Living Car Free - What about time?

I'm trying to make the switch but I always seem to think I need the car to get me somewhere faster. I have a "go fast" bike that I commute with and it is a pain to change clothes. My car commute takes 16 minutes one way, but by bike the commute is about 50 minutes. Coming home is up hill and take about 75 minutes. Sooo, I give up close to 2 hours every day I ride. How do you or did you deal with the lost time feeling?

How is spending time on your bicycle "giving up" time? The more time on the bicycle, the better.

If you're following a car route, you may need to check your maps to see if there's a more direct route you can take. In a car, you need to look for wide, fast roads but on a bike, you don't have the same needs. If you've got a route with good traffic controls, that's all you need.

However, what you've described would indicate you're in a suburb or bedroom community and following a highway into the next town. In that case, your 16-minute drive is likely the most direct route you've got.

Is there a way you can use transit or even bike part of the way and catch a bus or train the rest of the way? That might save you some time.

How do you spend the other 1/2 - 1 hr of time when you drive? watching tv? internet? "stuff"? Try not to see the extra 1/2 hr as "lost" time, try to see it as "alone" or "me" time, a chance to gather your thoughts on the day ahead or the day thats past. Also consider the calories you're burning and how much excersize you'd have to do to substitite for the workout you're getting on the bike.

Last but not least : SLow DoWn!!! you've got to slow your mindset down a bit from the hectic car-centric pace of having to be five places within 15 minutes of each other. Enjoy the ride!

...How do you or did you deal with the lost time feeling?
Use the time for planning your work day, mental decompression, relaxation, and pre-thinking everything you need to do. Then when you get off the bike, execute your plans 1-2-3-bing-bing-bing like a kung fu master. You'll accomplish everything you need to do.

When you drive, do you also make trips to the gym?...or should you?:rolleyes: Many people consider the time riding as workout time.

I consider riding as stress relief and will be a grumpy SOB if I don't get my daily "fix"

Aaron:)

I'm trying to make the switch but I always seem to think I need the car to get me somewhere faster. I have a "go fast" bike that I commute with and it is a pain to change clothes. My car commute takes 16 minutes one way, but by bike the commute is about 50 minutes. Coming home is up hill and take about 75 minutes. Sooo, I give up close to 2 hours every day I ride. How do you or did you deal with the lost time feeling?

Have you factored in the time you had to work to earn the money to cover the cost of running the car? including fuel, depreciation, maintenance, etc. Then also factor in the time you need to spend at the gym to get the equivalent amount of exercise plus the time at work to pay for the gym. You're way ahead on the bike.

I find other benefits to using the bike, such as the relaxation/decompression time which I'd go nuts without, but that doesn't readily translate to time saving unless it's contributing to longevity by lowering my overall stress level (which I'm quite sure it does). Also, although it doesn't increase the quantity of time, by putting me in a much better frame of mind, cycling home certainly raises the quality of time I then spend with my kids.

I'm trying to make the switch but I always seem to think I need the car to get me somewhere faster. I have a "go fast" bike that I commute with and it is a pain to change clothes. My car commute takes 16 minutes one way, but by bike the commute is about 50 minutes. Coming home is up hill and take about 75 minutes. Sooo, I give up close to 2 hours every day I ride. How do you or did you deal with the lost time feeling?

Bikes are fast compared to cars if you're in a city. I wear normal clothes and shoes, and can just hop on my bike and *go*. It's rare for me to *need* to go more than about a 6 mile loop to finish my errands for the day. Most of the time spent is not on the bike... it's actually *doing* the errand.

In a suburban area, distances are a lot longer. Bike specific clothing and shoes get to be more sensible. If you think of your 8-10 mile commute as "wasted time", then yes, it will suck. For me, it's good thinking time. Maybe I'll puzzle out some fine details of a knitting project, or I'll mentally draft out a political essay... The thinking time is good and makes me happy most of the time. And if it's a bad day, where all my thoughts are depressing, hammering away can be a good way to get tired enough to rewrite things forcefully :).

It isn't giving up time, going car free usually means rearranging time and gaining time. Basically when you go car free your transportation is multitasked with something else. You can get a lot of reading done on the train. You get exercise and mental health on a bike or walking. To those of us who have experienced the transition your question seems silly for a brief second until we remember how we once lived in the fantasy world of car dependency.

