That is not quite right, “vogelvrij” simply means “outlaw” so the literal translation is ‘the outlaw cyclist’. They started in a time that even in the Netherlands cyclists were seen as such. But the pun is in the fact that vogel and vrij together can also mean ‘free as a bird’.

Would getting cycled on a rickshaw powered by slave labor to your job making weapons to defend state owned tobacco plantations in an oppressed land run by a maniacal dictator be worse than driving driving a Hummer alone at illegal speeds through school zones to work?

But then again this is all so reductionist. Are people cycling because collective PT is too expensive? Because distances are so long that walking takes too long? How about multi-modal trips? There are so many fine points, for example how far are people cycling, are they happy while cycling, to where are they cycling, e.g. stupid jobs which counter the sustainability of cycling?. What is better, four people carpooling to a “green” job in a small car or one person cycling to their job at some military arms manufacturer or a firm lobbying for private electric cars, GMO food and (insert thing you hate)?

I am my own world’s cycling capital.

Tires vary widely in rolling resistance. Unfortunately some of the features that make a tire durable and puncture resistant also cause rolling resistance. Amongst city bike tires we’ve found the Schwalbe Marathons, Vredestein Moirees, and various Continental models to balance the needs nicely. We just don’t fit the Conti’s because they tend to dry out and crack prematurely. It seems to have no functional effect but it’s ugly and customers complain about it.