Hello everybody. My name is Lonnie. I hail from West Virginia in the United States. I am 60 years old and have ridden a motorcycle all my life. I was riding a 2003 40th anniversary Volusia VL800. Physically it was getting to difficult to hold the bike up with one leg as I was used to doing. I have had 2 hip replacements, steel plates on my pelvis, Several back surgeries including a DRG implant with 3 wires going into my spine. I am also on pain patches for neuropathy and complex regional pain syndrome in my lower legs and feet. My name on the forum says it all, "Barefoot rider".
Before you belittle me for how dangerous it is to ride a bike with no shoes, please consider that I know full well how dangerous it is to ride barefoot. I have spent many hours contemplating ways that I could still enjoy riding a bike but it is way to painful for me to wear shoes or riding boots or even a pair of flip flops. I was forced into that situation when my last hip replacement resulted in a broken perineal nerve in my left leg paralyzing my left foot. It turned into CRPS and neuropathy. The back stimulator caused it to spread to both legs and feet. I cannot stand anything on the top of my left foot, not a shoe or a sandal or a sock or a bedsheet even.
Within minutes of putting on my riding boots I am in so much pain I cannot stand to ride or even walk in boots or shoes. Can't wear flip flops because my left foot can't hold them on with paralyzed toes. It is quite a situation to go for a barefoot ride on a hot summer day and pull up to a stoplight and put your foot down to hold up the bike on hot blacktop. I've laid the bike down twice which could have been catastrophic for me. So I was rendered a full time barefooter 24/7.
Looked into buying me a Can Am Spyder or Ryker. My brother in law has had 3 of them and I rode them but just didn't feel comfortable to me. So I bought me a 2004 Volusia VL800 Lehman Romani trike and it is working out great for me. The rolled back handlebars, the back rest, large footboards. I can enjoy riding again and never have to put my foot down again. I am in heaven.
I did have to get me a heel to toe shifter because since my toes don't work I couldn't lift the front of the shifter. I can push it down into first gear with the ball of my foot and up through the gears with my heel. I am going to have to fabricate an edge for the left footboard so that I can keep that foot planted squarely on the foot board. Even with my foot flat and square on the board I get the sensation my foot is teetering on the edge of the board and about to slip off.
I am a retired auto mechanic who loves to tinker and fabricate so I do have some plans for lights and gadgets for the old Romani. I can't tell you what a game changer it was for me to take my first ride on that trike and enjoy what I was sure I was gonna have to give up forever. I've been reading some posts on here and the level of expertise from members on this forum is amazing. I certainly have a few questions because info for the Romani seems to be pretty sparse. I did get a Lehman warranty policy pamphlet and a Lehman owners manual along with the VL800 owners manual. I was already lucky enough to have to service manual for the 03 Volusia so I have a good start. Lots to learn about my new toy.
Between here and You tube I will get educated and safe. Well that's my story and the mystery behind Barefoot Rider has been solved. Thanks for accepting me on the forum I and I look forward to talking with all of you on the future. Lonnie.
Before you belittle me for how dangerous it is to ride a bike with no shoes, please consider that I know full well how dangerous it is to ride barefoot. I have spent many hours contemplating ways that I could still enjoy riding a bike but it is way to painful for me to wear shoes or riding boots or even a pair of flip flops. I was forced into that situation when my last hip replacement resulted in a broken perineal nerve in my left leg paralyzing my left foot. It turned into CRPS and neuropathy. The back stimulator caused it to spread to both legs and feet. I cannot stand anything on the top of my left foot, not a shoe or a sandal or a sock or a bedsheet even.
Within minutes of putting on my riding boots I am in so much pain I cannot stand to ride or even walk in boots or shoes. Can't wear flip flops because my left foot can't hold them on with paralyzed toes. It is quite a situation to go for a barefoot ride on a hot summer day and pull up to a stoplight and put your foot down to hold up the bike on hot blacktop. I've laid the bike down twice which could have been catastrophic for me. So I was rendered a full time barefooter 24/7.
Looked into buying me a Can Am Spyder or Ryker. My brother in law has had 3 of them and I rode them but just didn't feel comfortable to me. So I bought me a 2004 Volusia VL800 Lehman Romani trike and it is working out great for me. The rolled back handlebars, the back rest, large footboards. I can enjoy riding again and never have to put my foot down again. I am in heaven.
I did have to get me a heel to toe shifter because since my toes don't work I couldn't lift the front of the shifter. I can push it down into first gear with the ball of my foot and up through the gears with my heel. I am going to have to fabricate an edge for the left footboard so that I can keep that foot planted squarely on the foot board. Even with my foot flat and square on the board I get the sensation my foot is teetering on the edge of the board and about to slip off.
I am a retired auto mechanic who loves to tinker and fabricate so I do have some plans for lights and gadgets for the old Romani. I can't tell you what a game changer it was for me to take my first ride on that trike and enjoy what I was sure I was gonna have to give up forever. I've been reading some posts on here and the level of expertise from members on this forum is amazing. I certainly have a few questions because info for the Romani seems to be pretty sparse. I did get a Lehman warranty policy pamphlet and a Lehman owners manual along with the VL800 owners manual. I was already lucky enough to have to service manual for the 03 Volusia so I have a good start. Lots to learn about my new toy.
Between here and You tube I will get educated and safe. Well that's my story and the mystery behind Barefoot Rider has been solved. Thanks for accepting me on the forum I and I look forward to talking with all of you on the future. Lonnie.
