Not sure it'd be practical where I'm at with the towns being miles apart, but a great idea in more dense areas. How do you deal with transporting things like a trip to the grocery store?
Fuck Cars
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My wife orders the weekly groceries home every 1-2 weeks. The delivery fee for purchases over 150.- is only 4.95, which easily pays for itself with the drive and the parking fee to the nearest shopping center (8km). In addition, in this setup i also have to carry the purchases only from the front door to the basement.
Edit: We use Public transportation a lot. For the normal bike we use the Thule Chariot Sport as a trailer. For the daily needs (fresh bread, somtimes mising butter or milk...) we shop localy in th village, also with bike and backbag or the biketrailer.
A decent cost, I'd guess the delivery is a store employee using a company vehicle since that'd be a heavy lift for $5 to take on in some 3rd party service or the employee's car like most small shops. Persoannly I like going to the shop, even if it's a little ways out just for the getting an idea on the fly aspect when walking by something.
We can only order on date, not on time. So then the Camion just drops all deliverys on this daily tour.
racks, boxes, and bags.
I bought a comically large insulated box that can hold six large pizzas.
Miles actually aren't a problem on an ebike. Pannier bags can carry alot.
Backpack?
My car insurance is more than my bike's initial cost.
Every year.
Forever.
I understand exactly what you mean. The insurance for me (accident-free and driving safety course) was 500.-, plus road taxes of c. 250.-... and that every year...
Keep going till 80085
I try to remember! Maybe 58008 befor, so we can turn it upside down.
E-bikes for the win! Much love!
What do you do for thunderstorms and nasty weather? I think this is a fantastic idea but weather.
With the money you save it's nothing to take a cab in truly bad conditions.
Get wet. It sucks, but it's not the end of the world. Especially if you dress appropriately.
Lightning isnt a concern?
i typically pull over and take shelter (gas station, retail store, etc.) for lightning. it’s pretty rare for it to last a long time, at least where i am. most folks have no problem letting you loiter until the storm passes.
I used to be very anxious over bad weather when I first started cycling more and switched modes of transport at any chance of rain. These days I always have a tiny-pack-size rain jacket and pants with me and plan my commute around the weather radar... but above of all I've just got pretty indifferent to rain. Most of the time it's just a little bit, the few instances it gets more I have the rain gear with me. Thunderstorms that entirely prevent cycling are extremely rare for me.
I ride a lot in my city and thunderstorms can happen several times a week where I live during certain parts of the year. Usually I can plan around them and if it's really so stormy I don't think I can bike then it's usually better if I don't drive anywhere either.
The main one that gets me is when I pick up my kid from school. Just rain and I'll bike but if there's lightning I occasionally need to take the car for safety.
Waterproof jacket and trousers that fits a pannier bag (preferably waterproof also) makes you basically 90% rainproof, especially if the trousers have shoe covers or your shoes are at least a little waterproof. Also, clear glasses avoid raindrops to go into your eyes while riding and allow you to see the road. Like this, only your hands are not covered.
This plus Vessi waterproof shoes. I am an amphibian.
In a drizzle or similar, I bike with a weatherproof jacket. I take the bus or tram if I have to get anywhere in bad weather, but more often I probably don't leave my home if the weather is bad or there's a storm brewing.
Disclaimer: I live alone in a major metropolitan area and mostly work from home.
I don't drive my car in severe thunderstorms.
I've been caught in painful hail multiple times on my bike. Rain coat plus helmet gets me pretty far.
Maybe you live in a place with immense heat or crippling cold. Me, I live outside london, and take my folding bike in the train in to cycle from train station to the office - takes about 30 minutes each way and it’s usually the high light of my day.
Since taking the bike, I think I’ve been caught in (proper) rain thrice. Then you put on some waterproofs and move on. Really not as bad as you think.
But cycling in 35+ C? No thanks.
Yeah, it can hit 37.5C without humidity factored in. It can feel as high as 46C with humidity. It rains a decent bit during summer.
Good clothing and topnotch hikingshoes, that's the most important part. My commute is 17min long, so it's not to long.
There are only a few days in the year where the weather is so bad, that you really can't take the bike. In my region thats ~5 days where there's really heavy snowfall. Rain should not be an issue, with clothing
For the really bad days I can gladly stay home in my job, but if I couldn't I would take a cab
Rad!
Great Job! How is your bike doing with this mileage? Any problems with the engine?
I take the bike to the small service every six months (Easter/October). I also always change the tires from summer tires to endurance tires or vice versa. The spare parts have so far cost me a little more than a complete set of decent winter tires for the car. Fortunately, I had no problems with the engine so far.
Sounds great Safe travels!