Hi y'all! 各位好!

VELOMOBILE ON THE WAY SOON!

And, NEED HELP in finding MUSCLE WOMAN MODEL to do a photo set with the VELOMOBILE. More about that project below, but first some updates...

It has been a long time since I updated on the last journal which was made May 30, 2008. The delay was due to the bad economy which slowed down my method of securing the money for the velomobile.

Anyway the money is in, and at last, the actual orders have been put in.

As far as I know, the basic velomobile is on the way from Giessen, Germany where it is hand made, by ship. Maybe it will have a trace of sea air when I pick it up!

In Toronto, Canada, the extras I ordered will be installed. I changed the order to a BionX electric assist wheel instead of the Rohloff hub. Remember in last journal I said I was having a Rohloff hub put in. Well, due to my knees and other situations, and just for general "value added" reasons, I decided instead for the electric assist. I know bicycle purists might criticize me for this, but really, look at the situation; or at least, the way I use the system...

This is based on a bicycle I currently have AND USE for commuting to the restaurant where I work part time twice a week.
I already acquired a demo model of a BionX wheel for that bicycle from Blue Velo. It has been a knee saver!
Other people's ways of using the BionX may differ from mine, but I use it only for reaccelerating and jetting out of nasty intersections.

You have to keep in mind all the bull-sh... bull-crap one has to put up with when one decides to use the bicycle for actual commuting, especially in southeast United States. Obvious are heat, rain, and dogs, but there is all kinds of other little diddly-crap that adds up to a totally fried brain by the end of a commuting day; many of which the velomobile solves.

Electric assist used for these reasons: I use, as much as possible, bicycle routes. I hate cycling with cars. Talk about roller skating with a buffalo herd! But bicycle routes around here (extreme east Orlando, Florida, USA (actually, Oviedo, FL, USA)) can be pretty rough. Every 100 feet or so, one has to stop due to cross streets, otherwise the cyclist might crash into some gaddam putz that makes a right turn in front of him. Gads, I hate that! But you have to look out for it. So something like 30 times each way, I have to come to a grinding halt then reaccelerate.

My route varies. There are 3 miles which is like that above. In other areas, I can use the asphalt, particularly while passing through the University of Central Florida campus. The asphalt is definitely easier on MY ass-fault...
In yet other areas, the bicycle route is really nice. The part between Chuluota, Florida, where I live, and Oviedo is beautiful with few interrupting cross streets.

Anyway, this was wearing out my knees. The BionX wheel allows me to reaccelerate from each of those stops. I do the cruising. That really saves my knees. Oh, and the BionX wheel has an additional useful feature; when I brake all those dozens of times for those accursed cross streets, the motor goes into generate mode so that a brief recharge is provided to the batteries; only to be given up again when I reaccelerate from the stop. So it sort of balances out.

The BionX control has 4 levels of assist and neutral. I keep it on neutral! That means it does not assist me at all. I do ALL cruising. I use the throttle only for reaccelerating from the stops.

In a second situation where I use the electric assist, throttle only, is jetting out of nasty intersections. Some of the intersections are huge, complex and busy. Again, because of my knees, I use the motor plus pedaling to zip across and out of the intersection the instant the light turns green. I just want outa there! There is another reason for using the motor in intersections, coming up below.

All of the above are experiences with the BionX mounted on a regular bicycle purchased from a Walmart store. It works pretty well!

Oh, and by the way, the electric part, the batteries; they are recharged off my solar energy system. So when I do engage the BionX, it is solar powered, so to speak.

But there are many other little dangers and aggravations that have to be put up with, especially over a commuting route that extends over 11 miles each way (22 miles in all).

First, there is just the balance. I keep it at pretty high speeds for a bicycle, like 15 to 20 mph (24 to 32 kph). One wrong move, one way or the other, and I would suffer a nasty spill at such speeds.

Also, every time I stop, I have to wrench my foot out of the Look-clip pedals for support when stopped. That bothers my knees. I MUST use clipped pedals so I can use my "hamstring muscles" which are a great help in relieving stress on my knees. Most people, without clipped pedals, use quadriceps only. But with clipped pedals, I can engage the hams. Sometimes when going slow, I use ONLY the hams.

Anyway, so I have to wrench the foot out each and every time I stop. I usually only do one foot. Then when I start, I have to fumble and fumble to get it back in the clips. That slows down my ability to accelerate out of there, especially nasty intersections. And that is another reason to use the BionX to get out of intersections (see above). I hit the throttle so that the bicycle starts out while I'm fumbling to get that foot back in.

Once I missed timed it and fell over. I was stopped, but just fell over. Gaddam mighty shit that was embarrassing, and I HATE being embarrassed. :mad: And NOBODY wants to be around me when I'm embarrassed!

I also fear getting struck in the head by one of those gaddam mirrors that stick out from things like gaddam SUVs and pickup trucks. (On REAL trucks, the mirror is high up, safely out of the way.) I never cycle without my helmet.

On one part of my commuting route, I am 24 inches from the highway where there is a big curb, and 24 inches from a railing. Running into either at 18 mph (29 kph) would make an awful crash. Also in that particular area, there are mail boxes which lean into the bike trail. They all have these metal handles that are at just about elbow level. Running into any of them would take a gash out of my arm.

