6th grade! Wow! Maybe your a little big for that bike now? I jest! Although, from your photo you do not look to be what I would call old, I can completely relate to the chicken leg syndrome. I took a ride the other day and me hams are not what they used to be. I used to regularly ride anywhere from 5 to 20+ miles in a day climbing the insane hills of Winslow, AR. The local cyclists consider it "training grounds". Grueling climbs, indeed. The other day I couldn't even consider climbing the hill coming into the 10 acres I live on. It's a blast screeching down the hill, though. All dirt and gravel with lots of nice chunky rocks to give those front shocks a workout! Anyway, cycle good! Yah!

WASHINGTON (AFP) - More bicycles than cars have been sold in the United States over the past 12 months, with rising gas prices prompting commuters to opt for two wheels instead of four.

Not since the oil crisis of 1973 have bicycles sold in such big numbers, according to Tim Blumenthal, executive director of Bikes Belong, an industry association.

"Bicycle sales are near an all-time high with 19 million sold last year -- close to the 20 million sold during the oil embargo in the early 1970s," said Blumenthal, whose association is based in Boulder in the western state of Colorado.

The US Chamber of Commerce says more bicycles have been sold than cars over the past 12 months.

In a country where most of the population still relies heavily on cars, some 87 million people have climbed on a bike in the past 12 months, Blumenthal said.........."

(for more:  http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20051001/ts … 001131528)

Indeed! I bought some as thin as tires on a typical road racer with a kevlar reinforced tread. I can make out the mile stretch of gravel road (with a little care) from my house to the pavement and definitely hit nice cruising speeds with the 100psi those tires will take. I would suggest road tires or minimal knobs for anyone commuting, fer sure.

Doesn't take, long does it? Congratulations!

It's not bad if you don't have far to go. Plus, there is no bike to lock up. Just carry your wheels with you! And you can still hop in a friends (ehem) automobile if need be.

There is a huge cycling community 'round here, and L. Armstrong is like a god (you know what I mean;) ). He has inspired alot of the cycling rage seen these days. One has to admire his ability to do what he does. I myself am just not that serious about it. Soooo many other things more important, to me, to focus on. But, in the spirit of this thread, it is alot of fun for me.

What do you think bicycles represent for you? In some cases, for me, I think they have represented freedom. As in a bicycle hanging from a tree. In other cases I think they may have represented an attachment to childhood given the other elements of the dream or dreams.

Oh, man there was alot of things I wasn't supposed to do before a certain age. Riding to town to buy cigarrettes was one of them. Got in alot of trouble for that one! Aside from that, I lived in a subdivisione surrounded by cotton/soybean fields and many a dirt ramp were made. One was made at the dead end where the road went off into the field and it periodically grew in size as we all got braver and more skilled at actually landing on two wheels. It reached a point of ridiculous size and where one kid hit the jump sailing about four or five feet in the air and came down on his front tire sending him straight over the handlebars and flipping a couples of times before his bloody impact into the dirt. We were crazy! One kid got a three wheeler which the rest of us envied, but trying the same things on that was too danerous of a combination for me.

Sounds lovely! Good for you! It is a great way to find balance physically and otherwise, I feel. Releases toxins and emotions clearing the head and, yes, relaxing the body. Once I was riding and I looked up from the road to appreciate the sky, as night was approaching and felt the stars inside of me, talking to me. "Hey, buddy, remember where you're from?"

Not necessarily. With the materials they are making cycles and componants from these days, you may be surprised. Of course that does have something to do with who manufactured them.

Have you ever read Life and Teachings of the Masters of the Far East" by Baird T. Spalding? In an account Baird's life by a close friend, he had apparently managed to teleport from N.Y. to a seminar in Canada WITH HIS CAR! So, can I take my bike?

"I want to ride my bicycle, I want to ride my bike!"
"I want to ride my bicycle, I want to ride it where I like!"
"BICYCLE, BICYCLE!"

Do you ever dream about bicycles?

Yeah-buddy, I have!

My first few lucid astral-dream experiences were facilitated through a bicycle, and I didn't have a bike at the time. Snicker! Snort! As a matter of fact, I was just talking to a friend about this two days ago on Sunday!

Although I wouldn't ride my bike I now have down the highway for safety reasons, and here in FL we're flatlanders, not a hill in site in my immediate area, in my dreams I would find myself riding a bike down the highway.

The first time it happened I was thinking, "Okaaay, I'm riding a bike... where'd this thing come from? And why am I on Hwy 19?" And then I had come to a steep hill, almost like a ramp launch, and I found myself pumping the pedals, speeding up, climbing the hill effortlessly AND gaining speed. And then at the top of the hill, instead of descending, I'd start flying on the bike! Heehee... Houston, we have lift off!

When I was a kid I lived in CA where there are plenty of hills and mountains. At the other end of the street I lived on there was a really steep hill, this was where I practiced the first stirrings of my dare-devil nature (I later got way wild on my ATC Three Wheelers). Although I wasn't supposed to ride my bike down the hill, per my parents edict, I did anyway.

