So I got a bike and now bike to the coffee shop, when not doing the laundry

[nadinbrzezinski]

so I went to the bank today... and folks here is some serious savings I am seeing...

I am not kidding you guys.. in fact, I thought it would take a month to pay for the bike... wrong, it took TWO weeks... and it wasn't that cheap of a bike

And the side benefits of the exercise are just a beanie...

Point is, with the price of gas this was probably one of those very bright financial decisions

In fact, I had stopped going out for coffee much, now I can even afford it more often than once a week

GREAT

That does not mean I just don't stay home and make meself a Latte at home... YUMMO, but you get the picture

And this is what most of us will be forced to do folks, period

[SammyWinstonJack]

1. I bet bush's base, *the haves and have mores* aren't biking anywhere!

And something is just plain wrong with that! While we, the *little* people are forced to change our ways, the richest among us are living it up! Again, there is just something wrong with that!

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. Well bush's Trek bike is not something to scuff at

but for him it is just entertaining.

I know... there is something wrong, but at this point I'm just dealing with this the best I can...

[peacebird]

2. we now bike 12 miles to work. We still drive one way each day, but bike the other.

It's amazing how much stronger I feel now than a couple months ago!

We hope to transition to biking both ways next week, but here near Charlottesville is VERY hilly, so it has taken longer than I hoped to get in shape for the round trip. (We also are not exactly "spring chickens".... it gets harder to get in shape after 50...)

[nadinbrzezinski]

10. Takes a while to get back in shape I know

my farthest ride was six miles... and I know I will do more once I am in better shape

[Yael]

12. How does that work?

You bike on alternate days?

I just bought a bike this week as well and am going to start commuting to work on it, but it rains here (hard) every afternoon, it seems.

Trying to get the logistics down.

[peacebird]

13. we drive to work one day with the bike, leave the car and bike home.

Next day bike in and drive home....

Hopefully next week we can start doing both ways in a day....

on edit - it seems easier to bike in because the afternoons are getting tremendous cloud and t-storm action here too.... we've had to cancel several rides home due to storms....

[Yael]

25. Interesting. Thanks!

Not only the gas issue -- I am also looking forward to the health benefits. Definitely an upside to $4 gas if one's glass remains half full.

:)

[Gabi Hayes]

3. yep...can't believe how lazy I've gotten, and gotten my bike out for local trips.

next step....bike rack...air in tires

screw the 'tuneup....' too irritating. always lose the bearings after cleaning

[islandmkl]

4. keep your bike out of the way of the Privileged's Hummers, peasant...

[nadinbrzezinski]

7. Funny I'm seeing less hummers and more bikes

and this is So Cal where car is king

[proud2BlibKansan]

6. I haven't turned on the AC in my car or my house yet

I am trying to see just how long I can stand it. So far, it's not so bad.

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. Wish I could do that, but hubby a retired submariner

and hates living outside a sixty degree world...

Oh and the gaming computer hates the heat too

[kestrel91316]

15. No such luck here. It's 107 today, 109 is forecast for Friday,

and this is about our 4th or 5th OVER-100 heat wave of the year so far.

Without AC we die. It's that simple.

[hfojvt]

27. let me put in a plug for a small window unit

it will cool off a bedroom at very low cost. I'm not sure what a central air costs, but it's gotta be cheaper to cool one room than an entire house. I use two of them to cool off my downstairs and use an average of 3600 kilowatt hours a year for the last three years. Before it quit working I used the big 250 watt A/C (window too) that came with the house and I used 4200 kilowatt hours just for the three summer months.

[wtmusic]

9. What did you end up buying? nt

[parasim]

11. Yes! I've done the same.

I love biking to the store, etc. The other day I stopped and talked to a turtle.

Not only have a saved money on gas, but I also feel like I've become more in touch with the world around me. It's so refreshing to be free from the automobile.

[wellstone dem]

16. I save money on shopping too

as I have to carry it on the bike home---that makes me more thoughtful about purchasing.

[parasim]

20. Absolutely!

I have this little satchel that I sling over my shoulder and fill up with stuff. Makes it a bit hard when I have to shop for cat litter, : ) so I'm looking to get a basket, but nonetheless... you're right, you become much more thoughtful about what you buy. It's all good.

[kestrel91316]

14. Gas is gonna have to get a lot more expensive before I will feel safe

biking to work. Seems like there are a lot of angry, frustrated SUV and pickup owners out there these days, just looking to cause an accident or mow down a cyclist.............

But I can WALK to the grocery store, drug store, restaurants, Trader Joe's, lots of little shops, bus stops.....and coffee shops.

[nadinbrzezinski]

18. I wish I was in an area where I could do that

[kestrel91316]

26. When I moved out of the house last fall I was very particular about

what areas I wanted to look for apartments in. Location, location, location.

$1250 for a 1-BR. YIKES.

[Bob Dobbs]

17. I have been biking a 10 mile round trip to work in downtown Denver.

For a year and a half. Lost 35 pounds. Was able to seriously progress my snowboarding because of the conditioning. We only have one vehicle now.

It does get a little hairy biking in snowstorms, but I have an insulated waterproof suit and wear my snowboarding goggles and go to it. It is a mess, sometimes, but it is amazing what you can really do if your have a will to do it.

Just ask Tiger Woods.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

19. I'm seeing a lot of scooters and bicycles this summer

:-)

[SeattleGirl]

21. I've worked from home for years, but just got a new job that is only

about 4 miles from me, mostly on flat roads. I'm thinking that on nice days, I will ride the bike to work.

[Theres-a]

22. Sadly, though

There was a story on our local news about a guy who got killed on his bike yesterday. Please be careful! Your posts are always very valuable and thoughtful!(got helmet?)

[MissB]

23. I'm too time-crunched currently, but I have started to ride the bus.

I'd love to bike in, but it just isn't happening at this point. Work is about 12 miles away- certainly doable, but the time it takes is another thing entirely. I'd like to see my young kids in the evenings. :)

My employer subsidizes my monthly bus/light rail pass. I only have to pay about $18/month, which is a huge savings over the regular rate ($76/month) and an even bigger savings compared to driving/parking ($200+/month). The only downside is that even the 6:30 am bus is standing-room only. I guess everyone else has the same idea.

On the upside, I'm getting way more exercise.

[mdmc]

24. I make coffee at home and at the office

gas made me make things for myself. I cherish them more.

I also use the company car at least once a week. I try my hardest to use very little of my own gas.

[taterguy]

28. Don't you have any sympathy for oil barons?

You're taking away their livelihood