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#21
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Divorce Your Car --and get into a relationship with a Bike!
Welcome to Western New York. 6" of snow isn't worth getting all wound
up about. Happens all the time. Buffalo gets some, but Rochester and Syracuse get piled on. Figure 10 FEET per year and about 30" per year. Lot of northern cities gets lots of snow -- and I would guess lots of cities in the Rockies do to. The city I live in got just under 100" last year. 6" of snow isn't all the much and drivers know how to handle it. It doesn't cause gridlock. It doesn't even cause schools to be closed. Things slow down a bit, but that's a good thing. A 6" storm doesn't have much effect on an expressway at all unless the snowfall is coming down hard -- maybe over an inch an hour. That, mixed with wind, can cause localized whiteouts which are dangerous. Biking on packed snow -- especially snow over packed snow -- is very tricky because the tires aren't formulated for it. The rubber is too hard. Also, at 100 psi, you don't have enough contact with the ground. So bikes and motorcycles go away when the snow starts. FYI, snowshoes are about useless with 6" of snow. You really need a foot or more to make then worth wearing -- and then only if it's virgin snow. They don't do anything on packed snow. Brent P wrote: In article .com, Pat wrote: Oh, did I mention snow storms. I can't imaging a bike on 6" of unplowed snow on a packed snow base when it's -20F and windy. Those car heaters sure come in handy then. In an urban environment, if there is 6 inches of snow on the ground you have a better chance of getting where you are going with the bicycle or with snow shoes for that matter..... Not because there aren't motor vehicles that could handle those conditions, but because the roads would be stop and stop gridlock with the drivers who cannot. |
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#22
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Divorce Your Car --and get into a relationship with a Bike!
In article . com, Pat wrote:
Welcome to Western New York. 6" of snow isn't worth getting all wound up about. Happens all the time. But does traffic actually move faster than a bicycle? In chicago it doesn't when 6 inches is on the ground. 6" of snow isn't all the much and drivers know how to handle it. It doesn't cause gridlock. It doesn't even cause schools to be closed. It doesn't cause schools to be closed here either... but there are more than enough morons and transplants driving to screw up the roads big time. I don't have a problem driving in snow, I have a problem driving around in snow with other people. Biking on packed snow -- especially snow over packed snow -- is very tricky because the tires aren't formulated for it. The rubber is too hard. Also, at 100 psi, you don't have enough contact with the ground. So bikes and motorcycles go away when the snow starts. I've ridden on ice BTW.... I ride in snow at least once a year. It's a bit a tricky... the bad thing is the brakes becoming useless with the snow/water/ice on the rims. FYI, snowshoes are about useless with 6" of snow. You really need a foot or more to make then worth wearing -- and then only if it's virgin snow. They don't do anything on packed snow. The person I was replying too said fresh 6" on top of snow already there. |
#23
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Divorce Your Car --and get into a relationship with a Bike!
Dave Head wrote:
On 17 Jul 2006 15:14:50 -0700, "Arif Khokar" wrote: Are you saying you can only average 6 to 7 mph on a bike? I'm not very fast, but I can average 15 mph on a bike. That means I can make the commute in about 80 minutes give or take. Try 20 miles each way in Virginia today. 100 degrees out there. It was 90 degrees here, but I still rode 25 miles. I'd ride further, but I really don't have the time on weekdays. And maybe an expensive ride to the emergency room for heat exhaustion. I just keep up with fluid intake. |
#24
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Divorce Your Car --and get into a relationship with a Bike!
Brent P wrote:
The heat doesn't really bother me that much when I ride. Now if I am sitting in a lot of traffic, then it gets irritating. I only really start to notice it if I'm stopped, or slowly going uphill (much more so for the latter). |
#25
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Divorce Your Car --and get into a relationship with a Bike!
"donquijote1954" wrote in message oups.com... They are simply cool as well as more troublefree and cheaper. Too expensive in the cost of time. Very few people can afford to use a bike. |
#26
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Divorce Your Car --and get into a relationship with a Bike!
"Pat" wrote in message ups.com... And interesting and incomplete analysis. You forgot something. How do you (or your teenager) make out on the back seat of a bike. That is evolution in action. Weeding out the failures in society like donquijote1954 |
#27
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Divorce Your Car --and get into a relationship with a Bike!
"Arif Khokar" wrote in message ... Dave Head wrote: On 17 Jul 2006 15:14:50 -0700, "Arif Khokar" wrote: Are you saying you can only average 6 to 7 mph on a bike? I'm not very fast, but I can average 15 mph on a bike. That means I can make the commute in about 80 minutes give or take. Try 20 miles each way in Virginia today. 100 degrees out there. It was 90 degrees here, but I still rode 25 miles. I'd ride further, but I really don't have the time on weekdays. And maybe an expensive ride to the emergency room for heat exhaustion. I just keep up with fluid intake. My bike has an IV drip attachment for days like today. Mainline Gatorade and you're good to go. brink |
#28
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Divorce Your Car --and get into a relationship with a Bike!
