Go Back   EcoModder Forum > AltModding > Alternative Transportation
Register Now
 Register Now
 

Reply  Post New Thread
 
Submit Tools LinkBack Thread Tools
Old 09-13-2017, 02:35 AM   #21 (permalink)
Human Environmentalist
 
redpoint5's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Oregon
Posts: 12,391

Acura TSX - '06 Acura TSX
90 day: 24.19 mpg (US)

Lafawnda - '01 Honda CBR600 F4i
90 day: 47.32 mpg (US)

Big Yeller - '98 Dodge Ram 2500 base
90 day: 21.82 mpg (US)

Prius Plug-in - '12 Toyota Prius Plug-in
90 day: 57.64 mpg (US)

Mazda CX-5 - '17 Mazda CX-5 Touring
90 day: 26.68 mpg (US)

Chevy ZR-2 - '03 Chevrolet S10 ZR2
90 day: 17.14 mpg (US)
Thanks: 4,188
Thanked 4,378 Times in 3,353 Posts
I wouldn't bother with fairings unless you're going for a speed record since that commute is so short. Perhaps a small rack in the back would make the bike more useful for other trips as well.

I also wouldn't bother with school unless there is a career goal that requires a specific diploma.

Good call on just riding a regular bike. I'm all for tinkering, but that is best done with disposable money, not student loan money.

__________________
Gas and Electric Vehicle Cost of Ownership Calculator







Give me absolute safety, or give me death!
  Reply With Quote
Alt Today
Popular topics

Other popular topics in this forum...

   
Old 09-13-2017, 11:21 AM   #22 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Elmira, NY
Posts: 1,781
Thanks: 319
Thanked 355 Times in 297 Posts
Sorry redpoint5 I disagree. I do coast down testing under 20 mph. I got a two year degree in manufacturing with out loans.
  Reply With Quote
Old 09-13-2017, 11:32 AM   #23 (permalink)
マット
 
M_a_t_t's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Indiana
Posts: 718

The Van - '95 Chevy Astro Cl V8 Swapped
Team Chevy
90 day: 7.84 mpg (US)

The new bike - '17 Kawasaki Versys X 300 abs
Motorcycle
90 day: 71.94 mpg (US)

The Mercury - '95 Mercury Tracer Trio
Team Ford
90 day: 34.35 mpg (US)

Toyota - '22 Toyota Corolla Hatchback
90 day: 40.11 mpg (US)
Thanks: 131
Thanked 258 Times in 188 Posts
I usually have to have something I am messing with, otherwise I tend to buy something I don't really need. I will probably experiment with coroplast fairings and a rear rack, just to keep me busy if nothing else.

It's my sophomore year, and so far I haven't needed a loan. Hopefully it will continue to go smoothly.
__________________
1973 Fiat 124 Special
1975 Honda Civic CVCC 4spd
1981 Kawasaki KZ750E
1981 Kawasaki KZ650 CSR
1983 Kawasaki KZ1100-A3
1986 Nissan 300zx Turbo 5 spd
1995 Chevy Astro RWD (current project)
1995 Mercury Tracer
2017 Kawasaki VersysX 300
2022 Corolla Hatchback 6MT

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6s...LulDUQ8HMj5VKA
  Reply With Quote
Old 09-13-2017, 10:52 PM   #24 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
puddleglum's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Red Deer, AB
Posts: 421

Rondo - '07 Kia Rondo EX
Last 3: 20.47 mpg (US)

Tinkertoy2 - '00 Toyota Echo base
Team Toyota
Last 3: 46.03 mpg (US)
Thanks: 39
Thanked 96 Times in 69 Posts
Grant-53, do you have a album on here or a link to a thread with pictures of your fairings? I haven't had any success finding pictures of your work. I'd be interested in seeing what you've done.
__________________



Almost all my driving is done 1-5 miles at a time.
Best short trip: 2.4 l/100 km, 3.9 km
  Reply With Quote
Old 09-13-2017, 11:32 PM   #25 (permalink)
Human Environmentalist
 
redpoint5's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Oregon
Posts: 12,391

