Adrienne, this isn’t for me but I spent several winters in Munich and the Germans rode rain or shine or snow. I also spend time in Sweden and got half way up a killer hill and started walking only to be cycled past by a lady in high heels and a suit. At that point I hung my ego up for good!

Jacob, I’ve read alot on furgal living etc and I have to say that is really a different take than I’ve seen before. My Wife just bought a custom built Bike Friday Tiket bit under $2000 (1300€ gotta love the falling dollar) but it’s a replacement for a car.

“The ride’s political stance and agenda(s) was neutral, yet many participants shared common views. When asked WHY, riders refer to the ride’s tagline and collective motto: “If you rode a bicycle, you’d be home by now!” This statement encompasses views on oil dependency, sustainable living, and critique of the Los Angeles’ transportation infrastructure.”

As it is–I bought my bike. A snappy trike with an electric assist–there are 2 hills on my route that are killers, at least judging from the number of riders I’ve seen pushing their bikes up them and if I’m planning to commute, I will have to be able to get up them in a timely manner. I can’t wait until it gets here and I can start training! I hope to be able to do the work trek by June. Wish me luck!

Children - not having any. I personally think that having biological children in a world that is teeming with the misery of orphans (usually in poverty or in an overcrowded foster system) is highly unethical. Why not adopt, unless you can only love a child for their genes (in which case please reconsider becoming a parent).
Housing - I agree, single fam/single housing is pretty stupid if you’re all for maximizing savings. Just rent a room people, it’s not going to kill you! I shudder to think of all the thousands of sq. feet that NEVER GET USED and just SIT THERE burning a hole through your thousands. On that note, a house is not a home if it is your financial ball and chain, correct? I would feel suffocated living in a mcmansion, knowing that it would add 10 or more years of UNNECESSARY work, time, and energy… yikes. Commune-type living situations are financially saavy, BUT the downside is that you have to find people you can peacefullly coexist with. Thankfully I have a pretty good situation with an elderly roommate where I have both privacy and cheap rent.
Transport - Car for work and school because of the distance, but my sole transportation was my trusty bike for two years when I lived in the city.
Food - no-brainer. Just buy generic brands, cheap and filling items, and voila! You’ve got your fuel!
Taxes - erm, death and ” “. SO there you have it, there is no escaping either.

@Pessimist - Try clicking on recipes under categories on the top left. That should give you some ideas (one thing I have never mentioned is the enormous number of tortillas we eat - all based on the refried beans recipe which has been posted). I have been contemplating pushing the envelope by doing an experiment which sets a limit of $50/month/person and that allows no refrigeration (good practice for living on a boat without a fridge). We’ll see how that plays out since I have to coordinate it with DW.

And I’d disagree that your intolerance towards fat people and debt are equal; the one is based on introspection and analysis; the other on marketing and personal prejudice. I’ll leave you to figure out which is which.

@Farmwife - It depends on how fast you want to go (and how fast you are physically capable of going, for instance, if top speed is 17mph, there’s little reason to get aerobars beyond the extra hand positions). The best is probably to head down to your local bike shop and ask them what they think (after researching a bit first). For instance, I go on (relatively) clean roads, I obsess about cleaning the drive train and everything else, I don’t have show (or rain by choice), and I go very fast. Therefore I’m riding with a race setup (105 shifters, hard saddle, not upright position, no fenders, no nothing - my bike weighs about 18-19 pounds) rather than a commuting setup (even though I technically commute). If there’s mud, gravel, rain, … the picture changes. I suspect a MBT or a hybrid with fenders - also change the pedals to clipless or at least toe-clips and maybe go for some less knobby wheels - is the best choice.

@Fatty - I think if you want to do 11 miles (22?) daily, you might want to go for a more pricey bike. $600 is not a lot for something that’s going to be used for transportation rather than sporadic recreation (it’s about two car payments). Due to my “incredible intolerance” for fat (which is equal to the one for debt), I’d say lose some of the weight (unless it serves a purpose?) if nothing else, I think a steel frame (not alu-carbon) should hold up. There are cargobikes that can transport several hundred pounds. See e.g. http://www.rideyourbike.com/cargo.html . A trike may be good for balance. Have you considered recumbent trikes?

@Debbie - Personally I just let it dry (after changing from cycling wear (that evaporates a lot of too). I wash my face if it shows white salt streaks, but otherwise fresh sweat doesn’t smell.

I like to get off a couple of stops early when I have time (for more exercise), but I admit, I don’t do it in the hottest months. Dripping in sweat just isn’t very professional looking, even in a wonderfully casual work environment like mine.

It helps to wear a hat, sunscreen, good shoes and shorts and to shower and change at the office. However, I generally wear a hat, sunscreen, okay shoes, and short sleeves and carry a blazer, which I put on after about 30 minutes in my overly-air-conditions office. I could change at the office, but I’d have to pay a lot to get access to a shower.