is this:
I'd been thinking about selling my bike- a sport-touring type- and finding something with a more upright seating position, because this one has started to really bother my legs on long rides.
Now I'm wondering if that, or if it'll be 'Get rid of the bike entirely, because I won't be able to ride worth a damn anymore.'
The physical therapist I've been working with says not to do anything permanent yet, because she thinks I've improved quite a bit and might be in pretty good riding shape by the end(in somewhere between 1 and several more months). We'll see.
Dammit, I hate it sitting in the garage, not being ridden.
10 comments:
I’m going to assume you mean bicycles, not motor bikes. 30 years ago I had bad neck problems from riding in the drops, this on top of back problems led me on a quest for a bike that would let me ride upright. I went through, hybrids, recumbents, cruisers and 15 years ago got a bike called a townie, it was made by electra which is now owned by trek. Mine is a 21 speed. These days you can only get 7 or 9 speeds. The frame is extended so the crank is actually a few inches forward of the seat tube. They are in short supply these days but find a trek shop and try one out. Actually I like them so much that I also bought a townie 7 to keep at my florida trailer.
2 weeks ago today I sold my Harley. Just turned 56 have been riding a street bike since I was 15 and dirt bikes before that.
It was time... after broken pelvis, broken back, and a broken neck suffered many years ago in the army, it's just catching up to me and it was not comfortable anymore.
I'm sure I will miss it but I have not been riding a lot lately because it was uncomfortable, and it seems most of my friend is that right aren't writing either.
In my mind I told myself that I will enjoy my Jeep with the top down and the doors off. It's the closest thing to riding a bike I'm telling myself.. we shall see.
As my dad used to say "You didn't quit riding because you got old, you got old because you quit riding."
Joe, motorcycle, a Honda VFR800. Had it for years, runs great, and after about 20-30 minutes the hip feels like someone stabbed me.
Curt, that still count if you stop because of pain?
A couple of suggestions.
go to cycle-ergo to check out riding positions for different bikes
cycle-ergo.com
A light weight bike such as the Kawasaki versys x300 is a lot of fun. sub 400lbs and large gas tank. A set of knobbies and the gravel/fire trails are yours. It has the ninja engine and likes to be revved.
Or an old school Honda PC800. Low maintenance, great storage, honda reliability. Bit heavy and small tank (around 150 mile range when cruising at 90mph or so)
It is not my place to judge and my comment was not intended to imply that I am. My dad died when he was still pretty young (65) so I have no idea what he would have done as he continued aging...but I'm convinced that he's happy he died with a motorcycle still counted among his prized possessions.
The old joke: "Doc, it hurts when I move my arm like this...". "Well, don't move your arm like that." Sounds like valid medical advice to me. You have to make your decisions based on your circumstances.
I think Dad's point was of a spiritual nature, more than physical.
Although I'm a lot like my dad, I can only truly speak for myself because I don't know what was in his heart; but I know that riding for me is almost a religious experience. It calms me when I'm stressed, cools me when I'm angry, revives me when I'm weary, lifts me when I'm down, frees me when I'm trapped, grounds me when I'm drifting...I could go on.
To paraphrase a country song I like "Better to be on my bike thinking about God than in church thinking about riding."
I suppose if I live long enough, someday I'll have to hang up my helmet for the last time, but I fear that will be the day my spirit becomes as old as my body.
That is a day that I dread.
By the way, my Dad was not always right. Another one of his motorcycle sayings was "never ride when it's colder than your age"...a "rule" that I've broken with regularity over the course of my 40+ years on two wheels.
No insult or slap was taken, and I appreciate your comments.
I actually slept halfway decently last night, but still just not enough. Plus I need to eat something. And then try to get some crap caught up which this bloody rain has caused to be put off day after day
By the way: I have hip issues as well. I'm sure I'll be due for a right replacement in the next year or so and probably the left won't be far behind.
I ride a Valkyrie Interstate. I know it seems counterintuitive to suggest that a bigger bike might be better, but I think the difference may be the wider seat. It provides much more support for my hip. I also think the classic street style "straight up" sitting position is far better ergonomically than either the Harley style forward controls position or the sportbike forward leaning position. I think both of those things help a lot. I'm actually more comfortable on my bike for long trips than I am in either my truck or my wife's sedan. It's tougher in town because I have to put my feet down and support the bike more often, but if it gets bad enough I can always trike it out. Three wheels aren't as good as two, but far better than a cage if you ask me.
Just a thought.
One of the first things i did on this one was put on a Sergeant seat: wider, better designed and padded.
Yeah, there are numerous options. Just have to get through the treatment and see how it sits after that, and if can still ride look at a more upright.
Go with a Goldwing 1800. Somewhere around a 2008-2010.
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