Fencing & Fuel

[remise]

It has totally affected my fencing.

With the prices at the club going up and the price of gas going up, I noticed last month a significant drop-off in attendance. Many of the people I used to fence with regularly are no longer coming to fence. For me, fencing is a 45 minute drive one way. I just can't afford that type of expense 2 to 3 times per week. If gas prices continue down their present course, I will certainly opt to just go to the health club which is 10 minutes away.

I understand though, that another club will be opening somewhat closer, so I may still be able to fence.

[telkanuru]

Round trip to club for me is 2 gallons, so it's gone from $6 to $8. Not exactly a huge deal.

Most tournaments are closer than my club is.

Efficient engines are nice.

[foilfanatic]

I realize I stupidly included the same question twice on the survey.

I guess we just have to add the results for the first and last question. The hazards of late-night posting.

[counterattack]

It has affected the way I get to practice. I used to take my car, but my wife's car gets much better mileage (37mps vs. 23mpg) so now it is worth the extra 3 miles out of my way to switch cars in the evening since I drive 50 miles each way. Also, I get more takers when I ask for car pools. And I have noticed that more distant tourneys from the population centers have much worse attendance than they used to, so it affects my fencing due to weaker tourneys.

[crquack]

My club is a round-trip of 98 km.

I gladly pay the gas for a once-a-week opportunity.

However, if I know the attendance is going to be poor on any particular night I do not go anymore.

[downunder]

Originally Posted by epeemike81

£1.20/liter x 3.784 liters/gallon x $1.9619/£1 = $8.91/Gallon....

not exactly "Well over $10 a gallon"...

-m

Originally Posted by oiuyt

Ah, but see, he meant IMPERIAL gallons (which, of course, we don't use).

£1.20/liter x 4.546 liters/Imp. gallon x $1.9619/£1 = $10.70/Imp. Gallon

-B

I just asked google how many litres in a gallon... how confusing.

I grew up in Australia, we use metric!

[Robert Smith]

Originally Posted by yazzywazzy

...you have the life with bigger a bigger country which equals to places with more room to fence.

Here in BC, Canada, it's more a case of more room NOT to fence. I'm in Victoria; there's one other club here that seems to be slowly shutting down, and the next closest competitive clubs are in Vancouver, 50 miles / 80km away. Trouble is, that 50 miles takes most of four hours because there's a 90-minute ferry ride in the middle. Driving to tournaments, the cost of gas is insignificant in comparison to the $50 for the ferry plus $8 per passenger. Plus the cost of overnight accommodation if you don't want to get up at 5:30 to make the 7:00 ferry to get to the tournament around 10:00.

As to whether gas prices have affected my fencing frequency? Not at all. I'm the guy with the keys to the gym, so if I don't show, no-one fences. Oh, the power! It's almost 20 minutes drive to the gym, usually with four fencers plus all our gear, and sometimes with beginner gear for 20 too. The bus would not be an option.

[Welted 24/7]

I live in an area with no public transit, and it's not even remotely practical to take a bike(45 minute ride to the nearest town, which is about halfway to the club). So I pretty much have to suck it up and deal, and also dream of moving to either Boston or DC within a month or two, where I can actually use my bike(and the bus) again.

[epeemike81]

Originally Posted by downunder

I just asked google how many litres in a gallon... how confusing.

I grew up in Australia, we use metric!

yep, you get a different answer if you ask this question on Google or Google UK...

-m

[downunder]

Originally Posted by epeemike81

yep, you get a different answer if you ask this question on Google or Google UK...

-m

Ah that'd be right. Defaults to google uk here.

[Nolano]

Not affected me. I ride my bike, or carpool. It's not too far, about 5-8 miles, maybe. And for tournaments, I go with another fencer who goes to almost every one. Gas split isn't too bad.

[hello?]

Has definitely affected me. I used to go to my coach's club (45 min. to an hour away depending on traffic) two or three times a week and to my secondary club (45 min away) twice a week. I have since cut back dramatically and go to closer clubs.

[wahrman]

Ugh, my 90 mile round trip to the club now costs about $16.
Yesterday was the first day I bothered in a week and a half.

Maybe I'll start playing hockey again.

[Fencergrl]

Originally Posted by wahrman

Maybe I'll start playing hockey again.

It is a requirement for maintaining your Canadian citizenship.

[Slacker]

Gas prices are just beginning to influence how much I fence. I commute an hour to the club, twice a week. Once a month I commute to a local tournament. I would like to get to some of the Chicago meets, but time, gas and the fact that I'm not all that good factor into the picture. Now there's another local tourney scheduled this month, and I will have a hard time selling that one to the family...

[thisissparta514]

I love living in New York. My club is half an hour away by subway, and it isn't even the closest one to my house.

[App13]

Living in southern NH the only places near me are 30+ minuets away.

[Peach]

I'm riding my bike to fencing more often these days, but then it's warmer out.

[whiteandbluefencer]

Originally Posted by yazzywazzy

True but then again you have the life with bigger a bigger country which equals to places with more room to fence. Compare with where I come from, I take the public transport every single day plus it's cheap. But we probably envy you guys who have really huge fencing studios.

Um, I drive about 40 miles one way to my fencing club, and we don't have large fencing "studios". Ours is rather small actually and we share the facility with another club that fences sabre (my club only fences foil).

Gas prices haven't affected how often I go to the club (three times a week), but of course I will only be fencing at this club during the summer break. While I'm away at college I fence with my college club and so practice is only as far away as a walk across campus.

[wahrman]

Sadly, my hockey gear is in Michigan. I played here a few seasons ago and
didn't enjoy the atmosphere.

But I do have my curling stuff with me and have been trying to gather enough
fencers to go curling to justify the curling club giving them a lesson.

But I've figured out my fuel cost dilemma. Instead of driving 45 miles each way
for fencing, I'm moving next to the club. That way I'm driving 45 miles for work.

Vastly different situation.

Originally Posted by Fencergrl

It is a requirement for maintaining your Canadian citizenship.