How Do You Feel....

[5-7HEAVEN]

Yeah Znsane, that "BOB" will be geared to 40-45mph with governor.

And "The Dragon Lady" should hit 40mph with two 1.5" rollers, less cargo, 91 octane gas, front basket relocation and more tire pressure.

Then I'll be happy.

 

[Deleted member 7759]

You shouldn't take a risk. It can be dangerous. There is nothing precious than your life.

 

[5-7HEAVEN]

You shouldn't take a risk. It can be dangerous. There is nothing precious than your life.

Viet Nam was dangerous for me in 1967...1968...and 1969. Darn, I shouldn't have gone back voluntarily for the second and third tour.

You should seriously consider giving up riding a motorized bike at any speed.

Wherever I go, Death rides alongside me. He smiles maliciously at me and I smile back.

Motorized bikes are inherently VERY dangerous, especially if ridden in traffic, even on the shoulder of the road.

I have co-workers who think riding an ordinary bicycle on the road is dangerous.

A co-worker's young daughter fell off her bicycle while riding very slowly. She hit her head on the curb...and died.

There is nothing more precious than LIVING!!! your life.

I am 62 years old and I approve this message.

 

[5-7HEAVEN]

Well it's been over six weeks since I've been riding the highway to work.

Commuting time is 17 minutes. If I used the bikepath it's 21-25 minutes.

Today I rode from work to a community college over 10 miles away. Then I turned around and rode five miles home. If I could safely bike this route then I could commute to work even when I attend night school.

The results were AMAZING!!!

I attended that same college last year. At best it took 54 minutes to drive my car, via freeway and highway.

Riding the highway, bikepath and sidewalk took 37 MINUTES!!!!!!!

Then riding the highway and boulevard took 17 minutes to reach home from school!!!!!

I'm stoked! It IS practical to commute to work and school. I get off from work at 430pm and school begins at 530pm.

 

[bluegoatwoods]

That's good; sounds like you live in a place that's just made for bicycle commuting.

Where I'm at the auto still wins the travel-time race hands down. But that's okay for me. That's not what I'm after.

Somewhere recently I saw a bicyclist's answer to that old question, "Why do you do it?"
"Because the more I ride, the more I hate driving".

One day, maybe, everyone will see it that way.

 

[5-7HEAVEN]

That's good; sounds like you live in a place that's just made for bicycle commuting.

Where I'm at the auto still wins the travel-time race hands down. But that's okay for me. That's not what I'm after.

Somewhere recently I saw a bicyclist's answer to that old question, "Why do you do it?"
"Because the more I ride, the more I hate driving".

One day, maybe, everyone will see it that way.

Unfortunately this is not the case, bluegoatwoods. Hawaii I swear is anti-bicycle. There are very few bikepaths. I'm just lucky that this section of the path is EXACTLY where much of the traffic gridlock is. Even though I ride slowly on the path I still beat the time.

Traffic congestion during rush hour is ridiculous. While commuting to night school last year, my best and worst travel times were 54 minutes and one hour 35 minutes!!!!! I was always stressed that I'd be tied up in traffic and be late for classes.

Now I know I'll never be late for school, flat tire and mechanical problems notwithstanding.

I know why I do it; it's the challenge of saving travel time, not being stuck in gridlock. It's about not paying $973.44 a year for parking and worrying about raising parking fees or bumping you off the waiting list. And I get to park in the same secured covered parking lot...FOR FREE!!!

I save $13.20/month or $148.48/year on gas, for a combined savings or $1131.84 for the year, $94.32/month for commuting via motorized bike.

The beauty of it all is that it takes the same time to commute as with my car. If there's a traffic jam then my bike reaches home first.

Sadly, bluegoat I don't think there will ever be the day that everyone sees it that way. I can tell by the look on the frustrated car drivers' faces. They feel that they are doomed to endure traffic gridlock. ANNND they know that traffic on this island will get WORSE as more cars and housing development make it worse.

The motorized bicycle is part of the solution. Sadly it'll never happen because people are addicted to their "stampeding metal ponies".

People look at me on my bicycle like I'm CRAZY! However, I have never been honked at, yelled at or cut off.

I LIKE that.

 

[5-7HEAVEN]

Well, it's been six months since I began commuting to work on a regular basis. It was my New Year's resolution to do so,and one of my best ideas I've ever had.

I found a different route to and from work. Not only is it safer, but I shaved 4 minutes off my best time using the original route. I encounter one good-sized hill going to work and two hills going home. The traffic lights are atop the hills going home, so maybe ten seconds of pedalling "The Dragon Lady" on those hills.

Instead of 2.5 miles of highway, I just use a half-mile of that same highway. It has two traffic lights there, so no sustained high speed involved.

I feel safer commuting to work.

 

[bamabikeguy]

I just bought 15 of those orange vests, they take 2 AA batteries to activate rows of blinking red LED lights, visible from 2-300 yards (a yellow one I also have claims 1 mile).

But as to regular daily commuting, and increase comfort level over time, I'd think over 90% of the automobiles going your way each morning are also regular commuters, familiarity breeds success.

When you begin using an MBike on a daily basis, be as visible as possible. Safety vests and unique helmets are an excellent way to commence. A daily rider in N. B'ham took a gold football helmet, drilled a hole in top and inserted a painted gold broom, and is now known as the "Wild Spartan Dude". That guy in Florida with the Viking Horns got motorist's attention quick.

Maybe EVERY car won't look out for you, but you are just trying to impress enough drivers to veer to the left, give you room, so the cars behind see it happen and go on alert.

A MB on the shoulder is the same as a dropped item off the bed of a pickup truck, a potential hazard.

 

[5-7HEAVEN]

Thanks for tips, bama. I'll look for those flashing safety vests.

I could never ride on the shoulder of the road with comfort. The other day my son and I pedalled to the mall. Even though we were on the sidewalk, the curb lane seemed awfully close.

Now I realize how wide of a berth all cars give me when I claim an entire lane for myself.

The only close calls I'm having now is this one road where two lanes merge into one. I'm in the dominant lane but the merging vehicles STILL try to cut me off at 37mph(35mph speed limit).

I let them merge MOST of the time.

 

[Hawaii_Ed]

years of pedal biking in Seoul and Tokyo taught me to be pretty comfortable in serious traffic. I did get ran off the road once by a truck, he came around and then pulled back in, pushing me over.

Speed and power are your friends. I also have been motorcycling for almost 25 years. The power of a bike can get you out of a lot of tough spots, you can normally plan an escape route. There are so many scooter accidents in Hawaii, besides the fact that most are young and inexperienced, they just do not have the power to maneuver.

I am currently enjoying my time off after retiring from the military, but need to find another job in the future. I plan on being a serious commuter with a MB.