Living Car Free - What's your favorite activity....

....that most people do with a car, but you do carfree?

Feel free to list more than one!

:)

sight see, and mystery rides. That's about it.

A lot of my friends and acquaintences go for a drive in the country on nice weekend days. I go for a cycle in the country. I probably cover the same distance on my bicycle as they do in their cars! :D

Touring's far more fun on a bike than in a car. That includes the day trips around the area as well as longer tours when I'm seeing something new.

I've done some trail riding which is comparable to off-roading. I don't understand going off-roading in a truck but on a bike it makes a lot more sense.

Just getting around from one point to another in town is a lot less stressful on a bike than in a car.

Pizza night has been wednesday night for our family for a long time. I enjoy picking up pizza with the bike. I carry a roll of butcher's twine in my pack and just lash the box to my rear rack. The pizza tastes extra good after the ride (approx 14km round trip) and the car stays in the garage.

-Ryan

A lot of my friends and acquaintences go for a drive in the country on nice weekend days. I go for a cycle in the country. I probably cover the same distance on my bicycle as they do in their cars! :D

^^^ That's me...but I can assure you that my mileage is a lot lower:lol:...YMMV:p

I would rather take one of my bikes and go for a ramble just to see what there is to see rather than try and see anything from a car. I do this a lot in the various towns I work in around the country. Some recent places: Lafayette, IN, Circleville, OH and Goose Creek, SC. The first two were excellent places to ride a bike in, with decent access to the surrounding countryside.

Aaron:)

We have a free show once a week during spring/summer local outdoor theater at one of the parks, no worries about parking just roll bike to top of hill and sit down. Take photos. Go dancing.

I enjoy picking up food by bike. I'm not talking about groceries (though I enjoy that as well), I mean going to pick up pizza, pasta, wings, sandwhiches, etc.

We have a free show once a week during spring/summer local outdoor theater at one of the parks, no worries about parking just roll bike to top of hill and sit down.

I love going to things like festivals, outdoor plays and concerts, and parades on my bike. More convenient and it even seems more festive on bikes.

Text messaging and nose picking.

Farmer's market is always nicer by bike than car. Having limited load forces me to choose wisely and makes me appreciate my bounty that much more.

Gettin' it on on a bike would be fun. I suppose that would bring new meaning to "utility" cycle. ;)

I like carrying hauling my girl around on the handlebars like this guy does. She doesn't lean on me that way she sits up straighter but we can talk. Its not like in a car where she's over to the side.

i enjoy riding 20-40 miles to long (100+ miles) rides, while most others drive to the same rides.

i find it ironic that so many depend on cars to make their cycling happen..

i enjoy riding 20-40 miles to long (100+ miles) rides, while most others drive to the same rides.

i find it ironic that so many depend on cars to make their cycling happen..

+1 I used to drive to rides, and one day I realized the irony of this and stopped doing it. It's nice to show up to a group ride already warmed up and ready to go set the pace.

We have great bike-nics. We take the food in our backpacks and bags, and usually buy heavy stuff like charcoal and drinks at the park store. We cook on the park grills. We have little bike races, swimming, frisbee--all the usual picnic activities.

For the races, it's fun if kids ride the big bikes and adults ride the childrens' bikes. That puts everybody on an equal footing, somehow, and it's funny to watch.

:D

My favorite activity: transporting myself to wherever I need to go.

yes, I'm boring.

^^^ That's me...but I can assure you that my mileage is a lot lower:lol:...YMMV:p

I would rather take one of my bikes and go for a ramble just to see what there is to see rather than try and see anything from a car. I do this a lot in the various towns I work in around the country. Some recent places: Lafayette, IN, Circleville, OH and Goose Creek, SC. The first two were excellent places to ride a bike in, with decent access to the surrounding countryside.

Aaron:)

Well, for example ....

