Bicycles

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mpk19

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On our visit to the yard, we saw some bikes and bike racks. Are midshipman allowed to have bikes? If so what are general requirements? I can pretty much figure they are right out for plebes! Thanks.
 
mpk19 said:
On our visit to the yard, we saw some bikes and bike racks. Are midshipman allowed to have bikes? If so what are general requirements? I can pretty much figure they are right out for plebes! Thanks.
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I know the club sports teams for Cycling and Triathlon can keep bikes on the Yard, and many staff and faculty ride to work. After that, I am not current on general bike policy for mids. I admit to not feeling the urge to dig into current Mid Regs so will lazily await a poster with first-hand current info.
 
Capt MJ said:
I admit to not feeling the urge to dig into current Mid Regs so will lazily await a poster with first-hand current info.
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No problem, I don't mind "lazily awaiting" and I love the term! I may have to borrow it for future correspondence!
 
Though not stated - I think it is fair to say - Don't bring your bicycle to Plebe Summer

Otherwise: (and I think the cycling, triathlon, and endurance teams all have their own designated area)

8.8 BICYCLE STORAGE ROOMS

1. Midshipmen will keep all bicycles in designated bicycle storage rooms. Authorized storage rooms 1

include: 8° Wing Mezzanine Brigade Bike Room (8M32C), Battalion Bike Rooms (3019, 5040, 7004, 4015, 6040, 8003), and Company Bike Rooms (2014, 4037, 4040, 4046, 54121).

2. Midshipmen are not authorized to store bicycles in any space not designated as a bicycle storage room.
 
Reviving this old thread b/c the renters' insurance thread mentioned bikes - when are midshipmen allowed to use bicycles if ever? My plebe to be son will not be on any kind of cycling or related team but he enjoys riding his bike around for fun or transport as needed. Not sure if they are allowed or need to use it on the Yard or might want for off-campus? We are trying to figure out if we should sell his bike or plan on sending or driving it up there at some point when/if allowed.
 
williamsdr3 said:
Reviving this old thread b/c the renters' insurance thread mentioned bikes - when are midshipmen allowed to use bicycles if ever? My plebe to be son will not be on any kind of cycling or related team but he enjoys riding his bike around for fun or transport as needed. Not sure if they are allowed or need to use it on the Yard or might want for off-campus? We are trying to figure out if we should sell his bike or plan on sending or driving it up there at some point when/if allowed.
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Delegate all “stuff management” and “bike-riding rules pro knowledge” to your P2B to manage and let him tell you. Likely not plebe year.
 
I think for underclass this is a gray area. MidRegs lets all mids conduct PT off the yard on approved routes. Mostly running but I know people who bike.

Rules don’t explicitly restrict biking for anyone, but my only concern would be what they could wear on weekends since 4/C have to depart the Yard in the uniform of the day for liberty. If they’re on the cycling team (which has tryouts in the fall and is worth considering if they love biking) they’d have team gear that they could wear without being given crap by anybody. I suppose they’d probably be allowed to wear regulation PT Gear but they probably won’t want to as they’ll stick out like a sore thumb all over Annapolis. Otherwise a plebe’s best bet would be taking their bike to a sponsor’s house, changing, and riding from there. Most likely he’ll only have time to ride on the weekends anyway.
 
Kierkegaard said:
I think for underclass this is a gray area. MidRegs lets all mids conduct PT off the yard on approved routes. Mostly running but I know people who bike.

Rules don’t explicitly restrict biking for anyone, but my only concern would be what they could wear on weekends since 4/C have to depart the Yard in the uniform of the day for liberty. If they’re on the cycling team (which has tryouts in the fall and is worth considering if they love biking) they’d have team gear that they could wear without being given crap by anybody. I suppose they’d probably be allowed to wear regulation PT Gear but they probably won’t want to as they’ll stick out like a sore thumb all over Annapolis. Otherwise a plebe’s best bet would be taking their bike to a sponsor’s house, changing, and riding from there. Most likely he’ll only have time to ride on the weekends anyway.
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Plebes aren’t supposed to wear anything other than uniform of the day or PT gear, so changing at their sponsors into civvies is not supposed to be a thing.
 
crazydaisy1321 said:
Plebes aren’t supposed to wear anything other than uniform of the day or PT gear, so changing at their sponsors into civvies is not supposed to be a thing.
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Correct.
Plebes have been known to change into civvies at their sponsor's home, (which is not technically allowed) but woe betide any Plebe who sets foot out that door in civvies.
 
Most plebes surrender hobbies/activities during plebe year, given all the obligations, requirements and restrictions. It’s unfortunate but necessary. Doesn’t mean you have to give them up forever, but it’s all about priorities in plebe year. Focus should be on “survive and advance.” There’ll be time to enjoy those things down the road.
 
