What is the deal on electric bikes?

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David L

What is the deal on the bikes with an electric motor?

Can they be set up with some basket(s) so you can go to the grocery store?

What is the cost on these? Do I need a special license for these in California?

How far can these go on a single charge? How long do they take to charge up? Do you use just a regular outlet?

I work at home so I need something ONLY for doing basic errands around my neighborhood.

What are some other options? (Other than a car.)

Answer
This is probably more than you're looking for, but you might check it out:

http://www.vectrix.com/

There's a lot of information here as well:

http://www.electric-bikes.com/

If you're going to be carrying a lot of stuff, it might be better to get a "neighborhood electric vehicle":

http://www.nevportal.com/

Hope this helps!

Is it possible to import products from China to El Salvador?

Nestor Sul

It's known that China and El Salvador relationships are not the best due to political issues related to the Taiwan-case. However, Im not sure if it also affects the commercial relationships.

I have a friend who wants to buy some products from China and ship to El Salvador but he is not sure whether this is possible or not. He is afraid chinese products are not allowed to be imported by the El Salvador goverment.

If you have some information regarding this I'd appreciate let me know. He is looking to import into El Salvador: Electric Bikes and Flat LCD TV made-in-china.

Answer
Check out www.chinadirecttrading.com I use them and have found a number of great deals. They are also starting a new feature called Haves and Wants.

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How does an electric bicycle work?

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Kavi Dessa

When my dad first mentioned them to me, I though that they would work just about the same as an electric scooter. But when I actually looked it up, I saw that they still had pedals and looked almost exactly the same as any other bike. So where does the electric part come in if you're still pedaling? How does it work?

Thank you kindly.
:)

Answer
The motor is connected either thru the chain drive or is a part of the wheel (hub motor).

some models are throttle based where you push the throttle more, and more power goes to the motor (Power on Demand 'POD'), or, power can be initiated by a sensor that detects you are pedalling pretty hard, so it sends power to the motor to help out (pedelec).

On some models you must pedal, (pedalec) others you have your choice whether or not to pedal. Even moderate pedalling helps with the performance and range.

If an ebike follows the U.S. Federal law HR 727, it is legal where bikes are legal:

To be legal in most states, an e-bike must have less than 750 watts of power, pedals that really work, 2 or 3 wheels (not 4 wheels) and the motor should cut out at 20mph.

turn key ebikes can be purchased from Giant bicycle, Target online, and other places depending on your locale. there are many kit vendors; Cyclone is a chain drive, Bionx is a fancy high end hub motor, and Crystalyte is a value hub motor, along with other companies.

The motor enables people that have physical limitations to still ride and manage hills and headwinds. It also allows people to show up for work a lot less sweaty and allows an alternative to car transportation while still getting decent exercise. Prices for decent stuff starts at about $400, and goes up to almost $10K for an electric enclosed trike that can virtually replace a car. Properly chosen many better ebikes have a range of 25+ miles before having to recharge the batteries.

I am 60 years old and can bring home 40lbs of groceries on my ebike, and can use it to go most anyplace in my medium sized (500,000 population) town.

some newer ebikes are quite lightweight and bicycle like.

Ebikes increase health, decrease pollution, decrease auto traffic, save transportation dollars and consume no petroleum. REcharging takes about 4 hours and costs about 10 cents.

What is riding one of the electric power assist bicycles like?

Q. The only thing I've heard is that they even out hills a little. What else have you heard? Are they worth the high price?

Answer
You can buy a nice shop quality bike for the same price as a cheap electric bike. You will benefit from the exercise and be a lot healthier. Don't expect the batteries to last long on the cheap bikes so you end up with a 70 lb bicycle or ending up pedaling harder then a regular bike. Expect to buy a new battery pack every 6 months or so.

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What is riding one of the electric power assist bicycles like?

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Q. The only thing I've heard is that they even out hills a little. What else have you heard? Are they worth the high price?

Answer
You can buy a nice shop quality bike for the same price as a cheap electric bike. You will benefit from the exercise and be a lot healthier. Don't expect the batteries to last long on the cheap bikes so you end up with a 70 lb bicycle or ending up pedaling harder then a regular bike. Expect to buy a new battery pack every 6 months or so.

What is a good road bike for a beginner?

foreverana

I would really love to start cycling this summer, but I honestly don't even know where to start. I'm female and 5' 4.5" and I need to know what kind of bike would suit me best. A specific bike or brand would help a lot or a website to go to. Thank you so much!

Answer
If you are going to really ride any miles, you want a dedicated road bike. You should invest in a good quality, aluminum-frame road bike if you want efficient transportation on pavement. I found that switching from a hybrid comfort bike to a low-end road bike increased my commuting speed 30% over my sixteen-mile daily ride.

I found a Trek 1500 that weighs about 20 pounds with narrow tires. I travel downhill at 42 MPH, level at 25 MPH, with an uphill speed of about 8 MPH. Total terrain average is 12 MPH.

I shopped around year-old models at 20% discount, but found a Trek 1500 demo model at a 40% discount in a 60 cm frame size. I am 6'2" at 195 pounds, a perfect fit. With accessories, I spent $800 with a tire repair kit, pump, and lock.

Within the first 1,000 miles, I had five flat tires. I replaced the tires with a Schwalbe Marathon Plus on the rear and a Continental Gator on the front. I had no flat tires over the second 1,000 miles. The tires cost about $100.

I spent more than $100 on Night Rider 15 watt headlight and rechargeable battery pack. I bought a back-up Cat Eye lamp with four rechargeable AA batteries. I also bought red flashers for the seat post and helmet, with a duct tape loop on the helmet to hold the LED lamp. Since I ride in below-zero windchills, I paid $160 for Hotronic electric footbed heaters in leather shoes that cost $100. I also wear layers of fleece with North Face waterproof pants and Spyder backpack cover, figure another $200.
So, I spent about $1,600 on everything that I needed for 2,000 miles of riding in the past year. Spread over five years, bicycle commuting will cost me less than $0.15 per mile, which is cheaper than driving a car and provides great fitness.

