Commuting - my 2008 season stats

Tomorrow is my last bike commuting day of the season for me. I'm waiting for longer days to return in Spring. Here are my statistics for the season. This was my first year of serious bike commuting. See you in March (or when I get too much cabin fever)!


Dates:

First commute of the season: March 24, 2008

Last commute of the season: October 31, 2008


Distance:

Total distance by bike: 2165 miles (3492 km)

Commuting distance: 2054 miles (3313 km)

Longest distance in single day: 60 miles (97 km, on touring trip)

Longest distance in single week: 165 miles (266 km, including 95 mile tour)

Longest distance in single month: 390 miles (629 km in June, all commuting miles)


Gasoline savings:

98 gallons not burned or purchased (371 liters)

1862 pounds of CO2 not released (845 kg)


Weather extremes:

Max wind: 50 mph gusts on April 1, 2008 (when I got home, I said “Riding in that was a mistake!”)

Minimum temperature: 19 degrees F (-7 degrees Celsius, morning of March 26)

Maximum temperature: 93 degrees F (34 degrees Celsius, June 9)


Some things said to me (or yelled at me) while riding:

Jerk!

Showoff!

Is that your best bike?

On your left!

Do you need any help?

That's way too heavy.

Get on the sidewalk!


Wildlife seen on commute:

Heron, geese, ducks, squirrels, chipmunks, woodchucks, foxes, rabbits, wild turkeys, deer, fish jumping, and numerous insects that I inhaled, swallowed, or crushed under my tires.


Accidents:

Luckily zero.


Near misses:

almost side swiped by a school bus side mirror and nearly collided with a deer.


Bike Repairs:

Flat tires: a total of 3 (all on front wheel)

Clean and lube chain every ~100 miles

Broken bottom bracket (faulty bottom bracket)

Left brifter broke (faulty bike mechanic: ME!)

New brake pads (cheap pads came with bike wore out)

New set of tires (cheap tires came with bike wore out)


Bike Modifications:

New pedals (wanted platform pedals)

New saddle (more comfortable)

Switched to bar end shifters (cheaper than replacing by broken brifter)

Nitto stem and handlebars (just because I wanted higher handlebars)


Bike accessories purchased:

Panniers

Lights

Shorts/pants

Clear lens sunglasses

Mirror


Bike tools and parts purchased:

bottom bracket tool, crank puller, cable/housing cutter, bike repair stand, multi-tool, spoke wrenches, chain cleaner, degreaser, chain lube, grease, tubes, tube patch kits, tire levers


The verdict:

As best as I can tell, when I factor in all money I saved on gasoline and one less oil change for my car, I only spent about $50 more than I would have spent by driving my car the same distance. Maybe next year I will start to see some savings...I have all the tools and accessories now. :D

Another advantage is that you are probably healthier from riding. Sounds like you had a nice season.

Flat tires: a total of 3 (all on front wheel)


That's unusual.

Sounds like a pretty good season. What are your plans for the off season? How're you going to stay in shape? Any major bike maintenance planned?

The verdict:

As best as I can tell, when I factor in all money I saved on gasoline and one less oil change for my car, I only spent about $50 more than I would have spent by driving my car the same distance. Maybe next year I will start to see some savings...I have all the tools and accessories now. :D

Don't forget that you also saved some $$ in repair costs and possibly depreciation (depending on years and miles for your current vehicle).

In any case, it sounds like you had a lot of fun for $50.

Sounds like a pretty good season. What are your plans for the off season? How're you going to stay in shape? Any major bike maintenance planned?I'm giving my bike a good cleaning and storing it in my basement. I'll probably also service my hubs and headset over the winter. I've starting going back to the YMCA gym for exercise. I'm thinking of signing up for a spinning class at the gym. :D

As best as I can tell, when I factor in all money I saved on gasoline and one less oil change for my car, I only spent about $50 more than I would have spent by driving my car the same distance. Maybe next year I will start to see some savings...I have all the tools and accessories now. :D

In my first full year, I figured that I saved $100 in gasoline (it was cheaper then), and I spent a confirmed $100 on bike repairs.

I probably did not break even either until I had purchased quite a bit in accessories. Now the need (but not the desire) for new stuff has passed, so I'm saving more.

Remember, another saving that is hard to confirm is a multi-hundred-dollar car repair that you did NOT have to make because you drove less. It might still come at any time, but at least you have deferred it.

I never really play the savings game, but since you brought it up:

How much is it worth to our community that by not driving you did not release 1862 pounds of CO2 (845 kg)?

I think plenty. Thanks , And thanks to all of you.

nice report.

Interesting details that you added as well. Gave us a real clear synopsis of your bike riding season. Sounded like a good one. Especially that it was accident free- always a good thing.

Any particular reason you stopped on the date you did? Cold? Ice? Snow? Darkness? Just curious.

Also, what about your savings in parking expenses, if any.

In my first full year, I figured that I saved $100 in gasoline (it was cheaper then), and I spent a confirmed $100 on bike repairs.

I probably did not break even either until I had purchased quite a bit in accessories. Now the need (but not the desire) for new stuff has passed, so I'm saving more.

Remember, another saving that is hard to confirm is a multi-hundred-dollar car repair that you did NOT have to make because you drove less. It might still come at any time, but at least you have deferred it.

You don't even know... my car's got a laundry list of repairs totaling somewhere a little over $2,000 that need to be done on it pretty quickly (major problems), and that was after throwing down $1,000 on fixes that kept the car drivable (as in, the mechanic was surprised). Needless to say, guess what I'm not paying for... and guess what poor little 20-pound transportation girly-man gets to make that frugality possible.

PS... not spending $250 a month on driving helps too.