride my bike to work and back each day, which was about ten miles round trip, but the town that I live in is anything but bicycle friendly. I’m also looking for a bicycle for the summer and envying those that live in bicycle-friendly places. Great post! Thanks!
nice……..
asheeee.blogspot.com
i like Great post
Wonderfull, love some bike pictures.
Nice ideas and images
I love riding my bike! Awesome pics!
Reblogged this on omero1909.
Just starting biking myself and I must say it’s quite invigorating. Thanks for sharing these photos!
Congratulations on getting freshly pressed. Great post!
I love bicycle riding too.
I was out for a pleasant Saturday afternoon ride many years ago in Winnipeg when I met up with an old guy on a little fold-up bike. We took off at the green light, but I wasn’t exactly leaving him behind. At the next light he got ahead of me and I took note of the musculature at the backs of his calves. Turns out he was the Austrian cycling champ about the time I was born. Nice guy. Fast bike.
Folding bikes are the perfect solution at times!
I returned to cycling 20 yrs. ago. I am car-free because I had difficulty learning to drive. I have 4 bikes. One of them is a folding bike and love my little baby.
Get the bike and go forward!
We have a lot more bikes here in Florida since gas prices have inflated. My human has even looked at buying one to visit neighbors and do short shopping trips. (We live on an island so most of our trips are longer if we want to do serious shopping) Kayaks are very popular also, replacing a lot of the outboards. I’ve suggested that we buy a kayak or small jon boat and attach it to the manatees for locomotion. (See my post me and the manatees) Love your pics. There some really vivid colors and I love the bike bikerack!
Sandy
http://www.sandysays1.wordpress.com
Cycling has come back full circle to me. I used to ride a bike to school, once in high school I wanted moped, more comfort. Now again I ride bike on weekends to exercise.
Reblogged this on marvcabrera.com and commented:
i miss biking
You should also visit Sweden. The cycling culture is really strong here. People even bike during the winter, when it can be -20C. You’d love all the cute vintage bikes and the structure most cities offer: parking spaces etc.
Nice post!
Many thanks for the kind words and thoughts everyone!
Enjoyed this very much & good luck on your continued bike search!
I LOVE my bicycles (yes, more than one). I love sportives, time trials, charity rides, off-road cycling, touring (with a tiny tent), and just going down the pub. Everyone, whatever their age, should have one.
Nice post. I’ll share this quote “Life is like a ten speed bicycle. Most of us have gears we never use” ~ Charles M. Schulz
I like your photos. You shall buy a bike, doesn’t matter what kind of – bicking is fantastic (I know since I moved to The Netherlands I have done it for work, school, pleasure and just relax…)
Good luck:)
http://dreamjobdiva.wordpress.com/
cycling was so important for me in childhood ,i love that now also..
wow lovely and wonderful bicycle.I liked it veru much.
Awesome pics.I enjoyed all the bi-cycle photos.
Lovely photographs.Great work.Thanks for posting these amazing photos.
Your pictures are really beautiful! I also love bikes and, like you, I’m currently feeling very jealous of people who have one
Great post!
I am thinking to buy a new cycle like this.The first photo is wonderful.
Great post and i enjoyed the colourful cycle.Thanks for posting.
Wow what a lovely and colourful bicycle.Cycling is good for health.Specially i like the 1st one.
I’m a big fan of bicycles. The bike-stand is pretty awesome! Love the one with all the bikes lined up in a row; like they are waiting in line for a happening around the corner
funky and cool pictures!! thanks for sharing..
cool~~i have had experience with bycicle for 3 years more-my school far enough from my home about 4-5 kms-and never got bored
My folding bike just arrived today~~~ Now all I need is a pump… ><
Love your bike post! As a keen cyclist and walker it’s amazing what you can find along the road to photograph as you get up close to the surroundings. Keep looking for that folding bike, it’s a great idea!
The bicycle is ideal for the kind of trips you describe. I commute to work every day by bicycle, do most of my shopping by bicycle, and the vast majority of my socialising too. I, too, live in an apartment (flat, as we call them here in the UK), but I’m lucky enough to have a garage. I’d definitely opt for a folding bike if I had to bring it up to my flat. I think you should bite the bullet and buy something that comes close enough rather than holding out for your perfect bike.
really driving bicycle is also amazing thing. i used to ride bicycle in childhood with my friends…
Nice Pictures and Thank you for sharing.
marg swarnabhoomi
Beautiful photos!
superb pic’s like it very much…
Reblogged this on A Convex & Concave View.
we have that folding bike here in Malaysia, but i prefer mountain bike though..
I myself enjoy having a bicycle on my own too. It’s really a great feeling to ride on it, go around each corner of the street and take pleasure in the views as well as people. However, in my country, the number of people using motorbikes outdoes that of people who ride bicycles
Though, I still dream about possessing a lovely bicycle one day. It’ll definitely make my whole day.
The pictures you took are extremely beautiful and give a peace of mind.
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Very cool bikes, love fixies and single gear bikes, just for city rides and slowly enjoying the ride. Have you looked for similar style bikes nearby? Im sure you could find some or buy one from Japan online. Make friends with a Japanese person and get them to mail it to you?
bicycles are the coolest. love this
Cycle is my best friend in my school days..
