On my commute to work this morning, aside from dodging juvenile skunks along the side of the road, I was revisiting a series of thoughts I have been having relating to the feeling I have that my bicycle is no longer a bicycle, it is a motor vehicle. Kind of deep, kind of obvious, and really dangerous, isn't it.
Adding the power-assist to the bike has definitely increased my top speed and dramatically reduced the size of hills (it has also reduce the amount of ga$oline I would normally buy). The added speed must release some type of adrenaline because the faster I go, especially in traffic, the more invulnerable (numb) I feel as a cyclist. I sort of relate this feeling to how when motorists enter their vehicles they quickly become detached to their surrounding environments and act in ways that lead me to believe when people drive a car their IQs are lowered proportionately to how much the car cost.
The last thing I want to be doing is be riding fast in traffic and feeling invincible. I am vulnerable, and I could easily find myself on the ground with thousands of pounds of motor vehicles inches from my body. These thoughts leave me feeling very uncomfortable.
Too bad that because we live in an over-automobiled world cyclists can't feel comfortable on the road. I guess this is a reminder to myself to be vigalant, remain aware, and not get too cockie.
Saturday, August 06, 2005
August 6 - Morning Commute
Today's a first. I left the house at 04:30 this morning, in the dark. Riding in the dark is a blast, totally different from daylight commuting.
First, I don't recomend night riding for the week hearted or unlight rider. I have been riding the same route for 2 months and I have a pretty good idea of what the road conditions are along the way (i.e. where the "mother...." potholes are, road breaks, ripples, broken pavement, etc.). But in the dark, you don't see the road blemishes very well. It's a good thing to know your route well before trying it in the dark. One benefit to my ride is, because there is so much light pollution, there really isn't any strech of roadway you can't see except perhaps the surfaces that are in shadows - again a good reason to know your route well.
For safety, I wore a reflective vest and used 3-blinking LED reflectors (of course, I always wear a helmet). I am going to pickup a Cateye headlight on the way home today.
Regarding helmet use. About 12 years ago, a mentor in the consulting firm I was working in was riding his old black Raliegh home from the railroad station. A person delivering newspapers from their car was driving on the wrong side of the street and looking for house numbers, not looking at the road like they should have. Well Peter was hit head-on, thrown over his handle bars, and landed on his head. Peter wasn't wearing a helmet and died of head injuries. Peter was 64, a recent cancer survior, and 6-months from his retirement date. The driver of the car was found not guilty of anything and probably is still driving on the wrong side of the street somewhere. According to Peter's son and based on the type of injury, Peter would likely have survived had he been wearing a helmet. I now always wear a helmet - no excuses.
First, I don't recomend night riding for the week hearted or unlight rider. I have been riding the same route for 2 months and I have a pretty good idea of what the road conditions are along the way (i.e. where the "mother...." potholes are, road breaks, ripples, broken pavement, etc.). But in the dark, you don't see the road blemishes very well. It's a good thing to know your route well before trying it in the dark. One benefit to my ride is, because there is so much light pollution, there really isn't any strech of roadway you can't see except perhaps the surfaces that are in shadows - again a good reason to know your route well.
For safety, I wore a reflective vest and used 3-blinking LED reflectors (of course, I always wear a helmet). I am going to pickup a Cateye headlight on the way home today.
Regarding helmet use. About 12 years ago, a mentor in the consulting firm I was working in was riding his old black Raliegh home from the railroad station. A person delivering newspapers from their car was driving on the wrong side of the street and looking for house numbers, not looking at the road like they should have. Well Peter was hit head-on, thrown over his handle bars, and landed on his head. Peter wasn't wearing a helmet and died of head injuries. Peter was 64, a recent cancer survior, and 6-months from his retirement date. The driver of the car was found not guilty of anything and probably is still driving on the wrong side of the street somewhere. According to Peter's son and based on the type of injury, Peter would likely have survived had he been wearing a helmet. I now always wear a helmet - no excuses.
Thursday, August 04, 2005
August 4 - $2.70 per gallon
Yep, on my ride home this moring I finally saw gasoline has broken the $2.70 per gallon mark.
I am off for the next two days and will not be commuting anywhere, but I will be running erands on my ebike, elebike, pedelectric, etc.
Right now I am off to the bank and wine store.
It's almost 95 degrees out, its the late afternoon, so what do I have to loose taking a 5 mile ride to the store? It sure beats driving.
