I'm going to try going car free

[Williamsmith]

I've thought about it...but I'm solidly entrenched in my love affair with my truck. I posted somewhere else that I have owned 17 vehicles in my lifetime.....well I actually forgot one so make it 18. If you figure just taxes and transfer charges alone....that is probably 15,000 dollars. I live in the frigid northeast where snow is on the ground a good five months of the year. No way I could go without a vehicle. But I'll keep thinking about the freedom of no gas bill and insurance.

[Tammy]

I absolutely love riding my bike! It just makes me happy. When I have to drive it just isn't the same. Biking is fun and driving is a necessity at times.

[awakenedsoul]

It's great hearing about everyone's biking, public transportation, and driving experiences. I am two weeks post op. I will start using the stationary bike with no weight for PT soon. I wonder if I will ride my bike for transportation again? I'm still not able to drive for a few more weeks, so I have Dial a Ride.

Going car free was great, but I have to admit I feel relieved to have my red Beetle parked in the driveway.

[kib]

I have a biking question: does the type of bike you have make a huge difference? I know that sounds sort of stupid, of course it makes a difference. But I used to ride everywhere on my 25 pound racing bike, back in the 80's, and unless I was on a serious uphill, it felt zippy ... productive. The bike I have now weighs much more, with bigger tires and a wide seat, sort of mountain bike styling. Although it's a decent quality bike, it seems like pedaling a mastodon down the street, as if I could just about run faster than I can make it go. 2 miles to the grocery store, uphill both ways.

Do you think it's the bike? Or am I just ... sigh ... old?

[Tammy]

I think it's the bike.

I ride one of these:

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=...D=2500&PC=APPL

Everything else feels heavy and difficult now.

[Ultralight]

I think it's the bike.

I ride one of these:

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=...D=2500&PC=APPL


Everything else feels heavy and difficult now.

Very cool little bike! I had a folding bike before but it was heavy, quite large, and still hard to lug around. I eventually sold it because it was so awkward.

The bike I have now I got for $50. A friend was going to sell it on Craigslist and I swooped in and got it when he found out I was looking for a bike.

A week after I got it I was in a fairly minor "frame re-arranger." The settlement got me about $300 or so to put into it. So I gussied it up with a new seat and such, and some lights. It is a Diamondback Topanga -- nothing fancy or professional. But I like it and it was affordable.

[SteveinMN]

I have a biking question: does the type of bike you have make a huge difference?

Yes. My first bike was a Schwinn Suburban, which I am almost positive was made of cast iron. Big heavy thing -- but it was almost indestructible. When I got out of college and was putting more miles on a bike, I bought an aluminum-alloy Trek touring bike. The test ride alone felt like moving from a Chevy Suburban to a Porsche. I can't imagine slogging the Schwinn up some of the hills I tackled on the Trek. Yeah, maybe some of it is age. But a heavy bike -- it's like a heavy camera tripod. The weight doesn't seem to matter much until you're moving it all. the. time.

[ctg492]

I have a bike collection problem Sure it matters what type bike you are riding and for what purpose/ground riding on/weather ect. If these did not matter I would not be checking the weather and wind report before I go to bed at night so I can plan tomorrow's ride and where I am going.

[awakenedsoul]

I had a mountain bike and still have a beach cruiser. I noticed the mountain bike was much easier to lift on to the bus bike racks than the beach cruiser. I was looking at those fold up bikes, too. I almost bought one. I thought it'd be nice to take with me on train trips. That way I could bike to my dad's from the train station. The ones I liked were pretty expensive, though.