I recently started commuting by bike and train. I find that it generally takes twice as long as a car commute. Sometimes it's even longer if there are any delays on the trains.

The biking part of my commute is relatively short, perhaps 7 miles total roundtrip. If I were to bike directly to work it would be 60 miles roundtrip. So... I'm stuck on the train.

Pros and Cons of the Extra Time:

Pros:
1. I get to listen to more podcasts (I really enjoy listening to NPR and other podcasts)
2. I get some reading done
3. If I'm tired, I can close my eyes and nap a bit on the train.
4. As long as I don't need net access, I can get a little work done on the train.
5. I've learned a lot more about Chicago... and I'm finding that I actually like it. LOL
6. I rarely, if ever, yell they way I used to while driving
7. The ride to the train station from the office after work is very relaxing

Cons:
1. If there is an emergency, I can't get to my destination quickly
2. There are occasional sweat issues
3. Transit systems aren't designed for reverse commuting (living in the city and commuting to the burbs). As such, scheduling options are limited.
4. If you miss your train... or wake up late... there is very little you can do to "rush" to work. You're going to be late no matter what. This may not be a con for some.
5. Due to my extreme situation*... I only save $130 per month from commuting this way. Sure, it's a savings, and it will increase as gas prices increases. However, should gas prices go down significantly, it will actually be cheaper for me to drive.


*My extreme situation is that I don't actually live in Chicago. I live in Champaign-Urbana, IL. I take Amtrak to Chicago and rent a room there for the 3 days I have to spend in the office each week. While there I take public transit, plus bike to work.

--sam

I'm trying to make the switch but I always seem to think I need the car to get me somewhere faster. I have a "go fast" bike that I commute with and it is a pain to change clothes. My car commute takes 16 minutes one way, but by bike the commute is about 50 minutes. Coming home is up hill and take about 75 minutes. Sooo, I give up close to 2 hours every day I ride. How do you or did you deal with the lost time feeling?

I'm struggling with this, too.

I've found that I can somewhat alleviate that feeling by spreading errands out throughout the week and combining them by geographical area. Target, the liquor store, and the playground are northwest of me; those are one day's errands. The swimming pool and the secondhand store are west of me; those are another day's errands.

It's not necessary to do all the shopping or errands in one day.

My commute is about that long. The 75 minutes for me is with a head wind. I don't mind it. I have to be sure and use my time at home more wisely, so as not to leave things undone. But, for me, this is more time on the bike. Something I've been needing for a while.

To effectively manage car-free you have to live in or move to a location that supports it. This would be a city or town where everything you need is within practical biking distance and cabs and public transit are available as a back up.

If you don't live in that kind of setting, it wil be extremely difficult to manage.

At the same time, a one hour commute is normal for many car drivers. And you may speed up over time.

Disclaimer: we are car light - my wife has a car.

gparvan ... if you weren't commuting by bicycle, wouldn't you be out cycling a couple hours anyway? I would. Some days I commute by bicycle. Some days I ride after work. And if I get a day off I try to spend as much time as possible on the bicycle that day.

I've never thought of cycling as "losing time". It's gaining fun, adventure, challenges, and fitness. :)

I actually break even, since it takes about 2 hours round trip commuting vs 30 by car, and I dont have to spend 1.5hours at the gym. And I save gas/insurance money.

I'm trying to make the switch but I always seem to think I need the car to get me somewhere faster. I have a "go fast" bike that I commute with and it is a pain to change clothes. My car commute takes 16 minutes one way, but by bike the commute is about 50 minutes. Coming home is up hill and take about 75 minutes. Sooo, I give up close to 2 hours every day I ride. How do you or did you deal with the lost time feeling?

First, another poster hit it -- give up the 'hurry, hurry' mentality; it'll put you in the grave in a hurry, hurry! It adds stress to your day -- only utilize it when you have to. There are times on my job when I have to 'shift into another gear', and that's when I hit that mode. I don't much care for it, cuz I don't like who I turn into. It's the second of the two reasons I haven't raced yet (the first is my physical condition/various 'conditions') -- when I turn on the competitive juices, I turn into a really nasty person, and it takes a long time for that 'Mr. Hyde' to get tucked back in....

