I'd have to say that 2.68/gal in our neck of the woods hasen't seemed to change anyone's driving habits. Seems to be just as many cars on the roads as ever, though I see more price reductions on SUV's now. That is a good thing anyway.

Thank you and I know what you mean. I think I'm going to keep this bike pretty much stock and keep the gears on it. I'll add a rack and some fenders this winter and just use it as my winter work truck. lol. We'll look at another single speed next summer. sigh.
Whadaya gonna do?

I almost had my regular, nonfolding bicycle stolen a few years ago in spite of using a combination of cable and U locks. I felt that the risk of theft was too great in using regular bicycles and invested instead in a folding bicycle. Used beaters and fancy locking devices no longer work in most urban areas.

Always remember that as gas/petrol prices as well as the price of cars and their mantainance increase, so will the value of the bicycle. I am not refering just to the bike's monetary value, but the true value any bicycle offers the freedom from paying outragious prices of gas/petrol stations and public transportation, and dependance on other people's good graces of providing rides to non-car using associates.