I am off for the next two days and will not be commuting anywhere, but I will be running erands on my ebike, elebike, pedelectric, etc.
Right now I am off to the bank and wine store.
It's almost 95 degrees out, its the late afternoon, so what do I have to loose taking a 5 mile ride to the store? It sure beats driving.
Wednesday, August 03, 2005
August 3 - Scooter Dude Sighted Again
I saw the e-scooter guy again today. As we pasted he pointed to my hub motor and said "I see it!".
It was very hot today on the ride in, the local bank thermometer was showing 92 degrees and it was humid. I stopped half way in to by a lemonade which quenched my thirst and gave me a quick sugar boost.
The ride home today was surprisingly pleasant despite the high humidity. Using the panniers, I was able to get home with a dry shirt.
It was very hot today on the ride in, the local bank thermometer was showing 92 degrees and it was humid. I stopped half way in to by a lemonade which quenched my thirst and gave me a quick sugar boost.
The ride home today was surprisingly pleasant despite the high humidity. Using the panniers, I was able to get home with a dry shirt.
Tuesday, August 02, 2005
August 2 - Back and Forth w/panniers
Panniers are the best! Yesterday, I had to bring some packages to the Post Office so I grabbed my 17 year old Eastpack panniers and clipped them on my rack to carry the load. I had too much stuff so I also wore my back pack. However, today on my ride in I lightened my load and only used the panniers. My back was more comfortable and my shirt didn't get soaked with sweat trapped between my back and the back pack.
My panniers will now remain on the bike.
I now need a headlight and a computer so I can see in low light, and see how well I am doing. Now that I have the bugs worked out on the bike (I still want a new rear wheel, I need to adjust the chainring derailer, and I need to lube the bike).
My wish also includes lighter batteries. Lighter means going the same distance with less energy and easier climbing. Note: Lance Armstrong's bikes in the Tour De France weigh 15 pounds and some cost as much as $25,000. Look, he has light bikes and he goes really fast. I am guessing but my bike with motor, batteries, panniers, fenders, etc. weighs 70 pounds - that's a lot. If I could keep the motor and shave 20 or 30 pounds, I would be very happy.
Even at 70 pounds, my bike is doing really well considering the average car (not all those SUVs on the road) weighs about 3,500 pounds and gets about 21 miles per gallon (that's about 1.5 million callories per mile or 2,560 Big Macs per mile). On a good day the average car is driven 35 miles with most trips being under 10 miles. Now my 7.5 mile commute takes about 30 minutes by bike, 20 minutes by car. By bike, I use about 120 calories per mile, or about 99.92 percent less energy than the average car to go the same distance (the bike gets an equivalent of about 12,500 miles per gallon, or about 4.8 miles per Big Mac). Based on recent $2.67 per gallon gasoline prices, my energy cost to bike to work (after rounding) is $0.02 per day. Driving (because I drive a pickup truck that averages 15 MPG) costs $3.56 per day.
Now, my bike commute takes 10 minutes longer per leg, or 20 minutes more per round trip than by car. By bike comuuting, I am getting a solid 1 hour of aerobic excerise per day including a good upper and lower body muscle workout. When I commute by car I sit 40 minutes per day. To drive and get the same excercise I get when I bike commute, after sitting for 40 minutes I would then need to workout for and additional hour taking up 1 hour 40 minutes per day. By bike commuting, the extra 20 minutes I spend commuting, I save 40 minutes that I would otherwise spend excercising. My time, based on my pay, is worth about $50 per hour. So each day I bike commute I save $33.00 in time value alone.
My panniers will now remain on the bike.
I now need a headlight and a computer so I can see in low light, and see how well I am doing. Now that I have the bugs worked out on the bike (I still want a new rear wheel, I need to adjust the chainring derailer, and I need to lube the bike).
My wish also includes lighter batteries. Lighter means going the same distance with less energy and easier climbing. Note: Lance Armstrong's bikes in the Tour De France weigh 15 pounds and some cost as much as $25,000. Look, he has light bikes and he goes really fast. I am guessing but my bike with motor, batteries, panniers, fenders, etc. weighs 70 pounds - that's a lot. If I could keep the motor and shave 20 or 30 pounds, I would be very happy.
