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

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
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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

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....

brink wrote:
"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


I got that topped. It was 112 here today. The local weather guy stated
that all 48 states had temperatures topping the 90's and that it was
supposed to be hotter here tomorrow. 115? Enough. I worked on 3 bikes in
the morning until about 10 then went to take them all for a test ride
and came back sweaty. It was already 92 by 10, and passed 100 at about
12:30 and was still 84 at 11 tonight. I may have to become a night time
rider.
As for the topic, I use a car with A/C to go to my LBS, wonder why.
Bill Baka

"Pat" wrote in message
ups.com...
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.


Even the school buses in Syracuse run through 6" of snow without thinking
about it. Our children sometimes would even lose their boots in snow drifts
on the way home from school. My wife went out and looked in each step
depression to retrieve their shoes.

"Arif Khokar" wrote in message
oups.com...
John S. wrote:
An interesting but very incomplete analysis of the true costs of
commuting by bike.

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.


What? The Tour de France averages 25 mph. Why can't we all do that?

"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.

Barefoot too?

On 17 Jul 2006 10:29:03 -0700, "John S." wrote:

An interesting but very incomplete analysis of the true costs of
commuting by bike.

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.

Incremental cost: New bike every year plus repairs $2,000; Medical
expenses from road injuries $2,000

My $300 Trek 7100 is going on its fourth year, around 14,000 miles.
I've paid about $300 over the years on various tuneups but flats and
chains I handle myself. Not medical expenses.

On days when weather is just too awful to commute by bike, I take a
bus and train.

My commute is 15 miles each way. It takes me, and I'm slow, 80 minutes
each way. I do not, at the conclusion of my ride home, need to go to
the gym. In fact, my cholesterol and ldl, which used to be very bad,
are now excellent. The good HDL, previously low, is now excellent. My
doctor freaked on my first exam after starting biking. Cost of heart
attack, well, I'll hopefully never know.

I don't need to make presentations at clients, but if I do, my company
will arrange transportation.

In article et, george conklin wrote:

What? The Tour de France averages 25 mph. Why can't we all do that?

It's not difficult to average in the 20s with out stoplights on flat
ground with a decent bike. However, you might have noticed the mountains
in the Tour de France... It would be just as valid to compare NASCAR,
IRL, and pikes peak hill climb to regular commute driving.

Brent P wrote:
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.

I colleage from Westchester was in Syracuse and dreaded leaving an
office at 5:00 to head towards home. He didn't want to sit in traffic.
I told him not to worry about Syracuse's Rush Quarter-Hour.

Seldom to these places have traffic tie-up that would have a bike going
faster than a car. A big part of that is because "no one" lives in
those cities anymore. Everyone uses the expressway and commutes. So
the only tie up is on the way to the on-ramp.


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.