Anyone ever consider using a bicycle to keep some miles off your truck?
About two years ago I started to get back into bikes and it's been great. I commute to work by bike, haul home the groceries on one of my bikes, go mountain biking on another bike and log a ton of fitness miles on my road bike.
I've lost 45 pounds Went from a size 42 to a 38 with a belt. Saved a ton of money, roughly 5,000 dollars in gas alone over the last year two years.
My truck is a '05 that was bought in Oct of '04, pretty much the first day the Tacoma was available(I sold it to myself, used to sell Toyota's) Two years ago I had 60,000 miles on it. Today there is 65,000 miles on it During the last two years I drove to Northern Cal. once and to Vegas.
I still use it sometime if I want to go mountain biking somewhere far away or for Road trips, but I don't really miss driving all the time.
I've considered riding my mountain bike to work to save a few miles and gas a week. Work is only about 1 1/2 miles away so it wouldn't be too strenuous.
cycling is a great way to get around. i used to ride more, but my commute is too far now. i'm hoping that will change. i used to love to ride to work. lately, i paddle in the morning, so i still get a workout.
this country would really benefit if a few more people would ride. they just don't know how fun, and astoundingly healthy it is. the new bikes are amazing; great shifting - suspensions. great way to burn stress. i still read the bikeforums.com to vicariously enjoy cycling. did a lot of road racing back in the early 90's. those were some of the best days of my life.
it's such a shame cyclists get so little respect on the roads. i work around surfer bum pothead carpenters occasionally. when they ask 'what is up with those idiots riding around in the clown suits?' i tell 'em 'they're just getting high man, just getting high'.
cycling is a great way to get around. i used to ride more, but my commute is too far now. i'm hoping that will change. i used to love to ride to work. lately, i paddle in the morning, so i still get a workout.
this country would really benefit if a few more people would ride. they just don't know how fun, and astoundingly healthy it is. the new bikes are amazing; great shifting - suspensions. great way to burn stress. i still read the bikeforums.com to vicariously enjoy cycling. did a lot of road racing back in the early 90's. those were some of the best days of my life.
it's such a shame cyclists get so little respect on the roads. i work around surfer bum pothead carpenters occasionally. when they ask 'what is up with those idiots riding around in the clown suits?' i tell 'em 'they're just getting high man, just getting high'.
just a damn shame.
How long is your commute? Another thing you can do if your area has decent public transportation you can utilize the bus part of the commute. Sometimes if I don't feel like riding in the morning I'll take my bike on the bus to work and then ride home. My commute is 18 miles each way.
maui is undergoing a growth spurt, and the roads are furiously trying to keep up. road construction everywhere, which makes routinely hazardous cycling routes purely suicidal. we have a rider run down and killed almost each year. upcountry is where its at for riding here, and i'm about to start a 5 year project up there. i'll be able to ride again then. i do a sport called stand up paddle surfing now, which is a real blast. i do it each morning before work. the board is 16 feet and goes on top of the truck. the commute is only about 14 miles, but 4 miles of it is a 3k foot climb, on a rough dirt road. in my racing days i coulda done it standing on my head, but i'm 47 now, and that's a lot of climbing in the dirt. back in my racing days, i lived in albuquerque, and in the winter i would sometimes commute to cerillos -just south of santa fe. that's 60 miles each way! snowstorms and all. it was a beautiful back road that had no traffic. lotsa climbing on that road. i was crazy tough back then, and very happy. 120 mile training rides in the mountains were routine in the summer. great fun. good on ya for riding your bike. you are adding years to your life.
I have to drive to work, and need the truck for hauling stuff all the time, but have 20 mi of mtn bike trails just down outside my door. Don't have to drive to ride. I do use my beater road bike for trips into town alot. 5 miles and 1000ft drop, a good workout on the way home, especially with a 12pk on your back.
Hate to say it, but you should probably ditch the Xrunner then, maybe go with a beater. If only using 2500 mi a year, why pay the insurance and upkeep for something you almost never use?
__________________ 6-spd, 05' D-cab Sport 4x4, Tow pkg, TRD exhaust Summer: Stock 17's Winter: Blizzaks on 16' black steelies
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Hate to say it, but you should probably ditch the Xrunner then, maybe go with a beater. If only using 2500 mi a year, why pay the insurance and upkeep for something you almost never use?
I tried selling it, but nobody would buy it, even for 14,000 dollars
I figure I'll keep it and plan some road trips with it. Also my girlfriend wants to get Sea Doos, so I'll use it to pull them. And I can use it for going to far away MTB trails.
Also anyone can use Google Maps for directions and click on the Avoid Highways tab, then zoom in to see if there are shoulders/bike lanes. You can click and drag your route to a different road with a suitable shoulder or bike lane. The Bikemetro site will show you where the bike paths are too.
If you want to get into mountain biking, check out www.socaltrailriders.org My SN is Rob over there.
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Last edited by cam2Xrunner; 05-12-2008 at 11:24 PM.
How long is your commute? Another thing you can do if your area has decent public transportation you can utilize the bus part of the commute. Sometimes if I don't feel like riding in the morning I'll take my bike on the bus to work and then ride home. My commute is 18 miles each way.
Wow, 18 mile ride to work every day!! I was just thinking about starting to take my road bike to work the other day. I am about 20 miles away from the office as well. Do you just bring a change of clothes and shoes with you? Even after a few miles I am usually a sweaty mess in this FL heat/humidity.
We also have a train system here that is only a few miles from my home and the office which I have thought about using along with the bike.
If gas prices continue the way they are, I will probably start thinking about this even more.
Lately I've been taking the bus to work and then riding home, This way I'm not all sweaty before work, and it's also all uphill on the way there so it's faster to take the bus. The buses here have bike racks on them so it makes it pretty easy.
You should try it out even if you are comfortable with the gas prices. You'll get a daily workout, save money on gas and cause less pollution. Not to mention putting less miles on the truck.
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Went from a size 42 to a 38 with a belt. Saved a ton of money, roughly 5,000 dollars in gas alone over the last year two years. 
During the last two years I drove to Northern Cal. once and to Vegas.
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