The Nevada Sagebrush

It is sad that you feel that you have to bash all cyclists here. I doubt most people are really interested in them. The only reason I read this was because a fellow cyclist sent it to me with the caption “clueless writer at UNR”. One point I agree with you is that there are those out there that disregard every law and rule when it comes to cycling. I see them almost every day and say something to them at every opportunity but classifying all cyclist in that category (if you would have done some research like any good writer/journalist you would have come across the majority of us that do obey the laws and wear helmets and enjoy the sport to the fullest). You say that cycling is a hobby and for most it is but little do you realize, among other things, is that it is also a professional sport and one of the best forms of exercise out there today. I myself have been a cyclist now for 8 years and at 37 I AM in the best shape of my life. Through cycling I have met so many great people that share the passion and fun of riding and racing and yes, obeying the law! Your close minded opinion is very obvious here but your opinion is your opinion and you have every right to express it. Too bad though.

Emily,

You fashion yourself quite the troll, don’t you? Is this your directive / appointed role at the Sagebrush, or just a manifestation of your effort to carve out a facile journalistic niche for yourself?

Either way, you’re tone-deaf. An effective troll entails that readers will not, by and large, question the sincerity of your missive. Your hyperbole abolishes that possibility. Go sit with Cory Farley for a spell and learn something.

Dear Ms. Katseanes,

I am writing in response to article about cycling culture. I find your article to be both childish and insulting at the same time, something that is hard to accomplish but you have managed in this case.

I will address the childish aspect first. Your article title is about cycling culture, yet nothing in the article mentions anything about that culture. Instead you choose to vilify all cyclist based upon a few bad apples of people who choose not to follow the rules of the road. Using this logic as a basis for your article is the same as not liking anybody who walks to school because you saw a someone jay walking, not liking anybody who drives a car to school because you saw somebody run a red light, or not liking anybody who uses a computer at school because you saw a few people looking at pornography in the library. Your logic is childish and flawed.

I also find the article insulting on many levels. As a nurse and a graduate student, I can tell you that the “physical peak” you mention in your article was not when you were running and doing yoga while poisoning your body with a variety of different toxins. While you may have been getting exercise, you were exposing your body to variety of different health risks including: heart disease, peripheral vascular disease, diabetes, coronary artery disease, cirrhosis of the liver and lung cancer just to name a few. I applaud you on your choice to alter the dangerous lifestyle that you were living, and it is that decision that has made you feel better today than when you were at your “physical peak”. However, I must caution you that exercise is a vital part of living a healthy life style. I urge you to remember your childhood, before you smoked cigarettes and drank beer, a time when you were young and healthy, running around outside like a child should. That was your physical peak, and it is against that time of your life that you should measure your own personal progress.

I also find your article insulting in that you believe people choose to ride bike because is some sort of trendy environmental life style. I personally ride my bike to class and work because I enjoy it, it makes me happy and helps keep me in shape. The fact that there is a positive environmental aspect to it is merely a bonus.

In addition, your article, and the lack of any meaningful insight insults the entire cycling community. Cycling has a rich and diverse history; it is enjoyed by citizens of every country in the world and has been used as a catalyst by individuals such as Lance Armstrong to increase awareness and funding of cancer research and other noble purposes.

In closing I will leave you with a quote from H.G. Wells, “Every time I see an adult on a bicycle, I no longer despair for the future of the human race.”

Jed Colvin, RN, BSN
Graduate Student UNR
Member of the UNR Cycling Team

Clearly this is the writing of someone lashing out at a particular incident and generalizing it to the group as a whole. I have been riding my bike for a long time! Since before we talked about global warming and high gas prices. I rode it because it was fun! The ideas suggested in this rant are simply flawed from the outset. In our nation of morbidly obese citizens, the thought that biking isn’t going to do anything for our collective health is simply ludicrous. I am a much healthier person because I choose to exercise, not because of a diet of water and ‘green things’. As for the writers comments about cycling among the cars, it’s easy to see that she has zero experience in this area. Often sidewalks are not safe because of heavy foot traffic or all together off limits for bicyclists. This results in bikes sharing the road way. In my years of riding around town I have comitted all of the sins suggested by the author, but none of them has ever caused an incident. The time’s I have been hit were when I was following the letter of the law and was struck by an oblivious or incompetent driver who then sped away from the accident. I imagine most urban cyclist have a similar story. So to anyone sharing the authors fascist views towards bicycles, I must say that I am sorry. Just make sure you use your turns signals before you hit me the next time!

Wow, this has a “racist” feel to it. I feel really bad for her.

Wow, this is the most insecure/naive peace of rant I have ever read in my life. Your opinion of “One of the biggest reasons people embrace biking is to save the environment. This is crap.” is flat out contradictory. Your “fitting green things into my diet” has the same reasoning that eating healthy is some new trend. Do your self a favor, get on a bike. If you are sweaty in class you can come join us skiers/boarders/bikers/rollerbladers/unicyclists who will be enjoying the stench of themselves. It will help with your insecurities and give you the self confidence to accept outdoorsy people in general.

I can go 500 miles on the amount of energy store in 1 gallon of gas. I am the most efficient mode of transportation invited, I AM THE BIKE

Please research the topic before righting an article that follows no logic. You are discussing multiple cultures, and not differentiating them.

Where did you get the defination of hobby?
If you have no vehicle is riding a bike a hobby?
If you get paid to ride your bike is it a hobby?
Was the environment a problem before people became mechanized?
In what culture will bikes be left on the curb?
With out attempting to ride a bike, how do you know it will not be your solution to some of your issues?

Only in America can the bike be viewed as a problem, every where else its the solution. Lets remember that more bikes are used in the world then cars.

It’s no wonder UNR is considered a third rate school … its student newspaper publishes bubbleheaded babble like this!

You’re fat and ugly.

Maybe a little less eloquent that the other replies here.
Moron.
You article doesn’t deserve a reply more than that.
It’s trolling for comments and is pathetic.

You seem to be mad at life. Life needs more negative people. Were you not loved when you were a child? Did you parents not teach you to ride a bike, and now your lashing out.

I wish my parents let me drink and smoke in high school, then I could write a quality blog..

I was a biker when I lived in Nye Hall. I had a ‘56FLH panhead, jockey shift. Kinda hard to kick during the winter though.

Wow, maybe if you rode a bike you might lose some weight.

Troll.
And not a very entertaining one at that.

I think it might be your time of the month.

WARNING: Angry fat girl alert!!!
Wow…a truly amazing display of projecting one’s own insecurities upon others! Congrats. Your parents must be so proud. UNR must be so proud. You, my angry fat friend, must be so proud.
Why don’t you put down your self proclaimed “Twinkies, French Fries and Pabst” and go get out on your bike. Maybe then you can lose some of that anger and some pounds all at the same time. Maybe, and maybe only then, after you actually like what you see in the mirror, will you see your childish diatribe for what it is: a reflection of you!

The only people who seem to have a problem with bikers are:

1) Assholes
2) Bigots
3) Inattentive/underskilled (BAD) drivers.

Learn to drive.

You’re wrong. They don’t peg their pants. They just wear girl ones.

Bikers need humor.

Emily,

I suggest you start smoking again and hit the twinkies. Wrap them in a piece of lettuce, so you feel better. You’re my motivation to keep riding! I read your article and ask, “where’s my bike? I need to ride if that’s my option!” Thanks for the inspiration.

BTW, I don’t ride becuase it’s PC. It’s called fresh air and a view without a windshield. It’s amazing what you see from a bike.

You’re obviously quite passionate about sharing your dislike of “biking culture” with others. It’s sad that after all the energy and thought you put into it, you still come across as juvenile and offensive. Your article is an embarrassment to the Sagebrush, UNR, and your community.

UNR Grad Student
Cyclist/Motorist/Pedestrian

Dear Ms. Problem,
Thank you for sharing one of your many problems. For someone who “hates practically everything,” it is little surprise you hate the new generation of stinky cyclists who sit next to you in class or nearly run over you as you walk on campus. Yes, there are cyclists who break the law, just as there are many others, including motorists and pedestrians.
Out of your hatred for a sub-culture within in the cycling community i.e., “the sweaty kid” – “biker,” unknowingly or knowingly, your gross generalizations about trendy college students who ride bikes comes across as an attempt to marginalize the entire cycling community. What is the point of calling your readers (i.e.” pedestrians, drivers, smokers, drinkers and people who take climate change seriously”) to “uniting against the wheel” and turn a fellow citizen (i.e., “biker”) into one who is considered as a pariah: *1. a member of a low caste of southern India or *2. despised or rejected? Just what are you learning up there at UNR? Do you suggest your readers next enrobe in white sheets and pointy white hats to take action against the horrid “bikers?”
As simple as a mother might be to her daughter who now writes for her college’s newspaper, that mother’s basic observation of one of her daughter’s deficits appears to be spot-on (*Compassion: sympathetic consciousness of others’ distress together with a desire to alleviate it). Rather than waste your time writing on a personal pet-peeve and relating it to the environment issue, which is actually what you did, call your mom and get her advice about how to confront the stinky boy who sits next to you in class. Who knows, that stinky boy might actually like you. And if he did get you to slip on to “Satan’s cycle” vs. resuming your smoking habit, it might just extend your life due to being healthier- both physically and emotionally (cycling might help with your hate) all while reducing carbon emissions. The next time you punch at the key board remember, you can spread hate or you can spread hope. Have compassion and choose the latter by providing a solution.

*Merriam Webster’s Dictionary

I hope a man removes your hat as you exit an elevator.

While there are cyclists who disobey standard traffic laws, lashing out against all is reactionary and immature. By Emily’s arguments, all smokers should be shunned because they smell bad and second hand smoke effects other’s personal health, all SUV drivers should be exiled for their overuse of natural resources and the obnoxious driving habits of a few, or all those that partake alcohol should be in prison because of the few that have killed others while driving intoxicated? Nice job attempting to generalize everyone into one category.

Bikers/Cyclists obviously have no sense of humor. Maybe you should loosen those pegged pants a bit and let that blood flow back to your brain. Only then will you realize this is all a joke. It really is pathetic how butt-hurt your crew of cyclists have become. God forbid someone calls the lot of you out on your bad habits and true stereotypes. I can’t wait to read the next column. I hope it’s just more hating on cyclists so I can go surfing on your river of tears, crybabies!

wtf is everybody’s problem? Racist? Moronic? Tone-deaf? You are the bike?

wtf?

Seriously. Let’s take a chill pill and realize how unimportant this all is.

Emily, you’re fine, the article was fine.

Wow. So.. no wonder people think twice before sending their kids to this school.. it’s full of sheer dumbassery like this that apparently gets taken seriously! Congrats, you’ve officially stabilized yourself as a solid journalist. I’m serious. Not really.

Emily is looking for reactions.

She has no clue what she’s talking about.
Her attempt at insightfulness only made her, UNR and the Nevada Sagebrush look bad.
She should spend a day with Bootleg Courier Company.

Emily is fat.

what a moron,

I wasted 3 minutes reading this crap.

will never come back to this sh!tty web site.

