On Aug 3, 2011, at 11:36 AM, Whitney Turner wrote:

> As an interesting sidenote, I've left my new GPS on every time I
> drive somewhere, and over the last 207 hours of "on" time the total
> average is 17.9MPH, with an "in motion" average of 26.6MPH. Only
> gains about 9-10MPH on my bicycle's overall average....

Sometimes I wish that this kind of device were mandatory in cars and could not
be turned off, so that drivers would have a clear idea that their average speed
really isn't much like that speeding car on an open road in the desert
mountains, which they thought they owned based on the ads.

On the other hand, if they had their true average speed in their face at all
times, they might think, "jeez, I'm barely going faster than an effing bicycle!
I'd better step on the gas!" >>>> more road rage and more collisions. Perhaps
ignorance is the lesser evil ....

- Bart



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

At 08:45 AM 8/3/2011, Anne Ashton Goldfeld wrote:
>Thanks for all the feedback! It's great to know that Better World Club is
>right near us in Portland.
>Next I'm investigating Greyhound/Amtrak options as alternative to rental
>car. Anyone have experiences to share? Esp traveling with children.


Children seem to like Amtrak, at least mine did, but beware places
you can get to but can't get back from - seriously.  It may only be a
problem in the South, but the schedules seem to have been drafted by
sadists, and there are destinations you literally can't get back
from.  I still check the schedules out, but it's always impossible to
do what I need even when the stations both exist in the right places
and are open when the train arrives (station has to be open to get
baggage off the train).

If you're planning on travelling long distances by rail, and happen
to be going in the direction of one of the long-haul services, Amtrak
is really very nice.

Greyhound was, at one time, quite the adventure - I don't know it
well now, but at the time I was using their service you could find
yourself in the close company of just about any sort of interesting
traveler.  This is not universally a bad thing - "interesting" *is* a
neutral descriptor - but it might be good if you planned on
travelling such that you could take up multiples of two seats.

Enjoy travelling!
Whitney

=v= Here's an Associated Press story about a street lined with
rechargers for electric cars:

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/08/16/national/a145352D31.DTL

=v= Apparently we've dropped all pretense that EVs will be
charged off-peak, at least up until the next-to-last paragraph,
which makes no sense given the entire article before it.  Right
after a proposed grandiose "West Coast Green [sic] Highway" is
mentioned, we get this:

| Electric vehicles will not put much strain on the power
| grid because charging stations don't use much of it --
| about the same as two hair dyers -- and because most
| charging will probably be done from home at night,
| when plants generate excess electricity, said Jim Piro,
| president and chief executive of Portland General Electric,
| the local power company.

The "will probably" part is the sticking point, given that even
early adopters of this technology havemostly opted instead for
the all-American convenience of topping up the old batteries
in the middle of the day.  Increased energy demand during peak
hours means increased pollution -- so, um, what was the point
of taxpayers subsidizing these things again?

=v= Of course they're playing the usual shell game with that:

| PGE is powering the charging stations with renewable energy.
| The utility will study their impact on the power grid, said
| Charlie Allcock, the director of economic development.

What's to study?  When you devote more and more eco-groovy
energy sources to wasteful car-based transportation, demand
will increase for the not-so-groovy sources for everything
else society needs.  That's how a power grid works.

=v= It bears mentioning that the Pacific Northwest does have
a lot of hydro power, not all of it ecologically benign, if
you care about depleted salmon runs.  When it comes to using
and wasting electricity, though, the grid spans the continent,
so that's the context to be thinking about.
     <_Jym_>

Having not read the article Jim's email was based on, I can't comment
directly on the content.

I will say, though, that based on my experiences here in Florida with
accommodation for anything-other-than-mainstream, we're in no danger
of streets lined with charging stations being the nationwide
norm.  Add to that the fact that topping up at convenience charging
stations will likely cost an order of magnitude more than plugging in
at home overnight, and I think it's going to be a rare thing for some
time to come.

It'll be interesting to see what the usage patterns are in Portland,
bearing in mind that Portland's demonstrably a bit weird anyway....

Even on an earth day event I could not get the TV news to show up even though I
had asked them way before the event. I want to show other businesses that you
can run a business without a car. I have also heard rumors that homeland
security is protecting the oil companies, and I am wondering if this could be
the reason the news is shy of me. I have also heard that people who filmed or
promoted the documentary Gasland against oil companies ended up on the terror
watch list such as Mark Ruffalo or Josh Fox. My handyman business uses bike and
public transit and also uses a 4 wheeled bicycle to carry larger tools.

