Back to basics...

**Edbear** · 6th January 2012, 21:14

We made the choice to get back into biking. Today we bought a bike each. Unfortunately not the type with a nice V-Twin engine to propel it along, the two pistons we need are our legs!

I need to get fitter and stronger and the physio exercises I do at home are rather boring, so I now can go riding with Mrs. Bear again around the nice cycleways we have here.

Got a bargain with all the necessary gear, including gel seats for our rather tender nether regions and assembled them this evening while it was still light. Apart from the neighbour pointing out I'd got the forks facing backwards,

I think I did a sterling job, not having worked on pushbikes since I was a teenager... They did look much better once I turned the forks around!

Mrs. Bear and I tried them out in our street, yes we even put our matching helmets on, and despite having fun working out how to change the 18sp. Shimano gearset, ( my last pushbike way back was a very modern 5sp), and having the rear tyres too low in pressure, we managed to go at least 50m without falling off!

Best of all the bikes didn't fall apart!!!

Mrs. Bear was exhausted by the time we got home, even though we'd gone a total of probably 100m...

Still we are determined to get right around the Eastury track once we get the hang of them.

**FJRider** · 6th January 2012, 21:24

Your's is the pink one ... right ...

**unstuck** · 6th January 2012, 21:29

Good on ya.

**BMWST?** · 6th January 2012, 21:33

you will be ready for the lake taupo ride before you know it!

**Fatt Max** · 6th January 2012, 21:36

Happy to do regular 'nursey' visits to help out here dude......

**Edbear** · 6th January 2012, 21:40

Originally Posted by FJRider

Your's is the pink one ... right ...

No, darn it, she wanted it! I had to settle for the blue one...

Originally Posted by unstuck

Good on ya.

Thanks mate! Just hope I don't kill myself on it...

Originally Posted by BMWST?

you will be ready for the lake taupo ride before you know it!

You haven't seen me in shorts with my shirt off, have you..? Does lollipop conjour a picture?

**Edbear** · 6th January 2012, 21:42

Originally Posted by Fatt Max

Happy to do regular 'nursey' visits to help out here dude......

That's all the incentive I need to pedal really fast...

**mashman** · 6th January 2012, 21:42

onya Mr and Mrs Ed... shoulda got a pair of

We bought a football the other day, took the kids to the park. Mrs M strained what we think was a groin and I nearly had a heart attack... me thinks practice for al of us eh

**neels** · 6th January 2012, 22:11

Beware, pedally type bikes can be as bad as motorbikes.

I bought one because I thought I might like to go for a ride occasionally, now I have 4 of the things cluttering up the garage.

**haydes55** · 6th January 2012, 22:31

Wheelie competitions!

**curly** · 7th January 2012, 00:20

Do a skid...

**nzspokes** · 7th January 2012, 05:41

If you need any help or advice let me know mate. Im a bike mechanic and have been in the trade 25 years. Ex cyclist as well.

**Edbear** · 7th January 2012, 11:08

Originally Posted by mashman

onya Mr and Mrs Ed... shoulda got a pair of

We bought a football the other day, took the kids to the park. Mrs M strained what we think was a groin and I nearly had a heart attack... me thinks practice for al of us eh

Trouble with age, I didn't think I'd have any problem, but found it hard at first, too. Might have to get fit enough to ride around our street before tackling that Eastury ride...

Originally Posted by neels

Beware, pedally type bikes can be as bad as motorbikes.

I bought one because I thought I might like to go for a ride occasionally, now I have 4 of the things cluttering up the garage.

Hmmmm... Depemds how fit and enthusiastic we get I suppose.

Originally Posted by haydes55

Wheelie competitions!

Originally Posted by curly

Do a skid...

I think I'm past acrobatics...

Originally Posted by nzspokes

If you need any help or advice let me know mate. Im a bike mechanic and have been in the trade 25 years. Ex cyclist as well.

Thanks mate, if they do fall apart I might call on you.

**Edbear** · 9th January 2012, 10:36

Well, I got out yesterday for a ride around our street. When I bought the bikes, I had visions of easy riding around the cycleways and down town to save taking the car.

Hmmm.... May be a bit longer yet before those so-called "easy rides" become even possible. Despite having 18 gears to choose from, even in low-low-low I couldn't quite make it up the wee hill past the old folks resthome at the end of the street!

I had thoughts of turning in right then and there and booking a unit...

I knew my legs weren't up to much, but was shocked at just how weak I am! I turned around and coasted back down and made it along the relative flat back home. Of course I had to get off and push the bike up our driveway.

I was exhausted and realised I still had a long way to go in my rehabilitation yet. My dear wife also was amazed how unfit she was so it looks like we need to get out every fine day and ride just a bit more until we can both get around our street.

I watch everyone who does ride in our street and they make it look so easy, of course they are mostly younger than we are, but I can recall as a teenager how fast and far I used to ride and think nothing of it. Those were the days when 3-sp hubs were just coming onto the market and I fitted one to my single-speed bike. Boy was I fast then!

I shouldn't be so surprised really, as I can't run or even jog any more, a fast-ish walk is the best I can do these days. My spring has definitely sprung!