Woo hoo, today marks my 100th folding bike + train commute between Center City Philadelphia and Malvern, PA! My first one was Feb 28 last year, so it's almost one year of doing this commute also. It's been a blast and of course I'm going to continue. Here are some stats:
100 Round Trips on Bike + Train
850 Miles biked
5300 Miles Not Driven by Car (Philly to Los Angeles AND back again)
31500 vertical feet (6 miles) up the Cedar Hollow Rd hill
220 gallons of gas not purchased
30,000 Calories burned (8 ˝ lbs of fat) (note that I haven't lost weight, but I've enjoyed eating lots of desserts and cookies and stuff with no guilt)
$600 dollars saved vs. driving (I Save $6 per round trip counting “everything”)
oh, and all the benefits: it's fun, it's exercise, I avoid traffic jams and stress, get to read or listen to music for almost an hour each day, interact with people, my dollars are going towards Amtrak and its employees rather than gas companies and the middle east.
(additional info for the folding bike forum - my Downtube IXNS has held up pretty nicely. The only actual 'upgrade' I did was change the bottom bracket to a Shimano sealed cartridge. Over the past year I had two parts break -- the brake noodle broke in the first week or two. The handlebar quick release nut stripped a couple months back, probably from me tightening it too much. The chain and cassette have a little rust on it, because a couple of times I rode in the rain and didn't really dry off the parts well.)
PedalPower77
02-15-08, 08:00 AM
Congrats! I also commute from center city to Malvern and I applaud your 100th ride! I used to use a folder but I have to ride about 5 miles from the Malvern train station and the folder, unfortunately, was a bit slow on the hills.
4cmd3
02-15-08, 10:23 AM
Maybe my geography is off, but how does Los Angeles fit into your commute? ;)
SesameCrunch
02-15-08, 01:37 PM
Fantastic! You're walking the walk....
Dahon.Steve
02-15-08, 07:17 PM
Here are some questions.
1. Do you use a bag or cover when bringing the bike on Amtrak?
2. Have you been rejected or had to argue with the Amtrak workers?
3. Do you think Amtrak would allow a larger 26' inch wheel folder from Dahon?
4. Where do you park the bike? Overhead rack, by the door or in the luggage area?
JugglerDave
02-15-08, 07:52 PM
Here are some questions.
1. Do you use a bag or cover when bringing the bike on Amtrak?
2. Have you been rejected or had to argue with the Amtrak workers?
3. Do you think Amtrak would allow a larger 26' inch wheel folder from Dahon?
4. Where do you park the bike? Overhead rack, by the door or in the luggage area?
Answers:
1. No bag or cover, just the bike
2. Between February and May of 2007 I had problems... on May 7, 2007 the conductor rulebook was amended to specifically mention folding bikes and bring specific instructions and size specifications to what was otherwise a vague website policy. Here is the policy: http://bikefriday.com/images/news/amtrakpolicy07.pdf
3. Probably not, but depends on the fold: the allowed folded dimensions are 34x15x48.
4. Never the overhead rack. On the Keystone train I take, there are luggage shelves near the end of each car. There is also a 'coat closet' into which my bike fits perfectly, but often has a broom or (recently) icemelt. In some cars there are no racks so I just lay down the bike near the end of the car where there is extra space, on the opposite side of the wheelchair area.
pismocycleguy
02-15-08, 10:18 PM
Maybe my geography is off, but how does Los Angeles fit into your commute? ;)
The distance he has traveled is the equivalent of traveling from Philly to LA round trip!!:)
He is not riding the the folder to and from Philly to LA!:eek:
knatchwa
02-15-08, 11:22 PM
why not that would be a great tour :)
v6v6v6
02-16-08, 01:21 AM
That's awesome--thanks for taking the time to track and share this!
gurana
03-05-08, 09:39 AM
Woo hoo, today marks my 100th folding bike + train commute between Center City Philadelphia and Malvern, PA! My first one was Feb 28 last year, so it's almost one year of doing this commute also. It's been a blast and of course I'm going to continue. Here are some stats:
100 Round Trips on Bike + Train
850 Miles biked
5300 Miles Not Driven by Car (Philly to Los Angeles AND back again)
31500 vertical feet (6 miles) up the Cedar Hollow Rd hill
220 gallons of gas not purchased
30,000 Calories burned (8 ˝ lbs of fat) (note that I haven't lost weight, but I've enjoyed eating lots of desserts and cookies and stuff with no guilt)
$600 dollars saved vs. driving (I Save $6 per round trip counting “everything”)
oh, and all the benefits: it's fun, it's exercise, I avoid traffic jams and stress, get to read or listen to music for almost an hour each day, interact with people, my dollars are going towards Amtrak and its employees rather than gas companies and the middle east.
(additional info for the folding bike forum - my Downtube IXNS has held up pretty nicely. The only actual 'upgrade' I did was change the bottom bracket to a Shimano sealed cartridge. Over the past year I had two parts break -- the brake noodle broke in the first week or two. The handlebar quick release nut stripped a couple months back, probably from me tightening it too much. The chain and cassette have a little rust on it, because a couple of times I rode in the rain and didn't really dry off the parts well.)
Dave, it's funny, but I was looking for info on folding bikes and I remember you telling me at last years Lancaster covered bridges that your other bike was a folder for commuting. Congratulations!
JugglerDave
10-06-08, 08:14 AM
Today is my 200th folding bike + train commute. It keeps getting more fun and much more enjoyable than driving on the Schuylkill 'Expressway'.
latest stats:
200 Round Trips on Bike + Train
1700 Miles biked
10,600 Miles Not Driven by Car (almost a full year of typical car use)
63000 vertical feet (12 vertical miles) up the Cedar Hollow Rd hill
440 gallons of gas not purchased
60,000 Calories burned (17 lbs of fat)
$1600 dollars saved vs. driving (Save $8 per round trip counting “everything”)Woo hoo, today marks my 100th folding bike + train commute between Center City Philadelphia and Malvern, PA! My first one was Feb 28 last year, so it's almost one year of doing this commute also. It's been a blast and of course I'm going to continue. Here are some stats:
100 Round Trips on Bike + Train
850 Miles biked
5300 Miles Not Driven by Car (Philly to Los Angeles AND back again)
31500 vertical feet (6 miles) up the Cedar Hollow Rd hill
220 gallons of gas not purchased
30,000 Calories burned (8 ˝ lbs of fat) (note that I haven't lost weight, but I've enjoyed eating lots of desserts and cookies and stuff with no guilt)
$600 dollars saved vs. driving (I Save $6 per round trip counting “everything”)
oh, and all the benefits: it's fun, it's exercise, I avoid traffic jams and stress, get to read or listen to music for almost an hour each day, interact with people, my dollars are going towards Amtrak and its employees rather than gas companies and the middle east.
(additional info for the folding bike forum - my Downtube IXNS has held up pretty nicely. The only actual 'upgrade' I did was change the bottom bracket to a Shimano sealed cartridge. Over the past year I had two parts break -- the brake noodle broke in the first week or two. The handlebar quick release nut stripped a couple months back, probably from me tightening it too much. The chain and cassette have a little rust on it, because a couple of times I rode in the rain and didn't really dry off the parts well.)
Lalato
10-06-08, 08:28 AM
I'm at about 17 round trips from Champaign-Urbana to Chicago via Amtrak (I go up on Monday night and return either Thursday night or Friday morning). I'm at about 100 round trips via Metra from Chicago to Lombard. I'm at about 100 total trips on the "L" with a folding bike (about 1/3 during rush hour).
I've saved about $500 since I started in May. If Amtrak and Metra ran at slightly more convenient times, it would be perfect. As it stands... it's merely fantastic. ;)