Could it be they have too many other things related to Earth Day to cover you on
that particular day?

What is your approach?  How and when are you pitching them?

I don't know of any of the carfree businesses we've dealt with have had trouble
getting on TV.  We've been on TV several times ourselves without even trying :).

-Jim
--
Jim Gregory
Bikes At Work Inc.     	 www.bikesatwork.com
129 Washington Ave, Ames, IA  50010 515-233-6120

----- Joseph Carrillo <josephwcarrillo@...> wrote:-----

>  Even on an earth day event I could not get the TV news to show up even though
I had asked them way before the event. I want to show other businesses that you
can run a business without a car. I have also heard rumors that homeland
security is protecting the oil companies, and I am wondering if this could be
the reason the news is shy of me. I have also heard that people who filmed or
promoted the documentary Gasland against oil companies ended up on the terror
watch list such as Mark Ruffalo or Josh Fox. My handyman business uses bike and
public transit and also uses a 4 wheeled bicycle to carry larger tools.
>

=v= U.S. Congress is looking to reduce the commuter benefit tax
break at the end of this year.  Two years ago it was increased
to match the tax break for parking cars, but now it's supposed
to expire while motorists still get the full benefit.  Some
details:

http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/jhorner/want_to_keep_your_pre-tax_tran.html

http://transportationnation.org/2011/11/07/commuter-transit-tax-benefit-to-expir\
e-at-end-of-year/

=v= Here's an email-sending site to tell Congress not to
continue the transit benefit:

http://act.commuterbenefitsworkforus.com/5239/tell-congress-to-support-transit-b\
enefit/

     <_Jym_>

Why am I not surprised at this?  We get this as a pid benifit in my office; I
usually swap the transit checks and use it for my bicycle expenses.  Here in
Manhattan, only 20% of us even have cars.  So now we'll be sending cash to the
burbs so they can keep driving in and choking our children.  Congress can
autohelicate, as far as I'm concerned.

--ag


--- In CarFree@yahoogroups.com, Jym Dyer <jym@...> wrote:
>
> =v= U.S. Congress is looking to reduce the commuter benefit tax
> break at the end of this year.  Two years ago it was increased
> to match the tax break for parking cars, but now it's supposed
> to expire while motorists still get the full benefit.

Here's a thought. It's always a little murky when a "news" outlet covers
a business. How to draw the line between reporting and advertising?

I don't know the particulars.....but they ma have a hard time
distinguishing between the two, and they may be deluged with press
releases from large businesses that are, in reality, advertising.

Kelley

On 9/1/11 6:01 AM, Jim Gregory wrote:
>
> Could it be they have too many other things related to Earth Day to
> cover you on that particular day?
>
> What is your approach? How and when are you pitching them?
>
> I don't know of any of the carfree businesses we've dealt with have
> had trouble getting on TV. We've been on TV several times ourselves
> without even trying :).
>
> -Jim
> --
> Jim Gregory
> Bikes At Work Inc. www.bikesatwork.com
> 129 Washington Ave, Ames, IA 50010 515-233-6120
>
> ----- Joseph Carrillo <josephwcarrillo@...
> <mailto:josephwcarrillo%40yahoo.com>> wrote:-----
>
> > Even on an earth day event I could not get the TV news to show up
> even though I had asked them way before the event. I want to show
> other businesses that you can run a business without a car. I have
> also heard rumors that homeland security is protecting the oil
> companies, and I am wondering if this could be the reason the news is
> shy of me. I have also heard that people who filmed or promoted the
> documentary Gasland against oil companies ended up on the terror watch
> list such as Mark Ruffalo or Josh Fox. My handyman business uses bike
> and public transit and also uses a 4 wheeled bicycle to carry larger
> tools.
> >
>
>



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

First off, I think you should get a Presidential Medal of Freedom for running a
business like that cars-free.

Second, even keeping in mind what Joseph said, car commercials are probably the
last relaible source of revenue for a lot of media.  ExxonMobil used to be a
pretty reliable source; they spent three years running a picture of cyclohexane
in every newspaper in the country.  BP had three years of "we serve capuccino so
therefore we are green" followed by two years of apologies.  But the car money
keeps rolling in.