Oh brother, I'd get to the top of the hill after having to push my bike up the hill (because it was so steep, and I was so scrawny), get on my bike as far back from the crest of the hill as I could get, pump the pedals enough to get a good speed going so I could catch some air at the beginning of the descent, and just soar down that hill. OMG! It was so much fun. And, OMG!, had've I taken a header I surely would've broken something or somethings... but I never did.

I used to be a major dare-devil until I was in a car accident in the early 90's. Not that at the time of the accident I was being wild and crazy on the road, it was like a freak five car pile-up, and I was the middle car... in a Suzuki Samarai... thaaaat's right, crunch-crunch and many ouch-ouches! I now have a whole new understanding and respect for the vunerable nature of the human body.

I've found that if my lower back is tight, and I gently and smoothly ride my bike for a couple of miles, after the ride my lower back is released of the tension. I was really surprised that this was the case... a very pleasant surprise I'll add .

You know, the quietness and peacefullness of being at the park, riding my bike amongst the palm trees and oaks, and birds and butterflies... and Armadillos, is definitely the most enjoyable part of the ride. It's like a sweet freedom, and I ride the pathway with an unwipeable sweet smile on my face for that time being .

It's almost time for the seasons to change here in FL, and I can't wait to get out and ride my bike again... all this talk about bicylces has definitely got my 'lil motor running!

You have to wonder how on earth those guys in the tour de france get up those mountains at such high average speeds, i'm knackered after a small 200 ft hill
Lance Armstrong is rare in that he just spins a very low gear(high cadence) producing power with more of an aerobic type effort which i find even more tiring than using torque in a higher gear on the climbs.

I'd love to see the lungs on that guy!     I get winded on a 200 foot hill too.   I get winded hiking up hills in the woods!   Sad, I tell you. 

Whooohoo! Now hear this! This here is a thread dedicated to all yall bicycl'n fans out d'er. New bike or old. Not to mention any other mode o' transportation alternative to the modern contraption called the automobile. Affectionately know as "the car". Queen has a song about cars, too. So, don't nobody go gettin' all ruffled cause I'm only bringin' up the one 'bout bicycles. Hey, it's a goooooooooood song!! Anyway, I've got two bicycles. One is a GT Backwoods. It's a mtn. bike. I have had it about 13 years. It's royal blue/purple with some Marzocchi shocks on the front end. I like it. I also have a Univega Gran Tourismo circa 1980's someone was nice enough to give me. It is a road bike, and quite dated as far as components go. And I like. I have always loved bicycling since I was big enough to climb on one (my sister's) and rack my nads trying to stop it. The bicycle meant I was able to go places in a fraction of the time it would take me to walk or ride a skateboard, which I loved to do as well. But, man when dirt bikes and freestyle bikes made it big in the mid to late eighties, I was happy to nearly kill myself seeing how far me and my friends could push the limits of gravity. Have you ever jumped a really big hill or ramp and have your handlebars unexpectedly pull right out of the frame in mid air? Talk about shocking. Needless to say a steel frame never felt so cold and hard. Anyway, never stopped me or my friends from pushing it. So, it has been a fascination ever since. Although, I don't find a need for "getting air" anymore, or atleast not so much, I still love to ride. It's relaxing and still amazing to me to be balancing on these two relatively thin tires without falling over.....much. I hear a couple of folks on this forum got new bikes. Whoohoo! Sweet! Since Lyra got a new bike (or did she?? hmmm? I have pulled out my road bike to get it road worthy once again. The tires have rotted which means new tubes as well. Little rust to get off with some steel wool and I'll be ready to pump it 'round Winslow here. Arkansas, that is. And for all you'ns who ain't familiar with these parts there's mostly hills with some stretches of flat land between. So, my legs ought to look like I've got hams on either thigh by Christmas. I'll be sure to post before and after shots!!! Anyway, I am looking forward to riding regularly again. I live over twenty miles from where I work and most of my driving involves hauling one thing or another. So, cycling at this point for me will be purely recreation and exercise. I wish it were different, but hey, I ain't complainin'. I got it pretty good! Soooo! How many of yall out there have bicycles? Old, new? Big, BAAADD? And what is yer story? Do you ever dream about bicycles? I do. Do you sleep with it in your room at night and occasionally peek up just to admire it? I don't and neither should you!!! Okay, so I did when I was a kid. Anyway, do you ride much and what do you get out of it? How does it benefit you? Me? Like I said, it's relaxing and I just plain dig it. No noise or heat from a motor. Just fresh air, body movement, and pavement....or dirt!! Love dirt!!! Specially MUDDDD! Eeeeeeeewwwww! There's mud in yer eye!!!! Hahahah! Anyway! Splashhhh! A little water to wash the mud. So, I think bikes are fun, as far gravity games go! How 'bout you?

Sorry, last edit! promise...