Just took a scary spill on my bicycle: the bolt holding the seat on snapped in two (see my photo above) throwing me off balance and into a high speed dive to the pavement. One wrist got bruised; I don't think it's too bad but ask me tomorrow. I managed to roll and shift my weight so my butt took most of the impact. The pedestrians across the street on the sidewalk were mightily freaked out seeing this dramatic fall and I had to reassure them. If a car had been behind me, well...
I guess I could threaten the bike company but seeing as it's a nineteen year old machine and I've stood on the pedals putting weight against the seat-sides probably a million times, it's my own f*ing fault for not foreseeing this (the Republican way: blame the victim, blame yourself...) The question now is, what other ticking time bombs await? New bike or new bolt?
cheap foreign made bolts - good thing you weren't flying an airplane - glad you weren't hurt.
you are going insane but i love you.
19 is a lot of years. How many miles on that machine?
God, I don't know--a couple thousand times around White Rock Lake in Dallas, a few hundred around Liberty State Park--it adds up. I am the original George Bush. Replaced the bolt just now and the bike shop guy says it was normal wear and tear. Think I am shopping for a new mountain bike though...
mark lets say a guy had $300 bucks to spend on a new bike for a somewhat flat crummy road to semi off road jersey cityish terrane situation. what bike would you recommend.
The main thing I need is high handlebars so I hardly put any strain on the wrists--really fucked'em up with repetitive stress injuries in the 80s.
Off the top of my head ...
Specialized Crossroads
I'll think on it more.
check out ebay and try to find an old cannondale. i bought an old super v for a couple of hundred bucks in a pawnshop a few years back and it's really light and rides like a champ. if you're on a budget buying a used bike is the way to go. if you want to pass on your size i'll keep my eyes open.
Get bike gloves. I know they look silly but they're designed to take a lot of pressure off your wrists and hands.
Glad you're okay, that sonds like a scary accident.
Thanks, Joe. I wore the gloves for years, but they didn't help with the RSI. Switching to the upright handlebars got me out of the habit of putting weight on my arms, and that solved the problem. It does mean I have to stand up on the pedals quite a bit to keep my crotch from going to sleep, which usually means some leaning on one side of the seat or the other. Hence the weakened bolt. Probably it would be best if I just stayed indoors watching TV and porking out. I know these details are fascinating to all...
It would be nice to have the gloves the next time I land on my wrists in the public street, though, so they're on my list, along with a bike and earmuffs for this winter.
this looks like a good bike with upright handlebars.
OWCH! I'm glad you are not hurt worse. I hope your injuries heal fast.
Thanks to all, and to ls for the research. My bike is like a kid's bike from the 50s, but I love it, and I really don't want to replace it, even though it's now haunted, like Christine, and is trying to kill me:
They make anatomic saddles that are better for vascular health. Highly recommended.
Thanks--mine has that groove in it, you can't see it in the photo, only not as severe as the one you showed. Either way makes no vas deferens. Sorry, I've been looking for a place to use that joke. I will try the improved model.
you deserve a new bike. get one!
Ow! Very glad you are not worse hurt, Tom. I have a Specialized Crossroads for city riding and I love it. However, the length of the frame is another issue that affects how far you lean over, besides height of handlebars, and I find the my bike is a little long for me. One other thing I learned recently is to remember to use your abdomen muscles to hold up your torso, rather than expecting your arms to do it all. I always forget and just slump along but when I remember to tense up my gut I feel very trim as well as more efficient.
The bike I'm currently looking at is the Specialized Expedition (Elite). It is similar to the Crossroads but has fatter tires and possibly favors the upright riding position more. They call it a "comfort bike." The problems I had with my elbow I was attributing to mouse arm may also be from beating my tendons to death with a discomfort bike all these years. Shock absorbers on the front wheel and the seat--who knew?
god damn yuppies are ruining the neighborhood..
Ergonomics are more important to the aged.
maybe you need one of those big orange safety flags they used to have for kids bikes. bet they werent so safe after all.
|
Just took a scary spill on my bicycle: the bolt holding the seat on snapped in two (see my photo above) throwing me off balance and into a high speed dive to the pavement. One wrist got bruised; I don't think it's too bad but ask me tomorrow. I managed to roll and shift my weight so my butt took most of the impact. The pedestrians across the street on the sidewalk were mightily freaked out seeing this dramatic fall and I had to reassure them. If a car had been behind me, well...
