Дэвид Бирн - Bicycle Diaries

Spandex—I’ve never tried it. I do have one pair of semi-baggy sports shorts with a crotch pad. We guys have read about bikes and the prostate. I only wear those if I know I’m going on a really long or strenuous ride. Only once in a rare while have I had numb nuts. It’s a freaky feeling, and the pad prevents that from happening.

I find that unless it’s really hot out I can dress pretty normally, which often means long pants and a shirt with a collar. If I relax and don’t push the speed then I don’t turn into a fountain—and can attend meetings, concerts, and social events without worrying too much. (I did have a shower installed at my office/studio—in case I arrive there drenched in sweat and have to look nice for a meeting. I had to clear it with the buildings department, as it’s a commercial building and they thought I might be constructing a secret rental apartment. I actually haven’t used it much—you can ask the folks in the office if that’s been a problem.) I do stick to the bike paths along the river as much as I can, as it’s maybe ten degrees cooler away from the traffic. Yup, traffic not only pollutes, it also makes our cities hotter. Not everyone can ride along a river, but riding close to trees does much the same thing.

In the spring and fall I can even wear a suit or a jacket if the event requires it. If I don’t do any strenuous pedaling then I am just fine. I do either roll up my right trouser leg or throw a trouser clip on it, as not all bikes have those guards to keep the chain grease off your pants leg on that side.

Finally, I know it’s even more nerdy than riding a bike, but I got a removable basket and it has really worked out. I can pick up groceries on the way home, toss my bag or backpack in there if I’m carrying a laptop or something semiheavy like that. Besides taking the weight off my body it means I don’t get a sweaty back from wearing a backpack.

Travel

I have tried a few different folding bikes, but I haven’t tried them all, so this is not a consumer report. I have a prejudice against the folding ones with little wheels, though I began my music touring with a small folding Peugeot with little wheels and it held up for many years. I now mainly use full-sized folding bikes that feature some form of suspension—either in the front fork or the seat. I once got really sore wrists and I think it was from riding a lot on cobblestones in SoHo without suspension. For a guitar player this was worrying. Montague and Dahon both make folding bikes with full-sized wheels. Bromp ton, Birdy, Moulton, and Dahon all make folding bikes with small wheels.

The full-sized bikes fold into a large suitcase with wheels (that also has room for a helmet), which can be checked as a second piece of luggage. Once upon a time you were allowed two pieces of luggage with no extra charge—that’s rare now. I’ve gotten stuck with $125 sports-equipment charges (I think this charge was meant for skis or golf bags), so I’d think twice about throwing in the bike for a short trip these days. If I’m going to be somewhere for a week it is not only practical and fun but also economical, even with the baggage charge.

An alternative to all this luggage and packing is to rent a bike when you get to where you’re going. It’s getting easier to do this locally. I recently rented a bike in Berlin for a week and in Salvador, Brazil, for two days.

Organizations and Links Transportation Alternativeshttp://www.transalt.org

Gehl Architectshttp://www.gehlarchitects.com

EMBARQ The WRI Center for Sustainable Transporthttp://embarq.wri.org/en/index.aspx

Institute for Transportation & Development Policyhttp://itdp.org

New York City Department of Transportationhttp://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/home/home.shtml

Institute for Sustainability and Technology Policyhttp://www.istp.murdoch.edu.au

Additional New York City Bike Rack Designs by David Byrne

THE. CHELSEA

THE HIPSTER

THE JERSEY

THE COFFEE CUP

THE MOMA

THE VILLAGER

THE WALL ST

THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY PLANETARIUM

THE BOWERY