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Old 07-18-2011, 10:31 PM   #1 (permalink)
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Rochester ecodriver, currently biking it

Hi all, long time lurker first time poster.

I'm a student in Rochester NY who is fortunate enough to be able to bike everywhere. Last year I got rid of my car (1996 Geo Metro 3cyl), but I'm currently the occasional driver of my room-mate's 4spd Toyota Tercel (a 1995 with OBD2!) Unfortunately I don't have mileage numbers, because my room-mate keeps putting gas in without logging it.

I'm a programmer with big interest in HCI and how it can be applied to conservation (see this instructive example, for instance: inhabitat.com/the-energy-orb-monitor-your-electricity-bill/). If you want a lively discussion, ask me why L/100 km is better than mpg, or how speedometers are broken.

Current mods to the Tercel are moderate: tires pressed to max sidewall, cleaned about 100 lbs of junk out of it. On the next change it's getting an energy conserving oil. No grill block, since it's pretty hot right now. Also, the right side-view mirror comes pre-deleted!

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Old 07-19-2011, 07:38 PM   #2 (permalink)
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Welcome. Depending on the vehicle, the grill block may make it run cooler. Try to make one that can be removed for testing.

Paul

PS, no I don't want to discuss why metric is better or worse.
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Old 07-20-2011, 11:40 AM   #3 (permalink)
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Welcome, Nate. I bicycled to work ~10 years of my working career. That's admirable, not owning a car.

Paul, it's not about the metric system. It's fuel used for distance traveled v. distance traveled for fuel used.
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Darrell

Boycotting Exxon since 1989, BP since 2010
Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac? George Carlin
Mean Green Toaster Machine
49.5 mpg avg over 53,000 miles. 176% of '08 EPA
Best flat drive 94.5 mpg for 10.1 mi
Longest tank 1033 km (642 mi) on 10.56 gal = 60.8 mpg
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Old 07-20-2011, 05:59 PM   #4 (permalink)
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Thanks, Paul. I admit I'm not sure how that would work, but I'll look into it.

And Darrell, thank you for the warm welcome. Did your workplace have shower facilities (lucky :P), or did you find a different solution?
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Old 07-20-2011, 06:22 PM   #5 (permalink)
Pishtaco
 
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Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Bay Area, California
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Mean Green Toaster Machine - '06 Scion xB
Team Toyota
90 day: 48.92 mpg (US)
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Nate, it was a one-man office, and a 6.5 mile commute each way, in cool Alaska conditions, for the first six Summers. I rode the bus in the Winter. Once I learned sweat doesn't stink (bacteria do), I biked to vanpools in the Bay Area (again, 6.5 miles each way) year-round for 4 years. No shower facilities. At least I didn't have your humidity to deal with.

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Darrell

Boycotting Exxon since 1989, BP since 2010
Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac? George Carlin
Mean Green Toaster Machine
49.5 mpg avg over 53,000 miles. 176% of '08 EPA
Best flat drive 94.5 mpg for 10.1 mi
Longest tank 1033 km (642 mi) on 10.56 gal = 60.8 mpg
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