Having hopped on the bike the last couple of evenings (wimping out indoors, both due to plain wimping out, and to lessen the vibration on the arm with residual nerve damage), have found it aggravates nerve a lot, so cycling appears to be out for the foreseable future (frustrating).
Here's a suggestion that might get me a hard looking into by the Sith Thought Police, but considering you've got nothing much to spend, have you thought of something *more* upright than your Audax? Remember how Myra switched to her Brompton when Carpal Tunnel was making life hell on the "normal bike"? Possible that something similar may be helpful to you, so try something where you can sit *completely* upright with no weight on the bars at all. My time limit on a drop bar bike used to be elbows and wrists as they have to take a fair bit of weight when you lean forwards to improve the aero. But for shortish trips the aero isn't a real issue and as long as you have a good saddle a really upright position is something I find considerably more comfortable than the usual leaning forwards malarkey.
As well as cheaper, there's no relearning of balance, and storage is no more of an issue than you already have.
Pete.
Hmm, that's a thought - though the fact that I really DO like longer rides (currently about the 30-35 mile mark is about what I can manage, but enjoy immensely) makes me wonder if such a bike would be suitable for that - and the fact that I really *would* like to go touring at some point *if* I ever get fit enough and the body stops this ridiculous thing of letting me down on a regular basis.
How far distance-wise do you think is practical on a more upright bike?
Another sailing nut, cycling and sailing must go together, I was sailing last weekend.
It's natural power, I think. Used to sail a fair bit (Pacer dinghy) but haven't had time for ages, which is a shame as there's plenty in the Firth. Sea kayak suits my current needs rather better though, and it can take a sailing rig if I remount the rudder.
Pete. -- Peter Clinch University of Dundee Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Medical Physics, Ninewells Hospital Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK net [email hidden] dundee.ac.uk~pjclinchOpen ↗
Get a cheap folder, until you succumb to the dark side.
As long as it's got an upright riding position, yes. Folding bikes are Great Things, and though I *have* succumbed to the Dark Side my Brompton gets more individual trips, albeit much shorter ones, than my 'bent. They're fantastically useful things, and will continue to be after your Dream Trike has been purchased.
Pete. -- Peter Clinch University of Dundee Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Medical Physics, Ninewells Hospital Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK net [email hidden] dundee.ac.uk~pjclinchOpen ↗
Hmm, that's a thought - though the fact that I really DO like longer rides (currently about the 30-35 mile mark is about what I can manage, but enjoy immensely) makes me wonder if such a bike would be suitable for that - and the fact that I really *would* like to go touring at some point *if* I ever get fit enough and the body stops this ridiculous thing of letting me down on a regular basis.
How far distance-wise do you think is practical on a more upright bike?
Longest day I've done on the Brompton is about 30-35 miles, including some easy off-road in the forests just down the road from Cairngorm (and I overtook more MTBs than overtook me, tsk tsk!). And it would certainly be realistic to do more than that on something with more than 3 gears and a shopping basket on the front like the Brompton. Some people do tour on Broms.
But a Brompton or similar would (a) let you get about as general transport for now and (b) be useful into the future, once your nerves are happy again and/or you've got your Dark Trike. Just make sure you're sat bolt upright and it really does make a difference to the hands/arms.
Pete. -- Peter Clinch University of Dundee Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Medical Physics, Ninewells Hospital Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK net [email hidden] dundee.ac.uk~pjclinchOpen ↗
Hmm, that's a thought - though the fact that I really DO like longer rides (currently about the 30-35 mile mark is about what I can manage, but enjoy immensely) makes me wonder if such a bike would be suitable for that - and the fact that I really *would* like to go touring at some point *if* I ever get fit enough and the body stops this ridiculous thing of letting me down on a regular basis.
How far distance-wise do you think is practical on a more upright bike?
Longest day I've done on the Brompton is about 30-35 miles, including some easy off-road in the forests just down the road from Cairngorm (and I overtook more MTBs than overtook me, tsk tsk!). And it would certainly be realistic to do more than that on something with more than 3 gears and a shopping basket on the front like the Brompton. Some people do tour on Broms.
But a Brompton or similar would (a) let you get about as general transport for now and (b) be useful into the future, once your nerves are happy again and/or you've got your Dark Trike. Just make sure you're sat bolt upright and it really does make a difference to the hands/arms.
Pete.
Longest day I have managed by trike is 200 miles, but I'm a bit of a cripple.
How far distance-wise do you think is practical on a more upright bike?
On a (5speed) Brommie: 50 miles/day max. But then a Brommie isn't very upright (anybody know how to get a height-adjustable stem?). I once cycled al over Germany with a carrier bike once: very upright, very haevy, one gear, and only a back-pedal brake! Just like driving a VW Bug: top speed (10mph) same as cruising speed, and very nearly average speed too. Did 50-100 miles a day, but I was a fair bit younger then.
As long as it's got an upright riding position, yes. Folding bikes are Great Things, and though I *have* succumbed to the Dark Side my Brompton gets more individual trips, albeit much shorter ones, than my 'bent. They're fantastically useful things, and will continue to be after your Dream Trike has been purchased.
You _did_ see the Brompton Dark Side Conversion articles elsewhere on this newsgroup? Always the possibility of moving your Brompton over to the dark side later.
- Richard
-- _/_/_/ _/_/_/ _/_/_/ Richard dot Corfield at ntlworld dot com _/ _/ _/ _/ _/_/ _/ _/ Time is a one way street, _/ _/ _/_/ _/_/_/ Except in the Twighlight Zone.
You _did_ see the Brompton Dark Side Conversion articles elsewhere on this newsgroup?
I've known about that since before I had a 'bent, but for me the primary point of the Brom is the neatest, quickest fold on the market. Adding the recumbent conversion makes the fold bulkier, so reduces the point (for me) of having the bike in the first place. It's a very neat job and if^H^Hwhen my lottery numbers come up I'll have one alongside the upright, but though it's neat it isn't as neat as the basic model.
At least as of the time of typing, folding 'bents have some way to go to catch up with the uprights where neatness of fold is concerned. Which is a shame, but is sadly true :-(
Pete. -- Peter Clinch University of Dundee Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Medical Physics, Ninewells Hospital Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK net [email hidden] dundee.ac.uk~pjclinchOpen ↗