True that technically would not be allowed by MidRegs, but it’s pretty widely accepted. In most companies, the upperclassmen aren’t gonna hunt down Plebes for wearing civilian clothes when far away from the Yard, which they themselves all did without retribution. I’m not one to encourage the “rate what you skate” attitude, but this is a social norm of the Brigade that’s the current reality and I don’t want to pretend we’re all naiive. What is still taboo in the Brigade and should be avoided is 4/C or 3/C mids being out of uniform in DTA or the immediate areas like the mall and movie theater.
 
If you have time as a Plebe to pedal a bike around either in the Yard or outside they ain't doing it right. DD in Uniform almost had a coronary PPW when we met her Detailer (in civies) and family at the same restaurant. At PPW DD loved shorts and a t-shirt while in the house. Outside another story.
 
Kierkegaard said:
True that technically would not be allowed by MidRegs, but it’s pretty widely accepted. In most companies, the upperclassmen aren’t gonna hunt down Plebes for wearing civilian clothes when far away from the Yard, which they themselves all did without retribution. I’m not one to encourage the “rate what you skate” attitude, but this is a social norm of the Brigade that’s the current reality and I don’t want to pretend we’re all naiive. What is still taboo in the Brigade and should be avoided is 4/C or 3/C mids being out of uniform in DTA or the immediate areas like the mall and movie theater.
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I would stress it is company specific - my son never broke the regs as his company is more strict. A friend of his got caught and punished.

And further, individually the upperclassmen within companies had varying degrees of enforcement.
 
If a plebe desired, he or she could go on a bike ride every day from 1600-1800 during sports period. Each Battalion currently has a closet where members of that battalion store their bikes. There are also many approved running/biking routes off the yard any mid could enjoy during sports period.

I would discourage any plebe from wearing civilian attire on the weekends without approval. Wearing bike clothes while on liberty might be logical for a cyclist; however, if the wrong person sees you- there will be trouble. A couple of plebes in my company to got 10 days of restriction last year for wearing civilian attire 30 miles away from the academy. The attire was appropriate for the outing but they didn't ask permission. Exceptions to the rules can be made through the 'chit process.'

Going on bike rides plebe year would be very ambitious. I certainly wouldn't have taken the time to bike plebe year. However, now that I am a 2/C, I plan on bringing my bike to Annapolis in the fall.
 
@Temple17 makes excellent points.

We had a sponsor daughter who was an expert horsewoman. As a plebe, after developing a solid reputation in company, she put up a chit requesting to keep and wear jeans, riding boots, and riding vest at our house, noting our retired ranks and the fact we kept to the rules at our house, in terms of keeping an old dresser full of “loaner” blue rim tees, issue PT shorts and sweats for all plebes and youngsters, no exceptions. She would only wear the horse gear to and from the barn, ride with my DH in his car, ride in barn indoor ring and barn trails, no stops elsewhere. Her chit was approved.

It all depends what standard a mid holds themselves to, regardless of the “everyone’s doing it” or “no one follows that one” social magical thinking factor. It’s a choice, and calculated risk, as long as they understand there may be consequences.

The sponsor plebes get a kick out of digging through past generations of sponsor mid donated issue gear, looking for ones stenciled with “98” or other ancient mid numbers. Every year at graduation, the graduating class knows to donate issue gear in decent shape to the loaner locker.

One of my funnier incidents (but not at the time) was a flag officer grad reporting an SUV full of male and female mids, all plebes, changing out of SDBs and into civvies in full view of fellow drivers on US 50 headed toward DC. It didn’t help they were clearly not wearing seatbelts and climbing all over the place. The grad had his wife take video/photos of the faces, and he sent it over to the Supe. All were identified, including the 3/c driver. (3/c do not have auto/driving privileges). Yes, all were in my Batt. Their restriction ran up to two days before Christmas, eating up a chunk of leave.
 
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Temple17 said:
If a plebe desired, he or she could go on a bike ride every day from 1600-1800 during sports period. Each Battalion currently has a closet where members of that battalion store their bikes. There are also many approved running/biking routes off the yard any mid could enjoy during sports period.

Going on bike rides plebe year would be very ambitious. I certainly wouldn't have taken the time to bike plebe year. However, now that I am a 2/C, I plan on bringing my bike to Annapolis in the fall.
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Thanks for the helpful info on bikes - sounds we sell the bike and get a little money for it and get it out of our garage OR plan on storing it for quite some time as in years. Just what I needed.
 
williamsdr3 said:
Thanks for the helpful info on bikes - sounds we sell the bike and get a little money for it and get it out of our garage OR plan on storing it for quite some time as in years. Just what I needed.
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I have that feeling about everything in my P2B's room. I am doubtful that all of his civilian clothes will fit him in 6-10 months, his closet is plumb full of clothes. He likely won't live at home again. I guess I am in the personal property storage business now. Storing 8 guitars, a yukele, a cuatro, a keyboard, 2 amps, various personal items and all of his 'stuff'. At what point do we yard sale a lot of the not important things and start charging him to store the rest (half in jest, re charging, half thinking this will help him adult).
 
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