Update man! How's ol' Bill doing with the walker training? I'm afraid it's gonna be really hard on a guy that big, but the body adapts to anything.

 

I'll tell you COD, you should feel proud as hell. That's a great job you've done for Bill. I know as talking to you, that you put a lot of pride into that bike. Now it's up to Bill, to put in the work, to get himself ready to ride. Can't wait till you post that 1st ride VID.

 

He was never a small guy, but he has gained a lot of weight since sitting around. I bitch at him all the time, and he knows I am just driving him on and not just bitching at him. He knows what he has to do. I just try to give him a little attitude so he is a little pissed! LOL. Sort of like working out with heavy metal music!

Bill is doing ok. And yes, he is walking everyday as far as he can stand the pain. He is well aware that it will hurt bad for awhile, but he has the determination and he can feel it getting a little easier each time.

We were talking the other night, and I told him that if he fails, it has to be because it was not possible, not because he did put in a full effort. It would be a shame for him to not to succeed. He makes no comments or even suggestions that he will not do it. But if not, the next step would be to trike it. We will think about that if the time would come. I don't think it will come to that though.

He has given himself a goal of July to have himself turned around and out of the home. I know that sounds like a long time, but for what he has to do, I would guess that really is not too far away since he has a lot of work to do. So I think his goal is realistic.

So I know the thread will slow down a little. But I still have some little things to do.

Bill insisted l take the bike for a test ride last weekend (very short ride though, it was f'n cold here). I have a viddy or two to post of this, but I'm having a problem getting them to work. Someone else recorded them on their camera and we can't get it downloaded. I will get it on here for everyone as soon as I can. I was not too concerned about getting a viddy of me riding it, but it will be nice for guys to see their efforts in motion, so I will.

Bike felt good. Only thing I noticed was the brakes need bled. Way too soft at the handle and the power was weak. Dot 5 known for drawing O2, and they are supposed to be changed every two years anyway. Got the dot 5 yesterday and I plan on changing out the fluid tonight or tomorrow. I have to touch up the paint on the primary, and we are still waiting on the derby cover someone offered up. It has been a few weeks since I heard from the guy, but he is a soldier and I am sure he is busy. He deserves our patience for sure. And the derby is cosmetic anyway. If he contacts me to let me know that it will not happen, I will go in search of one again. Its all good.

 

Thanks Rick. You guys should feel exactly as I do! And thanks for the calls here and there, I really appreciate it.

As I said above, Bill knows he has to get into shape so he can hold the bike up with confidence.

When he was there on Saturday, he got onto the bike by himself, I had to help when his new foot's sneaker got caught, but I was still pretty impressed. Since it was the first time, I didn't want to viddy him and make him feel like a sideshow.

He then practiced pulling his new foot up on the peg. It was difficult, but he was able to do it. Going to take some practice for sure and he knows being in better shape will assist him with this.

 

And by the way, thanks for asking for updates and showing continued interest in this. I much appreciate that.

 

After the posts today, I decided to call Bill and give him a friendly kick in the ***. I told him guys are still posting in the thread and asking about him. All along, I have told him of the many good wishes in the thread, but I thought it would be a good time to read many of them to him, word for word. He was pretty moved.

A little later I received this text from Bill:

"If you can, the guy that sent the message about his renewed faith in humanity, can you tell him I said Amen, and tell everyone I said thanks for the support - no matter what form it was in - and that I WILL be in the wind soon, but not soon enough. Thanks again ya'll for not giving up on me it means a lot to me."

I could not wait to get home from work and get this posted on here so that you guys could see that the value of your words were just as effective as him sitting on his bike. I know I tried to thank everyone that posted good wishes, and everyone that helped with parts. But it is cool to see the attitude from inside us is being just as helpful to him as the hard steel parts.

Excuse my plain and simple comment, but this is some good **** we got going on here!

 

Glad to hear Bill is getting fired up to ride. To me, that would be a pretty damn good motivator to get myself rehabbed and healthy again. You should print out a really good pic of the bike for him and put it up where he does his physical therapy!

You know I've told this story to a lot of people, most of whom don't ride, and you should know that the effect it has goes well beyond this little community we have. I know it's given a lot of people a restored faith in others and a desire to "pay it forward". Seems to adjust some of the perceptions people have of us "bikers" as well.

 

Hey Creatv1, good to hear from you.

Funny you say that about the pic. I just put the memory card in my wifes purse this evening - the home is going to let her print some pics at work tomorrow for him to have.

From one scum-bag biker to another, good job Creatv1, and thanks for what you have done.

 

This is my first post on the forum other than my original intro but I browse the posts every few days for information and I have followed this thread for several weeks now.
And I have to wonder.....what kind of man would carry this tourch since the middle of last year giving up his time, his effort, money, skills, etc. for a person that his wife told him about? Someone he didn't even know? Granted a lot of people would start strong but then fade as the time went by.
It absolutely amazes me the caliber and integrity of some of the people here and, not to sound too corny, but the world is a better place for you being here. I always knew bikers were good people but didn't know how good.
This is just my 2 cents and I hope you good people will forgive the ramblings of an old fat man.
Ride on,
-Foggy

 

As someone who has the pleasure of being a personal friend of COD, I'll just say that you guys have no idea what a really great guy he is and how much of his personal "skin" he has put into this build.


P.S. Just don't tell him I said so.