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Which commute bicycle is best for me?

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Tara

I am looking for a bicycle for a commute to work of about 8-10 miles and would consider an electric model. Can anyone offer any specific models? There is so much out there to choose from. The area where I live can be fairly hilly, so higher number of speeds would be best, and I'm wondering how often there would have to be battery replacement on an electric bike. Any help would be appreciated, preferably from personal experience, but speculation from an experienced rider would also help. Thanks.

Answer
You can get a good electric assist bicycle - for a few THOUSAND dollars. http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/collections/electric_assist/models/ Or...you could take the initiative to get a nice entry level "performance hybrid" with the gears to pull hills under your own power. And this bike may just come factory equipped with fenders & a rear rack for under $400! You will get & stay fit. Electric assist bicycles make you fat & lazy. What if the charge in the battery runs low or out at the wrong time & in the wrong place? Then you are faced pedaling an extremely heavy bike home under your own power. See these two links...

http://www.rei.com/product/826111/diamondback-insight-rs-commuter-bike-womens-special-buy
http://www.rei.com/product/826110/diamondback-insight-rs-commuter-bike-special-buy

Electric bike laws in Massachusetts?

Yankees

I am planning to buy an electric bike. I dont have a license and dont want one as i live near a commuter rail station. Massachuetts law says I need a license for an electric bike. But federal laws says
U. S. Congress passed Public Law 107-319 which exempts electric bikes under 750 watts and limited to 20 mph (with operating pedals) from the legal definition of a motor vehicle

So am i free to get an electric bike as long as i get a bike under the federal law specifcations?

Answer
Ask one of your local law enforcement people, they will know.

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steel ball bearing in Perth?

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ermi

hi guys, does anyone know where to buy just the balls from ball bearings here in Perth WA? or even in Australia. preferably 6mm in diameter.

thank a lot if you can help!

Answer
I don't know about perth,but,I bought some to repair an old governor in a small hydro electric plant at a bicycle repair shop. They had quite a good selection of different sizes. upstate ny,usa.

electric bicycle dealer in new york?

nycewheels

Answer
Electric Transportation Solutions
445 Hamilton Avenue, Suite 1102, White Plains, NY 10601, 866-343-5551,
http://www.electrictransport.net

Dealers/Retailers of Electric Bikes and Scooters

Here's a partial list of retailers/dealers/resellers in the United States by telephone area code. Or use your web browser's Edit:Search function to find a city or state. Many of these retailers also offer repair services - even on brands they don't sell. We also list a few dealers in Canada, Australia, and Europe. For a more extensive list of electric bike businesses in the world, click here (http://energy.sourceguides.com/businesses/byP/ev/eBike/byGeo/byC/byC.shtml).

If you don't find a nearby dealer on this list, check with the manufacturer for the address of a retailer near you. Some manufacturers offer a "dealer locator" online. Also, here are two others sources of retailer listings:
http://www.frappr.com/ev
http://energy.sourceguides.com/businesses/byGeo/US/byP/ev/eBike/byS/byS.shtml

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What is the next most likely fuel for cars?

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Axel

I've heard of hydrogen, solar powered and ethanol powered cars, but is there another one? and is there any that could become standard within 15 years?

Please star this cause I want the most answers for this.

Answer
Some people think that natural gas could be the fuel of choice in some countries in the future as it burns cleaner and is more abundant in the US and others. Bio-butanol could also be one potential source...it's compatible with current engine designs and infrastructures and is renewable using bacteria.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/03/110317102603.htm

Synthetic gasoline can be produced using nanopellets of hydrogen which flow like liquids and burn clean.
http://news.discovery.com/tech/synthetic-gasoline-for-150gallon-and-no-emissions.html

Hydrogen-powered bike..
http://news.discovery.com/tech/magic-powder-fuels-electric-bike.html

Renewable bio-fuels from algae...
http://www.biofueldaily.com/reports/Joule_Unlimited_On_Track_To_Beat_All_Known_Biofuel_Processes_999.html
http://discovermagazine.com/2010/jan-feb/37

Thermal conversion processes or microwaves can turn garbage, wastes, plastics, old tires, etc.. into oil and fuels...
http://www.popsci.com/popsci/flat/bown/2007/innovator_2.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWf9nYbm3ac&feature=related
http://www.i-sis.org.uk/WPIO.php?printing=yes

Food wastes account for a lost 350 million barrels of oil per year in the US alone...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/10/101003081627.htm

Cleaner fuels using plasma..
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100322121100.htm

I dont know what is wrong with my dirtbike crf230f 2011. Can someone please give me any tips/advice, thanks.?

josh

So I was riding with some mates in the local river, bike was running fine all day oil and fuel was all topped up. There was a deep part in this river we had to cross and one thing lead to another my bike fell in the water and was completly submerged under. We got my bike out and turned it up so the water would run out of the exhaust. After a few minutes we tried to start it and a few minutes it started but it wasnt running good at all. It was real soggy, ran with hardly any power at all. About 20 minutes later it ran like it used to before I drowned it and I thought everything was okay. We went back to my house because sand was stuck in the throttle. I took the grip off cleaned all the sand out and removed a plastic part in the throttle that I didnt put back in. After this the throttle was loose but it didnt bother me. 5 minutes later I started the bike and went down my road and went to take off with some power and I heard a pop and the bike stopped working. My bike is an electric start only it makes a weird buzzing sound when I try start it. Also the biggest mistery is that you can push the bike forward when its in gear like its in neutral but takes a little more effort, however it will not go backwards the back tire locks up as it should in gear. The oil was still good so im not sure its seized? Can someone please help thanks

Answer
buy yourself a multimeter, a service manual. replace all the fuel in the tank and carb with fresh. get someone to check that you did ok with throttle (and left the right amount of slack in it) and didnt crush a wire to the kill switch for instance..

the starter isnt engaging ???? that could be a low voltage / failing battery situation which you will have to work through.


then check the fuses and this time try to put all the part back on - muppet.

gear/neutral etc is normal.

