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Tootal
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 14, 2017 - 11:09 am: | 
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Poor Zack! No more A&W burgers for lunch!! |
Chauly
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 14, 2017 - 11:28 am: |
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Went from 130 miles one way, to 50, to 1.5.
Almost as good as retiring... |
Robertl
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 14, 2017 - 11:29 am: |
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Long commutes are definitely a deal breaker for me, but then again FL drivers and traffic are crazy.
Now, there are places where I probably wouldn't mind a longer mileage commute because traffic is easier. When I visit my family in Louisiana, I might see 1 car every 5 or 10 miles on I-49.
I've done the long commutes, 51 mi each way through downtown Austin: 50 mins in morning, 1-3 hrs in evening. 8am-10pm or even midnight, 5 days a week, leaves no time for a personal life, especially a rocky relationship situation. I set myself up for failure with that one and eventually moved to within 5 mi of office (solo).
Currently, 13 mi each way. This can take 15 mins or 2 hrs (yes, I really said 2 hrs). Typical is 30 mins in the morning and 40ish in the evening as long as I reach the bridge before 5pm or 1 hr if after 5pm.
Lane splitting could cut my evening commute probably in half but not sure I could do it safely (if legal here) because of the crazy people crossing 3 or 4 lanes at a time constantly to get ahead of 1 car.
Now, if this was a dream job and something I really enjoyed, the above could change but I just value my personal time too much to be stuck in traffic for hours each day. I have no children but 4 dogs and a cat that are waiting to play fetch when I get home. I have about 30-45 mins of daylight as it is which is barely enough. |
Court
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 14, 2017 - 02:29 pm: |
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:-) |
Hootowl
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 14, 2017 - 03:38 pm: |
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I live two miles from the office. |
Ocbueller
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 14, 2017 - 06:21 pm: |
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Left New York City, to get away from a 20 mile 1 1/2 hour commute. Road rage was a daily occurrence. Sometimes I was the rager and sometimes it was others. Since moving to the beach my commute has varied from 1 mile to 9 miles. I am able to avoid the summer tourist traffic mostly by getting in and out during off hours. I try not to rage at the tourists because, well, they're tourists. Hope to never live in another city.
SteveH |
Court
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 14, 2017 - 10:30 pm: |
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Commuting . . . what a bore . . .
Leave the farm . . . .
(Actually shot out the window of the truck with an iPhone)
Drive 20 minutes through the most gorgeous area of the Hudson Valley . . . . .
Go to work . . . .
And to make things worse . . . it's foggy . . .
Always something . . . |
Oopezoo
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 15, 2017 - 07:59 am: |
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I go 57 miles each way of pretty much all highway. It rarely takes me an hour. When I ride one of my bikes, I take the back roads home which adds about 10-15mins to the ride. I've been doing that for almost 12 years now. 30k miles a year of just commuting takes a serious toll.
I retired a BMW 325 after hitting 300k miles. An Isuzu Rodeo after 200k, a BMW 1100RT after 130k miles, and a Toyota Corolla after 275k miles. None of those were bought new, so not all of the miles were from commuting, but its a lot of vehicles to throw away in 10 years. I'm currently driving a 2016 Chevy Volt. I've had it about 17 months and have 38k miles on it already. Best commuter vehicle ever, but thats a different thread.
I commuted on the 1100RT rain or shine all year for about 3 years. That was my favorite way to commute, but it also ruined my weekend enjoyment of riding. My only saving grace was planning long weekend trips to great places to ride. Now I have kids, rarely commute on the bike anymore, and don't have much free time to ride. The RT is long gone into motorcycle part out heaven, and replaced with a GS. Its a great touring/commuter bike, but I don't so that much right now, and its not something I want to hop on for a quick 20 min joy ride. That led to the S1.....hell of a lot of fun for 30-60 mins at a shot. Hopefully if will hold together well enough that I can use it for a little commuting duty next summer......now that I have a Manta tank on it that can actually make the trip without refueling |
Zane
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 15, 2017 - 10:14 am: |
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I'm going to talk options on the house this evening after work. What upgrades to get and what aren't worth the money. Once I see the final price tag of the house the way I want it, I'll decided whether to pull the pin or not.
I've owned three houses in the past. Ex wife got the last house in the divorce but she's lost it by going a year without paying the mortgage. Not my issue. Damn, but I've come to love that phrase...
