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Thread: CycleMonth Challenge: Completed...with interesting results

  1. #1
    Senior Member Ultralight's Avatar
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    CycleMonth Challenge: Completed...with interesting results

    As I posted in a previous thread, during the month of September I cycled all distances up to 8 miles round trip. This was far outside my normal cycling, which was sporadic at best.

    So check out these stats:

    Average miles I'd drive in my car a month: 1366
    Miles I drove during CycleMonth: 614

    Money saved during CycleMonth on gasoline/wear & tear/misc. car-related costs: Approximately $307

    My weight first thing in the morning on Sept. 1st: 190.2 lbs.
    My weight first thing this morning (Oct. 1st): 190.2 lbs. (haha!)

    Plus I got 4 or 5 work outs in each week simply by cycling places like the grocery, the bank, the pharmacy, etc.

    I also learned to true the wheels on my bike, do some brake work, and modify things too, such as putting a basket rack over the rear wheel.


    The question now is: Do I continue CycleMonth indefinitely?

  2. #2
    Senior Member kib's Avatar
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    Could you use an extra $300 a month? I seem to remember someone with a pricey trout habit...

    ETA: Awesome accomplishment, btw. Do you feel healthier, stronger, if not lighter?

  3. #3
    Senior Member Ultralight's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by kib View Post
    Could you use an extra $300 a month? I seem to remember someone with a pricey trout habit...

    ETA: Awesome accomplishment, btw. Do you feel healthier, stronger, if not lighter?
    The $300 is nice. I was just thinking: "If I put $300 into an IRA each month..."

    I do feel healthier. I wouldn't say I am in shape though. haha

  4. #4
    Senior Member Gardenarian's Avatar
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    Wow, that is a great challenge!
    I can see that it might be hard to do in winter. Are there other reasons why would you not want to continue?

    I'm just starting to seriously bike for transportation. The biggest drawback to me is that I can't carry much on my bike. I added a rear basket and have bungie strapped a milk crate to my rack, but sometimes it's not quite enough. Then I end up heading back to the store in my car, which seems stupid. I have also found that I needed to tweak stuff on my bike - new handlebar grips, front and rear lights.

    I checked out an electric power-assist trike with a big basket on the back, and I'm thinking that might be the way to go.

  5. #5
    Senior Member ctg492's Avatar
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    Studded tires for snow. I put them on my winter bike every year. Slow and steady is the way I ride in that type of Michigan weather. It is not a fast ride for me, but gets me out when I want. Proper clothing is a priority with inclement weather riding. A few winters ago I made a mindset to head out everyday no matter what and no matter how far. I rode to the end of the road just to say I rode if that was what I could do. Ok Winter strong wind or Ice I stay home.

  6. #6
    Senior Member flowerseverywhere's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by UltraliteAngler View Post
    The $300 is nice. I was just thinking: "If I put $300 into an IRA each month..."

    I do feel healthier. I wouldn't say I am in shape though. haha
    $3600 per year extra saved is a lot. Even if you ride eight months that is $2400. Plus your car will last longer. I would say reducing car use and not driving expensive cars was the # 2 thing that got us to early retirement. (Cooking everything from scratch every day was #1. ).

    Just do do a little research on tweaking your diet a little to lose a little here and there if that is your goal. Not dieting, but making healthier substitutions and cutting down 100 or so calories a day. In a year that is ten pounds.

  7. #7
    Senior Member awakenedsoul's Avatar
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    I used to ride my bike everywhere. It saved me a lot of money. I bought a Burley Travoy bike trailer and loved it. They're kind of pricey, but very well made. I still use it. I'm now car light again, but may start biking again soon.

    Glad to hear you are saving all that money. It really adds up over time.

  8. #8
    Senior Member pcooley's Avatar
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    We were car-free for eight years until our oldest daughter got into a charter middle and high school way out on the edge of the city. I am still unhappy about having a car. The money we save by having the mortgage paid off is, to a great extent, offset by the money we spend owning, insuring, maintaining, and fueling a car, (and two scooters). My preference still runs bicycle-scooter-and as very last resort-car. I'd be happy to get rid of it, but my kids have been making up for lost time in terms of needing to be driven to activities. In some ways, I'm fine with that, but in others, I wish they had developed the patience to ride the bus and bicycle through their early childhood training. My 14 year old son does still bicycle, walk and ride his bicycle fairly long distances. My 16 year old daughter prefers to ride her Yamaha Vino scooter or get a ride from one of us.

    We do have one bike with studded snow tires. It's very nice riding in the winter, though you have to pick a good gear, because the derailleurs freeze up.

  9. #9
    Senior Member awakenedsoul's Avatar
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    I could go back to the bus if I had to...I used to put my bike on the bus. I love having a car, but it is more expensive. The bus pass was only $32.00 a month. However, it involved a lot of waiting. It was a challenge during our hot summers, and there was also the hassle factor. But, I know I could go back to it if I needed to do so. I just spent $1,300. replacing the timing belt in my Beetle. But, it's a wonderful little car, and I inherited it. So, I look at the big picture.

  10. #10
    Williamsmith
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    The auto industry has a little something to say about reversing the trend of Americans spending large percentages of their monthly net income on cars. It's called advertising but it is truly mind programming. I mean my favorite commercial right now is subaru, dog bucket list. So I looked at my daughters Subaru Crosstrac and thought, "yeah! I could be comfortable in this and it is all wheel drive". Never mind I already have a Ford Escape that is only 2 years old.

    A bicycle is impractical in a lot of ways especially in the northeast. There are no berms to ride them on. You can't carry much with you. Inclement weather reduces you to seasonal use. I have two bicycles and a bike rack that fits on a tow hitch. Just what the auto industry would like to see......even if I ride my bike, I Have to drive it to the bike trail.

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