The first thing to emphasise is that Auckland is freakin' cold in winter. A nice big thick coat buttoned up to the chin, plus a scarf, plus serious business gloves, is pretty essential to make cycling a realistic option around the frigid parts of the year.
Secondly, perhaps a bit of buyers' remorse. Perhaps I might have blown an extra $2000 and got an actual electric scooter? PLUSES: Double the speed and therefore double the effective range. MINUS: still exposure to the elements. Extra costs with getting leather jacket, helmet etc. Much more difficult to get fixed. You need to register it. You can't do your grocery shopping on it.
(Oh, I don't think I mentioned, I got a rear basket as well, so now I can carry up to about $100 of groceries home from the local Foodtown. There are benefits with a smaller, lighter, more manoeuvrable vehicle.)
Thirdly, it's really important to keep the servicing going on. Flat tires or brakes that don't quite break anything are not the kind of thing you want to be worried about on winter nights in Auckland.
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I changed my brake pads on my human powered bike last week after weeks of horrible brake squeal and the back pads worn nearly away. Felt very proud of myself too. But I'm getting to think that cycling needs a firm commitment to constant tinkering between services to keep things running smoothly. That and a good set of Allen keys.
ReplyDeleteDressing right is hugely important in the cold. There's nothing more miserable than freezing on a bike. A woollen thermal top is great, since it breathes, doesn't smell, and keeps you warm even if it gets wet. But they're pretty expensive.