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March 20, 2008
Bike Commuting??
Well, if you are like me, you are getting sick and tired of the stranglehold that OPEC has on each of us. A few weeks ago, we decided to do something about our personal fuel bill, which now has been averaging well over $600 per month. We found a really good clean Toyota Prius, we knew the previous owner, and we knew the mechanic that has worked on it - plus it just recently had the inverter and a bunch of the other critical parts replaced under warrantly. $9,000 later my wife is now getting 45 or 46 miles per gallon, that should fix her side of the equation rather nicely.
Now, the other part of that equation is me.... With my awesome Dodge 4x4 3/4 ton Diesel, with a Cummings 6 cylinder diesel. This was "state of the art" in 1999 when it was built, and gets "pretty good" mileage for a "hauler", usually around 16 or 17. I have it totally set up for work, with radios, lights, tools, safety gear, tire chains, tow chain, chainsaws, and everything else I could possibly need duing the snow storms, firestorms, and windstorms in Paradise. It also is the vehicle we use to tow our boat, a 21 foot SeaRay - and it does an great job of that.
However, the other 355 days a year, this is not a very effective commute car. My first thought was a motorcycle, being an old' dirt biker from way back, and having really enjoyed (thrashed) a Suzuki 550 back in my college days. Since the bikes I would be be interested in are priced well north of $6,000, and tax time is coming up, that's not going to happen quickly. So, I'm going to try commuting on my bicycle, at least one day a week. That should cut my fuel consumption by 20%, without any capital costs. Luckily, our Fridays are pretty relaxed - we are only open 8:00 to 10:00 AM, so my work hours are pretty flexible.
I've tried this before, and found that the coordination was a little tricky. My commute consists of about 40 miles total, with 2,313 feet of vertical climbing, if I go from Durham up into Chico, and up HoneyRun Road to Paradise. Once I hit Paradise, then I go up the trailway to Beyond Fitness. I have to pack everything I need for both a shower, and a full day at work, in my backpack. So my plan is to get to the gym, shower, putting my street clothes on, minus street shoes (I need to use the SIDI shoes to pedal), then switch shoes once I get to the office. Coming home, I will just take a whirlwind but bouncy trip down Neal Road, cross 99, then back home.
I spent some time working on the bike and backpack this afternoon, I now have two headlights (one really efficient, and one very bright to use as "highbeams" for idiot drivers that won't dim their lights), two red flashing tailights (one seat post mounted, one mounted on the back of my tool bag) and one flashing LED on my backpack. The backpack also has LOTS of reflective parts and pieces (it is a TYR Triathlon Transistion Bag), and I have put some extra reflective tape on my helmet and shoes. Lastly, I'll be wearing a white (Duh) long sleeved top, and sweat pants with reflective trim up the legs.
It should be a great ride, with very little traffic... I'll be leaving around 5:00 AM.
Posted by Dennis at March 20, 2008 04:16 PM
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