Save On Gas - Ride A Bicycle

The Economy of Bicycle Riding

A good old fashioned bicycle will get you around town. So why pay a high price for gas?

On a bike you can feel the wind in your face, say hello to your neighbors, and enjoy the sunshine. You can also get great exercise and develop the body you've been wishing for, while having fun at the same time.

Heading home in the late-afternoon on a rainy day.

This is a bicycle trailer...

Could this be a bicycle thief?

Bicycle hazard sign, Portland OR.

"New York is tough on bicycles." by leeontheroad

Artistic bike photo.

I really like this bike, in case you can't tell ....

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Bicycle Riding in a Small Town

Do you think gas companies will ever lower the price if everyone is still willing to pay the higher cost?

I live in a small town, and for that, I feel lucky. I could walk to work in thirty minutes. I save half that time by riding a bicycle - something that at one time I never thought I could do again. I'm not a spring chicken - I'm 56 years old this year.

My eighteen year old son is one of the best bike mechanics in our small town, if not THE best. I've watched him work with bikes for years. He doesn't charge much for adjustments, and the way I see it, if the gas prices continue to rise he'll have lots of customers begging for help with transportation needs.

This lens is about my decision to ride a bike, my progress in adjusting to it, and anything else I can think of to tell you about bicycles. Bike trivia is my new passion.

My Son, Years Ago

My Bicycle

Since I'm economy minded and live in a small town without much need for the best bike ever, I purchased my bicycle in front of a Walmart store where returned and refurbished bikes were offered at drastically reduced prices. My bicycle cost only $25, but was clean and shiny and came with new tires. For my light-weight small town needs, this has been a perfect solution. I bought a wider seat, for comfort ($20) and a basket to put on the front for runs to the grocery store. I also bought two replacement tubes, just in case.

Gas Prices

Experts warn that gas prices in the USA could soon be over ten dollars per gallon.

Bicycle Safety for Adults

NHTSA Bicycle Safety Tips For Adults

A new educational video from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on safely driving, fitting and maintaining a bicycle.

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Bicycle History

Bicycle: The History

by: David V. Herlihy

Amazon Price: $19.80 (as of 07/05/2009)

Product Description
This lively and lavishly illustrated book tells the extraordinary history of the bicycle, an invention that precipitated nothing short of a social revolution. Recounting a story replete with disputed patents, brilliant inventions, and missed opportunities, David Herlihy shows us why the bicycle captured the public's imagination and the myriad ways it has reshaped our world.

"A comprehensive genealogy of the two-wheeled savior of mass transit. . . . Herlihy takes what could have been just another history book and makes it a story worth telling your friends about." - Publishers Weekly

"Fun and informative." - Baltimore Sun

"Immensely absorbing." - Edward Koren, New York Times Book Review

"Lovingly written and beautifully illustrated." - David Schoonmaker, American Scientist

"A delight." - Robert Messenger, Wall Street Journal

"Herlihy has traced the bicycle's family tree with a thoroughness reminiscent of Laura Hillenbrand and her thoroughbred, Seabiscuit. . . . Bicycle is a good read for all and a must for the cyclist's home library." - Joe Simnacher, Dallas Morning News

"[One of] the best cycling-related books I've seen in the past decade." - Joe Lindsey, Mountain Bike

From the Inside Flap
"David Herlihy is a widely recognized expert on the history of the bicycle, and this book offers the most comprehensive account to date of the bicycle and its development from a novelty for the elite to transportation for the masses. Frequently wry and always intelligent, Herlihy takes us on a marvelous tour of the bicycle's fascinating history." - Peter Joffre Nye, U.S. Bicycling Hall of Fame and co-author of The Lance Armstrong Performance Program

"Bicycle is a fascinating book. David Herlihy is a true historian, and he has uncovered a stunning amount of new material about the history of the bicycle--at times it reads like a detective story." - David Gordon Wilson, professor, MIT and co-author, Bicycling Science, and Human-Powered Vehicles

Bicycles For Sale

GMC Topkick Dual-Suspension Mountain Bike

Amazon Price: $249.99 (as of 07/05/2009)

Schwinn Ridge AL Women's Mountain Bike (26-Inch Wheels, Matte Silver/Matte Purple)

Amazon Price: $204.23 (as of 07/05/2009)

GMC Yukon Mountain Bike

Amazon Price: $207.05 (as of 07/05/2009)

Mongoose Montana Women's Mountain Bike (26-Inch Wheels, Silver/Light Blue)

Amazon Price: $169.99 (as of 07/05/2009)

Mongoose Maneuver Men's Dual-Suspension Mountain Bike (26-Inch Wheels, Blue)

Amazon Price: $239.99 (as of 07/05/2009)

The Bicycle Book: Wit, Wisdom & Wanderings

by: Thomas Hylton, Gianna Bellofatto, Theresa Russell, John Stuart Clark, etal.