There's a historic creamery that is a nice 85 km round trip from here ... I cycle there once or twice in the summer. It's a nice ride, and they've got ice cream. :) But people from my town prefer to drive out there ... and some think it's a bit too far to drive!! :lol:

Camping, picnics, long rides, short tours. Also... exploring city streets. Actually, I seem to have a greater fondness for the outdoors now that I experience most of it on a bike rather than a car.

I like carrying hauling my girl around on the handlebars like this guy does. She doesn't lean on me that way she sits up straighter but we can talk. Its not like in a car where she's over to the side.

She doesn't have to be over to on the other side when you are hauling your girl around in a car. In fact, there are several other positions she might consider; and it may be one of your favorite activities.

She doesn't have to be over to on the other side when you are hauling your girl around in a car. In fact, there are several other positions she might consider; and it may be one of your favorite activities.

Well that doesn't sound very safe.

Well that doesn't sound very safe.

And I suppose merely adding some protection from Trojan wouldn't make this activity safe? :)

bicycle camping & touring

She doesn't have to be over to on the other side when you are hauling your girl around in a car. In fact, there are several other positions she might consider; and it may be one of your favorite activities.

It didn't happen without pictures!!

Blowing gas money on tasty malt beverages and bike parts.

Riding to class.

+1 I used to drive to rides, and one day I realized the irony of this and stopped doing it. It's nice to show up to a group ride already warmed up and ready to go set the pace.

and you'll never forget your helmet or shoes that way! or at least it's harder to..

I can't decide. First thing I thought of on reading the thread title was shopping. I do a Sunday trip ranging between 48 and 160km depending on the route I choose to do my weekly supermarket shopping. I suppose it's what is in between the start and finish with the shopping along the way that can make it interesting.

Then there is exploring. Others such as Machka and Aaron have alluded to it. People in cars simply drive by the little alleyways, sidestreets, and even parks and monuments that really can be very interesting to explore by bicycle. It's probably a good thing people in cars don't know these things exist, because their presence would lower the cycling amenity.

I was also thinking of going to festivals, concerts and gatherings, but more so because I can take my bike with me as I wander around or sit with the crowds, rather than having to look for a parking space some distance away. Then I realised... this doesn't quite fit the thread because people can't walk around with their cars in tow (thank goodness).

Rowan,
You made think of a day not to long ago when I was ambling down the road and saw a grave marker in the edge of a power line right of way. Not the usual place for such things. Stopped, took a look and there were actually 3 of them and 2 of them were Civil war veterans. Turns out one of the graves traces back to my wife's side of the family! Another piece of history that had almost been lost. I also contacted the state grave registry people and they did not have that one in their data bank. I have driven past that spot many, many times and would never have been able spot it from a moving car. Took traveling at a more relaxed pace.:thumb: I saw someone's tag line a while back...."Bicycling=Traveling at the speed of Life":D

Aaron:)

Another bit of an odd one, but I have just come back from doing it....

Riding in the rain.

Of course, having the right gear to stay dryish on the inside (sweat build-up can negate being completely dry), as well as comfortably warm, really helps. For my ride today, I had my Gaerne waterproof boots covered with waterproof booties*, then MEC rainpants**, and an MEC rain jackets. On the helmet was a clear shower cap. Underneath I had a base layer of a woollen jerey, the a light polarfleece jacket, and a pair of microfibre trousers with wool socks.

The problem I still haven't solved is waterproof mittens or gloves. I have a pair of mitts Machka sent me but they aren't sealed, so water gathers eventually. I will source some seamsealer for them in the meantime while I search for a better pair.

* The extra booties (I bought them in France last year) come right up my shins/calves, and provide an impermeable barrier to water running down the legs of the trousers. If I don't have the booties, the water runs straight from the trouser cuffs into the boots, which sort of defeats the purpose of having waterproof boots. I suppose they are similar to gaiters in how they perform.

** I have been searching a long time for good waterproof pants, and took the expensive plunge the last time I was in Canada to buy a pair from MEC on special. They are great! The zips open right the way up to the hip, and the zips are double action -- you can open them for ventilation or access to pockets. The material is the same as the jackets (which I like very much), and the zips are truly waterproof.

