Told to buy a car
#76
DEADBEEF
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Originally Posted by Biketo120
Am I right, or am I just justifying spending more than is prudent?
Seriously though, unless it's going to put you in the soup-line before you have to trudge back to the carboard box then spend as much as you can comfortably afford if it'll make you happy.
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1999 K2 OzM 2001 Aegis Aro Svelte
"Be liberal in what you accept, and conservative in what you send." -- Jon Postel, RFC1122
1999 K2 OzM 2001 Aegis Aro Svelte
"Be liberal in what you accept, and conservative in what you send." -- Jon Postel, RFC1122
#77
Senior Member
Originally Posted by Biketo120
Afterall, if I have a bike I really love to ride, I am much more likely to ride it and stay healthy. Right? Gee, I might be able to work more years and pay for the extra cost of the bike many times over.
Am I right, or am I just justifying spending more than is prudent?
Am I right, or am I just justifying spending more than is prudent?
- Expensive bikes will be tempting to theives. Yes, there are some super-tough locks out there, but if someone wants to steal it badly enough, they'll find a way. If you live and work in a low-crime area, this might not be an issue.
- Expensive bikes aren't necessarily any more reliable. Unless you're talking about an ultra cheap bike from a department store, you can find a perfectly reliably bike at a reasonable price. With expensive high end bikes, what you're paying for is lighter weight, more comfort, smoother shifting, etc.
I have a perfectly good Trek XO-1 cross bike I use every day that I'm perfectly happy with. As some components have worn out, I've replaced them with better ones, so it's been upgraded from entry level to mid-level. Personally, I just can't see spending $2000+ plus for a f uckin' bike. To me, a bike shouldn't cost more than a decent used car, but that's me.
#78
Doomsled
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If you think about it, nearly every new invention over the past 30-40 years has been for the sole purpose of making us more "efficient", thus reducing the amount of physical labor we have to put into accomplishing everyday tasks.
#79
contre nous de la tyranie
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Originally Posted by Biketo120
So, I am having a hard time not spending a lot of money on a bike. Why not spend an extra few thousand to get what I really want? After all, it is easy to spend 10 times that much more on a car that doesn't really do anything more than provide more status.
Afterall, if I have a bike I really love to ride, I am much more likely to ride it and stay healthy. Right? Gee, I might be able to work more years and pay for the extra cost of the bike many times over.
Am I right, or am I just justifying spending more than is prudent?
Afterall, if I have a bike I really love to ride, I am much more likely to ride it and stay healthy. Right? Gee, I might be able to work more years and pay for the extra cost of the bike many times over.
Am I right, or am I just justifying spending more than is prudent?
#80
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It is so sad how automated and machine-driven everything has become! I used to have everything in my home so automated that I didn't even have to get up off the sofa to turn any light and/or appliance in the house on/off.
The public is now paying the price for automation...Obesity!!! Thank God I got out of that rut!
The public is now paying the price for automation...Obesity!!! Thank God I got out of that rut!
#82
Rides again
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Originally Posted by pletcgm
I had a really good one last week! I was commuting to work and came up on the last stop light. The driver in the car beside me rolled his window down and told me that he sees me all the time on a bicycle coming to work.
I responded by telling him that "I just bought a brand new MB C240 a week ago and I am commuting to work so that I don't become a fat-a$$ like you are sitting in the vehicle! By the way, come back to me when you have a truck that is more expensive than my bicycle!" He wasn't too appreciative of that remark!
I responded by telling him that "I just bought a brand new MB C240 a week ago and I am commuting to work so that I don't become a fat-a$$ like you are sitting in the vehicle! By the way, come back to me when you have a truck that is more expensive than my bicycle!" He wasn't too appreciative of that remark!
1. bike commuters are a micro presense. Whatever we all can do to promote safe bike commuting helps us all.
2. the goal should be to open a dialog to the benefits of biking.
