Schwinnhund

I just discovered the forum. Cool!

I've been riding for about 40 years, with a 4 year hiatus due to being in a wheel chair. Drs. said I'd never walk normally again. Used the time to get my doctorate and teach myself how to walk again. Now I can hike 25 miles a day, and ride centuries (except for short wind, but I'm working on that). Drs. don't always get it right.

I rebuild vintage and classic bikes and I'm trying to ride 20+ miles a day. With gas at $3.00/gal, now's a good time. I gained 130 pounds in the wheel chair and now I am trying to get rid of the excess. It goes on a lot easier than it comes off at my age. Now, when I sit on my Road Bike, the computer screen says "One at a time, please!!!!!"

I did a century a few weeks ago. I finished, but I was afraid they would have to time me with a calender.

I am a staunch bicycle advocate and am always looking for ways to irritate our local officials about the lack of bike routes, etc..... I am a bicycle vehicularist.

I have rebuilt many vintage and classic bikes and ride them all (see my profile). The newest bike I own is a 1992 Specialized.

When I was younger, I used to race (back when bike shorts and jerseys were wool, and we wore leather 'hairnet' style helmets). I raced in the USMC when we had a bike team (amatuer) on each base. We raced other units, the Navy and the Air Force teams. It was a great time. I made many bike tours of parts of Europe, Asia and the Middle East. This was before they had mountain bikes. Many times in my life, my old Schwinn Varsity was my only transportation, and used to ride to work, and from Dallas, Tx., to Houston, Tx. a lot. I still like friction shifters, wool bike clothing and almost all my bikes have either Brooks, Ideal or Wright leather saddles on them.

Now I use my bikes as much as possible for transportaion. I commute to my office (26 miles, one-way), to the store, haul trash (I have an INSTEP trailer), and go hunting, fishing and camping on my bikes. I live in the Cohutta Wilderness of N. Ga, at the foot of Grassy Mountain. There are few paved roads here.

It's great to be here on this site!

Semper Fi!

cal_gundert05

WOW, you've got quite a story! Welcome.

You've probably seen the Classic & Vintage, Bicycle Mechanics, 50+, Commuting, Clyde & Athena, and Advocacy & Safety forums already--if not, check them out.

I think lots of people (including me) would be interested to hear about your weight loss and century ride efforts--you know, really stick it to the nay-sayers who said you'd never even walk.

East Hill

I can't add much to that . As a C & Ver, it sounds as if you will enjoy our little group.

Bring photos .

Welcome to BF!

East Hill

qcpmsame 

Great to have another Marine and someone the docs had told wouldn't walk normally ever again and proved them wrong here at BF. Sounds like you have the commuting and advocacy down pat. That is beautiful country where you are living.

Semper Fi!
Bill

Schwinnhund

When I got hurt (by riding in a car with an idiot driver), I was 171 lbs (I am only 5'7"). This was the second time I was told I would never walk normally again (the first was in Vietnam, after stepping on a land-mine. I walked again, finished a second tour, and re-enlisted in the Navy as a Diver for 8 years). After a year in the wheel-chair, my weight went to 260 lbs. They put a steel rod in my leg where the thigh bone used to be. It took serveral years, but I finally got out of the chair and started walking again. Then I started swimming and bicycling. I am still not in the shape I was in before the accident (and I may never be, as I am now over 50 years old), but I went down to 195 lbs, and still working on the rest. All by bicycling instead of driving.

I have learned a lot from the experience.

Semper Fi!

10 Wheels

Dang ! How young were you when you served in Nam?

Schwinnhund

17 when I got In-Counry. 18 when I got fragged. My parents signed for me to go into the Corp on my 17th birthday (I wanted the GI Bill for college). I graduated High School at 16 (in an accelerated learning program). I was in the Civil Air Patrol since I was 13, was a Cadet Major, and had already taken some college level science classes. I already had a drivers license, a PADI dive card and a FAA Glider Pilots license. I was an active kid (still am). I got PFC automatically out of Boot Camp, and had my LCPL before I finished ITS. I was a CPL when I got hurt, and made SGT before I mustered out.

I still believe the most powerful and dangerous weapon in the world is the MIND, expecially when it has an IDEA!
Semper Fi!

10 Wheels

Your Still Sharp Sarg.

East Hill

Do you still go gliding? There's another member in Georgia who goes sailplaning for fun as well....

You are an inspiration, and I'm glad that you have turned to cycling for the benefits which you have obviously derived from our collective passion!

East Hill