Acura TSX - '06 Acura TSX
90 day: 24.19 mpg (US)

Lafawnda - '01 Honda CBR600 F4i
90 day: 47.32 mpg (US)

Big Yeller - '98 Dodge Ram 2500 base
90 day: 21.82 mpg (US)

Prius Plug-in - '12 Toyota Prius Plug-in
90 day: 57.64 mpg (US)

Mazda CX-5 - '17 Mazda CX-5 Touring
90 day: 26.68 mpg (US)

Chevy ZR-2 - '03 Chevrolet S10 ZR2
90 day: 17.14 mpg (US)
Thanks: 4,188
Thanked 4,378 Times in 3,353 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by Grant-53 View Post
Sorry redpoint5 I disagree. I do coast down testing under 20 mph. I got a two year degree in manufacturing with out loans.
I'm not saying that fairings won't help, just that a "2.5 mi each way with minor hills" commute should be easily doable by a reasonably healthy and able-bodied person. The extra wind resistance can just be viewed as extra training.

When did you obtain your degree, and would you consider it necessary to your line of work?

My point is that "education" often has a double cost. First is the cost of tuition, books, fees, etc, and these are often financed with interest bearing student loans. Second is the cost of lost time in the labor market where you would be earning money, work experience, and seniority. Sure, there are plenty of people that work while in school, but those jobs are rarely useful towards the students ultimate career goals.

Knowledge is practically free these days, and the old system of institutionalized learning is becoming less relevant, except for certain careers which have a particular requirement.

I just put my wife through 2 years of $40k/yr physician assistant program. We borrowed no money for this education. The cost of the education is necessary to be a PA, and makes economic sense considering the 1st year salary will cover the 2 year cost of school. I don't have a degree; my career field doesn't require one and doesn't value it much.
__________________
Gas and Electric Vehicle Cost of Ownership Calculator







Give me absolute safety, or give me death!
  Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to redpoint5 For This Useful Post:
Panther140 (10-16-2017)
Old 09-14-2017, 02:37 PM   #26 (permalink)
Not Doug
 
Xist's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Show Low, AZ
Posts: 12,186

Chorizo - '00 Honda Civic HX, baby! :D
90 day: 35.35 mpg (US)

Mid-Life Crisis Fighter - '99 Honda Accord LX
90 day: 34.2 mpg (US)

Gramps - '04 Toyota Camry LE
90 day: 35.39 mpg (US)

Don't hit me bro - '05 Toyota Camry LE
90 day: 35.79 mpg (US)
Thanks: 7,217
Thanked 2,217 Times in 1,708 Posts
Hi, Mr. Off Topic here. I work as an assistant and my supervisor keeps saying that she and her colleagues do not necessarily earn as much as I want to believe. I pulled up 305 job openings in the Phoenix area and said we can work where we want. She made a big deal out of this being the wrong career to pursue for the money and the people she knows that tried left, but took their student loans with them.

It just so happens that I chose the job that offered me the most pay, but I was only offered two, and there was no way I could have paid my bills with the other one.

Do you feel it is reasonable to find a compromise between the job you want and paying all of your bills? I could definitely see myself taking a job that paid more, but I enjoyed less, until I paid off my student loans.

I apologize for the distraction. Please enjoy your day!
  Reply With Quote
Old 09-14-2017, 03:55 PM   #27 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Elmira, NY
Posts: 1,781
Thanks: 319
Thanked 355 Times in 297 Posts
I am 64 yr old and got my degree at a community college mid career to keep current in 1993. My one daughter graduated there and two sons are doing the same now. One daughter and our daughter-in-law attended a 4 year program at private colleges and they have the debt load their husbands have helped pay off. Our oldest son joined the Army out of high school and is getting a business degree online while working in IT. He earned Microsoft certifications studying during guard shifts. If you want to teach in NYS one needs a Master's degree. It does come down to value management and a vigorous reading program is important in every profession - even customer service entry level jobs.

