Ever forced to push your bike?

[Guth_imp]

Not long ago I was talking with my son about how healthy I was back in my early teen years. This was largely due to the fact that I spent so much time on bmx bikes that I could have been surgically attached and probably wouldn't have noticed. Well, not long after that conversation a bicycle came up for sale on craigslist that caught my eye. I'm still not exactly sure what came over me, but I am now the owner of single speed cruiser bike. It's basically an over-sized bmx bike.

I suppose the thought (if you can call it that) behind this was that riding around on a single speed bike would supply some much needed exercise. Thus far all it's managed to do is haul me to the pub on dart night, lol. The thing is, my neighborhood has a few hills that are really draining on this bike — it iis serving as a harsh reminder of just how out of shape I really am.

Segue to the motorcycling related content...

This got me to thinking about the time the clutch cable broke on my Hawk one day on my way to work. I was only a mile from home and did not want to leave the bike, so I decided to push it back home (over these same hills that I've been struggling with on the bicycle). I remember thinking at the time that I wasn't that far away, how tough could it be? I was exhausted by the time I got home and drenched with sweat. My hawk weighs just a bit over 400 pounds and I'm glad that it did not weigh even a pound more. I couldn't imagine having to push my CB1100 over this same stretch of terrain and certainly not something like a GoldWing or other big touring bike. I'm hoping that I don't have to encounter such an experience again any time soon (or ever for that matter). The bicycle thing is demeaning enough.

So, any of you guys end up being forced to push a bike for any distance?

[Inhouse Bob]

I can barely push it out of a parking spot to turn it around. And I don't recall having to push any other bikes, though I've had to pick up a fair number

[the Ferret]

Thankfully no. Knock on wood, I've never had a bike leave me stranded. i don't recall ever running out of gas. I've either gone ahead and ridden on or plugged flats. Other than into and out of the garage or backwards out of a parking spot (which I have to do all the time especially on the ST) I don't recall being asked to push one.

I did help push one of MTC's friends FJR's twice. Once when he left the battery on and drained the battery and we bump started him. The second time when he came back around the building and stalled it. Does that count? Lol

[flynrider]

Not long ago I was talking with my son about how healthy I was back in my early teen years. This was largely due to the fact that I spent so much time on bmx bikes that I could have been surgically attached and probably wouldn't have noticed. Well, not long after that conversation a bicycle came up for sale on craigslist that caught my eye. I'm still not exactly sure what came over me, but I am now the owner of single speed cruiser bike. It's basically an over-sized bmx bike.

I suppose the thought (if you can call it that) behind this was that riding around on a single speed bike would supply some much needed exercise. Thus far all it's managed to do is haul me to the pub on dart night, lol. The thing is, my neighborhood has a few hills that are really draining on this bike — it iis serving as a harsh reminder of just how out of shape I really am.

Segue to the motorcycling related content...

This got me to thinking about the time the clutch cable broke on my Hawk one day on my way to work. I was only a mile from home and did not want to leave the bike, so I decided to push it back home (over these same hills that I've been struggling with on the bicycle). I remember thinking at the time that I wasn't that far away, how tough could it be? I was exhausted by the time I got home and drenched with sweat. My hawk weighs just a bit over 400 pounds and I'm glad that it did not weigh even a pound more. I couldn't imagine having to push my CB1100 over this same stretch of terrain and certainly not something like a GoldWing or other big touring bike. I'm hoping that I don't have to encounter such an experience again any time soon (or ever for that matter). The bicycle thing is demeaning enough.

So, any of you guys end up being forced to push a bike for any distance?

If I were 18 again, I might consider it

Last year I ran out of gas and pushed the bike a few blocks to a safe parking place. The effort (in about 90 degree temps) left me huffing and puffing. I didn't even consider pushing it the 1/2 mile to a gas station. I bought a gas can and brought the much lighter gallon of fuel to the bike instead.

[JustPassinThru_imp]

Not long ago I was talking with my son about how healthy I was back in my early teen years. This was largely due to the fact that I spent so much time on bmx bikes that I could have been surgically attached and probably wouldn't have noticed. Well, not long after that conversation a bicycle came up for sale on craigslist that caught my eye. I'm still not exactly sure what came over me, but I am now the owner of single speed cruiser bike. It's basically an over-sized bmx bike.

