"Dogman" wrote
"cshenk" wrote:

Anyways, the Springer guys got back to me in email to my query and it
seems
I have the oddball rare bike that can't work with the springer unless the
seat is raised at least 3.5 inches (and then I can't ride it as the seat
will be too high). It's seat post is too thick and not long enough.

Ah well.
Damn, that's too bad.
Because they really do work great.

Yeah, thats why I said AWESOME! I could see that right away. But ya just
don't dump a 1,000$ bike easily (grin). They cost more outside Japan I am
sure and that was 2001 prices at the military exchange in Sasebo.

BTW, if you'd like a picture of the bike and their response, shott me an
email. My address isn't grunged and I will keep your's private.

Meantime, having seen the Springer, it gives me some ideas. There's an add
on back basket set for the Cultech that spans the wheels and has a platform
(plus shopping baskets to the sides). Grin, in a land where only about 1/2
the families have a car and going to work as well as shopping on a bicycle
is normal, they have some really quality add-ons. I even have spare snow
tires with studs for it just like folks have for cars and just like cars,
you swap off to summer set after snow/ice time is past. Anyways, with the
add on, I can span out something securely and drop a leash from that. He's
short enough it would be the right height pretty much and i could fix it
pretty near the seat core which seems safer for him (and me).

Then, the next bit would be training us *both* safely to use it. That means
I assume working in tandem leashes with Charlotte jogging along side until
he gets the idea 'must run straight with Mommie on bike like I do with
Charlotte' and me remembering to go slow (Got my only ticket in Sasebo, 45
KPH in a 35KPH highway on the Cultech was what he clocked, dunno as I was
*that* fast but cost me 24,000yen or about 210$ USAD).

My aims are simple here. Safe fun and exercise for both of us. Other than
walking, I've been very limited the past year but things just feel 'better'
right now and like Cash, I wanna go out and sniff the flowers and run about
as much as I can.

I googled some sites in the meantime on how to leash lead a dog on a
bicycle. Some were seeming pretty screwy (one wanted you to use a clicker
which may work in time but umm, seems like you'd possibly hurt the dog or
get hurt falling over a few times first?).

My best 'logic' here is to ride slowly to the side (3-4feet or so from him)
as Charlotte jogs him. Let him get used to the idea of a bike with Mommie
on it. If he takes well to that, next time use the ring on his harness with
a second leash looped through the center 'boy' post (maybe in my hand? Not
sure as one gives core support and the other gives possible re-steering but
can drop the leash in danger if have to). Practice slow stops on the bike
with Charlotte short leashing him.

Humm, probably over thinking this but it's fun to *me* to analyze what would
be fun and safe for us all. (Data analyst by trade)

Thinking. I need to teach him a new word. 'Stop' to him is an immediate.
I'd hurt him if he was running and said 'stop' as the bike coasted to a
stop.

'Brake' maybe?

If we get this working, we all have fun and Cash so LOVES to learn new
stuff. You can almost see his grin. 'Hey Mom, got that one down pat,
what's next?'