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crysent
Apr 7, 2008, 6:49 PM
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Gas! I live about 40 mins from the crags and the gas is just killing me. Was wondering who else is REALLY feeling this and it's really playing a role in how much they get to climb and what they are doing about it? I've really been thinking lately about buying a 150CC scooter or small motorcycle (250 cc range) just to travel between the crags and back after class and on the weekends.
Anyone else out there just getting killed in this area? (I'm a super broke college student)
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mr.rock
Apr 7, 2008, 7:03 PM
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id kill for a forty minute drive to the crag. its 2 hours to the Red from here. my advice is to carpool and split the gas evenly. the price decreases dramatically.
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ja1484
Apr 7, 2008, 7:07 PM
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My advice: Quit bitching. My nearest crag is 1:15 one way. Other crags are 1:30-1:45. After that, it's 3:00 or more to anything else.
I still manage to get out roughly one day a week on top of full-time occupation.
Get over it.
(This post was edited by ja1484 on Apr 7, 2008, 7:08 PM)
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limeydave
Apr 7, 2008, 7:13 PM
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crysent wrote: Gas! I live about 40 mins from the crags and the gas is just killing me. Was wondering who else is REALLY feeling this and it's really playing a role in how much they get to climb and what they are doing about it? I've really been thinking lately about buying a 150CC scooter or small motorcycle (250 cc range) just to travel between the crags and back after class and on the weekends. Anyone else out there just getting killed in this area? (I'm a super broke college student)
Cash, ass or grass...
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crysent
Apr 7, 2008, 7:20 PM
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So you have a full occupation and the extra 35 minutes does not even out?
I think at 3.50ish a gallon It's ok to complain.
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angry
Apr 7, 2008, 7:43 PM
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I do hear you.
I looked long and hard at buying a scooter. Keep a few things in mind. If the bike is rated at 65mph (most scooters of 125 are) then it's going to realisically travel at 50mph or so. If you want a scooter capable of the freeway, you need to spend as much on it as you would a motorcycle, if not more. The bigger scooters get much less gas mileage than the little townie relatives too.
Then there is the dirt road equation, a scooter sporting 2" wide tires and 10" rims is going to suck on dirt. I'm not talking off road, I mean just dirt roads.
Still, I wanted gas mileage. Lots of it. I perused bikes that were street legal, small enough to get good mileage, old enough to be cheap, simple enough to work on myself, and capable of riding in the dirt.
Pretty much there is one answer. The Honda Trail 90. You can find one from the 60's through early 80's on Craigslist for $400 to $1100 dollars. I don't like the 60's models because they take a few minutes to switch to offroad gearing and dirty hands. The 70's and newer just flip a lever and boom, low range. Avoid the 1980, it doesn't have a low range.
Either the Trail 90 or Trail 110 (CT90 or CT110) are equivalent because the increase in power in congruent with the increase in weight.
I bought a 1974 off Craigslist for $500 not running and put $100 into it. I did all the work myself, took probably 30 hours but that was mostly learning, I could do the same now in half an afternoon. It is not fast but is quite happy to go 45mph and will go over 50 if I feel like it. I keep it off the freeway though. Yesterday I filled the tank and it cost $3.70. So far my average is about 85mpg and my timing and points are off. It may improve once I find a strobe light.
So if you are happy to get where you're going in 30 to 50% more time and you don't need to go on the Freeway, I can't suggest a better bike.
Here is a pic, this isn't my bike. Except a a K&N air filter, mine is identical. Even just downtown, it's 1000 times cooler than a scooter. I do need a real helmet, I question my Petzl's ability at 50mph.
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WVUCLMBR
Apr 7, 2008, 7:52 PM
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Is that Elios DOT approved? My personal mode of transport is a fart-powered hot-air balloon. If I eat mexican the night before it only takes 15 minutes to get to Seneca......
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angry
Apr 7, 2008, 7:55 PM
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Considering the age of the bike, I just bought an appropriate helmet. It should be to me in the next few days.
I may repaint the stripes orange to match the bike.
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acorneau
Apr 7, 2008, 7:58 PM
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angry wrote: Pretty much there is one answer. The Honda Trail 90. You can find one from the 60's through early 80's on Craigslist for $400 to $1100 dollars. I don't like the 60's models because they take a few minutes to switch to offroad gearing and dirty hands. The 70's and newer just flip a lever and boom, low range. Avoid the 1980, it doesn't have a low range.
Ha! Just for shits and giggles I did a search on Craigslist, look what I found:
http://houston.craigslist.org/mcy/596667452.html
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angry
Apr 7, 2008, 8:03 PM
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I signed up for a CT90 listserve. These guys are always putting thier latest up on ebay.
They probably charge more than the guy who doesn't know what he's got and just wants it out of the garage though.
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happiegrrrl
Apr 7, 2008, 8:13 PM
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Only the naive are not at least thinking about alternatives to standard automobiles, whether for cragging or in general. Of course I understand this means the majority of the population hasn't yet considered making changes.
Smart move - to the bike. And I'd think some people would appreciate the research, as they begin making their transportation changes. Let me ask a question - can you rig it to carry stuff or do you do a backpack, or what?
I always fantasized about having an oooold Indian motorbike with a sidecar for Teddy and my gear.....
