|
More cyclists = cheaper bikes and products, bigger aftermarket and used market. Economies of scale for the win. The more the merrier!
|
I love hearing stories such as this. It gives me more enthusiasm for commuting myself. Hope to hear you're sticking with it come Winter. Not because it'll affect you any, but it'll help me when I'm not wanting to hook up the lights and put on the layers. :thumb:
|
Originally Posted by bigbenaugust
(Post 6903442)
I don't know if it's really a "secret"... instead of blaming us for holding out, maybe you should be kicking yourself for taking so long to figure out what some of us have known for years. :)
And... That's awesome. I'll quit whining about the heat now... |
Originally Posted by CommuterRun
(Post 6904249)
Oh, it'll open the door to something new alright. You'll realize $4 a gallon gas ain't really that bad when you've amassed 4 or 5 bikes and a couple of storage boxes full of accessories.;):D
|
shhh .... it's a secret
|
Originally Posted by rkpol7
(Post 6902978)
Of how fun cycling is!! :thumb:
I'm new to this world that is called cycling (Last time I rode a bike was 15 years ago in middle school). Here's my story: I've kept driving to an absolute minimum, combining commuting and errands as much as I could. I took buses on weekends when the trip was short enough and the hours were accomodating. However, on Monday morning, April 28th, on my way to work, I filled my gas tank at $4.09 a gallon. After that initial shock, I thought to myself right then and there "F- this, I'm getting a bike". So I do a little research, decided all I need a a good quality commuting bike to get me through a 12 mile round trip commute, as well as cruise around the bike paths on weekends. When it needs maintenance that I can't handle, I'll just take it to a bike shop. Besides, I could use the exercise. On May 4th, I hop into REI, and rode out with a new Forza. Little did I know, that 12 mile commute would open a door to something new. I didn't think I'd actually have fun riding. On the first day, it took 45 minutes to ride to work (yeah I was that out of shape). Now, about a month later, it takes me 30 minutes! Only 5 minutes longer than it would take for me to drive! Now I'm really getting into this world that I ignored, since no one I knew does it. Now I have the urge to find an old frame and build my own road bike for training and long weekend rides. I came accross cyclocross vids and downhill mountain biking, and I say to myself "God, THAT HAS to be the most crazy fun S- to do outside of snowsports!" I love to snowboard, btw. And it's hard to find time (and of course money) to do that when living in So Cal. So I'm no stranger to speeding downhill. I'm determined to get into those sports in the near future. Unfortunately, it took the $4.00 a gallon mark to discover this little jewel you people have been hiding for so long. I think your more vocal peers have been hiding it behind the ever so visible Shroud of Environmental Friendliness. How DARE you use them to conceal the pure awesomness that is riding a bike! Just thought I'd share my newfound enthusiasm with you guys. :D Fun, eh? My ride in I've been able to get down to 15 minutes, beats public transport by 15 minutes and I don't need to get crowded or have people in my space. I was laughing the other day when someone posted about when they take a day off, they keep feeling their quads and thinking they're going to atrophy. I thought it was just me. :thumb: |
I spent this morning wondering what parts I could swap between my commuter and my 5-year-old XC bike (see sig, below) that hasn't been used for actual XC riding in over a year. I'm sure it's sitting on the rack at home quivering in fear for when I approach it with the allen wrenches. :)
|
Commuting. It's great!
|
Glad to have you! I just re-started commuting by bike. I changed jobs in March and just started commuting again last week. The old commute was 49-miles roundtrip (took me between 1:25 and 1:35 each way). The new route is 39-miles roundtrip. I drug my feet so much because I was working OT getting used to the new job and I was upset because I had to get a gym membership. I love commuting! I just wish I had started-up again sooner. The new route is 19.5 miles, which I do in 1:10 - 1:15. I'm going to try to break the one-hour mark on my road bike one day soon, but I'm not in good enough shape yet, plus there's about 1,000 feet of climbing in the new route.
|
Originally Posted by Brimy311
(Post 6905303)
I have been commuting for about a month now. I really enjoy it, I was filling up my diesel truck ever 10 days, but now I am down to about once a month (I use the truck to run errands for work), otherwise I would fill up like every two months! I drive about 15 miles a week and ride about 85-100 miles.
|
www.socaltrailriders.org
It's 104 degrees today, and I can eat ice cream with out guilt thanks to my bike. Commuting is great for scavenging stuff too. I've found money, tire levers, rubber tie-downs, derailleur hanger + rocker arms+ air shock from a broken frame, and a pair of 7 spd 105 brifters in the trash. I also pick up cans and bottles on my way home from work to recycle. |
Originally Posted by rkpol7
(Post 6902978)
12 mile commute [...] took 45 minutes to ride to work (yeah I was that out of shape).
|
Originally Posted by ok_commuter
(Post 6906064)
+1
I'll quit whining about the heat now... I didn't have classes today, but I needed to turn in my lab notebook (bio student, yeah). So what did I do? I sprinted the whole 6mi. to the university....or at least I tried to sprint the whole way. 6mi, usually takes me 25ish min. in the morning. I got there in 20. I was feeling good, and sweaty. dropped the notebook off, drank some water, and tried to push it back to the house. Took me a little longer since my sunglasses salted over!!!:eek: yah, I have a heavy salt content in my sweat!. But I was feelin' good. I LOVE CYCLING!!!! feels good to be young(21) and in love (with my bike). :) |
I agree with you, cycling is great! Gas prices pushed me to buy a bike, as well, with commuting in mind. I'm still scouting, trying to find the best roads to take. I've been going on free rides with local groups to get my strength up and it's just fun. Even if the commuting idea is a bust, I've found a new awesome hobby. But I don't think I'll give up on the idea of commuting, because this gas situation is making me sick to my stomach.
|
We've been right here all the time, waiting for you to open your eyes. Where have you been?
|
Originally Posted by caloso
(Post 6903938)
Another one takes the Red Pill.
Originally Posted by jyossarian
(Post 6904476)
It's not a secret. You just forgot what every kid knows. :D
Originally Posted by ItsJustMe
(Post 6929328)
We've been right here all the time, waiting for you to open your eyes. Where have you been?
I guess I was busy doing what the world said I should do by "growing up" and "being an adult" and I've found that it's not as fun as it looks on TV. :( |
Originally Posted by rkpol7
(Post 6931502)
I guess I was busy doing what the world said I should do by "growing up" and "being an adult" and I've found that it's not as fun as it looks on TV. :(
|
Nice! I too am a convert, having abandoned the cycling when I got my license many moons ago. I rode trails every now and again, but not consistently. A few weeks ago, I finally dove into the commute, and I love it. Both me and a coworker picked it up at the same time, and we share a couple miles of our routes, so it is reinforcement for each of us. I have 10 miles each way, with some hills, and started out covering each way in 48 minutes, but I am now down to 37 minutes. It is a nice way to start and end the day, and I am now getting in ~100 miles a week with no loss in free time!
|
Originally Posted by 545h4
(Post 6903755)
Just think what LA would be like if the majority caught on to the secret! :D
|
| All times are GMT -6. The time now is 11:00 AM. |
Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.