You don’t have spiders crawling out of your ears, Emily. What you DO have is ignorance oozing from every pore. The average 4th grader understands that stating wild generalizations as “fact” is the quickest way imaginable to completely lose one’s credibility. Do you think your rant will upset cyclists?? Right now every cyclist reading your ‘writing’ is laughing his/her head off (as I am)!

If your intent was to write a piece that might be provocative and initiate some meaningful debate, you fell WOEFULLY short. As is, it’s only an amusing attempt at…… well, it’s not clear WHAT the purpose was, unless you actually intended to demonstrate your inability to produce an article that might rise above the level of sophomoric whining. Maybe you can take some more journalism classes and try again another time…

You are a sad young woman and I hope you find something that makes you happy someday.
I’m sure this was written tongue in cheek but you come across as an overweight little girl who is mad at those who are physically more attractive and desirable than yourself.
In closing please do not ever have children
Thank you for your time

Emily,

I’m 47 years old and have been riding bicycles since 1988 and ride around 75 miles a week on average.

I live in a rural area near Dallas Texas so I’m not one of the typical bikers you speak of which I assume is probably college kids in a college town and the type of biker you speak of and derive your disdain from.

To me riding is not a hobby but bike wrenching (working on bikes) and restoration is. I love riding bikes and working on them. I get joy from digging one out of the trash or off the curb and repairing it then selling it to a college kid that is nearly broke and has no car. I have brought much joy to many college students when the come and buy some of the bikes I have sold to them. I feel it keeps the landfills a little cleaner as well.

Riding makes me feel great, I have never gone on a ride and regretted it. I get the “runners high” after each ride. While riding I enjoy the smells in the air, the wind in my face and the sounds all around me. I have seen hawks swoop down and snatch up mice out of the field next to me. I see horses and cows grazing. I can watch the sun rise over a tree lined hill in the early morning as the misty fog slowly blows by. I see more nature on any typical ride in one day then I do the rest of the time in between while driving in a car. When your moving at 12 to 15 miles an hour you have much more time to enjoy the things around you.

I was at the doctor the other day with my daughter and asked him when the last time I was there to see him and he said October of 2001 and it was for allergies, I feel I have the bicycle to thank for that.

Most car drivers are very courteous but there are those that obviously think that the road was paved for cars only and bikes have no rights to it. They seem to speed up when they get near me and try to come as close to me as they can as if its some kind of punishment or their way of telling me I’m on their road and then punch it as they get beside me like I just cost them 30 minuets of their time when in fact they never even slowed down. I just shake my head and go about my business.

I don’t ride my bike to run too many errands in town because its so far and in Texas its typically so hot I wouldn’t be presentable in public but biking is a major part of my life and I love it and will do it till I’m unable to get on a bike and safely ride.

I’m not angry at you or the way you feel or write about bicycling but just wanted to give my prospective now that I have read yours. I’m not a writer as you can tell so forgive my poor writing, I forgive your hatred towards me and my fellow bikers.

Go back to smoking cigarettes and eating frosting. That way you’ll leave the earth sooner and make it a better place for us people that care about our health so we can live longer.

There is that group that are anti-social in the biking world. I don’t want to be associated with them. There is a similar group in the motoring world. You probably don’t want to be associated with them. So we’re even.

I’ve been riding for 46 years. Fortunately I haven’t seen you out there yet.

Either you’re clueless or just trying to get attention. I don’t really care which. You’ve got issues.

I won’t be back to read more. Maybe you’ll appeal to the Rush L contingent.

Wow…. It has been some time since I have read student journalism. Articles like this give me pause for concern. Normally Op/Ed pieces are based on some shred of fact or logical argument to base the editorial on. This writing seems like a narcissistic attack with very little backing.

Perhaps our author might consider the BENEFITS that she receives when neighbors such as myself choose their bike for transportation. For example, by riding to work I am one less driver slowing down Emily on 395 during the morning rush. By riding downtown or to the supermarket I am one less car circling for a parking spot which makes things more convenient for our author. I am also one less car waiting in line at the gas station or Jiffy Lube slowing down Emily’s daily tasks. By commuting by bike I am putting less wear and tear on our infrastructure thus lessening the chance for Emily to hit a pothole and get a flat tire (and long term, lessening the cost for new roads in our community). If you think these are subtle benefits then you might read up on our aging roads here.

http://www.tripnet.org/Fact_Sheet_NV.pdf

There are other tangible benefits that our author gets when cyclists are out on the streets. Fewer cars on the street mean less pollution in the Truckee Meadows air. More people riding their bikes means a healthier population and less obese people streaming into our hospitals. Since bikes don’t travel the long distances local businesses are more likely to benefit from cyclists thus stimulating our Reno economy. Finally Emily might consider the political statement made by riding a bike. Choosing pedal power over gasoline power is a personal way to lessen our nation’s dependence on foreign oil.

I could wax on about the personnel benefits one receives from riding a bike. There is the money I have saved in car payments, oil changes, car maintenance, and trips to the gas station. There are the health benefits both physical and mental that I have enjoyed. I would hope that these perks would already be obvious to most readers.

Emily seems to have overlooked the fact that cycling is not just a hobby but a serious means of alternative transportation for many people. In retrospect, Emily might consider THANKING a cyclist for riding their bikes instead of taunting them. What are Emily’s actions (and editorials) doing for our community?

I’m trying to figure out whether you’re just a troll wasting people’s time with your articles or do you really mean what you say…and waste people’s time with your article.

However I am sorry for you. I am sorry for your hate, your lack of ability to observe the world around you, your onesided un-educated views, your naivity and few other things. I understood that you are studying at a university, I hope that your attitudes and views are not reflecting the attitudes, values and views of your university and your fellow students.

And I’m sorry for myself stumbling upon your rant and reading through it taking time to swallow the bite and reply to your trolling.

Good day Emily, I strongly disagree with your characterizing cyclists as a threat to society. I hope that checking out the website of the organization that I work for might change your perspective. I am the lead instructor at Phoenix Bikes, a youth community bike shop outside of Washington DC. We work with at-risk teens after school and on weekends to give them a positive alternative to gang activity, and to provide them with a space in which they can have a safe, healthy, fun, educational environment. Your use of pejorative terms, and the slippery slope logic and ad hominem attacks that you have levied against ” the sweaty late to class cyclist” are not the stuff that clear and persuasive language and debate are made of. Please take a step back, peruse our website, and consider the positive and socially engaging things that can be accomplished using bicycling as a component of the endeavor. Warmest regards, -John Harpold http://www.phoenixbikes.org

Dear Ms. Katseanes,

I’m writing to inform you that your application to the Young Ann Coulter Society of America has been declined.

While we appreciate your omnidirectional potential for hate and vitriol, and frankly impressed at its early manifestation, your inability to coalesce your rants into a focused tirade directed at “liberal conspiracies of Bill Clinton” disqualifies you for membership.

Your head is in the right place though, as is evidenced by this article. We applaud you for focusing on your feelings, irrelevant personal history and vague impressions of social groups from sipping lattes in the student union.

If you can remember that the sole purpose of editorials like this is to turn your frustrations over your fathers lack of attention into a focused attack on left wing politics then we would happily reconsider your application.

Keep up the good work! Heil Coulter!

-M

If in fact you do see yourself as a nice person, you’d be wrong. You are just another closed-minded bigot. To see my point, substitute any ethnicity or race for “cyclist” and see how far you’d get publishing that one. But you’re young, so maybe you’ll learn.

If, OTOH you are troll looking for comments and website hits, congrats! You have succeeded with your cheap tactic. Now examine the prize and ask yourself if it was worth it.

A little advice from an elderly chap: Never overestimate your own intelligence and abilities. The danger in doing such can be learned by studying the presidency of George W. Bush.

All I can say that has not been said is to call you names that would bring me down to your level of petty close-minded thinking. So, insteat I will just say that every fiber of my being dieagrees with your thought process that has led you to the place your are. I hope that you can learn how to be more open minded and less synical, but the choice is your, and youe contentment is entirely up to you and the choices you make. Go in Peace!

Great, just what we need - more hate-mongers. Bikers do in fact get maimed and killed on a near daily basis by folks like you who feel that they can’t be bothered to take the 5 seconds required to pass safely. 2 Clear Channel DJ’s got fired from their jobs and caused a good deal of problems for thier employer a few years back for a similar diatribe. I do hope you and your “paper” draw a similar reaction. Like it or not cyclists are tax paying legal citizens who have as much right to the road as you do. I find it pretty amazing that folks like you actually take pride in announcing your hate and intolerance to the world. A sad state indeed.

“My problem is that I have problems.”

This is some fine piece of work.

Emily, your column will be a like a little secret between those of us that understand and appreciate good writing and irony.
We can come up with a secret handshake … or perhaps a Hitler salute! That would be enough irony to confuse most of these commentors.

Hopefully you don’t get expelled…

You know who I really hate? The stupid fixie riding kids

You say you have the energy of a toddler…it seems you have the brain of one too. Please go back to smoking and eating crap so you can be as miserable as your writing.

Emily -
You’re not fine. You’re really not! It is not fine to pick a group of people and attack them for humor’s sake. It still hurts. Just like it would if you chose another group, like say fat people, or handicapped, or a religious group. It isn’t very funny when you are on the receiving end.
Your editorial was insensitive - mostly because you chose a group of people who are attacked, and in my opinion vilified, already. In my seventeen years of riding a bicycle on the roads (for pleasure, transportation, and exercise) I have been run off the road (purposefully) twice, I have had a bottle thrown at me out a car window twice, and I have felt the hair-raising sensation of a rear view mirror brushing my shoulder more times than I care to remember. And those are just the deliberate incidents, there were also tons of accidental ones. People honk at us (scary when you are focused and the horn is a few feet away), yell at us to get off the road, tell us about the rules of the road (and are usually wrong, I have been told by one driver to ride on the sidewalk and by another to ride on the other side of the road - into oncoming traffic) and many people treat us like we ARE villians, thus we feel vilified.
What you must not understand is that when a beligerent driver makes a mistake with a cyclist, his or her life is endangered. This isn’t a joke. Adding more hate, intended or not, to the equation is thoughtless and dangerous. Shame on you!

Well, I’m glad to see that the quality of the students coming from UNR hasn’t improved at all. Neither have the women. So sad.

Emily;

I’m sorry you have such hatred for cyclists. I feel the same way about drivers sporting NASCAR stickers on their bumpers.

I ride bikes for exercise and the occasional errand. Most of my riding is on roads. None of it is on the sidewalk.

It sounds as if you’ve committed the sin of lumping all cyclist into one group, who happen to be a very small minority in the cycling world. The cycling culture you speak of, I know who they are: they run red lights, ride on the the sidewalk, ride against the flow of traffic, and at night to & from the Satellite Lounge with no reflectors or lights. All of the these thing are illegal, by the way. And yes, those riders believe they are so righteous, that they above the rules. Their culture is so superior, they won’t even wave to any other cyclist else on the road, and ignore me with disdain when I pull up next to them with my bike on top of my car, after shuttling my kids to school. I can only ride during my lunch hour, you see.

Those “cyclists” you are exemplifying are such a small number of the millions who ride the trails and roads each year, obeying traffic laws, and trying to survive on the road without being run down by a student yaking away on a cell phone.

You are right, but you are also wrong.

