Value being car free, while you can
#1
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Value being car free, while you can
I was car free for twenty years, but no longer- due to multiple health issues. Enjoy and value it while you can
#2
Sophomoric Member
What happened? (if you don't mind talking about it)
So far, my own health problems make it harder for me to drive a car than ride a bike. Walking is best for me at the moment, though.
So far, my own health problems make it harder for me to drive a car than ride a bike. Walking is best for me at the moment, though.
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Car free does not mean public transit free or taxi free. Should my health fail me where I can no longer ride a bike, I'll still use public transportation. In fact, I'll be in much better position financially to use costly taxi service as I get older from not owning a car.
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I think it's equally common for families to quietly take the car keys away from elders who can no longer drive safely. This can be devastating for an aged person who has no experience with car free living.
#5
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
For me walking / driving / using transit cause me great physical issues (back problems) while riding is both a way to get around and a good therapy to reduce pain... not being able to do this will be pretty hard on me unless things change for the better.
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[QUOTE=Roody;10089261]What happened? (if you don't mind talking about it)
Why? ( I haven't stopped riding entirely, but I do need to use a car quite a bit ) Here goes-
I need new knees ala motorcycle crash, "sand lot" tackle football, rugby, 25 years of very very crazy and fast skiing, riding from here to the top Snoqualmie Pass in winter ( 1 was moving to Seattle) in 6 days with 230 lbs. of gear, probably 2 or 3 hundred thousand hard miles on the bike, getting hit by five cars, and I use a cane when I walk
Also I have/had, badly sprained ankle, chronic bronchitis, asthma, lung fibrosis, separated shoulder, collapsed lung, broken ribs, 3 broken collar bones- 2L 1R, 4 bad discs in my back, 1 in my 7 neck-(I was paraplegic for about 3-4 min on that one) , dislocated thumb and connecting bones and torn ligaments and tendons in my left hand- I didn't know it for 30 years and the fix makes it worse, circulatory disease- ( I have sludge for blood), 4 strokes, 3 pulmonary embolisms, a 26 mm titanium screen in my heart to plug a hole in it (since birth), 4 Hernias, at least 3 concussions- I'm sure there's more I've forgotten and some I'll keep to myself
Why? ( I haven't stopped riding entirely, but I do need to use a car quite a bit ) Here goes-
I need new knees ala motorcycle crash, "sand lot" tackle football, rugby, 25 years of very very crazy and fast skiing, riding from here to the top Snoqualmie Pass in winter ( 1 was moving to Seattle) in 6 days with 230 lbs. of gear, probably 2 or 3 hundred thousand hard miles on the bike, getting hit by five cars, and I use a cane when I walk
Also I have/had, badly sprained ankle, chronic bronchitis, asthma, lung fibrosis, separated shoulder, collapsed lung, broken ribs, 3 broken collar bones- 2L 1R, 4 bad discs in my back, 1 in my 7 neck-(I was paraplegic for about 3-4 min on that one) , dislocated thumb and connecting bones and torn ligaments and tendons in my left hand- I didn't know it for 30 years and the fix makes it worse, circulatory disease- ( I have sludge for blood), 4 strokes, 3 pulmonary embolisms, a 26 mm titanium screen in my heart to plug a hole in it (since birth), 4 Hernias, at least 3 concussions- I'm sure there's more I've forgotten and some I'll keep to myself
Last edited by pat5319; 11-30-09 at 02:35 AM.
