After the computer was set up and I had all my work applications installed, the second priority I made for being here was to buy a bike. Joelle bikes a bit, and in Tempe it is very easy to get pretty much wherever you want on bicycle. We did not want to pay retail, so we checked Facebook marketplace and found a brand I had been looking at for 180 bucks.
Drove on over into a predominantly hispanic neighborhood in Phoenix, checked it out, and bargained them (Joelle did I never would have thought to) down to 160 bucks.
It’s a Desoto like this, but probably a decade or so older:
I’m going to get new tires, have it serviced, get a bright lamp and taillight, and then I can do a deep clean of my car and hers and basically they can stay that way until we need to go someplace special that requires a car. I love the basket on the back which is big enough to carry anything I might get when out.
See y’all in the NYE zoom in a bit.
War for Ukraine Day 676: Ukraine Has Entered 2024 Bloodied But Unbowed
realbtl
Thurston would look great back there.
Spanky
@realbtl: We all knew that was coming. Glad you got it out of the way early.
Baud
Need a photo of you on it.
Elizabelle
I am so happy for you,
gene108
Adult tricycle. Interesting.
Makes me wonder what the advantage of a bicycle is?
SpaceUnit
Be sure to get some tassels for the handlebar grips.
Brachiator
Fun looking vehicle. Needs a little bell.
Ben Cisco
And a bell.
Sandia Blanca
I’m really loving this new persona of our blogfather! Sunshine, bikes, and new adventures.
David ⛄ 🎅The Establishment🎄 🦌 🕎 Koch
Bicycle, bicycle, bicycle
I want to ride my bicycle, bicycle, bicycle
eclare
The basket is key.
Another Scott
Bikes are good. Be careful though. Too many people get injured or killed on them by drivers not seeing them, etc. :-(
If you’re not going to be on protected bike paths, maybe consider getting some flags and have a bright safety vest? And a good helmet, of course.
Maybe something like this?
Good luck, and have fun!
Cheers,
Scott.
Anne Laurie
A tricycle is still good exercise, but it’s more stable for old / fat people who may no longer have the reflexes of a twenty-something. (Or just for those of us with vertigo problems.)
I understand they’re called ‘granny bikes’ in Northern Europe for just those reasons!
Nettoyeur
@gene108: Bicycle easier to carry up stairs or store.
eclare
@Another Scott:
So cute! And a good idea, visibility is important.
trollhattan
Seems on-brand.
Jackie
@Brachiator: An oooga horn!
The Cat's Chair
Biking is win-win-win. It cuts back the short, stop-&-start drives that are hard on your car. It guarantees you daily aerobic exercise that probably adds years to your life. Gas mileage is low on short trips so you save money.
Honus
Nice tricycle, but isn’t Cole the guy who left his Subaru out in the middle of a field for a month? I’m kind of worried about him with a new vehicle in a foreign land like Arizona.
azlib
The Valley has really good bike lanes and paths. Google maps will show you where they are. I ride my bike between 15-18 miles every day in Scottsdale and parts of Phoenix which has some really nice off street paths.
satby
@Another Scott: Same thing I told my son about his almost rebuilt Harley: “assume no one sees you”.
And trucks and SUVs ride higher so the injuries are the the chest and upper abdomen rather than legs and pelvis, much more potentially deadly injuries.
KrackenJack
Outstanding, JC! I’ll second / third / fourth the grip tassels and bell. Playing cards for the spokes are totally optional as is a plastic flower for your basket.
Changes in latitudes…
beth
congrats on the sweet rig! don’t skimp on the helmet or the seat (if you find you don’t like the one that came with the bike) and put a flag it for safety.
beth
congrats on the sweet rig! don’t skimp on the helmet or the seat (if you find you don’t like the one that came with the bike) and put a flag it for safety.
beth
congrats on the sweet rig! don’t skimp on the helmet or the seat (if you find you don’t like the one that came with the bike) and put a flag it for safety.
