How to save money on gas

[skycat 0]

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thanks... i'm real jazzed about it... you too.

If you don't have them get clipless pedals, once I got them I will never go back it is so much more efficient cause you can actually produce power on the upstroke that the back of the peddle.

Fly it like you stole it!

[kallend 2,147]

For urban driving where drag is negligible, most of the fuel burned goes into accelerating the mass of the vehicle. Unless it has a regenerative braking system (and most do not) that energy is all turned into waste heat when you come to a stop. In a typical vehicle the occupants only account for about 10% of the vehicle mass, so you waste 90% of the fuel accelerating and stopping the vehicle itself, and on;y 10% goes into the useful task of moving the occupants.

So -
1) Get a lighter vehicle.
2) Avoid routes that require a lot of stop ang go driving
3)Anticipate the traffic so that you don't have to keep alternating between the gas and the brakes.
4)Solicit your town to program its traffic lights more efficiently.

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[hexadecimal 0]

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I like the motorcycle idea, way ahead of you. Of course this winter may be an issue.

Winter is no big deal... I ride my bike regularly in below freezing temperatures during the winter.

Just get good leathers (they even sell heated ones if you want them...), good gloves (also available heated), chemical heat packs, etc... and you'll be fine.

[hexadecimal 0]

Not sure if this has been mentioned and I'm honestly too lazy to read the entire thread right now... but:

DRIVE A LIGHTER CAR

American manufacturers never quite got a grasp on the advantages of lightweight cars as opposed to 4000+lb monsters (and I'm not just talking about SUVs).

A light weight car will usually: handle better, accelerate faster, and eat less gas.

[Hooknswoop 19]

I'm not too worried about the cold, just the roads. It can snow without warning and then I'm stuck. Plus the sand on the road. I have full leathers. I intend to ride the motorcycle and mountain bike as much as possible, even through the winter.

I hope the gas price increase in temporary and the gas-saving measures continue even after the prices come back down. I think it is human nature for people to slowly forget and go back to burning gas as if it was free and limitless again.

Derek

[FrEaK_aCcIdEnT 0]

great tips! i ride about 6 days of the week now... my bike gets about 38-41 mpg depending on how hard i ride. usually around 39mpg. my truck used to see 3000 miles a month and now i cut down by far! I only fill the poor thing up about 2 times a month if she is lucky! the bike has a 4.8 gallon tank and its a 600cc. its also easier to work your way trough traffic. Just ride safe and if u get a bike get one the is a 4 cyl. not V-twin. make sure its Fuel Injected and not Carborated! in the long run u will have less maintence costs and more consistant/better fuel milage! 600cc isnt slow either. 0-60 in less than 3.5 if i want to...

ok last thing i promise! Please wear ur gear. Ive seen too much skin lost and if u need pics i can get them if it will convience u to wear the gear!

ExPeCt ThE uNeXpEcTeD!
DoNt MiNd ThE tYpOs, Im LaZy On CoRrEcTiOnS!

[FrEaK_aCcIdEnT 0]

dont get TiMax gloves i ride to work in sub-freezng weather and the thaw out process is very very very painful!!! ide vote for the heated gloves and i will be getting a pair this winter!

ExPeCt ThE uNeXpEcTeD!
DoNt MiNd ThE tYpOs, Im LaZy On CoRrEcTiOnS!

[Zoter 0]

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just paid $27 to fill my car, when a long time ago in a galaxy far far away, it only used to take about $10-$12. Ouch.

You guys have it easy......try at least $50-60 to fill up to the brim.....
My tyres are already 15psi above the limit....my windows are up...my cars tuned..and if you go 11mph over the limit where I live all you see is the 'bling bling' of the speed camera going off in your rear view....
and I'll pick up any vagabond ( usually a skydiver) on the way to the DZ to save a 'buck or two' ( obligatory sawn off hockey stick sits next to my seat just in case )

Even at current prices you never had it so good compared to the rest of the world...

[sinker 0]

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thanks... i'm real jazzed about it... you too.

If you don't have them get clipless pedals, once I got them I will never go back it is so much more efficient cause you can actually produce power on the upstroke that the back of the peddle.

hey that's a good idea... i didn't think about the upstroke power... i did however worry about if I fall not being able to get out of the peddle in time. is that a prob?

-the artist formerly known as sinker

[sinker 0]

good advice kallend, can you give a little more on how timed lights actually work and how to make them work for you? the prob here in nashville is that most roads have differing mph's, some 40, some 45, some 35, some 30, some 50, and this is both in residential, business, etc.

-the artist formerly known as sinker

[Hooknswoop 19]

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i did however worry about if I fall not being able to get out of the peddle in time. is that a prob?

At first, but you learn real quick. Shimano SPD pedals let you adjust how tight the pedal grabs the cleat. Start with them very loose. You'll pop out by accident every now and then. Soon, you won't even have to think about unclipping. If you crash, you unclip automatically. Not sure how, but I have tested this feature on some harsh singletrack in Durango. As you get used to the, tighten them up so you don't pop out accidently. They make riding MUCH more efficient.

Derek

[NWFlyer 2]

You could always get one of these...

