Regular cyclists: like cars but don't want one?

[warp9]

In a way I can't believe I'm writing this. I'm a petrol head. I've grown up around nice and interesting cars, I work in a car related industry, I've owned some nice cars and I have a whole list of cars that I covet.

However as a daily commuter cyclist for the last 5 years or so, I've realised that I have no need for a car and to be honest, I don't think I really want one. We have a family estate hack and much as I tell myself that in a year or so when I have the cash I'll buy XXX, I just know that I'll never use it for the daily drive to work as I hate driving in traffic and using it as a toy at the weekend is unlikely as I have a young family.

Is anyone else like this, is it a phase, do I need to hand my PH card in now?!

[SteveSteveson]

There is only one answer. Motorbike.

[warp9]

SteveSteveson said:

There is only one answer. Motorbike.

This has occurred to me. I'll never be a weekend enthusiast, so would only want something for city commuting. I thought about getting a scooter, but just couldn't bring myself to do it. Past that I'm lost. It will also be a tough sell to the mrs and at the back of my mind am a bit worried about wrapping myself around street furniture.

Also I like cycling.

[Rob_T]

i used to love cars. i had lots of great cars. i still want to love cars. but they leave me cold and indifferent. when friends buy fancy cars i pity them.

i have a diesel estate.

it sits on the drive losing money.

i ride whenever / wherever possible. i resent driving. unless it is to morzine to go skiing or mountain biking. those journeys represent around 80% of my annual mileage.

2 wheels is the future. i am not a hippy.

[Justin S]

I have ridden to work for coming up 8 years now. My Focus St has done 12k miles in the last 5 years, just because it doesn't get used, as I would rather ride to work. Don't laugh, but its only 4 miles a day , but even in the rain, I would rather ride than drive. I also have thought about a scooter or a motorbike rather than keep the car, but its holding its value with 50k miles on the clock now, so I wont loose any money on it and just had an insurance renewal of £176 , so not expensive to keep.

Edited by Justin S on Friday 6th November 16:48

[S10GTA]

I feel the same, so I got a £1000 estate. It sits on the drive most of the time, and I use it when its either pissing down (like today) or we go out as a family. Couldn't imagine having £xxxxx tied up in a car, as much as I sometime feel like I should. Shedding is the future, along with bikes.

Edited by S10GTA on Friday 6th November 15:33

[SkinnyBoy]

I've just sold my Honda CRV for the reason. In the last year it probably covered 1000kms. I cycle to work as its only 6 kms so barely even sweating distance. Living in Australia will utterly kill your desire for a decent car stone cold. Whilst Gazza the Bogan is seething at you in his financed up Falcodore you can sail on past the traffic totally removed from the draconian police and speed nazis.

[warp9]

Rob_T said:

i am not a hippy.

I wouldn't say I am either, but I have wondered recently if there is such a thing as a modern day hippy....?

Justin S said:

Don't laugh, but its only 4 miles a day , but even in the rain, I would rather die than drive.

No sniggers here, usually my journey is around 8 miles total, although try to do the longer canal route in the morning. I also cycle come wind, rain, sleet or shine – it’s all about being ready in your head imo. I find I’m much more relaxed at the end of a cycle commute than if I was driving when I just get wound up.

[warp9]

SkinnyBoy said:

... you can sail on past the traffic.

I *really* love doing that.

[SteveSteveson]

warp9 said:

This has occurred to me. I'll never be a weekend enthusiast, so would only want something for city commuting. I thought about getting a scooter, but just couldn't bring myself to do it. Past that I'm lost.

Yamaha MT07. Ideal commuter day to day, does weekend fun when you want it to.

warp9 said:

It will also be a tough sell to the mrs and at the back of my mind am a bit worried about wrapping myself around street furniture.

People think the same about cycling, well, they think you will end up under a bus, but still the same "you are insane! You will die!". I understand why people are scared, but honestly, I would say I feel safer on a motorbike than cycling (I love both, and will keep doing both, and keep giving the evil eye to the people who try and lecture me on safety, especially those who I know are at more risk with their driving than I am with my awareness of the risks and mitigation of them).

warp9 said:

Also I like cycling.

So do I. Motorbikes and cycling are both lots of fun, in very different ways. IMO few cars come close for enjoyment (other than the enjoyment of being warm and dry when it is freezing cold and raining, but thats something you don't think about until your cold and wet).

If you think you might enjoy it (which I think any one who likes cars and cycling would) give it a go, just not on a scooter. Scooters have their place, but they are not that fun.

Although admittedly for the distance you cycle I would not bother with a motorbike or a car. I swap between the three depending on the weather and how much I have cycled. I can't do 5 days a week 16 miles each way, so take the motorbike sometimes, and the car when it is st or I am feeling lazy.

Edited by SteveSteveson on Friday 6th November 16:07

[johnwilliams77]

I am reading this with interest. I am also starting to feel the same. I have massive fun on trackdays but the last one had a load of morons coming off. It's also a 4hr round trip. I am very lucky to have great roads on my doorstep but they get very busy quickly so you need to be super early to enjoy them.

