oh, this is great. This not only assuages Thistle’s worries about a smelly, dishevelled appearance, it does that for others as well, and it gets others in the frame of mind that you don’t need expensive, gawdawful looking cycling clothes to ride a bike somewhere. I mean, don’t get me wrong, cycling clothes are great, and necessary for certain things, but come on people, we’re just a wee bit quick sometimes to “gear up” for everything we do.
And yes, there are ingenious people in the United States. There are also ingenious people in Holland. Rick, my hat is off to you. I love your subtleties.
Awesome! I have a friend who used to bike everywhere, and then she got a little car. While she was biking, I was driving, but now I’ve sold my car and I bike everywhere. Asked her the other day why she wasn’t always sweaty when she was riding, like I always am. She said, “What do you mean I wasn’t always sweaty??!”
Clearly we bike commuters are way harder on ourselves in this area than others are on us.
I’m with Banjo. Why should we care about her and her neuroses? The strip isn’t “Thistle and her box bike”, it’s YM and the kickstand!! Let’s get back to something interesting.
unlike Banjo & Ride Rage I think the strips about thistle learning to commute are very much about biking and should have a lot to do with Bike Shops now days.
I agree – it does… despite Thistle being my least favourite character (with the exception of that small kid with the Boris Johnson hairstile that appeared in a few strips). My ideal strip features the title character … however, I do recognise that things need to be varied to keep the whole strip going for reasons of author sanity.
On another note, I had a biking first today – my New World Tourist came on a shopping trip, folded and put in the trolley. It’s a bike made to ride, but which *can* be folded…. rather than being primarily made to fold. The distinction is that it’s not the best at folding – and I had my pedals in the wrong position initially meaning I got in a muddle! Still, made it in the end – having caused much amusement to the folks in cars.
I really enjoy the Thistle family strips. Before these strips, the customers of the Kickstand were mainly the butt of the jokes. We now see the side of an unlikely new commuter (even the Kickstand is not sure if she will last). Thistle and her family have become some of my favorite characters because they are being developed by Rick. Everything that Rick has included in this comic strip is about cycling, so I feel that it is unfair to limit it to just what happens to the Kickstand or its owners. Us customers are a vital part of the cycling community, and I am glad they are given serious attention.
I love seeing a mommy take a bike for transportation. Moms (or dads) are exactly the demographic that many people assume can’t bike for transportation. Even some misguided politicians in my home state of CO recently gave parents with kids and groceries as an example of why bikes can’t work for transportation. I love that this strip is challenging that misconception! This is one good step in the right direction.
As most of us know, the benefits of cycling for our country are so great. In addition, the costs of not rethinking transportation are so high, we cannot afford *not* to challenge old ways of thinking about transportation.
Ok, off my soap box now. Thanks for a great comic, Rick.
I’ve been enjoying all the story lines – Rick, thank you for including a mum in the strip too, as a mum who commutes alone but has a hankering for a Bakfiets over a car I love the Thistle bits.
I love the fact that the whole ofThistle story is about the best part of bicycling. Its about using bikes as transportation from the view of a beginner. Thank you for the great comics Rick! I read this strip before Dilbert everyday.
The best part of cycling is enjoying the ride. Today I had to stop and ogle a blue heron. It was the best part of my ride. Well, perhaps besides my doctor saying “Great cycling, keep it up.”
Today’s strip was a nice extension of the Thistle narrative. Real cycling for real people.
Ha! So she isn’t at church after all!
What makes you say that? Lots of churches (and synagogues, for that matter) have a light lunch after the service.
‘Americans are so ingenious’
Who knew Holland was part of the US…?
oh, this is great. This not only assuages Thistle’s worries about a smelly, dishevelled appearance, it does that for others as well, and it gets others in the frame of mind that you don’t need expensive, gawdawful looking cycling clothes to ride a bike somewhere. I mean, don’t get me wrong, cycling clothes are great, and necessary for certain things, but come on people, we’re just a wee bit quick sometimes to “gear up” for everything we do.
