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Automotive News & Views Are gas prices fueling your pain? 
10042 messages, Last post on Jul 12, 2008 at 4:07 PM
You are in the Automotive News & Views Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & claires
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Replying to: lemko (Jun 12, 2008 12:41 pm) That gets into that whole pain/pleasure thing. The moderators would probably toss us out if we talked about it too much. If you are happy with the arrangement that's all that matters. 
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Replying to: kernick (Jun 12, 2008 12:23 pm) 1. Try to find a shortcut away from the skinny bridge. You might can go around a block or something a little extra to avoid it. Another option is to walk the bike across the bridge. Will take a little longer, but a guy walking a bike gets driver attention more easily than a rider, whom they tend to "phase out" usually. 2. You carry a briefcase or a backpack daily? If so, just keep a little hand towel or washcloth in there to dry off your seat in the morning. Could even keep the towel in a little "seat bag" on the bike which you could get at a bike shop. 3. There are cupholders made for bike handlebars. Visit a bike shop and get you one. Then get a little timer to start the coffee maker 15 minutes early or whatever and take your coffee with you. 4. Actually, your car does MINUTELY depreciate a little less when you don't drive it, because the miles do not accumulate quite at the same rate. All else equal, a used car with 44,000 miles sells for slightly more than the same car with 48,000 miles. And ask your car insurance people for a cut rate if you are no longer using the car for the daily commute - my company gave me a break when my car stopped being my commute vehicle. 5. As far as "being trapped in the rain" you could do what I did - buy some rain gear. I bought a top and bottom from a guy who had used it on his sailboat. Got the set on craigslist for $40. Keeps me dry as a bone on the rare RARE Phoenix wet rides. Monsoon season is coming up here quickly, so I will use the rain gear a lot more very soon !!! 6. The leg soreness will eventually go away. Mine held on for about 2 weeks, maybe a little longer. ( But my legs look "buff" these days, so it was building muscle. ) I've lost 15 pounds since I started commuting by bicycle, with no other changes in diet or habits. Blood pressure dropped too, and cholesterol numbers improved. Anyway: good luck, good job, and keep it up !!!
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Replying to: nippononly (Jun 12, 2008 12:50 pm) |
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Replying to: avalon02wh (Jun 12, 2008 12:24 pm) Higher fuel prices haven't affected our standard of living. Even so, we're doing what we can to cut out unnecessary trips. Every dollar not spent at the pumps can be spent on something that we enjoy, like good food & wine. |
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Replying to: lemmer (Jun 12, 2008 1:01 pm) Certainly someone spending 1 dollar of every 20 take-home is spending too much on gas, in my mind. I propose modifying the scale a bit: 2.5% is the top end of the comfort/slightly irritating range, 5% should be the severe pain, sit-down-and-figure-out-a-new-plan threshold. |
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Replying to: nippononly (Jun 12, 2008 12:50 pm) |
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Replying to: nippononly (Jun 12, 2008 1:12 pm) I did a rough estimate, and figure I actually come in around the 5% mark.  However, part of that is because of those old cars I have, that I have to exercise every once in awhile. If I relied solely on my Intrepid, I'd probably be down to around 3%. However, my takehome pay is deceptively low, because I max out my 401k. Plus, I don't have a car payment, insurance is fairly low, and my mortgage is a pittance, by today's standards. So while having fuel run 5% of your takehome pay could be brutal for some people, I don't really notice it. |
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Replying to: nippononly (Jun 12, 2008 1:12 pm) I did a rough estimate, and figure I actually come in around the 5% mark. However, part of that is because of those old cars I have, that I have to exercise every once in awhile. If I relied solely on my Intrepid, I'd probably be down to around 3%. However, my takehome pay is deceptively low, because I max out my 401k. Plus, I don't have a car payment, insurance is fairly low, and my mortgage is a pittance, by today's standards. So while having fuel run 5% of your takehome pay could be brutal for some people, I don't really notice it.
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Replying to: larsb (Jun 12, 2008 12:57 pm) 2) I have a cushy seat with a nylon covering. Wouldn't dry out too well. 4) But I probably eat a little more which costs more, so it offsets the depreciation savings. 5) I have rain gear, but our rain usually involves a lot of lightning. No thanks to riding with wet-brakes (50% efficient?) and in the lightning. 6) There is one downside though to increasing your metabolism. Your cells only divide so many times - the faster your metabolism the quicker you age.
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