Living Car Free - it gets easier

When I first became decidedly car free, it was an adventure.

I studied bike equipment. I studied city maps. I looked for optimal all-weather transport gear. I experimented with different methods of securing loads to my xtracycle. I sought the most secure and convenient lock ever devised.

I shopped at different grocery stores, at different times of day, on different days of the week, using different routes to get there. I began riding more vehicularly in traffic. I had to adapt my riding style to maneuvering the xtracycle in traffic, especially when loaded.

I've been doing this for a couple years, with some bike tours, too. (A side issue--if I ride 130 miles to go to Galveston, am I "touring", "randonouring", or just going to the beach?) I've worn out my Shimano sandals and my WTB saddle. I've replaced two chainrings and the entire rear cassette, as well as the front derailleur, rear derailleur and the rear wheel. I'm sure there are many other parts I've worn out and replaced, or worn out and kept using. My point is, I've put in some miles.

The other night I was tossing some groceries into my xtracycle, headed home from Whole Foods, when I had an epiphany. Maybe it was the pleasant spring evening that put me in a good mood, or maybe it was the way the checkout girl smiled at me (I think she may have even batted her eyes!) as she complemented my choice of flatbread, but I stood there in the parking lot I realized that this bicycle-as-transportation business has become easy. It's not any more adventurous than brushing my teeth. There's nothing to it but getting the groceries you need, and enjoying the trip along the way. That's all. Just get where you need to be, and enjoy the trip.

Hmm. I'll have to look elsewhere for adventure. I think I'll buy a hammock and a tarp, put my stuff in storage, and hit the road.

Rock on dude, I am assuming you are in Houston as myself and a few of my coworkers are car free here. I have been for a year and a half. I am looking for a route to Galveston. Have you actually biked there yet?? I called a Galveston Bike shop and they said the causeway is out of the question, it's illegal right now. I was thinking about taking the Ferry from Boliver I know they are bike friendly. Any suggestions

People in this friggin' town are going to be in so much more of a world of hurt as gas prices continue to climb. Out here in the suburbs I think I'm the only one out of 250,000 people that does any errands on a bike. 13,000 can ride to Austin, but like zero of them can pick up flatbread at the store. Huh???

People in this friggin' town are going to be in so much more of a world of hurt as gas prices continue to climb. Out here in the suburbs I think I'm the only one out of 250,000 people that does any errands on a bike. 13,000 can ride to Austin, but like zero of them can pick up flatbread at the store. Huh???
Go figure, I love hearing people complain about the mpg they get, and cost of gas. Myself I get 20 mpcb (miles per can of beans) $0.79 for premium last I checked:D .

Hmm. I'll have to look elsewhere for adventure. I think I'll buy a hammock and a tarp, put my stuff in storage, and hit the road.
I often get the same feeling, especially when the weather is nice. Sometimes, I go for long rides in the country and when I reach the point where I have to head back, I have this tremendous urge to keep going...

Since I'm not in a situation where I can head off on bike tours, I like to spend time reading about them. The Touring forum on BF is a great resource. If that isn't enough, there's http://www.crazyguyonabike.com. I like to pick up one of the diaries and follow up with it every day or so. It's almost like I'm on the trip myself. This is especially fun to read in Winter.

Go figure, I love hearing people complain about the mpg they get, and cost of gas. Myself I get 20 mpcb (miles per can of beans) $0.79 for premium last I checked:D .

+1:roflmao:

Aaron:)

I often get the same feeling, especially when the weather is nice. Sometimes, I go for long rides in the country and when I reach the point where I have to head back, I have this tremendous urge to keep going...

Since I'm not in a situation where I can head off on bike tours, I like to spend time reading about them. The Touring forum on BF is a great resource. If that isn't enough, there's http://www.crazyguyonabike.com. I like to pick up one of the diaries and follow up with it every day or so. It's almost like I'm on the trip myself. This is especially fun to read in Winter.

Ditto! I love the crazyguyonabike I have about 4 or 5 that I follow at any given time. One of my current favorites is Joff Summerfield (http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/joff1) who is touring the world on a Penny Farthing!

Aaron:)

... I am looking for a route to Galveston. Have you actually biked there yet?? ...

I have biked there. I have heard mention of people taking the causeway, but I didn't. I ended up making a big loop--I got there using the Bolivar ferry, stayed a couple of days, and left across San Luis Pass.

On the way there, I went via Humble, across Lake Houston on FM 1960 to Liberty, then south to Anahuac, High Island and the Bolivar Peninsula. That way was about 130 miles from my house in the Heights. There are some desolate stretches past Anahuac; I found myself glad of the company of occasion herd of sleepy cattle.

I left the island from the southwest tip on the way back. There's a toll bridge across San Luis Pass, but it's free for bicycles. There wasn't much traffic, and there is a shoulder. I went through Surfside and Oyster Creek, and around Angleton. I ended up on FM 521 (aka Almeda), which I took until I got to the Astrodome, and from there, just for fun, I road the entire length of Kirby up toward the Heights. I don't recall the mileage for this route, but it was less than the other way. Closer to 100 miles.

It was dusk when I hit the city streets, and I recall that I had to stop and collect myself. I had spent all day riding past beaches, rivers, fields of sorghum and correctional facilities. The challenge was to keep myself moving without becoming exhausted, and to make sure the trailer-pulling pickup trucks didn't run me over. City riding, especially at night, is completely different. There's cross traffic. There are stop lights. The situation is always changing. Half the time you're either speeding up or slowing down. So when I got into Houston, I had to stop, drink some water, plan my route, turn on my lights, and make sure I understood that what I was about to do was different from what I had been doing for the previous eight hours.

The San Luis Pass approach is more direct, and the route allows more opportunities to stop for supplies. FM 521 looks forbidding on the section just south of 610, but it gets better.

The Bolivar Ferry route is a nice long ride. It was satisfying end the ride standing on the deck of the ferry, watching the sun set over Galveston Bay, having begun the ride watching that same sun rise over Lake Houston. If you go that way, be sure to carry plenty of water.

Thanks, printing this out for future use.

When I first became decidedly car free, it was an adventure.

...but I stood there in the parking lot I realized that this bicycle-as-transportation business has become easy. It's not any more adventurous than brushing my teeth. There's nothing to it but getting the groceries you need, and enjoying the trip along the way. That's all. Just get where you need to be, and enjoy the trip.

Hmm. I'll have to look elsewhere for adventure. I think I'll buy a hammock and a tarp, put my stuff in storage, and hit the road.
Yes that is how it goes. But I still have things to learn and new places to explore.