Once I nearly ran into a piece of bush that was laying across the bike route. Had that caught on my ankle during the lower part of the pedal stroke, it may have wrenched my ankle and launched me into a nasty spill.

You can see why I do this ONLY 2 TIMES A WEEK!!! Otherwise my brain would fry!

So, WHEW! The cab-bike velomobile solves the following problems mentioned above:

Naturally it keeps rain and dogs off of me. It has a greater "presence" which makes cars give more space in the areas I do use the asphalt.

Believe it or not, Florida does get cold around December, January, and February, especially for the evenings commuting home. During cold fronts, it can get to like 48 degrees (9 degrees Celsius) in the evening commute home. That's chilly on a bicycle. A Cab-bike keeps that off of you. In the summer, all the windshields and windows can be removed for near-bicycle-like ventilation. Besides, there is the motor I can fall back on if it still gets too hot. The roof of the Cab-bike remains which keeps the highly powerful Florida sun off me. I'm a white guy and so am designed for conditions found north of at least 40 degrees latitude, for Pete's sake! I'm not designed for this much sun! Like, what do I look like, a solar panel!?!? I am planning a move to the north, maybe Montana or North Dakota. That will suit me a lot better. But that might be a while.

The Cab-bike seats me lower than a bicycle out of the way of rear-view mirrors. Additionally of course, there is a hard shell body around me.

When stopped at a cross street or intersection, I will no longer have to take my feet out of the clipped pedals. Therefore when leaving an intersection, I will be able to immediately pedal hard AND use the motor to zip out of there even faster.

I no longer have the balance problem that can be upset from the least little thing.

Dozens of little but potentially serious things such as pieces of bush or tree limbs, mailbox handles, and all kinds of other diddly crap are no longer a concern in the Cab-bike.

The seating position is MUCH MORE COMFORTABLE!

The Cab-bike can carry a lot of stuff; books, groceries, and so on as conveniently as a car.

A nice radio can be installed which I plan to do.

And many others I don't remember at this point.

- - -

I will be making a trip myself to Toronto Canada to pick up the Cab-bike from Blue Velo. I could have it sent... but I just want to go to Canada. I have not been on a long trip in a long time. I want to see the north and see snow again. And I like Canada. I have been to Toronto before and would not mind going there again.

While at Blue Velo in Toronto, I might rent one or more of his other velomobile types, such as the Mango, or maybe a WAW if he has one. And I just want to see a for-real velomobile place. The basic Cab-bike is made in Germany, but Blue Velo does a lot of final work on the velomobiles after they arrive.

- - - - -

Okay, now the muscle woman model "project"...
This has come up before in the many years that I have run musclewomen.com. I think it would be so cool to have a muscle woman model next to the velomobile, and thus kind of like bring the theme of many of my arts (muscle women and velomobiles) into reality.

I was wondering if any of you all have any ideas; read on...

I have not been able to entice a "fitness model" type or "muscle woman" to model for me. I know I cannot afford the professionals. But there must be many who are "undiscovered" or "unknown" who would like any chance to be featured.

I live close to University of Central Florida, and I see some gals near the gym on the campus that pops my eyeballs out! Aiya!

In ads, I have offered money, meal, and expenses for buying the appropriate clothing for modeling (thong bikinis and tank tops, of course) all without response.

Look, I see other people do it, so it MUST be possible! I cannot offer a lot of money, but it seems like to me that $100 for only 1 day of "light", fun modeling, possible trip to beach, a lunch, and other expenses would be a pretty good deal for a nonprofessional! I know I'd go for it. ($200 if she allows nude photos)

Are they, like, afraid of me? HAH! Some of those gals look pretty big; like 6 feet or slightly more at 170, 180 pounds. I'm barely 6 feet at 148 pounds. A gal like that could mop up the floor with me! They have nothing to fear! (Gees! Fear me? Good heavens, they may as well fear a rabbit!)

Keep in mind when I was in high school and college, I was a "classic nerd"; an electronics-head and nonathletic except for the cycling. My ways with women would probably make most of you laugh.

So any advice would be welcome. If I can swing it, the photos will appear here! It will be a nice addition to my otherwise all-art site/space.

Til next time, that's all, folks!

Okay, now these:

1. Here is a sort of FAQ (click here) on why I and many others like muscle women. I think it is much more widespread than one might think. The FAQ is well worded by an expert writer.

Additionally, here is this deep explanation!

2. As for me personally; for a complete, definitive explanation of the origin of my muscle women pictures and an explanation of why I am interested in that,
go here. (click here or on thumbnail) It is very complete and will explain all the
pictures on this site/space.
-- -- -- -- --

我會講一點中文。假如你想用中文, 情您用啊! 我喜歡有機會練習用中文啊!
(但是, 我有的時候不在Deviant Art 上, 有的時候兩-三個星期不在。所以, 假如
我很久才回答你, 不用覺得凌辱, 只是因為我必須書齋醫療副本, 所以兩-三個星期
那麼長時間不開Deviant Art.)

My main site:
Musclewomen.com

Go there mostly for stories. Bigger and clearer pictures now being posted here on Deviant Art actually.

中文 筋肉女.us 其實 musclewomen.us


Female Muscle Club -- 女人 筋 肉 俱樂部