What Have The Romans Ever Done for Us?
@gene108: Bicycles are a lot more efficient in terms of the amount of physical effort per mile. Three wheels is heavier and increases wheel friction resistance by 50% and is also a lot less aerodynamic. For short errands a trike is fine but they’re far less than ideal if the trip is longer than 3-5 miles.
Kayla Rudbek
I vote for a bell and an air horn (I have an Oi bell which is 80 dB and gets everyone on the bike path to move https://us.knog.com/products/oi-classic-bike-bell). You also need front and rear lights, and check Ortlieb for panniers or a rear trunk bag because even Mr. Rudbek can’t kill that brand of panniers very easily. Maybe Basil brand for panniers if you want to look like you are Dutch. And if you want to make your bike brighter than the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center, I would suggest wheel lights like this: https://brightz.com/products/wheel-brightz (we have a similar thing but Mr. Rudbek hasn’t put them onto the tandem yet). ETA: and a bright orange pennant flag like the ones that recumbent cyclists use.
Ixnay
Bonetragger flashies. Recharge with USB or c. White front, red rear, multiple settings, but the strobe says I’m right here pay thefuck attention. Tiny, clip on seatpost, handlebar or improvise. Ride safe.
billcinsd
I’m cycling and I’m crying
tears running down my face
I’m cycling and I’m crying
it’s just my allergies
Kayla Rudbek
Check Sierra Trading Post for cheaper prices on the Ortlieb panniers and bags.
frosty
True. This is why we had an outfit in Philly modify Ms F’s recumbent CatTrike with a 500W Bafang motor and 52V battery. Friction? No problem. Hills? Fugettaboutit.
NotMax
Is affixing baseball cards in the spokes still a thing?
Although now it’s probably Pokemon cards.
2liberal
https://geo.azmag.gov/maps/bikemap/
here’s a bike trail map. have some good rides!
Don
Well, at least he’s not going to fall over this time.
Barney
So the word “trike” does exist in US English, it’s just that some people can’t manage to type 5 letters instead of 4?
grumbles
Great trike!
Don’t forget to tape a card to the fork, set the spokes so it makes vrooom noises.
Greg Ferguson
Just beautiful.
Hope you get up/down to Tucson, but it is UP (Joelle will know!) – and biking is great here.
SO happy, Cole, that you are now in place! Love to Joelle and all the fking furries and … well, everyone who will get to know you, Mr. ADHA…. 💋🤠
Paul in KY
@gene108: Lighter and more maneuverable? You can’t go up big hills on that thing (would be cool though to see some great bicyclists, like Pogacar or Van Aert, whupping a trike up some badass hill).
brantl
@realbtl: Chewing the basket off ?
BigJimSlade
Very nice! I took my mountain bike out yesterday for the first time in years. I went to a nearby road that is only 2 blocks long, but goes up 100 or so feet. I went up and down that 3 times – oof, that was hard! And when I crawled into bed and lifted a knee up while lying on my side – cramp! Quad cramps are hard to get rid of, but, so far (knocks on wood), not as severe as calf cramps.
Hidalgo de Arizona
Glad to see you found three wheels to roll around on – hope I see you rolling around sometime!
Just be careful in the turns on that thing; they’re scary-easy to flip. Take it easy and everything should be ok.
Hidalgo de Arizona
@Greg Ferguson: funnily enough, there’s a bunch of cyclists in Tempe who do a Phoenix-to-Tucson ride every year MLK Day weekend – I’ve done it four or five times with them – so John’s actually in town at the right time! That’s definitely the wrong trike for that ride though. :)
Hidalgo de Arizona
@What Have The Romans Ever Done for Us?: the air resistance part depends on the style of trike; I have much lower air resistance on my recumbent racing trike than I do on any of by bikes, because I’m pointing into the wind. The additional rolling resistance is a concern, but honestly less of one than you’d think; once you get over ~12mph, wind resistance is a bigger factor than rolling resistance.