gerv 

At some point I wonder if I'll continue to be as focused on bicycles.

I don't have a car, but I don't mind taking a day off and using the bus. I have pretty much stopped buying more bikes and just focus on repairing what I have... keeping them in good order.

I do like bikes and I enjoy riding and wrenching, but there are many other things to consider too.

What about you?

Smallwheels

Bicycles are my mode of transportation. I'm not in love with my bikes the way I was back in 2003 when I just rode for fun. They are just tools and when they break I get mad at my tools. I do still feel glad that I bought the models I have. It makes me feel good when I look at them because they remind me of my great taste.

beebe

For me, it is the opposite.

I'm more in love because I don't just ride for fun. Often, I'll leave the house grouchy because I'm on the way to somewhere I don't want to be. When the ride inevitably fixes my mood, it makes me appreciate riding more than anything else.

fat_bike_nut

Ditto. That's why I love riding so much when I run errands by bike.

chasm54

It no longer occurs to me to think about it, riding a bike is just integral to so much of what I do. I ride for transportation, sport and recreation. Of course I use other forms of transport when they are appropriate...

What are these "many other things to consider"? It's not as if riding bikes stops me from doing anything else.

bragi

Bikes are not at the top of my list of things to think about, but they're not at the bottom, either. I think my bike is the most practical way to get around in most cases, and I find it to be a pretty good form of exercise. In my free time, I enjoy riding, and I even like doing maintenance and repairs sometimes. However, at the end of the day a bike is just a thing. Compared to things that really matter, like my relationships and my job as a teacher, the bike is totally insignificant. I'm happier with bicycling than I would be without, but even without, I'd find it pretty easy to have a pleasant, meaningful life.

wahoonc

I am always looking at bikes I see in the wild, to me they are about the most perfect form of machine and for short distance transportation they can't be beat in most cases. I own way too many and am going to be selling a few off. Unless something happens I will always ride and wrench.

Aaron

Artkansas 

Bikes are an integral part of my life. Since I got started as a child, it seems the right way to do things. If I go grocery shopping, the question is not bike or car, but where are my panniers and patch kit.

I go for fun rides as well as utility rides, but it's rare that I go farther than 10 miles away, and I certainly don't hack time out of my schedule to go on a 60 mile training ride. Riding for that long bores me.

I never really got into accessorizing and n+1. My newest bike is now 4, and I bought that because I wanted a recumbent. All my diamond frame bikes are well over 20. Two were freebies and the other I got in return for a load of wood.

cycleobsidian

I ride a lot in the summer, not much at all in the winter.
Walking is just as important to me as biking.

However, bikes are a big part of my life in a very symbolic way.

To me, bikes and bike culture symbolize:
-health
-joy
-accomplishment
-the journey rather than just the destination
-beautiful farms and forest on the outskirts of the city instead of urban sprawl
-houses with one car garages (or no garage) instead of two and three car garages
-friendship and community as people actually see each other when commuting everyday
-cities that don't need immense parking lots
-clean air
-financial savings
-kids enjoying themselves
-I could go on and on.

Fasteryoufool

I can't imagine not being fascinated by bicycles. Can't tell you how many times I've seen a cool bike (usually older) going the other way and turned to look... my wife thinks it's funny that I could tell you what sort of bike a girl was riding but couldn't say whether or not the rider was attractive. Or even what color hair she had. It's compulsive for me. I stop at yard sales, pawn shops and thrift stores just to see what they've got, and every now and then I find something I must take home, though often it's for someone else. My son is currently riding a Fuji I found at a pawn shop for $25, and my wife's riding a Schwinn I found at the same pawn shop (different time) for $40.

wahoonc

I do this too, half the time I couldn't even tell you if the rider was male or female.

Aaron

Fasteryoufool

Yep, me too. My wife says "Was she cute?" and I say "Who?"

BTW, I noticed your sig - if you're looking for a late 80's Giant Iguana frameset, you should also BOLO for a late 80's Schwinn Sierra frameset. They're the same. The Sierra was made by Giant.

gerv 

Sometimes I get annoyed and amazed at how my transportation choices shape everything I want to do. For example, I'm painting part of my house this year. Several people have offered advice about the most efficient way to do this. Basically, rent a sprayer and buy five gallons of paint and finish in one day.

However, I can't drag the spraying equipment back home, so I need to rent a truck. Which adds close to $100 a day.

