I've been thinking about/tempted to get rid of my car for a few weeks now.

I could sell it and get a very nice road bicycle with all the kit (helmet, panniers, lock, clothes, repair kits, etc...) with the money I get for the car.

By doing that I also get rid of the cost of owning the car. I don't need a car for work. It's a fairly easy 12 mile commute to work which I would have to do everyday but I think after a week or so it would become almost normal to do it. And the traffic wouldn't be an issue.

There are already quite a few people who do the same commute by bike.

With panniers I'd still be able to go shopping and get it back home. (I only ever shop for one anyway).

The more I think about it the more I think I don't actually NEED a car.

Has anyone else done this? What is your experience?

When I first left college I lived about 1 mile from Oxford town centre.

Sometimes I cycled, but mostly I walked everywhere. It took me 20 minutes to walk to work, the shops or the pub, and I never had to worry about parking or traffic or crime.

If I wanted to go to London, it was less than £10 return on the bus. It was about the same to get back to my home town to visit old friends.

I was perfectly happy like that. Given the choice, I'd rather not have to worry about a car. They're expensive and troublesome. Unfortunately, my first "proper" job required one, and it caused me no end of problems.

I pretty much need one, what with living deep inside Wales, working on a railway that's half an hour away if I drive (so ~45-50 minutes by most other people and upwards of an hour and a half on the bus) and having to return to the Midlands every so often.

That being said, a fair amount of the time I keep it parked off the street and just walk around Aber. When I'm home it's either the bike or walking, unless I need to go somewhere out of the way, but currently I need the exercise and can't afford to run the car. (I've run out of petrol twice in the last two weeks. )

If only everyone thought that way. (not that being broke is fun...)

My village is about 1 mile end to end. So many people I know will drive to the shops, the pub, the social club and even their friend's house two doors down. I've seen people drive their kids about 200 yards to school, where the parking is so bad it takes ten times longer than walking and they end up walking twice as far anyway!

I can't get anywhere by walking/cycling. I could get into the local town if there were backroads but its only by dual carrageway with no hard shoulder and I dont wish to risk my life on a daily basis.

Other than that everything is 15 miles away and Uni is 30 via motorway, 40 by backroads.

I live close enough to work that I could walk. But I do love driving my car, so I do that.
I will, however, be buying a bike to use instead, and using the car as and when the spirit moves me.
At this precise moment, I probably don't need a car in my life, but things change. I do enjoy going for a late night drive by the sea front, or going to see friends up country, and without the car, those things become a PITA.

The only thing for me about getting rid of my car is that I use it to get up to my dad's house at the weekend from time to time.

That's 40 miles away from my house going up the A1.

Again, that distance is quite doable on the bicycles I've been looking at (according to various websites) and with panniers I'm not limited to what I can squeeze into a rucksack.

It might take me 3 or 4 hours to get to his house instead of the hour that it currently takes or I have the option of going on the train from Leeds.

It would then give me more freedom (following the financial train of thought from my other thread) to do a lot more.

I think I'm going to do this.

I'm currently at around 65-70% doing this.

The area I live has a very villagey feel to it (Roundhay, Leeds) and has shops within walking distance and a major supermarket 20 mins walk away which would take me around 5 mins cycling. It's fairly flat and has a huge park.

I'm tempted.

Do you think you'll still have your enthusiasm after some idiot motorist has failed to see you in the sideways autumnal rain?

This is the bike I'm thinking of... http://www.trekbikes.com/uk/en/bikes/road/1_series/15/

The internet says it's a very good first road bike and the guy in the shop recommended it as one to go for (of 3) with my requirement of panniers.

Prof, that's my main reservation. I do however think it's very easy to spot the disadvantages when you already own a car.

It would be a hell of a thing to commit to but the pay off could be greater IMHO.

Personally Fog, I would be looking to get a second hand bike atm. If you manage to do it for an extended period of time then sell the car. You dont want to buy a bike, sell the car and realise you can't take the biking over the winter.

RE the winter weather, I have already done training through winter running and doing sit-ups and press-ups in 8 inches of snow.

I think it is something that I have to be dedicated to if I'm going to do it and I have been inspired by "The Man Who Cycled the Americas".

If I kept my car I think I would rely on it too much even to the point where I wouldn't use the bike for any slight excuse.

And if it gets too bad I can always cycle to Leeds and catch the train to Harrogate.

The bike seems fine. Though I would opt to spend some extra on lighter wheels. That is where you need to make the weight savings. A few grams off the wheels is worth many more grams of the rest of the bike. Also buy kevlar tyres rather than the normal ones. More expensive but practically puncture proof. With conventional rubber wheels I would get a puncture per week in London. With kevlar tyres you could go a year or so without trouble. keep a puncture repair kit and pump with you at all times. Also get an extra set of wheels and winter tyres. It means that you simply swap them over when it gets colder. You will have fewer falls as a result. Go for quick release and take a wheel with you then any thieves will either have to bring their own or carry it. D Locks are good and the better ones covered you against theft.

As for pedals go for cleated pedals. You can spend a fortune on titanium ones and the shoes will probably set you back a couple of hundred but you will find that you can pedal much faster than toe straps and your feet will not come out of cleats. It takes a few days getting used to, but well worth it. If you are good you can pedal on the upstroke as well with cleated pedals increasing your strength over time. If you are wanting to build strength wear ankle weights when you cycle. After a while you can forget about changing gear even on hills.

The thing that you will hate I the rain. Cold or wind not a problem but getting soaked to the skin was a pain. Consider trains when very wet.

Also get the bike insured it will probably be the target of thieves and get cycle insurance, The Cycle Touring Club used to do it cheaply, and it is well worth it. You could get it covered under the household insurance and you may need to pay extra for all risks if you have to leave it locked up outside.

As for visiting your dad, you will be able to cycle the distance without any trouble but what about car hire for one day or overnight when you absolutely must have a car.

Thanks for the tips!

I was worried about punctures. I'll def ask about the kevlar tyres.

To begin with I think I'll stick with the pedals with toe straps. Having never ridden a road bike and never used pedal clip thingies I think I'll take it one step at a time. I can always change the pedals at a later date.

I was planning on using panniers with the bike (which is why this bike was recommended) and using them to also hold repair kits, etc...

The place I work is a huge office building and I am almost certain that people who ride there already store their bikes inside the building which makes security a lot higher. Although I'd still spend quite a bit on a decent lock (I've had a bike stolen before because it had a rubbish lock). Insurance would also be a must considering that (if I do this) it will be my only form of transport.

I'll also be asking if my work does any cycle to work schemes.

The shop I went into today (just browsing) accepts the Halfords Cycle to Work vouchers.

I used to have an under the saddle bag, but a largish one. Then you can keep everything in it for emergencies. If you get a quick release seat stem then you can unhitch it and again it makes it harder for the thieves to steal if there is no seat and wheel.

As for the cleats and shoes, look at shoes first. You can get some with recessed cleats which are much easier to walk in. Exposed cleats get worn down with general walking, so change before the screws holding them are destroyed, making them a lot harder to change. Plus they are noisey to walk in.

I know the government is promoting the whole cycling to work thing

http://www.cyclescheme.co.uk/

hence the existence of that program. I dont know whether you could come to an agreement with the employer for the bike, but it might be worth looking at.