Comments for One woman. Many bicycles.

Comment on Bike Rack SUCCESS! About-Face at Mollie Stone’s by ladyfleur

ladyfleur — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 04:41:09 +0000

I’m sure the direct comparison to Trader Joe’s had an impact. The bike rack at TJ’s is always full.

Comment on Bike Rack SUCCESS! About-Face at Mollie Stone’s by ladyfleur

ladyfleur — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 04:40:09 +0000

Thank you for attending the Polk Street meeting and writing a letter. I ride Caltrain with a man who told me how crazy the meeting was. The numbers tell a different story than the retailers fear. And that’s just it. It’s fear.

The retailers commute from distant locations and have trouble parking, so they assume their customers are like them. But their customers are people like you who walk, ride or take transit. People will commute far further than they shop, especially for basics like groceries and drug store items. I’m hope the Polk Street people figure it out eventually.

Comment on Bike Rack SUCCESS! About-Face at Mollie Stone’s by Peter Donohue

Peter Donohue — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:52:57 +0000

I wish the retailers along Polk Street in SF (where I live) would pay attention to this. I went to a meeting on changing the street to improve walk-ability and bike-ability, and they were vehemently opposed to the plans for improving biking and walking (which, admittedly, would likely remove some parking).

What sucks is they don’t remember that they chose to move to this neighborhood to access the people who live there. In the more than 7 years I have lived here, I have been to most of the businesses who stood up and spoke, but I can’t think of a time I ever drove to any one of them (vast majority of times I walked).

I didn’t speak at the meeting, as it seemed like a lynch mob. I did send a letter basically detailing this to my supervisor.

A few of the more vehement retailers who did speak likely will not ever get my visit again. Maybe those car-centric businesses would do better in Daly City? Lots of parking there. Hopefully the business that replaces them in my neighborhood will learn and be more bike/walk friendly.

Comment on My Father, My Hero on Two Wheels by Martin

Martin — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 22:16:54 +0000

I agree — the bike looks to small. Your dad’s knees practically bump against the handle bars. Could you persuade him to try one with a larger frame? (The saddle may not be the issue.)

Comment on Bike Rack SUCCESS! About-Face at Mollie Stone’s by Dan Connelly (@djconnel)

Dan Connelly (@djconnel) — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 21:13:46 +0000

Mollie Stones has become a regular stop for me when I commute Palo Alto to MtView. I was pleased to run into John of the old JJ&F there, who relocated after he and his partners sold that excellent market. Story was competition from Trader Joes on Embarcadero cut into sales, which is too bad. A good thing I’ll say about Mollie Stones is they have never complained about me taking my bike into the store, in striking contrast to Whole Foods.

Comment on My Father, My Hero on Two Wheels by frank8265

frank8265 — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:39:33 +0000

Butterfly bars would give him a wider reach. I guess it’s not an ahead stem?

Comment on My Father, My Hero on Two Wheels by frank8265

frank8265 — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:36:41 +0000

Not that I consider myself an expert, but I too tend to sit on the front of my saddle which gave some discomfort. Last year I bought a Brooks Flyer S saddle (yes, a so called “lady” saddle) and for me it works perfectly. Bit shorter, bit wider and sits like a dream. And also no more numb feeling down the equator.

Comment on My Father, My Hero on Two Wheels by Carol

Carol — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 13:20:28 +0000

Bikes were our dad’s and his brothers’ primary form of transportation in their childhood small town. He used it for his daily paper route and in fact he was working his route when he first heard of the attack on Pearl Harbor. He was 11 years old at that time.

Comment on My Father, My Hero on Two Wheels by savvybikes

savvybikes — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 05:05:36 +0000

I could give you bike fit + saddle recommendations, but that’s a long conversation and I see some other things (besides the saddle) that could change, too. Instead, I just want to say thank you. I’ve been without a father for 15 fathers days now. While I read about your father, I thought “wow, my dad never rode a bike.” And then I remembered riding my bike with my dad during his one week of vacation every summer. We would go hit tennis balls. He died just months before I moved to California and before I started riding again.

Comment on My Father, My Hero on Two Wheels by ladyfleur

ladyfleur — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 03:07:30 +0000

I steal my Mom’s bike which is part of why I ride with Dad more than her. But she does still ride occasionally too. She’s also 82, but her balance isn’t as good as Dad’s.

Where does your dad live that it’s 95 degrees?