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[Bloodsng]

I love riding the bike either peddling or throttling the motor up esp. early in the morning when there is very little traffic. The wisteria smell great mixed with the honeysuckle and you can go slow enough to see the wood peckers and cardinals.
Here in S. Louisiana we have 90 to 100+ degree summers with 80 to 90 +% humidity yesterday A.M. it was 90 at 6 P.M. I ride my bike an average of 20 miles a day not counting shopping trips. The Motor is nice.

My bike dose not fall in the motorcycle category or the bike category esp when you start looking for things such as head lights, for a regular bike you do not need to be able to see that far ahead of you at night but going 30 mph you only have enough time to say OH SH*&^!!! But there are other things that I and my bike might need to know and may know and be able to help some one else.
I needed a heaver spoke for my wheel and went to a bike shop once they found out my bike had a motor I was POooo poooed and the guy lost a sale. I still want to learn how to lace spokes properly but that will come in time.

On the prototype bike I had to take 4 bikes and make one it would have been nice to be able to ask some one ???s about how to do some things rather than learning the hard way.

As far as getting the hart rate up I do weight lifting , Tie Chie, and fencing I have been athletic most of my life + at my job what I do every day is the equivalent to lifting 600 pounds a day I do not have one of those nice clean jobs but it is work I love. The bike helps me to center myself and get ready for hectic days.

As far as the purest well I have had bikers flip me off you know the guy with the tear drop helmet and the shorts (by the way are those shorts any good for keeping cool on hot days) and I have had motorcycle riders throw beer cans at my bike (those where the bad ones) + the run in at bike the shop so I am a little jaded but still keep trying to learn. I do not know how to capitulate.
I am at an age where I am not trying to prove anything I just want to enjoy life have fun and my bike gives me that, it is helping my pocket book and my mind.
I think you must know the feeling in the soul I am talking about you do not need to hit the wall in order to know the euphoria being on a bike with the early morning wind blowing in your face concentrating on nothing but the road ahead of you and the road passing behind you ,what difference dose it make if I pedal then pop my motor on or just pedal.

Blood

"Quemadmoeum gladius neminem occidit, occidentis telum est."
("A sword is never a killer, it's a tool in the killer's hands.") -
Lucius Annaeus Seneca "the Younger" (ca. 4 BC-65 AD).

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I do understand your joy in riding down the road. But there actually IS a big difference between silently peddling on your own power and "popping on a motor". Though perhaps not as drastic, it's sort of like the difference between a sailboat and a motor boat, or between skiing and skidooing. Going 20 miles with a motorized bike or scooter is really not comparable to bicycling 20 miles with your legs pumping you. I'm not saying it's "bad" mind you, it's just not the same thing at all.
We love biking because of the power we feel in our strong legs, the aerobic excercise, the natural beauty of peddling through the countryside silently while listening to the crickets, the pride in not using gasoline, the feeling of accomplishment we get when we get to the top of that huge hill on our sheer body power alone...these are some of the things we especially love.

There is a unique beauty in a bicycle that is so special- it's an amazing machine, invented over 100 years ago, that has perfected the ability to let a human travel efficiently on human muscle power alone- what a great invention! One doesn't really need to be a "purist" to appreciate that.

[RoadRaven]

Well put Lisa... I have likened cycling to being a spiritual thing when I am trying to explain my passion for it.

I imagine its like being in a glider as opposed to a plane... no sound except the wind and whatever other noises the creatures around you make...

I just love it

[Bloodsng]

I know what you mean about the pride of accomplishment I get that with my bike.
I had to research the history of them dig around for specks, find parts (took 4 bikes to make 1) and then hope it works. With no help from the local bike shop. (needle bearings are such fun )
Pushing the motor to the max and your own nerve knowing you are only on a bike that you built from the dregs behind a goodwill store.

Running down the road to get some one their heart meds. during the feeder showers of Katrina and get back to where you are bivouacked when even the cop cars have taken shelter trees power lines and houses blocking the roads thank God I had my bike and it had a strong motor.

After the storm my half breed bike was running errands for the cops bringing chain saws here water there. checking on some of the older folks. Going places a motorcycle or scooter could not at a pace where if I had to peddle would not have gotten 1/2 done.

I know the felling of oneness with nature on a bike I know the fear of a small dog running up you do not want to hurt it but you do not want to hurt yourself (that is y I carry a bright orange water pistol with ammonia water it is cheep and will not hurt u or the dog)

I know the pride of accomplishment ....but I think I will lurk on the site. Just to pick up some knowledge on the bikes and see what is coming down the pike as far as new toys and equipment.

C ya

[Brandy]

This has to be one of the more ummm...odd posts I've seen since I came to TE.

I agree with all of the posters...big difference when you throw a motor on a bike. I can be at one with nature through hiking, but that one similarity to cycling doesn't make me a cyclist.

[Bad JuJu]

To paraphrase an old Willie Nelson (I think) song:
We're not saying cycling with a motor is wrong, it's just different to the kind of cycling we do. I can see why you'd have a wonderful sense of accomplishment in some of the things you describe--they're just not the same kinds of accomplishment as what we feel with our unmotorized bikes.

On the other hand, I do see why you'd be interested in some of the same equipment and issues that we're concerned with here. Enjoy the discussions!

[Bicyclette]

yeah ... what Lisa said - because she said it so beautifully