Another bit of an odd one, but I have just come back from doing it....

Riding in the rain.

And for me it's riding in the snow.

If you've never done it before, you can start very gently with an evening snow ride around the town. Pick an evening when most of the streets have been cleared, but there's nice fresh snow on the lawns and roofs. Sunday is nice because there's less traffic. Just wear the same clothing that you would wear for a little walk. There's no special technique--just ride like you usually would. You will need lights on your bike, because it gets dark early this tiime of year. But the snow makes things brighter, so you might be surprised at how well you can see.

Select a nice route. Stay off the ugly streets and ride through some nice residential areas. Historic districts and smaller downtowns are also nice. In December, plan your ride as a tour of the Christmas light displays. Just take it at a nice slow pace. I guarantee that you won't get very cold.

We have almost a foot of snow on the ground where I am in Traverse City, Michigan. Unfortunately, I can't go for a ride because I hurt my hand real bad. But I did take a nice walk in the snow, and it was lovely. :)

I haven't done it in recent years, but for several years I would wait for the midnight countdown on December 31st, and then dash out on my bicycle at the stroke of midnight for my first ride of the new year.

It was often snowy then, but everything would be lit up by Christmas lights, and fireworks. I would ride on the quiet side roads without my lights on, and was able to see just fine. And it was evident that I was also visible because people would holler "HAPPY NEW YEAR!!" at me from their cars and yards as I went by. :)

The first time I did that, I was actually surprised how many people were out and about ... walking around, driving slowly down the streets, or standing in their yards. But that made cycling at 12:01 on January 1st even more fun ... I felt like I was part of an event.

Probably just exploring my city. It's a lot easier to try the new food places or go to a favorite spot when you know you aren't going to end up driving elsewhere when there is no parking.

I had some to kill before a meeting one day and started biking towards one place that had been recommended, ended up riding by this little hole in the wall coney dog place. So I pulled a U-Turn pretty quick, popped in and ate on their patio next to the bike.

Machka, your New Year's ride sounds a little like what I'll do. Often, I'll get together with friends on New Year's Eve. I'll ride out there and then ride back. The old year ends on the bike and the new year begins on the bike. I also went to Christmas dinner by bike one year. That generated a few raised eyebrows but I thought it was great.

Over the last few years I've taken to just riding around my town & adjacent city listening to music and taking pictures of random things. Since I've always lived around here, navigation was never a problem by car and foot, but the bicycling has added a new layer of street, trail and navigation knowledge which can also be useful in other modes of transport. This seems to work best for me since I like exploring areas but I've never been one to just want to go out and drive my car around for the fun of it.

This is also true of other cities I've visited with my bike, I'll just pick a random destination, or pick a route and start riding (sometimes without a route). If I don't have a bike with me, then I'll head out on public transit and on foot. A lot of people that I know don't get it, but I seem to be the only one who can actually use a map effectively and remember where to go. Haha, go figure!

~snip~

This is also true of other cities I've visited with my bike, I'll just pick a random destination, or pick a route and start riding (sometimes without a route). If I don't have a bike with me, then I'll head out on public transit and on foot. A lot of people that I know don't get it, but I seem to be the only one who can actually use a map effectively and remember where to go. Haha, go figure!

My job requires me to travel quite a bit. My job also requires that I take my heavy truck, but it doesn't mean I have to drive it all the time. I always search for motels that are relatively close to the jobsite or a small town. Then use the bike for local transportation. The job site I am currently at is in Circleville, OH. It is a great little town to cycle around in, as well as the surrounding countryside. I seldom travel without a bike, people will ask why I have it and I tell them it is my dinghy or life boat depending on how you want to look at it.;):lol:

Aaron:)