#8
Sophomoric Member
Why? ( I haven't stopped riding entirely, but I do need to use a car quite a bit ) Here goes-
I need new knees ala motorcycle crash, "sand lot" tackle football, rugby, 25 years of very very crazy and fast skiing, riding from here to the top Snoqualmie Pass in winter ( 1 was moving to Seattle) in 6 days with 230 lbs. of gear, probably 2 or 3 hundred thousand hard miles on the bike, getting hit by five cars, and I use a cane when I walk
Also I have/had, badly sprained ankle, chronic bronchitis, asthma, lung fibrosis, separated shoulder, collapsed lung, broken ribs, 3 broken collar bones- 2L 1R, 4 bad discs in my back, 1 in my 7 neck-(I was paraplegic for about 3-4 min on that one) , dislocated thumb and connecting bones and torn ligaments and tendons in my left hand- I didn't know it for 30 years and the fix makes it worse, circulatory disease- ( I have sludge for blood), 4 strokes, 3 pulmonary embolisms, a 26 mm titanium screen in my heart to plug a hole in it (since birth), 4 Hernias, at least 3 concussions- I'm sure there's more I've forgotten and some I'll keep to myself
I need new knees ala motorcycle crash, "sand lot" tackle football, rugby, 25 years of very very crazy and fast skiing, riding from here to the top Snoqualmie Pass in winter ( 1 was moving to Seattle) in 6 days with 230 lbs. of gear, probably 2 or 3 hundred thousand hard miles on the bike, getting hit by five cars, and I use a cane when I walk
Also I have/had, badly sprained ankle, chronic bronchitis, asthma, lung fibrosis, separated shoulder, collapsed lung, broken ribs, 3 broken collar bones- 2L 1R, 4 bad discs in my back, 1 in my 7 neck-(I was paraplegic for about 3-4 min on that one) , dislocated thumb and connecting bones and torn ligaments and tendons in my left hand- I didn't know it for 30 years and the fix makes it worse, circulatory disease- ( I have sludge for blood), 4 strokes, 3 pulmonary embolisms, a 26 mm titanium screen in my heart to plug a hole in it (since birth), 4 Hernias, at least 3 concussions- I'm sure there's more I've forgotten and some I'll keep to myself
Did you find it hard to slow down on the bike? I know a gung-** athlete who can't seem to figure out that he doesn't have to sprint through every yellow light or ride down all the stairs in the park. It even took me as while to realize that slowing down to 10 mph when hurt is still three times faster than walking.
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#9
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Roody- don't feel bad for me I'LL be OK!! I see a guy fairly regularly who "lives" in a wheelchair- he has legs, but they're vestiges folded up behind his back and I have the love a sweet, sweet woman
Yes, it is kinda hard to take slowing down sometimes especially when I used to sprint at 40 plus and have to work hard to get to10 sometimes and 20 now is rare.. BUT, I have some great memories, some folks around here still talk about and respect me and the things I've done... hope is alive there is a chance I can ride with my friends again without them having to take an "easy" day to ride with me
Yes, it is kinda hard to take slowing down sometimes especially when I used to sprint at 40 plus and have to work hard to get to10 sometimes and 20 now is rare.. BUT, I have some great memories, some folks around here still talk about and respect me and the things I've done... hope is alive there is a chance I can ride with my friends again without them having to take an "easy" day to ride with me
Last edited by pat5319; 11-30-09 at 10:58 PM.
#11
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Wanna race
I always use 10mph as my average for longer rides...
Aaron
I always use 10mph as my average for longer rides...
Aaron
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Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
#13
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I always use 10mph as my average for longer rides...
#14
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[QUOTE=pat5319;10089570]
WOW! Pat, you've had a hard life. Incredible.
I guess you're probably going to need a car in your future. No question about that. I still think you should have taken it a little easy in life. The abuse we do on our body when we're young really comes back at a latter date. Good luck.
What happened? (if you don't mind talking about it)
Why? ( I haven't stopped riding entirely, but I do need to use a car quite a bit ) Here goes-
I need new knees ala motorcycle crash, "sand lot" tackle football, rugby, 25 years of very very crazy and fast skiing, riding from here to the top Snoqualmie Pass in winter ( 1 was moving to Seattle) in 6 days with 230 lbs. of gear, probably 2 or 3 hundred thousand hard miles on the bike, getting hit by five cars, and I use a cane when I walk
Also I have/had, badly sprained ankle, chronic bronchitis, asthma, lung fibrosis, separated shoulder, collapsed lung, broken ribs, 3 broken collar bones- 2L 1R, 4 bad discs in my back, 1 in my 7 neck-(I was paraplegic for about 3-4 min on that one) , dislocated thumb and connecting bones and torn ligaments and tendons in my left hand- I didn't know it for 30 years and the fix makes it worse, circulatory disease- ( I have sludge for blood), 4 strokes, 3 pulmonary embolisms, a 26 mm titanium screen in my heart to plug a hole in it (since birth), 4 Hernias, at least 3 concussions- I'm sure there's more I've forgotten and some I'll keep to myself
Why? ( I haven't stopped riding entirely, but I do need to use a car quite a bit ) Here goes-
I need new knees ala motorcycle crash, "sand lot" tackle football, rugby, 25 years of very very crazy and fast skiing, riding from here to the top Snoqualmie Pass in winter ( 1 was moving to Seattle) in 6 days with 230 lbs. of gear, probably 2 or 3 hundred thousand hard miles on the bike, getting hit by five cars, and I use a cane when I walk
Also I have/had, badly sprained ankle, chronic bronchitis, asthma, lung fibrosis, separated shoulder, collapsed lung, broken ribs, 3 broken collar bones- 2L 1R, 4 bad discs in my back, 1 in my 7 neck-(I was paraplegic for about 3-4 min on that one) , dislocated thumb and connecting bones and torn ligaments and tendons in my left hand- I didn't know it for 30 years and the fix makes it worse, circulatory disease- ( I have sludge for blood), 4 strokes, 3 pulmonary embolisms, a 26 mm titanium screen in my heart to plug a hole in it (since birth), 4 Hernias, at least 3 concussions- I'm sure there's more I've forgotten and some I'll keep to myself
I guess you're probably going to need a car in your future. No question about that. I still think you should have taken it a little easy in life. The abuse we do on our body when we're young really comes back at a latter date. Good luck.
