Peter Parts Posted March 3, 2013 Share Posted March 3, 2013 Ben, I don't want to beat up on you too badly, but if I could turn my head to get a view 180 behind me I'd be a 1st cousin to an owl! I think I can get my chin to just about line up with my shoulders. My peripheral vision isn't adequate with transition lenses. I think Paul said it best. Use good mirrors! I do agree about getting physically fit. My winter hibernation hasn't been kind to the old body. I didn't burn any winter weight. Richard - Your courteous and moderate post deserves the same from me (if I am capable of it). When you ride a bike or back a car, you need to see behind you. I couldn't say what angle represents "fit to drive" and certainly mirrors are helpful but they are never quite as good. But if you can't see around, you are a risk to others (and maybe yourself: heard about the missing guy who backed over a little kid playing in his Long Island driveway, son of the neighbor Mafia don?). Sure, we all drive when we shouldn't. I'm just saying we should think twice about it. To get in shape or return to being in shape, mature folks need strength, CV fitness, balance, and range of motion (AKA as stretching). And not be fat. To be able to see around, you need to do (or to build up to) a stretch exercise, done properly. I'd say in the gym (or your living room) it would be a reasonable criterion to be able to see directly behind... even if you never have to do anything like that while actually rolling. Guess what, if you exercise right, it should be possible to greatly enlarge your range of motion, even for folks in good health but old. Ben Link to comment
kmac Posted March 3, 2013 Share Posted March 3, 2013 I hate being "that" guy, but it was 89* and sunny here in so cal today...been in the upper 70s and low 90s all week. I don't think I saw a single cloud from tuesday until this afternoon when a few rolled in. I am anxious to ride....but not because of weather. Link to comment
kmac Posted March 3, 2013 Share Posted March 3, 2013 Depends. I had a 3 level ACDF. I definitely have a turning deficit, but it hasn't stopped me yet. You and me both. I just had my second go round just this past December and still can not wait to ride...limited a bit, but riding none the less. Link to comment
MT Wallet Posted March 3, 2013 Share Posted March 3, 2013 I hate being "that" guy, but it was 89* and sunny here in so cal today...been in the upper 70s and low 90s all week. I don't think I saw a single cloud from tuesday until this afternoon when a few rolled in. Yeah, You are THAT guy! One more crack about your weather and I'm coming out there to drag you back to North Dakota with me!! Link to comment
MT Wallet Posted March 3, 2013 Share Posted March 3, 2013 Ben, I do remember the neighbor of John Gotti going missing. Ford created a suit for it's young supple engineers to wear that would duplicate the reduced Range Of Motion of the older driver with stiff joints. They made design changes based on the physical limitations they discovered. I'm sure the other automakers do the same. I know you have strong opinions about things but, in this case,I think you need to moderate you thinking.I get it that you're in Fla. and are frustrated with "old"(er) drivers but lets face facts. None of us is as good physically as we once were at 20, 50, or 60. Practice tolerance. We will all be "the other guy" sooner or later and then we'll wish someone would cut us some slack for our frailty. Link to comment
kmac Posted March 3, 2013 Share Posted March 3, 2013 I hate being "that" guy, but it was 89* and sunny here in so cal today...been in the upper 70s and low 90s all week. I don't think I saw a single cloud from tuesday until this afternoon when a few rolled in. Yeah, You are THAT guy! One more crack about your weather and I'm coming out there to drag you back to North Dakota with me!! I would LOVE to see ND...in july ish... I am sorry guys. I gotta quite this or the state will end up OVERpopulated...oops TOO late. Trust me though, for EVERY good thing about Cali...there are 3 things that SUCK...so it balances out. Link to comment
tallman Posted March 3, 2013 Share Posted March 3, 2013 At the gym yesterday (which is kind of boring after all), I was day-dreaming about making a video or slide-show about strength and stretching exercises that get you in shape for the biking season... and keep you in shape. I think if you can't turn around to look 180-degrees behind, you should turn in your license (or get a handicap plate for your bike). Ben catching flak? No mystery about what you said. I am handicapped and qualify for a tag bike/cars/truck. Don't have one. Not sure how that would improve my driving or riding. Link to comment