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Can the pedaling energy charge the battery of an electric bike?

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Drowzzy

Can the mechanical energy of pedaling be stored as electrical energy to be utilized later to run the bicycle automatically? I'm not talking about pure electric bikes that need regular charging, and not even about those that you pedal for a while as the bike stands still and then run it on electric power. I mean can you ride a bike and store the mechanical energy simultaneously? Will it be efficient? If so, then are such e-bikes available in the market, and what are they called so that I may Google for them?

Here's the scenario: I need a bicycle for regular commute, may be even for covering long distances. It's not feasible for a layman to pedal continuously for more than 5 to 10 miles. So I'm looking for a bike that you pedal for sometime, and when you're exhausted, you simply flick a button to make it run on electrical power which has been converted and stored from the mechanical energy of pedaling the bike; and then pedal again and auto-ride again and so forth. Will something like that be technically efficient, since you're moving the bike while pedaling as well as storing your spare energy?

Hope I haven't confused you. Thanks :)

Answer
There is already such a motor on the market. The name escapes me right now but it is a hub built into the rear wheel and it costs about $2000... not the Erbike hub motor... I think it is Electricrider or something like that.

To your request, yes, it is possible and a project I am working on right now. No, I can't and won't divulge details but CAN tell you that you'll see it relatively soon and it WILL be expensive- more expensive than a small motorcycle at this point.

By the way... I typically commute 24 miles (one way) to work on a bicycle, no problem. 5-10 mile commute is simple for most committed riders.

Can the pedaling energy charge the battery of an electric bike?

Drowzzy

Can the mechanical energy of pedaling be stored as electrical energy to be utilized later to run the bicycle automatically? I'm not talking about pure electric bikes that need regular charging, and not even about those that you pedal for a while as the bike stands still and then run it on electric power. I mean can you ride a bike and store the mechanical energy simultaneously? Will it be efficient? If so, then are such e-bikes available in the market, and what are they called so that I may Google for them?

Here's the scenario: I need a bicycle for regular commute, may be even for covering long distances. It's not feasible for a layman to pedal continuously for more than 5 to 10 miles. So I'm looking for a bike that you pedal for sometime, and when you're exhausted, you simply flick a button to make it run on electrical power which has been converted and stored from the mechanical energy of pedaling the bike; and then pedal again and auto-ride again and so forth. Will something like that be technically efficient, since you're moving the bike while pedaling as well as storing your spare energy?

Hope I haven't confused you. Thanks :)

Answer
Yes, it can!

Electric cycles are readily available. You normally charge them from a mains supply and then you can part-pedal / part-drive them on your commute. You can often adjust the amount of assistance to be supplied by the motor enabling you to go faster but less far or vice versa. If you want to pedal the bike and store 50% (say) of your energy for later you can do so but you will be doing double the work when pedalling, so your commute will be, so to say, twice as hard or half as fast and take twice as long. That doesn't seem to make much sense, especially since electric cycles are heavy and pedalling them (with no motor assistance) even without any of your energy going to storage, will be quite slow and tediously tough.

What an electric cycle does do is re-charge the batteries when you go downhill giving you back at least a good fraction of the energy expended in climbing up. But that produces a braking effect and the speed of descent is reduced. What inevitably goes lost is the energy taken by friction and wind resistance. Storing and using later is also subject to a degree of loss.

In short, if you don't want to use a commercial energy source to "fuel" your bicycle, get a conventional one - you'll do vastly better.

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What is the best electric bicycle out there?

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Tim

Looking for an electric bicycle for commuting...range isn't too crucial as long as it's greater than 10 miles. Affordability is important.

Answer
There are now many electric assist bicycles out there. Some come complete and some kits you adapt to your own bicycle. A great place to start might be here: http://www.electricbikesreviews.com/

There are two general types of electric assist bicycles. They are hub motors and friction motors. For either one the motor and batteries will add weight to the bicycle.

Features you will want to look for should include:

Light with a good power to weight ratio.
The added weight of the batteries should be well placed for the design of the bike and not simply put anywhere.
Ability to remove the battery for charging inside the home.

Regenerative braking captures inertial energy and tries to convert that back into electricity to charge the battery. Bicycles are much lighter than a car and so have less inertial energy to capture. Batteries can't accept a massive influx of energy at once. As a result batteries are not so good to capture inertial energy. The good news is that while this may not be an extremely useful feature it virtually comes free with an electric motor

A fairing of some sort will extend range probably more than regenerative braking. Because of its lower wind resistance an electric recumbant makes some sense: http://www.recumbents.com/wisil/e-bent/default.htm

Any one drive an electric assist bicycle that looks like a motor scooter w/pedals?

melanie

I am thinking of buying one, how do you like riding yours? If you are in the state of Florida, have you ever been stopped for riding it without a drivers license? If yes, what was the outcome? Looks like Florida drivers license laws are about to change, I don't want to jeopardize a chance to get mine back so I will not buy an elec assist bike if I could be arrested for driving it w/o a license.

Answer
Yes I have an xb-508 started with an xb-502. they work just like an electric scooter but no tag or title and no license required. try www.macclennyscooters.com. you can email if you have any questions or hit me up on IM.

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What kind of 250 dirt bike should i get?

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j c

I have decided to get a 250 dirt bike next after having my xr 80 for 8 years. i will use it for mainly trail riding and racing the guys around town. what brand should i get, i have no clue what one is the best and what is the worse

Answer
There are a variety of good options for you. I would recommend a 4-stroke for trail riding for the wide powerband, the low end torque allows them to just keep on chugging. Though there are some perfectly capable 2-strokes out there for trails.
For trail riding, I would recommend against a moto-x or "racing" style bike. The gears are too close and the lowest ones are often too high for real technical trail stuff.
Some of the ones I am familiar with (through ownership) are the
WR-250 and the XR-250.
I moved up to the XR-250 from an XR-200 and it is a WORLD of difference. It surprised me greatly, so make sure you start carefully moving up from an 80. The engine is vastly superior, and it can do 3rd gear wheelies without popping the clutch :P. It's among the best off road machines I've ever ridden, the powerband is perfect. It also has disk brakes on both tires (unlike the 200), which you definitely want.

