Comments on: I am a Velocipede Commuter http://blog.amhill.net/2008/08/08/i-am-a-velocipede-commuter/ Pants optional. Sat, 27 Feb 2010 21:24:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Mark Stosberg http://blog.amhill.net/2008/08/08/i-am-a-velocipede-commuter/comment-page-1/#comment-1525 Mark Stosberg Sat, 06 Sep 2008 12:35:56 +0000 http://blog.amhill.net/?p=186#comment-1525 Jean, 40 lbs is really not so much on a bike. The <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/markstos/2739597677/" rel="nofollow">bakfiets</a> weighs 60 lbs on it's own, compared to about 30 lbs for a conventional bike. The first 50 pounds or so of additional cargo beyond the weight of the bike go fairly unnoticed. I think the larger drawback when cargo-commuting the is the convenience of packing and unpacking the bike. Which is why I recommend considering a longtail bike for your case, <a href="http://mark.stosberg.com/bike/2008/08/longtail-bike-at-work.html" rel="nofollow">like the one Kurt made</a>. The <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXbGivXrUPY" rel="nofollow">XtraCycle Lifestyle video</a> is a great introduction to these kinds of bikes. They are increasingly popular as family bikes in places like Portland, Oregon, often hauling an kid or two *and* some cargo. Electric assist is an option. The now-available Richmond Bicycle Map features a photo of a mother taking a child to school on an XtraCycle while snowing. Thomas it right about what it does for <a href="http://mark.stosberg.com/bike/2008/09/fund-raising.html" rel="nofollow">toning your legs</a>! Jean, 40 lbs is really not so much on a bike. The bakfiets weighs 60 lbs on it’s own, compared to about 30 lbs for a conventional bike. The first 50 pounds or so of additional cargo beyond the weight of the bike go fairly unnoticed. I think the larger drawback when cargo-commuting the is the convenience of packing and unpacking the bike.

Which is why I recommend considering a longtail bike for your case, like the one Kurt made. The XtraCycle Lifestyle video is a great introduction to these kinds of bikes. They are increasingly popular as family bikes in places like Portland, Oregon, often hauling an kid or two *and* some cargo. Electric assist is an option.

The now-available Richmond Bicycle Map features a photo of a mother taking a child to school on an XtraCycle while snowing.

Thomas it right about what it does for toning your legs!

]]> By: Vernon Redd http://blog.amhill.net/2008/08/08/i-am-a-velocipede-commuter/comment-page-1/#comment-1363 Vernon Redd Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:36:42 +0000 http://blog.amhill.net/?p=186#comment-1363 That bike looks like it's worth about tree-fiddy. That bike looks like it’s worth about tree-fiddy.

]]> By: Thomas Kemp http://blog.amhill.net/2008/08/08/i-am-a-velocipede-commuter/comment-page-1/#comment-1302 Thomas Kemp Tue, 19 Aug 2008 12:17:48 +0000 http://blog.amhill.net/?p=186#comment-1302 Not sure if we have met. I live on the West side of Richmond and commute to downtown (7th and S. A) on a daily basis. Friend of Mark's . . . . Really nice looking bike you got there. Not sure if we have met. I live on the West side of Richmond and commute to downtown (7th and S. A) on a daily basis. Friend of Mark’s . . . .

Really nice looking bike you got there.

]]> By: Aaron http://blog.amhill.net/2008/08/08/i-am-a-velocipede-commuter/comment-page-1/#comment-1298 Aaron Tue, 19 Aug 2008 03:58:23 +0000 http://blog.amhill.net/?p=186#comment-1298 Jean -- You could TOTALLY rock out the bike commute. It's even closer for you! All you need is a bike with a good range of gears, some panniers, and 30 minutes -- that's it! It's been very rewarding. :) Thomas -- where do you work? Have we met yet? UN -- $8 / day??? That's insane! In what part of the world do you live? Jean — You could TOTALLY rock out the bike commute. It’s even closer for you! All you need is a bike with a good range of gears, some panniers, and 30 minutes — that’s it!

It’s been very rewarding. :)

Thomas — where do you work? Have we met yet?

UN — $8 / day??? That’s insane! In what part of the world do you live?

]]> By: unreliable narrator http://blog.amhill.net/2008/08/08/i-am-a-velocipede-commuter/comment-page-1/#comment-1260 unreliable narrator Fri, 15 Aug 2008 05:35:10 +0000 http://blog.amhill.net/?p=186#comment-1260 Go you! As an English prof who also has to haul the umpteen pounds of papery doodads, I invested in two nice rear panniers and just go slow. Fortunately it's completely flat where I live so I don't have to climb any of those sneaky hills you describe. And as far as being sweaty--it's *always* 8,000 degrees here and it's actually even HOTTER in my car, so cycling is weirdly cooler (during the morning and evening especially). You give me the courage to stick to it this fall! Actually I have meetings on Monday and Tuesday next week so here we go, I'm gonna be a bike commuter--plus having to pay $8/day for parking is also a big hairy drag. Go you! As an English prof who also has to haul the umpteen pounds of papery doodads, I invested in two nice rear panniers and just go slow. Fortunately it’s completely flat where I live so I don’t have to climb any of those sneaky hills you describe. And as far as being sweaty–it’s *always* 8,000 degrees here and it’s actually even HOTTER in my car, so cycling is weirdly cooler (during the morning and evening especially). You give me the courage to stick to it this fall! Actually I have meetings on Monday and Tuesday next week so here we go, I’m gonna be a bike commuter–plus having to pay $8/day for parking is also a big hairy drag.

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