This is going to be fun:

“I’m a nice person” When compared to what, Mike Tyson?

“I just have one teensy problem” I have found Many.
Emily has more chins then a Chinese phone book.
Who uses teensy? Go Go Power Rangers

Biking as a Religion, would be the most legitimate religion out there.

I would say all you need to do is share the sidewalk, but with I could see the problem. Maybe we should put a ban on dogs, small children, and baby strollers because they won’t be able to make it by you either.

Yes go eat another Twinkie and dip it in ice cream, it will make you feel better!

I can only attribute your article to a college education, because it takes an educational background for someone to write something as stupid as Emily did.

I love the green lifestyle coupled with smoking habit, how many ash butts have you thrown on the ground?

Your last paragraph was just retarded, I’m waiting to see your swastika tattoo on your chest.

Sweat is never acceptable = never been laid by something that doesn’t have batteries.

I think I found one of the three people in Reno who voted for McCain/Palin drill baby drill, Emily needs to drive her SUV, and run over more bikers.

When you hit a bike do you stop or continue driving?

I would try to have sex with you but I don’t know what flaps to begin with….

The SeaDonkeys Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/people/Emily-Katseanes/31405213

This would have been a pretty decent troll post if it was on the SA forums, but the Nevada Sagebrush? Please.

I know your psuedo-journalist toilet paper publishes nearly anything and everything it can for lack of actual content but this article is worthless.

As a satirical look at the cyclist “trend” and the culture’s stereotypes you fail to make any valid jokes beyond sweat and girl’s pants. Please. You could have at least dived into the many stereotypes present in the hipster-fixie crowd, the Lance-imitating weekend warriors, or even the homeless-looking touring group.

I also find it insulting that you don’t believe in Newton’s forty-second law of cyclist physics, the “Puff of Mist” as you refered to it, and all the awesomeness that the law implies. Newton clearly outlined how a cyclist can evaporate physical objects with shear awesome force without any consequence of the energy involved in such a high speed and force situation. You have obviously never seen a cyclist hit by a car because you would have been amazed at the amount of mist suddenly present in the air.

Cheerio and good riddance, next time please write a more elegant hag-rant and do more research into the culture you are attempting to throw rotten eggs at. D- for lack of quality stereotyping and weak voice.

- Private Carter

I’m sick of hearing bikers proselytize their hobby like it’s a religion. Hobbies do not make you a better person on the whole. They make you happy, so everyone else finds you manageable.

… Being a manageable person makes you a better one as well. Just because some guy with tight pants and a $50 fixed gear road bike cut you off in traffic the other day doesn’t mean that its a good idea to go and bash an entire community. As noted by others, you obviously did not do the proper research involved in writing a meaningful article. Cycling is just as diverse as any other community in the world, its it not just that guy “stinking up the back of the classroom”. You would be surprised how much fun you would have going for a trail ride up at Tahoe, no cars, no people, just pure beauty… not to mention how much fitness is gained out of it rather than a jog around the block and eating “organic” veggies. “Biking” for me is not only a hobby but a way of life. I’ve been involved with different forms of cycling for as long as I can remember. It provides me with relief and time to breathe from everyday life. Without my beloved sport I would be nowhere close to the person I am today. It benefits my psyche immensely and from the looks of your article you could use some stress relief too and go on a nice bike ride!

You don’t seem able to separate your dislike of “biking culture” from regular biking. It’s a pity you don’t like biking; I do it because it’s fun. Then again people give me the same weird look you describe when I say that I hate bowling. So, I guess, each to their own. But you don’t see me spouting tripe about “bowling culture.”

I also think Reno’s got a pretty decent population of courteous cyclists who aren’t a danger to anybody. So I don’t know where you’re coming from with the “bikers are a danger” b.s.

Emily,

As a teacher that has graduated from the institution that you write for, I take issue with your ability to prove a point. I see lots of “commentary” but not lots of “concrete detail,” if you will. For example:

“Nowadays, I’ve given up smoking and exercising and try to fit green things in my diet. Overall, I feel healthier now than when I had to start my day with a cancer stick and some frosting. So, biking will not make me fitter, happier and more productive. ”

I fail to see the conncetion between the changes in your lifestyle has led you to the opinion that biking will not make you that reference to a Radiohead track, so make sure you cite that lest you get tagged for plagerism.

You also state,
“Bikers are clearly a danger to pedestrians, drivers, smokers, drinkers and people who take climate change seriously”

Unfortunately, I have failed to see how you have “clearly” proved bikers are a danger to drivers, smokers, and drinkers. I do believe those people are a danger to themselves by partaking in such activities but I don’t see how someone on two wheels is dangerous to them.

Lastly, bicycles are not supposed to ride on sidewalks unless the rider is under the age of 16.

Please, refine your research and turn in again with more substantiated opinions.

Hating on fat chicks is almost as disgusting as hating on bicyclists, people.

While Emily needs to change her mind, a lot of you guys are only making it more difficult.

Signed,
a fat guy who likes riding bikes.

When you decided to accept all the responsibility for every automobile driver thats ever killed an other out of their own mallace I’ll take responsiblity for those bike riders who bunny hop off side walks and ride 5 miles per hour.

Your article is just pure hatrid plain and simple. I ride a bike 5 days a week to work. I stop for lights and come to a comlpete stop at stop sign. I use a bike lane always or the right side of the road if none is availible. I do not hinder traffice I take less space and create more parking spots at the hospital I work at as a RN. Oh, and I ride a great deal faster the 5mph. Thats the speed people like you would ride.

Time to grow up little girl.

Social commentators have found a niche in comforting the afflicted and afflicting the comfortable; arrogant, self righteous hacks stand in line to spout insulting, invalid drivel aimed at capturing attention. Apparently Emily aspires to join the ranks of said hacks who spread hateful sentiment to elicit response in readers.
I hesitate to take the bait, but perhaps what has driven me to write is that she claims her hate is born of cool, collected reason but doesn’t bother to articulate any valid reasoning in her article. Emily singles out a group of people engaging in a demonstrably positive activity (lower pollution rates, lower obesity rates, less depression, better air quality) and her strongest argument against this group seems to be some that of her classmates offend her olfactory system. Further, it frightens me that she’s encouraging hatred of (and by connection, violence against) cyclists. Too many cyclists (I mean daughters, sons, brothers, girlfriends, mothers, best friends) are killed every year by people who have been taught that one’s mode of transportation devalues the worth of his life and safety. How small is Emily’s world that she thinks her irrational hate of a group of people justifies the kind of ostracism she’s calling for? How small is her world that she can even use such a word as “hate” to describe her sentiments in this situation?
If Emily is truly an aspiring writer, I ask that she please do society the favor of not selling the public discourse out to the lowest common denominator; that she show some integrity. And if she’s not up to the task of good writing, perhaps she should try coloring.

Emily, you’re a troll.

Very sad. You should try to live a little.

Emily,
I offer to take you on a road ride, where we will follow all laws of the road; or, on a mountain bike ride, where we will follow all laws of the trail. Afterwards, we will drink a beer that I brewed and talk about how much you enjoyed yourself and what this “green” thingy is all about.

Think about it,
Jason

Man…

Try to find something you are passionate about, then do it. Stick with it. And if the passion fades find something else you can be passionate about. I feed of the passion I have for a number of my hobbies, and that passion spills over into the rest of my life - making me a better person.

I find it interesting that the same person who wrote this…

http://nevadasagebrush.com/blog/2007/10/23/unr-student-immerses-himself-in-world-of-cycling/

…is also writing about how bad cyclists are. But I digress.

I supsect you wrote this because of one or two bad encounters with a couple cyclists around the campus? If so, your gross generalizations about cyclists (why we ride, how we ride, etc) are really off base. Perhaps I should state that all bloggers/opinionators are bad and hurtful to the world based on this lone write-up? Surely, you’d see that my statement is prety silly. Your actions don’t represent people like you, right? Maybe next time you will realize that the cyclists you see doing stupid stuff (and there are plenty) do not repesent the whole, just as you would want others to see your actions as solely your own.

You got us all wrong. I don’t give a crap about the environment.

You go for it “nice person” Please don’t ever ride a bike and soil the armpits of your lovely full figure tank top. I think it’s great you used to drink Pabst and smoke cigarettes and probably read a lot of crap like the stuff you write for this widely read Ivy League rag. It is amazing to note what an astute expert you are on what causes cyclists to embrace their sport. Thanks so much for your insightful commentary. I absolutely love “nice people” like you. You make me thank the powers of ignorance that maintain this country’s incredible lack of fitness, poor eating habits, phenomenal obesity rate, useless medicines and procedures for profit that you’ll be grasping for sooner or later given your brilliance on - well, just living well in general, that make my job recession-proof. I work in health care. Hey “nice gal” have a nice day. Uh Oh, I think I see a spider coming out of your mouth - better get that checked!
Very Nicely yours,
CAdams

You did an amazing job of stereotyping. I agree that some bikers disobey the rules and laws of the road and your sanitary classrooms. This sounds like a rant that you should have sat on for a couple days, re-read, and then thrown away.

I’ve been biking for 17 years in this area. I never saw another soul riding on the streets with me 10 years ago; just a bunch of oblivious tourists walking from casino to casino. I’m very proud of our biking culture here in Reno and encourage everyone to buy a bike, if they are curious to discover something new.

I find it very strange that you are totally disgruntled with people trying to make a cleaner and healthier choice in living. The next time your make it to Portland or Seattle, just observe the biking communities there and you’d see that it is a well respected culture.

With that said, I’d be happy to buy you a box of Twinkies to keep you off a bike and our roads. You just weren’t designed for biking or any physical activity apparently, and now we know.

You were wrong from the start when you wrote “I’m a nice person”.

Then it got worse.

Hmm, very few of my friends who are cyclist are reflected in the article. The group I generally ride with has the following make up. A landscape/pool company owner, a Dr. of Biochemistry at the local medical school (he’s 63 and still looks like he’s in his early 50s), a 24 year old college student, a 27 Phd Chemistry candidate, a general contractor, a bar owner, several active duty military personal (ones a doctors, the others has 8 years before his retirement), a 40 year old broker, and so on.

Granted, there are some cyclist that are complete a-holes, but they’d be a-holes if they didn’t ride a bike.

So, Emily, get out and learn a little bit, there’s a whole world outside our your campus you need to explore.

Also, switch from cigarettes to pot, might help you with your hate issue.

are you kidding? why would you, emily, want something this unintelligent and bike-ist to be published with your name and photo? this is a horrible article and it’s sad to see it published. maybe if you stopped eating twinkies (i doubt you ever stopped) and broke a sweat again you might change you mind. or just get some training wheels. p.s. bikes aren’t allowed on the sidewalk. so the city (which has your tax dollars) needs to paint some more bike lanes.

Emily,
I can only hope that you are NOT a journalism major. You need to go back and read some Dave Barry, or anyone who is actually funny. You have made a fool of yourself. You have done no research and so your article contains no information of value.

If your parents are assisting you with your college costs, perhaps they can look into getting a rebate if this is the best you can do. If you are attending school on government guaranteed loans, maybe I can get a rebate; you’ll never get a job after graduation if you present yourself as you do in your writing, so when you default on the loans they will be coming out of my pocket as a taxpayer.

