[Bent] the pleasures of recumbent vs. diamond frame bike riding

[Cstrek97 at aol.com]

Hi everybody,
 
Today, I did a 50 mile ride on my old "wedgie".  A nice bike, but  still, 
just a wedgie.
I was asked by a co-worker to go, and I did.  Knowing  he was a fast rider, I 
thought
I'd take my road bike rather than my 'bent. 
 
Since about January 2002, I've used my Vision R40 swb/uss almost  exclusively,
except when I'm out with the Boy Scouts, helping them with the Cycling  Merit 
Badge.
 
Several times during the ride today, I really asked myself, "Why am I doing  
this?"
I wasn't having fun.  
 
Crotch went numb about mile 10 and I had to stand from time to time to try  
to get
some feeling back;  and my neck hurt from constant straining  to see the road.
I believe I passed by some beautiful houses and scenery between Norwalk, CT  
and
the Danbury airport, but I didn't see much of it. Riding back, I did sit up  
a lot, and 
went "no hands" because my back hurt just TOO much.  I saw a bit more  coming 
home that way, then I did on the way up.
 
My old pains of Achilles tendon and right knee feeling like a bolt and nut  
that needs
oiling came back about mile 40. I've never felt those pains when on my  'bent!
 
It's 6 hours later now, since getting off the bike, and my butt Still  
hurts...both sides
where the muscles touch the seat.  It's a tough racing seat, since  it's a 
low-end
racing bike, but boy!, I don't miss that at all!
 
At the end of the ride, I just laid on the grass of my co-workers house,  and 
enjoyed
the end of the joint and other pains.  
 
In the past, I've gotten used to my ol' road bike, but always had the aches  
and pains.
Now that I'm 51, I think I'm smart enough finally, to change some words  from 
something 
that Lance Armstrong once said, to ...
 
 
..."It's ALL about the bike!"      
 
It was nice, in a way, to go back to "the old way", and see how much I take  
for 
granted, by having changed to a 'bent.   Scenery, little or no  pain, and 
F-U-N!
 
Maybe I'll see you guys at the ride on Sunday, July 22.  I'll let  you know 
ahead of time if I do decide 
to come down.  
 
Marty Smith in central CT         

 
 
 
 
 



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