How Green is My Bike Ride?
by Warren McLaren, Sydney 
on 03.13.08
Although we have a guide on How to Green your Outdoor Sports and one on Public Transportation, we’re currently missing one specifically on Bicycling. So, while you're waiting for that guide to pedal past, you may wish to consult the Sierra Club’s How Green is My Bike Ride? questionnaire.
Where the Q’s run the gamut of:
“When my bicycle chain gets dirty...
- I toss my bike in the back of the car and head for the bike shop.
- I clean my chain with kerosene or another petroleum-based solvent.
- I clean my chain with a citrus solvent.
- Aren't bike chains supposed to be dirty?”
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This one had me stubbed for a second since I live in Italy (Milan)... ;-)
"Most of my bicyle rides...
Start and finish from my home.
Are commuting to work or to run errands.
Start within driving distance of my home.
Are in France or Italy."
Great questionnaire though!
I use a citrus solvent. For those who say that they just leave the chain dirty, I'd argue that your actions (or in this case, inaction) are actually counter-productive. Your chain will wear faster and your bike will be less efficient. Having a smooth, clean running drivetrain is the key to a fast, environmentally friendly ride. I will admit that I use a petrol-based lubricant on the chain, simply due to price. Sometimes you have to pick your battles, and for me I'd rather change one lightbulb instead of worrying about the 1 mL of oil I put on my chain.
Jesus! Every time I think I've "gone green," some asshole raises the bar!
Just kidding. (Mostly.) Interesting info. Not sure I'm ready for a bamboo frame, though. And of course, there's the issue that if you already own something, even if it isn't "green," it doesn't make sense to chuck it just to be Greener Than Thou.
Daniel, you are right. I never clean my chain, mostly because of laziness rather than being "green". And then my chain snaps and I careen into some bushes some where and get bad chain-lash on my leg.
I've never taken my bike to a bike shop, if they saw how bad my bike was, I'm sure they would laugh me out of there for life.
Bio-diesel is a great non-toxic solvent. And you might need to lube up after you use it. Of course, that's taking food from a starving child in a remote location, so...
Anon-
Show your bike some love and take it in for a tune up every once in a while. It's good for both the ride and the rider. It will prolong the life of your ride and make it more enjoyable for you to ride it.
If the guys at the shop laugh at you then take it to another shop that isn't full of A-holes. There are many shops that are just happy to help people enjoy cycling. I personally hate and refuse to shop in the snobby cycle shops.
Also a little bit of knowledge on maintence (cleaning your chain, lube habits, and tube changing) can go a long way.
Interesting. I think that the good one does by riding a bike far overshadows any areas in which they might not be "green," though. This is one of those instances where I don't understand the obsession with being green. The battle isn't (or shouldn't be) over lo-power light bulbs and the rest of the "little things"; rather, it should be about living a more sustainable, healthier lifestyle all around.