Ponch Posted March 3, 2013 Share Posted March 3, 2013 Depends. I had a 3 level ACDF. I definitely have a turning deficit, but it hasn't stopped me yet. You and me both. I just had my second go round just this past December and still can not wait to ride...limited a bit, but riding none the less. Second? Yipes! Link to comment
Peter Parts Posted March 3, 2013 Share Posted March 3, 2013 At the gym yesterday (which is kind of boring after all), I was day-dreaming about making a video or slide-show about strength and stretching exercises that get you in shape for the biking season... and keep you in shape. I think if you can't turn around to look 180-degrees behind, you should turn in your license (or get a handicap plate for your bike). Ben catching flak? No mystery about what you said. I am handicapped and qualify for a tag bike/cars/truck. Don't have one. Not sure how that would improve my driving or riding. As I posted, people with disabilities should make sure that somebody qualified who is a neutral third party should rate them capable of being safe drivers. Sorry, your mother does not count. Some jurisdictions have mandatory re-testing of old people. Obviously a good idea, albeit only in theory. Often just off-the-road to save money. For the moment, we're waiting for psychologists to devise valid driving skills tests for old drivers, on or off the road. There are special centers that test drivers with disabilities, perhaps like yourself. In Ontario, they are staffed by very capable and well-intentioned specialist professionals (who often also work as driving instructors for newly disabled drivers). The Canadian DOT hired my company to convene a conference of these professionals some years back to share collective wisdom on the subject, which was fresh new R&D at the time (1992, "On the Road Again" conference proceedings). Sorry if you (and all the rest of us) don't like the sound of that. But it makes sense to have somebody besides the road-crazed driver decide if they are fit to drive safely. Ben Link to comment
Paul In Australia Posted March 3, 2013 Share Posted March 3, 2013 Hi ben 1992 is over 20 years ago. Seems as if the concept has not universally caught on. Mandatory retesting is by no means a majority view of authorities in the western world. There are schools of thought it achieves nothing in the age process argument. Lots of people drive with a disability equally as well as non disabled people. Regards Paul Link to comment
Peter Parts Posted March 3, 2013 Share Posted March 3, 2013 Hi ben 1992 is over 20 years ago. Seems as if the concept has not universally caught on. Mandatory retesting is by no means a majority view of authorities in the western world. There are schools of thought it achieves nothing in the age process argument. Lots of people drive with a disability equally as well as non disabled people. Regards Paul Clearly the fault is mine for not putting the words, WAITING FOR VALID DRIVING SKILLS TESTS FOR OLD DRIVERS in caps. Yes, 1992 was a long time ago. But then our event was the first Canadian (world?) conference for "special driver" instruction and testing. I'm sure there were Australian and U.S. professionals present by invitation. Funny, I thought ALL drivers considered their skills above average. I have seen some number of bikers managing despite disabilities. Certainly deserves more attention and we should have a new thread for that. Have I mentioned the great help provided impaired and tired right hands by a throttle counter-force spring? Ben Link to comment
mnTwin Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 Still itching. Mother nature seems to have other plans... What it means is, the forecast calls for 6-10" of snow likely with isolated > 12". Otherwise known as "Welcome to March in Minnesota". Although it seems to happen more often around state HS basketball, hockey tournament time. Patience...The days are getting longer, sun angle is getting steeper, winter is fighting a losing battle--it's just a matter of time (at least that's what I keep telling myself) Link to comment
kmac Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 What is this "snow" stuff I keep hearing about? I seem to remember some "snow" back in the 80's being popular at parties but I can not imagine 12" of that... Link to comment