My decision is to use a low tech method, a roller, buying one gallon of paint at a time. I'll do one side of the house this year.

This decision entails a lot more planning too. Have to source paint supplies close to the house. Might have to go with Walmart.... which is the closest hardware/paint store. Every sales person I speak with offers another suggestion that won't work unless you have a motorized vehicle.

Amazing how a simple transportation choice does shape so many aspects of your life.

Fasteryoufool

Budget $100 to build a trailer. You can probably find a used kiddie trailer on Craigslist and get hardware to convert it for cargo for less than that. Both of mine combined were less than $100. I've hauled 200 lbs. of soil in mine, so 5 Gallons of paint and a sprayer shouldn't be an issue.

Smallwheels

Don't do it that way. Paint fades and weathers. It won't match if all of the sides are the same color.

I liked using paint pads because they were fast, used less paint, and could fit into corners easily. Now that I live in a rented apartment I don't need to worry about such things.

bragi

You're absolutely right about this. I recently purchased a new microwave, and ended up buying a smaller one than I had originally intended because it fit on my rack more easily. (The sales people also thought it was a bit odd that I took it out of the box before I left the store...)

I like the trailer idea. You actually can carry quite large things in one of them. About 5 years ago I hauled an outboard motor to the shop that way.

wahoonc

In my part of the country you paint the North side of the house every 5 years, the East and west side every 3 years and the South side every 1.5 years to adjust for the color fade....or use vinyl siding and just wash the green stuff off every year.

Aaron

bjjoondo 

I've looked at cars as "transportation" my whole life, now that I don't own one my bicycle has become my "main" transport but I've noticed that I have to have 2 bikes, 1-transport/utility/trailer tugger, 1-sudo-road bike, club riding bike, fast bike, (LOL, I'm anything but FAST). IF, I didn't have two odd forms of arthritis one would be a hybrid, the other a serious road bike, alas, my neck won't let me ride in the drops without PAIN!!

So I have two hybrids and I'm always adding to, upgrading, ect., can't just leave well enough alone, LOL. I do think about my bicycles a lot BUT, what I dream about is having another motorcycle! After being a rider for 30 years, the last 6 years without a motorcycle is torturing my very soul! CARS, who cares but I MISS being able to ride "long miles in short time", the swan song of the "call of the road" is something I can't seem to get rid of!

Doohickie

I'm not carfree, but yeah, bikes are a big part of my life. Unexpectedly, my wife has become more interested in riding lately and we've found it's an activity we enjoy doing together.

eofelis 

Bikes are transportation, recreation and exercise for us. We have motor vehicles, but try to use our bikes most of the time.
We have a "bicycle lifestyle" and really enjoy our bikes.

My bf has his own personal bikeshop in our basement, complete with a shop quality repair stand that he got at a bike swap. He can do everything except face a bottom bracket. He takes care of all our bikes (13) and sometimes helps friends with their bikes for beer money.

gerv 

Exactly what I was trying to get at... but your example is better. I suppose it's not a really big deal, but interesting how it shapes what you do. I know there are many workarounds... although I must confess not too convinced about heavy loads on my trailer. (I just carried about 40 pounds of books to the library as a donation.... I'm not that interested in schlepping any more weight than that..)

I suppose if cars weren't so ubiquitous we'd have all kinds of ways to move things. Delivery vans all over the place.

krobinson103

I need an obsession of some sort. I've been into:

Scuba - Way too expensive and time consuming in Korea. Not very practical either
Airsoft - Lots of fun but the gun+1 factor is silly
R/C helicopters - Money sink from Hell. If you crash its easily $150 and crashes come quite often. They are also flying lawnmowers and as such very dangerous/

All of the above aren't very useful. They cost me time and money. Bikes on the other hand get me to work, help me lose stress, keep me in shape, and satisfy my need to tinker with machines. I get grouchy if I can't travel on my bike.

gerv 

OT question. Would you recommend paint pads over rollers for exterior paint jobs?

beebe

Why not ask a friend or family member with a vehicle to help you paint in exchange for beer and pizza?

chasm54

I guess it varies with where you live. Here, I don't think I'd have much difficulty getting stuff delivered in the circumstances you describe. And I do occasionally hire a car when the alternatives don't seem practicable, it's just a rare and therefore readily affordable event.

As for the trailer, 40lbs seems a very modest weight to be worried about. I've done extended tours with >40lbs of gear in panniers and on a rack. A trailer should be able to handle comfortably more than that.