What causes you to take a day off from commuting?
11-01-10, 06:19 PM
#51
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I drove a few times last month because my recumbent bike (I was commuting on that at the time) needed a new wheel and I had to wait on that for about 2 weeks. I started using my DF instead, but ended up getting into a mishap and bent the handlebars and broke a few other parts. I had no other option than to take the car. On those days, I offered to give my friend who lives nearby and goes to the same school rides in. My Toyota Corolla is a lot more fuel efficient than her Explorer, so I always drove so she could save on gas.
11-01-10, 06:51 PM
#52
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Though I forgot my belt the other day and had my wife drop it off (with the car) instead of riding home to get it.
11-01-10, 07:36 PM
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11-06-10, 02:27 PM
#54
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Snow to the extent the snow plows come out = one day off. Winds more than 25-30 mph I may drop if temps are low enough. Temps below 0F I have a difficult time staying warm enough during the commute (13 miles). Over a year, I tend to commute 19 work days out of 20.
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11-06-10, 04:48 PM
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when I over sleep. I got up today about the time I try to leave for work with the bike.
11-06-10, 06:51 PM
#56
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Tornado warnings. This usually means abandoning the bike at the office and taking the bus in the next morning. There has been some controversy at work about me riding home in tornado watches, but we have too many watches to not ride in them. There are warning sirens so I don't worry too much.
Sometimes I have to go to offsite meetings that are about 10 miles away. I can't take the time in the middle of the day to bike to those, so I'll drive.
Sometimes I have to go to offsite meetings that are about 10 miles away. I can't take the time in the middle of the day to bike to those, so I'll drive.
11-06-10, 09:06 PM
#58
2 Old 2 B New B
Injury, such as when my back was "out" last summer for several weeks. Vacations. Sick days (rare). Appointments I can't get to fast enough after work on the bike. Rain, because I can't justify the extra prep time for a 2.6 mile commute.
I don't have "meh" days. What are those? ;-)
I don't have "meh" days. What are those? ;-)
11-07-10, 04:19 AM
#59
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Deep snow, right before it gets deep enough to drop me to a walking pace (and at only five time the exertion); ice is fine when you've got studs. But bad snow days are bus days. Luckily the bus picks up about half a block from my house and drops me right on campus. And in the winter it's both faster than biking and it's already paid for (included in the tuition). I'd just rather not ride it because it's nowhere near as much fun as riding the bike.
Honestly, I sometimes miss living in Cali (Tahoe area). Sunshine all winter long, huge dumps of powder, bikinis and rock climbing in the summer. If only it hadn't been so full of Californians.
Honestly, I sometimes miss living in Cali (Tahoe area). Sunshine all winter long, huge dumps of powder, bikinis and rock climbing in the summer. If only it hadn't been so full of Californians.
11-07-10, 06:32 AM
#60
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If I'm going to work, I'm going by bike. I can say that now that I have studded tires.
Of course, if I suffered an injury that precluded cycling, I'd be driving a car.
Of course, if I suffered an injury that precluded cycling, I'd be driving a car.
11-07-10, 08:30 AM
#61
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I'm stuck driving until I heal up from surgery and can start riding again. Then it's a matter of building my endurance back up to doing 30 miles a day before I can ride to work.
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11-07-10, 01:58 PM
#62
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A broken leg probably. Or hip maybe otherwise nothing. I've ridden to work with ankle ligament damage and busted ribs.
The only weather I don't like riding in is lightning as my route to work goes through some tree lined roads that have suffered with fallen trees. Don't fancy getting crushed.
Choccy...
The only weather I don't like riding in is lightning as my route to work goes through some tree lined roads that have suffered with fallen trees. Don't fancy getting crushed.
Choccy...
11-07-10, 02:37 PM
#63
Bike ≠ Car ≠ Ped.
Ice, snow, carrying stuff that's too bulky that particular day (I don't have anything to carry a garment bag plus a tuba, for example 
).
).
11-07-10, 02:53 PM
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Having to run errands after work will make me take the car. I want to make my bike more secure if I'm going to have to walk away from it while doing my errands.
Rain will also do it as I'm not rigged for riding in the rain yet.
Rain will also do it as I'm not rigged for riding in the rain yet.
11-07-10, 03:55 PM
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My car got voted off the island by the four bicycles, so taking a day off from commuting basically means staying home from work. When I was still driving, the only circumstance that got me to use my car was that I needed to haul something bulky or heavy, like lumber.
11-07-10, 03:59 PM
#66
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A hard driving rain!
For me, it makes it easy to not ride to work now that we can telecommute up to 3 days a week. I prefer to go into the office because it's nice and quiet, but like most of us here, when the weather is bad, it's easy to stay home and not ride OR use the car!
For me, it makes it easy to not ride to work now that we can telecommute up to 3 days a week. I prefer to go into the office because it's nice and quiet, but like most of us here, when the weather is bad, it's easy to stay home and not ride OR use the car!
11-07-10, 05:51 PM
#67
Pedaled too far.
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I never take a car unless I had rented one for the weekend.
But the bus? Ice, snow, sometimes rain, bad attitude or just needing to read.
But the bus? Ice, snow, sometimes rain, bad attitude or just needing to read.
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11-07-10, 06:38 PM
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Snow too deep to get traction. Christmas '09 comes to mind. When the work schedule is changed and I'm not notified except when they call to ask my whereabouts!!! Lightning activity! I don't like driving on my own gas any more. But I will cheerfully use the boss' gas.
11-08-10, 08:00 AM
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My reasons, listed in order of frequency, although I still ride 3-4 days/week year-round:
- Weather, mainly rain, sleet, icy roads
- Needing car for work, doctor/dentist appts, errands
- Legs tired from long weekend rides
- Illness
- Weather, mainly rain, sleet, icy roads
- Needing car for work, doctor/dentist appts, errands
- Legs tired from long weekend rides
- Illness
11-09-10, 04:53 PM
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1. Rain.
2. It's my turn to drive to lunch.
3. I'm planning a grocery run after work.
2. It's my turn to drive to lunch.
3. I'm planning a grocery run after work.
11-09-10, 07:21 PM
#71
Senior Member
Usually mornings cause me to take a day off. I've only been commuting on nice warm days so far. I haven't been on the bike in about 3 weeks now. At least the alternative isn't a car but the subway. I watch the cyclists cross the Manhattan Bridge as I'm on the train doing the same. Some days there are a lot and some there aren't, usually corresponding to the weather.
11-09-10, 08:16 PM
#72
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severe weather, like the storms we had a few weeks ago (40mph+ winds) or severe thunderstorms.
if I lose my legs
if I lose my legs
11-10-10, 09:35 AM
#73
Descends like a rock
I don't ride in rain. Maybe a light drizzle, but usually not even that. Part of it that I don't have the right gear, part of it is that I just don't enjoy it. I don't want to show up at work drenched and extra sweaty (rain gear just doesnt breathe the same). Any kind of frozen rain is definitely out. I didn't ride in the hottest part of the summer when it was still hot in the mornings, but I may try it next year and see how sweaty I really am upon arrival.
11-10-10, 12:45 PM
#74
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A day off work.
Traffic is such that bad weather favours bike commutes, not car commutes, here.
I've driven a few times when I had to move stuff too big for the bike trailer or had to have repairs done to the car.
Traffic is such that bad weather favours bike commutes, not car commutes, here.
I've driven a few times when I had to move stuff too big for the bike trailer or had to have repairs done to the car.