tallman Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 Hi ben 1992 is over 20 years ago. Seems as if the concept has not universally caught on. Mandatory retesting is by no means a majority view of authorities in the western world. There are schools of thought it achieves nothing in the age process argument. Lots of people drive with a disability equally as well as non disabled people. Regards Paul Clearly the fault is mine for not putting the words, WAITING FOR VALID DRIVING SKILLS TESTS FOR OLD DRIVERS in caps. Yes, 1992 was a long time ago. But then our event was the first Canadian (world?) conference for "special driver" instruction and testing. I'm sure there were Australian and U.S. professionals present by invitation. Funny, I thought ALL drivers considered their skills above average. I have seen some number of bikers managing despite disabilities. Certainly deserves more attention and we should have a new thread for that. Have I mentioned the great help provided impaired and tired right hands by a throttle counter-force spring? Ben "Abstract Drivers 65 and older are 16 percent likelier than adult drivers (those 25–64 years old) to cause an accident, and they pose much less risk to the public than do drivers under 25, who are 188 percent likelier than adult drivers to cause an accident. However, older drivers are highly vulnerable to fatal injury in a crash. These findings offer little support for stricter licensing policies targeting older drivers but offer some support for policies to improve driver safety for seniors." 2007 analysis "Together, these findings suggest that younger drivers pose a much greater risk to traffic safety than do older drivers, both because they are likelier to cause a crash and because they drive many more miles. The study finds that older drivers, who represent 15 percent of all licensed drivers, cause 7 percent of all two-car accidents (both fatal and nonfatal). Younger drivers, on the other hand, who represent 13 percent of all licensed drivers, cause 43 percent of all two-car accidents." It would seem that data supports constant testing of younger drivers. Link to comment
MT Wallet Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 Still itching. Mother nature seems to have other plans... What it means is, the forecast calls for 6-10" of snow likely with isolated > 12". Otherwise known as "Welcome to March in Minnesota". Although it seems to happen more often around state HS basketball, hockey tournament time. Patience...The days are getting longer, sun angle is getting steeper, winter is fighting a losing battle--it's just a matter of time (at least that's what I keep telling myself) I got it first, about 10" on the ground and still coming down hard. You're next! No work today. Get gas for the snow thrower. Can I get out of Lindberg to kidnap Kmac? This stuff can't stop coming soon enough or melt fast enough. I want to ride!!! Link to comment
Joe Frickin' Friday Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 What is this "snow" stuff I keep hearing about? I seem to remember some "snow" back in the 80's being popular at parties but I can not imagine 12" of that... Wouldja believe 10 inches? Link to comment
Fubar Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 What is this "snow" stuff I keep hearing about? I seem to remember some "snow" back in the 80's being popular at parties but I can not imagine 12" of that... "Snow" was that annoying interference/lack of signal that some of us remember from the old-time, pre-cable, get-your-signal-from-an-antenna, analog TV days. You know, when you had to get off the couch to change channels if the kids weren't around. Link to comment
kmac Posted March 5, 2013 Share Posted March 5, 2013 Since some are itching to ride because of weather, and others of us are itching to ride because of doctors...we could all use a laugh.... Somebody say something funny Ready GO Link to comment
KLC Posted March 5, 2013 Share Posted March 5, 2013 Managed to ride all winter this year . Despite being caught in snow last week . Been hovering at around 2-3 degrees c for a few weeks but today the temps have jumped into double figures for the first time this year. Link to comment
Rapala 50 Posted March 5, 2013 Share Posted March 5, 2013 This is what's still outside my door, I have a bet with a co-worker then in 10 days I will be riding my bike to work.... ( doesn't look good ) Link to comment
Fubar Posted March 5, 2013 Share Posted March 5, 2013 we could all use a laugh.... Somebody say something funny Ready GO "A Harley and a Buell walk into a gay bar....." Link to comment
kmac Posted March 5, 2013 Share Posted March 5, 2013 Aren't ALL Harley biker bars GAY bars.... Sorry, that is not PC. Link to comment
kmac Posted March 5, 2013 Share Posted March 5, 2013 Not many Harley riders are Vegetarians...you gotta do something the rest of the cow after making chaps and vests... Link to comment