The racing derived bikes, like the WR (based off the YZ), is basically a racing bike with different gearing and a few trail oriented changes. Usually they keep the same high-output high-compression racing motors, which can be finicky. Some of them even recommend a rebuild after every racing season (or more frequent!), though trail riding doesn't put as much strain on it. The XR has an air cooled engine, which I've noticed can get VERY HOT in the summer when your not able to move very fast for a while. The racing derived bikes tend to be liquid cooled, but are a tad more high-strung. I've had issues with both bikes with hot starting, especially after being dropped (the XR not as bad, but sometimes it can be stubborn). If you get a bike that uses a decompress to help start (WR does, XR has one but doesn't need it), it helps if you can get one with an auto-decompress exhaust cam (greatly eases starting), or electric start (though I personally won't ride a bike that ONLY has an electric start). The WR I believe has come with a decompress standard for quite some time now (and I think electric start now too), but I had to retrofit my older model with the cam. 2-strokes do tend to start easier, I will concede that to them ;).

Things you want in a trail bike:
tons of low-end torque
disc brakes, front and back
lower, wide ratio, trail gearing
comfortable (enough) seat
probably more I'm forgetting...

almost all bike manufacturer's make a good trail bike around that displacement class. Hit up the bike forums and reviews and see what people have to say about the bikes your looking at.

best of luck on your decision and have a blast!

edit: forgot to mention, if you like the Honda CRF250, check out the CRF250X model, it is the Honda equivalent to the WR, with the different gearing, etc. from the full out racing bike.

What does is mean to green: like recycleling and stuff?

My mom wants us to start being more environmentally aware and asked me to look some things up. Can anyone give me any pointers and such? Thanks! ^-^

Answer
show your mom my answer

In Your Home â Reduce Toxicity


Eliminate mercury from your home by purchasing items without mercury, and dispose of items containing mercury at an appropriate drop-off facility when necessary (e.g. old thermometers).
Learn about alternatives to household cleaning items that do not use hazardous chemicals.
Buy the right amount of paint for the job.
Review labels of household cleaners you use. Consider alternatives like baking soda, scouring pads, water or a little more elbow grease.
When no good alternatives exist to a toxic item, find the least amount required for an effective, sanitary result.
If you have an older home, have paint in your home tested for lead. If you have lead-based paint, cover it with wall paper or other material instead of sanding it or burning it off.
Use traps instead of rat and mouse poisons and insect killers.
Have your home tested for radon.
Use cedar chips or aromatic herbs instead of mothballs.

In Your Yard


Avoid using leaf blowers and other dust-producing equipment.
Use an electric lawn- mower instead of a gas-powered one.
Leave grass clippings on the yard-they decompose and return nutrients to the soil.
Use recycled wood chips as mulch to keep weeds down, retain moisture and prevent erosion.
Use only the required amount of fertilizer.
Minimize pesticide use.
Create a wildlife habitat in your yard.
Water grass early in the morning.
Rent or borrow items like ladders, chain saws, party decorations and others that are seldom used.
Take actions that use non hazardous components (e.g., to ward off pests, plant marigolds in a garden instead of using pesticide).
Put leaves in a compost heap instead of burning them or throwing them away. Yard debris too large for your compost bin should be taken to a yard-debris recycler.

In Your Office

Copy and print on both sides of paper.
Reuse items like envelopes, folders and paper clips.
Use mailer sheets for interoffice mail instead of an envelope.Use mailer sheets for interoffice mail instead of an envelope.
Set up a bulletin board for memos instead of sending a copy to each employee.
Use e-mail instead of paper correspondence.
Use recycled paper.
Use discarded paper for scrap paper.
Encourage your school and/or company to print documents with soy-based inks, which are less toxic.
Use a ceramic coffee mug instead of a disposable cup.

Ways To Protect Our Air


Ask your employer to consider flexible work schedules or telecommuting.
Recycle printer cartridges.
Shut off electrical equipment in the evening when you leave work.
Report smoking vehicles to your local air agency.
Don't use your wood stove or fireplace when air quality is poor.
Avoid slow-burning, smoldering fires. They produce the largest amount of pollution.
Burn seasoned wood - it burns cleaner than green wood.
Use solar power for home and water heating.
Use low-VOC or water-based paints, stains, finishes and paint strippers.
Purchase radial tires and keep them properly inflated for your vehicle.
Paint with brushes or rollers instead of using spray paints to minimize harmful emissions.
Ignite charcoal barbecues with an electric probe or other alternative to lighter fluid.
If you use a wood stove, use one sold after 1990. They are required to meet federal emissions standards and are more efficient and cleaner burning.
Walk or ride your bike instead of driving, whenever possible.
Join a carpool or vanpool to get to work.






Ways to Use Less Water

Check and fix any water leaks.
Install water-saving devices on your faucets and toilets.
Don't wash dishes with the water running continuously.
Wash and dry only full loads of laundry and dishes.
Follow your community's water use restrictions or guidelines.
Install a low-flow shower head.
Replace old toilets with new ones that use a lot less water.
Turn off washing machine's water supply to prevent leaks.

Ways to Protect Our Water


Revegetate or mulch disturbed soil as soon as possible.
Never dump anything down a storm drain.
Have your septic tank pumped and system inspected regularly.
Check your car for oil or other leaks, and recycle motor oil.
Take your car to a car wash instead of washing it in the driveway.
Learn about your watershed.


Create Less Trash


Buy items in bulk from loose bins when possible to reduce the packaging wasted.
Avoid products with several layers of packaging when only one is sufficient. About 33 of what we throw away is packaging.
Buy products that you can reuse.
Maintain and repair durable products instead of buying new ones.
Check reports for products that are easily repaired and have low breakdown rates.
Reuse items like bags and containers when possible.
Use cloth napkins instead of paper ones.
Use reusable plates and utensils instead of disposable ones.
Use reusable containers to store food instead of alum

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What is the cost to own a nissan leaf vs. the cost of my own motorcycle?

