Comments on: The Cost of Bike Commuting /blog/the-cost-of-bike-commuting/ getting the most out of life one penny at a time ... Tue, 06 Jul 2010 04:01:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Steward /blog/the-cost-of-bike-commuting/comment-page-1/#comment-1575 Steward Fri, 26 Sep 2008 20:10:57 +0000 /blog/?p=200#comment-1575 @ Jason - For my birthday my brother bought me a nicer seat and it had done wonders for my tush. It has been free and clear of soreness for weeks now and I haven't changed anything esle! As to your 16 mile commute, I find that the first day of the week is normally pretty easy, but by the end of the week my legs are pretty tired. They aren't sore exactly, just really weak. It generally starts on the third day (miles 40-60) and makes me about 10-20% slower than when I am fresh. But one thing I have found is that a significant portion of my time is spent waiting at stop lights. So if your trip would be pretty lightless you might be able to get to work fairly quickly even with the hills. @ Jason – For my birthday my brother bought me a nicer seat and it had done wonders for my tush. It has been free and clear of soreness for weeks now and I haven’t changed anything esle!

As to your 16 mile commute, I find that the first day of the week is normally pretty easy, but by the end of the week my legs are pretty tired. They aren’t sore exactly, just really weak. It generally starts on the third day (miles 40-60) and makes me about 10-20% slower than when I am fresh.

But one thing I have found is that a significant portion of my time is spent waiting at stop lights. So if your trip would be pretty lightless you might be able to get to work fairly quickly even with the hills.

]]> By: Jason /blog/the-cost-of-bike-commuting/comment-page-1/#comment-1555 Jason Fri, 26 Sep 2008 01:59:37 +0000 /blog/?p=200#comment-1555 I've also been kicking this idea around, but I'm not sure I can pull it off. My one-way trip is 16 miles, and I live around Pittsburgh, so there are many, many hills. I did make a test run recently and I think my first new purchase is going to be some nicely padded bike shorts. Good luck! I’ve also been kicking this idea around, but I’m not sure I can pull it off. My one-way trip is 16 miles, and I live around Pittsburgh, so there are many, many hills. I did make a test run recently and I think my first new purchase is going to be some nicely padded bike shorts. Good luck!

]]> By: Steward /blog/the-cost-of-bike-commuting/comment-page-1/#comment-1422 Steward Sat, 20 Sep 2008 05:05:44 +0000 /blog/?p=200#comment-1422 @ Cyrus - A motor bike might be the way to go for some people, but for me it would totally be cheating. I think it is great to have to exercise and use my own muscles to get me places. If bike commuting happens to get me tired in the short term, that is okay. I am in it for the long haul. Except if having a baby (which happens in November) makes me miserable on the road due to lack of sleep. That could be seriously dangerous! @ Cyrus – A motor bike might be the way to go for some people, but for me it would totally be cheating. I think it is great to have to exercise and use my own muscles to get me places. If bike commuting happens to get me tired in the short term, that is okay. I am in it for the long haul. Except if having a baby (which happens in November) makes me miserable on the road due to lack of sleep. That could be seriously dangerous!

]]> By: Cyrus /blog/the-cost-of-bike-commuting/comment-page-1/#comment-1417 Cyrus Sat, 20 Sep 2008 02:35:58 +0000 /blog/?p=200#comment-1417 Glad that I'm not the only one using a bike to get around. Saves a lot of money within a few years. I'm thinking of upgrading from a regular bike to an <a href="http://www.kaboodle.com/iamelf/go-green-buy-an-electric-motor-bike.html" rel="nofollow">electric motor bike</a> that I saw in a commercial. I might be able to get farther and be less tired. Glad that I’m not the only one using a bike to get around. Saves a lot of money within a few years. I’m thinking of upgrading from a regular bike to an electric motor bike that I saw in a commercial. I might be able to get farther and be less tired.

