Arcanum

I've been riding almost daily since the beginning of May 2009. Originally, I had recently finished my time in college and gotten a real job and was riding until I got a car. Getting said car has gotten put off and put off, and now I've started thinking "I live within 4 miles of most places I go, and buying a car would be $200-$300 a month of disposable income I would no longer have, plus I'm staying in decent shape without specifically dedicating free time to it". So I'm now deliberately trying for a car-free lifestyle, even in the lovely weather of Rochester in January.

Mostly I ride to get around and to have fun. I ride to commute to work and to shop, and to explore local trails.

Currently I'm riding an inexpensive 2009 Diamondback Kalamar hybrid (which has proven to be a surprisingly durable workhorse given the price) for general getting around, and I just got a new Yuba Mundo for hauling more substantial loads. I'm thinking about getting something nicer this spring; building something off of a Bamboosero frame is awfully tempting.

LoRoK

Welcome to Bike Forums, Arcanum! I'm a car-free fella myself, never owned one in my 33 years. I spent my first 25+ years in Chicago, and learned the ways of the cold weather ride. Not too bad out here since it's always dry, but it does get down into the teens. You'd probably enjoy the Living Car Free (like care free!) forum, and there's also a commuting forum. Heck, you might enjoy the ruckus of the Advocacy & Safety forum too. At any rate, welcome again.

Tude 

Very Cool! 12+ car free person here in this "balmy" city as well! I can be seen currently with a blue Rockhopper mtb with studs on it riding in the downtown area. Rode my roadie with skinny tires several years ago and put a hurting on the wheels and so went to the mtb (year round).

Have been off it though (except for shopping) for the past couple weeks - but I have stitches now in my hand (kitchen accident) and so I'm off the commuter and riding .... the bus for another week or so.

You get down to Full Moon Vista?

Arcanum

I've heard good things about Full Moon Vista, but haven't made it out there. I'm down near RIT, so Full Moon Vista is a bit of a trek. Mostly I get my bike gear from a mixture of Park Ave. Bike Shop, Bert's Bikes, and Dick's Sporting Goods (plus the Internet). On the up side, I'm within range of a longish trek to Beers of the World!

If you see some nutcase in a black leather jacket tooling around the vicinity of RIT or Marketplace Mall on either a grungy silver Diamondback hybrid or a blue Mundo cargo bike, it's probably me.

Actually, if you see someone on a blue Mundo *anywhere* in Rochester, I'd bet money that it's me. I somewhat doubt anyone else in the area has one.