I just clicked on your blog through WP, and I want to encourage you, yes, yes, yes! Buy yourself a bike!!! You would not believe how happy it will make you if you do it. Doooo eeeeeeet!
I don’t mean to go all crazy on you in your comments section, but an impulse to bike should never be denied.
I have three small(ish) kids — 5, 7 and 9 — and I sold our car last year. Granted, we live near the centre of Vancouver, where bike lanes are becoming common and bike routes make traveling with pedal power much safer. But I cycled before that, and will cycle till I can’t anymore. I hope, from my comment, you feel the pleasure I derive from it. And I have bikes! Three. I would write about them here, but that would probably make a better blog post.
In the last year or two, I have seen quite a few fold-able bikes here, with fairly small wheels. I have talked to the riders and have learned that they are, in fact, quite easy to pedal, even on hills. I don’t know exactly where you live in Australia, but if they are in Vancouver for sale, surely Australia can’t be that far behind! I suggest you also search check on the internet, or purchase a less-than-hot bike that nobody would want and lock it outside your building. (That’s what we used to do … sometimes I didn’t even lock mine, it was so ugly. Of course, one day it was gone so … )
Go buy one and have some cyclin’ fun
Cool Cycling Culture…
My favorite is the pink bicycle with the people walking across the street in the background. I think the caption reads Jazzed up for mardi-gras.
J’adore this post. Bought my first of three bicycles last year… and a Burley Tail Wagon for my dog.
I am thinking of buying a bicycle too. My school is a ‘medium’ distance places.
Congratulations on being Freshly Pressed!
Yes! And that is a resounding supportive affirmation too. I hope that you do indeed get a bicycle
Do it! Buy a bike!
It will give you such a sense of freedom & independence to be reliant on nothing more than your own pedal power. I couldn`t imagine life without my bicycle. 
My friend swears by his Bromptom but they are certainly quite expensive. Apparently Dahon makes some nice (and fast) models. Lovely photos.
We have the foldable bikes in the US. You should try to see if you could get one shipped. We have thought about buying them too for our camping trips.
Have you googled those folding bicycles? I’ve seen them advertised here in the states, usually in magazines for people who spend their lives driving motorhomes from gas station to gas station. Buy your bike. I took the plunge years ago and rode around my neighborhood and the Colorado Rockies. It’s wonderful.
This makes me miss Japan so much. Thanks for sharing.
go green and more healthier, in Indonesia we have “car free day” on certain streets
thanks for sharing that funky bike stands at Sydney as I never been there! its great to notice this nice design
Nice pictures. I liked the last two photos.
Yes, Cycling is very good for us and for the environment! I just bought a bike last week and started riding it to office
I have a great cruiser but recently moved to a neighborhood that isn’t awesome for bikes. Love bike-able towns! Thanks for writing!~
Reblogged this on Athletic Supporters.
I love to go bike riding, but I have not been able to do it for a while. Maybe I should start again:)
Awesome pics.
It’s ‘Bike Month’ here in Norfolk, Virginia.
I have a post about it here -> http://hipsterapproved.wordpress.com/2012/04/24/norfolk-bike-month-event-schedule/
Check it out.
I am loving all the pictures and I especially like the ones of Japan I am not quite sure why but I am somehow drawn to Japan, I just need to learn the language and I am good to go.
I remember hiring a bike in Kyoto and it wasn’t much but I really loved it. The deposit was the equivalent to only $20 CAD so I wanted to just take it, but again the whole posting it deterred me. Also this one didn’t fold up.
How’s this for a crazy confession: I have never ridden a bike…without training wheels.
Seriously.
And because of this, my children learned to ride a bike at the ripe old age of 2.5! Couldn’t let them follow in those bizarre footsteps…
Good luck with your bike search!
“Like” your reply!
Lol! That’s why I took cycling lessons at the age of 40something, so that I could ride with my daughter when she learned.
Gorgeous photos here.
Do it!
I am a fan of the clunker. You should be able to find an old bike for cheap. If you can find a steel one, fantastic! You can leave it outside and not worry too much about someone stealing it. If it’s steel, the weather won’t take its toll so quickly on it. I bike to work every day – it’s the only way to start a morning.
Do it! Start with something simple and keep searching for your ideal bicycle. In the meantime you can be coasting along on two wheels, wind in your hair!
Amsterdam has one of the craziest cycling cultures I’ve ever seen.
view website Hello there, awesome web page. I concur. Fantastic to view something of fascination for as soon as. Sustain the nice function!
One thing I like about Coogee are the beautiful coastal walks, the lush parklands with free outdoor barbeque and picnic facilities, and the children’s play areas or relaxing on one of the finest sand beaches in the southern hemisphere. Wouldn’t you agree when you were biking there?
“Get a bicycle. You will not regret it.” -Mark Twain
True words!
Love your assorted bike photos. The bike stands at Coogee are awesome! I hope you are able to find your fold up bike – I am sure you could get one somewhere. One of my cycling friends has one for when he travels – a “Bike Friday”. I am sure you would get tonnes of use with it.