February 3 - What a strange winter (I ride again)
You guessed it right. I didn't ride at all during the month of January. During the month, I actually used an entire tank of gasoline in the mini-van. Between really cold temperatures and winter storms that kept me at work for extended hours I chose not to ride in favor of the convenience of using the mini-van.
Now I didn't solely rely on the mini-van. I spent a week in training in New York City. For that week I commuted via walk-train-subway-walk. My commute time for those trips was approximately 1 hour each way. The equivalent motor vehicle travel time was the same. By not driving I avoided an increase in my monthly EzPass payment, I didn't pay $20/day for parking, and I was one less single occupant vehicle on the roadway. I actually found the walking exhilarating, and being near some many people without having steel barriers between us was quite refreshing too.
Yesterday, with temperatures pushing 60 degrees, I rode my airfree equipped Dahon folder twice. First, I had to bring my wife's car to the shop for maintenance. The shop is across town. So I popped the folder in the back seat (that's real easy because Heidi's car is a convertible), drove the car across town, left it at the repair shop, and rode my bike home. Later while out running errands with Heidi, on our way home we stopped by the repair shop and picked up the car. Here, the folder and a little planning to choreograph our errands minimized the use of both cars. Later in the day I rode my Dahon to the Post Office to mail some orders. I placed the packages in my backpack, rode off to the Post Office, parked in my favorite spot (right on front on the first parking meter), and at the counter in less time than it would have taken for me to drive.
I am still undecided about the airfree tires. I only have only ridden about 20 miles on them and I am not in the best of shape at this time of the year only riding once every 20 to 30 days. The bike rides well, but I need to shed about 50 pounds to really notice the differences between man (me) and the machine.
Moving forward, I plan on discontinuing this blog and starting a new one encompassing all of my 'cycling. Later this spring I have a rickshaw I will be assembling and riding around. I am also keen on building a wood-foam laminate low-racer style bike, the motor will go back on the Cannondale, and I may resurrect the Trek 400. Stay tuned in, I will post links to any new blog I start.
Jim S.
A/k/a Mr. Pumpkinhead
Now I didn't solely rely on the mini-van. I spent a week in training in New York City. For that week I commuted via walk-train-subway-walk. My commute time for those trips was approximately 1 hour each way. The equivalent motor vehicle travel time was the same. By not driving I avoided an increase in my monthly EzPass payment, I didn't pay $20/day for parking, and I was one less single occupant vehicle on the roadway. I actually found the walking exhilarating, and being near some many people without having steel barriers between us was quite refreshing too.
Yesterday, with temperatures pushing 60 degrees, I rode my airfree equipped Dahon folder twice. First, I had to bring my wife's car to the shop for maintenance. The shop is across town. So I popped the folder in the back seat (that's real easy because Heidi's car is a convertible), drove the car across town, left it at the repair shop, and rode my bike home. Later while out running errands with Heidi, on our way home we stopped by the repair shop and picked up the car. Here, the folder and a little planning to choreograph our errands minimized the use of both cars. Later in the day I rode my Dahon to the Post Office to mail some orders. I placed the packages in my backpack, rode off to the Post Office, parked in my favorite spot (right on front on the first parking meter), and at the counter in less time than it would have taken for me to drive.
I am still undecided about the airfree tires. I only have only ridden about 20 miles on them and I am not in the best of shape at this time of the year only riding once every 20 to 30 days. The bike rides well, but I need to shed about 50 pounds to really notice the differences between man (me) and the machine.
Moving forward, I plan on discontinuing this blog and starting a new one encompassing all of my 'cycling. Later this spring I have a rickshaw I will be assembling and riding around. I am also keen on building a wood-foam laminate low-racer style bike, the motor will go back on the Cannondale, and I may resurrect the Trek 400. Stay tuned in, I will post links to any new blog I start.
Jim S.
A/k/a Mr. Pumpkinhead
posted by Gymswhirled Kilts at 5:54 AM
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