1500 miles per gallon @ $3 per gallon of gasoline vs 20 mile charge
cost 5 cents. Electric bikes typically travel at speeds of 10 to 20+ miles per hour and go up to 12-20 miles charge. Charging your electric bike for four to six hours uses 5 cents worth of electricity from common 110 wall outlets. The electric bike power can give you a break from pedaling or supply more power when you're going up hill. http://www.bicycles-electric-bikes.com/bike_to_work.htm donquijote1954 wrote: "Too bad our economy rolls on four wheels. Many of us are enslaved to our automobiles. There is help, you can Divorce Your Car, if you are so bold. Heck, you could save $30,000 over the next five years ($6000 per year)." Yep, just like you deserve to be free from a bad marriage (tell me about it), you deserve to be free from the enslavement of the automibile. Well, then you can get into a hot romance with a red (or whatever color you like) bike or recumbent. They are simply cool as well as more troublefree and cheaper. And they'll give you a nice attention-getter physique wich is bound to end in a torrid affair (unlike an SUV with tinted windows meant to hide a short fat man). Anyway, whatever your reasons, don't tell you wife... Cars: True Cost of Ownership Gasoline is $3.11 per gallon in Port Townsend this week (unleaded plus). Some feel this is expensive, but gas prices in the USA are cheap compared to the rest of the world where upwards of $6 per gallon is more the norm. If your car gets 20 mpg, you currently have to pay $2300+ for a years (15K miles) worth of gas (per car) - such a deal. http://ptslacker.blogspot.com/2006/0...ownership.html WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE http://webspawner.com/users/donquijote COMING OUT OF THE JUNGLE http://webspawner.com/users/donquijote1 BIKE FOR PEACE http://webspawner.com/users/bikeforpeace |
#29
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Divorce Your Car --and get into a relationship with a Bike!
Crystalyte Phoenix bike motor two models available 36 volt 1500w and
48 volt 2000w off road capable the fastest and most powerful production hub motor complete kit available. Imagine going from zero to 30+ something MPH in less than 20 seconds on a bike. Phoenix is the fastest, and very serious electric bike system. Once you get over the adrenalin rush of high speed electric biking, you'll settle in to whatever speed is comfortable for you, given the conditions of the road, vehicle and rider. Note a car will go faster than most conditions permit, and it certainly would not be safe at its top speed, so you as the driver have to make the responsible choice to regulate. Likewise the same with Phoenix Motor powered e-bike operation. more information on this motor. Complete conversion kit includes motor in 26' wheel, controller, wiring, throttle, special charger, batteries, rack, pack - font wheel or real wheel drive, rear wheel 7 speed sprocket. 36 volt 1500w - with 3 batteries . - fastest speed 48 volts motor 2000w 48 volt controller 4 batteries motor dia 10" 40 MPH http://www.bicycles-electric-bikes.com/ Bob in CT wrote: On Mon, 17 Jul 2006 14:06:38 -0400, David Kerber wrote: In article om, says... An interesting but very incomplete analysis of the true costs of commuting by bike. Inaccurate, too. See below... Take the average commuter that lives 20 miles from work. To make an 8-4 work schedule that commuter will have to get up at 4:00 to begin riding at 5:00 to arrive at work by 8:00. The commuter then does the same in reverse and arrives home at 7:00 The times assume he is able to find a lot of flat and downhill both ways with few traffic and stoplights. 3 hours for 20 miles? Even at a "no sweating allowed" speed, that would only take me 2 hours. More typical speeds would be 90 - 100 minutes. It takes me 1.5 hours to ride 17 miles, with tons of sweating and really large hills. I only ride one way (17 miles) to work or from work, but I don't ride in and then home -- I don't think I could do it right now. In AZ, however, I could ride much faster because it was flat. 17 miles would take me around an hour, depending on how many traffic lights I had to sit through. The rest of this was too funny to respond. -- Bob in CT |
#30
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Divorce Your Car --and get into a relationship with a Bike!
I am looking at my 2002 Taurus, I have not driven in months now - cost
used $8995 plus 8.5 sales tax, insurance before I dive it $1600 year, taxes $300, state sticker $156, inspection sticker $36, tires $400, battery $90, gas if I drove it 3000 miles $442.50, oil change $39...fix parking lot dents / repaint $650 ... and the depreciation of initial car cost. Ebike motor $500 - bike $150 .. changed to better tires $18, lights $28 - air conditioning included free - ok I am cheap - would rather have the 12K I spent on car in my pocket. ebike does 30 MPH so does the Taurus after I put gas in it. Brent P wrote: In article om, John S. wrote: Take the average commuter that lives 20 miles from work. To make an 8-4 work schedule that commuter will have to get up at 4:00 to begin riding at 5:00 to arrive at work by 8:00. The commuter then does the same in reverse and arrives home at 7:00 The times assume he is able to find a lot of flat and downhill both ways with few traffic and stoplights. You're nuts. My last job was 6 miles away. Time by car or bicycle was about equal. 17-20minutes by bicycle. 15-20 minutes by car. New job is 9 miles away, have to take a different route by bicycle. It takes 35minutes by bicycle, 25 minutes by car. About 5 minutes less for each coming back. Even if I had to go 20miles, I would still make it there in an hour if I faced stop lights every 1/2-3/4 of mile or so on average. Fewer lights and stop signs means reduced travel time. Incremental cost: New bike every year plus repairs $2,000; Medical expenses from road injuries $2,000 I have been riding since I was about 5 years old. I've been riding for 30 years. I can count injuries that needed banages on one hand. I think I've spent $5 on them if that. Since 1982 I have had 3 bicycles. They cost $150, $380, and $1200 in that order. I have yet to spend $2000 in repairs. In fact, if you added everything I've ever spent on bicycles together in the last 24 years, it probably wouldn't make $2000. Hell, my second bicycle, when it was worn out I ordered the one I ride now. However I needed to make a repair to keep riding the old one. The new parts cost me the huge sum of SIX dollars. When it snows, or rains the commuter is either off work and not paid because he cant make it in, or he is forced to get a hotel room close to work because he can't ride home in inclement weather. Who said one has to use a bicycle _every_ day? The rest just goes off the deep end.... |
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