--ag


--- In CarFree@yahoogroups.com, "Joseph Carrillo" <josephwcarrillo@...> wrote:
>
>  Even on an earth day event I could not get the TV news to show up even though
I had asked them way before the event. I want to show other businesses that you
can run a business without a car. I have also heard rumors that homeland
security is protecting the oil companies, and I am wondering if this could be
the reason the news is shy of me. I have also heard that people who filmed or
promoted the documentary Gasland against oil companies ended up on the terror
watch list such as Mark Ruffalo or Josh Fox. My handyman business uses bike and
public transit and also uses a 4 wheeled bicycle to carry larger tools.
>

Being a car owner you must be well acquainted with the fuel injection
pump, and its mechanism of mixing fuel with air in an internal
combustion engine. The fuel injection system has completely replaced the
carburetors and become the primary fuel delivery system of all the
automotive engines. There are specific designs and calibration of fuel
injection system for specific type of fuel. Notably most of the fuel
injectors were made for the gasoline or diesel applications. However,
before the diesel injector <http://www.dieselinjectionpump.net/>  came,
carburetors were the predominant method used to meter fuel on diesel or
gasoline engines.

Since the earliest development and usage of the internal combustion
engines, a variety of fuel injection system appeared to the market. The
diesel injectors <http://www.dieselinjectionpump.net/>  specifications
are made in relation to their specific engineering and functionalities.
So, if you are looking for a diesel injection pump you must compare the
specifications to find the best suitable mechanism for your vehicle. The
Bosch fuel injection pump is the most popular automotive equipment
available to the recent market that perfectly suits the Original
Equipment requirements of the vehicle owners.
According to the manufacturers of Bosch injection pump, the fuel
injector system is only the nozzle and valve, where the power to inject
the fuel to the engine comes from specially designed pressure container
or pump located behind the fuel supply. The fuel injector systems
perform a vital role in the accurate metering and atomization of fuel.
So, it is important to get the quality components to maintain a good
health of your motor vehicle for long.


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

To the very first place we must make one thing clear that the fuel
injection pump which is typically used synonymously with the diesel
injection pump can also be utilized to provide gasoline to a petrol
motor. So, you must come out of the misconception that fuel injection
system is only meant to support the diesel vehicles. The diesel fuel
injectors <http://www.dieselinjectionpump.net/>  is powered by the
engine using a connection straight to the crankshaft of the engine. The
diesel pump is engineered to keep on injecting the diesel into the
engine all along the piston stroke.

Commonly the larger engines are used in the hefty vehicles and
machineries to boost the fuel performance where as the four stroke and
two stroke engines are found in cars and mopeds respectively. With
different variations the diesel engines are carefully made compatible
for different dimensions of the automobiles. It is essential get the
right type of diesel fuel injector <http://www.dieselinjectionpump.net/>
pump to experience the smooth driving for long without a functional
hassle.
Diesel fuel engines have been a little sluggish as compared to the
others on the up-take. It has been observed especially in the common
family cars. According to the automobile engineers it is mainly due to
their repute of being noisy and smelly and not for any serious
functional issues. However, as the technology is improving everyday and
innovations are coming into the market the diesel engines are getting
more acceptable resolution to our modern transportation woes. So, it is
wise to have some knowledge about the recent status of diesel vehicles
before you get your own.


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

> I usually swap the transit checks and use it for my bicycle
> expenses.  Here in Manhattan, only 20% of us even have cars.

=v= Yeah, the bike benefit is only $20/month, and you can't
combine it with the transit benefit (it's one or the other).
That said, $20/month would've covered my Brooklyn/Manhattan
commute expenses (which are of course higher in the winter).

=v= On the opposite coast, bikes aren't allowed on most Bay Area
bridges, so the minimum cost for a San Francisco/Oakland commute
is a BART ride from Embarcadero to West Oakland.  This tallies
up to just under the reduced transit benefit, and most of the
trip is by bike.
     <_Jym_>

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-green-burial-20120101,0,381\
1532.story

=v= He was killed by a car.  Of course.
     <_Jym_>

Please go to the site below, vote for me (Joseph Floyd, Zero Waste Coordinator),
and share this on your wall. My beautiful wife entered me in a contest for a
Yuba Mundo cargo bike that will allow me to carry 440 lbs plus me without the
CO2 emissions of a car. Thanks in advance and thank your friends for me too!! :)
http://wfi.re/f4hdv


Sincerely,
Joseph Floyd

We hope this piece by the Oregonian inspires others!



http://video-embed.oregonlive.com/services/player/bcpid619299305001?bctid=13
40984107001



You can like us on Facebook at
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Carfree-Family/190294134362221   (Just need a
couple more to get to a real page name.)



