Conference noted::bicycle

    perhaps you could 'set note/title="How do you use your bike?"'
    
    ed

    I use my bicycle for commuting ( I assume thats what you mean by
    transportation) There is only one other person in VAO, as far as I
    know, who commutes by bike.
    My round trip is 62km and I did it 201 times last year.  I must admit
    we are pretty lucky in Vancouver as far as ride able temperature goes.
    I ride the trails on mountain bike on weekends and my wife and I 
    cycle camp every year on our Tandem.  
    What I don't use my bicycles for are utilitarian things.  Library,
    groceries stuff like that.  I don't own a bicycle I can lock up anywhere
    without a complete stripdown of all removable items.  
    I've had beater bikes in the past but I can't resist working on them
    until I get to the point I don't use them for beater stuff.  I just
    sell them and try (both times unsuccessfully) to recoup my costs.
    Bruce  

    I use my bike *only* for transportation purposes - mainly commuting (25
    mile round trip). At weekends (size of load permitting) I'll also use
    it for shopping trips (nearest 3 miles, farthest 10) and other errands.
    Of course, it does have beneficial side effects on my health, but the
    main reason is to save money and the planet. If we didn't need a car to
    transport our girls around the place, I'd get rid of it tomorrow.
    
    Chris

The commuter bike is 1975 Fuji, with just enough maintainance to keep it running
smoothly but not enough to keep it from looking like a piece of junk (i.e.,never
replaced the original handlebar tape, so it's worn through to the bare metal most
of the bar). The commute is 3.5 miles, too short to keep in shape, so I started
riding with the lunchtime crew last year and that's a good workout. I ride all 
year except when there's too much ice and snow on the road, in which case I walk
(through the woods, it's shorter). Most extra-curricular meetings etc. within 20
miles are also biked, and Howard Smith's long-life battery donation gives the 
lights at least 2 hours lifetime.

I wish I could unload one of the two vehicles but it just doesn't seem practical
at the moment. Any family trip requires the automobile (there's 4 of us), and 
the truck gets used for those times when we're hauling 2 week's worth of vacation
junk (for 2 families) to N.H., or when she has to go thataway (with the car) and
I (with the kids) have to go thisaway (with the truck). Best I can do is bike as
much as possible and minimize the miles on the vehicles. Hate paying insurance 
on the truck, when driving it less than 2000 miles a year!

Friend gave me the aluminum Univega frame last summer, which became the "recrea-
tional" vehicle. So that's the good-weather lunchtime ride, and the occasional
century etc. on weekends. 

    I have one running car, but commute probably 80% of the time
    year-round, 15 miles or so round trip.  I use a high-end cheap mountain
    bike frame, and have put a 52T chain ring on the front for the
    downhill parts.  It's also handy for dogs.  Some of them are very hard
    to catch with smaller gears.
    
    Panniers carry the clothing and clean up stuff - I'm pretty well self
    contained.  I also have the VistaLite strobes, red rear and green
    front, plus the VistaLite 430 20w headlights.  Works really well.  I
    have a well padded case for the laptop when I carry it.
    
    I'm currently using ATB kevlar belted tires with thorn proof tubes,
    because last year I was getting so many flats.  I believe I have
    cleaned all the staples off the road now, so I will be removing about
    10 pounds of rubber ballast in the near future.
    
    I also try to take a couple hours off every week for an extended ride. 
    I'm going to try to start riding out to the range, which is a pretty
    wicked 18 miles one way.
    
    I started this in the early '70s, and got real serious about commuting
    in the early '80s after my divorce left me unable to afford an auto for
    about four years.  During those years I rode about 30 or forty miles
    and smoked two packs of cigarettes a day, often while riding.  Not
    recommended, as this very nearly killed me.  
    
    Quit smoking, kept riding.  I enjoy it.  At 43, I'm a bit overweight,
    but have a 55 resting pulse and a BP of 110/70.  Mostly only high wind
    will keep me off the road, and even then, I start to get very testy if
    I can't ride for a day or two.
    
    I often wonder at the number of people who comment on how much they
    wished they could commute on a bike.  I get the impression that they
    think there's some sort of magic paved bikeway between my house and
    work.  Most are very shocked that I actually ride in traffic.  I simply
    explain that it is my daily "fear training" session.
    