cavediver Posted March 8, 2013 Share Posted March 8, 2013 Well to get back on track I am, my first ride back to work sense mid January. Jack Link to comment
Rapala 50 Posted March 9, 2013 Share Posted March 9, 2013 Well's 49 degrees today so I decided to un-bury the bike and take it out, after a very long winter here it felt awesome to get out. Only did 25 miles but I plan on riding it in to work tomorrow. It's suppose to get up to 58* and then it's back to snow for another week. I did get two left hand waves from people in cars with there windows down, they must be bikers....lol Link to comment
Devil Duc Posted March 9, 2013 Share Posted March 9, 2013 Got out for a short ride yesterday, weaving between the thick ice spots on my residential road until I could get out to the main drag. Mid 30's temps were not too bad for a short blast. Then I had to get home to change the drive and auger belts on the snow blower for the next snow storm on its way. Link to comment
Glenn Reed Posted March 10, 2013 Share Posted March 10, 2013 Got up to 57F today, wandered in MD and PA for three hours all told. Felt good. Link to comment
greenrider Posted March 10, 2013 Share Posted March 10, 2013 Still had snow in the driveway but the roads were clear, at 5 Celsius so I took a hour drive. Waving to snowmobile riders who where crossing the road and one other motorcycle that must have had cabin fever. Link to comment
Guest Kakugo Posted March 10, 2013 Share Posted March 10, 2013 Yesterday was the first decent day to ride... sadly as I woke up at 7AM, ready for a ride, I discovered I had a burning fever and every muscle in my body ached. Today I am well but there's a fog so thick you can cut it with a knife... Link to comment
Sweendog Posted March 10, 2013 Share Posted March 10, 2013 Wanted to ride so bad today, but I've got the worlds worst head-cold. =/ Link to comment
raymond338 Posted March 15, 2013 Share Posted March 15, 2013 Today was the coldest day all week, with a low of 39 and high of 56. High on saturday will be 70. Great riding weather. Bought the bike Tuesday evening and rode it home. Got a temp tag at the DMV Wednesday morning. Drove 120 miles Wednesday afternoon just joyriding. Rode to work today (thursday), about 50 miles round trip. And will again tomorrow. Been over a year since I rode last (the Ural is undergoing serious reconditioning), so I got a pretty good itch to scratch. Previous owner only rode 5000 miles in the last 9 years, so the bike has a pretty good itch to scratch as well. Link to comment
kmac Posted March 15, 2013 Share Posted March 15, 2013 Man, I am not sure if we are getting much of a "spring" this year. We went from 50* F and cold rain last Thursday to over 90*F here this week with a peak of 90*F yesterday...down right hot. I heard it was over 100*F out in the Palm Springs desert area... Link to comment
Kathy R Posted March 15, 2013 Share Posted March 15, 2013 Yesterday it was 7 degrees with the wind chill and the salt truck went by twice. Today is cold with snow flurries, on through the next 5 days. At least I no longer have to make vrrrooommm vrrrooommm noises from the couch Nigel says *Hey* to Walker Link to comment
cris nitro Posted March 15, 2013 Share Posted March 15, 2013 Man, I am not sure if we are getting much of a "spring" this year. We went from 50* F and cold rain last Thursday to over 90*F here this week with a peak of 90*F yesterday...down right hot. I heard it was over 100*F out in the Palm Springs desert area... You guys in the mountain/desert area must go crazy on what to wear. When i was in Ca. 2 years ago, I spent more time taking my jacket off, putting it back on, etc. It can go from 60' to 100' in a heartbeat depending on the elevation. Link to comment
kmac Posted March 15, 2013 Share Posted March 15, 2013 It is wierd here in Cali. It does make some really epic long rides wierd because the elevation here changes really fast. I am just really JONESING to ride in this nice weather but still have 3 months of rehab. Link to comment
Sonor Posted March 17, 2013 Share Posted March 17, 2013 Kmac, I feel your pain. Having that broken ankle a while ago and taking me out of riding for about six months, it really sucked. Sorry to hear if for you. The weather here has been part of the problem, the part is when we get the occasional "nice" day there are other items lined up that prevent me from riding. It really sucks since two weeks ago I bought a new helmet and have not had the opportunity to go for a ride. Soon, I keep telling myself, soon. :-) Link to comment
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