I am never good when put on the spot like that, but a response that might cause your regular fellow commuter to rethink his position might be something along these lines:
"You're right. Managing money is important. I find time is harder to manage so I combine my commute and workout times. Pretty good Health club fees, right?"
Others may have better alternative responses. If you tried your approach here, you might very quickly find yourself under the wheels of a cowboy truck. Just so you know.
Hi 'o
#83
Junkyard Dawg!!
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It was a little harsh, but then again, when you use your bike for transportation, you get tired of people being rude just because you're on a bike! Especially when you know you're doing your part to keep your body healthy AND the environment!
When I first started using my bike I felt kind of silly because I didn't have a car, and that somehow I was lower than other people who have one! But there are lots of countries in Europe where people use bikes for transportation, and a lot of Americans think of Europe as sophisticated. That changed EVERYTHING! Besides the fact my legs are built like a brick you-know-what house!
sometimes construction workers yell at me when I ride by (which is annoying!), but mostly I just ignore people being rude. Like you said, they're the one's getting big fat guts n' butts!
When I first started using my bike I felt kind of silly because I didn't have a car, and that somehow I was lower than other people who have one! But there are lots of countries in Europe where people use bikes for transportation, and a lot of Americans think of Europe as sophisticated. That changed EVERYTHING! Besides the fact my legs are built like a brick you-know-what house!
sometimes construction workers yell at me when I ride by (which is annoying!), but mostly I just ignore people being rude. Like you said, they're the one's getting big fat guts n' butts!
#84
Commuter Nut
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Originally Posted by HiYoSilver
Unfortunately you choose a "me need to feel good" response instead of a "me need to enlighten fellow commuter" response.
1. bike commuters are a micro presense. Whatever we all can do to promote safe bike commuting helps us all.
2. the goal should be to open a dialog to the benefits of biking.
I am never good when put on the spot like that, but a response that might cause your regular fellow commuter to rethink his position might be something along these lines:
"You're right. Managing money is important. I find time is harder to manage so I combine my commute and workout times. Pretty good Health club fees, right?"
Others may have better alternative responses. If you tried your approach here, you might very quickly find yourself under the wheels of a cowboy truck. Just so you know.
Hi 'o
1. bike commuters are a micro presense. Whatever we all can do to promote safe bike commuting helps us all.
2. the goal should be to open a dialog to the benefits of biking.
I am never good when put on the spot like that, but a response that might cause your regular fellow commuter to rethink his position might be something along these lines:
"You're right. Managing money is important. I find time is harder to manage so I combine my commute and workout times. Pretty good Health club fees, right?"
Others may have better alternative responses. If you tried your approach here, you might very quickly find yourself under the wheels of a cowboy truck. Just so you know.
Hi 'o
I'm partial to the "Someone has to be in shape to do your wife" comment and the "get a bike" outpacing manuver. I dunno how I'd feel about opening someone's back door, especially since it will jut into traffic and it provides a great weapon to kill me with.
Really tho, unless they start throwing things, I tend to leave the matter alone. As degrading as it can be for 10 seconds, after 60 seconds more pedalling, I don't care. I am one to call the cops at a moments notice if I feel in danger however, and they get nice letters from me all the time. (no sarcasm, they really do get nice letters from me).
#85
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Originally Posted by pletcgm
I had a really good one last week! I was commuting to work and came up on the last stop light. The driver in the car beside me rolled his window down and told me that he sees me all the time on a bicycle coming to work. He said that I need to manage my money better and I would be able to afford a car.
I responded by telling him that "I just bought a brand new MB C240 a week ago and I am commuting to work so that I don't become a fat-a$$ like you are sitting in the vehicle! By the way, come back to me when you have a truck that is more expensive than my bicycle!" He wasn't too appreciative of that remark!
I responded by telling him that "I just bought a brand new MB C240 a week ago and I am commuting to work so that I don't become a fat-a$$ like you are sitting in the vehicle! By the way, come back to me when you have a truck that is more expensive than my bicycle!" He wasn't too appreciative of that remark!