Date: Thu, 26 May 2005 16:40:57 -0400
Reply-To: Joy Hecht <jhecht@ALUM.MIT.EDU>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Joy Hecht <jhecht@ALUM.MIT.EDU>
Subject: bikes on the van (was re: unused fridge)
Content-Type: multipart/mixed;
What would be wrong with bringing a bike? I'm no hard-core cyclist, but I use mine a lot. I'd hate to be dependent on the van to get everywhere - it's a big lumbering thing that consumes gas and needs to be parked. The bike is much better for exploring cities, and often for exploring national parks (great in the Badlands) and other places. Besides, getting exercise on the road can be tricky, having the bike is excellent.
Joy
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Joy Hecht
and Matilda, 1989 Burgundy Vanagon
For musings about life and the vanadventures:
http://users.rcn.com/jhecht/gypsy
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:::-----Original Message-----
:::From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On Behalf
:::Of Tim Demarest
:::Sent: Thursday, May 26, 2005 3:36 PM
:::To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
:::Subject: Re: Unused Fridge and weight (long)
:::
:::I respectfully disagree... reliable secondary transportation can be vital
:::on a long trip. I bicycled many a mile through Buffalo, Wyoming while my
:::van was laid up with a dead alternator. It's a small town, but the two
:::auto
:::parts stores are on opposite ends.
:::
:::The key (for me) was to get a fold-down hitch-mounted rack, so the bike
:::can
:::be easily folded down out of the way when I want to open the rear hatch.
:::The rack I have lets me do this while the bike is still locked onto the
:::rack.
:::
:::Sure, I probably reduced my gas mileage a bit, but it was nice to be able
:::to pedal around a town or campground while the westie was parked. I
:::didn't
:::use it every day (by any means), but the
:::times I used it made it worth the weight to bring along.
:::
:::My $.02 (US)
:::
:::Tim
:::
:::At 09:09 AM 5/26/2005 -0700, mark drillock wrote:
:::>Bikes can be one of the worst
:::>things to bring along. If you are not a hardcore and disciplined rider
:::>don't bring them traveling.
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