Anyway, I'm pretty much decided that if the numbers on the house work out, I'll deal with the commute. I had a 40-45 minute commute in Tampa/Clearwater at one point and lived through that without much scares. What's another couple of minutes added to that. |
Orman1649
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 15, 2017 - 10:21 am: |
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OK, thats it...I'm moving in with Court! |
86129squids
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 15, 2017 - 12:29 pm: |
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BTW- Court, you've always had the best pictures... if you ever found the time, it'd be awesome to put together a compilation or portfolio of some sort. That IPhone pic alone is amazing. Thanks for sharing!
And, 1000% yes, color me jealous. Not to mention your "commute" to all the great music nearby, let's not forget that! |
Ourdee
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 15, 2017 - 12:45 pm: |
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Yeah, if Court got all his pictures together he might be able to make a book. Would probably need help though. |
Hughlysses
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 15, 2017 - 02:14 pm: |
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I retired in January of this year, so thankfully I don't have to deal with it any more.
For the 6 years before that, though, it had gradually turned into a daily traffic nightmare. My commute was about 25 miles, consisting of about 5 miles of streets and 20 miles of interstate. It was about 4 miles from my house to the interstate. The first couple of miles was OK but the roads got bigger, traffic got heavier, and drivers got progressively more aggressive (polite way of saying "driving like a**holes") as I approached the interstate. Interstate traffic was always heavy and fast - 15-20 MPH over the posted limit typical, regardless of weather or traffic conditions. The last mile or two was thankfully sedate after I got off the interstate onto an old city street through mostly residential areas.
For the last couple of years, I made it a point to leave home by 6 AM or so in which case my commute took about 45 minutes on a good day. The commute home in the afternoon was about the same, except on Fridays, when it was almost invariably worse. If I was ~5 minutes late, it added ~10 minutes to my commute, and so on. Wrecks happened on the interstate on my route at least 2 or 3 times a week which could easily change that 45 minute commute to an hour and a half or more. There just aren't any good alternate routes in the area.
One of the last times I remember riding my Uly to work was last year in the late summer. I posted this story in BB&D at the time it happened, so excuse me if you already heard it. I decided to leave work a couple of hours early on a Friday to make a good start for the weekend and hopefully miss the worst traffic. ~5 miles down the interstate it turned into stop-and-go bumper-to-bumper traffic. The temp was close to 100 deg. F. I got stuck in that for about 30 minutes when without warning, the bike died. I was stuck in the fast lane at the time it happened and there was no pull-off lane. I wound up parked in the ~1 foot wide strip between the fast lane and the concrete divider. ~15 minutes after the bike died, traffic started to clear so here I am stuck in this location with cars whizzing by at 70 MPH. I tried to restart the bike a couple of times and it would fire, but not run. After 2 or 3 attempts the battery was getting weak and I figured I was thoroughly screwed. I texted my wife (since I couldn't hear anything standing there) and told her to contact the highway patrol, thinking maybe a cruiser could block traffic long enough for me to push the bike to the shoulder. I'd been sitting at least 30 minutes by this time, so I said WTF and tried the bike one more time. It fired up, running roughly, but gradually it smoothed out. I put my helmet back on, dropped it in gear, and watched for a gap in traffic. One finally appeared, I revved it and dumped the clutch and the thing kept running. I gradually worked my way over to the right lane in case it decided to die again, but it kept running, so I kept going to my exit.
I got home ~2 hours later than planned, thoroughly cooked, a little freaked out, and at a loss as to what I could do to avoid a repeat other than not ride to work. Later investigation showed my crank ignition sensor had died, as the bike wouldn't fire again once I shut it off and it cooled down.
So, I am VERY glad I don't have to commute any longer. I can go for a 10 mile ride and maybe pass a car or two on my entire route. I like it that way. |
Tootal
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 15, 2017 - 02:57 pm: |
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I remember you telling that story. Stuck on the fast lane would suck!! My Harley started losing oil pressure and I was in the fast lane but I got lucky and there was a small gap in rush hour traffic all the way across so I gassed it hard and blew oil smoke everywhere! As soon as I hit the shoulder I was under an overpass on a very hot day. Blessed again! Ended up my clutch cable was rubbing against the oil filter and put a slot in it! A sportster rider pulled off and introduced himself as Spider. He called a buddy who delivered a new filter and four quarts of oil. He stayed with me until his friend arrived, (over an hour), and then rode with me until his exit. There are still some awesome folks out there! |
Hughlysses
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 15, 2017 - 04:09 pm: |
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Yea, it was just a worst possible convergence of events. If I'd broken down a mile earlier, I would have had a two-car wide place to pull over on, and I would have probably been under an overpass, or close enough to push the bike back there. If I'd been running ~60 when the bike died, I probably could have worked my way over to the right shoulder. I think I was actually stopped and idling, the bike died, and it wouldn't crank again. THAT sucks. I think the sensor started breaking down in the heat. Once the engine had cooled off, it started working again long enough for me to get home at least. |
Zac4mac
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 15, 2017 - 07:23 pm: |
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Greg - wife just told me we are going to go to A&W next week as she saw a commercial for BOGO lunch.