Peace,

Anne







[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

=v= Jen-Luc Godard's 1967 film _Week_End_ was at a moviehouse
this weekend, and had no idea what I was getting into.  In the
first few minutes of the film there is road rage (well, parking
lot rage), and in short order we're in the road film from Hell.
After another parking lot altercation, we find ourselves in a
remarkable 8-minute tracking shot of a traffic jam on a highway
out of Paris.  Of course it's online:

http://fan.tcm.com/_Week-End-1967-Jean-Luc-Godard-Tracking-Shot/video/1578921/66\
470.html

Notice the honking and anger every step of the way.

=v= Things aren't much better when our protagonists get their
car rolling at higher speeds, of course; there are smashed-up
cars and cartoonishly bloody bodies alongside every country
road.  A bicyclist is run off the road, then a car in exactly
the same manner, and then of course a pedestrian.  A collision
between a sports car and tractor prompts a heated argument
about class war.

=v= A guerrilla band arrives about 2/3rds of the way into the
film and dynamites a car, but alas, the revolution (and the
film) goes awry when it loses sight of its core values.  The
guerillas apparently there to make some kind of statement
about the collapse of bourgeois civiliation (I use the b-word
advisedly, because after this film, Godard devoted his career
to Marxism).  The revolutionaries descend into cruelty and
barbarism, less cartoonish and more shocking -- a dull-witted
writeup in the _SF_Weekly_ links this to Occupy Wall Street for
no discerniblereason -- and we move from cars to cannibalism
and guns.  Alas.

=v= Even so, overall, a satisfying look at car culture and
its discontents.  Two carfree thumbs up!
     <_Jym_>

=v= I guess San Francisco didn't get Mother Nature's hint when
she knocked down some freeways, so she's giving us a reminder.
     <_Jym_>

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/01/23/BA221MT8PV.DTL

Boulders slide down Telegraph Hill, crush car
	 Will Kane, Chronicle Staff Writer
Monday, 23-Jan-2012 | San Francisco Chronicle

(01-23) 11:57 PST SAN FRANCISCO -- City officials have
temporarily evacuated a condominium building at the base of
San Francisco's Telegraph Hill after several boulders slid
down the hill and crushed a parked car, authorities said.

The boulders, apparently loosened by the weekend rain, slid down
the hill near Lombard and Montgomery streets around 9:30 a.m.,
officials said. No one was hurt.

The bottom floors of a multistory condo complex at 240 Lombard
St. next to the hill has been evacuated while engineers from the
city determine if any more boulders could fall, officials said.

The car that was crushed was owned by a security guard for the
complex, said Jon Golinger, head of the Telegraph Hill Dwellers
Association, a neighborhood group.

"It is unfortunate he lost his car, but it sounds like he
protected this building," Golinger said. "If the car hadn't
been there, the rocks might have rammed the first unit of the
building."

Some of the boulders are "as large a person," Golinger said.

Crews with the city Department of Public Works will evaluate the
hill and remove the boulders, said Mindy Linetzky, a spokeswoman
for the agency.

.....................the place practically evaporates!

Mind you, of course, I'm not saying I was ever the life of the party.
______________________________________

-Traci
("The minute I go away everything goes kaplot!"--Siegfried and when Shtarker
points out that he was here all the time, "You're not making it any easier on
yourself, Shtarker.", (w,stte), "Get Smart")

sent by jonathan st.thomas
----- Forwarded Message -----

  From: United We Ride <usdotuwr@...>
  Sent: Tuesday, February 7, 2012 4:37 PM
  Subject: DOT announces second round Veterans Transportation and Community
Living Initiative grant opportunity


U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood  today announced the  availability of
approximately $30 million to create  or increase access  to local and regional
transportation resources that  veterans and  military families depend on to get
to work, school and  other  destinations. The transit funding would boost access
to jobs and   training that America’s service members need and deserve.
"In  his State of the Union  address, President Obama rightfully noted that 
this generation of heroes  has made the United States safer and more  respected
around the world,”  said Secretary LaHood. "As tens of  thousands of our
military personnel  return home, we must reward their  sacrifices and those of
their families  with the services they need to  more seamlessly reintegrate into
their  communities as quickly as  possible.  This investment helps to do that, 
and it serves as one small thank-you for their honorable service.”