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Wesley!!!

my motorcycle(07 gs500) gets about 44 in winter and 55-maaaaayybee 59mpg. it cost me 250 dollars a year in mileage services.

i live in central Texas, our electric company is atmos energy that charges 0.13 Kwh.
I drive 55 miles per day 6 days a week. I drive an average of 70 miles per hour to sometimes 75mph.
there is one hill In Nolensville Tx that is only a long climb but not steep.
I also have a Nissan d21 pickup that gets 24mpg and it costs me 60 dollars a year for oil changes
I also have a Nissan d21 pickup that gets 24mpg and it costs me 60 dollars a year for oil changes

Answer
You are comparing a far lighter but very inefficient vehicle (motorcycle) to a far heavier but very efficient vehicle (Nissan Leaf,) and I am left to wonder what you want.

Your bike is getting 60 mpg on a good day. The Leaf will get a little less than twice that with no oil changes or other maintenance.

As a heavier and enclosed vehicle the leaf will give you more protection from the elements.

The motorcycle insurance is cheaper than that of a car because the smart people there have noticed it is more likely that you will be killed on a bike than you will kill someone. This will probably make the motorcycle cheaper with more personal risk...

and lets face it ... thrills... although the first time I drove an EV it reminded me of the acceleration of a 750cc bike.

what are fun activities for couples to do 10 points to who ever has the most activity?

Jon R

what are fun things to keep me and my girlfriend busy id like to know hobbies. games sex games all that

Answer
On rainy days

1. Clear out the garage, attic, cupboards or wardrobes* - it really doesn't matter as long as you do it together.

2. Go charity shopping. While away the hours browsing for books, CDs, games, retro clothing, bric-a-brac. You could try a carboot sale or trawl round some antique shops.

3. Get some exercise. Go swimming or ice skating, or enjoy a walk in the rain.

4. Enjoy a movie marathon.* Visit the video shop, stack up on snacks and spend the day being film critics. And if you're stuck for inspiration, take a look at bbc.co.uk/films to find out which new releases should be top of your list!

5. Visit an art gallery. Find an exhibition in your area.

6. Step back in time and visit a museum. Many of the buildings themselves deserve a look and you never know you might learn something at the same time!

7. Improve your memory. Try our online memory test then spend the day testing each other's powers of recall.

8. Discover yourself. Bookshops and the internet offer a wealth of personal-profiling tools, which can help you find out your personality type, your IQ or your relationship style.

9. Make something,* such as a coffee table, some shelves, a bird table, pottery dishes, vases, face sculpture, candles or soap. Craft shops are full of ideas.

10. Go to the football or rugby.* Even if you're not into the sport, you'll find the atmosphere electric. Especially if your team is playing their arch rivals! Take a look at the fixture list before you go.

11. Have an evening of pick'n'mix. Take a look at the TV listings and create a night of entertainment.
On sunny days

12. Go for a stroll* - anywhere you like.

13. Take a hike. Find a nice big hill and see who can fall into an exhausted heap at the top first.

14. Go for a bike ride.* Like walking, cycling can be energetic or gentle - it's up to you. But either way it's sure to give your health a boost!

15. Hire a boat. Choose from an energetic canoe ride, a romantic row down the river or the wind in your hair in a sailing boat.

16. Visit the park.* Spend the day on the swings or play a game of tennis. If you're really adventurous, you could even try out your skateboarding skills on the half-pipe.

17. Take to horseback. Look in your local directory for places that offer riding lessons (you may need to book in advance). Or better still, along a beautiful beach!

18. Be risky. Try some exptreme sports - skydiving, rock climbing, potholing, ballooning, motor racing... the list is endless. (You'll definitely need to book ahead, though.)

19. Visit a stately home.* You might even get some inspiration for your own love nest!

20. Obey your animal instincts by visiting a zoo or farm.* Relax as you wander round the park. And if you don't like spiders you can always go and talk to the monkeys!

21. Remember the picnic.* To make all the above even more enjoyable, don't forget to pack some gorgeous food and wine. Let BBC Food help you choose the perfect tipple!
At the weekend

22. Walk this way - the Pennine Way, the Cotswold Way, the South Downs Way, the Milky Way...

23. Go youth hostelling.* There are more than 100 youth hostels around the UK catering for individuals, couples and families - and they're cheap. Can you guess where?

24. Take a city break. Look at UK options as well as those in Europe and the US.

25. Book a themed weekend break. There are plenty of options, from murder mystery tours to salsa dancing to yoga.

26. Go camping,* either in your own back garden or at one of the hundreds of specialised sites around the country. Staying put will give your children the chance to learn more about their surroundings...

27. Visit friends or relatives.* Take the chance to spend time with people in another part of the country. If they can't put you up for the night, book into a B&B.

28. Indulge and pamper yourself at a health farm.

29. Pick any room in your house and give it a complete makeover.

30. Spring clean the house or give your garden a serious sort out. Make sure you take regular breaks and treat yourself to a delicious takeaway or meal out in the evening.
When the children are in bed

31. Play games, whether they're board games, computer games, card games or naughty games...

32. Work your mind with brain-teasers, jigsaw puzzles, crosswords or quiz books. See how your IQ rates against the rest of the nation!

33. Pamper each other. Give your partner a massage, manicure and pedicure. We all need a little pampering sometimes!

34. Rent a film to suit your mood, be it a comedy, weepy, romance or horror movie.

35. Star gaze. Lie in the garden and see if you can name the constellations.

36. Have a blind food tasting.

37. Enjoy a romantic dinner for two: light those candles, put on some soft music and get out the posh crockery. As if you needed an excuse to indulge!

38. Have a picnic in the garden.

39. Put on a themed evening. Try a little Eastern promise or

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Can I legally bring an electric bike and motor scooter to the USA from China?