My job requires me to travel quite a bit. My job also requires that I take my heavy truck, but it doesn't mean I have to drive it all the time. I always search for motels that are relatively close to the jobsite or a small town. Then use the bike for local transportation. The job site I am currently at is in Circleville, OH. It is a great little town to cycle around in, as well as the surrounding countryside. I seldom travel without a bike, people will ask why I have it and I tell them it is my dinghy or life boat depending on how you want to look at it.;):lol:

Aaron:)

A while back, I ran into a gentleman on a MUP asking for directions. He explained that he was a trucker who takes a bike with him for short trips and recreation. He just wanted to get back to the truck stop. I suggested two routes, one scenic, one short. He smiled and said he'd take the longer route. :)

Loading up 4 panniers for trips to the grocery store
Riding about 8 miles out to the nearby state park/lake.

I rode to the doctor’s office for my annual physical. A bit odd neither one of my doctor’s or our newly remodeled hospital, SW Washington, have a bike rack. :(So much for promoting good health Ay!

The wife and I rode up to the lab to give a blood sample on the tandem. People kind of looked at us a little strange in the waiting room.:eek: But a guy we met outside said he liked the gas mileage we got on the bike. I said “yeah 40 miles to the burrito.”:D

Right now, I miss riding to the butcher shop the most. Downtown is pretty vehicle centric, so walking is inconvenient. On a bike, I get the same priority at lights that a car does, so it's a lot faster.

Once the weather and my leg are better, I'll continue working my way around the lakes. Lake Wingra is a nice easy ride for fun, and it's rather pretty. Lake Monona is about 12 miles around, and a nicer ride for the early part, but there's about a 2 mile section where the best I've come up with is a walk break (four lane roads with medians are *evil*. four lane roads with medians and no crosswalks are really really really evil). And I haven't managed to ride around Lake Mendota yet. It is a bit intimidating, since it is probably about 20 miles around and I get lost easily... and very few people live north of the lake. Feels more like wilderness than it probably is :).

commute.

I love my ride to work in the mornings. It wakes me up better than coffee. My ride home lets me unwind a lot more than a stressful gridlock on the highway.

I rode to the doctor’s office for my annual physical. A bit odd neither one of my doctor’s or our newly remodeled hospital, SW Washington, have a bike rack. :(So much for promoting good health Ay!

The cynics would say that hospitals have a vested interest in keeping people unhealthy. The main hospital in my home city had lines of people sitting outside, patients and staff, smoking. It was not a great advertisement for health care.

Well, for example ....

There's a historic creamery that is a nice 85 km round trip from here ... I cycle there once or twice in the summer. It's a nice ride, and they've got ice cream. :) But people from my town prefer to drive out there ... and some think it's a bit too far to drive!! :lol:

If this is the place I am thinking of it would be worth riding even farther... :D

I think my new favorite activity is blowing people's minds with the-wait for it-8 miles I ride to work. It's kind of fun flying in the face of what's "normal" and seeing the look on people's faces. Something like this:
:eek: :twitchy: :wtf: They just can't fathom why I would do this.

Tonight should be one of those nights. Work get together at one of the major shopping malls that's not the easiest to access without a car. Buses don't run here after 10:30-11 on Saturday's and since I don't know who will be there that would be coming back my way, I'm just going to take the bike on the bus and bike back. 2 major roadways, but they should be pretty light traffic by 12-1 tonight. 20 F and clear night should make for a beautiful ride. :thumb:

Favorite activities to do by bike instead of car:
1. Riding in the summer rain. I just start smiling and can't stop the whole ride. I have to pick the grit out of my teeth later.
2. Riding to roadie group rides instead of driving there.
3. Riding to fancy restaurants and changing into a suit in the bathroom. The looks on the waitstaff's faces when you go from looking like a bum to a businessman is great.
4. Riding "under the influence" instead of driving drunk like most do in New Orleans. Drunk driving is REALLY common and accepted here.
5. Commuting across the Mississippi by ferry at dawn.
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_u8Y9NtzLo1g/R51cYr7CkbI/AAAAAAAAADE/ToJFenEEDUM/s400/Picture%20015.jpg