It certainly doesn’t speak well for UNR to actually publish this article. Your editor’s parents need to check into that rebate thing too.

How sad. See what low expectations have gotten us?

Ride well,
-V

P.S. Emily, please don’t jump into the gene pool.

Hmm… you smoke cigarettes and drink pabst, and then tell other people that they bike to try and be cool.

OK wait, I know why you don’t ride bikes. Check this out. Problem solved
http://www.amazon.com/Schwinn-Adult-Comfort-Bicycle-Saddle/dp/B000DZF6UQ/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1227213977&sr=1-3

This article is so poorly written. It just sounds like you do not have the intellect to write about anything interesting. Next time pick a topic that people really care about. You may also want to leave out your self depricating humor because it makes you sound like a slob.

One good point about cyclists following traffic laws surrounded by a bunch of whining. No good reason for it except the fat girl didn’t get enough attention this week… Who wants a job at Fox News?

I am only late to class when I don’t ride my bike.

By commuting by bike this summer, I only filled my car’s gas tank up a total of two times over 5 months. This equates to nearly 2 tons of CO2 emissions avoided. What do you do to “take climate change seriously.”

And this reason is probably the very last on my list of reasons why I ride a bike. It’s only a side-effect.

I seriously doubt I’m a danger to anyone, much less of a danger than second hand smoke or a drunk driver.

Maybe you should find your own “hobby” so that you can become a happier person rather than getting sucked into your “whirlpools of hate”.

I choose to be a car driver.
I don’t choose to be a car.

And the either/or scenario of being on the sidewalk (screw the pedestrians) or going the speed limit shows you’ve given no thought about the law.

I agree with you with this:
Many/most cyclists operate poorly and deserve to be cited. But they do not endanger drivers.

A dent or a broken window is not endangerment.

Sweat is your hangup.
Get over it.

Your arguments have entirely failed to convince me of anything other than that you are easily annoyed.

Go take your essay writing class again.
Or submit another draft to your editor.

Settin’ up dem strawmen and knockin’ ‘em down!

I look forward to your scathing critique of scooter culture and how it’s, like, totally fashionable right now to ‘consume less energy’ - whatta a bunch of tone-deaf poseurs!

Oh, and aren’t most drivers drunk anyways? Read that somewhere, might’ve been this column.

Dearest Emily,

I must say I find your writing to be grossly sub-par. Perhaps you should work on the basic tenants of Journalism before approaching angles and opinions.

If you cannot be bothered with the fundamental principles of constructing an article perhaps you should find another hobby (might I suggest cycling?).

Yours in embarrassment,

Poppy McCoursewick.

Not only is this argument accusatory, unfounded, petty, and narrow-minded, but frankly, I would be embarrassed to have published such libel in a publication read by a population with a significant amount of cyclists. You clearly do not understand any ramifications as to why people do anything; do we really all have hobbies to be “better people?” Maybe you should look up the word, “hobby.”Your informal tone (using the word crap: who will take you seriously if you can’t even use “big people” words to frame your ideas?) further devalues the content of this.. Basically, “HAHA,” from me, and probably many others, to lower myself down to your level of “cool, collected reason.”

Your view on cycling is a bit skewed. Your gross generalizations are generated by your own self loathing and ignorance. Your statement that hobbies don’t make you a better person is completely wrong. Hobbies definitely make you a better person if the outcome is positive whether it’s volunteering at the local mission, lifting weights ,volunteering with the red cross, or using bicycles as a silent protest against oil wars.
On the subject of bicycles, yes I do believe that creating cycling friendly environment can change the world. You said it yourself you hate everything. So take up smoking again. Take off your clothes look at your self in the mirror fall in hate with your self and write you next article projecting your self hatred on to others.

First of all I can’t believe the sagebrush would put such idiotic crap on their site and second have to be one of the most unhappy people ever to want to pick this topic. Based on the responses I would say that you are vastly outnumbered in your ideals. Shame on you for chastising cyclists. Since you hate almost everything I am guessing you don’t have any friends. So boohoo for you and get a life you effing C-bag!

Your writing skills are well below my daughters level and she’s a sophomore in high school. Stick with it sweetie, you’ll get it eventually.

By the way, nice hair doo.

Emily,
I am really sorry that you see biking that way. I am not a biker myself, but I think you underestimate bikers. There are plenty of genuine bikers. It’s too bad that you don’t take into account any of those people that really are helping the environment and getting into shape.

I am embarrassed that your article was even published. It is not the work of a good journalist.
As far as life goes, I think you will find you will get a lot farther with compassion.

Poor, poor dear.

As a writing teacher, I must say, not only was the content of this piece novice, but the writing ability exhibited here completely shames those who pride themselves in the profession.

Hopefully you steer clear of the cyclists on campus– one might accidentally ::bump:: you into a puff of mist.

Show me some talent, then I may listen to what you have to say.

Most sincerely,

A Writing Cyclist who hates Twinkies*

Hi Emily,
Excellent article, keep up the good work.

Dear Miss Emily,
I, like many people who have left comments above mine, could just as easily sit on my lazy ass in my not-so-comfortable chair and sound more ridiculous than you have. However, I will wait until I can meet you face to face, and if it were necessary, I would politely reason with you about what a terrible person you are and how “clearly” cyclists are NOT a danger, but it’s not necessary for me to do so because I know how to take a joke and laugh at someone for being annoyed by the little things in life, just like every other human being.

Instead, when I meet you face to face, I will congratulate you on being a successful ranter, proving that people DO actually care about what you had to say (since it seems as though I might be the 80th person to leave a comment), and even though I tried to ride my bike as often as possible until it was stolen (because bikes are apparently a hot commodity now?!) as to not let my car pollute our earth, I am not offended by any of your opinions. I am intelligent enough to see that you were not attempting to create a literary-masterpiece, and that opinions don’t necessarily need to have fact checkers.

Also, these people should probably stop getting so offended that you’re specifically bashing UNR cyclists . I was once driving in Chicago, waiting for a green light to let me enter the interstate, and a cyclist hopped out in front of me from nowhere, just like a video game, but unfortunately, I couldn’t make him disappear into a puff of smoke (as I am sure he had probably unsuccessfully tried to do to me). They’re not just at UNR everyone, they’re EVERYWHERE!!

My only criticism? Pabst, Emily? Get serious.

Sincerely,
Poopy-face

I don’t understand why this piece has so grossly offended so many people. This is not defamation. This is not slander. This is an Op Ed column… a human being’s opinion. To rage against someone who’s exorcising free speech is the lowest of lows. She’s obviously not serious. I agree it’s not flawlessly written and it does get a little ranty, but seriously guys get over yourselves.

I applaud you, Emily

i wonder why UNR’s “award-winning” college newspaper would allow a sentence like “The environment has always been a problem” to go into print.

I’m in complete agreement with the substance of this column.

I, too, am sick of cyclists lording their supposed high-minded ideals over me every day; gloating and snickering amongst themselves as they roll up yet another pant leg on their way to yet another ’sustainability’ meeting. The unmitigated gall!

Those lousy, no-goodnik Red commie socialists who spit in the eyes of American workers by choosing to go the America-hating route of NOT driving a car are indeed as warped as the Marxist womb from whence sprung their corrupt ideals.

And they way they defy physics is absolutely disgusting; Sir Isaac Newton must be spinning in his grave! Those laws were supposed to be immutable! Immutable! Now they’re attacking basic definitions in the English language!

The cyclist culture is worse than the Darfur trendsters jumping on the “genocide is bad” bandwagon - I mean, Africa has sucked FOREVER and now, all of a sudden, it’s all cool to want to help out because it makes Angelina Jolie cry!

Kudos to Emily and her brilliant, fearless argument against stuff that can be slightly irritating to some people. More please!

It’s unfortunate that you are unable to see the value that bicycling provides afte ryou discount the rude people you have described. As an older person who started riding after serious illness, I can attest to the fact that riding is health-improving. In addition as the group that provides bikes to students on campus so that they can cut costs and not drive a car, I can attest to the fact that we have helped kids in many ways from decreasing their expenses to allowing them to get between class and work faster and easier than they could without a bike. Let’s not fall into a bad habit of lumping everyone into one box, as I could with your attitude about bicyclists or you as a student with myopic views. Realize that although your experiences have been bad, there are many other cyclists out there who are road-smart, courteous and kind and you shouldn’t throw the whole barrel out when you find one bad apple. Thanks for listening. We (the Kiwanis Bike Program) are happy to provide wheels to students and like to think we’re helping them succeed in school. Please support that effort and don’t assume all bicyclists are rude and irresponsible.

Ellen Jacobson
Kiwanis Bike Program

Dear Emily,

When your mom says you have “a lack of compassion,” that is her nice, motherly way of saying, “My dear daughter is all grown up on the outside but still thinks like an immature, bigoted ogre.”

FYI - Riding on the sidewalk is illegal.

Do you wait for the light to turn green to cross the street on those rare occasions when you have to walk somewhere?

Besides being an obviously very unhappy person who appears to hate life in general, you are also an idiot! “…the issue du jour (like autism was a few years ago)…” As a person who works with people with autism, let me tell you…autism is NOT an “issue du jour”. It is an extremely heartbreaking and serious condition, of which you obviously know NOTHING about (just like bicycling). The fact that you would call children with autism an “issue ju jour” tells me everything I need to know about you. How dare you! If you would bother to actually THINK about what you say, RESEARCH your angry and meaningless babbling, and EDUCATE yourself, you might find that you could become a happier, more informed person rather than a hateful, hurtful, angry, miserable moron. And maybe…just maybe…you might get to know someone who has autism or someone that has a child with autism (or perhaps you might even give birth to a child with autism) so you can eat your pathetic, ill-informed words.

I think all of you are giving this author way too much credit. It’s obvious that she is just a young student trying to impress her friends so they will let her sit at the “popular table” during lunch. It’s a shame that the Sagebrush would publish this. The person we need to condemn is the editor. There is a reason this paper has a hard time finding advertisers and this article is but one glorious example of why. These types of rants can be found every day on craigslist with about as much professionalism and grace this author has. Send a letter to the editor, Nick Coltrain or call him to complain. He’s the one validating our young author’s immaturity.

OMG you make me laugh. You’re so dumb. I guess I’ll just go back to reading posts that bash car drivers (so, when’s the last time you obeyed ever driving law, stopped completely at a sign/light, saw every pedestrian and didn’t cut anyone off, etc., etc.), bash pedestrians (since when is it OK to step out into the street without looking and not at a cross walk or intersection?), bash people who believe in the climate crisis (cars don’t contribute to that, no way), etc.
Oh, and btw, there are really bad cyclists (see em everyday) and horrid drivers (see far, far too many of them every day). I’d guess you’re one of them, since you like to make generalizations. Interesting how when you want to bash a ‘community’ you only see the ‘bad’ ones. Not the ones that are polite, informed, responsible, and actually care.
Go back to your pointless, hateful life. The world does not need you.
Have a nice day, Walmart girl!

Emily — someday, I hope you look back at this column and are terribly ashamed of yourself. My goodness, this is bad.

