Damn Cars
 

No, I didn't get hit, thank God. Just took the car I married into into the shop today for some recall work. About 700 bucks (on top of free recall stuff) worth of work needs to be done; that's a sweet bike right there. I admit that having a car to go to costco and save money that way, and to be able to get out of the city and avoid planes (when costs are high like holidays) is nice. BUT, maintenance is a bummer.

Here's hoping one day that I'll live where cars don't need much maintenance because of weather, and that I'll only need the car when the kids need to be hauled (we're gonna fill a pew baby!) or I need the 50 lbs. of beef for the big bbq.

You spend money at costco - thats not saving.

$700 will get you an Xtracycle and a good amount of accessories!

The long distance travelling is another story, though...

I know your pain about the cars, though...:(

Get an Xtracycle and add a trailer. Then find a way to motorize it so you have an assit for uphills and stuff (electric motor). Boom, you are the ultimate utilitarian biker.

LOL, yeah, I don't think that'd make the trip between Cleveland (in-laws) and NYC any better :)

Yes it would...it would make it less frequent.

Stokemonkey!

Here's a way: http://cleverchimp.com/products/stokemonkey/

Great minds... :D

We used to call those "mopeds". Most of us thought the extra weight pretty much made it a net drain on efficiency.

I wonder if you could just rent a car when you need one instead of owning one.

That sounds like a good solution. Car rentals aren't cheap, but then you don't have to worry about anything but gas!

Edit: And I wouldn't call a Stokemonkey conversion a moped. It's too cool for that :)

speaking from experience, the hassle of renting a car makes it rather unpleasant. not to mention the cost. a friday thru sunday rental is around $150 before any kind of deposits or insurance. then there's the issue of the required major credit card (which you can get around depending on the company), proof of residence (bills in your name), etc. etc. lots of hoops to jump through.
not to say that i'd rather own a car again, just pointing out that it's not entirely simple to rent. especially on short notice.

the only thing i miss about having a car is being able to drive to dc to see a band and come back the same night and NOT spend $75 on the car to get there...

You can haul 50 lbs in a bike trailer easily.

I feel your pain. Cars=money-hole. We have two of them plus a motorcycle and I wince everytime they go into the shop. Hmmm, new transmission or new Rivendell....

Right but you're spending $7000+/year to own and maintain a car. Think long term and having a car to "avoid hassle" or whatever you call it doesn't look so hot in many cases (e.g. NYC, which is why many of us don't have 'me).

Edit: ZipCar FTW

Oh, I've checked out zipcar rates and all that stuff. The car doesn't cost that much a year since I only drive it once a week for alternate side (love Queens past the Triborough). Otherwise, it's an occasional trip to the Guyland or costco. I didn't have a car until I was married though. We've thought about selling it, or just leaving it at her parents in ohio, but it's too soon for my wife. She's a suburbanite dragged into the city, so she needs to get out of it every other weekend. So, for now it stays. Hopefully she'll be acclimated more over the next year (she's been here 8 months) and we'll be able to just leave it in a garage to depreciate quietly.

Just looked at the Xtracycle.
I totaly thought of that! the extended rear wheel. And not before them, just without knowlegde of them.
Is there any DIY Xtracycle-type device that's cheap?