So, let's do the sums....

[Twanger]

Three months cycling. On average, three days a week. 13x3=39. Journey length, 21 miles round trip. 39x21=819 miles.

Money saved, : £5.30x39=£206.70

Money spent: A lot. I have to cycle another six months to break even by which time I will buy another bike.

Incidents:

Accidents = 0

Harrassment by motorists (other than trivial) = 0

Dog running into the street = 1

Fun had = 39x2 = 78 great runs

Kilos lost = about 10

Soakings = 1

What I have learned:

1. Moving the saddle a bit forward and angled ever so slightly down suits me.

2. I don't ride very fast, but who cares.

3. Girls look great in lycra.

4. London is a great city to cycle in.

5. It doesn't rain as much as you think it does.

6. Wind is worse than hills. Hills are sometimes fun. Wind is never fun.

7. You can't always trust people in bike shops.

8. I don't have emphysema, even after 30 years of smoking.

9. How to adjust indexed gears.

10. 99.9% of the people using the road are just fine.

 

[PBancroft]

Good for you Twanger, and you're spot on with all of those.

 

[eldudino]

10kg's is a good loss, I'd have to agree that it's a great saving from taking the car every day and doing 20mpg because the thing never gets warmed up! I think I've probably lost more in depreciation on the car than I've spent on fuel in it in the last 6 months, good job it's nowt fancy.

 

[Wheeledweenie]

I've lost about a stone and a half in a year (going from zero miles a week to 100). You'll change shape too. Even male work colleagues (notoriously bad at noticing such things) have asked how I've done it.

And +300 on the wind!

 

[swee'pea99]

Yup - I'd go along with all those. Other than, in my case, the cost. I actually spend very little on my cycling and I save shitloads, so I'm well ahead.

I'm particularly pleased to see your #10: we tend to obsess about the bad incidents - and yes, of course they do happen - but I think it's good to remember that the overwhelming majority of Londoners, whether on bikes or on foot, in cars or taxis or even - yes, even - white vans, maintain the capital's ancient and invaluable tradition of live & let live.

All we need now is more girls in lycra.

 

[karlos_the_jackal]

[quote name='swee'pea99']

All we need now is more girls in lycra. [/quote]

+1

 

[MacB]

yep, seconded, I find most other road users no problem whatsoever. The ones that have been a problem looked like they'd be a problem in any other walk of life as well.

 

[joolsybools]

yep, seconded, I find most other road users no problem whatsoever. The ones that have been a problem looked like they'd be a problem in any other walk of life as well.

Good point - one which I hadn't made the connection to but now you mention it, most of the time, yes.

 

[scouserinlondon]

I've lost about a stone and a half in a year (going from zero miles a week to 100). You'll change shape too. Even male work colleagues (notoriously bad at noticing such things) have asked how I've done it.

And +300 on the wind!

I've not really lost weight during my 3 months cycling, but I'm certainly fitter and shape has changed. From love handles to leg muscle I think.

 

[Wheeledweenie]

It took a while for the weight to start dropping as you'll be putting on a lot of muscle, and that's heavy but suddenly it just goes and everyone assumes you've had TB.

 

[hackbike 666]

Money saved on what basis?

 

[Twanger]

Money saved on what basis?

Doing you out of a living....train tickets.

 

[joebingo]

I let out an 'mmm' of approval at the end of this reading post, lol.

I agree very much with your number 4, Twanger, great city to cycle in!