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Steve, I had to "go hard" to try earn the respect of my family and friends by rising above my disabilities and my parents defeatist attitudes, also I wanted a career in the ski industry so being a "hot" skier was a necessity. Being an adrenaline "junky" probably helped too
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Car free does not mean public transit free or taxi free. Should my health fail me where I can no longer ride a bike, I'll still use public transportation. In fact, I'll be in much better position financially to use costly taxi service as I get older from not owning a car.
When I need to walk or transit somewhere I will move.
#18
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Roody- don't feel bad for me I'LL be OK!! I see a guy fairly regularly who "lives" in a wheelchair- he has legs, but they're vestiges folded up behind his back and I have the love a sweet, sweet woman
Yes, it is kinda hard to take slowing down sometimes especially when I used to sprint at 40 plus and have to work hard to get to10 sometimes and 20 now is rare.. BUT, I have some great memories, some folks around here still talk about and respect me and the things I've done... hope is alive there is a chance I can ride with my friends again without them having to take an "easy" day to ride with me
Yes, it is kinda hard to take slowing down sometimes especially when I used to sprint at 40 plus and have to work hard to get to10 sometimes and 20 now is rare.. BUT, I have some great memories, some folks around here still talk about and respect me and the things I've done... hope is alive there is a chance I can ride with my friends again without them having to take an "easy" day to ride with me
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I was reading how transit use broke another record this quarter despite the fact that gas is at a record low. All those millions who are not working are finally realizing the high cost of motoring is unaffordable when you don't have a job. I suspect all those who lost their jobs are now making LESS and have no choice but to use public transit!
Anyway, is there a problem with creating a post? I can't construct a new thread! ;-(
Anyway, is there a problem with creating a post? I can't construct a new thread! ;-(
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You should consider getting an electric assist. Check out the electric bike forum. There are some really good alternatives to choose from now with hub motors and lithium ion batteries and designed in such a way that you still get exercise, you just don't have to over do it to go fast or get home when you're tired.
There's suspensions out there and thud busters far calming the bumps.
#21
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Electric Assist ? NO F***ing way. I'd buy a Harley and join the Hells Angles or something first!!!!!!!
Yes, I would *definitely* vouch for electric assists. I had some pain involved with the knees and the steep hills I had around here and the electric basically made that go away. Basically, they flatten hills and make everything a bit easier on the joints. You can get setups where you don't really have to help, but you can help as much as you want.
There's suspensions out there and thud busters far calming the bumps.
There's suspensions out there and thud busters far calming the bumps.
#22
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Yes, I would *definitely* vouch for electric assists. I had some pain involved with the knees and the steep hills I had around here and the electric basically made that go away. Basically, they flatten hills and make everything a bit easier on the joints. You can get setups where you don't really have to help, but you can help as much as you want.
There's suspensions out there and thud busters far calming the bumps.
There's suspensions out there and thud busters far calming the bumps.
Although I will admit that all this depends on the grade.. If you are climbing > 6%, it will still be tough on the legs... even with the right gears.
I like you attitude! In my case, I'd rather walk up the hill.
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To the above poster, some hills are fairly big and walking just isn't too efficient, time-wise. We're not talking "granny" hills, we're talking hills about a mile long.
#24
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Sign on the side of my (power-assist) velomobile: My bike is a Hucking Farley. My wheelchair dismantles perfectly for the former kiddy trailer I use which is one of many reasons for the power-assist
#25
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As for your injury roll call forget car-free, just be happy you're still alive!