A big change in my life

Because of the high price of gas, I've decided to buy a bike to go to
work. It's a big 66km's every day. I'll save about Candian $130 on gas
each month. It will be good for my wallet, yes, but also for my
health. A colleague of mine has already been doing that for 2 years.
He lives close to me. Economically, it makes sense. Not only I'll save
the gas, but it will let me keep my car twice longer. I always buy a
used car about $3000 and use it for 4 years. By not using it that
much, I will save $3000 in car purchase plus a lot of maintenance.
Good for the environment, too! I think I'm heading to a never-reached
level of success in weight-loss.

It's just another example of how you can turn a "bad" news into a good
news!

On 27 avr, 00:57, "mikesmith9...@hotmail.com"
<mikesmith9...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> Because of the high price of gas, I've decided to buy a bike to go to
> work. It's a big 66km's every day. I'll save about Candian $130 on gas
> each month. It will be good for my wallet, yes, but also for my
> health. A colleague of mine has already been doing that for 2 years.
> He lives close to me. Economically, it makes sense. Not only I'll save
> the gas, but it will let me keep my car twice longer. I always buy a
> used car about $3000 and use it for 4 years. By not using it that
> much, I will save $3000 in car purchase plus a lot of maintenance.
> Good for the environment, too! I think I'm heading to a never-reached
> level of success in weight-loss.
>
> It's just another example of how you can turn a "bad" news into a good
> news!

At medium pace, I estimate the total travel distance to 2 hours.

<mikesmith9999@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:2f80319a-ac5d-4d55-95cd-d2be3c6daa03@p25g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...
> On 27 avr, 00:57, "mikesmith9...@hotmail.com"
> <mikesmith9...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>> Because of the high price of gas, I've decided to buy a bike to go to
>> work. It's a big 66km's every day. I'll save about Candian $130 on gas
>> each month. It will be good for my wallet, yes, but also for my
>> health. A colleague of mine has already been doing that for 2 years.
>> He lives close to me. Economically, it makes sense. Not only I'll save
>> the gas, but it will let me keep my car twice longer. I always buy a
>> used car about $3000 and use it for 4 years. By not using it that
>> much, I will save $3000 in car purchase plus a lot of maintenance.
>> Good for the environment, too! I think I'm heading to a never-reached
>> level of success in weight-loss.
>>
>> It's just another example of how you can turn a "bad" news into a good
>> news!
>
> At medium pace, I estimate the total travel distance to 2 hours.

I must have hit the wrong reply button when I sent the first reply....sorry,
I think it went to your email address. I intended it to go to the group.



It might be a good idea to try the commute on a non-work day to get a good
estimate of the time it will take. How long has it been since you've done a
lot of cycling?

I'm not sure if your 2 hour estimate is for the entire round trip of just a
one-way estimate. If it's for the entire trip you would need to ride at
more than a medium pace. Most cycling clubs have classes based on the
average mph for riders with class A being the fastest riders. The class A
riders usually average 20 mph (33kmp).

It is 2 hours for the entire trip. It is 33km one-way. At a "Class A"
speed, 33kmp), it is then an hour one-way.

I've not done bike for 5 years. Even back then, I did like 40 minutes
a day, 5 days a week. My legs are definitely going to hurt in the
first two weeks.

<mikesmith9999@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:dc41c27a-5558-434c-8fe1-01bae39b03f1@t54g2000hsg.googlegroups.com...
> It is 2 hours for the entire trip. It is 33km one-way. At a "Class A"
> speed, 33kmp), it is then an hour one-way.
>
> I've not done bike for 5 years. Even back then, I did like 40 minutes
> a day, 5 days a week. My legs are definitely going to hurt in the
> first two weeks.

I envy people who can commute by bike to work. Unfortunately my commute is
60+ miles each day and interstate roads. I'll be retiring later this year
and look forward to using my bike for errands around town. I currently
cycle about 4000 miles a year and hope to see the mileage go up next year.

Hopefully you'll get a chance to try your route before you do the first
actual commute. Good luck with the commuting and let us know how it goes.

Beverly

On Sat, 26 Apr 2008 20:57:07 -0700 (PDT), mikesmith9999@hotmail.com
wrote:

> Because of the high price of gas, I've decided to buy a bike to go to
> work. It's a big 66km's every day. I'll save about Candian $130 on gas
> each month. It will be good for my wallet, yes, but also for my
> health. A colleague of mine has already been doing that for 2 years.
> He lives close to me. Economically, it makes sense. Not only I'll save
> the gas, but it will let me keep my car twice longer. I always buy a
> used car about $3000 and use it for 4 years. By not using it that
> much, I will save $3000 in car purchase plus a lot of maintenance.
> Good for the environment, too! I think I'm heading to a never-reached
> level of success in weight-loss.
>
> It's just another example of how you can turn a "bad" news into a good
> news!

