SchreiberBike

I’ve been riding with varying degrees of seriousness for over 25 years. I’ve had knee trouble for the past eight years – surgery twice – riding with one leg for some time – now not riding at all because the other knee started acting up. I used to be a regular contributor here and before that to rec.bicycling. In fact I use the handle SchreiberBike everywhere on the internet. I really love to ride.

I’ve raced. I’ve toured. I’ve ridden brevets. I’ve completed triathlons. I’ve commuted. I’ve worked in a bike shop. I’ve ridden in below zero F weather. I once rode 313 miles in 24 hours. I’ve ridden with my wife and my children and I’ve made so many friends. I’ve ridden in three different countries and many different states.

A neighbor has just gotten in to cycling semi-seriously and he told me he was interested in trading up from the steel Schwinn he had been riding since high-school. My good bike, which I believe I truly love, has just hung on the wall for the last three years. It’s his now. It fits him well. It’s being used as it should be. He gave me a fair price for it.

But now I’m sad. I can’t believe how much. Thanks for listening. Appreciate your knees.

Thanks, John

Longhorn

John, does this mean you're not riding at all now? Have you considered an electric bike? I have one. It might be a way to keep riding but go easy on your knees. I'll be glad to pass on some info about them if you're interested.

cc_rider

I know how you feel.
I had been a fencer since high school. Loved the sport. Did tournaments, coached, taught. Eventualy knee problems forced me away from the sport I loved. I had always used cycling to crosstrain. I started to use it as rehad, to stay fit, and eventualy learned to love it as much as I had fencing. I'm resigned to never fencing again (although I haven't sold off my equipment yet) but I intend to keep cycling for as long as I can.

Hope you can find your second love, too.

halfspeed

Can you consider handcycles?

freeranger

Can't say I know how you feel, and hope I don't ever have to quit riding. I do empathize, must be difficult to be forced to leave behind an endeavor which you so obviously enjoyed. Maybe get involved in one of the local bike clubs as an organizer, advocacy, or what not. Maybe being involved in the sport in a different way might help? Wishing you the best in the future.

cooker

I sold a trusty beater recently and I felt a bit sad even with that....you get attached to your bikes.
Sorry your health is interfering with an important activity. Hope you can find a way to work around it.
Robert

telenick

John,

You have lived a good life ...don't stop. I second the hand cycle if you lust for the spin.

SchreiberBike

Thanks for the ideas and the support. I’m not riding at all. I’m learning to juggle, I can juggle three clubs pretty well, do lots of tricks with three balls and. I’m working on juggling four balls. It’s a challenging activity and since I can’t even walk very far, it’s a good one for me. I also swim, but I don’t get much joy out of it.

Hand cycles look cool, but they cost a pretty penny for even basic models - maybe someday. I’ve thought about getting a motorcycle, but again there’s the cost and one of the things I like about cycling is the pure effort and silence.

I haven’t associated with my old club as I just find it too depressing, but I may come back to that after a while. There is a group locally which does repairs to old bikes for homeless people. I’ve been thinking about getting together with them to see if there’s something I could do. Yeah, I really should do that.

Zee

I'm so sorry to hear it. It must be very hard to have to face the possibility of giving up something you enjoy so much.

Are you handy? I see your post about repairing bikes. Maybe you could check into something like this https://cgi.ebay.com/Plans-Recumbent-...QQcmdZViewItem and see if there's a way to change it to a hand cycle?

Siu Blue Wind

You have accomplished more "bike things" than a lot of people have ever had the chance to. Now is your time to share it. I agree with what freeranger and Zee had posted. It doesn't stop here. I realize that you cannot pedal with your knees but you can pedal with your hands. And you can share your expertise by repairing or building bikes for others. Build your own custom hand cycle bike so you can continue your rides. And you can start again. You can go on new adventures with your new bike and this time you can keep memoirs. Write and take pictures. And pass it on to others how your poor knees didn't stop you from doing what you love. Your riding didn't end. It's just that you've done so much, now it's time to do the same things, only differently!

BuckyYuen

Do you have medical? Is knee surgery an option? So far I have one bad knee - tore the ACL in martial arts. Not old enough for the replacement surgery, but would consider it if I was in your shoes. Good luck with finding a solution - I know I'll probably be where you are in a few years.

allgoo19

You said it right. It's the challenge to one's physical ability that bicycles can give. Powered wheel can't give you that.

It's scarey, someday we all have to go through this. I don't want to think that far.