Do you use your bike for useful stuff ?
Discussion
Other than the exercise/training/fun/enjoyment aspect ? which is obviously key but usually entails riding in a big circle for no other reason.
Commute is obviously the big one, did that for years and it was great but am now home based.
Do you visit friends and relatives on your bike, I tend to go to my parents and a few friends/relatives as they are fairly local.
Shopping is limited on a road bike but for a few bits I am not averse to donning a rucksack and getting a few bits and pieces.
Dropped a couple of birthday presents off yesterday.
Always being dispatched to various random newsagents to drop off something my wife has ordered and sent back.
Anyone got any other good uses ?
Commute is obviously the big one, did that for years and it was great but am now home based.
Do you visit friends and relatives on your bike, I tend to go to my parents and a few friends/relatives as they are fairly local.
Shopping is limited on a road bike but for a few bits I am not averse to donning a rucksack and getting a few bits and pieces.
Dropped a couple of birthday presents off yesterday.
Always being dispatched to various random newsagents to drop off something my wife has ordered and sent back.
Anyone got any other good uses ?
Pretty much the things you say, nipping to the shops, little errands like that.
With COVID/lockdown, I check in on my wife's grandparents a couple of times a week; they stay on the other side of a fairly large town from us, it takes 10 minutes in the car by the time you wait at all the traffic lights, deal with the 1 way system etc.
But it only takes 15 minutes on my bike, and gets me a half hour of exercise for an extra 10 minutes of my time. "Free exercise" if you will.
With COVID/lockdown, I check in on my wife's grandparents a couple of times a week; they stay on the other side of a fairly large town from us, it takes 10 minutes in the car by the time you wait at all the traffic lights, deal with the 1 way system etc.
But it only takes 15 minutes on my bike, and gets me a half hour of exercise for an extra 10 minutes of my time. "Free exercise" if you will.
Occasionally when I don't have to carry much, it can be as quick to take my hybrid as it does to use the car in London - the road bike would be even quicker, but even with a good lock I don't like leaving it.
So places like nearby beer shops (stops me buying too much), datacentre (the CS route is basically a straight line from Westminster to Docklands), Borough Market, etc.
So places like nearby beer shops (stops me buying too much), datacentre (the CS route is basically a straight line from Westminster to Docklands), Borough Market, etc.
I used to use my bike for all sorts when I lived in town, in Oxfordshire. Commuting (11-12 miles each way), shopping, library, running daughter around when she fitted into the seat on the back... all sorts of stuff.
Now I'm very rural, in Wales, not so much. Commuting would be 17-18 miles each way if I could use the M4, much longer if not. I've taken the pannier rack off the back. Lots of time on Zwift, big circle rides for joy and fitness, and I do have a friend 13 lumpy miles away to visit occasionally. I have taken one parcel to the post office in the next village though, so not a complete loss!
Now I'm very rural, in Wales, not so much. Commuting would be 17-18 miles each way if I could use the M4, much longer if not. I've taken the pannier rack off the back. Lots of time on Zwift, big circle rides for joy and fitness, and I do have a friend 13 lumpy miles away to visit occasionally. I have taken one parcel to the post office in the next village though, so not a complete loss!
No, other than commuting.
Even my 10 year old winter snotter is something I’d worry leaving outside Tesco. It may look s
t but still cost £1,000 10 years ago and would likely cost 50% more than that to replace now.
Meanwhile my 80 year old father does everything on his bike. Only uses his car if travelling more than 10 miles.
Even my 10 year old winter snotter is something I’d worry leaving outside Tesco. It may look s
t but still cost £1,000 10 years ago and would likely cost 50% more than that to replace now. Meanwhile my 80 year old father does everything on his bike. Only uses his car if travelling more than 10 miles.
JQ said:
Even my 10 year old winter snotter is something I’d worry leaving outside Tesco. It may look st but still cost £1,000 10 years ago and would likely cost 50% more than that to replace now.
That's a shame. If it looks rough and you lock it securely, it will almost certainly be fine. Why not just risk it? t but still cost £1,000 10 years ago and would likely cost 50% more than that to replace now. MC Bodge said:
JQ said:
Even my 10 year old winter snotter is something I’d worry leaving outside Tesco. It may look st but still cost £1,000 10 years ago and would likely cost 50% more than that to replace now.
That's a shame. If it looks rough and you lock it securely, it will almost certainly be fine. Why not just risk it? t but still cost £1,000 10 years ago and would likely cost 50% more than that to replace now. MC Bodge said:
JQ said:
Even my 10 year old winter snotter is something I’d worry leaving outside Tesco. It may look st but still cost £1,000 10 years ago and would likely cost 50% more than that to replace now.
That's a shame. If it looks rough and you lock it securely, it will almost certainly be fine. Why not just risk it? t but still cost £1,000 10 years ago and would likely cost 50% more than that to replace now. I wouldn't lock and leave any of my other bikes. I'd lock them for a shop stop on a long ride, but only if I could keep an eye on them while they were locked. Quite apart from the replacement cost, the current lack of availability even if the insurance policy paid up, and the general faff of finding the right bike again, I've become rather attached to my bicycles. We've been through a lot together over the approx. 30,000 miles spread between the four bikes.
My cyclo-cross commuter/hack bike has probably got 30,000 miles on it. It works fine, but looks rough, with a pannier rack, insulation tape repairs to the bar tape and a patina of mud and road grime. I just leave it locked up where I go, be that in Manchester City Centre or wherever. It would be a shame not to use a bike for fear of it being stolen.
Live in the Netherlands. Use bikes for everything. Commuting obviously and shopping - wel mostly collecting takeaways during lockdown 
Also use bikes to transport kids to childcare, swimming classes, playdates.
Fitness, mtb rides, getting to the climbing wall.
Trips to ikea.
Literally all the things
Also use bikes to transport kids to childcare, swimming classes, playdates.
Fitness, mtb rides, getting to the climbing wall.
Trips to ikea.
Literally all the things
troc said:
Live in the Netherlands. Use bikes for everything. Commuting obviously and shopping - wel mostly collecting takeaways during lockdown
Also use bikes to transport kids to childcare, swimming classes, playdates.
Fitness, mtb rides, getting to the climbing wall.
Trips to ikea.
Literally all the things
Fantastic. There is no reason why people in many parts of the UK could not do that. Also use bikes to transport kids to childcare, swimming classes, playdates.
Fitness, mtb rides, getting to the climbing wall.
Trips to ikea.
Literally all the things
Yes, I use my bikes to visit family, this week I've done 110 miles in visiting family, obviously staying outdoors when doing so.
Also I'll 'pop' to Tesco for some groceries from time to time, it's a 20 mile round trip. This year more than others I've really tried to reduce my car usage as much as possible, although now the weather is turning a bit sttier than it was the miles on the car might increase a bit faster.
Also I'll 'pop' to Tesco for some groceries from time to time, it's a 20 mile round trip. This year more than others I've really tried to reduce my car usage as much as possible, although now the weather is turning a bit s
ttier than it was the miles on the car might increase a bit faster. Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff