thinking about buying a bicycle
 

I had a thought. I live 6.4 miles from work and its 12.8 miles round trip.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y74...4/untitled.jpg

but, part of it is on a somewhat of a highway. the part from US-27 to where the Deer creek area is located is 65 mph with stupid people driving. Then it goes down to 45 mph until the entrace onto I-4 west. Then its uphill to 55 mph then another mile and its back to 65 but that is right before a right. Then its all down hill at 50-55 mph by car.

I worked out the costs at $4.80 a gallon of diesel. I work 5-6 days a week, 84 miles total, which is 3.36 gallons of diesel at my combined FE of 25 mpg which is $16.13 a week saved by biking. After 52 weeks of biking I would save $838.76.

I could bike to work, but I don't have a bike, I would have to go out and buy a good road bike. Cannondale comes to mind but they are big money.

Another benefit of being carbon free, I would be working out.. again. I used to run 3 miles every morning but then college happened.



One more thing, Tuesday I am going for a job interview for a position as a Photopass photographer at a Disney World water park, which is located 12 miles away, 24 miles round trip. The pay is more than what i make now, as well as other cool non life related benefits. Sure they have health, stock options, 401k, but in adition to that you also get free park admitance, lower rates for water parks and cruises, great work experience, fun on the job, other perks like a credit union and like minded people.

If I don't get the job I'll mos def consider a bicycle.

I have about $500 I am willing to spend on a good road bike. I can also store it inside my place of employment at the grocery store, I wish I could bring my car inside but it won't fit in the back.

I think it would be hard to make an economic-only decision on this. One fall and the medical bills would probably eat away that $900 you save every year. There are other benefits to being green, including the health benefits.

On the fuel cost issue: Disney may have a car pool / van pool plan. Car pooling is a way to cut your fuel cost in half or more without any of the safety/time sacrifices.

You don't have to spend super big money to get a decent road bike. My Trek 1000 cost me about $800 brand new and I have since put about another $500 into it over the last 2 years. That is about as cheap as you can get for a new road bike. The other option is to buy used. There are literally hundreds of ads on both craigslist and ebay selling road bikes and usually they are going for $500 or less.

But, as for a commuter bike, make sure you find something that fits your body size. I don't know how much you know about bikes, but they come like pants and have different sizes for different people. Even if you don't buy from them, go to a reputable bicycle dealer and have them size you up on a frame so you know what you're looking for (I'm 6'1" and I ride a 58cm frame just for reference sake). You can also find great resources online about buying the proper size and fitting yourself to it for optimal power output and comfort.

The next thing to think about is your where you're riding. Since you're going to be doing all road riding it sounds like, a strictly road bike would probably best suit you. The other thing to consider would be a "hybrid" or "commuter" style bike rather then a "racing" style bike. They are more comfortable for long distances (I wouldn't really consider your ride a "long distance") but you will sacrifice speed for comfort. Finding a balance is key for a commuter bike.

As for your route: check on maps.google.com and check the "avoid highways" box to see if there is a route that would take you on slower roads then that...I never ride on anything with a limit over 45mph, unless it has a HUGE shoulder like this one 55mph in my area does that allows me to stay well clear of traffic.

true, I just wish I didn't live off this stupid road. If i didn't i could walk to work.

I did notice other drivers in my area seem to not respect bicycle riders. Some people



It sucks that there is no straight shot to the store or the road that lies 3 miles behind my subdivision, unless I can blaze a trail...

Sucky commute, it looks like...don't have any good advice for commuting on those types of roads, but don't forget that you can buy a good, used road bike for a pretty good price, usually.

yea, there is a bicycle shop by the community college.. I should stop in sometime and see whats the what.

That a pretty rough commute. Especially that part between 27 and 4. There really does not look like a good way to do it.

I was looking at google earth and it was hard to tell but is there a way to come in from the other direction. Head down Reagan toward US 92 and come in from the east side so you could avoid they highway intersections? It looked like there might be some small roads that way that might work that would not add to much mileage.

As far as the bike goes. I agree with what is said about fit and being near a campus there are probably all kinds of good deals now that schools out. I would look for more of a touring bike that has eyelets for racks and such. When you have to carry gear and clothes it nice to have the room. A backpack or commuter bag is a hassle.

If I was to go back to 92 It would just blast the entire idea since its almost twice the milage and would make me back track. If there was an access road along side I-4 it would be a straight shot to my store but alas, the world sucks.