    The most dangerous part of my ride is the Digital Parking Lot.  What a
    zoo.  90% of my near misses in the last three years have happened in
    the damn parking lot.  If you see someone in the ALF lot riding a bike
    who looks like his head is on a swivel, it's me looking out for the
    next maniac.
    
    The most dangerous vehicle on the road is a minivan driven by a
    housewife.  No offense to women drivers, this is simply observation
    over a long period of time.
    
    The best fix for dogs is to get off the bike and hose them down with
    10% or better pepper spray.  Spray downwind.  Once the dog is down, go
    yell at it real loud.  Next time they chase you, one yell and the dog
    will definitely head some other direction at an impressive pace.  Just
    spraying the dog doesn't work - stop and yell at it, or they just start
    chasing you after a week or so.
    
    Anyway, it's time to go home.
    					Mike
    

I've commuted to work (Northern MA to southern NH) by bike a fair amount in the
last three years. My normal commute route is 12 miles one-way. I occasionally
take a longer 25-mile route in the morning. I ride on the road, but traffic is
rarely ever a problem.

In 1994 I rode to work 76 days, totalling perhaps 2200 miles. During the same
period, I rode recreationally (i.e., not going anywhere) a total of 800 or 900
miles. So as it works out, I ride for transportation more than I ride for
(only) fun. But the commuting is fun. It has kept me in good shape, and saved
maybe 130 to 150 gallons of gas from being burned in my car. 

So far for 1995, I've commuted by bike six times (starting about two weeks
ago). The gradually warming weather is very welcome! I don't particularly
enjoy riding when it's near or below freezing.
						-- Tom

    I probably shouldn't admit this... I find myself riding 40 miles
    round trip to commute... but after getting home, it's off in the
    pickup truck to go to the food store (1 mile away).  Good thing
    it has the 8 foot bed, too.  ;-)  Kratz

    
    	I'm in the process of purchasing another road bike strictly
    	for the purpose of commuting from Acton to LKG twice a week.
    	Gonna need some bags or something though.   I look forward
    	to riding to work on warm sunny mornings, but from my experience
    	the ride home can be a little grueling, particularly on a 
    	bad day at the office.  On the other hand, it's a great time
    	to unwind.
    
      >The most dangerous vehicle on the road is a minivan driven by a
      >housewife.  No offense to women drivers, this is simply observation
    
    	From my experience, I'd be forced to agree with you 100%.  I don't 
    	think it's the sex of the driver that matters though, those
    	minivans themselves are truely something to watch out for!!!!!!!	
    

    ...or a peeved housewife driving an empty full size school bus.
    That's a wicked combo.

RE: <<< Note 2917.8 by DELNI::DSMITH "We'll make great pets" >>>

>	...but from my experience
>    	the ride home can be a little grueling, particularly on a 
>    	bad day at the office.  On the other hand, it's a great time
>    	to unwind.

I almost always enjoy the ride home more than the ride in. I can really relate
to the notion of unwinding. If I've had a stressful work day, I usually do a
relatively hard ride home. That gets me tired, and I like feeling my muscles
being tired from a workout -- much better than being mentally exhausted for me!
						-- Tom

    I agree riding home is a great way to unwind.  In a car I get/feel
    much more frustrated.  Especially after a bad day.
    	
    As for mini-vans, I have no problem with them at all.  I find the 
    generalization about `housewives' interesting.  Are these `housewives'
    in rush hour traffic rushing from house to house?  
    I wonder if it is just the sheer volume of this type of vehicle, and
    not the driver, which is noticable.  
    
    Many years ago I had this `thing' about Volkswagon Beetles.  Now, when
    I generalize, I have to say it is Dump Trucks.  When I see or hear one
    my hands drop off the hoods and prepare!
    
    I can't get anyone here to agree with me, most of my friends are afraid
    of Volvos!
    
    bruce

    I fear handicapped drivers and high school drivers.
    
    ed

    Base noter chris here again. How can I change the title? I am basically
    anti-car too but god I love to get behind the wheel of a nice car. Can
    I say that? You will, however, not meet a more courteous driver then
    one who has braved the roads on a daily basis on his/her bike. All cars
    frighten me.
    

    re: .13
    
    Assuming you are using the terminal interface, to change the title of
    any note you written, do the following:
    
    1) Read the note.  In this case, you would type 2917.0 at the Notes>
    prompt.
    
    2) Type SET NOTE/TITLE="my new title" at the Notes> prompt.
    
    That's all there is to it.
    
    Bob