I am generally a fairly open minded person, but this article is simple ridiculous. The outright hatred that you discuss in this article is shocking, and as a cyclist, I am offended by your statements. However, you said some things that were 1)wrong and 2)offensive to the cycling community as a whole. First of all, obviously you will be in better shape when you do not smoke, no amount of cycling can reduce smoking, and stating that cycling induces smoking is crazy. It is very easy to fit regular exercise into your daily life without being “one of the late, sweaty kids in class with no books and pegged pants”

In addition, your statement that cyclists should stay on the sidewalk is absolutely ludicrous. In case you are not aware it is ILLEGAL for cyclists to use the sidewalks, by law we have the right to use the road, and if need be the entire lane.

Finally, your closing statement that “Bikers are clearly a danger to pedestrians, drivers, smokers, drinkers and people who take climate change seriously and not just as the latest trend. ” How are cyclists a danger to drivers? If a cyclist hits a car, it is the cyclist who is injured the majority of the time NOT the driver of the. Furthermore, I fail to see how you make the connection between cyclists being dangerous to smokers and drinkers. This connection is entirely arbitrary and clearly just a call for attention. Finally, your statement that cyclists do not actually care about the environment is equally off base as your other arguments. Cyclists are actually out on the roads doing something to support our climate rather than just talking about it. How many miles do you drive weekly? I almost guarantee that 75% of those miles could have easily been done on a bike with 0 carbon emissions.

I pity you and your close minded views about the world and your roads. I hope that you will realize how absolutely unnecessary and outright wrong this article is. Furthermore, I pity the lose of readers you will garner form this post in addition to the hundreds of negative comments you will surely have to moderate.

Hmm. . . I’ve been practicing “unacceptable behavior” here on the Reno streets since before Em’s mom peed on a stick and said “oops.” I started riding my because I was broke and had no car. I wasn’t trying to save the earth, but in no small way I saved myself.

Emily, despite the fantastic menagerie of detestable things you’ve paraded before your readers, the most callous thing you said was in your no-doubt carefully considered final statement. “Sweat is never an acceptable aura. . . .”

I won’t belabor the point; I only ask that you please consider for a moment what the culture you come from is built on, and how the freedoms you enjoy are defended. Perhaps you would like to tell these folks how un-comely their aura is to you.

I know this is an opinion piece, but you can’t spew such a far-flung and ill-considered net of hatred from your suffering ego without the hurt of some unexpected audiences to be among your catch. It’s a shame you’ve turned in every direction that would require you to challenge yourself and bashed it, shut yourself down from it. Good luck, Emily. Armed with so much anger, so little compassion, and nary a drop of sweat or desire to generate it, you’re going to need all the good fortune you can get.

You are too fat to make such a stand. You could lose the fat by riding a bike. However, that will not help you get rid of The Ugly.

Take heart, Emily. The merits of your article aside, what you see here is the mob mentality at work. Not satisfied to have seen a well-pitched stone sent sailing at your head, the me-too herd must scrabble for their own metaphorical missiles to hurl. Don’t take it personally, and start drafting your next piece.

Emily,

Just wanted to thank you for reassuring my decision to stop associating myself with the University of Nevada, Reno. It’s not that I believe the whole of UNR mirrors your intolerant and feeble-minded nature, but for some odd reason those few that do seem to really stand out. And with you thrown into the mix… that’s just one too many for me. So I’m off to Portland State next Fall… where there are lots of bikes and “bikers” and “sweaty kids” showing up late to class… a bicycle metropolis if you will. Can’t wait!

So if you’re headin’ up to Portland sometime next year and need a place to stay, let me know and I’ll see if I can move aside a couple of my bikes and clear some floor space for you. But you bring you Pabst and Twinkies… deal? Thanks again!

Sincerely
Joey T.

I couldn’t agree with you more. Cyclists are the bane of the earth.

Although . . . Stefano Garzelli, Fausto Coppi, Gilberto Simoni, Greg Lemond, Svein Tuft (,The Toughest Cyclist in Sport), Jens! Voigt, and of course, FRANK HOJ, would disagree with you. After all, it’s how they make their living!

Give em’ a break, eh?!?!!

Dear Emily,
Enjoy the reaction. The overwhelming response validates your intellect, journalistic skill and importance.
It’s time to celebrate! Grab that six-pack of Pabst. Order that super-size of fries. Top it off with a box of twinkies. Then, waddle over to the mirror, look yourself straight in the eye, give yourself that self-satisfied grin, and repeat these words over and over: “God, I am good!” As you chant this mantra, try not to let that ever present feeling of self-loathing wash over you.
You might be able to fool yourself (and a couple of others) for a little while, but deep down inside…you know the truth!

God dammit Emily! If you hate everything, please keep it to yourself. You need a new hobby (because that’s what it is and that’s what it’s always gonna be). If you want to improve the world in any way, shut up and quit spouting your bile. Please.

Emily,
Are you mildly retarded? Does your iq hover around a 78? I suggest you pick up a hobby, so people can stand to be around you. Journalism is a dead end proffesion, and your writing style will not get you hired anywhere.

I ride my bike just to ride, it is fun.

If you had only overlooked the differentiation between a ‘biker’ and a ‘cyclist,’ I might have taken you seriously. I could overlook your lack of differentiation between serious cyclists (competitive cyclists, see also: time trials, races, and triathletes), and indie kids on fixed gear cycles who attempt to be artsy. I could overlook your poor excuse for writing, which was somewhere betweeen ‘terrible’ and ‘makes my eyes want to bleed’. I could overlook the fact that your article had little to no connection to the title (not even a mention of terrible lycra outfits, elitist subculture within competitive cyclist culture, et al).

I could even overlook your weight, wait, no I couldn’t.

Emily,

First of all you’re writing is horrid. Second, how can you “at the physical peak twice in my lifetime”? A peak implies that it was the apex of your health, and not something that could be matched.

Within your inane and asinine argument you mutter the words “Bikers are clearly a danger to pedestrians, drivers, smokers, and drinkers.” Now I ask you, which has caused more death, cycllists running into people smoking and/or drinking or the fact the people smoke and drink and develop lung/throat or liver cancer?

Although you are of the belief that “this is a hate born of cool, collected reason and an intense scrutiny” it is clear to this reader and all others that this is a blatant and incontrovertible lie. Your “collected reason” appears no where in your writing, and the closest thing to it resembles collected emotions. Yes this is an op ed piece, yes it is your opinion, but to say that it is an opinion that has been thoroughly thought out is a disgrace.

If you are writing with your “lack of compassion” then say so and do not try to side step the fact that your mother is sugar coating a five letter word that best suits you.

Bitch.

Emily,

I have nothing to say about your take on cycling culture. Alternatively I think you should take your terrible written shit elsewhere. You’re a pathetic writer.

Hey Emily, I must say that I honor your courage knowing that an article such as yours would resonate throughout the cycling community. The only problem I see is that you wrote this like it was some personal manifesto, and by doing so you would find the cure to cancer or even enlighten some of us in some way…nah! What you have done is let a large mass of people know that you have some deep seeded issues that require professional help. I get the impression that you are frustrated. Well, focus on doing some positive things in your life instead sifting through the clouds within the nerve neurons in your brain. In fact, I heard a really good tune the other night while training on my bicycle aptly named, “Brain Stew.” I dedicate that song to you oh bittersweet vixen. Now, if you really want cyclists of the streets, write a “white paper” to the City of Reno as to why we need a velodrome in town and how it could generate income and benefit other less frustrated college students through scholarships, world class competition, etc… God Bless!!!

anyone who left a poorly writing, illogical, or just down right rude comment to this article is much worse than they perceive Emily to be. give it a rest. I was almost victimized today, by a bike might I add, who just so happened to try and cut me off while crossing the street (the cyclist had just been riding on the road and was heading onto the sidewalk). It was quite traumatic, and I am sure that if this had happened to you, you would feel the same way that Emily does for probably as long as it took her to write this article. So why don’t you just let this sarcastic rant roll off of your shoulders and stop crying?

Scalleycat loves you! Emily, you just earned free admission to the 2009 event! Shoot, I’m willing to wager you’ll even have your own page dedicated! Centerfold pic of you and your Twinkie box! You’ll be famous! Throngs of cyclists will bow at your feet*! You ARE Scalleycat. Welcome. Thank you. Thank ? for you.
*literally, it’s an SC tradition for the recipient of the Boner of the Year Award.

Hi Emily,
i don’t know where you come from but your pretended hatred towards bikers and your believe that its just the latest trend makes you sound really ignorant. Like the place where you live is the only place on earth, have you ever been outside the states? Where i live biking or cycling is the natural way to get around, the means of transportation. My bike isn’t just how i get to school, it is the way i’ve always gotten to school and most of my friends too. Biking around here has never been a trend and its certainly not about global warming, we use them cause most of us simply could never afford to have cars and because or society is not built for everyone to have cars. Gas here cost three times as much as in the states and and the prices of cars are just as bad, it is just not a possible way to go for a student. As for taking care of the environment, this not a trend either that just came five years ago here. Ever since i was a child i have thought about not using too much water in the shower, to recycle eveything and not to throw trash on the ground. Not because it was a trend, but because thats what everybody did and because I care. If you really do think that driving your car isn’t any worse pollution wise than taking a bike then you’re wrong. You should be thankful for the bikers in Reno for lowering the rate of pollution of the air that you breathe.

Eat blue food! It’s rare, and good for you.

Ignore any questionable aromas.

Find a bucket of sand and train it to replace you.

Thanks Sincerely

It’s too bad you don’t know what real cyclists are about. The one’s you described sound like people who are riding because of DUI convictions. I ride past a low life bar that put in a new ” beer garden” last year complere with an ten bike parking rack for it’s customers, many of which are very adept at riding on the sidewalk or left side of the street with a 12 pack under one arm. Maybe you’ve been there. I’ve heard they sell Twinkies. Judging by your photo you’re no longer at your “physical peak”. If the camera was pulled back,….. How old is the photo?

Professionally, you’re just another Ann Coulter wanna-be and just as irrelivant. The only was you can get people to notice you is to offend. I bet Fox Jazzera has you on next week. Please seek help at Editorial Hacks ?Anonymous.

This article is absolutely disgraceful. I’m not even a cyclist and I think it is so poorly written and researched, it’s appalling this story was deemed “news-worthy.” One point of interest, according to a lot of city ordinances, it is ILLEGAL to ride your bicycle on the sidewalk and you can be cited for it. Regardless of that, if cyclists truly believe in what they are doing and love it like a religion, who is anyone else to judge them for that - especially considering they could be doing so many other destructive things. What we truly need is for everyone to practice a little more TOLERANCE. There is plenty of room for us to all coexist.

emily,

there are these wonderful things called endorphins. they make you happy. and guess what, biking triggers the production of endorphins. so, stop being a hater, get on a bike, and you might actually enjoy life.

Empty quote:

I am fat and mad and I hate bikes because riding one makes me appear to be a huge wobbling dual teardrop from behind. As such, I have written an article that is neither factual, clever, nor significant in any way. Hey, attention for being a complete douchebag is better than none at all, right?

Please pass the cupcakes and the digital camera, I have some interestingly-angled photos to take and then sepia tone for myspace/facebook.

Please regard my upcoming articles entitled “Cancer: Awesome!” and “How to club old people to death with starving kids”.

