I love bicycles and bicycling and could bore you to tears recalling voluminous stories of my many bicycles, accessories, trips, and adventures. I would bicycle everyday if I could, and do so in reasonably good weather.
Several years ago, Belinda and I took off at 6am, rode our tandem bicycle 65 miles on a round trip, returning home at 3pm. On one Dead of Winter vacation, we rode our folding bikes from one hotel in South Beach to another on Key Biscayne.
Even though I continue to regularly bicycle, last Summer my longest round trip was 15 miles and I believe Belinda put less than 20 miles on her bicycle.
Old age and past injuries have caught up with us.
Soooooooooo...
I decided to motorize my old single speed bicycle that has been hanging in storage for years. I took it apart and did some maintenance to it, readying it for the build, attaching the frame and one wheel to supports. I kept parts that will be used later in an old milk crate:
This is the kit which is scheduled to arrive today:
Jesus, man! You already crashed it into a drought ridden field? And look at the damage you did to the bike, it isn't even able to stand up straight ?????
Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).
This pic notes a dream come true and a goal reached. I wanted to be able to putt-putt around, transversing the country roads on my motorbike, and visit various rural places that I like.
The small town of Dowell, which is about 5-6 miles north of my place, sits on a rather large hill. My motorbike make the trek up the long hill without assistance, and I stopped at its top to take this pic with its beautiful view.
?You can see for miles and miles...?
On the other side of the horizon, about 15 miles away as the crow flies, runs the mighty Mississippi.
Other things worth noting is the fact that, every now and then, one of the two chains come off. And, I lost one of my bike bags which contained a bike pump, journal, first aid & tire patch kit, and other odds and ends. I retraced my route, but it was not to be found. I'm a little sad, because I've had that bag for about 25 years.
Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).
5 hours ago, Curious1997 said:
there are pedals but doesn't the engine get in the way?
Good question, Curious, and one of my initial concerns. With BikeDingleBerry, the instructional video (a joke) said a wide crank setup was optional, but the parts list included the setup. Sure enough, it came with the kit.
The crank itself extends about 2 inches more outside of the bottom barrel than a regular setup, and the cranks that hold the pedals, are also curved away from the engine area. Together, this allows the rider to pedal the motorbike without hitting the engine.
I am 64 years old and have had numerous knee injuries and one surgery for a torn right ACL, so my knees are not the best. However, working out every day, bicycling and using an elliptical has kept my knees relatively strong and sturdy.
I have learned that different structures are utilized when walking, using the elliptical, a typical bicycle, a crank forward, or this motor bike. On initial runs, I had to pedal the motorbike back home when something went wrong and I felt it in my knees.
Not only was I pedaling a single speed bicycle carrying with about 20 lbs of equipment, I had to assume a wider stance in order to pedal. The pain reminded me of riding a horse, stretching the gracilis muscles and compromising my knee joints.
I have found that when my body pains from a strain, the best thing to do is to put it through a repetitious exercise, and in this case, the universal and the elliptical.
It's almost as though the strained structures remember how they are supposed to feel and things go back to status quo. The next time that I had to pedal home after a failed run, I felt very little to no strain.
Look at me. I'm rambling. But this stuff is so darned interesting to me, I could blather on for hours.
Good question, Curious, and one of my initial concerns. With BikeDingleBerry, the instructional video (a joke) said a wide crank setup was optional, but the parts list included the setup. Sure enough, it came with the kit.
The crank itself extends about 2 inches more outside of the bottom barrel than a regular setup, and the cranks that hold the pedals, are also curved away from the engine area. Together, this allows the rider to pedal the motorbike without hitting the engine.
I am 64 years old and have had numerous knee injuries and one surgery for a torn right ACL, so my knees are not the best. However, working out every day, bicycling and using an elliptical has kept my knees relatively strong and sturdy.
I have learned that different structures are utilized when walking, using the elliptical, a typical bicycle, a crank forward, or this motor bike. On initial runs, I had to pedal the motorbike back home when something went wrong and I felt it in my knees.
Not only was I pedaling a single speed bicycle carrying with about 20 lbs of equipment, I had to assume a wider stance in order to pedal. The pain reminded me of riding a horse, stretching the gracilis muscles and compromising my knee joints.
I have found that when my body pains from a strain, the best thing to do is to put it through a repetitious exercise, and in this case, the universal and the elliptical.
It's almost as though the strained structures remember how they are supposed to feel and things go back to status quo. The next time that I had to pedal home after a failed run, I felt very little to no strain.
Look at me. I'm rambling. But this stuff is so darned interesting to me, I could blather on for hours.
Thank you all for your interest!
I find it very interesting as well. I'm one of those men who have to fix everything if the time frame is right.