I am massively enjoying cycling and the freedom of it. It gets better the fitter I get. My toy car always has niggles and is massive fun but a headache to own and costs a few grand a year. I am starting to consider selling and having nothing but a CRV or something that was mentioned here.

[Daveyraveygravey]

I love cars too, but can't afford a good one. I still want a Caterham, ever since the Performance Car issue in the 80's with a modern "Prisoner" type 7, it's been the ultimate for me, assuming a McLaren F1 would always be out of reach. I would go so far as to say it's how I judge other car nuts; if they don't want a 7 they aren't really into cars...

I have an Octavia which is great, but nothing special. Doesn't cost much to run, the four of us and our crap fit in well, and the back seats fold down and I can sling either MTB or road bike in the back and head off to somewhere new. If I didn't have a family I would really question why I have it, although I don't commute by bike every day. The Mrs doesn't drive, so one of us has to I guess, especially as public transport isn't great locally.

[frisbee]

S10GTA said:

I feel the same, so I got a £1000 estate. It sits on the drive most of the time, and I use it when its either pissing down (like today) or we go out as a family. Couldn't imagine having £xxxxx tied up in a car, as much as I sometime feel like I should. Shedding is the future, along with bikes.

Edited by S10GTA on Friday 6th November 15:33

Still got insurance, road tax, tyres, servicing etc. even with a shed and the hassle of buying, selling and MOT even with a shed.

I just hire one when I need one, 15 minute walk to the car hire place and less than £20 a day.

Half tempted to get something insanely impractical though.

[Hell27]

I bought a great 3 yr old 530d 7 years ago during the credit crunch and I got it for 13k with 32,000 miles on it. When the loan was paid off, I started looking at interesting newer equivalents or contemporaries. Nothing really interesting for me as an equivalent unless I was prepared to throw North of 18k at it, so just kept it. Then I bought a Thule roof bar kit and 2 cycle carriers for it. Now at 10 yr old and 90,000 miles on it it's free of finance, comfy, reliable, quick enough, frugal and carries all 5 of us around. I'll just keep it until something major goes, as the commuting is far more fun on the Hardtail or road bike; living 7 miles from Manchester city centre equals boring rubbish stop start driving which is about as much fun as exploratory pile surgery (I imagine).

[Downward]

I think when it gets to a stage where it's quicker to cycle to work than drive during the rush hour you really start to think about cars.

I got tired of paying big money on tax and insurance on my Alfa to sit on the drive.

I got sick of driving to work when the kids came along getting there for 9.30am driving around the car parks for a while before having to park on the road.

The car parking at work and the traffic now 8 years later is even worse and doing the school run there is no spaces left by the time I get in.

So I use my bike to get to work all year round.

Sold the Alfa bought a Toyota which is only used now for ferrying the kids around. Maybe when they are older and can walk to school I'll get rid and we will be a 1 car family. Then again I can get a cheap car but the Toyota keeps passing mots and costs me less than my bikes !

Plus if it want for cycling I would get 0 excercise

[okgo]

Exactly the same as OP - however I do own a car, all it gets used for is driving me and the bikes to races really. And driving to see my folks sometimes - but more often I ride there and the Mrs takes the train.

Always wanted a nicer car but impossible to justify anything beyond a couple of grand really. Cycle to work, live in London area so transport to anywhere else is easy via train etc.

[craigthecoupe]

if you want a commuter motorbike that is wife friendly, you cant go wrong with an msx125. i will hopefully be chopping my zx6r in for one next year, tiny, nippy, will leave you smiling your head off, especially with an uprated can on overrun.

[Herman Toothrot]

I commute by motorbike it replaced a VX220, sometimes I commute by pushbike in the summer - roads are too busy and full of knobs that drive at 40mph everywhere and overtaking is increasing seen as dangerous by the General public, it's really ruined fast road cars for me. When I eventually get a place with a double garage I'll get a track day car again but I think that maybe a long time off.

[vonhoolio]

I was where you are 15 years ago when I worked in a city centre hospital and parking as not an option. I cycled for a few years but cycling home after your 5th 12-hr nightshift that week just wore a bit thin. I had already dumped the car (XR 4x4) and ended up with a Gilera Runner scooter. Great through the city traffic, cheap to run, faster than the bike and did 70mph. I even got into scooters a bit, got a vespa T5 then an ancient Lambretta Li 150. Always kept the cycle though.

Life moved one, I still have (several) cycles and still cycle to work but I have cars also. Don't feel tied to them. Life changes, use what you need at the time and enjoy it.

[Black can man]

Justin S said:

I have ridden to work for coming up 8 years now. My Focus St has done 12k miles in the last 5 years, just because it doesn't get used, as I would rather ride to work. Don't laugh, but its only 4 miles a day , but even in the rain, I would rather ride than drive. I also have thought about a scooter or a motorbike rather than keep the car, but its holding its value with 50k miles on the clock now, so I wont loose any money on it and just had an insurance renewal of £176 , so not expensive to keep.

Edited by Justin S on Friday 6th November 16:48

My Focus ST is averaging around 5 miles a week , i have the choice of using three perfectly good cars to commute to work & i always pick the bicycle for my 18 mile round trip.