I guess I could threaten the bike company but seeing as it's a nineteen year old machine and I've stood on the pedals putting weight against the seat-sides probably a million times, it's my own f*ing fault for not foreseeing this (the Republican way: blame the victim, blame yourself...) The question now is, what other ticking time bombs await? New bike or new bolt?
- tom moody 9-20-2005 10:46 pm
cheap foreign made bolts - good thing you weren't flying an airplane - glad you weren't hurt.
- bill 9-20-2005 10:53 pm
you are going insane but i love you.
- ls (guest) 9-20-2005 11:51 pm
19 is a lot of years. How many miles on that machine?
- mark 9-21-2005 2:21 am
God, I don't know--a couple thousand times around White Rock Lake in Dallas, a few hundred around Liberty State Park--it adds up. I am the original George Bush. Replaced the bolt just now and the bike shop guy says it was normal wear and tear. Think I am shopping for a new mountain bike though...
- tom moody 9-21-2005 2:30 am
mark lets say a guy had $300 bucks to spend on a new bike for a somewhat flat crummy road to semi off road jersey cityish terrane situation. what bike would you recommend.
- bill 9-21-2005 2:30 am
The main thing I need is high handlebars so I hardly put any strain on the wrists--really fucked'em up with repetitive stress injuries in the 80s.
- tom moody 9-21-2005 2:34 am
Off the top of my head ...
Specialized Crossroads
I'll think on it more.
- mark 9-21-2005 3:48 am
check out ebay and try to find an old cannondale. i bought an old super v for a couple of hundred bucks in a pawnshop a few years back and it's really light and rides like a champ. if you're on a budget buying a used bike is the way to go. if you want to pass on your size i'll keep my eyes open.
- ls (guest) 9-21-2005 4:58 am
Get bike gloves. I know they look silly but they're designed to take a lot of pressure off your wrists and hands.
Glad you're okay, that sonds like a scary accident.
- joester 9-21-2005 10:40 am
Thanks, Joe. I wore the gloves for years, but they didn't help with the RSI. Switching to the upright handlebars got me out of the habit of putting weight on my arms, and that solved the problem. It does mean I have to stand up on the pedals quite a bit to keep my crotch from going to sleep, which usually means some leaning on one side of the seat or the other. Hence the weakened bolt. Probably it would be best if I just stayed indoors watching TV and porking out. I know these details are fascinating to all...
It would be nice to have the gloves the next time I land on my wrists in the public street, though, so they're on my list, along with a bike and earmuffs for this winter.
- tom moody 9-21-2005 11:18 am
this looks like a good bike with upright handlebars.
- ls (guest) 9-21-2005 11:36 am
OWCH! I'm glad you are not hurt worse. I hope your injuries heal fast.
- Thor Johnson 9-21-2005 4:21 pm
Thanks to all, and to ls for the research. My bike is like a kid's bike from the 50s, but I love it, and I really don't want to replace it, even though it's now haunted, like Christine, and is trying to kill me:
- tom moody 9-21-2005 4:46 pm
They make anatomic saddles that are better for vascular health. Highly recommended.
- mark 9-21-2005 6:25 pm
Thanks--mine has that groove in it, you can't see it in the photo, only not as severe as the one you showed. Either way makes no vas deferens. Sorry, I've been looking for a place to use that joke. I will try the improved model.
- tom moody 9-21-2005 7:53 pm
you deserve a new bike. get one!
- jenghizkhan (guest) 9-22-2005 6:05 am
Ow! Very glad you are not worse hurt, Tom. I have a Specialized Crossroads for city riding and I love it. However, the length of the frame is another issue that affects how far you lean over, besides height of handlebars, and I find the my bike is a little long for me. One other thing I learned recently is to remember to use your abdomen muscles to hold up your torso, rather than expecting your arms to do it all. I always forget and just slump along but when I remember to tense up my gut I feel very trim as well as more efficient.
- sally mckay 9-24-2005 9:58 pm
The bike I'm currently looking at is the Specialized Expedition (Elite). It is similar to the Crossroads but has fatter tires and possibly favors the upright riding position more. They call it a "comfort bike." The problems I had with my elbow I was attributing to mouse arm may also be from beating my tendons to death with a discomfort bike all these years. Shock absorbers on the front wheel and the seat--who knew?
- tom moody 11-05-2005 7:29 am
god damn yuppies are ruining the neighborhood..
- dave 11-05-2005 7:36 am
Ergonomics are more important to the aged.
- tom moody 11-05-2005 8:09 am
maybe you need one of those big orange safety flags they used to have for kids bikes. bet they werent so safe after all.
- dave 11-05-2005 8:30 am