Tiny Helmets Big Bikes
Check us out!
  • Home
  • Us
  • Blog: We Ride
  • FAQ
  • Our Fleet
  • Adventures
  • Getting Started
  • Contact Us

So much driving!

6/6/2013

14 Comments

 
Driving, driving, driving! I knew that my car trips would increase as my exchange student program drew near but it still doesn't make it easier. Now, a busy all-over-the-place schedule plus a nasty summer cold, I'm feeling less inspiration to ride to all the things I need to do. It's been two to three car trips each week and it's exhausting!

I chose the wrong swim class for Big Brother. We had passes left over from his parent-tot days (4 years ago!) and I thought it would be good to use them up. Turns out the route is nearly impossible to bike. The last 1.5 miles is gutter "bike lane" and speedy traffic, sometimes no bike lane and narrow streets. It's very inconsistent. Although I might be willing to bike it on my own, I'm very leery about biking it with my precious cargo. I may do a test run, if I can find some time..., just to feel it out or else I'm stuck driving twice a week for four weeks.

I've also been battling a cold that has style in my lungs and the air quality is reaching yuckier levels with the raising temperatures. Again, that decreases my desire for distance (heartbreaking!) and puts me in the car more often, too.

I'm curious, what is your radius of "bikeable" distance? I realized that starting out with the 2-mile challenge was great for me and more often than not, anything less than 5 miles is never a driving situation. Usually 10 miles is where I decide to use the electric bike--if it's a work trip where I need I end up presentable. I have to bike at least three miles to pick up my mom's car anyway so there's always a lot of planning before I come to driving as my final option.

Today, again, has ended up being a driving day. My alternative was 30 miles of biking for work trips and juggling kids. I just don't have the energy.
Picture
This little guy is also low-energy.
If you find yourself low-energy but still want to bike, don't forget to stop by Practical Cycle on Sunday between 12-6pm for the BionX elMundo launch Party! Seriously, this bike could change your life! Two of my favorite things--the Mundo and the BionX! You'll cut down the excuses for driving to almost null! Stop in and say hi :)

I promise to not cough on you.
14 Comments
Kristyn
6/6/2013 04:42:46 am

I have been a full time car driver as of late. It really sucks, but I had surgery last week so Im off the bike, out of the pool and no running for 6 weeks. Counting down the days.

Reply
Elle
6/11/2013 01:31:33 pm

Yikes! Speedy healing, Kristyn!!!

Reply
Dan Arbuckle link
6/6/2013 04:59:14 am

Sorry to hear about the car trips. It seems like putting a bird in a cage to me. Hopefully your situations will change to make biking even more conducive for your family.

I find living in Lodi that the only time I drive is when I need to go out of the area. IE Practical Cycles for a new back wheel. Sometimes the 10 mile run to the baby sitters calls for a car trip simply to do timing and logistics. I think a bionix system would help that, but I really don't know if I want the extra weight for the other 95% of the riding I do. Going up to PC to test ride the ElMundo to see if its going to work or not.

Reply
Elle
6/11/2013 01:33:19 pm

What were your thoughts on the BionX Mundo, Dan? If it were to replace the truck, I'd say it's well worth it. The nice thing is that for the days you don't "need" it, on level 1, you'd get about 60 miles or so. Level 1 basically just offsets the weight of the system. Even at level 2, it'd be minimal battery use but it would negate any cargo you'd be carrying.

Reply
Tim
6/6/2013 06:22:41 am

Having small children in a car centric society and still managing to bike as much as you do makes you a hero in my book! Thanks for sharing your real life and not sugar coating the challenges car free living presents. Once again, the primary obstacle seems to be poor infrastructure for cyclists. I believe that will change as more moms choose to ride instead, so keep leading by example. Soon we will look back on these times and rejoice in our progress.

Reply
Elle
6/11/2013 01:34:56 pm

Thanks, Tim! I agree! Riding on the ARP never feels exhausting but riding fewer miles in car-filled traffic is way more tiring. It's just so emotionally taxing sometimes.