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angry
Apr 7, 2008, 8:19 PM
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There is a good size rack behind the seat. I've got some bungees on it and I haven't had a problem yet. THere will come a day when a haulbag is strapped to it.
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ja1484
Apr 7, 2008, 10:07 PM
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crysent wrote: So you have a full occupation and the extra 35 minutes does not even out? I think at 3.50ish a gallon It's ok to complain.
Complain all you want, but you're not going to change anything that way, which is exactly my point - you could be using that complaining time climbing.
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chossmonkey
Apr 7, 2008, 10:41 PM
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crysent wrote: So you have a full occupation and the extra 35 minutes does not even out? I think at 3.50ish a gallon It's ok to complain.
Its been $4-5 a gallon in Canada and going up.
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gobias
Apr 7, 2008, 10:44 PM
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In reply to: Complain all you want, but you're not going to change anything that way, which is exactly my point - you could be using that complaining time climbing.
I'm going to have to agree with the OP. It's not just the cost of gas. There's a reason America pollutes more than 4 times any other country (per capita). People like me.
-Dick
(This post was edited by gobias on Apr 7, 2008, 10:45 PM)
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crysent
Apr 7, 2008, 10:57 PM
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I think you missed the entire point of my post. It really wasn't to compare the price of gas around the world and the distances others must drive to get to their local climbing spots, the point of the post is I was looking for creative idea's to go cheap on gas mostly just for climbing. Obviously if I lived 3 hours away from my local climbing spot I wouldn't be considering a scooter.
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hosgh
Apr 7, 2008, 11:01 PM
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You guys have no right to complain about 1 and 2 hour drives. The nearest climbing to me is 8 hours! Trust me, you don't have it that bad.
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dlintz
Apr 7, 2008, 11:24 PM
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Sweet ride and helmet Angry!!
I've been looking for a worthy scooter or small motorcycle for almost a year. When the right deal comes along I'm ready to pull the trigger.
d.
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ja1484
Apr 7, 2008, 11:34 PM
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crysent wrote: I think you missed the entire point of my post. It really wasn't to compare the price of gas around the world and the distances others must drive to get to their local climbing spots, the point of the post is I was looking for creative idea's to go cheap on gas mostly just for climbing. Obviously if I lived 3 hours away from my local climbing spot I wouldn't be considering a scooter.
If you need creative "idea's" to go cheap on gas, you need mental help. The concept is pretty easy: Use less per person.
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caughtinside
Apr 7, 2008, 11:37 PM
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ja1484 wrote: crysent wrote: I think you missed the entire point of my post. It really wasn't to compare the price of gas around the world and the distances others must drive to get to their local climbing spots, the point of the post is I was looking for creative idea's to go cheap on gas mostly just for climbing. Obviously if I lived 3 hours away from my local climbing spot I wouldn't be considering a scooter. If you need creative "idea's" to go cheap on gas, you need mental help. The concept is pretty easy: Use less per person.
Cut the kid some slack, he just wants to climb.
I'd suggest thinning out the gasoline you do have by pissing in your gas tank. Probably get an extra mpg out of that.
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hafilax
Apr 7, 2008, 11:54 PM
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crysent wrote: Gas! I live about 40 mins from the crags and the gas is just killing me. Was wondering who else is REALLY feeling this and it's really playing a role in how much they get to climb and what they are doing about it? I've really been thinking lately about buying a 150CC scooter or small motorcycle (250 cc range) just to travel between the crags and back after class and on the weekends. Anyone else out there just getting killed in this area? (I'm a super broke college student)
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ja1484
Apr 8, 2008, 12:00 AM
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caughtinside wrote: ja1484 wrote: crysent wrote: I think you missed the entire point of my post. It really wasn't to compare the price of gas around the world and the distances others must drive to get to their local climbing spots, the point of the post is I was looking for creative idea's to go cheap on gas mostly just for climbing. Obviously if I lived 3 hours away from my local climbing spot I wouldn't be considering a scooter. If you need creative "idea's" to go cheap on gas, you need mental help. The concept is pretty easy: Use less per person. Cut the kid some slack, he just wants to climb. I'd suggest thinning out the gasoline you do have by pissing in your gas tank. Probably get an extra mpg out of that.
You're mean but I like it.
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crysent
Apr 8, 2008, 12:02 AM
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ja1484 wrote: crysent wrote: I think you missed the entire point of my post. It really wasn't to compare the price of gas around the world and the distances others must drive to get to their local climbing spots, the point of the post is I was looking for creative idea's to go cheap on gas mostly just for climbing. Obviously if I lived 3 hours away from my local climbing spot I wouldn't be considering a scooter. If you need creative "idea's" to go cheap on gas, you need mental help. The concept is pretty easy: Use less per person.
Unfortunatly I dont think the concept is that simple.
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kaputt
Apr 8, 2008, 12:11 AM
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I don't go to the crag unless I can carpool. 4 people in a car that gets 25 mpg is far better than 1 person on a motorcycle that gets 50 mpg. I combine trips when I go to the rock gym as well. Usually I can stop on the way back from work. I heard that Astro Vans get good gas mileage and can be found at a reasonable price. I'm going to look into it.
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