"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke

[yardhippie 0]

that is pimp!

Goddam dirty hippies piss me off! ~GFD
"What do I get for closing your rig?" ~ me
"Anything you want." ~ female skydiver
Mohoso Rodriguez #865

[SpeedRacer 1]

I don't ride bikes very often.

One problem I have is that the bike manufacturers really don't consider the use of a bike for day-to-day errands & getting to work, etc.

Bikes are designed with the assumption that you're going out there to win a f&*king race or something.

So they make the handlebars really low so you're all hunched over, to make you more aerodynamic.

This is bullshit. People as a whole would be in much better shape if they could just walk or ride to get to work or run errands. And they don't wanna hunch over & ride at 45 mph when they're just going to the store or to work.

There should be some bikes where you can ride upright & relaxed so you can see the world around you so you can run your errands around the neighborhood. Not all hunched over with your weight on your nuts & your face pointed so you're staring at the ground just 3 feet in front of your bike.

In Amsterdam you can rent these simple, clunky, one-speed bikes to get around town. They hold you upright when you ride. You won't win any competitions with them but they're all you need just to get your shit done during the day.

Speed Racer
--------------------------------------------------

[mcneill79 0]

But would the friendly gay men wave at you in that?

[skycat 0]

You can buy more upright sitting bike they are called comfort bikes, Derek and I just bought one for his Mom where you sit very upright. Lots and lots of people in the US commute to work everyday, some ride road bikes, some ride mountain bikes, and some ride comfort bikes. There are also many things you can do to adjust the comfort level of your bike from the type of handle bars to the stem and seat.

http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?sid=05Globe

You aren't forced to get bikes with aggressive stances, but some of us prefer them that way. I don't mind being leaned over because the set up makes climbing hill easier and being in CO that is kind of a big issue.

Fly it like you stole it!

[sinker 0]

thanks derek!!

-the artist formerly known as sinker

[billvon 3,112]

>One problem I have is that the bike manufacturers really don't
> consider the use of a bike for day-to-day errands & getting to
>work, etc.

>Bikes are designed with the assumption that you're going out there
>to win a f&*king race or something.

Naah, that's just the people who want to spend lots of money and either a) don't know what they're buying or b) really do care about winning races.

Take REI, which does a good job of selling 'real' bikes. You can get:

-road bikes, expensive, light and fast (and not too comfortable)
-touring bikes, heavier and more durable (and more comfy) - I have one of these
-mountain bikes, built for off-road riding
-urban bikes, simple and very durable
-comfort bikes, which are designed to be comfy and easy to ride. Also generally cheap.

You can also get a wide variety of recumbent bikes, which let you sit in a chair and cruise around. We have three - a trike (which is fun but low to the ground) a Linear LWB USS (comfy but awkward and long) and a Haluzak SWB USS (you sit higher and it's shorter.)

[sinker 0]

AND REI has an in house shop and good service, and if you're a co-op member, like moi, you get 10% back at the end of the year. The bike I got yesterday from them is just rad and I am in love. I even road it to the mailbox today. Saved me .07 cents in gas.

-the artist formerly known as sinker

[hexadecimal 0]

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dont get TiMax gloves i ride to work in sub-freezng weather and the thaw out process is very very very painful!!! ide vote for the heated gloves and i will be getting a pair this winter!

I "forgot" to wear my good winter riding gloves a few times last year... things get really interesting when you lose function in your fingers and start using your entire arm to force the clutch or brake levers in with your numb, motionless hands

[yardhippie 0]

probably not, but youre thinkin its hot!

Goddam dirty hippies piss me off! ~GFD
"What do I get for closing your rig?" ~ me
"Anything you want." ~ female skydiver
Mohoso Rodriguez #865

[Guest]

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5. Walk. I know, no one walks, but it doesn't take that long for short distances, and it's really really cheap.

Also known as LPCs (Leather Personnel Carriers)...

mh

.

"The mouse does not know life until it is in the mouth of the cat."

[FrEaK_aCcIdEnT 0]

That shit sucks! I had a pair of cotton gloves on inside my TiMax gloves and the Titanium plates just allow that 28 degree (with out the 60-70mph riding wind chill) arctic mass to go all the way to the bone.
Thank god for large fairings saved my legs and feet. Ive got to get a double bubble windscreen and some heated gloves. thats on my before winter list!

I remember the days when i lived in Idaho and worked 2 miles from home. nice paved streets all the way there! Threw on the wind breaker and roller bladed to work in less than 8 min. when i got there it felt great to take the windbreaker off and bask in the cold. I miss those days.

ExPeCt ThE uNeXpEcTeD!
DoNt MiNd ThE tYpOs, Im LaZy On CoRrEcTiOnS!

[2fat2fly 0]

Do they still make the "Polar Paws" that mount to the grips. I never rode in anything colder that 20f but they worked pretty well for me.

I am not the man. But the man knows my name...and he's worried

[2fat2fly 0]

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the prob here in nashville is that most roads have differing mph's, some 40, some 45, some 35, some 30, some 50, and this is both in residential, business, etc.

So, if the lights are timed at 35, do they also work if you run 70?

I am not the man. But the man knows my name...and he's worried