My old job location was a 20-min. drive, 38-min. ride (as high as 65 min. in January, and as fast as 30:30 once a couple years ago); I would NEVER get home in anything less than 45-50 min. Didn't need to! If your life is so crowded that you can't seem to spare the time, may I suggest simplifying.

Ultimately, you have to examine yourself -- are you trying to make excuses not to do it, or do you want to challenge yourself?

.....

Last but not least : SLow DoWn!!! you've got to slow your mindset down a bit from the hectic car-centric pace of having to be five places within 15 minutes of each other. Enjoy the ride!

I think your statement above makes the best sense. The constant feeling if hurry hurry keeps me driving. In fact, today I found myself driving my car to the LBS (2 miles away) to look at a new Trek 7.6. I didn't buy it but I did sit in my car and ponder the irrational behavior. It was at that moment I realized I didn't have to be anywhere at any specific time and I need to "slow down".

First, another poster hit it -- give up the 'hurry, hurry' mentality; it'll put you in the grave in a hurry, hurry! It adds stress to your day -- only utilize it when you have to. There are times on my job when I have to 'shift into another gear', and that's when I hit that mode. I don't much care for it, cuz I don't like who I turn into. It's the second of the two reasons I haven't raced yet (the first is my physical condition/various 'conditions') -- when I turn on the competitive juices, I turn into a really nasty person, and it takes a long time for that 'Mr. Hyde' to get tucked back in....

My old job location was a 20-min. drive, 38-min. ride (as high as 65 min. in January, and as fast as 30:30 once a couple years ago); I would NEVER get home in anything less than 45-50 min. Didn't need to! If your life is so crowded that you can't seem to spare the time, may I suggest simplifying.

Ultimately, you have to examine yourself -- are you trying to make excuses not to do it, or do you want to challenge yourself?

Yup, agree with the slow down. Now just gotta figure out how to do that. Many folks have posted the financial and work out time rationals, and I'm grateful but I've done the calculations a zillion times. I'm guessing the only way to do it is to just do it. Hopefully, the feeling will subside in a week or two.

Thanks
g
Seattle

I agree on the slowing down part too, now I find that my regular bicycle commute speed as too fast at times. I have found that I really enjoy bicycling with my family on the weekends, which slows me down even more, and I'm able to take in much more of the local scenery.

Also - 16 min car vs 50/75 min on a bike? Something doesn't sound right. Do you use a highway when you drive, but there's no direct alternate for the bike? Or do you use a cars-only bridge, forcing you to go around it? I don't really know Seattle at all, but is there a chance you've missed a few short-cuts along the way? (through a path, culvert, alley, etc) ... I've shaved 10 mins off my commute taking a "shortcut".

Try taking a day or weekend and ride back & forth to work, and try to look for all the little shortcuts you could use on your commute, when you've got the time, and your not in a hurry up mentality.

There is more to carfree than simply substituting a bicycle for the automobile. For example, it's very difficult to live a carfree lifestyle in a suburban environment designed around car dependency. Living carfree means making the life choices which make it possible or practical. When I was in the market for a new home, one of my nonnegotiable criteria was that it had to be within biking distance of a good transit stop. I found one and now I can do the bike/transit option.

That said, a 50-75 minute bike commute is not that demanding of your time. Around here, there are plenty of people who have longer commutes than that by car, and then they also spend at least that much time spinning wheels at the gym. As others on here have already said, view that bike commute as more than time lost to transportation. It's also time invested in your health.

But honestly, I doubt I would switch to carfree living if I had a 50-75 minute commute each way and didn't have a transit option. Instead, I would probably make a commitment to bike commute something like one day a week or five times a month. Maybe increase the frequency as I developed more experience, comfort and patience.

Well, one thing you are forgetting is that the 50 minute commute is only 34 minutes longer than the car trip. The 16 minutes is used no matter which way you go.

But the big thing is to not see that half hour as lost time. It isn't lost at all. It's a 50 minute workout that only costs you 34 minutes. Its a wonderful bit of time. You are outside, in the warm, in the cold. You are much more alive than the poor motorists.

