Yoda Bob
Member
Hi, everyone.
Very cool site. I believe I'll being spending quite a bit of time here digging for answers and ideas.
The thought of motorizing a bicycle hadn't crossed my mind for a very long time. A long-time cyclist, I was sold on the virtues of spinning for fitness and enjoyed a good, long run in the saddle. Cycling has always been the answer for me. Nothing matches the feeling of the wind in my face, the sun on my back, and two well-tuned wheels beneath me. My very best years were spent with a bicycle at the center of my lifestyle.
Unfortunately, I'm now a little past my prime. Health issues, a wet climate, and misplaced priorties have kept me off the bike for the greater part of the last eight years. I've grown fat running through excuses not to ride.
Enough is enough! I dusted off the bike a few weeks ago and am persistently nudging it back to center stage. It hurts to ride. I hurt every time I throw my leg over the bike, but I keep pushing anyways. I'd rather hurt riding than hurt without. Good news is it's starting to hurt less!
I have a 54 mile round trip commute. Today I rode 20 of them and bussed the rest. I don't yet do this every day, but I hope to by the end of summer. By fall I'd like to ride the whole trip three times a week. It will happen. I know. I've done it before. It's just like (err) riding a bike!
I'm looking ahead to winter and trying to figure out how not to lose momentum. I wonder if I can do this year round. The winds, rains, and terrain conspire against me as much as the miles. I've been looking at bikes again (please don't tell my wife), trying to figure out what'll work for me.
It's gotta be big. I'm big. I carry big stuff. I'll have to carry more in the winter months.
It's gotta be strong. I'm strong when I'm fit - and I will get there. I don't mean to, but I sometimes break things.
It's gotta be smooth. I'll ride lots of miles on less than perfect roads. Too far to stand like I did 25 years ago.
It's gonna be heavy. This terrifies me. I've got some stiff grades to pull; Going and coming, they're at the end of my ride. I'm gonna be tired, it's gonna be heavy, and, no matter how strong I think I am, it's gonna hurt. I'm not gonna like that very much. My pride won't allow having this big, strong sweaty man seen struggling or (arghh) walking up the hill.
Like I was saying, I hadn't thought much about motors for a very long time.
Then, this afternoon, I met MBc member augidog at the Toad's Truck Stop in Elma, Washington. This dude was riding a MACHINE, the likes of which I'd never seen. Eleven feet long (including the well-provisoned trailer), it reminded me more of a Freightliner than a bike. A Winnebago rolling on spoked wheels. Incredible!
I tried not to stare. I didn't want to pry. I just couldn't help myself. I had to ask. Those of you knowing Augi can probably guess the rest.
"Nice bike," I said. "Thanks," said he. "Do you have any questions?" Pause. "I know you're gonna have questions," he said, reaching into the pannier on his trailer and producing a MotoredBikes.com bumper sticker. I'll spare you the rest of the dialog. We hit it off pretty good and and talked a while. He's a great guy and avid spokesman for motored bikes and cycling in general.
Augidog's bike was similar in many ways to what I'd pictured as my Ultimate Commuter. Long chain stays, plenty of storage, and a comfortable upright riding position. It also has a lot of features I'd never have thought of and will probably never need. Except for one. The motor.
Augie had rolled into Elma eastbound out of Montesano, where he'd camped a night at Lake Sylvia, on the upper end of town. It's about a 14 mile ride. He said he'd averaged 34 miles per hour (with a noticeable tail wind).
We had rolled into Toad's at the same time. I'd bucked a headwind for the nine miles out of McCleary and averaged just under 15 MPH. I felt pretty good about that until I saw Augie climb down off of his Winnebago. He was fresh, clean, and breathing normally. I was sweaty, sore, and huffing just a little. Today was the warmest day of the year (so far). I smelled bad.
He talked to me anyways. He's got tremendous insight into powered bikes. He got me to thinking about it real hard and suggested I come here to find out more. He speaks very highly of your community.
I've rambled, I know. It's unavoidable. If we're gonna be neighbors, you might as well know where I'm coming from. I'm interested in learning more about you and your bikes. I look forward to your stories, your ideas, and your friendship. I came to learn, to listen, and to share.
I don't have much time to dig in now. I've got a pile of homework to do. If anyone cares to suggest a path for me (based on my "gotta be this and that" specifications), I'm all ears. Honestly, I'm in no hurry. There's a wealth of information here. I will eventually find what I'm looking for. I know I will. Augie said so.
I took a few pictures of Augie and his bike in front of Toad's. He lit up when I told him I could upload them here if he wished.
Can someone please suggest an appropriate thread on which to post these pics?
