transportation

After researching bikes for a couple of weeks, I decided to go with a Hybrid.  This is a cross between a Road Bike and a Mountain Bike.  The nice thing about the Hybrids is that you sit a little more upright on the bike and the tires are a little wider making for a smoother ride.  From what I understand, the biggest compromise with this bike (as well as mountain bikes in general) is speed.  Since I’m not planning to do any bike racing, I could care less about going fast. 

I test drove a few bikes and decided on the Schwinn Sierra GS.  I loved the ride and it was very cute which is important!  I think the last bike I owned was purple.  That was about 30 years ago.  I’m not exaggurating! 

A word about supporting local business:

It can be difficult to pass up the big box stores on purchases like bicycles.  My good friend bought a Schwinn bike she adores from Target for almost 1/2 what I paid for mine and when I started out down the buy-a-bike road, that was my plan.  It was purely financial.  However, after visiting Barnard’s in Oak Park, IL there was no question I’d be spending a little more money to get a better bike, take advantage of their expert service and most importantly support local business.  Barnard’s has been in business since 1911.  The sales guy took his time to educate me on the differences of the bikes they sell and after he described the challanges of buying bikes from big box stores, I was convinced.  If you buy a bike from a big box store, you’re on your own to assemble and service it.  But, at Barnard’s, the pros assemble it, then give you a free tune up at 90 days, 1 year, and 2 years - FREE!  SOLD!

A word about customer service:

When I went to buy my bike on Saturday, Barnard’s was unexpectedly closed.  And since I’m the most impatient person on the planet, I promptly went over to another cycle store in the area to try to find a bike.  I walked in and strolled around for about 5 minutes and nobody said a single word to me.  It was as if I wasnt there.  What offended me was that, when a bicycle police guy came in the door, they were all over him with their great customer service.  What am I, chopped liver?  I left having never spoken to a sales person.  I was very tempted to name the store in this post to illustrate what bad customer service can do, but I’m sparing them this time.  Shame on you, snooty bike shop!  You lost a sale, buddy!

I took my new ride out for a few minutes last night but there seems to be a problem with the seat slipping so I’ll need to take it back to the shop tonight. But, other than that, I’m in love already!  I think this thing is going to change my life. 

What kind of bike do you have?  Do you ride often?  What kind of riding do you do?

While searching Craigslist for a used bicycle I ran across an ad for a gas powered one.  Isn’t this sort of like an oxymoron? 

Even though the advertisement says that it get’s 100-200 miles to the gallon, I wonder about the emissions and pollution.  Is it similar to a lawn mower with a comgas powered engine that creates worse pollution that a car? 

If you own one of these gas powered bicycles, we need to hear from you, STAT!

From what I understand, gas prices will not be going down anytime soon.  In fact, they’ll probably continue to rise through the summer.  It’s got me thinking, what is the breaking point where people will really start to look for alternate transportation?

Chicago has a pretty good public transportation system.  I live in walking distance of a train station but I still drive to work every day.  In addition to the around $50 per week I’m spending on gas, I pay $120 per month to park.  That’s $330 per month, around $16 per day to drive.  I could take the train for about $4 per day.  That’s a savings of $240 per month or $2880 per year!  I could do a lot with that extra money!

I had always said I’d start taking the train after I finished school because I didn’t want to take the train late at night after class.  I know what you’re thinking - “why don’t you just drive the one or two days per week to work and take the train the others?”  So then when I finished school I thought of starting to take the train to work but I was concerned about getting all sweaty before I even got to work.  I know what you’re thinking - “get over yourself!”

In my head my breaking point is $5 per gallon.  At $5 per gallon I’m giving up my parking spot at work and taking the train.  Now I can’t promise that I won’t discover another “barrier” when gas really does get to $5 per gallon, (I still sweat. I might still take a class every now and then) but that’s the goal, today. 

Now I’m wondering if anybody else has a breaking point.  I bet gas is high enough now that a lot of people are seriously thinking of a backup plan.  Maybe it’s carpooling.  Maybe it’s public transportation.  Maybe it’s biking. 

So lets hear it.  What’s your breaking point and what’s your back up plan?

It occurred to me today that I could have ridden a bicycle to any place I’ve gone in the last 48 hours, if I owned a bicycle. 

By now we’re all pretty well versed in the badness of motorized vehicles, so I’ll spare the lecture this time.  I remember Ed Begley saying on the subject of transportation; “my first choice is to walk, next is my bike, next is public transportation, next is my electric car.”  Thanks for the great advice, Ed!

Benefits of bicycling:

1. Great exercise
2. It’s cheap (no gas required)
3. It’s green (no pollution)
4. It’s less dangerous (if I hit somebody on my bike, it’ll probably hurt a lot less than if I hit them with my car, yes?)

I live too far to commute via a bicycle but on the weekend I think I could really utilize a bicycle for almost all my travels.  The trouble is that I don’t know the first thing about bicycles.  There are Road Bikes, Mountain Bikes, something called a “Comfort Bike” and Hybrids.  I’ve read up on all of them but I do not see a clear winner, yet.  I need a bicycle consultation! 

Did I mention that I’m not even sure I know how to ride a bicycle?  I know I know, you never forget how to ride a bike, alledgidly.  But my gosh it’s been like a million years since I rode one, seriously!  Plus, I’m extremely clumsy. 

Which kind of bicycle would you recommend for me?  I’ll mostly be using it to get around my neighborhood on the weekend.

image courtesy of uh.edu