]]> By: Steward /blog/the-cost-of-bike-commuting/comment-page-1/#comment-698 Steward Fri, 29 Aug 2008 17:50:49 +0000 /blog/?p=200#comment-698 @ ERE - Thanks for the input. I finally got a patch kit so now my leaky tubes can once again be put to good use. I also need to get some bike gloves. Some crazy guy on one of my bus rides saw my bike helmet and started up a conversation with me about how I needed bike gloves. Since he was crazy I blew him off. Wait a minute, some people probably think you're crazy too - maybe I should give this whole listening to crazy people a second thought. @ Francois - I think I might look into this normal-looking-bike-short-but-is-still-a-bike-short thingy. Even though I wrestled in high school and college I think I would feel a little self-conscious walking around in tight bike shorts around the office. Modesty is important! @RDS - I'll probably try and tinker with my bike that I bought used for a while now. I think I could probably grease the chain a bit and clean up the gears as well. I don't know how yet but I need to do some research on it. @ Me vs. Debt - Yeah, I am still going strong and really beginning to ramp it up. Today I am attempting my first both way trek. It should take me about 90 minutes (about 45 in the morning and 45 in the evening) to travel my 22 miles. I only have one serious hill though. It is .8 miles long and must be a few hundred meters change in elevation. This morning I got up to 50 km/h going down it on my way to work! I hope that by the end of September to riding 110 miles a week. @ ERE – Thanks for the input. I finally got a patch kit so now my leaky tubes can once again be put to good use. I also need to get some bike gloves. Some crazy guy on one of my bus rides saw my bike helmet and started up a conversation with me about how I needed bike gloves. Since he was crazy I blew him off. Wait a minute, some people probably think you’re crazy too – maybe I should give this whole listening to crazy people a second thought.

@ Francois – I think I might look into this normal-looking-bike-short-but-is-still-a-bike-short thingy. Even though I wrestled in high school and college I think I would feel a little self-conscious walking around in tight bike shorts around the office. Modesty is important!

@RDS – I’ll probably try and tinker with my bike that I bought used for a while now. I think I could probably grease the chain a bit and clean up the gears as well. I don’t know how yet but I need to do some research on it.

@ Me vs. Debt – Yeah, I am still going strong and really beginning to ramp it up. Today I am attempting my first both way trek. It should take me about 90 minutes (about 45 in the morning and 45 in the evening) to travel my 22 miles. I only have one serious hill though. It is .8 miles long and must be a few hundred meters change in elevation. This morning I got up to 50 km/h going down it on my way to work! I hope that by the end of September to riding 110 miles a week.

]]> By: Amanda @ Me vs Debt /blog/the-cost-of-bike-commuting/comment-page-1/#comment-675 Amanda @ Me vs Debt Wed, 27 Aug 2008 11:48:08 +0000 /blog/?p=200#comment-675 Still going strong? Its the best way to go. I've been pretty inconsistent this summer because of a hectic work schedule. Oh well. Even a couple times a month helps. I'm thinking about looking for an apartment closer to work to cut down on the commute time. It currently takes me about an hour each way thanks to four pretty serious hills. I linked to you in a blog award post, feel free to pass it on! Still going strong? Its the best way to go. I’ve been pretty inconsistent this summer because of a hectic work schedule. Oh well. Even a couple times a month helps. I’m thinking about looking for an apartment closer to work to cut down on the commute time. It currently takes me about an hour each way thanks to four pretty serious hills. I linked to you in a blog award post, feel free to pass it on!

]]> By: RDS /blog/the-cost-of-bike-commuting/comment-page-1/#comment-647 RDS Tue, 26 Aug 2008 10:31:15 +0000 /blog/?p=200#comment-647 Congrats on starting to commute by bike. Its a great way to go. I have been doing so for several months now and am happier, healthier, and wealthier as a result. However, I spent the first two months on an old, relatively inexpensive bike that I have old for several years. It worked fine. However, after some giving it some thought and realizing that commuting by bike was something that I was going to stick with, I decided to purchase a nicer bike. I spent about $400 for the bike and a bit more for a few accessories. I was amazed at the difference the new bike made. I shaved about 10% of my commute time right away and started enjoying my commute even more. RDS http://financialvalues.blogspot.com/ Congrats on starting to commute by bike. Its a great way to go.

