Nicole or Joan, would YOU be interested in being profiled?!? Because we’d love to hear your side of things, too. If so, drop me a line at ghostrider(over-there-at)bikecommuter(dot)com .

Shoot I gotta say that from my very circumstantial perspective a woman is the exception to the rule for bike commuters. I don’t see very many, if any, on the road. The women I know personally that do bike to work are not your typical woman when it comes to hair, makeup, etc. I have a tough time trying to give pointers to my female coworkers simply because what to do with the hair is a big deal for them. I shave my head—so I’m not much help. And when a man tries to suggest that a woman can be smell free and presentable even after a bike ride I usually get eye rolls and remarks like “That’s a man talking there eh?”

Maybe that’s a big topic for an ongoing discussion—a female representation on bike commuting. It seems most if not all of the writers here are male. Are there any other women that are able to give their perspective? It would be a huge help for women of course and for us guys in giving tips to female associates.

And, MC isn’t the only offender. Even Self magazine recently wrote off biking as a recreational, warm weather pursuit. Hopefully, someday these magazines will recognize that biking isn’t only about cruising around your neighborhood (although that’s great too) — that it’s a sustainable, easy alternative to driving, that it’s possible in snow or other inclement weather, that bike commuters and people who ride in rain aren’t crazy, and that, yes, we’re having a lot of fun doing it!

Obviously, they’ve never had the satisfaction of pacing a car through multiple intersections as they ride their bike through town.

Don’t you wonder why Marie Claire would choose to slight potential Bike to Work Day participants and ALSO print environmentally-conscious articles? I sure did…especially since “going green” is about the most fashionable thing being talked about right now!

A lot of commuters out there are at the end of their rope, though…road conditions aren’t improving at the rate they really need to be, and so we lash out with pent-up frustration — childish and snarky, to be sure, but sometimes even the mouse has to roar like a lion!

Thanks again to everyone for your comments, both positive and negative — dialogues like this are important for our community.

But, I have to say that I’m equally dismayed at the stereotyping in these comments, from people who have likely never read the magazine (which, believe it or not, often features stories on environment- and world-related issues). It’s possible to appreciate fashion and makeup and be a bike commuter and advocate. Yes, I commute by bike in my heels everyday (winter included) and put another 50-75 miles on my roadie during the week, weather permitting.

This is a huge misstep by Marie Claire that deserves to hear proper feedback from the bike community, but please don’t devolve the discussion into a bashing of the MC readership.

We will have the last laugh, my friends. Gasoline in my little hick county in redneck Florida is $3.50/gallon for 87 octane. Those Lincoln and Lexus SUVs run on 93 octane, so that’s $4.00/gallon or so. Think the overextended McMansion-dwelling uber-yuppies can continue spending $100+ for a fillup twice a week? We will be vindicated.

Peter…stop being such a wuss.

What?!? I’m abrasive?!? Me, I’m almost always calm and rational