And yes, there are ingenious people in the United States. There are also ingenious people in Holland. Rick, my hat is off to you. I love your subtleties.
Wake me up when this is over and the strip gets back to being about biking.
Awesome! I have a friend who used to bike everywhere, and then she got a little car. While she was biking, I was driving, but now I’ve sold my car and I bike everywhere. Asked her the other day why she wasn’t always sweaty when she was riding, like I always am. She said, “What do you mean I wasn’t always sweaty??!”
Clearly we bike commuters are way harder on ourselves in this area than others are on us.
I’m with Banjo. Why should we care about her and her neuroses? The strip isn’t “Thistle and her box bike”, it’s YM and the kickstand!! Let’s get back to something interesting.
unlike Banjo & Ride Rage I think the strips about thistle learning to commute are very much about biking and should have a lot to do with Bike Shops now days.
Dilbert isn’t always about just Dilbert.
Keep up the good work Rick
I do agree with Jason. It’s always nice to know about someone who has added the bike as a daily commuter.
I’ve enjoyed the bakfiets series immensely, but as an owner of one, I’m biased.
Now just wait for the back hand of that comment. “I could never do that, you’re some sort of super athlete.”
Yes, the Bakfiesten makes the strip more complet….
I agree – it does… despite Thistle being my least favourite character (with the exception of that small kid with the Boris Johnson hairstile that appeared in a few strips). My ideal strip features the title character … however, I do recognise that things need to be varied to keep the whole strip going for reasons of author sanity.
On another note, I had a biking first today – my New World Tourist came on a shopping trip, folded and put in the trolley. It’s a bike made to ride, but which *can* be folded…. rather than being primarily made to fold. The distinction is that it’s not the best at folding – and I had my pedals in the wrong position initially meaning I got in a muddle! Still, made it in the end – having caused much amusement to the folks in cars.
So, are you telling us that Thistle always stinks?
I really enjoy the Thistle family strips. Before these strips, the customers of the Kickstand were mainly the butt of the jokes. We now see the side of an unlikely new commuter (even the Kickstand is not sure if she will last). Thistle and her family have become some of my favorite characters because they are being developed by Rick. Everything that Rick has included in this comic strip is about cycling, so I feel that it is unfair to limit it to just what happens to the Kickstand or its owners. Us customers are a vital part of the cycling community, and I am glad they are given serious attention.
I love seeing a mommy take a bike for transportation. Moms (or dads) are exactly the demographic that many people assume can’t bike for transportation. Even some misguided politicians in my home state of CO recently gave parents with kids and groceries as an example of why bikes can’t work for transportation. I love that this strip is challenging that misconception! This is one good step in the right direction.
As most of us know, the benefits of cycling for our country are so great. In addition, the costs of not rethinking transportation are so high, we cannot afford *not* to challenge old ways of thinking about transportation.
Ok, off my soap box now.
Thanks for a great comic, Rick.
I’ve been enjoying all the story lines – Rick, thank you for including a mum in the strip too, as a mum who commutes alone but has a hankering for a Bakfiets over a car I love the Thistle bits.
I love the fact that the whole ofThistle story is about the best part of bicycling. Its about using bikes as transportation from the view of a beginner. Thank you for the great comics Rick! I read this strip before Dilbert everyday.
the best part about cycling is going fast. Many people just haven’t discovered this yet.
The best part of cycling is enjoying the ride. Today I had to stop and ogle a blue heron. It was the best part of my ride. Well, perhaps besides my doctor saying “Great cycling, keep it up.”
Today’s strip was a nice extension of the Thistle narrative. Real cycling for real people.
Thistle’s adventures are character building so we readers have the background when Thistle will inevitably visit Yehuda at the Kickstand again.
Love Thistle…
At least some of us had a crush on her before she turned out to be married.
@Michael R
“had to stop and ogle a blue heron”
Did it have a crumpled fender???
Some strips are more entertaining than others, but I like them all well enough to stay up long enough to see the next days strip before I go to bed.
The secret to not looking sweaty is wearing prints rather than solid colours…