The  previous round of Veterans  Transportation and Community Living grants, 
announced in November 2011,  provided $34.6 million for 55 projects in  32
states and Guam. Demand for  the program was strong, with the  Department
receiving 70 eligible  proposals seeking $52 million in  funding requests to
create “one-call,  one-click” transportation  resource centers around the United
States last  year.

The  second round of Veterans  Transportation and Community Living Initiative 
grants, funded by the  Federal Transit Administration (FTA), will  continue to
help states and  communities build or expand “one-click,  one-call” centers that
offer  comprehensive information on local  transportation options and other 
community services, with just a single  phone call or click of the mouse.

“The  President asked that we do  all that we can to support those who have 
served our country, and we are  answering his challenge,” said Federal  Transit
Administrator Peter  Rogoff. “We must ensure that our nation’s  veterans and
their families  are able to connect to jobs, school, work  and medical
appointments  wherever they live—and improving access to  reliable, affordable 
transportation is key to helping them do so.”

The notice of funding availability for the program’s second round of grants is
published today in the Federal Register (http://1.usa.gov/zYAEzx).   Proposals
are due on April 19, 2012.  A list of the projects that have   already been
funded under the previous round is available here.

The  Veterans Transportation and  Community Living Initiative is led by the 
federal Coordinating Council  on Access and Mobility, a permanent  partnership
of federal departments  working together to better  coordinate federal programs
on behalf of  people with disabilities, the  elderly and low-income individuals.
The  Council is chaired by Secretary  LaHood.

Additional information on the Veterans Transportation and Community Living
Initiative, including how to apply, is available at www.fta.dot.gov/veterans.




This service is provided to you at no charge by United We Ride. Visit us on the
web at http://www.unitedweride.gov/.  If you have any questions or problems
e-mail support@... for assistance.

the u.s. house of representatives ways and means committee has voted a provision
that would eliminates gax tax for public transportation is now under
deliberation by congress.

for more information go to http://www.apta.com/Pages/default.aspx


jonathan st.thomas

When I saw the last posting, at first I misread it as proclaiming the good news
that buses would no longer have to pay fuel tax.

What is the situation regarding this in the US ? In the UK we used to have
something called Fuel Duty Rebate whereby bus operators would get most of the
fuel tax they paid in respect of public service workings rebated. In the mid
1990s the Conservative government introduced a fuel tax escalator whereby fuel
tax would increase faster than inflation; however this increase was not rebated
to bus operators. This situation continued under the following Labour government
until they announced that any future fuel tax increases would be rebated.
Unfortunately it was at that precise moment that they abandoned the escalator so
there were no increases to rebate.

Some time later they replaced Fuel Duty Rebate with Bus Service Operators Grant,
which had the subtle effect of changing its accounting from a tax rebate to a
subsidy. This had insidious effects when the Conservatives regained power, as
they are allergic to subsidies and promptly announced that it would be cut from
80% of fuel tax to 60%, i.e. an effective doubling of fuel tax, this to take
effect from this coming April. They seem to believe that this will have no
adverse impact on services -- well it's a trait of politicians to believe one
can get something for nothing.

I think I've for this right, but if anyone in this group knows better please
feel free to correct me. And there may be differences outside England, i.e. in
Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, though it was recently announced that
Wales has decided to follow England's lead.

  Simon Norton

=v= The movie Lorax is already starring in a computer-animated
commercial for a greenwashed SUV:

http://www.change.org/petitions/mazda-stop-forcing-the-lorax-to-sell-dangerous-p\
olluting-cars

     <_Jym_>

=v= "Man Bites Dog" isn't even news any more:

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/man-bites-car-bath-salts-blame/story?id=15777655

     <_Jym_>

When I signed up for this list, I got the "introductory profile" that many of
you received. I haven't gone back to see how many are on this list, nor how many
have answered the profile questions, but thought I would just for the charge of
it. I'll assume you know the questions, but will try to make those questions
clear in my answers.


1) I have come to describing myself as a cyclist who sometimes drives. I have a
car (small truck, actually), and find it useful from time to time (hauling the
kayak to the lake, for example). As the thing was paid off in 2000 or so, the
cost of owning it is relatively low, although the current cost per mile is
relatively high due to the amortization of annual fixed costs over fewer miles
of use.

2) I'm not sure there was a specific starting point for this. I've ridden to
work at all but a couple of my jobs at one time or another, although riding to
work was done rarely with some jobs and frequently with others.

