Giving up unleaded

Holeypockets

Cool - good idea. Once you start a car share you might find others want to join in.

If you get 4 in a car and share expenses then that would make a dramatic saving.

Where I work I know there are people who live nearby and on similar shifts however car sharing is not something which is discussed very much. There must be a stigma to it or something. It would be great if you can get this going.

In fact it might be worth advertising on work notice boards about car share options.

mcjordi

well i need my car for work so cant join in i work like 30 miles away and no way am i walking/biking it ha
good luck though

frostyspice

I want to do this but my bike needs fixing. anyone know how much i should expect to pay for repair of a 1980 3-speed Sturmey-Archer gear on a Raleigh?

Holeypockets

I know I mentioned about ditching unleaded in favour of pedal power but I think I may have to eat my own words. I start work at 0650 each morning and live approx 7-8 miles from work which is all uphill. I think it might be infeasible to cycle to and from work (I will be knackered before I start) and have to get up around 5am :eek:

I use around £80 per month in fuel (which includes a little weekend driving - shops etc). I have found an alternative way to reduce fuel spend though - a small 125cc scooter advertised which I might get to save me some p£trol. I am hoping this might get my £80 spend down to around £35 per month (I will still need the car for shops/kids etc).

Holeypockets

frostyspice wrote: »

I want to do this but my bike needs fixing. anyone know how much i should expect to pay for repair of a 1980 3-speed Sturmey-Archer gear on a Raleigh?

Frosty, is that on a Raleigh Chopper or a Raleigh Grifter? - good old days!

frostyspice

Holeypockets wrote: »

Frosty, is that on a Raleigh Chopper or a Raleigh Grifter? - good old days!

ha ha no, it's an old ladies' tourer - I don't generally care what i look like on a bike but i'm a bit too old (and tall) for either of those models now!

Nichelette

Good luck with this, I'd join myself but I've already stopped using my car for short journeys and only really use my car once a week for a 50 mile round trip . There isn't really much point in me having a car actually, but as someone had the courtesy to reverse into it and drive off it now needs about £1000 of work doing to it. I'm a bit anti-selling it because I know I'd lose so much money now .

Luckystepho

I have a round trip to work of 42 miles sadly, and also need to use the car for work, but do walk shorter distances now to shops, my mum's etc.
I have also set myself an absolute top speed limit of 70 mph- I used to get up to 80 (on motorways/ dual carriageways!) and it really has made a difference to the amount of fuel I use.

Holeypockets

I have tried not to go over 2000 revs unless going uphill. Getting into 5th gear as soon as poss helps too - as long as the road is 'right' for this gear.

Billy-no-Money

Holeypockets wrote: »

I have found an alternative way to reduce fuel spend though - a small 125cc scooter advertised which I might get to save me some p£trol. I am hoping this might get my £80 spend down to around £35 per month (I will still need the car for shops/kids etc).

I ride a 1300cc bike to work and barely get 40mpg, so I'm considering a 125 for commuting - easy 90+mpg and very cheap running costs.

That's an easy decision for me as I've got a full bike licence - if you haven't, remember to factor in the CBT, helmet and clothing - you can easily get through £500 before you've even bought the scooter.

I'm not trying to put anybody off - the more people on bikes the better - but startup costs are high and if you're wanting to get rid of the L-plates bear in mind the test is about to get harder and more inconvenient.

....and then when you've got a full licence you go out and buy a bigger bike and discover they use just as much fuel as a car.... d'oh