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R M

I have lived in Beijing China for a couple years and have spent most of my time traveling by either the use of an electric bicycle or by the means of a motor scooter. I have found both vehicles fun and efficient ways to get where I need to go with very little cost and emission worries. Can I bring these items (or one or the other) back to the USA with me legally, and if so, what might be the easiest way to get them back home? Thank your for answers in advance. Happy Commuting

Answer
They already have them here for sale.

They are a pile of junk. Sorry.


good Luck...

I want to motorized my bike.How can I make it happen in cost effective way?

frustrated

We all want to save money on our spending on skyrocekting gasoline price.I want to motorized my bike.How can I make it happen in cost effective way?Anyone have good suggesetion?

Answer
go to the motorized bicycle forum. you'll find all of the advice you need.

Here are a couple of options:

Golden Eagle Bike Engines: http://www.bikeengines.com/
Cyclone USA electric bike motors: http://www.cyclone-usa.com/
King Motor Bikes ($199 kit) http://www.kingsmotorbikes.com/

And here's a Popular Mechanics article from 2004: http://www.popularmechanics.com/outdoors/adventures/1276821.html

I am an avid cyclist. I own four of them, the high end being a custom titanium. But there are times when getting somewhere on a bicycle is not feasible, and a motorized bicycle is at least a sensible alternative.

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How Much is a guitar in the Philippines?

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Old accoun

Kinds of guitar like bass, Acoustic, and electric ....How much are they and for instance you want one with hello kitty on it how much would it be and how long is it?

Answer
Well firstly you can really get rat cheap guitars here in the philippines. If your just using it to play or practice for fun then you can get an acoustic guitar for as cheap as 20$. Electric guitars and bass can be had for about 100$.

Again these guitars are cheap, hence you really cant expect much quality.

For quality brands and good quality guitars. Expect to spend about 100$ for acoustic, 250$ for electric and bass.

As for the hello kitty, i dont think they make those here off the rack. You can however bring it to air brush shops where they air brush pictures, images, letters to almost anything (bike, shirts, guitars, etc). Most malls here have shops like that. Probably cost you about 5$ to10$ for that. WIll probly take you a day for that.

Or you can get a sticker from bookstores or toystores.

Ive lived in the Philippines for 25 years now. Since i was born.

What is the first Harley Davidson bike that makes the brand popular worldwide after World War 2 ?

KPKonliner

Name the model of the bike.Which year and why was it the first famous Harley worldwide after WW2 ?

Answer
after world war two the main competition was Indian and triumph,Indian killed themselves with to much research and Development.Indian was far ahead of Harley with new things like electric start but reliability suffered. Triumph gave H.D. a run for their money by building smaller,lighter,faster bikes. Harley responded to Triumph by making the sportster which came from the K model. The sporty at that time had its shifter on the right side and a straight seat just like a Triumph. The 45 cubic inch motor was still in production and was used in the three wheel servicar that police departments liked to use as well as being used by corporations such as Good Humor ice cream.

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What is riding one of the electric power assist bicycles like?

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Q. The only thing I've heard is that they even out hills a little. What else have you heard? Are they worth the high price?

Answer
You can buy a nice shop quality bike for the same price as a cheap electric bike. You will benefit from the exercise and be a lot healthier. Don't expect the batteries to last long on the cheap bikes so you end up with a 70 lb bicycle or ending up pedaling harder then a regular bike. Expect to buy a new battery pack every 6 months or so.

Can I buy yamaha fazer with kick and electric start together in one bike.?

Q. Can I buy yamaha fazer with kick and electric start together in one bike.? Whats its price?

Answer
1.if its cold, use choke.
2. push start
3. replace the battery when it's necessary.
4. put bike on middle stand and in gear , give motion to rear wheel and accelerate. it would start.
5. i have no idea about price but yes u can have kick start option. company WILL NOT provide u the bike with kick start. many think that it's unnecessary.plus it wud kill the looks.
ultimately it's ur decision.

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How can I live a more environmentally conscious life?

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Q. I am learning more about global warming and the impact a family of four has on this earth versus 250 people in an undeveloped nation. Things like this really make me want to get more involved and lessen my footprint on the earth, but how? Where do I start? I want to vote for the right laws to help this but I don't understand them all. I can't afford an electric car or to start using a solar panel for energy, so how can I help?

Answer
The four corner stones of the current environmental movement are Reduce, Recycle, Re-use, and Re-purpose with a theme of Sustainability. The good news is that most of us have plenty of eco-friendly opportunities available to us with equally commiserate financial rewards. In some cases, it does take an investment of time or money before the savings can be realised.

I often suggest that people start scouring the "frugal living" sites and boards for as whole host of money saving ideas. Money is but one resource we use. What we spend our money on involves a whole host of additional resources. Saving resources is what the Reduce, Re-use, and Re-purposing cornerstones are all about. For a personal inventory of opportunity, start by peering into your garbage, recycle, and waste cans and bins. Do you see paper napkins, paper towels, disposable wipes, or individual serving containers in your waste stream? What types of chemical based items do you see in terms of cleaning, garden, and other non-food items? Start with those things that are easy to remedy even if they are a small, over all portion of your waste stream.

Another area to take a personal inventory from is your budgeting system, check book, credit card receipts, cash receipts, bills, etc... These also tell you what you spend your money on, buy, and consume. You may want to address utility bills and/or the resources used that generate those bills. This could be things like using less electricity or water, using less vehicle fuel through combined trips, and so on. Or you could discover that maybe off-road racing could be replaced by pedle bike racing for both an economic and an environmental savings. Some people take up visiting their local library more often for both an economic and environmental savings.

Reviewing one's spending habits also brings up the idea of doing more active purchasing decision making which can also reduce certain types of consumption and hence resource use. Doing things like taking an closet inventory before hitting the mall can help one realise that what they really need is a coordinating piece to something they already own versus a whole new outfit. Developing honest needs criteria and purchasing decisions on tools, equipment, and supplies for either the home or garage; you can add additional environmentally conscious criteria such as durability as you choose too.

