Rehab Friend: A Little Assist From Your eBike
An Electric Bike Offers A Friendly Boost To New Knees and Hips
We all remember “With a Little Help from My Friends” by The Beatles.
My, how things have changed in the 48 years since its release, especially for those boomers who want to come back to the slopes after major surgery on hips and knees and rotator cuffs, among other parts.
Well, here’s some good news:
One of my friends is recovering from hip replacement surgery. His surgeon prescribed riding a bike for exercise, muscle rehabilitation and re- building confidence. How about skiing? Why not!
That’s where an electric bicycle is giving him the confidence to get back on the boards after major surgery. And go uphill at 20+ mph, or faster than your average quad lift!
At the New Hampshire ski area where my friend has spent many a winter, the electric bike with fat tires is ideal for going up the main road from the village to the lodge and beyond. Fat-tire bikes are now common for off-roading. One of the challenges of an electric bicycle design is to configure the entire frame, power and control system and accessories to be as light as possible. Lightness and controllability are among the advantages of the Polaris®eBike.
On unimproved trails and dirt roads, the fat-tire configuration gives my pal stability that helps build his confidence as he builds strength.
Advanced technology now available in electric bicycles is a major factor in getting my pal back on skis. In his case, the Polaris Gear Speed Technology features 8 gear speeds.
As the terrain rises, power kicks in—controllable with paddle shifters like a sports car— and “… a little help. . .” from the electric assist turns into up to fifty miles of riding.
How does he get a fifty mile ride? Polaris technology allows regeneration of the battery by braking and reverse pedaling. Active Trail Mode™ regenerates the bike’s battery during pedaling with automatic incline sensors to deliver power for uphill riding. Operation of this mode extends battery life. A four-hour charge can deliver fifty miles of performance. Regeneration gives the rider unlimited power—my friend said his bum gave out before the bike needed to be re-charged.
As senior skiers, we’re all adopting new equipment, better outdoor clothing, improved diets and exercise routine. With a little help from an eBike, we can take advantage of bike riding for fun and exercise.
Early 2015-16 Winter Forecast: El Nino Cometh
A Strong El Nino Is Not Too Cool News For Skiers.
The latest (July 15th) word from NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) and other weather watchers is that the El Nino currently growing off the west coast of South America is gaining intensity. El Nino is the weather phenomenon that occurs when Eastern Pacific waters are warmed through a combination of factors, starting with increased cyclones in the Indonesian archipelago, the reversal of the trade winds from easterly to westerly off South America, and the resulting flood of warm Western Pacific waters eastward. This has an direct impact on our weather and, in fact, weather around the global.
Dec-Jan-Feb Prediction Charts for Precipitation and Temperature reflect impact of El Nino.
Credit: NOAA
When an El Nino comes in, intensity clearly matters. As of July, this year’s El Nino has a running start, driving the Sea Surface Temperatures (SST) off South America up +1.5 degrees above normal. Some models have that going up even further later in the year.
According to NOAA, this year’s El Nino has a 90% chance of lasting through February 2016 and an 80% chance of lasting through April next year. The last strong El Nino in 1997-98 brought major flooding to the West, especially California where storms caused half a billion dollars in damage and loss of life. This winter, this El Nino’s level of intensity is predicted to have the following effects on our weather:
- There will be a milder hurricane season this summer and fall in the Atlantic, a busier one in the Eastern Pacific. The National Hurricane Center has predicted below-normal storm activity for the Atlantic Hurricane Season which started June 1 and an above-normal season for the Eastern Pacific, thanks to El Nino.
- It will be wetter this winter in the southern US from around Interstate 80 to the Mexican border.
- It will be drier in the Northern Rockies, Ohio Valley, Great Lakes and Northeast.
- It will be cooler in the southern band from Southern California to the Gulf states to the Carolinas.
- It will be warmer in the Pacific Northwest to the Great Lakes and the Northeast.
Forecasting weather six months out is obviously an exercise in probability. What’s interesting this year is that the variables are not wishy-washy; the SST is demonstrable, leading one to think that the chance for coming close to prediction is better than not.
SeniorsSkiing.com will keep you posted as the weather predictors weigh in.
Ski Dolly: At Last, An Easier Way To Carry Gear
Why-Didn’t-We-Think-Of-This-Department: A Gear Toting Assistant
Tip and roll the Ski Dolly away with some help from physics and gravity.
Credit: Ski Dolly
You might say, it’s about time someone came up with the Ski Dolly (TM). After schlepping backpacks, boot bags, skis (bagged or loosely tied) from car to base lodge too, too many times, we celebrate the arrival of this good-idea product. Imagine: Your favorite ski area has a reserved area for senior skiers (yes, many areas do have these and many more are thinking about it). At that reserved parking area, you unload, pick up a Ski Dolly (TM) from a super-market-like shopping cart collection point, pile on your kit and roll away. Arrive at base lodge, drop off Ski-Dolly (TM), don your equipage and go. End of day, reverse process, drop off Ski-Dolly in parking lot. Pretty simple. Especially helpful when you are hosting your ski club or a cluster of grandchildren.
Ski Dolly is made of welded steel.
Credit: Ski Dolly
Ski-Dolly (TM) is the patent-pending invention of two single parents whose struggles carrying a family-load of gear from car to lodge was the stimulus for this bright idea. According to the company, the Ski-Dolly(TM) itself can tote up to eight pairs of skis or four or five snowboards, plus helmets. From the photos, it looks as if you can latch on gear and boot bags, too.
Action Item: Ask your ski area’s guest services people to look into providing Ski-Dollys (TM) for the seniors-only parking area. Or for everyone. If you are in a ski club, order some for the bus and put your private-label logo on them. Why not?
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