It sounds like you have not yet felt the Tao bicycle commuting, where time spent in the car is the time lost. Keep pedaling grasshopper. It may be a frosty beautiful sunrise, or that moment when you discover that short cut through a neighborhood that lets you avoid the traffic, and you will be glad that you are on a bike. The time won't be lost, it will be irreplaceable. :D

Well, one thing you are forgetting is that the 50 minute commute is only 34 minutes longer than the car trip. The 16 minutes is used no matter which way you go.

But the big thing is to not see that half hour as lost time. It isn't lost at all. It's a 50 minute workout that only costs you 34 minutes. Its a wonderful bit of time. You are outside, in the warm, in the cold. You are much more alive than the poor motorists.

It sounds like you have not yet felt the Tao bicycle commuting, where time spent in the car is the time lost. Keep pedaling grasshopper. It may be a frosty beautiful sunrise, or that moment when you discover that short cut through a neighborhood that lets you avoid the traffic, and you will be glad that you are on a bike. The time won't be lost, it will be irreplaceable. :D


Good points! I'm only 6 miles house from office. My office is in the suburbs too, so I spend 5.5 miles on residential streets to the main arterial.
I need to feel the "Tao" and that should help the "I don't have time" feeling.

To an earlier post: The reason it takes longer to bike is cuz of the hills. On the way back I take another route to avoid an extraordinary steep hill. Easy to manage on the way down, but the gearing on the Trek 5200 is tough on knees for the trip back up.

So it actually takes 50 minutes to go 6 miles? Then prepare to be amazed when, after a few weeks or months of cycling, you will halve that. Perhaps the trafic situation is out of control, but otherwise all healthy people should be able to ride 6 miles in less than 30 minutes, once they get used to riding. As to the hill, it must be quicker to conquer it on foot, than taking a 25 minute detour.

The reason it takes longer to bike is cuz of the hills. On the way back I take another route to avoid an extraordinary steep hill. Easy to manage on the way down, but the gearing on the Trek 5200 is tough on knees for the trip back up.

I hear you on the hills. My whole route is hills. You may want to talk to your LBS about getting you set up with a different selection of gears that will let you climb those hills more easily. Hills do take a bit of getting used to. Spin the pedals fast and easy. You'll build up speed and endurance.

Good points! I'm only 6 miles house from office. My office is in the suburbs too, so I spend 5.5 miles on residential streets to the main arterial.
I need to feel the "Tao" and that should help the "I don't have time" feeling.
To an earlier post: The reason it takes longer to bike is cuz of the hills.
My ride is hilly too, it's 12 miles and i cover it in 45-50 minutes. You should be doing 6 miles a lot faster. If you can do it in 25-30 minutes it's only 10 minutes slower than by car.

...As to the hill, it must be quicker to conquer it on foot, than taking a 25 minute detour.
In general that may be true but we don't know the precise conditions for that particular hill. One hill I know about in my city is relatively safe to go down on a bike and more dangerous to go up. The problem isn't all in the grade, it's that going downhill there's a shoulder and sight lines are okay, but going uphill there isn't a shoulder and the sight lines are obscured.

That said, it's true that hill climbing gets easier with practice and improved physical condition. I'm a heavy guy and it took years, but now I can climb most hills that defeated me at first.

gparvan,

If you post your route on www.mapmyride.com, someone local might be able to recommend a better route. That being said I understand if you don't wish to post if on the web...maybe just post the bad hills.

Kev

The real problem is when you totally understand the rush, rush philosophy being the silent killer and your significant other doesn't coupled with the fact that she is the stay at home with the kids person and anytime spent not rushing is taking away from her time...

I want to ride 17 miles each way to work daily and throughout the year but I'm getting a best 1 or 2 days a week approval due to the time thing, sucks. Any solutions for that?

I want to ride 17 miles each way to work daily and throughout the year but I'm getting a best 1 or 2 days a week approval due to the time thing, sucks. Any solutions for that?

Having a wife and family is a responsibility that calls for compromises. If you spend over 2 hours a day bike riding while your wife is stuck at home with your kids, that's likely unfair to her. The next time you move or change jobs, see if you can arrange a 5 mile commute. In the meanwhile be thrilled she's ok with 1-2 days a week.

gparvan,

If you post your route on www.mapmyride.com, someone local might be able to recommend a better route. That being said I understand if you don't wish to post if on the web...maybe just post the bad hills.

