$100 Tank of Gas
#1
Thread Starter
The Left Coast, USA
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 3,757
Likes: 25
Bikes: Bulls, Bianchi, Koga, Trek, Miyata
$100 Tank of Gas
A first for me. Given I commute by bike, my truck get a few months out of a full tank. Filled it this weekend since it was running on fumes, hit the magic three digits.
Man, it's frightening to think of commuting any distance by car, what a waste of money.
I guess warmongering has its consequences.
Man, it's frightening to think of commuting any distance by car, what a waste of money.
I guess warmongering has its consequences.
#2
When I got my car in 2004 it was around $25 to fill up the tank. Now it's around $60. I never drove to work though, but my weekend gateways are significantly more expensive as my salary did not go up nearly three times. But I still manage since I don't really drive as much as other people I just crossed 55k miles after 7 years. I probably won't change my driving much until it hits $6 or more per gallon. But being able to throw my bike in the back of my minivan and get out of NYC and be in the mountains by 9am is worth it.
#4
Low car diet
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,407
Likes: 4
From: Corvallis, OR, USA
Bikes: 2006 Windsor Dover w/105, 2007 GT Avalanche w/XT, 1995 Trek 820 setup for touring, 201? Yeah single-speed folder, 199? Huffy tandem.
I haven't had to pay attention to gas prices in a year and a half. I can't imagine where I'd be now if I had to.
#5
That's a sippy cup. Before the head gasket blew, the family vehicle- which we called "the Beast"- was a '99 GMC Suburban 1500 RWD with a 5.7 liter and a 42 gallon tank. It could've been worse- my wife would've probably came home with a Ford Excursion if the dealer had any instead of the Jeep she's in now...
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#7
Administrator

Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 13,651
Likes: 2,695
From: Delaware shore
Bikes: Cervelo C5, Guru Photon, Waterford, Specialized CX
#8
I have a Chevy Malibu that gets almost 30 mpg. I drive it less than a hundred miles a month. At nearly $4/gallon the cost of fuel doesn't worry me personally.
Life is good when you ride a bicycle.
But I guess I'm preaching to the choir, aren't I?
Life is good when you ride a bicycle.
But I guess I'm preaching to the choir, aren't I?
#10
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 6,682
Likes: 4
From: Above ground, Walnut Creek, Ca
Bikes: 8 ss bikes, 1 5-speed touring bike
no thank you!
to be honest, i usually drive my motorcycle @ 50mpg. that means my truck sits on the curb a lot. i occasionally drive it in inclement weather or until my neighbors (god bless them) come knocking at my door with a pleasant "MOVE YOUR G**DAMN TRUCK" request. one or the other. whichever comes first. i prefer bad weather...
to be honest, i usually drive my motorcycle @ 50mpg. that means my truck sits on the curb a lot. i occasionally drive it in inclement weather or until my neighbors (god bless them) come knocking at my door with a pleasant "MOVE YOUR G**DAMN TRUCK" request. one or the other. whichever comes first. i prefer bad weather...
#11
Tractorlegs
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,185
Likes: 60
From: El Paso, TX
Bikes: Schwinn Meridian Single-Speed Tricycle
#12
#16
Senior Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 173
Likes: 0
I have a 10 year old car that given to me as a present for getting my license back after 3 DUI's. I didn't drive for 9 years. It's a Honda & is very cheap to maintain. Gas is getting expensive but so is biking. I recently had to replace my back rim, chain and derailer. I'm constantly having too buy more inner tubes, bike lube, Gatorade ect...I even have to pay for more food. My car get about 32mpg. I enjoy biking but I don't think it's as cheap as some of you make it out to be.
#17
Kitten Legion Master
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 900
Likes: 1
Bikes: Fuji silhouette, Dawes SST-aL
I have a 10 year old car that given to me as a present for getting my license back after 3 DUI's. I didn't drive for 9 years. It's a Honda & is very cheap to maintain. Gas is getting expensive but so is biking. I recently had to replace my back rim, chain and derailer. I'm constantly having too buy more inner tubes, bike lube, Gatorade ect...I even have to pay for more food. My car get about 32mpg. I enjoy biking but I don't think it's as cheap as some of you make it out to be.
Patch your tubes, try different lube, drink water.
They will save you a lot right there.
#18
Senior Member

Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,890
Likes: 59
From: Fairhaven, Massachusetts
Bikes: Giant easy e, Priority Onyx, Scott Sub 40, Marin Belvedere Commuter
I put gas in my car for the third time since Christmas. It seems like I'm always at the pump. It's getting expensive to run that thing.
#19
Senior Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 8,896
Likes: 7
From: Raleigh, NC
Bikes: Waterford RST-22, Bob Jackson World Tour, Ritchey Breakaway Cross, Soma Saga, De Bernardi SL, Specialized Sequoia
I just filled up my pickup truck (Ford Ranger) for only the second time since the new year. It cost about $60 to fill. When my wife complains about me buying bike gear, I just pull out the gasoline bill. Last time I did that, our monthly bill was something like $260 and it was all from filling her car; I didn't have a single charge.
I'm saving some real change with gas prices so high right now because I'm bike commuting 30 miles/day. I also gave up my parking space at work, which was costing $15/month.
I'm saving some real change with gas prices so high right now because I'm bike commuting 30 miles/day. I also gave up my parking space at work, which was costing $15/month.
#20
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,454
Likes: 0
From: Virginia/DC
Bikes: quite a few
I think I've filled up 2 or 3 times this year, but it'll be less frequent in the months to come. It's usually only 10 gallons/fill-up.
You can buy 10 bikes for the price of one car.
Though I agree running costs of biking aren't quite as cheap as some might suspect. Extra clothes to wash = more detergent to buy + more energy to run washing machine. And yes, extra calories to eat if you're burning them (this is a huge plus for me though as I love food). Although I do think as you become a more experienced rider you don't get anywhere near as many flats. /self-JINX
I have a 10 year old car that given to me as a present for getting my license back after 3 DUI's. I didn't drive for 9 years. It's a Honda & is very cheap to maintain. Gas is getting expensive but so is biking. I recently had to replace my back rim, chain and derailer. I'm constantly having too buy more inner tubes, bike lube, Gatorade ect...I even have to pay for more food. My car get about 32mpg. I enjoy biking but I don't think it's as cheap as some of you make it out to be.
Though I agree running costs of biking aren't quite as cheap as some might suspect. Extra clothes to wash = more detergent to buy + more energy to run washing machine. And yes, extra calories to eat if you're burning them (this is a huge plus for me though as I love food). Although I do think as you become a more experienced rider you don't get anywhere near as many flats. /self-JINX
#22
Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 38
Likes: 0
Riding has always been FAR cheaper for me than driving...it always has been by leaps and bounds.
Insurance+upkeep+gas(energy)+car payment(optional) > bicycle+food(energy)+gadgets+etc. I ride in the clothes I'd be wearing if I weren't commuting (t-shirt and shorts, mainly) so my laundry costs aren't all that different. Plus, having a toddler in the house means I'm doing laundry a lot anyway so topping off the load with my own clothes only makes sense from an economic and resource standpoint.
I'm pretty much forced to drive right now because of where we live and it suuuuuuuucks. We are moving back the area we moved away from in a few months and I'm selling my car before we move.
Insurance+upkeep+gas(energy)+car payment(optional) > bicycle+food(energy)+gadgets+etc. I ride in the clothes I'd be wearing if I weren't commuting (t-shirt and shorts, mainly) so my laundry costs aren't all that different. Plus, having a toddler in the house means I'm doing laundry a lot anyway so topping off the load with my own clothes only makes sense from an economic and resource standpoint.
I'm pretty much forced to drive right now because of where we live and it suuuuuuuucks. We are moving back the area we moved away from in a few months and I'm selling my car before we move.
#23
ride for a change
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,221
Likes: 2
From: Minneapolis, MN
Bikes: Surly Cross-check & Moonlander, Pivot Mach 429, Ted Wojcik Sof-Trac, Ridley Orion. Santa Cruz Stigmata
I hear you, it was almost $7 to fill up the Vespa! I've got to do that sometimes 2x in one month!
#24
genec
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 27,072
Likes: 4,533
From: West Coast
Bikes: custom built, sannino, beachbike, giant trance x2
#25




. you do the math. 



