gugie 

My wife sent me a link to this article.

For those who have been working from home...
Posture screwed up
Eyes going bad from staring at a computer screen all day
Vitamin D deficiencies from lack of sunlight
Brain going soft from a hermitlike existance.

I texted my wife back. The answer for me is the same as always - ride a bike, preferrably with friends!

leftthread

Or if you can't ride because of snow/ice/salt, try walking.

merziac

Wait till you retire with this crap going on, a mountain of "to do", daily additions and urgent breakdowns that keep you from getting a handle on any of the backlog, nevermind the front and center projects you thought you were going to have time for and the riding.

I was riding at least about 2 hours, 17 mi. a day to work, I'm lucky to get 2hr a week now, ef me.

You are absolutely right about the fix, glad the weather is coming around, maybe that will help.

gugie 

Maybe the solution is to take on a part time gig at an LBS about 10 miles away.

merziac

Maybe, not happenin, I play even less well with others than ever now. No shop has much use for a grumpy old C+V hack.

Just need to prioritize the riding more.

randyjawa 

The virus is a brutal enemy and here now, doing its best to beat us. That seems to be a fact. We must adapt to the new lifestyle demanded by this dangerous reality.

I could not ride last summer, thanks to severe Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in my hands (actually, only moderately severe in the left hand). With that in mind, I walked(can't run anymore with a knee that needs replacing). Walking is not as much fun as riding but it does work. I actually found something interesting while walking - birds.

While walking the cottage roads at the lake, I had more time to look around safely and guess what? I started seeing the birds. I found the incredible variety surprising and started taking the odd picture or two. Got a bit lucky and snagged a really poor shot of a rarely seen King Rail(sorry about the poor picture but felt that I needed some proof of what I was doing to take the place of riding my bikes)...

squirtdad

one thing I do is use my 'throw a leg over and go" bike with rack on it for errands. about 95% of quick car rides can be replaced by such bike.... it is not a super hard or good workout, but it is out and pedaling.

good reason for n+1 or simple project

by current is a 80 SR Semi pro with a simple planet bike rack, I put velo orange postino bars and techtro city levers on, cork grips, and because I had some threw on some tektro dual pivots. It has 27in rim and 1 1/4 paselas....which feel much bigger.

totally get the lack of commute, I really have to block time and get out at lunch since my commute down the hall is about 10 feet

Maybe getting into a pattern..... ride in the morning, work on everything else the rest of the day?

repechage

I have been trying to choose bike over auto for errands.
Today, Bank and grocery store.
a bit slower than car, but with the bank run, stop and get coffee on the way back, round trip as no parking lot to find a space, walk to car etc.
A total win.
But most here know that.
MY advantage? Southern California. Today, 79°F

merziac

I do usually piggy back rides onto errands and visa versa when close doable, can't get past not riding my good ride for those though so security is a challenge often.

But you're right, I need to set up a dedicated errand bike that fills the C+V need so I can utilize that scenario more.

squirtdad

under stand that also, one thing that helps me for using the good bike and being able to do an last minute errand or carry some thing home is this Osprey back pack https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00RZV7Y...roduct_details

of course it seems that it gets used mostly when after a ride I stop at a brewpub to bring some home

Wildwood 

Lots of shorter ones. 10mi. keeps me off the busiest roads.
Would be boring with only one or two bikes.
Always cardio value in the climb home.

Hopefully, earlier starts on weekends (as the days get longer) makes for more open roads.

gthomson

Yeah it has been a challenge that's for sure. Not only those injuries you mention above but also the feeling of being trapped with those co workers in the house . Was lucky enough last year to enjoy a wellness program for mental and physical health called - jump on your bike at every opportunity you can and just ride. Moving meditation is what I would call it and it felt great.

Much harder since the winter started but being able to ride on the trainer helps somewhat. I won't lie though, there are some dark days.

BFisher

If you can't ride 'em, wrench 'em! Beats the couch and the computer screen. One can always pick up a so-called "pity bike" and make it useful again if servicing the fleet has been done.

Also, Randy's solution is a great one.

merziac

Yep, great minds, I have been carrying a packable Eddie B 20L in the saddle bag since Christmas and got a smaller one too, I can get a couple of non folding tires in the big one.

Just have to do it more.

merziac

And therein lies the rub, a big part of the mountain of "to do" is bikes, too many not straight forward by any stretch.

But you're right, very satisfying to accomplish any part of it and move forward.
Guess I better get to work on the Escape that thieves poked a hole in the gas tank to steal the gas out of.

Never a dull moment.

Trakhak

I had ulnar nerve damage that eventually required surgery at both wrist and elbow 20 years ago. The surgery helped somewhat, but my left hand still goes numb and the nerves in my elbow act up by 20 minutes into a ride. So I installed clamp-on aero bars on one bike and then all my bikes. Now I can ride as far as I want with little discomfort.

randyjawa 

Ha - today at my place -17 degrees Celcius, windy as all get out and close to a foot of snow last night. Get my drift! Burrrrr, sh_t, pooey-stinko!

squirtdad

careful with brazing that.....not sure if you should use silver or brass

merziac

Not there yet, gonna try to patch it first, I've had good luck with JB weld and a stainless "patch" stuck in place with it.

I have a guy if it comes to the other.

Lifelong mech/tech/hack, just glad I can do it myself.

leftthread

Well, at least Randy is a fan of walking in the off-season.

qcpmsame 

Between the Covid shut downs, some unusually cold weather for our location, wife having the Covid plague the last two weeks and Parkinson’s related issues my cycling has ceased to exist. I can fully relate to gugie posted article.

ollo_ollo had texted me for a day of riding almost two weeks back, that was the day the plague showed up at our door. Both my wife and I are fully vaccinated, still got us. At least she tested negative this morning. 😁👍😁

Bill

gaucho777 

As a a school teacher, last (school) year was so much worse than this (school) year. Last year, I was stuck on Zoom, with a big increase in screen time, inundated with tons more work, aching back, and no commute. This year, it feels so much better to be back to in-person school, even with safety measures and mask mandates. And I really enjoy my bike commute--only about 4 miles each way, but it includes about 700' of climbing on the way to work, plus lots of nice optional routes home.

leftthread

Meeting a riding buddynwho is usually on a recumbent tomorrow to walk and photograp stuff. Another riding buddy, a black belt from my martial arts days, have been walking with his new puppy. What a cool dog.

Straightblock

I'm heading into retirement and my wife is afraid I'll be riding every day. 6 months from now when she's tired of having me underfoot, she'll be saying, "Why don't you go riding?"

qcpmsame 

My wife already for me to be able to ride daily, and I only retired last November😏

Bill