Commuting - Don't understand the big deal about commuting

I can't call it a commute. I live in a very small town in Iowa. (Lived everywhere else and wouldn't trade it for the world) I drove the car once to work about 5 years ago ...it took 2.5 minutes. Every other time I have ridden my bike...takes a skosh over 4 minutes. I have been thinking in the last few years though..it probably takes me less time to ride to work in the winter than it would to warm the car up on those -23 degree days. (thats if the car would start) those of you who have never lived in the north proabably have no idea what I am talking about when I say warming the car up. Remember car engines are made out of metal...running a car at operiating speeds and accelerating (even mildly) reduces the life of a car engine by a huge percentage when done in below zero temps. It takes a good 10 min to "warm" a car engine up to prevent long term damage. (from my mechanic) However running a human motor at any temp (aka cycling) give great chance of Lengthening its life over the long term.

>Don't understand the big deal about commuting...I have ridden my bike...takes a >skosh over 4 minutes.

uh OK. When a commuter rides 40 minutes instead of 4 minutes, there are issues like rain, overheating, maybe snow etc, dry clothes, sweat, and breakdowns.
Preventing problems while having a pleasant ride...That's the BIG DEAL about commuting.

Paednoch,

I don't understand your point, here. I'm glad that you're riding, instead of driving your car, to work. I'm also glad it only takes you a short period of time.

Personally, I'd love to live in a small town, but I'd have to do laps around it to ride enough! :)

Paednoch,

I don't understand your point, here. I'm glad that you're riding, instead of driving your car, to work. I'm also glad it only takes you a short period of time.

Personally, I'd love to live in a small town, but I'd have to do laps around it to ride enough! :)

No you wouldn't have to do laps around it. Miles and miles and miles of pristine blacktop all over this area. If the day and time is right I can ride On a ride on one of the many county blacktops (asphalt) and ride for 30 miles without ever seeing a car.

The big deal about commuting is starting and ending the work day with a success. 'Nuff said. :D

The big deal about bicycle commuting is the fact that very few people do it thus making it a big deal.

The big deal about bicycle commuting is the fact that very few people do it thus making it a big deal.

While Steve is correct the overlooked fact is that Americans
love their cars. America is also, to a larger extent, is to
spread out to encourage real cycle use unlike Europe/Asia.
So the more people ride a bicyle the more used to them the
American drivers will become.

In line with this as the worlds oil supplies are depleted,in conjunction with increased demand from China,bicycles may yet become a much more common sight in America.

No you wouldn't have to do laps around it. Miles and miles and miles of pristine blacktop all over this area. If the day and time is right I can ride On a ride on one of the many county blacktops (asphalt) and ride for 30 miles without ever seeing a car.

That sounds great. Does anyone in town need a Network Security Engineer? :D

Did RAGBRAI pass through your town this past week?

I love Iowa -- great people, great attitude, great food, etc....

There is no 'big deal.' But it is still nice to share stories, tips, tricks, etc.

Al

I have a very similar 5-minute "commute" here in small-town Wisconsin. Being a motorhead, I just couldn't stand to start my car or truck and drive it 1/2 mile in the super cold. I just bundle up well, put a scarf over my face, and go. Those days when the tears freeze to your face are really weird! Around -15 was my coldest commute last year.

I really admire the guys/gals here who bike much longer distances every day. I salute you folks!!!

What's funny, is that I'm considered "hard core" because I take my bike rain or snow, and have a helmet with a mirror on it! :-) In the summer, there are probably a dozen or more bikers at work. When winter comes, that drops to maybe five or six.

Pat

I think your post points up an interesting paradox. As Americans, we are said to "love our cars", yet we do things that slowly destory them, like making lots of little one-mile trips that cause corrosive acid build up in the sumps, drive them on heavily salted roads in the winter, and park them where they are subject to dents and dings. If we really were a nation of car freaks, perhaps we would all ride our bikes more.

Paul

RAGBRAI

Rag passed through my Hometown (the one I was born and raised in) This is the first year in 20 that I haven't gone on the ride. RAGBRAI is starting to become a nuisance for some towns. This past year there were more protests from pass through towns than all of the previous years (32 years!) Overnight towns are starting to find out that 15,000 bicyclists (with a big number {very big** drinkers) is too much to handle for a town of 3000. The good thing about the worlds largest (in numbers) weeklong cycling tour is that most of the party animals are at the very back of the pack. and with 10-15,000 riders the string of bikers is stretched over 50 miles so the back of the pack is way way way back. In the front is the families and in the back is the rowdies. this will be the last year I miss the rag. Just bought a co-motion so my family of 6 can arrange for all of us to go next year. lets see tandem...trailer...trailabike.. its doable and will be done.. BUT I JUST REMEMBERED THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH COMMUTING SORRY ABOUT THE OFF TOPIC.

I have a 12 mile commute (one-way).

It takes a little longer than five minutes. :) (but only about 15 minutes longer than driving.)

I have a very similar 5-minute "commute" here in small-town Wisconsin. Being a motorhead, I just couldn't stand to start my car or truck and drive it 1/2 mile in the super cold.

I don't understand how people can drive a car such a short distance and not understand how hard it is on a motor to drive such short distances.

My neighbour drives about 1 mile to work and her car has run into all kinds of problems with it.

Walk or ride your bike for short distances.

I have a 12 mile commute (one-way).

It takes a little longer than five minutes. :) (but only about 15 minutes longer than driving.)


My 16 mile commute takes me 50 minutes if I catch all of the green lights, and an hour if I have to stop for a few reds. If there is a headwind it takes 90 minutes. (Only New Yorkers consider my town small.)

The ride home is slightly uphill and as I have generally worked all day the ride is a little slower. The drivers with whom I share the road are in more of a hurry at the end of the day and they are a lot worse of a mood.

I love riding to work. I leave clothes there and washup in a little used basement bathroom. I have lost 15 pounds and my size 38 pants are destined to be donated to the salvation army soon.

That for me is the big thing about commuting. I feel wonderful all of the time.

Tom O.

My 16 mile commute takes me 50 minutes if I catch all of the green lights, and an hour if I have to stop for a few reds. If there is a headwind it takes 90 minutes. (Only New Yorkers consider my town small.)

The ride home is slightly uphill and as I have generally worked all day the ride is a little slower. The drivers with whom I share the road are in more of a hurry at the end of the day and they are a lot worse of a mood.

I love riding to work. I leave clothes there and washup in a little used basement bathroom. I have lost 15 pounds and my size 38 pants are destined to be donated to the salvation army soon.

That for me is the big thing about commuting. I feel wonderful all of the time.

Tom O.

I forgot, the drive used to take me 50 minutes to an hour if there were no accidents on the Dan Ryan Expy. The day the Coke truck driver threatened to kill himself in the middle of the highway it took 4 hours. It costs me $10 to park downtown. That plus gas and the occasional parking ticket means that any bicycle related expense is cheap and I get zero flack from my wife about spending on my Surly.

Tom O.

Life is great.