Landon's Epic Vlog Thread: living without a car in a car-happy world

[igo]

1900 miles total. This is a semi-accurate estimation. 1800 to 2000.

[BarrysWorld]

Hey Landon. If your bicycle needs any repair, you can do-it-yourself at "The Bike Dump" www.bike-dump.ca - It's a great place to tune up the 'ol ride. I've been there a few times myself. Use their tools and parts, and then donate some money or time (or both).
I tried to post this comment on youtube, but it didn't work for some odd reason. I guess it's better posted here anyway

[Peakster]

Wow, they're right in Winnipeg too. Nice.

The part of my bike that's not working properly is the selector for the 7 rear gears. They worked fine for the first couple days, but the cold caused the plastic insulation over the cable to break, and now the cable itself is frayed.

Thanks for the information tip .

EDIT, after closer look at the website: this place looks like total fun! They even have complete recycled parts and movie nights for crying out loud! The place looks like a freaking toy store!!! I gotta check this out for sure.

[GenKreton]

Originally Posted by BarrysWorld

Hey Landon. If your bicycle needs any repair, you can do-it-yourself at "The Bike Dump" www.bike-dump.ca - It's a great place to tune up the 'ol ride. I've been there a few times myself. Use their tools and parts, and then donate some money or time (or both).
I tried to post this comment on youtube, but it didn't work for some odd reason. I guess it's better posted here anyway

I am so jealous this place isn't near me! It looks amazing. I wonder if I can start one...

[Peakster]

I just came back from my first grocery store trip with my bike... in -25*C weather . I forgot that when I'm moving at about 15-20km/h, it's a lot colder outside than just walking. I didn't wear my big mittens and man, my fingers were numb! I made it though, which is a good thing (2.4 kilometres, round trip).

It's so strange viewing Winnipeg traffic without being in a car myself. Just looking at the expressions on driver's faces while at a stoplight gives the sense they're in a big hurry to go somewhere, and any people outside their car are insignificant to them (yeah, I got ran off a narrow road by a speeding Fusion ).

[TimJFowler]

Peakster,

Props to you for becoming a year-round bicycle commuter in Winnipeg. I'm a bit of a wimp and only commute spring/summer/fall.

Here's a few more online resources for bicycle commuting:
MTBR.com Commuting Forum

and I don't know if you saw this on the Ken Kifer website -
Bike Commuting and Transportation

Also, I think that The Immortal Class: Bike Messengers and the Cult of Human Power is one of the more entertaining / thought provoking books on cycling and modern car culture.

FWIW,
Tim

[Peakster]

Thanks for the information Tim. I've been learning a lot about cycling lately. I'm starting to take interest in those cool Human Powered Vehicles (Google HPV and you get something WAY different) as they look like they'd be great in different types of weather.

The proposed deadline of 'end of May' is coming soon, I'm pretty excited!

Oh and by the way BarrysWorld: I went to the bikedump you found and it was amazing! They helped me fix a few things and now my bike SO much easier to pedal.

[NoCO2]

I now have the utmost respect for you peakster! I have started doing the same thing as you but in a different climate zone (southest U.S.) and lately I've been riding in weather ranging from 23*F - 35*F and with a windchill it feels even colder, I'm impressed that you're doing it in weather as low -50*F! I can only imagine how painful that has to be if you're not wearing proper clothing. I had to ride home the other day after the weather dropped an unexpected 20*F between the time I left for work and the time I left work...I didn't enjoy riding home in 30*F weather with open finger gloves.

[Peakster]

Well not quite -50*F , but I rode in -30*F... once. I highly recommend an insulated skidoo helmet for temps that low.

I actually prefer riding in sub-freezing weather than when it's melting and slushy. The pants, jacket, and bike get wet, cold, and dirty on those days.

[SVOboy]

When are we gonna see some more epic vlogs, ?

[GenKreton]

Originally Posted by SVOboy

When are we gonna see some more epic vlogs, ?

Seconded.

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by Peakster

I actually prefer riding in sub-freezing weather than when it's melting and slushy. The pants, jacket, and bike get wet, cold, and dirty on those days.

I agree - warm+snow = the worst of both worlds. I was on the Pirate Bike on the weekend, cut through a construction zone and by the time I got out, the bike had picked up about 10 lbs of mud, which then froze in place before I got home again.

[NoCO2]

Haha, I guess put that way it's good to have it one way or the other. I have actually gotten pretty used to this kind of weather thankfully, I love how the body can adapt to things like this. I was freezing the first time I road in this kind of weather and then today I actually had to unzip my jacket and it was 25*F out because I started to sweat way too much under my jacket and it felt so good to open up the zipper a little to let in some cold air. I just need a taller seat post so my legs can get a full extension and we'll be golden!

Keep up the good work and I'm thirding the "where's the next epic vlog". I'm not an addict I swear!

[Peakster]

Originally Posted by SVOboy

When are we gonna see some more epic vlogs, ?

Originally Posted by GenKreton

Seconded.

Originally Posted by NoCO2

Keep up the good work and I'm thirding the "where's the next epic vlog". I'm not an addict I swear!

Soon, my friends, soon . I'm planning my next vlog to be sort of a "Top Gear-esque" review of Gloria before selling her off to a new ecstatic owner.

I was actually totally going to sell the Tempo last weekend but the Geo developed a violent shake at speeds above 80km/h and I was contemplating leaving the Geo in Regina for my dad to look at it while I took Gloria to Winnipeg. That idea was nixed at the last minute as now he shake has now completely disappeared.

The only thing I can possibly think of is maybe ice formed inside the rims causing an unbalance at high speeds

[MetroMPG]

Top Gear style Gloria review? This should be good...

[tasdrouille]

3 years ago I went a whole winter only with my bike, not by choice though. I was working 2 jobs and my daily commute was roughly 7 miles. What I hated the most was not the cold, but the wind and riding in fresh snow. The snow really sucked, it was like riding on soft beach sand.

Winter can kill a bike real quick. With the salt and dirt, the components were all rusted on my bike after only 3 months.

[NoCO2]

Originally Posted by tasdrouille

Winter can kill a bike real quick. With the salt and dirt, the components were all rusted on my bike after only 3 months.

That's why I didn't want to spend over $50 for a commuter bike. I knew that it was going to get thrashed around a lot, if not stolen while parked outside somewhere. I decided it was best to invest into it only what I could afford to lose. This will change once I get the E-bike kit for it, but for now I could care less what happens to the bike as long as I'm not left stranded somewhere out of walking distance.

[Peakster]

Vlog #3: OH CRAP!
[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/v/0kyOVv6xBq4[/YOUTUBE]

All I got to say is this: Yikes !

No further description. Just watch the video. It's pretty self explanatory. Let the reply posts begin!

[MetroMPG]

Peakster! Bummer. Glad the car did its job crumpling where it should have.

When the vid ended, you know how YouTube shows you little thumbs of other possibly related vids? They were all of the government Geo crash tests you posted up here before.

What was the other car?

RIP The Geo! Glad you're OK.

[Peakster]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

When the vid ended, you know how YouTube shows you little thumbs of other possibly related vids? They were all of the government Geo crash tests you posted up here before.

Lol! That's actually pretty funny.

What was the other car?

The other car was... *looks up on Wikipedia* a 2001-2006 Chrysler Sebring.