P.S. Please like me. *sobbing, eating noises*

Shock “journalist” culture wastes time and hurts brain cells.

Living in the real world (as opposed to the Collegiate one) I’m more thoughtful, and I resist saying the first thing that comes out of my mouth.

This is a joke, right?

We cycle because it’s hard. If it was easy, everyone would do it. Even miss Pabst. Any monkey can sit down and hate us.

Way to go sagebrush. We are very disappointed.

Ben.

You’re a ray of sunshine in an otherwise bleak and drab world.

Wow. Emily’s spewing, angry rant is both laden with ignorance and yet elicits pity at the same time. I haven’t read this pathetic rag before and this ridiculous piece ensures that I won’t again.

Poor Emily seems to swim in a pool of anger and hostility that makes me wonder if cyclists aren’t her only problem. It seems her own problem with body image (a weak attempt at explaining times she’s been in shape, when clearly she might want to consider taking up exercise again) and learning to share with others - like the road - has eaten away her ability to write with any ounce of intelligence. Does your university hope to churn out more spewing Jerry Springer-like journalists like this? I thought it was my east-coast upbringing emphasizing higher education that biased my opinion of UNR has a half-assed university. Her piece confirms it.

I personally loved it. I’m sorry that so many other people are rude and can’t read something with an open mind, knowing that this is simply your OPINION and should be expressed as you wish. I thought it was very well written and, now that I think about it, so true. All of your points are great and the bit on climate change is awesome. FINALLY someone had the guts to go against social norms and say that maybe it IS just a fad. Thank you!

Emily,

PEOPLE LIKE YOU WASTE TIME AND HURT OTHERS. It’s dipshits like you are useless consumers in this world. You sit on your ass eating twinkies and French fries, writing horseshit about a subject that you have zero knowledge about. In ten years, your liver will fail from all the pabst you drink, your lungs will be shot from smoking, and you will fail to keep up with your type II diabetes. Cycling is a wonderful hobby and sport. I bet you would find the same if you decided to get off your ass and do something. Cycling was promoted and accepted as environmentally friendly long before celebrity endorsement. You are a fool to say that people ride bikes only because of celebrity promotion. Next time you are feeling bitter, perhaps about your BMI, go do something productive with your life rather than degrading cyclists.

I think the word’s out, your irony did not come through, although I strongly feel that you weren’t intending to be ironic.
And for the record, 20-something’s drinking Pabst, that’s a trendy name-drop if ever I read it; almost as annoying as your irrational feelings towards cyclists whether they are breaking the law, flaunting their garb and physiques or apparently, just by their existence.

After all, the roads are overrun with bicyclists as opposed to the cellphone using motorists endangering life and limb (theirs and anyone else nearby), it’s too bad they don’t elicit Emily’s barbed observational punditry.

Judging from the comments from her ’supporters’, none of these comments are going to register in that wrinkled little mind. I’d love for someone to make sure her parents get a copy of this scribble so they could bask in the pride of their progeny.

Ms. Katseanes,

I write the book reviews for the Sagebrush (I hope you don’t hate readers too) and I ride my bicycle almost every day. Undoubtedly, most of what I have to say has been said in the previous 121 comments on your rant in the paper.

Your point about not obeying traffic laws is valid and you might have had a chance to reach people on that issue had the rest of your article not been mostly rubbish.

I ride my bike for a number of reasons, and one of them is the environment. I have ridden well over 1,000 miles this year (and that’s nothing compared to some cyclists) and hardly any of it was for recreation. The environment Has been a problem for decades now, but, and I think you could have figured this out, being 23, I wasn’t around in the 70’s, I was a toddler in the 80’s, I lived with my parents and couldn’t drive for all of 90’s and now that I am taking care of myself, I ride my bicycle.

I wear deodorant and since it’s an easy, mostly downhill drive, I don’t stink or sweat when I get to class. I have a backpack too, that’s where I keep my books for class.

Your inability to write on this topic honestly and fairly is a shame. At least no one is taking you seriously.

Cheers,
Nathan Slinker

Is this really what our university newspaper has come to? I wonder how much money the sagebrush receives during all of these awful budget cuts to produce and publish this garbage. I was under the impression that we had one of the top journalism schools in the country. Obviously not.

What bothers me most is not that some moronic girl wrote a very boring, longwinded and grammatically incorrect article about biking. What bothers me is the fact that our newspaper, that we fund, put it into print. I really think that whoever okayed this article should be fired.

I’m baffled that money was thrown away on this waste of time, materials and energy when things like student services, greek life, the marching band, the fire science academy and the AG school are being cut.

Emily,

If you have any “compassion” for your fellow students you will kindly remove yourself from our institution as soon as possible. You are an embarrassment to The University of Nevada.

- NDM

I love it when people write silly articles about something cherished and then get slammed by all the cherishers. Cracks me up. Just like all those Op Ed pieces stating that bicycle racing is not a sport that appear annually around Tour de France time. Or that Lance Armstrong is does not compare to Barry Bonds.

Folks - dumb crap like this gets written just so you will respond. No one feels this way, and if they did, they wouldn’t waste their time writing it in order to showcase their 4th rate writing skills on a 3rd rate web site.

Oh and Emily, the color of that top washes you out and makes you arms look fat. Something darker and not sleeveless would be far superior.

Just a couple things. Its illegal for a bike to ride on the sidewalk, so there’s one think to inform you with.

Also bikes ARE pedestrians and a car at once, no cyclist can maintain 45 mph but we have to use the road because going 20 mph on a sidewalk with kids, elders, and handicapp walking on them it is more dangerous than people like you on the road. k thx bye :p

Emily,

I have followed up here to see if you would respond to any comments and I see nothing from you. I realize that some comments are very insulting and I don’t expect you to respond to those, but quite a few are thoughtful and well-written.

Have you nothing to say for yourself? Do you stand by your article and reject all the logical arguments made against it? Is this merely a “gotcha” troll rant and you’ve moved on to the next piece? I hate to think so poorly of people but your silence makes me wonder. It does not speak well of you or your paper

Black and white thinking is dangerous for everybody. As a mature college student, an adult now, I challenge you to entertain the idea that the world and all its beauty and chaos is better understood by looking at its shades of gray rather. Before you further isolate yourself with hateful pride, relax. Not everybody finds the same pleasure in hobbies, sports, travel, reading, movies….all the activities we fill our lives with to feel connected to the bigger picture. One activity is not “wrong,” just preferred more by one person compared to another. I’m sure you can appreciate this. I’m not sure if you wrote this with the intention of being “edgy” and provocative hoping to get the response that you have. Congrats if so, you’ve managed to plant a sucker punch. Judging by the response of your readers that scrolls down longer than your article, I fear you may have broken your hand in the process. My point in short: Don’t be so unreasonable. It’s no fun and shows to the people around you that you just don’t get it yet.

may I suggest therapy?
Having read your manifesto several times I feel you may benefit from speaking with a professional concurrent with a mild SSRI.

Way to use a broad brush. Not all bike riders disobey the rules.

You ARE spouting bile. You are a sad person.

Hi Emily, I just want to say yes there are
times when cyclistis tend to prevent the flow of traffic and make you up-set.
But just like any Culture-you have the Good and the Bad-and that can apply to
cyclists as well.
I myself, ride alot -but I make sure I stay on the right side of the road and obey all
traffic laws. I do it more to stay fit and enjoy the day and scenery. I love being outside and go as much as possible.
It’s also a nice escape from things and
a Great time to think & contimplate.
I would like you to come out one day and
go for a ride with me and really see the other perspective . Thanks, Bonnie

The bicycle is the most efficient self-powered means of transportation in terms of energy a person must expend to travel a given distance. (from wikipedia’s entry on the bicycle)

Back in 1999, when I lived and rode in Reno, and wrote a column of my own for a punk rock magazine, I wrote an article called Ditch Your Car (link in my details).

For the column, I added up the money I saved after three years without a car: $8000. (And that was back when gas costed $1.20/gallon, so in today’s terms that would be over $9000). What did I do with my savings? A whole lot of traveling!

Greetings from Amsterdam
see it from a bike on pedalinginbikecity dot org

Emily, you are sick, pathetic and WACKED!!!!!! If you wanted to get a reaction from the cycling community, it seems you were successful. My fear is that you might not grow out of your weird space. Unleash the Marmot on you!!

I bike because I find it fun and exciting, and I can always challenge myself to improve physically, improve my mental will power and practice putting fear in it’s proper place. It’s not about being cool or following the crowd for most of the people I know.

It’s fine that you have a different point of view. But it seems to me that someone that gets it published in college newspaper should be able to present a logical and flowing argument. “This hate is born of cool, collected reason and intense scrutiny of the geared culture.” The Hate came through very nicely, but the but the Cool, Collected Reason was nowhere to be found.

Your personal smoking and eating habits have nothing to do with your point. How does a person have peak physical fitness twice? You can’t, it makes no sence.

Perhaps you should take a writing class and a critical thinking class before you graduate. Unless you plan to get into political reporting/opinions, then your style is on par with Cory Farly.

This article was not worth the time it took to read. Maybe the author should take a journalism class and figure out how to string a couple of sentences together coherently.

Dear Miss Hopefully Never To Write Again,
Please do the Universe a favor and STOP WRITING. Period. About anything. Since you have given up LOGIC in all forms, you have therefore given up your right to communicate using language. Do us all a favor and stop wasting our time with your ridiculous, inconsiderate, embarrassing, and quite frankly disgusting attempt of communication. This is likely THE WORST piece of writing that has ever been published in the history of the world.
If you, Emily, were to substitute the word ‘biker’ with any derogatory term used for a person or people of another race or nationality in your article, you would be thrown in jail for a HATE CRIME.
It sickens me that the Sagebrush should publish this sad excuse for something that does not deserve the term ‘writing’. You and your absolutely worthless drivel are an embarrassment to the Sagebrush, the University of Nevada, and every person on PLANET EARTH. So do us all a favor and give up the pen. Stop writing. FOREVER!
With Love,
Drinkin, Smokin, Straight West Coastin’

Although I’m a committed bicycle commuter (through rain, sleet and snow, etc.), Emily’s column didn’t really bug me that much. When I was the Sagebrush editor, I wrote or published pieces that were far dumber, more incendiary, or both.

I’m more interested in the emerging idea that there is a “smarter” way to run traffic. Having commuted in both Amsterdam, The Netherlands and Reno, I have to say that I prefer Reno even though roads in this town are definitely (and appropriately, for now) designed with cars in mind. Amsterdam is great for bicyclists in that they have more formal and informal power, but it also requires a hell of a lot more concentration and skill to navigate a vehicle.

I actually prefer Reno because most drivers give me a wide berth, especially if I behave in predictable ways. Amsterdam? Let’s just say that if they can get used to speeding down narrow streets with an inch of two of clearance between their car and any other object, they damn well expect you to be able to do the same. It’s just a different league of vehicle operation, be it car, truck or bike. Add the general disregard for traffic signals and laws on the part of the majority of Amsterdam’s bicyclists, and then you create a very challenging traffic pattern for everyone involved.