Reply
Melissa
6/6/2013 02:51:03 pm

I saw your tweet about the swim lessons and you mentioned El Camino--are you going to Dolphin Scuba? If so, I would take an alternate route. Instead of going on the Northern Bike Trai to El Camino (which I agree is dangerous), stay on the American River Bike Trail and get off at Tribute Road between REI and Cal Expo. It's a lot of right and left turning from there (get bike directions on Google Maps from Tribute Road to Dolphin), but it's low-traffic "back roads." I've done that route a couple of times and didn't feel unsafe at all..

Reply
Elle
6/11/2013 01:35:58 pm

Thanks so much, Melissa! I'm going to try out the route tomorrow. The first trip is always the hardest but I'm so excited about have a route that seems doable instead of hectically difficult.

Reply
TopHat link
6/7/2013 12:01:38 pm

Re: biking radius.

When I first started biking, 3.5 miles one way (7 round trip) was "far." But then I got used to it. Around 5 miles out, the bus vs. bike time ratio evens out so that's when biking became "far" again. Going more than 5 miles is kind of a stretch for me. Of course, almost anything 5 miles out has lots of uphill. I can't get around that! I'm hoping I'll make it to where a 10 mile radius isn't a big deal. We'll see.

Reply
Elle
6/11/2013 01:37:16 pm

We haven't had much experience with buses, yet. For me, they seem daunting--negotiating routes and transfers and fares. It all confuses me. Biking is the easy way out for me :) Congratulations on the radius increase! That's awesome!

Reply
Katie
6/8/2013 05:15:29 pm

When I first started the trip to the local river seemed like at least 10 miles if not 20, I was so disappointed when I looked and found it was 0.9 miles there, now I fly that & it seems like nothing.

I know I regularly do over 4 miles in a whizz around the local country park, but the 2.5 mile trip to our main store is still daunting it will be along a very bust road, with some very heavy duty trucks & tankers. This year that is my goal and once I have managed that my next goal is a couple of mile further than that to another country park. I have recently become the proud new owner of a single trailer after dragging the double for a year so I am hoping that will make it easier & make me feel less like an elephant lumbering up the road - in terms of the whole rig of bike & trailer (not my bum)

Reply
Elle
6/11/2013 01:39:30 pm

That's an awesome improvement. Those little trips add up and make all the difference! The route makes all the difference. I will regularly take a longer trip on a road that is calmer or go to a different store because it is easier, rather than quicker. Keep me posted on your journey and happy riding!

Reply
Eunice link
6/9/2013 02:33:38 pm

Biking radius is now 20km round trip, provided there is a long enough break between there and back. Time of day and how much sun/rain there is seems to determine whether I drive or ride. And I'm working on not spending more that $50 on gas this month.

Reply
Elle
6/11/2013 01:43:31 pm

That's a great radius! There are always the extra factors that come into deciding how far a certain day's worth of trips are worth. It was amazing to me to see how quickly our gas bill went down once we changed our perspectives. That's a great goal to have for lessening your gas costs!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    This is us. We're fun. 

    Picture

    Archives

    April 2017
    January 2017
    November 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012

    Categories

    All
    30 Day Challenge
    365 Days Of Biking
    Adventure Cycling
    Amtrak
    Big Brother
    Big Brother
    Bike Camping
    Bike Camping
    Bike Friday
    Bikes!
    Bikes!
    Bionx
    Breakfast Club
    Breezer
    Bullitt
    Car Freedom
    Car Freedom
    Carrying Kids
    Carrying Kids
    Carrying Loads
    Carrying Loads
    Cycle Truck
    Cyclofemme
    Daily Errands
    Diy
    Family Rides
    Family Rides
    Hauladay
    Isla Bike
    Kidical Mass
    Little Brother
    Little Brother
    May Is Bike Month
    Mobic
    Overnights
    Positivity
    Practical Cycle
    Sacramento River Parkway
    Safe Routes To School
    Safety
    School Commute
    Solo Kids
    Strider Bike
    Sun Shade
    The League
    Tour De Whine
    Weather
    Whimsical Cycle
    Yuba Mundo
    Yuba Mundo

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.