Even at 70 pounds, my bike is doing really well considering the average car (not all those SUVs on the road) weighs about 3,500 pounds and gets about 21 miles per gallon (that's about 1.5 million callories per mile or 2,560 Big Macs per mile). On a good day the average car is driven 35 miles with most trips being under 10 miles. Now my 7.5 mile commute takes about 30 minutes by bike, 20 minutes by car. By bike, I use about 120 calories per mile, or about 99.92 percent less energy than the average car to go the same distance (the bike gets an equivalent of about 12,500 miles per gallon, or about 4.8 miles per Big Mac). Based on recent $2.67 per gallon gasoline prices, my energy cost to bike to work (after rounding) is $0.02 per day. Driving (because I drive a pickup truck that averages 15 MPG) costs $3.56 per day.
Now, my bike commute takes 10 minutes longer per leg, or 20 minutes more per round trip than by car. By bike comuuting, I am getting a solid 1 hour of aerobic excerise per day including a good upper and lower body muscle workout. When I commute by car I sit 40 minutes per day. To drive and get the same excercise I get when I bike commute, after sitting for 40 minutes I would then need to workout for and additional hour taking up 1 hour 40 minutes per day. By bike commuting, the extra 20 minutes I spend commuting, I save 40 minutes that I would otherwise spend excercising. My time, based on my pay, is worth about $50 per hour. So each day I bike commute I save $33.00 in time value alone.
Monday, August 01, 2005
August 1 - Scooters, Commuters, and Post Office
Happy August!
Today's commute to work - 1 hour!!!
On my ride in today, I stopped at the Mamaroneck Post Office to mail some packages for my side business (I buy and sell used books). The Mamaroneck PO has extended hours, now I know why. It takes so long for the clerks to do anything that they must have had to extend the hours just to do their normal work load. There were two people in front of me on line and it took twenty minutes to process one money order and two letters, then it took ten minutes to process my four little packages. It took over 30 minutes for normally only takes 10 minutes. I am going back to the Larchmont Post Office from now on.
I have seen a lot more motor scooters on the road, mainly being ridden by older individuals. With gasoline costing as much as it is, I am not surprised to see more people riding scooters. I just hope the scooters, with fewer air pollution controls, don't start becoming more of a problem than a solution to high gas prices as has been seen in some countries where scooters replaced bicycles and increased air pollution has been linked to scooter use. Considering the normal scooter trip is short, perhaps electric scooters are the better choice when buying one.
There are more bike commuters on the road. I don't think it is the warm weather, because it is too hot and humid these days. I am suspecting the $1.00 increase in gasoline price during the past 12 months has more to do with the increase in bike riders. Part of my observation is actually seeing more and more bikes on the road. The other part of my observation is seeing more and more bikes chained to parking meters, lamp posts, and trees. There are all sorts of bikes out on the road. Chain-store specials with names I'd never seen before, old name brand mountain and road bikes. Today I saw an old Raleigh in great condition. Now is a case where more (bike commuters) is better.
Today's commute to work - 1 hour!!!
On my ride in today, I stopped at the Mamaroneck Post Office to mail some packages for my side business (I buy and sell used books). The Mamaroneck PO has extended hours, now I know why. It takes so long for the clerks to do anything that they must have had to extend the hours just to do their normal work load. There were two people in front of me on line and it took twenty minutes to process one money order and two letters, then it took ten minutes to process my four little packages. It took over 30 minutes for normally only takes 10 minutes. I am going back to the Larchmont Post Office from now on.
I have seen a lot more motor scooters on the road, mainly being ridden by older individuals. With gasoline costing as much as it is, I am not surprised to see more people riding scooters. I just hope the scooters, with fewer air pollution controls, don't start becoming more of a problem than a solution to high gas prices as has been seen in some countries where scooters replaced bicycles and increased air pollution has been linked to scooter use. Considering the normal scooter trip is short, perhaps electric scooters are the better choice when buying one.
There are more bike commuters on the road. I don't think it is the warm weather, because it is too hot and humid these days. I am suspecting the $1.00 increase in gasoline price during the past 12 months has more to do with the increase in bike riders. Part of my observation is actually seeing more and more bikes on the road. The other part of my observation is seeing more and more bikes chained to parking meters, lamp posts, and trees. There are all sorts of bikes out on the road. Chain-store specials with names I'd never seen before, old name brand mountain and road bikes. Today I saw an old Raleigh in great condition. Now is a case where more (bike commuters) is better.
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