Amazon Price: $11.66 (as of 07/05/2009)

Review
Cartoons are among my dearest friends. They make me laugh, they make me think, and they make me money. So I am glad to see the guys hard at work in The Bicycle Book: Wit, Wisdom and Wanderings, even if none of them are working for me. - Patrick O'Grady, cartoonist for VeloNews and Bicycle Retailer & Industry News

"No matter what kind of cyclist you are, this book offers something to make you think, laugh, or want to get on your bike and ride." - Tom Snyders, The Bicycling Comedian, BikeComedy.Com

"This book might remind you of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, or On the Road -- but it takes a much bigger view, from writers with perspectives you never looked at. What biking does to you, where biking takes you, what biking does for the world and what biking teaches you. The writers love bikes, they love the journeys, and the bikes and journeys become one. Even if you only manage a Sunday glide in the park, there is something here for you." - Brian Connelly, screenwriter, Expo: Magic of the White City

Product Description
The Bicycle Book: Wit, Wisdom and Wanderings is a celebration of the bicycle by people who ride. . .a tribute to one of the finest, most efficient, most useful machines ever invented. The 25 contributors are talented writers and cartoonists, each with a unique take on bicycling. Whether in critical observation, concern, memorial, fact, or in jest, each story and cartoon is definitely worth a look. You do not have to be a cycling expert to read this book; there is something here for everyone.

Contributions from around the globe include an essay from Pulitzer Prize winner Thomas Hylton; predictions for the future of cycling from Dirt Rag publisher Maurice Tierney and Richard Fries, publisher of Bike Culture; an exclusive interview with Chris Carmichael (long time coach of Lance Armstrong); several essays from Pulitzer Prize nominee Gianna Bellofatto. Other contributors are Portland Magazine executive editor (and former New Yorker staffer) Ted Katauskas; Mason St. Clair; author Theresa Russell; and Andy (Ask the Mechanic) Wallen.

Scattered throughout the book is a collection of cartoons from cartoonists whose work has appeared in a wide array of magazines including The New Yorker, Esquire, The Progressive, Dirt Rag, Oregon Cycling, The Funny Times, Discover, Guideposts, Reader's Digest, and Forbes. Contributing cartoonists include Bob Lafay, Neal Skorpen, Jonny Hawkins, Andy Singer, Bob LaDrew, and many others.

Repairing Your Bike

Sooner or later you're probably going to need bike repairs or a tune-up. You can seek out your neighborhood's best bike gear-head and ask for help, or take it to a local bicycle store with repair facilities.

Alternatively, you could learn to do it yourself. There are lots of internet resources to teach people to work on their own bicycles.

Gear Adjustment

Tony explains how to adjust Shimano gears.

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Bike for Life: How to Ride to 100

by: Roy M. Wallack, Bill Katovsky

Amazon Price: $13.22 (as of 07/05/2009)

Reviews:
"A great, funny page-turner that you simply don't expect." - Michael Frank, Deputy Editor, Bicycling and Mountain Bike

"Bike for Life could be the most important book in your life." - Sal Ruibal, USA Today cycling writer

"What a great book!" - Steve Boehmke, Mountain Bike Hall of Fame inductee

Product Description
Cycling is one of the most popular and fastest growing activities in the nation-today more than 56 million recreational cyclists bike regularly in the United States. Now leading cycling journalists Roy M. Wallack and Bill Katovsky have assembled into one essential resource everything cyclists needs to know to bike for a lifetime. These experts present groundbreaking information on medical research, training techniques, nutrition, and technology and equipment trends that impact the sport at every level. They also assess the risks and provide informative solutions to many bike-related conditions that have been overlooked, sensationalized, or are just emerging, including impotence, osteoporosis, weakened immune systems, sore backs, depression, and even fractured relationships. Also featured are a dozen in-depth interviews with cycling legends, such as Gary Fisher, Ned Overend, John Howard, Missy Giove, Eddie B, and Marla Steb. This authoritative guide to getting the most out of your bike riding will appeal to cycling enthusiasts of all ages and abilities, and is a must-read for everyone who loves to get on a bike to compete, to keep fit and promote longevity, for fun, or simply to get from point A to point B.

Bicycles and Accessories

...on eBay.

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Bicycling Magazine's Complete Book of Road Cycling Skills : Your Guide to Riding Faster, Stronger, Longer, and Safer

by: Ed Pavelka, The Editors of Bicycling Magazine

Amazon Price: $11.53 (as of 07/05/2009)

Amazon.com Review
"Maybe you're a novice who has yet to squeeze into that first pair of sexy Lycra shorts. Or perhaps you're a seasoned racer who is seeking ways to become stronger and faster. Whatever the case, you will be well served by Ed Pavelka's comprehensive guide, which takes the reader on a highly readable ride through road cycling--from the basics of handling and maintenance to the subtle intricacies of racing. Instead of asking the reader to take his word on every subject, Pavelka has gathered a cast of Olympians and renowned mechanics to tackle whichever topic reflects his or her strongest suit. Besides the basics, chapters also include in-depth advice on sprinting, hill climbing, using heart monitors effectively, training indoors during the wintry months, and even surviving your commute in the concrete jungle. If that's not enough, Pavelka has devoted an entire section to medical concerns, including overtraining, sore knees, and saddle sores." - Ben Tiffany

Review
"In this book are all the basic techniques and skills we use in pro road racing, translated for fast recreational riders."--Ron Kiefel, former pro cyclist"Bicycling magazine has assembled the most comprehensive book about road cycling in recent years. Everything you need to know about this wonderful sport is clearly presented and easy to put to use."--Alex Stieda, first North American to lead the Tour de France"Cycling is a sport to be enjoyed for a lifetime. Learn from the experts, test your limits, then go explore the world." - Karen Kurreck, former world time trial champion

To Bicycle, or Not to Bicycle

Are you going to switch to bicycle riding to save gas costs?

