More New Things

May BIKE Miles: 68
May WALKING Miles: 57
Miles BIKED yesterday: 11.07
Miles WALKED yesterday: 2.3
Temp yesterday: AM/65* PM/84* with high humidity 47%-94%

Finally I have been transferred to a new position, same company, new location. It's really a great new thing. The position better fits my career goals which I'm still figuring out. New things to learn, new software to conquer and new people to meet. ALSO it is a new commute- um...FUN!!! I'm aiming for 30 consecutive days of NO CAR life (carpooling is allowed). However it is already going to be jolted by my Memorial Day weekend plans of going to Lake Martin. So the 30 days will start back on next Tuesday.

I have been riding my bike to and from the new job, super cool that I can do 100% of the journey on the bike, no hassle of the bus (bike rack) issues. It's 5.2 miles each way if I take the most direct route. To go the alternative way home it adds another 3 miles or so. It has been taking about 40-50 minutes to get to work and about 90 minutes for me to get home with the traffic and 'yay-I'm'riding-my-bike-home' slowness, which feels safe. I strive for SAFE both ways. In the mornings I ride hard and fast. In the afternoons I take my time and enjoy the ride and the sights and make lots of stops. I've been riding Rocky, she isn't holding up too good.

Sunday I loaded her up with about 40+ pounds of dog food, a gallon of drinking water, a gallon of cranberry juice and a weeks' worth of groceries. I planned my trip so that I went to the Publix on Ponce so it would be all downhill on the way home. Her poor frame felt like a wet noodle flopping around. I should of taken a picture of the load strapped on, but didn't think of it because I was too grateful for just making it home without Rocky falling apart or me falling over! So I've been bike shopping. After much deliberation and list after list, and pouring over every major bike catalog, and riding about 2 dozen bikes I finally made a purchase last night. I drove to get the bike. I spent less than I planned and got less of a bike than I dream of, but it's going to do the job.

By my estimate I will save $324 per month riding my bike. (By the way gas prices are 3.95 to 3.99 per gallon for REGULAR on my ride home.)

I get 200 miles from my 15 gallon tank, that costs about 30 cents per mile.

100 miles per week (includes incidental miles i.e. non-work commute miles that I would only drive since I was already in the car) equals $30 per week of gas costs.

Parking is $9 per day at my office, $45 per week

That's $75 per week for gas and parking.

I figure approx. 8% for maintenance, insurance, etc.

$324 per month it costs me to drive to and from work. (Good thing my old car is paid for and I have no monthly payment!)

That is almost $4,000 per year that I'll save riding my bike.

A $500 bike will pay for itself in less than 2 months.

Good thing I sold my road bike and used that money. Now my bike commute is just flat out SAVING ME MONEY!!!!

Smart and gettin fit- now that's a DEAL! when is the rest of America or at least Atlanta going to catch on?