Took the Westwind for a run to the Harley shop for plugs.
About 2 miles from my exit coming home the bike coughed a bit and died, fortunately I was going a little over 90mph so we coasted a good while.
Once stopped I confirmed I was out of gas, seeing the level in the vinyl hose.
Managed to shake some gas around twice that got me up to 80mph before dying again.
Finally pushed her about a block to a Shell station.
Z |
Tootal
| | Posted on Wednesday, November 15, 2017 - 11:51 pm: |
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I hate when that happens! My friend from Jersey is going to be spending a little more time in the retirement home in Loveland so I have an invite to join him. So sometime next year I'll stop by the shop and we can grab another burger! |
Steveford
| | Posted on Thursday, November 16, 2017 - 05:24 am: |
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5 miles of back roads, 40 miles of highway, 5 miles of slum riding.
Yesterday I was giving the Useless the old Italian Tune Up (nail the throttle to blow the cobwebs out) on the highway and I must have passed the boss' son who is a State Trooper when I was on the gas. I had no idea he was there, he must have been in an unmarked car.
He called up his dad and asked if Steve rides a blue Buell with a black work suit. I gather he was trying to catch me to say hello but the old Useless had other ideas. |
Doz
| | Posted on Thursday, November 16, 2017 - 07:19 am: |
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This past summer was spent working just outside of Austin TX. I brought my camper down and lived on the jobsite. Now I'm totally spoiled, any commute is too much |
Adrenaline_junkie
| | Posted on Thursday, November 16, 2017 - 07:39 am: |
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Mine is awful. 14 miles of West Virginia back roads, BOTH WAYS! With all these annoying twist and turns with whoops and one spot its really hard not to get air. Unfortunately, its too damn cold and the deer are in rut right now so I'm driving the truck.😬 |
Zane
| | Posted on Thursday, November 16, 2017 - 12:12 pm: |
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After thinking things through, I put money down on the house last night. One of the things I can do to mitigate the commute is flex my hours some. Instead of working 7:30 or 4:30, I'll change to 7:00 to 4:00. That may help a bit. I hate getting up really early but if I can cut 15 minutes off the commute, it'll be worth it.
My son said "Dad, I know you hate long commutes but this house is gonna be worth it." I think he's right. |
Pnw_ulys
| | Posted on Thursday, November 16, 2017 - 03:05 pm: |
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Congrats on the decision!
The Uly is a great commuter - - upright riding position, cargo storage, great brakes, and it crashes well. . .
Ride Safe, |
Zane
| | Posted on Thursday, November 16, 2017 - 06:29 pm: |
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I'll try to avoid the crashes well part...lol |
Aesquire
| | Posted on Thursday, November 16, 2017 - 08:52 pm: |
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When I lived in Dansville NY, it was 55 miles one way, all expressway, and not bad traffic at all. Since I'm a studded snow tire nut, with van or minivan, snow seldom bothered me. Still, more than 45 minutes each way.
Then I moved closer, and it's 15 miles, one way, combination of deer infested back country roads and 8 miles expressway, or 17 miles back roads. Traffic isn't bad mostly, but it can bog down with accidents and construction. The worst traffic here at rush hour is like 3am in LA. |
Zac4mac
| | Posted on Thursday, November 16, 2017 - 09:50 pm: |
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Zane - I'm really not a morning person, but when I had a corporate spot, I did what you're doing.
Left earlier and missed the crowd, but then I'd leave later to miss the crowd...
Closer is better, unless you live in W. Va. or the Hudson Valley.
BTW, I've seen the Hudson between Marlboro and Poughkeepsie once for Spring and Fall and Nothing compares. |
Court
| | Posted on Friday, November 17, 2017 - 05:11 am: |
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>>>>I've seen the Hudson between Marlboro and Poughkeepsie once for Spring and Fall and Nothing compares.
Roger that . . . .
I climbed the fire tower across the road yesterday and shot pictures of the tops of the trees. Then drove down to the farm in Califon . . . Hunterdon County.
Tonight it's the famed Colony in Woodstock where a buddy (Bob Dylan's band manager for 15 years) is playing then the Joni Mitchell Tribute a The Falcom.
There's a lot about the Hudson Valley to like. Initially . . .this started out as a weekend house and place to store bikes and vintage vehicles . . . We're finding now . . . we seldom leave. |
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