For many, minimalist living is not particularly functional for most of us trying to also be environmentally conscious. You may see the need for better window treatments, different landscaping, or some just plain caulk even if you are "only a renter". Cloth linens like napkins, towels, and scrub rags may be an investment opportunity for both financial and enviornmental returns. Individual glass serving containers, a stainless water bottle, and so on may work for you. To be able to honestly Re-use and Re-purpose, most of us need some tools of the trade, to learn some skills, and be able to think outside of the box within the Do-It-Yourself (DYI) frame of mind too.

Start small and with the easy stuff; what may be easy for you is not necessarily going to be easy for me. It's a whole life style change with a number of economic and health benefits that simply happen in the process. And, the opportunities simply keep on coming in easier and easier modes as the rest of the community comes on board.

How much on average would utilities be for an apt in Dallas, for an adult and child.?

YoungMom89

I just got a new job, I would making about 1100/month plus I recieve child support for my son which is 380/month. I dont have a car which is why I'll be moving near a busline or train. This will be my first time moving out so I just wanted to kno average costs, so I can know how I'm going to budget things.

Answer
I live in Irving on the west side of Dallas. We have DART buses that run all over Irving and Dallas County. I was without a car for over a year and rode the bus to work every day. I have a 1 bedroom, 1 bath small apartment which I pay $500 a month, $60 a month for electric, and $30 a month for water. During the winter months of January and February the electric goes up to about $100. Irving is convenient to everything.

The crime rate has gone down every year for the past 11 years and is now the lowest it's ever been. There are new companies and businesses moving here all the time and we have one of the lowest unemployment rates in the nation. We have all kinds of stores and restaurants and jobs about anywhere you want to work. The school system is rated exceptional. Irving is a friendly city with a lot of city parks with hiking/biking trails in every part of the city. I think it is a great place to live.

http://www.ci.irving.tx.us/

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How does an electric bicycle work?

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Kavi Dessa

When my dad first mentioned them to me, I though that they would work just about the same as an electric scooter. But when I actually looked it up, I saw that they still had pedals and looked almost exactly the same as any other bike. So where does the electric part come in if you're still pedaling? How does it work?

Thank you kindly.
:)

Answer
The motor is connected either thru the chain drive or is a part of the wheel (hub motor).

some models are throttle based where you push the throttle more, and more power goes to the motor (Power on Demand 'POD'), or, power can be initiated by a sensor that detects you are pedalling pretty hard, so it sends power to the motor to help out (pedelec).

On some models you must pedal, (pedalec) others you have your choice whether or not to pedal. Even moderate pedalling helps with the performance and range.

If an ebike follows the U.S. Federal law HR 727, it is legal where bikes are legal:

To be legal in most states, an e-bike must have less than 750 watts of power, pedals that really work, 2 or 3 wheels (not 4 wheels) and the motor should cut out at 20mph.

turn key ebikes can be purchased from Giant bicycle, Target online, and other places depending on your locale. there are many kit vendors; Cyclone is a chain drive, Bionx is a fancy high end hub motor, and Crystalyte is a value hub motor, along with other companies.

The motor enables people that have physical limitations to still ride and manage hills and headwinds. It also allows people to show up for work a lot less sweaty and allows an alternative to car transportation while still getting decent exercise. Prices for decent stuff starts at about $400, and goes up to almost $10K for an electric enclosed trike that can virtually replace a car. Properly chosen many better ebikes have a range of 25+ miles before having to recharge the batteries.

I am 60 years old and can bring home 40lbs of groceries on my ebike, and can use it to go most anyplace in my medium sized (500,000 population) town.

some newer ebikes are quite lightweight and bicycle like.

Ebikes increase health, decrease pollution, decrease auto traffic, save transportation dollars and consume no petroleum. REcharging takes about 4 hours and costs about 10 cents.

how do i make my kick start bike become electric and kick start?

i have a 1981 Yamaha xt 250 endro i am tired of kick starting it and would like to purchase a electric start where could i buy one and how much would it cost and would it add any value to it.

Answer
An easier and cheaper soloution would be to upgrade to electronic ignition. You'll still have to kick it, but never more than once. I own 2 antique harleys. A 42 and a 55. I run Mallory electronic ignitions in both and they start first kick every time.

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when do the 2013 dirt bikes come out?

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Linda

im looking to get a new 250 dirt bike and i want to know when the 2013s come out. I am looking at honda, kawasaki, suzuki, ktm, yamaha...all the major brands.

Answer
All the bikes come out the same time, around the end of 2012. All the bikes are very similar, you're going to have to ride each of the bikes to find your preference.

KTM is way too much money, currency between Austria and the US isn't good. Yamaha is too advanced, their 2013 models are going to look like a futuristic robot, and it might even have electric start, which adds around 20 lbs.

Kawasaki is great as the 2012 model almost dominates the other bikes. I prefer the Suzuki, but it's all rider preference. Suzuki isn't over designed, it's the best bike in my opinion. Next years bikes could go from $8,000, but the KTMs... (Keep Throwing Money). Could go up to $10,000.

what engines are capable to run 100% on hho, h2, hydrogen gas for vehicles?

David Schw

Is there ideal engines for the conversion? I want to construct a van that holds enough hydrogen to operate 200 miles power day ++ and cover it with solar panels & a bracket to hold a1,500 watt windmill. Ideally,I would use an AC outlet to produce the hydrogen but with added options to make its own too. This is the ultimate bug out vehicle. I will probably wonder off into the wilderness forever once its complete.

Answer
Sounds like an interesting project. There are some car companies that make hydrogen internal combustion engines/cars but they are hugely expensive and conversions from gas to hydrogen has some problems. A propane engine design might be suitable for adaptation to hydrogen. The fuel/air mixture is much different for hydrogen requiring special carbs and engine timing changes and hydrogen embrittlement of engine parts or exhaust can lower engine life and other parts.
Storing hydrogen is another issue as it requires a large volume of gas under very high pressures to have a suitable range you're looking for.....special tanks, lines, valves, refueling, etc..

There are some new methods coming out to make on-demand low pressure hydrogen gas using chemical processes like sodium silicides or cobalt catalysts which could alleviate some of the problems with onboard storage/use. You can also make hydrogen from urine which has twice the hydrogen molecules as water and splits apart in electrolysis at lower voltages..

