[jenk]

I hurt my knee last year, and it made exercise more difficult. I used to walk in the woods with the dogs, but since my knee couldn't take it anymore, my husband found a bike for me.

It is a Raleigh, probably a 90's model, it is a great, smooth ride. My kids call it the "harley" they like to take it for a spin down our 1/4 mile driveway. Anyway, the low budget part of this is that my husband found it at The Salvation Army for 6 dollars.

I started riding it to work--granted, I live in the country and my job is only 5 miles away--but by October I had trimmed down and felt stronger than I had in a very long time. Plus, as we all remember,gas was around 4 bucks a gallon and so riding to work really helped us from becoming gas-poor.

I realize this tidbit is not for everybody, and it sounds kind of pro-hippie, but I really can't wait to get back on that bike when spring rolls around.

[CottonBall]

I realize this tidbit is not for everybody, and it sounds kind of pro-hippie

Not in the least! Or perhaps I'm just of the same mindset.

When I spent last summer in the mountains, with diesel being close to $5 here in Mexifornia, I walked anywhere I needed to go. When I went on hikes, some of my hiking partners would want to drive to a trailhead. That seemed silly since the scenery on the way was just as pretty and only a mile or 2. or 3. Anyway, by the end of the summer, I had gained a perverse kind of pride at being independent of vehicles. I may try a mountain bike next summer.