3) I choose to ride instead of driving for any number of small reasons, but the
largest one is that I like myself best when I ride instead of driving. The
financial benefits are there, the health benefits are there, and the
socio-political benefit (smug not smog) is there, but it really comes down to
being happier with myself for riding instead of driving.

4) Distance to work is always a challenge, although I don't consider fifteen
miles out of reason. Other hurdles to being car-free are my own hobbies, and the
difficulty getting the toys to the play places (kayak to lake, for example).
There have been many times when it's been too darned convenient to own a small
truck.

5) My family and friends are accustomed to my being something of my own person,
so my cycling instead of driving has little negative effect on them. For some,
it's considered positive effect.

6) Advantages of not being tied to a car include, but are not limited to: I feel
better! I don't have to worry as much about gas prices as a direct hit on my
budget (although they certainly affect my food prices...). It's less expensive
to insure my car since I rarely drive it. I don't have to pay for a gym
membership to go for an aerobic workout.

7) I am quite comfortable helping friends and relatives "problem solve" when it
comes to figuring ways they can reduce their reliance on cars. I don't make
their choices for them, however.


8) My daily commute takes about two hours of time, compared to roughly
two-thirds that when I drive. I could, perhaps, use that time more wisely, but I
choose to consider the extra time as time for my physical and mental well-being,
and, as mentioned before, need not spend time in a gym to get the aerobic
exercise.

9) The benefits are many--better emotional health, better physical health,
better mood, better food (reallocating money saved by not using as much
gasoline), friendships in the car-free and car-free light community, to name a
few.

10) Ideally, cars are good for long-distance, non-scheduled transportation, or
transportation for folks who have different abilities than those of us who are
able-bodied. They can be useful, of course. However, for shorter-range, solo
transportation without significant cargo requirements, bicycles rock.



I come to this as a bicycle user. Public transit is wonderful for many folks,
but *for me* doesn't compare with the convenience and time efficiency of a
bicycle (noting that public transit in your area may be much better than it is
in my community). I *can* walk to several places that I need to visit, but it's
easier to get there by bicycle in many cases, and just as quick as by driving in
quite a few more cases (I'm a fan of the concept of the Clif Bar 2 mile
challenge).


In the last two years, I've ridden over thirteen thousand miles on bicycles. For
2011, my commuting miles totaled a bit over 5500, my utility miles went a bit
over 7000, and my total miles came to a bit more than 8000. I was, for several
years, a one-thousand-miles-a-year cyclist. Riding instead of driving has really
changed that.

Thoughts?

 
Tom, aka bikeolounger




"If I can bicycle, I bicycle."
Sir David Attenborough

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: CarFree Moderator <CarFree-owner@yahoogroups.com>
To: bikeolounger@...
Sent: Friday, March 2, 2012 9:38 AM
Subject: Yahoo! Groups: Welcome to CarFree. Visit today!

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Heilsa fellow riders,
I recently started a new job that actually realizes it's employees are an
actual asset, which is great other than the large laptop I was given and
that leads to my question. I am using multi-modal transportation for
getting to work, which involves an 8-10 mile one-way commute by bike. I
used my messenger back yesterday and it was alright, but I am wanting to
try and ride the whole way from home and back this summer and cannot
imagine riding 40 miles with that bag, so I am looking for info on panniers
that folks use. My laptop has the following dimensions and I have increased
to nearest inch to allow for error.
16" L-R
12" front to back
2" tall/deep
I was looking at some Ortlieb bags online, but cannot figure if the max
size is at the widest point or at the narrowest point, which is at the
bottom and is typically where laptops have issues fitting.
Thanks,
Devin



--
In Frith,
Devin
My blood is not my own,
but a gift borrowed from my ancestors,
to generations yet unborn.


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Devin,

Can't quite place where on the planet you're writing from, but if you've
got access to stuff from Arkel Overdesign it may be what you need.

http://www.arkel-od.com/us/all-categories/laptop-bicycle-pannier.html
shows various options - mine is the
http://www.arkel-od.com/us/all-categories/laptop-bicycle-pannier/briefcase-commu\
ter-bike-bag.html

Looks "normal" until you want to strap it to your bike, then works like
a charm.

Added bonus!  They actually answer phone calls and email - so call for
answers!

Enjoy the new commute!

Whitney

ps - mine carries laptop *and* printer on some trips....