As a solution I advocate that we reduce the amount of control humans have over their vehicles to just the simple task of letting them name the destination. Even that is probably too much for some people, but we’ll all just have to pitch in and tell them where to go, or where to get off.

Dear Emily Katseanes,
Thanks for the most enraging, ignorant article I have ever read. We really need fresh perspectives like yours in the world. Way to make a difference.

I’m the smelly one who is always late to your class since I was just sideswiped by a car on the way. I didn’t have enough time to go home and take a shower after work and before class…I know, I tried really hard this time because I knew I only had a few weeks of school left in order to impress you..Frankly, I’m surprised about your rant since I only started biking because I thought that you thought it was cool! Now, you tell me the fad’s over? What the hell am I supposed to do now? I guess, I’ll have to jump into my sleek black Hummer (you know, the one with the phallic rims) so my chemically-pristine perfume slash deodorant will stay intact upon my freshly shaven skin. Yep, no more sweat stains for this chick–only the sordid aftertaste of sweet, sweet chemicals. I can’t thank you enough for finally notifying the public about this–cyclists are an imminent threat to our nation….dare I say, greater than our looming economic collapse, international nuclear proliferation, corrupt business and political leaders, and vast disparities within the country (as long as our armpits smell delectable, though, who’s counting?) But thank Goddess, someone has debunked that irritating myth about “Global Warming”…I always knew it was a fad. Those mad scientists have made fools of us all-but most of all, those cyclists….hah! Who do they think they’re fooling–sitting up there on their pedal-ized thrones, not being lazy–stinkin’ up the place! pft, like it’s not enough that cars have to belch exhaust in their face…now, they need to produce more bodily aroma by sweating? I’m utterly outraged! Anyways, I do have to admit that I was the one you saw going 5 mph. It’s just Autumn is my favorite time of year and the leaves look and smell so beautiful right now. Only on my bike could I feel safe enough to s l o w down and watch-no, experience-the season unfold. But, hey, that’s all over now baby Emily…as I’m going to chuck my bicycle in the river (hey, the Earth restores herself right?) and start anew. Only you could have corrected the errors of our ways in such an eloquent manner.

For now, I’ll go for one more bike ride. Late at night so the crisp, fall air envelops me in a “whirlpool” of tranquility. No helmet or light as I let what Goethe called the “enchanting nothingness” settle in–night as it used to be before carlights and streetlamps flooded into the scene…making the nighttime day. I only hear the whir of the tire underneath my feet as it makes contact with the asphalt and the steady groan of the gears as I slowly pedal through the nighttime blanket. Stars overhead, beauty surrounds me…I am on the bicycle path! and am almost tempted to believe that bicycles aren’t just a “hobby”…but are poetry, instead.

Oh, and for good measure, I’ll raise my sweaty, hairy armpits high in the air one last time as I’m ambling by on two wheels…and take one last whiff of that beautiful natural scent that is called being…ALIVE!

http://aftercorbu.com/2007/10/12/why-capitalists-want-to-sell-you-deoderant/

I think you have “Bikers” (cyclists) confused with trend following hipster/Emo kids on fixed gear bikes. You might want to research a subject before you bark out bias and uninformed opinions. Your school must not be very good if they haven’t taught you that.

i dont know where your getting your inelegance, but you’ve got no fucking clue as to what your talking about. i personally got hit by a car while on my bicycle and suffered a fractured pelvis, sacrum, 8 broken ribs, punctured lung and reconstructive surgery on my elbow. all because some fat 187 pound woman was driving her mini van to fast while talking to her son and didnt see me. i got catapulted over 39′. luckily i didnt die, but most of all, luckily i didnt have a habit of smoking a pack a day & eating twinkies and french fries before hand, which lead me to a fast recovery.
i think you should go back to smoking a pack a day and eating twinkies and french fries so when you get tboned by a mack truck in your car you’ll see how being in shape and living a ACTIVE lifestyle will do wonders for your recovery.

did you just decide to write an article on all the opposites of just about everyone who rides a bike. almost all your points are completely wrong….. i’m guessing your fat and lazy. cuz after reading your article i thought, now only somebody fat and lazy would write an article with as much false information in it as you did as a way to show how jealous you are that your self esteem is low, cuz you are FAT and LAZY. and you probably dont even know how to ride a bike….

your better off parking your fat double chinned head in a hole in the ground with your fat azz sticking up so me and everybody else who cycles can come stick their tire on their bike in your azz and use it for a bike stand…..

fawker out….

so many things that could be said, but all in all…
ROFLZ!

I honestly thought this was a joke.

terrible, terrible, and again (in so so many ways), TERRIBLE article.

thanks a lot.

Wow. So much hate. You would feel better if you rode your bike.

You sound as stupid as the average born-again Christian. Oh, wait, I’m an average born-again Christian. Never mind.

Generalizations like yours only reflect your own ignorance.

(many on two wheels spout the same garbage about “cagers”)
Fact: jerks are a normal reflection of all society. Some ride bikes, some drive cars, some ride motorcycles, some do all of the above. We can only uncover those folks when they stand on their soap box and spew their tripe.

How can one rationalize hate? Throughout our history of man societies have chosen to hate those different. What does it serve but to justify our own inadequacies? It’s one of the greatest faults of man.

Sorry Emily, you might be a ‘nice’ person but you are not ‘good’. There is hate within you. Own it. Crush it. Respect those different from you. That is the first part. Second is to rejoice in that difference.

You may be young but it is difficult to change the path you are on. You are the only one who will lose from your choices. Well, you and those who truly care about you.

Feel sad for you and the ones who love you.

why the hate?

I think if you found a hobby that interested you and would actually be healthy for you (downhillers excluded ;) ) you’d actually find biking to be pretty fun.

There’s always a bad seed in a group, you cant lump all bikers as lawless misfits wearing tight pants.

Maybe you should pick up smoking again, you’re acting agitated

Im not going to try to say anything clever here. I will get straight to the point. Emily, “you are a bitch”.

…..and you’re in college? wow

Get your fat ass on a bike immediately

Wow, what a shockingly ignorant position. It’s a good think you’re not through with college yet–it’s not through with you.

Emily is an idiot. If you wanted to create controversy, then you have done so. Congrats.

Would it be responsible of me to claim that all drivers kill innocent children because some drivers have? Would it be responsible of me to claim that all drivers are irresponsible jerks because some drivers are? No.

So, why is it responsible for your paper to print an article by someone who makes similar claims about cyclists. It is especially true because this writer knows nothing about what she is writing. She only sees a small group from the outside.

As a cyclist that rides within the laws and in the street (as required in many areas), these kinds of articles makes my life even more dangerous. Shouldn’t a paper’s purpose be to inform others of news and help us in our daily lives to be better people? Instead we get a poorly written opinion piece that contributes only to hate rather than understanding. Your paper should aspire to a higher calling.

i am a cyclist, and surprisingly, get where you are coming from.

cycling has become a trend, a very trendy thing as you said. riding a bike has become fashionable, and the bike itself nothing more than a fashion accessory. these hipsters and fashion-environmentalists, and the ilk, have taken something that i love, and bastardized it, and distorted it.

i can’t wait till this fashion trend dies and i can ride in peace again.

oh, and don’t get me started on those critical mass rides. all they do is piss people off. it doesn’t change the world. workers going out on strike is where change will begin.

I saw someone in a car speeding today. As a matter of fact, it I saw a lot of people speeding today. Probably 90% of all motorists were breaking some sort of traffic law today. I do not think the percentage of cyclists that break traffic laws is quite as large as the percentage of motorists.

The fact that so many motorists do not follow traffic laws makes any argument about cyclists who disobey traffic laws about as heavy as a grain of salt. If you hate cyclists who disobey laws then you (nor everyone else in the world)must hate yourself because you do not follow every traffic law.

You are so right. Instead me commuting 100 miles a week to work on bicycle, I should get in my car, add more congestion to the freeways, more CO2 into the air, and take a little more oil from the middle east. This articles sounds like there’s a lot of self-hate issues to me that should be addressed before bashing on cyclists. Life is about our passions. If some of us want to be passionate about cycling, well, it’s better than smoking.

I really believe this is a satire or at least hope it is.

“Bikers are clearly a danger to pedestrians, drivers, smokers, drinkers and people who take climate change seriously and not just as the latest trend”

OK Emily, I’ll stop biking, and start drinking and smoking, while I’m at it, I’ll start chain-smoking and binge-drinking.

Who knows, maybe I’ll make your day and even die of lung cancer or alcohol poisoning.

I hate pretentious anyone. My best friend and his girlfriend were Vegan. He never talked about, but she always talked and acted like she was superior because of her diet. I hated her, not all vegans. The author of this “editorial” needs to realize that she hates cyclists because some of them have the same attitude she has in the article–I’m amazed she hasn’t been sucked into a vortex of self hatred yet.

Wow, do you not have anything better to write about! I grew up in Truckee, Ca and attended UNR from 2000-2004. I have been an avid biker and skier my entire life. You better believe it is a religion to many people in our society. How can you say it doesn’t make you a better person on the whole. There are kids in urban cities riding bikes at skate parks versus raising hell and getting in trouble. Ridinig bikes can also be good for you health and cut down on obesity which is a huge problem in America! When somoeone finds a hobbie they love it engages them and engulfs their life. They work hard to save money to buy a bike and be able to take trips around the world to ride it. I have no problem with religous people but many climers, skiers etc find religion in there sports. Let people use whatever means it is to find their own personal religion. These people find solitude, hapiness, passion and a general love for life itself. I personally do not need a church full of people to find those things, but I understand and accept that some people do. I find them in the mountains with my close friends. It doesen’t matter whether you find these things in a church, or on a bike, they all bring the same things to people. How about you go back to your cigs and unfulfilling boring life and think of some other dumb crap to write up! By the way, you should take a trip to Denmark and check out their bicycle program. They are cuttinig down on traffic, emissions, and a great by product to it all is….. they are fit!!

I believe there are a lot more dangerous things in the world besides bikers; one them being hate, of which you appear to possess a great deal of.

Maybe you should consider seeking help to figure out why as you stated, you hate everything. I have to assume that when you wrote this article you hoped to generate a great deal of controversy since I doubt you wrote it out of the goodness of your caring heart to bring awareness to a wonderful sport.

Based on your ignorance of lumping “all bikers” as a whole it’s obvious that this is nothing but a piece written with malice and contempt for something you obviously know nothing about.

Please do us all a favor and go back to smoking a pack a week - hell, why not make it two - living off of Twinkies and Pabst and get it over with so the hate can stop. Seriously, please get a life and do it soon.

Ummm…really? No, I mean it-Really? This publication realy printed this? Wow. Two grammatical errors in the first paragraph, really? Who is the editor? Oh…
The content is cheap. The attempt at writing a onion-esqe (god, I hope that is what you were attempting) article could have been more cleverly designed by a box of hair. Emily, I am a cyclist, so my opinion is jaded-possibly not valid. I hate cyclists, too…(really) but I hate stupidity more, and your writing and journalistic skills are a glaring example of our current grade school nightmare, and while I think it is wrong to call a third grader stupid, I have to call our your…(What? No, really…Really?) OK, So this is a University Paper? I thought that was a picture of your mother up there…I apologize to third graders everywhere. This article was clearly a waste of time and resources…what was your garde for this?
One that note, I am going, now, to ride my bike-and when I am done I am going to sit in my filthy puddle of sweat and write my article-what should it be this week? I know! “Donkeys are stupid…” No, not enough PC hippie response bait in that one, how about “Journalism majors are dweebs…” Oh, duh. No-ahh, here is one that will elicit a ton of response to vaidate my self-depricating ego “I think kittens taste great, what’s the problem?”
…I have a problem with my problematic problems. My mom’s harangue just left and I don’t know what to do. I ate kittens, and they taste so….
YES! This will really get ‘em to notice me-now where’s my helmet and Schlitz.
Really?