Fetching blurbs now... please stand by

Yes

Gandree says:

This is the perfect time of year to bike in Florida. Summer is too hot and humid tho. Some people do it but when sweat doesn't evaporate you have to be very careful.

Posted October 23, 2008

LindaJM says:

Absolutely! I'm thrilled to have an opportunity to save on gas costs while doing something good for my health.

Posted September 29, 2008

No

California_Dreamin says:

My bicycle has been my main means of transportation for the past twelve years. For someone like me who lives in a crowded suburb of Tokyo, a bicycle is not only cheaper, it's a great way to avoid traffic and parking headaches.

Posted June 11, 2009

seafoam says:

I already cycle, and have done to various degrees throughout my life. But I can't do without a car for longer journeys. Currently I use my bike mainly for trips into the village, 4 miles away. Everywhere else is just too far, unless I have time to devote a whole day to trip into town. During winter I have the opposite problem to Gandree; its just too cold to cycle.

Posted April 06, 2009

spirituality says:

I don't even own a car. So no, I'm not going to switch :)

Posted October 08, 2008

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The Bicycling Guide to Complete Bicycle Maintenance and Repair: For Road and Mountain Bikes

The Bicycling Guide to Complete Bicycle Maintenance and Repair: For Road and Mountain Bikes(Expanded and Revised 5th Edition)

by: Todd Downs

Amazon Price: $14.95 (as of 07/05/2009)

Product Description
This revised, updated, expanded fifth edition is indispensable-with all the latest models, parts, and repair techniques, and terrific money-saving tips to keep any ride in tip-top shape.

Since its first publication, Bicycling Magazine's Complete Guide to Bicycle Maintenance and Repair has sold over 400,000 copies. The fifth edition is guaranteed to remain the category killer.

This long-overdue update is a must-have for weekend riders and serious cyclists alike. Whether they own the latest model or a classic with thousands of miles on it, beginners and experienced cyclists alike can depend on this book to get their bikes out of the shop faster and keep them on the road longer.

They'll discover information on: Building a dream bike workshop, disc brakes, both cable-actuated and hydraulic, dialing in front and rear suspension shocks for comfortable rides, the latest crankset and bottom bracket designs, overhauling freewheels and cassettes for peak performance, specs on all the latest handlebar and headset sizes, and servicing clipless pedals for maximum safety.

With troubleshooting sections to quickly identify and correct common problems, 450 photographs and 40 drawings to clarify all the step-by-step directions so even the complete neophyte can get repairs right the first time, and web sites and phone numbers of bicycle and parts manufacturers, this is truly the ultimate bicycle repair and maintenance manual.

About the Author
Todd Downs is a self-taught, full-time wrench since 1989. He's built wheels that were raced in the 2003 UCI Cyclocross World Championships and prepared a bike for an Olympic hopeful's trip to the 2004 Summer Olympic Trials. Downs has been published in DirtRag magazine and serves as an editor of MTB Journal. He currently resides in the Boston area.

Gas Prices

Today gas costs $4.89 per gallon in Happy Camp, California. How much does it cost where you live?

Bike Links

LightLane Home
Bicycle Tutor - Bike Repair Video Tutorials
Muslauf: Hydroelectric power station Avce - Fixed gear heaven
Sheldon Brown-Bicycle Technical Information
BYOL: Bring Your Own Lane | Kohler
BBC NEWS | Africa | From bush to bike - a bamboo revolution
YouTube - Inspired Bicycles - Danny MacAskill April 2009
Ride the City: safe bike routes made easy
MapMyRide.com - Map your Cycling and Mountain Biking Routes and join our Community of Cyclists. Cycling Social Network, iPhone, Topo Maps, Elevation Profiles, GPS Support.

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Ride a Bike, Get the T-Shirt

Hegoa Chainring rhp3 Long Sleeve Dark T-Shirt

From: Put rhp3 in the Search box for more bicycle shirts

Price: 25.99

Infant Bodysuit tricycle

From: Fickle Pickle

Price: 11.99

Critical Mass Cardinal Red T-Shirt

From: New Mission Designs

Price: 21.99

Thanks for visiting my lens...

I love my bicycle. Here I am in my fifties already, and riding around town like a kid. It feels great to know I can do something about the gas price crisis and its effect on my budget, by simply riding a bike. I feel healthy, well-balanced, and efficient. I highly recommend bike riding to everyone who has a need to conserve money.

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