On 2/28/2012 10:37 AM, Devin wrote:
>
> Heilsa fellow riders,
> I recently started a new job that actually realizes it's employees are an
> actual asset, which is great other than the large laptop I was given and
> that leads to my question. I am using multi-modal transportation for
> getting to work, which involves an 8-10 mile one-way commute by bike. I
> used my messenger back yesterday and it was alright, but I am wanting to
> try and ride the whole way from home and back this summer and cannot
> imagine riding 40 miles with that bag, so I am looking for info on
> panniers
> that folks use. My laptop has the following dimensions and I have
> increased
> to nearest inch to allow for error.
> 16" L-R
> 12" front to back
> 2" tall/deep
> I was looking at some Ortlieb bags online, but cannot figure if the max
> size is at the widest point or at the narrowest point, which is at the
> bottom and is typically where laptops have issues fitting.
> Thanks,
> Devin
>
> --
> In Frith,
> Devin
> My blood is not my own,
> but a gift borrowed from my ancestors,
> to generations yet unborn.
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I have one of these:

http://www.cyclelife.com/Product.aspx?pc=2&pt=33&pg=6815

... and for my laptop it's just about the perfect balance between rugged
practical and stylish for my taste.

I've ridden in a fairly heavy rain for a half hour or so, and it's been
fine. I think you could ride in worse weather longer with the Orleib
panniers, but you'll pay a premium, and where the Vaude bag will sort of
  pass as a briefcase in the office, the Orleib really doesn't.

-mark

On Tue, Feb 28, 2012 at 16:37, Devin <coultraguy@...> wrote:

> **
>
>
> Heilsa fellow riders,
> I recently started a new job that actually realizes it's employees are an
> actual asset, which is great other than the large laptop I was given and
> that leads to my question. I am using multi-modal transportation for
> getting to work, which involves an 8-10 mile one-way commute by bike. I
> used my messenger back yesterday and it was alright, but I am wanting to
> try and ride the whole way from home and back this summer and cannot
> imagine riding 40 miles with that bag, so I am looking for info on panniers
> that folks use. My laptop has the following dimensions and I have increased
> to nearest inch to allow for error.
> 16" L-R
> 12" front to back
> 2" tall/deep
> I was looking at some Ortlieb bags online, but cannot figure if the max
> size is at the widest point or at the narrowest point, which is at the
> bottom and is typically where laptops have issues fitting.
> Thanks,
> Devin
>
> --
> In Frith,
> Devin
> My blood is not my own,
> but a gift borrowed from my ancestors,
> to generations yet unborn.
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

>
>
> I am using multi-modal transportation for
> > getting to work, which involves an 8-10 mile one-way commute by bike. I
> > used my messenger back yesterday and it was alright, but I am wanting to
> > try and ride the whole way from home and back this summer and cannot
> > imagine riding 40 miles with that bag, so I am looking for info on
> panniers
> > that folks use. My laptop has the following dimensions and I have
> increased
> > to nearest inch to allow for error.
> > 16" L-R
> > 12" front to back
> > 2" tall/deep
> > I was looking at some Ortlieb bags online, but cannot figure if the max
> > size is at the widest point or at the narrowest point, which is at the
> > bottom and is typically where laptops have issues fitting.
> > Thanks,
> > Devin
>
>
Get another computer for your home and use software to duplicate the status
of your work laptop on your home computer.  In other words, stop carrying
the one back and forth.

--
Steve Schmitt
CAR-FREE.ORG <http://www.car-free.org/> Director
Voice Mail 610.707.2483
director@...
14 West Raspberry Street
Bethlehem, PA  18018
Office phone: 610 954 5744
CAT Director's
Calendar<http://www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=steveschmitt23%40gmail.com&ctz\
=America/New_York>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Welcome to the list, Tom!

To let you know that your message has been seen and heard.........though I'm
hardly the official hostess nor the Mistress of Spin.

-Traci
("Chips, dips, chains, whips!"--Lisa, (w,stte), "Weird Science")

--- In CarFree@yahoogroups.com, Tom Armstrong <bikeolounger@...> wrote:
>
> When I signed up for this list, I got the "introductory profile" that many of
you received. I haven't gone back to see how many are on this list, nor how many
have answered the profile questions, but thought I would just for the charge of
it. I'll assume you know the questions, but will try to make those questions
clear in my answers.
>
> Thoughts?
>
>  
> Tom, aka bikeolounger