Kev

Here ya go.
http://www.mapmyride.com/route/united-states/wa/burien/404170400996

I call it decompression. Just about every day I hit that saddle between 5:30 and 7:30 with an uncountable number of problems in my head ranging from fun puzzles through downright difficult and nasty computations and all the way through personal difficulties at work; by the time my 60 min. ride home is finished I've forgotten what it was I doing right before I left. Even if I try to keep it in the front of my mind it is magically gone before I get home.

On the way to work (compression): I start out not wanting to go, part way through the ride I find myself going over my mornings schedule and by the time I get to the office I'm itching to start on the problems I left behind the day before.

----

I think a distinction between "at work" and "at home" mindset is healthy and ultimately good for your family relationship and in my case for my work effort. My wife never knows if I've had a bad day because by the time I've gotten home it's been forgotten. Whereas the blocked 60 minutes of time it takes me to do the morning ride gives me time to set up the day so that I can work smoothly.

The exception is of course if I have a couple of mechanical difficulties, but those happen only once a year or so. It is important to develop a zen approach to these situations as well. I make it a point to take time while changing my tire to look around and enjoy wherever it is that my flat or other problem has forced me to stop.

The great thing about cycling everywhere is that it forces me to slow down, which also means I calm down. I had to get used to the fact that I could no longer get to Point A in 5 minutes; I had to allow myself 15 minutes. (Of course traffic here has gotten so bad that often times the bike is only a little slower) Slowing down like this also forces me to cram less into my day. IMO Americans have waaay too much on their plates daily, and it is nice having the attitude that "I can't fit this all in today, so I'll just do X tomorrow and not worry about it." Living car free has caused me to simplify my life in many ways, which has eliminated many headaches and much stress. In fact, 2 years ago I had high blood pressure and was on medication, now I'm not. ;)

Here ya go.
http://www.mapmyride.com/route/united-states/wa/burien/404170400996

The hill in question is 116th Way?

Edit: See if I am reading the situation correctly. Looks like your office is down in a river valley. To get back home you have to climb out of the valley up a steep canyon type wall. The only direct way is up the steep hill. To avoid the hill you have to proceed either upriver or downriver to a point with flatter topography. Is that the situation?

Edit #2: Looking at a topographic map, it seems that there is a pedestrian bridge of some sort across the Duwamish at about S 119th St (?) that would eventually take you back toward the Hilltop Park area. Any hope there?

The hill in question is 116th Way?

Edit: See if I am reading the situation correctly. Looks like your office is down in a river valley. To get back home you have to climb out of the valley up a steep canyon type wall. The only direct way is up the steep hill. To avoid the hill you have to proceed either upriver or downriver to a point with flatter topography. Is that the situation?

Edit #2: Looking at a topographic map, it seems that there is a pedestrian bridge of some sort across the Duwamish at about S 119th St (?) that would eventually take you back toward the Hilltop Park area. Any hope there?

Yes, 116th is the hill. Going home, I usually head South on Highway 99 to 37th S., then 135th to 24th, then back on regular route. I exaggerated my earlier estimate of distance cuz Map software says a little over 6.05. Highway 99 is all up hill but significantly less steep than 116th.

Yes, you are reading map correctly. My office building is 75 feet away from river, but the bike path heads Southeast and away from home. Heading North across the bridge heads farther up the river and away from home.

I truly believe my gears are to high for hill climbing. I tested a Trek 7.6FX and the low gears on it allowed my climb like a goat. But Trek 5200 is geared such that I crawl up the hills at about 1 or 2 mph. If I change gears or "get a new bike :-)" then I think I could improve my time. That is my thinking after my testing today.

The next time you move or change jobs, see if you can arrange a 5 mile commute. In the meanwhile be thrilled she's ok with 1-2 days a week.

Yeah, this is the closest job I could get, starting next Monday... Been working a 90 mile commute daily for most of the last 9 years so it's a start. One of the most beautiful rides to and from, minimal cars and just perfect roads. Too bad I can't ride as fast as I can drive...

