Been car free for 5 years!

[FS1974JH]

Ive been car free since I COULD of driven at 16. I am 21 now. I have had the same Gold/Yellow Sears Free Spirit street bike since I was 16. I now have a Bike computer on my bike. I average at around 8-15MPH each trip. I live in a small texas suburb city where everything is local (close). stores, churches, libraries, restraunts etc. Everything is reachable by bicycle. I don't believe in cars, I hate pollution and I have never had the desire to have a drivers license.

Biking rules!

Josh

[gerv]

Josh, congratulations... I wonder how this works with all your friends? Do they understand why you don't have a car? Are they thinking about ditching their vehicles too?

[FS1974JH]

Actually,

My friends are very supportive of this. They respect my views on pollution and disliking cars in general. One of my best friends bought me my bike when I was 16, He actually gave it to me as a gift with that in mind that I would ride it most often. My bike has recently been fitted with a bike computer, which I have been wanting for ages. I am very happy with my current mobility, Tomarrow is planned a trip to a church which I love that I have not been to in awhile. I'm a cross between Baptist and Lutheran, so I change off every so often. Tomarrow is Lutheran church which is about 3 miles away. I average 4 miles in 10 mins. I don't know if thats really fast but it seems so to me, I have alot of muscle strength in my legs from riding all these years. And I know my bike really well, I know what it feels like and what it's supposte to feel like when its working correctly. I am kinda hypocritical with it checking the tires all the time and checking the bike computer sensor.

I regularly go to the library to look at the bike maitence books.

Joshua from Texas

[Roody]

Josh, you're a man after my own heart. Like you, I love bikes and hate cars and pollution. I've been carfree a long time too.

Another thing I like is a bike computer. they don't cost much, and they add a lot of fun and interest to riding. My computer got stolen when my bike was stolen a couple weeks ago. I'm going to buy a computer for my new bike next week. What kind of computer do you have? Do you recommend it?

When my bike got stolen, the crazy thief left me another bike. It's an old Fuji 10-speed. It's probably a lot like your Free Spirit, but maybe not quite as vintage. I like mountain bikes, so I bought a new one. I'm keeping the Fuji as a spare and for friends to use when they want to ride with me.

Anyhoo, welcome to the forum. I'm glad we're getting some cool new members.

[FS1974JH]

I really like the bike computer I found. If you go to wal-mart and look in the bike section you'll find a section of products made by a company called "Bell". They have everything from locks to Night time headlights, blinkers and a computer called the Ez-Fit Bike Computer. I think it runs normally at 10$. I got mine at wal-mart on sale for a steal of 7$. It runs off a small watch battery that it comes with and you can usually find them at dollar stores for 1$ or so. It's a simple computer it does Speed in MPH / KM/H distance in miles, elapsed time and it is easily installed. Just use the tie wraps it comes with to secure the cradle to the handlebar on either side of your handlebars, and do the same to the sensor on the fork on the right side and screw the high-powered magnet to one of your spokes on the right side of the front wheel. The good thing about this one is that you can remove it from the cradle and its small enough to put in your pocket so it's not stolen.


Im so hypocritical about my bike being stolen that I have two bike chains that I use when I go out. I use a heavy duty bike actual "chain" and padlock and then a steel wrapped wire chain around the base of the bike. I am very careful not to have it stolen. No one has ever tried to take it or even been successful in breaking either locks. The padlock is huge. haha

[Roody]

I really like the bike computer I found. If you go to wal-mart and look in the bike section you'll find a section of products made by a company called "Bell". They have everything from locks to Night time headlights, blinkers and a computer called the Ez-Fit Bike Computer. I think it runs normally at 10$. I got mine at wal-mart on sale for a steal of 7$. It runs off a small watch battery that it comes with and you can usually find them at dollar stores for 1$ or so. It's a simple computer it does Speed in MPH / KM/H distance in miles, elapsed time and it is easily installed. Just use the tie wraps it comes with to secure the cradle to the handlebar on either side of your handlebars, and do the same to the sensor on the fork on the right side and screw the high-powered magnet to one of your spokes on the right side of the front wheel. The good thing about this one is that you can remove it from the cradle and its small enough to put in your pocket so it's not stolen.


Im so hypocritical about my bike being stolen that I have two bike chains that I use when I go out. I use a heavy duty bike actual "chain" and padlock and then a steel wrapped wire chain around the base of the bike. I am very careful not to have it stolen. No one has ever tried to take it or even been successful in breaking either locks. The padlock is huge. haha
Thanks for the info on the computer, Josh. I'll check out the Bell. Those are the functions I want on a computer, and that's about half the price they want at my LBS.

I got a heavier cable lock for my new bike. I'm going to get a U-lock too and double lock like you do. I hate carrying all that weight around, but I guess it's better than getting my bike stolen again!

[lvleph]

I didn't drive until I was 21. But then I had to get to work even if it was a blizzard and so I got a car. I am hoping now that I am about to turn 30 that I can get rid of my car. It is hard convincing my wife though.

[squegeeboo]

I didn't drive until I was 21. But then I had to get to work even if it was a blizzard and so I got a car. I am hoping now that I am about to turn 30 that I can get rid of my car. It is hard convincing my wife though.

You can bike thru a blizzard, it's quite fun, and then you get to mock your co-workers that called in, when they show up the next day, and so will your boss.

Additionally, congrats to the OP on hitting 5, as of last Sunday I just hit 1.