Good meeting you!
Yoda
Very cool site. I believe I'll being spending quite a bit of time here digging for answers and ideas.
The thought of motorizing a bicycle hadn't crossed my mind for a very long time. A long-time cyclist, I was sold on the virtues of spinning for fitness and enjoyed a good, long run in the saddle. Cycling has always been the answer for me. Nothing matches the feeling of the wind in my face, the sun on my back, and two well-tuned wheels beneath me. My very best years were spent with a bicycle at the center of my lifestyle.
Unfortunately, I'm now a little past my prime. Health issues, a wet climate, and misplaced priorties have kept me off the bike for the greater part of the last eight years. I've grown fat running through excuses not to ride.
Enough is enough! I dusted off the bike a few weeks ago and am persistently nudging it back to center stage. It hurts to ride. I hurt every time I throw my leg over the bike, but I keep pushing anyways. I'd rather hurt riding than hurt without. Good news is it's starting to hurt less!
I have a 54 mile round trip commute. Today I rode 20 of them and bussed the rest. I don't yet do this every day, but I hope to by the end of summer. By fall I'd like to ride the whole trip three times a week. It will happen. I know. I've done it before. It's just like (err) riding a bike!
I'm looking ahead to winter and trying to figure out how not to lose momentum. I wonder if I can do this year round. The winds, rains, and terrain conspire against me as much as the miles. I've been looking at bikes again (please don't tell my wife), trying to figure out what'll work for me.
It's gotta be big. I'm big. I carry big stuff. I'll have to carry more in the winter months.
It's gotta be strong. I'm strong when I'm fit - and I will get there. I don't mean to, but I sometimes break things.
It's gotta be smooth. I'll ride lots of miles on less than perfect roads. Too far to stand like I did 25 years ago.
It's gonna be heavy. This terrifies me. I've got some stiff grades to pull; Going and coming, they're at the end of my ride. I'm gonna be tired, it's gonna be heavy, and, no matter how strong I think I am, it's gonna hurt. I'm not gonna like that very much. My pride won't allow having this big, strong sweaty man seen struggling or (arghh) walking up the hill.
Like I was saying, I hadn't thought much about motors for a very long time.
Then, this afternoon, I met MBc member augidog at the Toad's Truck Stop in Elma, Washington. This dude was riding a MACHINE, the likes of which I'd never seen. Eleven feet long (including the well-provisoned trailer), it reminded me more of a Freightliner than a bike. A Winnebago rolling on spoked wheels. Incredible!
I tried not to stare. I didn't want to pry. I just couldn't help myself. I had to ask. Those of you knowing Augi can probably guess the rest.
"Nice bike," I said. "Thanks," said he. "Do you have any questions?" Pause. "I know you're gonna have questions," he said, reaching into the pannier on his trailer and producing a MotoredBikes.com bumper sticker. I'll spare you the rest of the dialog. We hit it off pretty good and and talked a while. He's a great guy and avid spokesman for motored bikes and cycling in general.
Augidog's bike was similar in many ways to what I'd pictured as my Ultimate Commuter. Long chain stays, plenty of storage, and a comfortable upright riding position. It also has a lot of features I'd never have thought of and will probably never need. Except for one. The motor.
Augie had rolled into Elma eastbound out of Montesano, where he'd camped a night at Lake Sylvia, on the upper end of town. It's about a 14 mile ride. He said he'd averaged 34 miles per hour (with a noticeable tail wind).
We had rolled into Toad's at the same time. I'd bucked a headwind for the nine miles out of McCleary and averaged just under 15 MPH. I felt pretty good about that until I saw Augie climb down off of his Winnebago. He was fresh, clean, and breathing normally. I was sweaty, sore, and huffing just a little. Today was the warmest day of the year (so far). I smelled bad.
He talked to me anyways. He's got tremendous insight into powered bikes. He got me to thinking about it real hard and suggested I come here to find out more. He speaks very highly of your community.
I've rambled, I know. It's unavoidable. If we're gonna be neighbors, you might as well know where I'm coming from. I'm interested in learning more about you and your bikes. I look forward to your stories, your ideas, and your friendship. I came to learn, to listen, and to share.
I don't have much time to dig in now. I've got a pile of homework to do. If anyone cares to suggest a path for me (based on my "gotta be this and that" specifications), I'm all ears. Honestly, I'm in no hurry. There's a wealth of information here. I will eventually find what I'm looking for. I know I will. Augie said so.
I took a few pictures of Augie and his bike in front of Toad's. He lit up when I told him I could upload them here if he wished.
Can someone please suggest an appropriate thread on which to post these pics?
Good meeting you!
Yoda