I have been doing so for several months now and am happier, healthier, and wealthier as a result. However, I spent the first two months on an old, relatively inexpensive bike that I have old for several years. It worked fine. However, after some giving it some thought and realizing that commuting by bike was something that I was going to stick with, I decided to purchase a nicer bike. I spent about $400 for the bike and a bit more for a few accessories. I was amazed at the difference the new bike made. I shaved about 10% of my commute time right away and started enjoying my commute even more.

RDS
http://financialvalues.blogspot.com/

]]> By: Francois Viljoen /blog/the-cost-of-bike-commuting/comment-page-1/#comment-586 Francois Viljoen Wed, 20 Aug 2008 23:15:41 +0000 /blog/?p=200#comment-586 I'm a fan!! You're not pumping any CO2 into the air, you're saving money, you're getting fit, and you're getting some mental stimulation too! I agree on the bike shorts (if you don't have it yet), they really help! You can get some kiff ones from Fox for about $50 that look like normal shorts if you don't like the whole spandex thingy. I just got a cheap pair and I wear my boardshorts over them. Francois I’m a fan!!

You’re not pumping any CO2 into the air, you’re saving money, you’re getting fit, and you’re getting some mental stimulation too!

I agree on the bike shorts (if you don’t have it yet), they really help!

You can get some kiff ones from Fox for about $50 that look like normal shorts if you don’t like the whole spandex thingy. I just got a cheap pair and I wear my boardshorts over them.

Francois

]]> By: Early Retirement Extreme /blog/the-cost-of-bike-commuting/comment-page-1/#comment-571 Early Retirement Extreme Wed, 20 Aug 2008 01:33:28 +0000 /blog/?p=200#comment-571 You might want to consider some bike shorts. I was wearing out a lot of pant seats that otherwise would have lasted quite a bit longer before I finally got some shorts. Again, wait for a sale. I currently use a bib short with a regular t-shirt. BTW gloves are good in case you fall. Getting road rash on the palms sucks a lot! I use some leather swat team gloves from Ironclad. Not real bike gloves. They double as work gloves, shooting gloves, sports gloves, etc. You might want to consider some bike shorts. I was wearing out a lot of pant seats that otherwise would have lasted quite a bit longer before I finally got some shorts. Again, wait for a sale. I currently use a bib short with a regular t-shirt. BTW gloves are good in case you fall. Getting road rash on the palms sucks a lot! I use some leather swat team gloves from Ironclad. Not real bike gloves. They double as work gloves, shooting gloves, sports gloves, etc.

]]> By: Early Retirement Extreme /blog/the-cost-of-bike-commuting/comment-page-1/#comment-570 Early Retirement Extreme Wed, 20 Aug 2008 01:29:04 +0000 /blog/?p=200#comment-570 You spend a lot on tubes. I'd get a patch kit and buy future tubes and tires somewhere else (like nashbar - hold out for a clearance, then buy). Also, I'd consider some tire liners. I use Mr Tuffy, but the Slime company also make them now. I have never had a flat with those in. Slime (self-sealing goo in the inner tube) might be an option - I don't use it. You can also avoid a lot of flats by keeping your tires fully inflated. I have been going for a year and had one flat before I put in the Mr Tuffy (I think they were around $20). Otherwise I ride with the same tubes and tires. You spend a lot on tubes. I’d get a patch kit and buy future tubes and tires somewhere else (like nashbar – hold out for a clearance, then buy). Also, I’d consider some tire liners. I use Mr Tuffy, but the Slime company also make them now. I have never had a flat with those in. Slime (self-sealing goo in the inner tube) might be an option – I don’t use it. You can also avoid a lot of flats by keeping your tires fully inflated. I have been going for a year and had one flat before I put in the Mr Tuffy (I think they were around $20). Otherwise I ride with the same tubes and tires.

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