Running as transportation
When I first came to the US about five years ago, someone asked me if I rode bikes, as in bicycles. I replied in the affirmative, and then I was asked whether I liked to ride for fun. “For fun?”, yes,...
View ArticleTop 5 reasons why sidewalks are not safe
In this new series of posts I give popular personal finance advise in an easily digestible list format of tips, reasons, things, and so on. I will tell you how you too can be rich, good-looking, or...
View ArticleCar depreciation and maintenance
For those who do want a car but would prefer to keep costs as minimal as possible, I suggest (not based on personal experience at all, incidentally) buying a used car without too much electronics and...
View ArticleDollar cost averaging at the pump for cheaper gas
This may be taking it to extremes, but try dollar cost averaging at the pump for cheaper gas. Obviously this does not work if you have to detour to get gas, but if the gas station is on your route and...
View ArticleSpeeding and transportation
For short distances, speeding simply doesn’t make sense. Going 20% faster might feel like a big deal, but arriving 20% early on a trip that takes 15 minutes; that’s only three minutes. Consider these...
View ArticleI just rotated my bicycle tires to make them last longer
When I started commuting I put in 3800 miles on my bicycle. For those fitness nuts out there that is 171,000 kcal (figure 20mph corresponding to 900 kcal/hour) or the equivalent of 40 pounds of fat or...
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International travel (for free)
Up until now, I have visited 14 countries and I have lived in 3, and in most cases I have never paid a dime to get around. I must admit that more travel is not (no more) a high ranking priority in my...
View ArticleA few things you can do to optimize your bicycle ride
I like to fix bikes, because it gives me a chance to work with my hands and occasionally work on “something real”. Thus I sometimes get to talk to people and check out their bikes. Now, to be honest,...
View ArticleBook review: Effective cycling
Disclaimer: I hate writing book reviews just a tad more than I hate reading them, but I figured it would be helpful if nothing else to at least mention a few a the typically 2-3 books I plow through...
View ArticleBicycle riders on the freeway
Maybe when oil reaches $200 in a few years as predicted by the same Goldman-Sachs analyst that predicted $105 dollar oil by 2009, part of the freeway system, which is now overpopulated by cars and...
View ArticleThe $1500 bicycle
I see it this way. I need something to get me from A to B. Why own a crappy $1500 car that needs to be replaced in a few years, when I can own a pretty smooth $1500 bicycle that could potentially...
View ArticleMy commute is awesome
Note: Technically I don’t have a commute anymore, but I’m posting this anyway to illustrate how living in the right location can turn the commute into a fun activity and eliminate the need for a car. I...
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How to pick a commuter bike
From the mailbag (actually from the comments on a post): Jacob Can you tell me what kind of bike you own/price range? I am shoppng for a bike which I hope to use for errands and at least 3 days/ week...
View ArticleTraveling around the world after ERE
Save 75-80% for five years and then quit your work and do something else. I’m not the only, nor the first one to do this. I recently found a couple who also saved 75% for 5 years and now use their...
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A homemade map holder for my bicycle
Upon request, I post a picture of the handlebar map holder I made for my touring bicycle. It’s a thin piece of plywood (or whatever you have, other wood, plastic, metal) cut out to fit standard AAA...
View ArticleGuest Post: Stepping off the Beaten Path by Saying No!
Cee Aar is a Canadian in his late twenties who is on his early retirement journey. He has resisted (or plans to) convention in some ways and stops by to share his story of bucking the trend. Going by...
View ArticleSaying “No” to a new car
I like this guest post from MoneyCrush for the following reasons. First, it is a big step outside convention. When I grew up I was told that cars should be replaced every two years (it doesn’t really...
View ArticleFive flag theory
I like change. I like moving to a new place every once in a while just to change things up and learn new things. I don’t like fast change which “travel” is usually associated with. Travel is for the...
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Preliminaries to retiring in 5 years
I usually start my “program” with a relocation closer to work and shopping. This allows one to shed at least one car. The rest is just variations and polishing that theme. Extreme early retirement can...
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Somebody explain travel to me?
I have visited 14 different countries out of the 30 or so developed countries in the world. From my superficial touristic view, I have noted that in all these countries, people earn money at day jobs,...
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