PapeteeBooh

That's it! I have done it, I bought a car (getting it this evening).

After a couple of years of intensive commuting I have to give up cycling for a while (perhaps even a long while ) to protect my wrists and thumbs that are in bad shape. I feel like burying myself in shame but I got a car, not even an eco friendly half-electric one, no. A diesel

I got a 1980 Mercedes Benz 240 D (you can tell from the year I went for straight quality without looking at the cost - so what? I am a 1971 model and I still run fine).

I have tears in my eyes when I pass cyclists now. But perhaps instead of being a generous nature, I will take my revenge on cyclists I see and scream abuse at them or throw beer at them while on the road (apparently it must be fun, since many motorist enjoy it). No, I think not.

Richard D

Hope your hands recover soon. Just don't try driving down any cycle paths.

Richard

ljbike

Hope you'll keep in touch with us through your transition from commuter to motorist and back again. You have to come back to biking...you HAVE to. Hope you heal quickly.

PapeteeBooh

I can see myself doing that quite easily. Ooops, wrong vehicle.

I still can't believe I am driving a car

JonR

Have a bumper sticker made for your diesel: "MY OTHER CAR IS A COLNAGO."

Or wait till 2007 and buy one of the Bike Forums bumper stickers. They should be ready about then, along with the jerseys.

fubar5

Pansy....J/k

diamondback

Do both when your healthy, I bike and car.

Matadon

Wow; I'm sorry to hear that. Just cycle when you can, otherwise your bike might get mad an assault you in your shower [cue "Psycho" theme].

Chris L

You have my sincerest condolences.

Allister

You know, recumbents don't put any pressure on your wrists, probably even less so than driving a car. Also, a recumbent would probably be a darn sight cheaper than a Merc, even a 22 y.o. one.

LittleBigMan

(etc.)

Let me say, PPB, Allister would be a genius, if it weren't for the
OBVIOUS simplicity or his idea!

But then, that's characteristic, isn't it?

(I'm with the man. Get a recum. Continue to enjoy riding proud.)

(You can get a zinger of a nice one for about $800--the Rans Wave.)

pat5319

PapeteeBooh,

What's the story with your wrists and thumbs?

Ride Again
Pat

Weasel

Get well soon.

aturley

Hey, don't feel so bad. I have a car, too. I think a lot of people here do as well. I hope your wrists and thumbs get better. People have already mentioned the recumbent, so I guess I'll leave it at that.

Let us know how you damaged yourself. It might be good to help others avoid a similar fate.

andy

PapeteeBooh

I think a recumbent would not be safe for my high traffic night commute. This is the main reason why I don't plan to get it also I have tendonitis on my thumbs an any hand brake is bad for me.

Largely I got this because of riding a) a lot b) with a bad position (locking my elbow, sadle pointing down) c) on crappy road (when I attach something on my bike with 5 bolts it is still loose after a week due to vibrations, I guess my body takes vibrations as well.

JonR

It certainly does. I'm careful about position on my bikes, consciously try to keep hands relaxed, remove them from the bar for an instant on big bumps, etc.--but nothing (not even suspension, which I don't have) could completely protect me from some of the jolts that are simply unavoidable. (Well, they're avoidable, but that would mean maintaining the streets, and that seems beyond the power of our local governments to carry out.)

As a side note, I believe I would have recovered from stomach surgery a lot quicker if I hadn't gone back to work when I did, riding buses that are almost as jolt-prone as a bike. I could feel things going on inside that were not good....

Feldman

You only think you disliked cars before--this will show you the essence of "familiarity breeds contempt" if you have any awareness at all, it did for me. Osama bin Laden thanks us for our contributions.

MadCat

My best cycling buddy just bought a car recently. It's strange because he complains that rideing in the winter was too cold and miserable though he his winter cycling gear makes him look like a red and black storm trooper with random strips of reflective gear. He's purchased nearlt double what I bother to buy for winter cycling clothes. At some point I do take a break from cycling and ride the bus here and there. I just don't understand his wish to own the tool of those other people. The only conclusion I can conceive is that his girlfriend moved in with him. She's from Arkansas and alien to Edmonton winter.
I want my cycling buddy back. (sob!)
Thing better get back to normal in the summer or I'm finding a new cycling buddy though they are few and far between.