Related links on chemical hydrogen production....

http://www.onlinetes.com/tes-0311-hydrogen-fuel-cells-sodium-silicide.aspx
http://news.discovery.com/tech/magic-powder-fuels-electric-bike.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TinQ3iV403s&NR=1&feature=fvwp

Cobalt catalysts ...
http://phys.org/news187031401.html#nRlv
http://phys.org/news/2012-08-scientists-h2-fuel-cells-inexpensive.html#ajTabs
http://www.suncatalytix.com/tech.html

Urine to hydrogen...
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31805166/ns/technology_and_science-innovation/


Videos on hydrogen engine fundamentals...
http://www.metacafe.com/videos_about/hydrogen_fuel_-_engine_fundamentals_/

Hydrogen IC vehicle history...the first IC powered car actually ran on hydrogen back in 1807....decades before gasoline or diesel engines
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_hydrogen_internal_combustion_engine_vehicles
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francois_Isaac_de_Rivaz

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What are the Michigan laws on licensing and riding ebikes on the streets?

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detrich200

Im considering buying an electric bike (1000 watts/ 1 hp) and Im wondering what the laws are on riding them in the streets of michigan. Im thinking it would be the same as electric scooter law. But I dont know what they are.

Answer
In California a 1000 watt e-bike would have to be licensed and registered. You would also have to have a driver's license to ride it. I have a 600 watt which is considered a bicycle in CA. It does not require registration nor a DL to ride it. Google X treme ebike for info on your state.

Does anyone know where to get a good looking electric bike for around $400 in or close to philadelphia?

Shock

I need an electric bike for parking issues(tickets)..I am able to spend up to 400 but i also want a good looking bike hahaha..anyone know of a place in or close to the philadelphia area?

Answer
Good electric bikes start at around $1500 and go up from there. Even decent conversion kits are about $1000. Anything lower than that price point will be a slow, disappointing, heavy pile of junk.

http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/collections/electric_assist/t80_plus_gl/#

Just sell your car, you aren't responsible with a motor vehicle anyway.

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Can an electric motor take different voltages?

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SILVRSWT

I am interested in buying an electric bike that has 2 batteries that opperate at 12v @ 10 amp hours. They are designed to work together to deliver 24v to a 450 watt (peak) motor at the front wheel. Unfortunately these are heavy SLA batteries, and I would like to replace them with state of the art Nanophosphate Litihium Ion batteries.

Now the kicker: I can only find 36v versions for use in DeWalt power tools (though they are very energy dense).

So what I am wondering is if I can buy 2 / 4 of these and wire them to deliver no more than 36v continuous to the 24v motor and will it improve performance or just burn up the components.

Also as an added question, if it is not possible to run 36 volts directly is there a controller that could accomplish this.

Thanks!

The motor is from Currie Technologies, specialists in electric bikes.
I should add that the motor is DC as will be the current delivered to it.

Answer
Just replacing the 24V pair of batteries with a 36V group will very likely cause something to fail. It is possible that a controller could be designed to allow a 36V group of batteries to work with the motor, but it isn't something that you are likely to be able to easily find and mate up to the existing motor.

Additional information:
If you get a 36V PWM controller and set the current limit to the maximum continuous rating of the motor, that might keep you out of trouble. If the motor has a higher short-time current rating that you want to utilize, that might be difficult to set up.

Look at: http://www.dartcontrols.com/

More additional information:
It looks to me like Currie Technologies offers some models with a 3X12V 36V battery package, 36V controller and 450W motor.

Is electric bike easy for someone who has never ride on a bike before?

Mark

Is electric bike easy for someone who has never ride on a bike before?

Answer
NO! The extra weight of the battery & motor will just make it more difficult to learn balance. For the price of just one electric assist bicycle - you could buy three to four really good pedal bicycles.

Electric assist bike - http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/collections/electric_assist/t80_plus_gl/#
Fitness bike - http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/road/fitness/fx/7_2_fx/#

$2,099.99 or $549.99? Your choice. I'd take the $550 bike. It'll last longer too.

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How do I convert my standard kick start pit bike to electric start?

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A54D

Hi, I am okay with kick start but I want an electric start too, do I just need to buy an electric stator pale or is there anything else, I want to install my alarm immobiliser kit, the alarm I can hook up someone but it has a electric start button which is cool as I can start it up from the remote, please tell me what I need to do.

Answer
Save yourself time and money and buy a bike with those items built-in.

What do you think about people riding their bikes instead of driving cars?

crystal sp

well i am 21. i dont have my license. i dont want a car unless it doesnt need oil. i dont mind riding my bike, but some places i cant ride my bike. i dont know how to chain up my car when i'm going to the mall, movies, or the grocery store. i feel in ways i am trapped into buying a car. anyone else feel like this? riding my bike helps with saving gas, but i can't ride my bike 30-40 miles. i can't ride my bike to work either.

Answer
At 21 Years old, insurance is going to be real expensive. At a point in your life when its hard to make decent money, Real smart people watch the value they get for their expenditures.

So, here are some tips:

consider bimodal transportation, using mass transit coupled with bike riding, either along with biking or instead of biking.

carpool and pay more than your share.

Make friends at the retailers you frequent, so they are supportive of you riding your bike.

Don't take your bike to the movies or any event schedule for multiple hours.

Join a bike club where people have learned how to overcome some of these obstacles. Tell your bike shop your goal, ask them to put you in touch trying the same things.

Dress nice, keep your hygiene outstanding. Have a little " travel care kit" for emergencies, (handy wipes, deodorant, even some cologne)

Share with your friends what you are trying to do as an experiment. gain their support.
Barter for combined shopping trips with them, maybe buying a lunch or a couple beers.

Make car shopping trips with them for heavy items, or frozen items. Make it easy and entertaining for them to support your efforts.

If this doesn't work take a cab or public transport for big/heavy items.

Learn bike mechanics and work on friends bikes for barter.

consider an electric assist bike, consider a trailer.

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