I think it sounds like a great plan... but I'm not sure I'd try to do
the whole distance at once if you haven't been on a bike for 5 years!
Maybe start working up to it on weekends, otherwise, you may make
yourself pretty miserable at first. Though, it may be worth it to you
to just DO IT. Individual choice, totally!

However, the risk of injury may increase if you push too hard and your
body is not yet ready for it.

It should certainly save you some money and you'll get your exercise!


--
Cynthia
262/222.0/150
http://www.garbagethatgoo.com (my weight loss blog)

On 27 avr, 19:57, Cynthia P <nos...@dontwannit.net> wrote:
> On Sat, 26 Apr 2008 20:57:07 -0700 (PDT), mikesmith9...@hotmail.com
> wrote:
>
> > Because of the high price of gas, I've decided to buy a bike to go to
> > work. It's a big 66km's every day. I'll save about Candian $130 on gas
> > each month. It will be good for my wallet, yes, but also for my
> > health. A colleague of mine has already been doing that for 2 years.
> > He lives close to me. Economically, it makes sense. Not only I'll save
> > the gas, but it will let me keep my car twice longer. I always buy a
> > used car about $3000 and use it for 4 years. By not using it that
> > much, I will save $3000 in car purchase plus a lot of maintenance.
> > Good for the environment, too! I think I'm heading to a never-reached
> > level of success in weight-loss.
>
> > It's just another example of how you can turn a "bad" news into a good
> > news!
>
> I think it sounds like a great plan... but I'm not sure I'd try to do
> the whole distance at once if you haven't been on a bike for 5 years!
> Maybe start working up to it on weekends, otherwise, you may make
> yourself pretty miserable at first. *Though, it may be worth it to you
> to just DO IT. Individual choice, totally!
>
> However, the risk of injury may increase if you push too hard and your
> body is not yet ready for it.
>
> It should certainly save you some money and you'll get your exercise!
>
> --
> Cynthia
> 262/222.0/150http://www.garbagethatgoo.com(my weight loss blog)

Thanks, Cynthia. I will follow your advice on taking it easy at first.

On Apr 26, 11:57 pm, "mikesmith9...@hotmail.com"
<mikesmith9...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> Because of the high price of gas, I've decided to buy a bike to go to
> work. It's a big 66km's every day. I'll save about Candian $130 on gas
> each month. It will be good for my wallet, yes, but also for my
> health. A colleague of mine has already been doing that for 2 years.
> He lives close to me. Economically, it makes sense. Not only I'll save
> the gas, but it will let me keep my car twice longer. I always buy a
> used car about $3000 and use it for 4 years. By not using it that
> much, I will save $3000 in car purchase plus a lot of maintenance.
> Good for the environment, too! I think I'm heading to a never-reached
> level of success in weight-loss.
>
> It's just another example of how you can turn a "bad" news into a good
> news!

Do you have a helmet?

I live in Toronto, and in the warmer weather, the part-time cyclists
come out. It's scary!!! They are not used to riding a bike in the city
and they can get themselves into trouble. My bro-in-law went over his
handlebars last week when a parked car open their door and...whammmo

Last summer, as I was parked at a red light, a cyclist clipped my side
mirror with their handlebar - They flipped over their bar, broke my
mirror, smacked their head and had to go to the hospital.

Definitely take it easy at first - Good luck

DR

On Apr 28, 8:23 am, DR <SynergyMindandB...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Apr 26, 11:57 pm, "mikesmith9...@hotmail.com"
>
> <mikesmith9...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> > Because of the high price of gas, I've decided to buy a bike to go to
> > work. It's a big 66km's every day. I'll save about Candian $130 on gas
> > each month. It will be good for my wallet, yes, but also for my
> > health. A colleague of mine has already been doing that for 2 years.
> > He lives close to me. Economically, it makes sense. Not only I'll save
> > the gas, but it will let me keep my car twice longer. I always buy a
> > used car about $3000 and use it for 4 years. By not using it that
> > much, I will save $3000 in car purchase plus a lot of maintenance.
> > Good for the environment, too! I think I'm heading to a never-reached
> > level of success in weight-loss.
>
> > It's just another example of how you can turn a "bad" news into a good
> > news!
>
> Do you have a helmet?
>
> I live in Toronto, and in the warmer weather, the part-time cyclists
> come out. It's scary!!! They are not used to riding a bike in the city
> and they can get themselves into trouble. My bro-in-law went over his
> handlebars last week when a parked car open their door and...whammmo

Don't ride in the door zone. Leave three feet between you and parked
cars. Also, look for signs the car might be pulling out into traffic.

