I leased a car three years ago as it was the best choice for the situation I was in. I resented it. I don’t like car payments and I don’t like driving a new car plus I hate the insurance premium. I don’t define myself by my car at all. As long as it gets me where I need to go, is efficient on gas, and has room for my girlfriend and dogs I’m happy.
The least ran out on Saturday and I borrowed a bike from my brother in law, made a shelter for it, and today I biked 15 minutes to work. My plan is to save the money I would have used on leasing to buy a used car outright in several months.
How I feel: I’ve been running 3 miles every other day since Jan 1, and today is no exception. I woke up at 5:00, ran, took a cold shower to stop the sweat and had breakfast. I did a quick change into business clothes and took the dogs on a mile walk. I was out the door at 6:40 and at work for 6:56. I’m required to be in at 8:30 but I like the quiet time to sip on coffee and organize the day. I brought a gallon of milk for my tomato soups, 4 cans of condensed soup, a bag of apples, a bunch of bananas, a pack of cheese and a loaf of bread. It’s raining all this week but I get by with a rain coat and a towel.
I’ll have a quick lunch at 12:00, back to work 12:30, then bike to the gym at 5:00. From 5:00 - 6:00 I’ll lift weights, then at 6:00 it’s time to make dinner. We’re having chicken thighs, rice and green beans. I’ll have two hours of me time and then it’s bed at 9:00.
I’m so excited! Without this auto loan I will have more financing available for a mortgage. Also - a little brag since everyone is saying I’m crazy for doing this. At 27 years old I feel the best I’ve ever felt.
Good job!
I will assume you have spent more than the bike is worth ( ) on the following:
Helmet
Gloves
Brightly colored shirts
Reflective vest
Lights ( headlight, tail light plus a cheaper version of each as back up)
Lock
Tool kit
Patch kit
Extra tubes
The helmet is an old leftover, it isn’t cold enough for gloves…but I might want something to keep the wind from my eyes! I use a backpack and have a blinking red light on that, and have front and rear blinking lights. They detach and I recharge them at my office. Very neat! I have a cable lock which is rather cheap but I park my bike in an enclosed area on camera so it should be safe. I haven’t gotten a toolkit to carry yet but I’m very close to home and could walk the bike if desperate.
Gloves are for abrasion protection if you fall. Check that your light is aimed backward. Being on a backpack can drastically alter it’s direction. Airplanes don’t need to see you.
Wrap around style sunglasses are the standard. Tifosi makes very reasonably priced models(50-70) If you need Rx lenses, SportRx is excellent. They can apply your Rx to the entire lens.
How old is the helmet? Sweat & sunlight work to degrade the protective abilities of a helmet. The rule of thumb that I’ve always heard is replace every 5 years.
Pretty much all of the helmets sold by any of the major brands meet one of the safety standards (there’s more than one group that issues standards). The difference in cost is due to weight & comfort, specifically how well vented it is; not just the size of the air holes, but the internal channels that helps with air flowing thru the helmet to keep your head cool. Given you’re doing both a short ride & probably not that high of an intensity, you probably don’t need one of the more expensive models.
Agree with Running Coach, have you gf or a cow-orker assist you by you getting into riding position (which may be bent forward) & then having them place the light on your backpack so that it shines back & not up.
Get the repair stuff & most bike shops have a somewhat regular free clinic on flat repair if you don’t know how to do that already. While you’re there, think about getting a good lock that you can just leave at work, locked to the bike rack when not in use. Don’t worry about its weight since you’re not carrying it on a regular basis.
Finally, don’t forget, bikes need some regular maintenance, cleaning, lubing, & replacing of worn parts, especially if you’re riding in dirty/gritty conditions.
I would recommend a new helmet if the one you are using is over 5 years old; the material degrades and they are considered unsafe after that amount of time.
Also, if you decide you want to save money and do a little of your own work on your bike you could see what coops are in your area.
You may also want to look at safety glasses vice wrap around sport glasses. After years of spending big bucks on Oakley M-frames, Killer Loops, and Smiths the best glasses I’ve ever used are a tinted pair of Uvex wrap arounds; $15/pr. One pair of smoke grey for day rides and clear for evenings. Add in the fact they hve adjustable temples, UVA and B protection and , $15 vs $150.
+1 on the helmet, especially 2nd hand as you don’t know if it’s been dropped or how degraded the material is. Most people don’t realize that even dropping your helmet onto a hard surface once is often enough to compromise it and that it needs to be replaced.
Congrats, I wish I had your willpower; 5 AM is early, and I like my sleep.
Congrats! I’m a bit jealous that you can ride in February with no gloves. I’m a three-season bike commuter, as it gets a bit chilly and dark and snowy here in Minnesota in the winter–but, especially down in Minneapolis, I see more and more winter cyclists every year. It’s becoming a “thing”.
I’ve been commuting for about 5 years. I definitely find an improvement in my mood on the days I bike in. It’s a great stress reliever. I was just looking at the calendar today and thinking that if all goes well (meaning, if we don’t get several feet of snow dumped on us), I could be biking to work by next month.
I started cycling to work during the Summer of 2013 and since then (apparently) I have cycled 4,479km. Oh, if you have an iPhone I can recommend Cyclemeter, I find tracking how much I am cycling to be a great motivator. I cycled all the way through the 2013-2014 Winter, which was an unusual experience. It was only after falling off on the first corner of the first day of ice that someone told me you can get studded Winter tyres for bikes. So, cycling in -12C and it snowing is a glorious experience, especially when done late at night. Unfortunately due to a back injury I haven’t cycled much this Winter, but it has been a disappointing one in general anyway.
Biking on a snowy cold winter night snows very trippy!
There has been light rain every day so far but with a heavy jacket it isn’t bothersome. I’ve been towel drying my bike when I get it home and softly spraying all the clanky bits with WD40. I feel so good leaving work at 5 and GETTING TO GO FOR A BIKE RIDE! Makes me feel like a kid!
I went ahead and put a thin pair of leather gloves on as it was cold and I see the benefit in them if I fall. The helmet is only 3 years old and was stored in my closet so it’s still good for keeping my egg uncracked. I know the essentials of bike maintenance - I can change a flat, replace a chain, adjust the seat and handlebars so I’ve been keeping it up myself.
If I have to go further than 15 minutes it would be a scenario I’d have to go over an hour, in which case I’d carpool, but not a terrible suggestion.
Congrats on the biking to work. You seem to have done almost everything right.
My only comment is that WD-40 is NOT a lubricant. It is a Water Displacer. All of the lubricating properties evaporates within minutes. Please use a proper lubricant where needed. Your bike will last longer.
I also recommend that you take one of the bike maintenance clinics. One thing though, make sure whoever is putting it on actually knows something about the proper maintenance of bikes. There is some very bad advice out there. For example, using WD-40 as a replacement for chain lube +/or 3-in-1 oil.
Most bike shops free clinics are very good, as the owners really care about you as a fellow bicyclist.
Now I must say, as a biker, (I ride motorcycles, not bicycles), Keep your head on a swivel! You are your own best insurance. Most drivers will not be looking for you, so you must look out for them.
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