As part of a modern transportation system being able to cover 25 miles in under an hour without needing to shower is a major game changer. The goal is to reduce the CdA by up to half on a common commuter bike. This is comparable to other ecomodder projects. Potential market world wide is roughly estimated at 500 million riders. Whether one is interested in reducing pollution, crowding, traffic deaths, or obesity there are gains to be made by aeromodding. If one is training for a sanctioned event then resistance training is beneficial.
  Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to Grant-53 For This Useful Post:
Xist (09-14-2017)
Old 09-14-2017, 07:16 PM   #28 (permalink)
Human Environmentalist
 
redpoint5's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Oregon
Posts: 12,391

Acura TSX - '06 Acura TSX
90 day: 24.19 mpg (US)

Lafawnda - '01 Honda CBR600 F4i
90 day: 47.32 mpg (US)

Big Yeller - '98 Dodge Ram 2500 base
90 day: 21.82 mpg (US)

Prius Plug-in - '12 Toyota Prius Plug-in
90 day: 57.64 mpg (US)

Mazda CX-5 - '17 Mazda CX-5 Touring
90 day: 26.68 mpg (US)

Chevy ZR-2 - '03 Chevrolet S10 ZR2
90 day: 17.14 mpg (US)
Thanks: 4,188
Thanked 4,378 Times in 3,353 Posts
My wife had about $10k in student loan debt for her bachelor's in biology when we married, which is not bad for a 4 year degree at a private school. She was making between $14 and $10/hr 4 years post graduation. I paid off the loans immediately with the sizable savings I had accumulated from working a $17/hr job for the past decade. A job I got with no formal related education and no degree, but with work experience as an intern.

Her first job as a PA will likely start her around $90k.

As an aside, I could easily provide for both her and myself on a single minimum wage salary.

My grandfather always used to stress the importance of obtaining a degree, any degree, to be "successful". That was more true of his day, but 4-year degrees are worth vastly less than they used to be worth. With how commonplace a degree has become, and with the skyrocketing cost of obtaining a degree (and the ease of self-learning), the old wisdom no longer applies.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Xist View Post
Do you feel it is reasonable to find a compromise between the job you want and paying all of your bills? I could definitely see myself taking a job that paid more, but I enjoyed less, until I paid off my student loans.
Yes, of course. If everyone "did what they love", there would be about 10 plumbers in the entire US.

It's often detrimental for people to constantly hear that they should be working at a job they absolutely love. I say, do what you're good at, decide to love it, and continue to pursue both work and hobbies that you enjoy.

... and didn't Uncle Sam pay for your education?
__________________
Gas and Electric Vehicle Cost of Ownership Calculator







Give me absolute safety, or give me death!
  Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to redpoint5 For This Useful Post:
Grant-53 (09-16-2017)
Old 09-20-2017, 02:31 PM   #29 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Elmira, NY
Posts: 1,781
Thanks: 319
Thanked 355 Times in 297 Posts
See "Working" by Studs Terkel. Just attended a town hall meeting with our state legislators. They are interested in updating our NYS laws on motorized bicycles. I will be making recommendations for bills so any ideas you may have, I will be interested.

I could use some suggestions on posting Google photo files or some other means of posting my pictures. I will respond to e-mail sent to endlesstailwinds@gmail.com in the mean time.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/7BmEMZGuUUu5bH9N2

Last edited by Grant-53; 10-06-2017 at 02:25 PM..
  Reply With Quote
Old 10-06-2017, 02:31 PM   #30 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Elmira, NY
Posts: 1,781
Thanks: 319
Thanked 355 Times in 297 Posts
I can now use Google photos to post pictures. Whoopee! So I added a link to the 9/20 post #29.
Just applied for a QA/QC Technician job. Years ago I got the degree through my unemployment benefits.

  Reply With Quote
Reply  Post New Thread


Tags
ebike, solar panels

Thread Tools




Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.5.2
All content copyright EcoModder.com