I haven't been visiting AN much recently. Very busy finishing two foreclosures I recently picked up for a local church who wants to house mothers and their kids. Not a religious person but it's for a good cause. Very annoying how intrusive the women are though. They seem to think I need mothering. I should introduce them to my mother and let her scare the daylights out of them. She's extremely possessive of her children even though she pretends we're a burden to her.
Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).
I also find it interesting when members intertwine their interests into these forums as you just did, Curious. The brain power that goes into those interests, outside of actively working in nursing, is intriguing.
11 hours ago, Curious1997 said:
Very annoying how intrusive the women are though. They seem to think I need mothering.
Sensing that you and I share a personality common ground, Curious, the reasons for these women's actions are a result of our personalities.
We all are attracted to certain appearances and personalities, are drawn to those qualities, but also desire to have a certain amount of control.
In other words, being intelligent and attractive, with a good sense of humor is alluring. Off kilter and mischievous traits are just as alluring, but conjure up a need for control, so the situation, or person, is not seen as getting out of hand.
So, if we weren't so darned handsome and interesting, Curious, the women would leave us alone.
I also find it interesting when members intertwine their interests into these forums as you just did, Curious. The brain power that goes into those interests, outside of actively working in nursing, is intriguing.
Sensing that you and I share a personality common ground, Curious, the reasons for these women's actions are a result of our personalities.
We all are attracted to certain appearances and personalities, are drawn to those qualities, but also desire to have a certain amount of control.
In other words, being intelligent and attractive, with a good sense of humor is alluring. Off kilter and mischievous traits are just as alluring, but conjure up a need for control, so the situation, or person, is not seen as getting out of hand.
So, if we weren't so darned handsome and interesting, Curious, the women would leave us alone.
I only work 2-3 days a week per deim so I have the time.
I think the women are just busy bodies with too much time. They need to get jobs instead of past times. I must look like a project to them. They actually all seem to be competing for the pastor's approval.
Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).
On 5/13/2021 at 5:48 PM, Davey Do said:
I had to assume a wider stance in order to pedal. The pain reminded me of riding a horse, stretching the gracilis muscles and compromising my knee joints.
I want to send out a hearty thank you to @Curious1997 for his question about the pedals getting in the way of the engine.
I was thinking about my answer regarding the strain on certain structures when pedalling the motorbike. I thought, "What if I'm several miles from home, the motorbike craps out, I'm unable to do a road fix, and have to pedal back?"
That might be painful.
So, I've decided to work my way up to pedalling the motorbike for miles. It'll be more exercise, and should the motorbike crap out miles from home, I'll be ready for it.
I've begun my motorbike pedalling with at least one mile per trip and plan to work my way up from there.
I want to send out a hearty thank you to @Curious1997 for his question about the pedals getting in the way of the engine.
I was thinking about my answer regarding the strain on certain structures when pedalling the motorbike. I thought, "What if I'm several miles from home, the motorbike craps out, I'm unable to do a road fix, and have to pedal back?"
That might be painful.
So, I've decided to work my way up to pedalling the motorbike for miles. It'll be more exercise, and should the motorbike crap out miles from home, I'll be ready for it.
I've begun my motorbike pedalling with at least one mile per trip and plan to work my way up from there.
Thanks, Curious!
Seems a dangerous past time, even for a tremendous athlete like you Davey? Asphalt isn't getting any softer!
Why not a bicycle with a three wheeler set up? Inherently more stable with the same outcome and you can place the engine in a more convenient spot.
Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).
25 minutes ago, Curious1997 said:
Seems a dangerous past time, even for a tremendous athlete like you Davey? Asphalt isn't getting any softer!
Why not a bicycle with a three wheeler set up? Inherently more stable with the same outcome and you can place the engine in a more convenient spot.
Thank you for the kind and caring words, Curious, and I've given a lot of thought to my decision to build a motorbike.
Let's digress:
I had given up motorcycles after this incident and became an avid bicyclist in 1979 when my '74 VW Dasher crapped out on me.
I had a discussion with Belinda one night while watching a movie:
Belinda is very supportive of the motorbike because it doesn't go all that fast and won't be ridden in high trafficked areas. The motorbike is also a romance thing- you know- I build it, I tweak it, I maintain it, I fix it, I ride it. And eventually, I'll get bored with it.
Like my '51 Chevy pickup that I took apart after an MVA and resurrected it, taking the majority of my free time for 3 1/2 years.
Last Summer I drove it around 3 or 4 times.
Once I do something, it's done and I find something else to interest me. That's one reason why I love art so much: Every project is an adventure that I can approach in a different manner.
Once again, Curious, thanks for your input. Who knows? Your post may once again inspire an alternate viewpoint!
Davey Do
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