No I did not mean go all the way to 92 it looked like there might be some roads you could take about halfway between but using google earth it was hard to tell.

oh.. well.. looks like I am pretty much stuck with driving the car... :(

Good luck Tuesday.:thumbup:

yea, that.. I'm more excited about tomorrow.. Tomorrow we install the new injectors into my friends Delorean.. :)

I just noticed a thread about a Honda Passport C70... I bet one of those would do me good

I put in my resume today for the photographer job so.. we shall see how that goes. In the mean time I need help on bicycle stuff. In the past I would just buy the coolest one that fit me.. lol

I think a road bike would suit me best. If the weather is incliment or I am sick(rarely sick) I can just drive. I can leave work clothes at work and wear proper bicycling attire and a helmet :). I would need a light of course for night time riding, flashing light thingy, reflective clothing, maybe an air horn too..

The route I outlined is decent as I would only be in the 65 mph zone for .5 miles ish. and everyone decels at that location. Some of it has sidewalks but bikes are not allowed on them. Once of US-27 it is all down hill and a lot of bikers go down that road and then right into work.

I really want to bike, not only to be carbon free but for my health. I have health insurance :)..

I could carry a chain on my bicycle like my friends do on their crotch rockets. stupid motorists harras them, push them off the road and crap... so in return they get nice scratches or dents for endgering ones life :)

TheDon,

I definitely recommend bicycle commuting as a way to save money, reduce your personal carbon footprint and get into better shape. I also recommend that you do some reading before you buy a bike.

There are many 'kinds' of bikes with pros and cons for each and picking the right one isn't necessarily as simple as picking a 'good road bike'. This page en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_bicycle_types gives a basic overview of the basic types of bike. A 'road bike' may not be the best choice for commuting as they usually don't have room or mounts for fenders or a rack which can be very handy.

I would definitely check out the bike shop near you and explain what you want to do and see what they suggest. You should also check out other bike shops in your area as different shops have different 'personalities' and tend to focus on a certain type of cycling (road, mountain, racing, etc.).

Also since there is a community college nearby you should check the papers, bulletin boards and Craigslist for used bikes as you can often save quite a bit off a new bike price. But, make sure you know what type of bike and what size you need first.

I've also written an article about bicycle commuting here: http://econewmexico.com/bicycle-transportation that should fill in a bit more info.

Good Luck on the new job too,
Tim

TheDon,

Re: Finding a good cycling route - yeah that looks tough with where you live. I would definitely talk to your local bike shops for ideas. There may be official or unofficial trails that could get you closer to where you need to go.

If you're renting you could start looking for a more cycling friendly location. Some towns and neighborhoods are just bad for cycling and the only way to improve things is to move.

Good luck,
Tim

I live at home and will not be changing that until I transfer to UCF in 1.5 years. I need to stop by the bike shop and spend some time there. Then I need to go explore the land next to the highway and see if I can possibly blaze a trail. But riding it at night would be scary...

It's either, get run over by a truck

or

fall in a sink hole on my trail...


decisions decisions....

Dude, you live right next door to my MIL on Citrus Ridge! We'll have to look you up the next time we visit in December.:thumbup: You're pretty brave to ride a bike on 27.

The commute looks a little rough. How are the shoulders? 8', 3', non-existent?

I think the odds of getting caught in a rain storm are high for you. Make sure you have a emergency raincoat.

Let me know.. I'll be around.. 27 can't be that dangerous.. I see a few people communizing by bike on it to some of the local businesses, plus a few runners.


The should from my house is 5'.. but most of the way are these turn lanes into business and crap that are a full lane.


I looked at the land next to the highway for my custom trail.. no go... its mostly marshland.. I'd need a pedal power air boat

First let me congratulate you for even considering to commute on that route, let alone doing the research (sounds & looks like some tough roads). Second, I hope you get the job, it sounds like it'd be a lot of fun for you.

If you're looking for a commuter bike, and staying around $500 max, I expect you will have plenty of options. An inexpensive road bike should be rather easy to find, and if used (but still in good condition), you'll get much more bike than you would new. See if you can find one that has the handlebars at the same height from the ground as the seat (it's a comfort thing, you WILL understand :) ), as many road bikes are setup as racers and have the handlebars up to 4 inches below the seat which 'leans' you forward more and puts more weight on your hands. I would advise against a flat bar bike as it reduces your aerodynamics, but if top speed isn't an issue they do allow more room on the handlebars for lights, etc.

Which brings me to.....I have a 12w halogen headlight (rechargeable lead-acid battery system, handlebar switch, mount needs some work, all that good stuff) that is not being used currently, and a couple of red flashing LED lights (one for the bike, one for the body). I'd be willing to sell them to you as a set for $15 plus shipping. I do need to test the battery since it was sitting unused for just over a year, so if it doesn't work well, then I'd give it to you for free (just pay shipping) as you'd have to replace the battery.

Good luck!
Vol

BTW, I'd recommend against the chain, as it will be rather heavy, and you will be less able to get away from the pissed off drivers than your sportbike riding friends are.