Hey all,

I had an epiphany this morning.... I'm sitting on the couch with the wife and kids, enjoying a lazy saturday morning. I'm reading the threads on BF, and looking for new parts for my Trek. On TV is quite possibly the antithesis of bicycle culture...... HORSEPOWER TV!!!!!!

I admit it.... I love my bike (and commuting on it!), but I love cars and trucks too....


What's the dichotomy in your life?

Billy

Hehe I was watching Trucks and digging them explaining Killer Dowel pin on Cummins and the clutch tech on their crew cab highboy project they are dropping the Cummins and NV4500 into. Got me thinking about the 1970 LeMans Sport Convertible (same body style as Lance Armstrong's GTO) in my garage with a mild built 400cid thats probably good for 350hp sitting on the stand next to it that I need to get the clutch ordered for and I have a nice tax return on the way that would cover most of what I need to get it together. LOL

Over the years I owned a '69 Firebird 400 4spd, an '80 Camaro, a '71 International Scout and a '81 CJ7. Now I own a Raleigh Gran Sport, a Motobecane Fantom CX, a Schwinn Super Sport and I've ordered a Surly Pacer and I'm thinking that my tax refund is going towards a Surly LHT. I still love to tinker, now its just bikes instead of cars. I'm a little healthier, but the hobby really isn't any cheaper.

Same here. My favorite TV show is Top Gear, my favorite radio show is Car Talk. I'm not really a gearhead, I just like funny guys talking about cars.

I drive an SUV that has a "Go by Bike" sticker on the back.

My license plate frame says, "My other car is a bicycle!"

Over the years I almost owned a '55 Chev 2-dr post (327), a '68 Charger (440 Magnum/727/8.75" rear), a '68 Mustang fastback (390/4-sp Toploader/9" rear), a '70 Lotus Europa, and a bullet-nose Stude...

The Mustang was the princely sum of $5000, and the same week I came across it I saw an ad for a GT-40 style intake and heads for $1500. Oh, and a Stude Firedome motor, with blower, for $3500. My bikes, and my collection of unused project parts, cost... well, less than the Mustang, anyways

I shudder to think what it would cost either that or a blown Studebaker to insure!

Bikes is cheaper! /threadjack

No dichotomy. I've always loved bikes and am waiting for the end of the carpocolypse when we'll all be raptured into cycling nirvana.

I eat vegetables AND meat!

whoa

I ride a bike in part to save money. Then I get the urge to spend money on bike stuff.

People comute on the bike to save money (as well as other benefits). For me, commuting by bike costs MORE money than going by public transport (which is my 2nd commuting mode of transport).

Bike commuter and Jeeper.

I never looked at a car as anything more than a way to get somewhere. Same with bike. I always get, "just good enough".

I'm a big fan of getting places. Whether that be by bike, car, my feet, or whatever.

I also like mechanical things, I own a truck, but my two bikes definitely cost more than my truck. I really like all of them.

I also prefer to drive stick. It's more fun, and I feel like I have more control. Automatic is boring...there's only two pedals, stop and go.

Carpocolypse? Cycling nirvana? Rapture? That'd make a great movie... or at least a good TV series.

I’d been a gearhead since I was a teenager, but that mostly evaporated when I became a cyclist at the age of 35. I say mostly because there are cars I would love to have if I were still a car person, notably a Mazda RX-8 as well as various older small cars. I still kinda wanna fulfill my teenage fantasy about totally building out an old Scirocco, but I doubt that will ever happen. I will ‘have to’ restore and build up an old VW Bus for my girlfriend at some point in the next few years, and that might just be my last automotive project. But who can say?

When I feel a need for speed I get in my Cessna 172, cruises about 120. I usually have the rear seat out, so I can fit the bike in.

A buddy of mine has a 172; when people make “where’s my flying car??!?” jokes I can’t help but think of that thing, which is essentially a vintage VW with wings and a really cool steering wheel.

I like my car because it can get me places on weekends a lot quicker than mass transit. It's a Mazda MPV minivan with rear seats removed so I can throw two bikes and gear inside. I don't pimp it though, just basic maintenance and I definitely have more fun biking. I also spend more money on biking that my commute would cost me. I commute by bike for fun and because it gives me the feeling of freedom and independence. I hate driving in traffic, my car sits parked off-street during weekdays except for one run to do laundry and grocery shopping later during the day after the traffic eases off. I don't think it's dichotomy though: I like to have the car for the utility and extra capabilities it provides but I'm in no way dependent on it or even fascinated with cars. I was never interested in learning what makes it work, it stinks too much.

I gotta get a sticker like that!

Adam

As a kid, I wanted to be a car designer when I grew up. But somehow ended up being a bicyclist. I appreciate cars as toys.

One of my favorite activities before I moved to Arkansas was working for the local exotic car auction as a driver. You hop from Rolls to Vette to drag racer. What could be better. The high point of my career was spending 20 minutes in the driver's seat of a bolt for bolt replica of a Bugatti Atlantique.

I commute by bike by my primary car is a great big gas eating pickup. Good thing I don't drive much.

I love Top Gear. One of my favorite quotes after they raced two super cars "So we established that one type of car is faster then the other. You don't learn that everyday" or something like that. lol

Since I started commuting to work, all that car stuff holds no appeal for me anymore.

Cycling has been central to my life since early childhood, but have always been intrigued with mechanical things that roll, fly, and swim. In earlier days I was an aircooled VW nut, spending lots of time on my back under various finned engines.

I love airplanes, but sadly, my body hates flying. How's that for a dichotomy?