I'm pretty excited about the 2 day ride though, she does have a good point. For me it would mean not being able to assist the kids in the AM and only very minimal time with the kids when I get home.

I need one of those hammocks from The Simpsons so I can make a few clones of myself...

The great thing about cycling everywhere is that it forces me to slow down, which also means I calm down. I had to get used to the fact that I could no longer get to Point A in 5 minutes; I had to allow myself 15 minutes. (Of course traffic here has gotten so bad that often times the bike is only a little slower) Slowing down like this also forces me to cram less into my day. IMO Americans have waaay too much on their plates daily, and it is nice having the attitude that "I can't fit this all in today, so I'll just do X tomorrow and not worry about it." Living car free has caused me to simplify my life in many ways, which has eliminated many headaches and much stress. In fact, 2 years ago I had high blood pressure and was on medication, now I'm not. ;)

Yes definitely agree :thumb: Since I started bicycling again I've needed waaaaay less medical interventions with this illness I live with. My blood pressure for one thing is much lower than many folk who are 25 years younger than me.

I tested a Trek 7.6FX and the low gears on it allowed my climb like a goat. But Trek 5200 is geared such that I crawl up the hills at about 1 or 2 mph. If I change gears or "get a new bike :-)" then I think I could improve my time. That is my thinking after my testing today.
This is what those megarange supersize inner cogs are for. Run a triple geared for the majority of your ride, and change the innermost ring on the back into one of the huge monster ones.

In response to the OP, I started off my 13km commute complaining about the hills and the time it took. I'm down to 30 minutes one way. Taking the truck is 20 minutes. It gets better. Stick with it.

If the time really is an issue, that is one thing, but it is another if it just feels like one. I myself try to change the way I think.

If your only goal is to get someplace as fast as possible, then riding a bike "wastes" time. But if it is important to get some exercise, then you would have to use the time you "save" by driving to "spend" on exercising. Depending on individual circumstances, it might even out. If it does, in other words, if the time spent driving plus exercising is the same as the time spent riding the bike to work, then the time spent driving is actually the wasted time, and you are reclaiming it by using it to ride your bike to work.

If the time really is an issue, that is one thing, but it is another if it just feels like one. I myself try to change the way I think.

If your only goal is to get someplace as fast as possible, then riding a bike "wastes" time. But if it is important to get some exercise, then you would have to use the time you "save" by driving to "spend" on exercising. Depending on individual circumstances, it might even out. If it does, in other words, if the time spent driving plus exercising is the same as the time spent riding the bike to work, then the time spent driving is actually the wasted time, and you are reclaiming it by using it to ride your bike to work.

Excellent point. I believe it is the feeling of needing to get someplace as fast as possible.

Excellent point. I believe it is the feeling of needing to get someplace as fast as possible.

Yes, that unfortunately is the obsession of modern society :(

When I first started bike commuting in late spring, the hills were murder, and I could only manage them at a snail pace (fro a 3 ring MTB) in the lowest gear. It has gotten a lot better. I stay in the middle ring up front and normally 3-6 on the back for all the hills. Speeds up hills went from 5-6mph to 8-12mph.

My answer it's in my signature.

A lot of people mention exercise which not everyone cares about. I would ask, how many times do you get to work late because of traffic or because you forgot you had to fill up the gas? How much do you curse missing a light or anything else that slows you down because you have your car commute planned to the last second? Once you shave off time on your bike commute in ways others have suggested, you'll still have the advantage over cars in that you know consistently how long your commute is and you have complete control over it. Also, if you oversleep a bit you'll still have a back up plan that gets you to work on time!

Also, if your commute used to be 90 miles then surely your SO is used to your not being around in the morning and after work?

[Edit: Woops, former-90-mile-commute wasn't OP.]

A lot of people mention exercise which not everyone cares about. I would ask, how many times do you get to work late because of traffic or because you forgot you had to fill up the gas? How much do you curse missing a light or anything else that slows you down because you have your car commute planned to the last second? Once you shave off time on your bike commute in ways others have suggested, you'll still have the advantage over cars in that you know consistently how long your commute is and you have complete control over it. Also, if you oversleep a bit you'll still have a back up plan that gets you to work on time!

