Comments ecomommy has made

  • The Farmer Tuck

    I seldom wear long skirts.  (I'm too short and boy shaped to pull them off.)  But back in the '80s I used to wear them- despite how unflattering they were on me- and what I did was tuck the outside hem of the skirt up into my undies on both sides- this created a 1/2 length skirt on the sides that hangs full length in front and back.  If you sit on the back of the skirt, the whole thing stays up above the chains, etc.

    If you're very modest, you could wear shorts under your shirt- but I don't think this method leads to very much "showing".On Umbra on biking in a skirt posted 1 year, 6 months ago 22 Responses

  • A Risky Investment

    The good news is that Americans are making some effort to be "greener," yuppie or not.  At least environmentalism isn't just for hippies anymore.

    I, however, would be wary of buying any type of new car right now.  Technology is changing so fast, and who knows what the price of gas will become, or how soon peak oil will occur and cause a massive shift in transportation habits.

    It seems that the future of transportation must at some point shift to more biking, walking, and public transport; but it's tough to say when the "future" will happen.  To some extent it's happening now- but at different rates for different people.  On Prius sales top 1 million posted 1 year, 6 months ago 10 Responses

  • Restricting Food Growth

    Built-in restrictions aree all over the place in new development, and they are almost always anti-green.  I've seen them say you can only build a certain size home (ie big.)  They require grass often, they tell people they can't have certain animals, grow veggies, all kinds of stuff.

    Totally absurd in the present climate.On The NYT on urban farming posted 1 year, 6 months ago 5 Responses

  • Cost vs. Benefit Ratio of Xtracycle

    One more thing...

    Most people who I think of as "bike riders" are young to middle age men.  My husband is a good example.  He has a fancy road/racing bike- which cost over $2000.

    Furthermore, many of the "bike guys" I know own several bikes- mountain, road, racing, etc, several of which were not cheap.

    These bikes serve to give the owners thrills, keep them looking good naked, and reduce their need for a car.

    One the other hand- my Xtracycle cost $275 for my bike- a size small Giant Cyprus, $450 for the Free Radical, $100 for installation, $200 for the child seat for my 2 year old.  So all told it's a little over $1000. It is my only bike.

    My bicycle transports three people almost everywhere they need to go, and brings food, clothing, gardening supplies, etc. to our home, it also  gives me and my kids thrills, keeps me looking good naked, and reduces my need for a car.  Decent payback for the price, I think.

    Any guy who thinks their wife should skimp on how they transport the kids and get groceries- because for the same price they could get an awesome new toy for just themselves- should be punched in the arm and forced to eat leftovers.On Umbra on cargo bikes posted 1 year, 6 months ago 29 Responses

  • Not for everyone, but I LOVE my Xtracycle!

    Everyone needs to assess their own situation when it comes to transportation, but mine is straightforward.  I have 2 kids- 2 and 5.  The older likes to ride her bike, but is frightened if hills, too young to ride in any kind of traffic, and still uses trainers.  We go back and forth to school 2x per day- a little over a mile, with some short but steep hills.  I also buy groceries- about a mile away, and I go to the shopping center- 3 miles, but largely flat.  We are a 1 car family, but that "car" is a light truck, so it gets lousy milage in city.

    I bought a trailer initially, but I'm cursing having done it.  It cost $200- and that is cheap for a bike trailer!  I did so much damage to it in only 2 months of owning it that I doubt I'd get $50 for it now.  I flipped it pulling it with no kids in it, damaging the cover.  I bent the flag trying to get it in and out of my basement to store it.  It was a PITA to get in and out if the yard- and you can"t back it up.  Bike commuting with a trailer is a joke- which is probably why I never see anyone doing it.

    Then I got an xtracycle- it is perfect!  No more having to take the trailer on and off to get it in and out of the yard.  No more worrying that someone will steal the trailer while the bike is locked up.  Carrying the kids is WAY easier as payload than towing.  I can still attach my trailer if I want- and carry an extra kid. (theoretically I could pull and carry 4, but I don't have the legs for it!)

    Plus, if I'm just heading out for a quick errand and a kid says "I wanna come!" I can just say- "Hop on."

    I saved $80 last month on gas- in my first month of owning my xtracycle.  Yes, I used to spend $2-3 per day driving between home, school, and errands- all less than 5 miles away, usually much less.

    As for the danger associated with kids on bicycles.  

    1. I keep on the bike routes
    2. When uncertain, I use the sidewalk- something you can never do with a trailer

    and

    3. My kids are way more likely to die from the effects of inactivity- obesity, hypertension, etc- or the effects of global warming- famine, drought, armed conflict, extinction of all life on the planet- than they are to die in a bicycle accident.  

    One Irish study found that years of life lost to inactivity related disease outnumbered years of life lost to bike accidents by 20 to 1.  And that is in a country with no helmet law.

    I can see why not everyone would want one- but I'm LOVIN"IT!On Umbra on cargo bikes posted 1 year, 6 months ago 29 Responses