Bikeforums.net is a forum about nothing but bikes. Our community can help you find information about hard-to-find and localized information like bicycle tours, specialties like where in your area to have your recumbent bike serviced, or what are the best bicycle tires and seats for the activities you use your bike for.cranky old dude
07-11-10, 02:01 PM
I rode the 'Hellbent for Breakfast' ride this morning with the local recumbent enthusiasts.
It's way across town and I transport my bike there via my van. While putting the Tour Easy back into the van at the end of the run, I noticed that one of my Planet Bike Super Flash tail lights had popped off.
That's a $30 light and two Ray-O-Vac rechargable Hybrid batteries. Those batteries aren't locally available anymore.
After a bit of contemplation I took an educated guess as to where it most likely popped off and drove towards that location. I parked in a nearby park, unloaded the bike and rode thru the area. I found the remnants of my poor tail light right where I thought I would. The batteries, the light, it was all squished by heavy traffic. I'll miss the batteries the most!
Now here's the cool part. While riding back to the park and my van, I picked up a tail. Unknown by me I was being followed by a nice old gent in a small SUV . He caught up to me as I reached my van and jumped out of his car all excited.
It turns out that he has Parkinsons Disease, is a cyclist, and his Neurologist had suggested he might be better off riding a recumbent rather than the mountain bike he had just recently crashed (not due to the Parkinsons). He couldn't believe his good fortune at actually getting to talk to a recumbentist (?) and even have the opportunity to sit on a recumbent. He was so excited that he had to zap himself a couple times with some little transmitter he uses to help control his symptoms!
I gave him the web address of an excellent dealer downstate and my name and e-mail address. We visited for a bit and I answered as many of his questions as I could.
As I watched him drive off, heading to the meeting that he was now going to be late for, I couldn't help but think.....because I was so concerned about a couple of silly litttle batteries this fellow was about to enter a new chapter in his life through the guidance of a reputable and knowledgable shop. I'm confident they won't steer him wrong. I wish him all the luck in the world and hope to see him ride by me sometime.
It's way across town and I transport my bike there via my van. While putting the Tour Easy back into the van at the end of the run, I noticed that one of my Planet Bike Super Flash tail lights had popped off.
That's a $30 light and two Ray-O-Vac rechargable Hybrid batteries. Those batteries aren't locally available anymore.
After a bit of contemplation I took an educated guess as to where it most likely popped off and drove towards that location. I parked in a nearby park, unloaded the bike and rode thru the area. I found the remnants of my poor tail light right where I thought I would. The batteries, the light, it was all squished by heavy traffic. I'll miss the batteries the most!
Now here's the cool part. While riding back to the park and my van, I picked up a tail. Unknown by me I was being followed by a nice old gent in a small SUV . He caught up to me as I reached my van and jumped out of his car all excited.
It turns out that he has Parkinsons Disease, is a cyclist, and his Neurologist had suggested he might be better off riding a recumbent rather than the mountain bike he had just recently crashed (not due to the Parkinsons). He couldn't believe his good fortune at actually getting to talk to a recumbentist (?) and even have the opportunity to sit on a recumbent. He was so excited that he had to zap himself a couple times with some little transmitter he uses to help control his symptoms!
I gave him the web address of an excellent dealer downstate and my name and e-mail address. We visited for a bit and I answered as many of his questions as I could.
As I watched him drive off, heading to the meeting that he was now going to be late for, I couldn't help but think.....because I was so concerned about a couple of silly litttle batteries this fellow was about to enter a new chapter in his life through the guidance of a reputable and knowledgable shop. I'm confident they won't steer him wrong. I wish him all the luck in the world and hope to see him ride by me sometime.