PH wrote:For me, part of getting it right has been not trying to replicate what I did by car, though it took a while to stop doing that. Circumstances dictate of course, I have the time and journeys are rarely rushed or urgent. There's also been times in my life where it wouldn't have been possible, and there may be again, though there's also been times when I was racking up the miles and could quite easily have not been.
Running a car can be somewhat expensive and its purchase price does tie up a large sum of money too, in Syd’s case I’d say if you can then sell the car and see how it goes.
In normal times I now do about 5k miles per year but with CV19 that’s dropped to say 10% of that figure. My Mrs also has a car and I wonder about having just one between us, but not all couples would be happy about sharing. As our cars age I’m inclined to eventually have just one car and for it to be Electric.
People’s circumstances vary. A car is very handy for taking things to the tip, bringing the shopping home, moving children between one home and their next and taking grandchildren out for the day, etc. Where we live public transport is poor and doesn’t go to the places I want to visit. Cycling wouldn’t be practical either or I’d be doing it. A motorcycle might do for some things but cold weather riding is hard in several ways, I’m now too old to heal easily and motorists (cars) are an absolute liability to motorcycles.
When I first got a motorbike (many decades back) my horizons were really broadened and so I’d be loathed to give up motorised transport as that would narrow my horizons again. Yes, there are ways around the constraints imposed by being without your own motorised transport but in practice I’m not sure how I’d make such an arrangement work for me in my current circumstances.
I wonder what the OP decided to do?
Don’t fret, it’s OK to: ride a simple old bike; ride slowly, walk, rest and admire the view; ride off-road; ride in your raincoat; ride by yourself; ride in the dark; and ride one hundred yards or one hundred miles. Your bike and your choices to suit you.