> Last summer, as I was parked at a red light, a cyclist clipped my side
> mirror with their handlebar - They flipped over their bar, broke my
> mirror, smacked their head and had to go to the hospital.
>
> Definitely take it easy at first - Good luck
>
> DR

On 28 avr, 10:23, DR <SynergyMindandB...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Apr 26, 11:57 pm, "mikesmith9...@hotmail.com"
>
> <mikesmith9...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> > Because of the high price of gas, I've decided to buy a bike to go to
> > work. It's a big 66km's every day. I'll save about Candian $130 on gas
> > each month. It will be good for my wallet, yes, but also for my
> > health. A colleague of mine has already been doing that for 2 years.
> > He lives close to me. Economically, it makes sense. Not only I'll save
> > the gas, but it will let me keep my car twice longer. I always buy a
> > used car about $3000 and use it for 4 years. By not using it that
> > much, I will save $3000 in car purchase plus a lot of maintenance.
> > Good for the environment, too! I think I'm heading to a never-reached
> > level of success in weight-loss.
>
> > It's just another example of how you can turn a "bad" news into a good
> > news!
>
> Do you have a helmet?
>
> I live in Toronto, and in the warmer weather, the part-time cyclists
> come out. It's scary!!! They are not used to riding a bike in the city
> and they can get themselves into trouble. My bro-in-law went over his
> handlebars last week when a parked car open their door and...whammmo
>
> Last summer, as I was parked at a red light, a cyclist clipped my side
> mirror with their handlebar - They flipped over their bar, broke my
> mirror, smacked their head and had to go to the hospital.
>
> Definitely take it easy at first - Good luck
>
> DR

lol. I also live in Toronto. I remember biking on Dundas St. A car
door opened, I hit the door, fell off, but was unhurt. Thanks for
reminding me.

I was with a friend of mine today. She opened the door and left it
open to get something at a store. A biker was prevented to pass
because of that. I'm glad he was nice. He stopped and closed the door.
I apologized. Here in Toronto, people have a reputation to be a
little brutal. I was amazed he did not kicked it.

I'm starting using my bike this Monday. I will be very careful. I also
bought a helmet, a side-mirror, and gloves. Of course, I have a bell.
It's $110 if the police catches you without one! $110!!!

<mikesmith9999@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:9c1d333a-b37e-47c3-8131-311b495bd2db@24g2000hsh.googlegroups.com...
>I was with a friend of mine today. She opened the door and left it
> open to get something at a store. A biker was prevented to pass
> because of that. I'm glad he was nice. He stopped and closed the door.
> I apologized. Here in Toronto, people have a reputation to be a
> little brutal. I was amazed he did not kicked it.
>
> I'm starting using my bike this Monday. I will be very careful. I also
> bought a helmet, a side-mirror, and gloves. Of course, I have a bell.
> It's $110 if the police catches you without one! $110!!!

Good luck with the commute.

We don't have any bell laws in our area but they're a good idea, especially
on trails shared with walkers. People seem to respond to the bell a little
more than "on your left".

On 11 mai, 08:57, "Beverly" <bow...@home.woh.rr.com> wrote:
> <mikesmith9...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>
> news:9c1d333a-b37e-47c3-8131-311b495bd2db@24g2000hsh.googlegroups.com...
>
> >I was with a friend of mine today. She opened the door and left it
> > open to get something at a store. A biker was prevented to pass
> > because of that. I'm glad he was nice. He stopped and closed the door.
> > I apologized. *Here in Toronto, people have a reputation to be a
> > little brutal. I was amazed he did not kicked it.
>
> > I'm starting using my bike this Monday. I will be very careful. I also
> > bought a helmet, a side-mirror, and gloves. Of course, I have a bell.
> > It's $110 if the police catches you without one! $110!!!
>
> Good luck with the commute.
>
> We don't have any bell laws in our area but they're a good idea, especially
> on trails shared with walkers. *People seem to respond to the bell a little
> more than "on your left".

Bells do work, I used to bike a few years ago. It somehow paralyzes
people because it's such an unexpected noise. You could suggest a bell
law at your next city councel session.