Emily,
How did you ever get a job as a writer? This article is probably the most un-informed publication I have ever set my eyes upon. In fact people may lose a point or two off their IQ reading this garbage. I can tell by your picture you still havent worked off those twinkies from years ago! Furthermore, you are most likely sad that most guys look better in lycra than you ever will! So go on and spread your message of hate.. for you will go no further than writing The Nevada Sagebrush.

I am a pedestrian and I don’t have an opinion. :)

RE: And this week, I’m getting sucked into a vortex called “biking culture sucks.”

Emily, you seem to be striking out because you feel that you have lost control of your life. Perhaps a therapist could offer some suggestions. Get some help before everything spins out of control. You don’t have to be “sucked” into every vortex that passes by. Good luck.

Yes, the world has problems. Spewing hate and generalizations, and bigotry will surely clear all that up. Nice work! Unlike us cyclists, you’re the real saint. Thanks for pointing that out, Ms. Katseanes.

i like how you definatly bashed something the majority of the world loves and the majority of the people that do abide by all rules that make sense, if ur going 25 and trying to do a hard set for training and theres a 4 way stop sign with no cars around, im going through no questions asked. if i had stats i could show you motorists cause more accidents and more fatal accidents, are more likly to be overweight as compared to someone who only rides a bike, and are generally more angry and mean. get with a group of cyclists, go ahead and ride. you couldnt keep up with my 10 year old cousin because twinkies dont count as good food. honestly im not even gonna respond to this anymore, im gonna copy the link and laugh to my friends about this stupid college girl complaining about people who are enjoying their lives and not wasting time writing an entry without any real point while scarfing down twinkies.

Please Emily get a life or a clue.
Jim

Love the article: freakin’ hilarious. It’s fun to see unpopular dorks beat up in print. It’s even more fun to hear them boo-hoo and squeal like stuck pigs in response. Where’s their sense of humor?

But if you really want to needle some losers, and generate the kind of response that crashes servers, you need a bigger, better target than hipster bikers. How about fat chicks? No one likes them; they make bike geeks look popular by comparison. And you can even win over the “research” whiners.

Hey, how come you’re not laughing?

She’s probably (now) one of those people that say they’ll run only if being chased. She probably also rides the campus shuttle. It’s those very people that should be riding or walking.
If someone is breaking a sweat while riding 5-6 MPH (which is just double the walking speed), something’s wrong.
BTW, I don’t ride for the environment. I ride to go as fast (over 20 MPH) for as long as I can (62 - 100 miles).

LOL, you ran and did yoga at your “peak?” Was this written by a half-brained toddler?

Fascist bigotry from a valley kook. Stay in Nevada.

Thanks for motivating me to get out on a bike ride after reading your article. It relived my pain for you and relaxed my soul. When you gain a couple decades of wisdom and 20 more pounds of fat, you’ll see that the deaths of those around you from smoking and lack of exercise will make you long for that bike and perhaps even learn to love those different than your conceded views. Open your mind and be at peace with yourself and others; that is the core lesson from a college education.

“My problem is that I have problems. I live in a world so anti-Disney, I practically hate everything.”

I appreciate you pointing this out at the beginning of the article. It let me know that you are a shallow, self-centered, ignorant person who’s opinion holds no weight. The rest of your verbal vomit just didn’t even make me angry after that.

Maybe if you got your ass on a bike, you’d still be able to bend in all sorts of unnatural ways ;)

Nah, you’re right, you won’t get any fitter from actually exercising?

i think you have a hate problem! whoever lets you write for this paper needs to rethink why they hired you!

“Emily Katseanes wastes time and hurts others”

This is her first article here since December 10, 2007. She’s written 29 total pieces since August 2007. The first 28 received 8 comments TOTAL. This has nearly 200 comments.

Yeah Emily, go girl! Obviously she’s starved for attention.

Here’s something “anti disney” for you: People like you should be euthanized. You obviously don’t “get” that the whole frigging world isn’t here to make you happy. Obviously, it’s working!

Cyclist do not embrace the sport because of environmental reasons. They embrace it because of the physical challenge and physical fitness it provides. It is also one of the oldest competitive sports of the last 2 centuries. If you were cycling you would have the endurance of an Olympian not a toddler. Cycling also vastly improves you state of mind and will power. you might even have will power to put down the twinkies. Cyclist riding “Road Bikes” are riding vehicles that have the same legal rights as motor vehicles in all 50 states. They must obey the same laws too. If not they are ticketed the same as motor vehicles. If you actual read any of the codes, in any state, governing non motor vehicles. You would also know that it is illegal to ride a bike on a sidewalk. What is not acceptable behavior. Is your bigotry and prejudice towards others. I would also suggest you study the laws of your state and the nation on non motorized transportation. As well as the history and present day activities in the sport. Judging by your twinkie puff hog jowls and flabby arms. You could use some benefits of cycling. You might even change your attitudes toward others that don’t bow down to your prissy flabby posterior.

Emily,

What do you think about this story?
http://www.teambaconstrip.com/blog/blog/bike-vs-car-in-the-carrows-parking-lot/

-M

Emily - Wow did you open a can of worms! Congrats on writing such a controversial and thought-provoking article. I just caught a link to this on Twitter on 12/8, which mean’s it’s been circulating out there for three solid weeks with people still talking about it.

I agree with Poopy-face (commenter #83) that your article was a great rant. It’s unfortunate that people a) can’t live life with a little more humor, b) feel the need to resort to personal attacks and name-calling, and c) can’t accept that people have differing opinions.

Cheers to you, and hoping that all of your columns can generate this much buzz and conversation.

Emily - I couldn’t help but chuckle as I read your article. You are an amazingly talented writer and I must say I am extremely impressed with your creativity! You have started quite the buzz with this article and I think it’s fantastic! One of my co-workers forwarded me the link to your story and we sat discussing how horrible the responses to your story were. We found it extremely ironic that so many young people have no sense of humor these days and can sit there claiming they are the “peacemakers” and “individuals” of the world, but continue to rip on you, personally, for stating your opinion. You are going to go so far in life, so I hope these ignorant, close-minded jackasses have not discouraged you in anyway, because the fact that people are still reading your story 3 weeks later is an amazing accomplishment! Congrats…Keep writing!

Well…now that the elections are over, we clearly have a new subject to divide the populace. So what if the author doesn’t like bicycles or bicyclists? Is it really that important? Unfortunately many who responded missed the point entirely.

I’m neither a cyclist nor a writer, but I found the piece to be well crafted, honest and somewhat humorous. Sadly many of the posts were overly rude and obnoxious. You’ve actually managed to diminish the entire sport/lifestyle and I personally think less of you and your cycling-brethren because of your narrow-minded responses.

I guess it’s true, you can always tell the size of the man by the size of the things that make him angry.

Shame on you.

>>>You are an amazingly talented writer and I must say I am extremely impressed with your creativity!

LOL.

>>>We found it extremely ironic that so many young people have no sense of humor these days and can sit there claiming they are the “peacemakers” and “individuals” of the world, but continue to rip on you, personally, for stating your opinion.

…and later…

>>>close-minded jackasses

I’m glad that unlike the people you deride, you have not resorted to personal attack.

>>>You are going to go so far in life

This is satire, right?

>>>the fact that people are still reading your story 3 weeks later is an amazing accomplishment!

Please tell me you are 14 years old. If so, there is still hope for you.

great gutter press article from a ‘branleuse’ that needs to put some sense in her head and life.

Hahaha. Thanks for the great laugh. This made my day. I can’t wait for the day when all those bikes will get left curbside, like Christmas trees. It will be like picking berries.

Hang-on, the comments suggest your article is actually serious! Well I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt. No-one can be that ignorant can they? If they are, they they’ve got substantially more than one “teensy” problem.

Another epic fail by the Sagebrush…

This article reminds me of Miss Teen South Carolina… and kids such as on bikes such as bicycles in the Reno and saving the environment.

How does this utter rag continue to receive funding?

I am somehow simultaneously with both Jerz and Mike on this issue:

With Jerz on that bikers are haters.

With Mike on that its kind dangerous to rile up motorists against cyclists (even the dumb ones … well, maybe not the dumb ones) because in bike vs. car — the cyclist usually dies or sustains fatal injuries. Angry motorists are more dangerous than angry/stupid cyclists.

Given that, I still find this amusing, Emily :]

If she looks like a troll and sounds like a troll…..

Otakan, not once does this article encourage drivers to start hitting cyclists. It’s like a Jerry Seinfeld skit. Just because he says, “What’s the deal with airline food?” doesn’t mean he’s calling all passengers to take action and beat their flight attendants.

Dear Emily,

Maybe you should go back to yoga. Bending and contorting in “all sorts of unnatural ways” will attract you a mate. Then you will get laid and not be such a bitch.

That is all

sat?ire? ?[sat-ahyuhr]
–noun
1. the use of irony, sarcasm, ridicule, or the like, in exposing, denouncing, or deriding vice, folly, etc.
2. a literary composition, in verse or prose, in which human folly and vice are held up to scorn, derision, or ridicule.
3. a literary genre comprising such compositions.

God loves cycling. Yeah! Learn to be morecompassionate Emily and one day, you will stand on the God’s doorstep :) Think more, write less.

I think it is a sarcastic article, and if I am not mistaken she is actually promoting the biker lifestyle. She is pointing out the obvious truths, but the article is a bit too vague and some people might see it in a negative conotation. There are many breeds of biker and I think a bit more research was necessary before publication. I also want to add the article seems to be aimed at road bikers. Do a article on Free Ride or XC or Downhill bikers, we are the most exciting, most death defying riders ever to grace a bicycle and you will NEVER see us in town or on a paved road.

I need to improve my trials riding skills. Could you please lay on the ground and impersonate a pile of logs? I promise not to dab or fall too much;)

Sounds like you need to work out! And biking is not a danger. How many people a year die in bicycle accidents? and how many bikers hit cars that then disappear? Biking is an efficient, affordable, and a HEALTHY way to get around… seems like you need to catch up with the times. And biking is not going out of style any time soon so you might want to grab a stick of deodorant and get on your bike.
Maybe if you spent your time being more positive, less judgmental, less critical, less cynical and opened your mind to a changing future this world would be more Disney.
FYI, in big cities biking is faster and they have facilities where you can wash before you head to work for bikers with careers.

This article was pretty disappointing, but one thing that’s more disappointing than the idiocy of this article, is the bigotry of most of the people that responded to it. Hypocrites… you’ve proven yourself no better. To those that resorted to calling her fat, ugly, etc… you’re all more disgusting and nonsensical than the author.