I suppose the thought (if you can call it that) behind this was that riding around on a single speed bike would supply some much needed exercise. Thus far all it's managed to do is haul me to the pub on dart night, lol. The thing is, my neighborhood has a few hills that are really draining on this bike — it iis serving as a harsh reminder of just how out of shape I really am.

Segue to the motorcycling related content...

This got me to thinking about the time the clutch cable broke on my Hawk one day on my way to work. I was only a mile from home and did not want to leave the bike, so I decided to push it back home (over these same hills that I've been struggling with on the bicycle). I remember thinking at the time that I wasn't that far away, how tough could it be? I was exhausted by the time I got home and drenched with sweat. My hawk weighs just a bit over 400 pounds and I'm glad that it did not weigh even a pound more. I couldn't imagine having to push my CB1100 over this same stretch of terrain and certainly not something like a GoldWing or other big touring bike. I'm hoping that I don't have to encounter such an experience again any time soon (or ever for that matter). The bicycle thing is demeaning enough.

So, any of you guys end up being forced to push a bike for any distance?

Nope.

I wouldn't even try, at this point. I'm no spring chicken...57 last month.

Pushing a bike...unless you have help, you're standing off to one side of your center of balance, trying to hold a top-heavy machine up WHILE applying force to the grips to move it forward. A chiropractor (I'm not one) could tell you what you're doing to your back, hips, and natural center of gravity.

And that bike can get away. I never dropped a motorcycle...UNTIL THIS YEAR. I dropped my BMW, twice - once, moving it around the garage. Good fortune had Tubesand, fresh out of my truck, alongside it; and the cylinder jug landed on it and kept it from flopping on top of me. Took me ten minutes to extricate myself from that; and another five to heave the cycle up.

And then, in the act of selling it...driving it to the buyer's home. Stopped, put the sidestand down (I thought) and dismounted. That old BMW followed me and flopped right down on my inseam. Again, nothing broken...the buyer was nonplussed but he did close the deal.

The other time, was with my until-then-brand-new CB. Lost it turning it around; it just leaned over, I couldn't catch it while on it, and down it went, running, at walking speed. Again, I was pinched. Again, I was lucky - nothing broken. And this time, I had Good-Samaritan spectators, who, once they got their wits about, came over to get the cycle off me.

No. I might push my 250-pound TW200 around for a short distance, but not the CB.

[Jonz_imp]

About 5 summers ago the battery in my kawasaki Spectre died. Almost 1/4 mile from home, of course it was uphill but not more than I thought was doable. At the time I didn't know it was the battery, the bike was almost 30 years old then and never had a battery die while driving. I would have parked it and gone to buy a new battery if I'd known. Got lots of funny looks from passerby's.
But my driveway is a short steep up from the garage(under the front room) to the street that I've always pushed my bikes up before starting. I'll ride till I'm so old I can't get it up so to speak. Maybe I'll just move to flatter ground.

[veech_imp]

Not only have I had to push multiple bikes over the years, I even had to push my CB11 about 2 miles last year when I ran her bone dry. It was kinda embarrassing pushing a brand new bike....

[JustPassinThru_imp]

Not only have I had to push multiple bikes over the years, I even had to push my CB11 about 2 miles last year when I ran her bone dry. It was kinda embarrassing pushing a brand new bike....

Embarrassing? No, you should get a medal.

That oughtta be a competitive feat. The CB1100 is 550 pounds.

[veech_imp]

It was a bit tough as much of it was actually uphill, which really sucked, but I do work out regularly in MA so it wasn't as bad as it could be. My old Harley weighed 850 lbs. so this thing is pretty light by comparison...

[furious_blue_imp]

It was my first bike. A '73 CB350 in glorious purple metal flake.
I was at the school library study hall one night. Study hall closes at 1 a.m. at which time everyone is kicked out and left to their own devices.
My device was the ride home that I always looked forward to.
Just shy of the freeway exit, the ignition key assembly failed. No power, no lights, no nothing.
I was about 2 1/2 miles of slight upward grade away from home. No money to pay for any services even if I could get any, so it's time for the push home.
It was a surreal time. Silent, empty, deserted streets and winking traffic lights. A long huff n' puff time, I finally got it home and konked out on the bed at 4 a.m.
Chemistry class started 4 hours later at 8 a.m. (they're crazy scheduling a class that early to begin with)...
I was one tired individual that morning and could barely make out the lecture topic...

It was love/hate for me with that CB350, but it was my first and I'll never forget that machine..

(I had to replace the switch assembly at the end of it all)