Comments on: Has it been a year already? (our year of Car Free Days)

By: Anne

Anne — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 06:01:23 +0000

nbcm,

Glad to hear you’re addicted to riding. Keep it up.

Will your son be riding his own bike? Or riding on the Xtracycle? If on his own bike, fenders are a must. Tim is currently looking for the perfect fender option for our 7 year old’s bike. I’ll keep you updated when it’s ready to go. (or he’ll probably just post about it) We also realized our kids need lights on their bikes.

As far as clothing goes – wool is totally worth the investment. We got both of our kids Smartwool baselayers and socks last winter. It stays dry and warm when wet. They also wear gloves and thin hats under their helmets. Rain ponchos are great too. They never complained about being wet or cold last winter. I also pack hot chocolate in a thermos when it’s really cold – helps keep them motivated.

It’s hard to talk about winter when the weather is still so nice!
Anne

By: New bike commuting mama

New bike commuting mama — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 02:23:55 +0000

well, I’ve been biking myself and my 2 year old around for a while (since January) and don’t ever want to go back to driving. The only thing is, now I need to get an 8 year old to and from my work/his school, 7 miles from our home.

I plan to buy an Xtracylce to do the actual commuting, but I’m curious about how you got your kids to ride in the rain. Did you outfit them in anything more than a rain jacket? I’d love any advice you might have re: rain and children.
Your family is an inspiration.

By: Ghost Rider

Ghost Rider — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 17:50:00 +0000

Don’t worry, Anne…I splurged on a couple of bike goodies (a pair of handbuilt wheels on vintage Campagnolo hubs from Peter White Cycles of NH, and a really cool “Cars R Coffins” jersey from the good folks in Minneapolis.

I haven’t missed that car ONCE!

By: Anne

Anne — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 04:08:33 +0000

Ghostrider – Thanks! I’m glad you sold your car. Tim and I justify all sorts of purchases (mostly bike stuff and gear) because we have only one car. But insulation and bill paying works too.

Krysta – Thanks for the comment. I’m glad you’re loving your Xtracycle.

Anne

By: Krysta Whitmore

Krysta Whitmore — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 05:07:43 +0000

Yea for your year anniversary! We have had our xtracycle for almost 4 months now and no longer have a car. It’s hard to remember what life was like without it! My husband and I have been enjoying your blog for a couple of months now, it is so great to see other people enjoying riding their bikes!

By: Ghost Rider

Ghost Rider — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 13:48:15 +0000

Happy anniversary, Carfree Days! You guys inspired me to finally pull the trigger on an Xtracycle kit, too, and I was recently able to sell my unused motor vehicle and use that money for some house projects (super-insulating the attic, some landscaping and some bill paying). We’re “car-lite” but not completely car-free.

Here’s to another great year — I look forward to all of your updates, tips, tricks, travels and all that other stuff you do via bicycle.

By: chiggins3

chiggins3 — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 18:37:06 +0000

Thankya kindly! That’s always a nice thing to hear.

I can relate to the inadvertent sale of good things. Back in ’92 (when, incidentally, I did some messenging for Elliot Bay Messengers), I bought a 970, lugged frame in that General Lee red-orange. About two years later, having returned to Ventura, I sold it for cash and a Raleigh road bike. A few years later (’95 I think?) I traded a Nikon FE2 body, MD12 motor drive, and 3 lenses for 32 megs of ram. Those were the Years of Making Bad Deals.

I’m feeling much better now, though.

By: Dan

Dan — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:46:22 +0000

Great Site. I was wondering what break shifter set up was on Ann’s bike. Did you already have the breaks and shifters or did you purchase them specifically for the A-bars. If you bought them from where?

thanks,
Dan

By: Tim K

Tim K — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:17:43 +0000

chiggins — thanks so much. We’ve always said we’re just some folks ridin’ some bikes and if people wanna take that as a good example, then we don’t have a problem with it.

BTW, my web reading has been in the toilet of late, but I’m a big fan of your blog. I love how you mix it up. And you are right, those lugged Treks are sweet. I had an old 531 600-series touring bike that I bought new. I sold it, get this, for a first-generation Cannondale road bike. Oh, how I have changed!

By: jennlynnprin

jennlynnprin — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 08:37:56 +0000

I have never heard of these bikes … how interesting. Thanks for the introduction!