Also, if your commute used to be 90 miles then surely your SO is used to your not being around in the morning and after work?

[Edit: Woops, former-90-mile-commute wasn't OP.]
For longer bike trips the lights and wind causes variability in the travel time so you need to have a cushion. I used 10 minutes for a 1 hour ride, that is I planned on an hour but usually did it in 50 minutes, sometimes 45 but a few bad lights and a strong headwind could make it a full hour.

I call it decompression. Just about every day I hit that saddle between 5:30 and 7:30 with an uncountable number of problems in my head ranging from fun puzzles through downright difficult and nasty computations and all the way through personal difficulties at work; by the time my 60 min. ride home is finished I've forgotten what it was I doing right before I left. Even if I try to keep it in the front of my mind it is magically gone before I get home.

On the way to work (compression): I start out not wanting to go, part way through the ride I find myself going over my mornings schedule and by the time I get to the office I'm itching to start on the problems I left behind the day before.

----

I think a distinction between "at work" and "at home" mindset is healthy and ultimately good for your family relationship and in my case for my work effort. My wife never knows if I've had a bad day because by the time I've gotten home it's been forgotten. Whereas the blocked 60 minutes of time it takes me to do the morning ride gives me time to set up the day so that I can work smoothly.

The exception is of course if I have a couple of mechanical difficulties, but those happen only once a year or so. It is important to develop a zen approach to these situations as well. I make it a point to take time while changing my tire to look around and enjoy wherever it is that my flat or other problem has forced me to stop.

Indeed, last night just before leaving, it started to hail, soon changed to rain though, so was able to leave on the bike. Thing is, boss offered me the company van to take home, would have got me home in 30 minutes instead of the 70 or so cold wet minutes that it took me. I turned it down, I had been driving it most of the day because our delivery driver hadn't bothered to come in ( grrrrrrr ) I said, " No thanks, if I drive any more today, I'm gonna kill someone! "

I look at how much the car costs me and I feel better about all the "wasted" time. I also take the bus when I have a long distance to go and on the bus, I can read, write, draw, listen to music or stare out the window and think deep thoughts. There's no shortage of entertainment on the bus either.

When I had a car, I was spending $400/month on payments, gas, etc. Not only that, but I claimed I needed the car to get to work, but I had to work because I had to pay for the car! That was more of a waste of time than a 3-hour bike ride will ever be.

To date, I haven't even spent close to what I paid for one month in a car than what I've paid for six years on a bike.

I'm trying to make the switch but I always seem to think I need the car to get me somewhere faster. I have a "go fast" bike that I commute with and it is a pain to change clothes. My car commute takes 16 minutes one way, but by bike the commute is about 50 minutes. Coming home is up hill and take about 75 minutes. Sooo, I give up close to 2 hours every day I ride. How do you or did you deal with the lost time feeling?

I went to high school in Bellevue and if I had to get to Seattle by bike I am not sure how it would be done. I don't remember if bikes are allowed on either floating bridge or remembering what the grating one the ends of the bridge did to my motorcycle I am not sure I would even try. If I remember correctly my last year in Seattle it rained close to 178 days off and on. That is just shy of six months worth. But I am a Southern California boy so that is harder on me than many others.

I also noticed you list drums as something you enjoy doing. I would spend my extra time on my Gretsch Kit or my percussion set up. So I haven't made it to car free only car light. And as long as I can haul my drums or hand drum set up to festivals I may not achieve car free.

I do agree with many here that you can simply use the commute time as exercise time. You can use it as wind down time as well. But remember your life style may not lend itself to car free unless you change your life style. You may have to give up more than your car.

For longer bike trips the lights and wind causes variability in the travel time so you need to have a cushion. I used 10 minutes for a 1 hour ride, that is I planned on an hour but usually did it in 50 minutes, sometimes 45 but a few bad lights and a strong headwind could make it a full hour.


Oh that's true. Although if you aren't going balls-out every day (which I assume most people don't) then there's an extra margin of effort you can apply if you want to make the same time against a stronger-than-usual headwind. I guess what I'm saying is that a cyclist has more of a feeling of control since no amount of effort you put into it will help you with mass transportation delays or car traffic.